First Trip to Fun City

Feeding the Ducks (and Geese!)

Easter Cookie Recipe

Easter Story Cookies
Here is the recipe as promised! :)
To be made the evening before Easter or anytime you want to teach about the death and resurrection of Jesus:
You need:
1 cup whole pecans Zipper baggie
1 tsp. Vinegar Wooden spoon
3 egg whites Tape
Pinch salt Bible
1 cup sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees (this is important-don't wait until you're half done with the recipe)!


Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested. He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. Vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.

Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27.

So far, the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because
He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Ps. 34:8 and
John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white Represents --in God's eyes -- the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.

Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that
Jesus' tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven
overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a Bite. The cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open
and empty.

(If for some reasons – your cookies don’t turn out hollow – you can still break them up and talk about how Jesus was broken so that he can fix our broken lives OR break them up and say that they are like the "rock" that was put over the tomb.)

Read Matt. 28:1-9
Share The Easter Cookie Story With Friends and Family

BEST EASTER STORY EVER!

OK. How amazing to have these awesome moments with your kids. I had reserved Saturday night to make "Easter Cookies" with Macy ( while Mia was napping). We were making a BIG batch to take to FBI Kids Church for Sunday because I was teaching and thought it would be a great Easter lesson. I got the recipe in an email from my friend Delane this week. I will try and post it on the blog later this week.

To sum it up....First you have to put whole pecan halves into a ziplock bag and beat them with a wooden spoon until they are all broken up. Then you read the verses in the Bible that talk about how they beat Jesus. Then you add vinegar. Have them smell and taste it. Read the verses where they put vinegar on a sponge and gave it to Jesus when he said "I thirst". more ingredients...more verses.... (really neat)....

So I decided to get one of Macy's dolls to talk about the whole "concept" of Easter and what it means. So I cut out 2 hearts on white scrap paper. I had her color one black. Then we taped it onto her doll's chest. We talked about how all of us sin. We have ALL made bad decisions....disobeyed. Bad attitude...etc. Those things keep us from God. Sin makes our heart black. But because Jesus died for us - we can ask Him to forgive us and to come into our hearts. And when we do this - we can have a clean, white heart! I asked Macy if she wanted a black heart - and she said NO! I asked her if she wanted a white heart - and she said "YES!" I asked her doll if she wanted to ask Jesus into her heart and to forgive her. She said YES (with a little help from mom). Her doll prayed and then we took off the black heart and taped the white heart on.

THEN HERE IT IS - I ASKED MACY IF SHE WANTED TO PRAY - AND SHE DID - AND SO WE PRAYED FOR JESUS TO COME INTO HER HEART. AND WHEN I ASKED HER IF SHE WANTED TO TAPE A WHITE HEART ONTO HER SHIRT......SHE SAID NO!!! AND LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SILLY. THEN SHE SAID "I ALREADY HAVE A WHITE HEART". I ASKED HER WHERE IT WAS...AND SHE POINTED AT HER CHEST AND SAID "IN HERE" ... all the while having a huge beautiful smile on her face.

What a deep moment. Wow. She really gets it. I was really going to tape a white paper heart on her chest as a symbol. But she didn't need it!

First Easter Eggs

Mia's first Easter was sunny but the wind was stinking cold!!!!! These pictures were taken at Mamaw and Pa's house after church.














Always the adventure girl... "how can I get out of this fence?"












Both girls were SLEEPY - but finally decided to enjoy the day! I had to have a big talk with Macy. She wanted to HIDE the eggs - but when it was time to hunt them - she would run ahead of Mia and get them all in her basket. NOT FUN for Mia! So she finally decided to run past some of them (even though SHE hid them) to leave some for Mia to find!











Awwww.

FINALLY SHARING! :)

Forgiveness

Brad took these pictures on a recent Sunday morning to illustrate his sermon. Just that morning Macy was slinging a necklace around and hit Mia in the eye. Mia of course started screaming and crying - but Brad had Macy hug her little sister and say she was sorry - and they instantly hugged and all was OK again at the McMath household. Kids are so great about forgiveness!

As you can tell though - by the third picture - Mia was tired of the whole forgiveness theme and ready to quit hugging!

10 Month Update

Earlier this month, on March 5th, we celebrated the one year anniversary of our "Referral". In adoption circles - this is KNOWN as a very big deal. This is "THE DAY" that you receive your packet that you have been matched with a specific child - and you see a picture of them for the very first time. My life changed forever on March 5, 2007. THE DAY had come. God had put together in His perfect timing - that we were now ready to become the parents of this wonderful little girl that He had created.

Even as I look back now at Mia's "referral" pictures - it almost doesn't seem like the same baby. Even though I "bonded" with those pictures - my only link to this child until I could meet her - she has literally TRANSFORMED before our eyes into such a personality. I think that was the thing most lacking. All she knew up until her life with us was so limited. Her personality had never had the opportunity to develop. The transformation has been almost magical. From blank eyes - to dancing eyes...from no expression - to hilarious interaction...from being an observer of objects around her - to being the object of love, adoration, hugs, kisses, and laughter.
Just watching Macy and Mia giggle and hug and play together tonight has been....ahhhhh....such a sweet aroma to this Mommy's soul. And I love the way Mia's eyes light up when her Daddy is chasing her and then the belly laugh that bursts forth when he catches her!

My life has been so incredible since I finally surrendered running from God 18 years ago. I was so empty, but embracing who Jesus is and what he has done for me, for all of us, has changed me. REALLY. I am a different person. I didn't deserve God's grace. Thankfully He loved me more than I could love myself. And now my mind, my soul, my emotions- feel like they have walked from the desert and taken a long drink of refreshing water. How did I get off on this????....

Oh yeah - My life has been incredible since I finally surrendered my life to God - but I must say - that I honestly think that the last 10 months of my life - have been the BEST days yet! Mia seems to complete the puzzle in my heart that is already full of incredible people....God first of all, my wonderful husband, Brad...our incredible firstborn, delightful daughter, Macy...my family...his family...and finally this missing piece of our puzzle is HERE! Wooooooooo Hoooooooo!

Forgotten sledding pictures

Forgot about these pictures from our one snow we've had this year. The girls had so much fun together. It was such a sweet day!! The news is "saying" we might get 4 inches of snow tomorrow - but HA! I will believe it when I see it. It was over 70 degrees today and I don't think the ground is cold enough for anything to stick! I am thinking these are the only snow pictures we are getting this year! We shall see! :)

First Snow Day!

It seems like maybe Mia's childhood is on it's way to completion....isn't your first snow part of the "big" childhood events? I was beginning to think we may not get any snow this year - but today's snow is PERFECT for sledding and snow ball fights!









She could hardly walk in her little pink snowsuit! Hilarious!

Macy's friend Candace is spending the day with us today b/c her mom and dad are moving stuff in to their new house. We have been having a BLAST!

8 month update

Wow - I don't think things have slowed down any from Christmas yet! Craziness!



We had the BEST Christmas EVER! Definitely because Mia was now with us. We have been "waiting" for her the last two Christmas season's - and it was PURE JOY to have her here. She was so sweet - opening so many presents and being in awe over what to touch first. Macy of course LOVED being able to not only open her own gifts - but to help her little sister open hers too!
































Then Macy turned 5 on January 7th! Ahhhh! My little baby girl is getting so big! We had originally gotten a trampoline for the girls for Christmas...but we were way too busy to put it together...so we saved it for the big birthday.

I love this layered picture I made of the jumping girl!

















Mia can say ma ma, daddy, moo, arf arf, please (ta), thank you (chk chu), mamaw (mam), pa, and if she doesn't have a word - she will just scream and wave her arms to communicate! Her first word she learned when she had been home only one month was "kitty kitty" (did did did) - calling the cats! Soooooo sweet.

This has been a GREAT 8 months with little Mia!

7 Month update since Gotcha!

If little Ms. Mia develops any more personality - I am afraid she is going to bust! Personality plus she is! I thought last month was great - but she continues to amaze me day by day.

I have heard people make the comment - "I am not sure that I could love an adopted child as much as a biological child." Well, I can tell you - I feel no differently about Mia than I do about Macy. One born in my tummy - the other born in my heart. I LOOOOVVVVVEEEEEE these girls soooooo much. I can NOT imagine our lives today without Mia being in our family.
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We had our 6 month follow up visit with our social worker in November. After she had asked about 20 questions - I stopped....and said.... " I am sorry I don't have anything negative to say...everything has just been wonderful.....the bonding....her health...her development..." She was thrilled because that is not always the story. Many times families have to work through bonding issues and adjustment periods... It made me realize that everything with Mia - has been like out of a fairytale for us. It has been PERFECT. And I don't want to take that for granted. God - out of His grace - chose to bless every part of our post-adoption. I was fully prepared for every possible outcome - but for some reason He gave us an easy road. Maybe it was the 7 years we spent praying for this little girl! Or maybe some people can just handle that "test" and He knew it would be too much for us! :) Either way - I am thankful for our fairytale!











Mia playing in fall leaves.









This is my youngest sister, Taylor. She had us all in awe over Thanksgiving b/c she has mastered her back-handspring.

















We went to see the new movie "Enchanted" over Thanksgiving. Then "played" princess....Macy would eat the poisonous apple....and fall asleep FOREVER...the only way she could wake up was if her one true sister would come give her a hug and a kiss! We played this over and over and over.....and it was a moment that was just....enchanting.





Ladies Christmas party at our house on the first Tuesday in December. Missed all of you who couldn't make it - but we had a great time. None of the MOPS moms could make it- must have something to do with all of the small children!
I had set my timer on my camera for this picture and then ran and jumped in with Macy and Mia....and whoops it cut Lesia out!

While setting the timer I experienced a GREAT moment...Macy jumped on my right shoulder wanting to be held and see what I was doing...and Mia crawled onto my lap to see what I was doing...and I started falling out of my chair backwards...and Mia laughed and laughed and squealed with delight. It was too precious. I about busted a gut laughing!


Boy these parties can get wild! While playing white Santa - we wanted to see some of the gifts modeled! Thanks to Pam for always bringing the gift with all of her purses from the previous year! We still haven't decided who brought the zebra/batman mask....hmmmnn..it is still a mystery....

And by the way - I really love these ladies!






















Then we raced onward to Friday night when we hosted the annual Deacon and Staff Christmas party at our house. Pictured are back row: Associate Pastor, Deacon, Youth Pastor, Deacon; Seated: Administrative Assistant/Bookkeeper, Deacon; Floor: Deacon, Pastor Brad and Mia!

Just thought that was fun and "official"...should put it in the paper or something!

We missed our secretary Tiffany at the party this year - but her best friends were graduating from nursing school...and she could have brought a HUSBAND this year!
We are so blessed to be a part of an awesome church and to have a group of people that we work closely with that are like family to us. As I look at this picture my heart swells - b/c these people were at our house with us last year - as we waited patiently for Mia. They prayed with us, waited with us, and rejoiced with us. Thank you! We LOVE you!



Who do you think makes a better Batwoman? Mia or Ms. Dianna? I will have to start a poll on this question!























And of course our "elder" deacons always get a little frisky at my parties...seems like I have a picture from 2006 Christmas on this same couch of them smooching....hmmmnnn....devavu?

6 month update since Gotcha!

Wow how this girl is growing! And RUNNING! And LOVES being DESTRUCTIVE! No matter how clean the floor is when the morning begins - Mia has her mind set on throwing as much stuff on the floor as quickly as she can!


I finally got around to our "American" pictures! I have made it a point to do these once a year with Macy - and today was Mia's FIRST "Proud to be an American" picture day!










Everywhere we went today - people were shaking their heads and smiling at Mia. Saying things like.... "She's something else", "Boy she's busy", Man, she has a lot of energy" etc... Usually everyone stops to say how cute the girls are.... but today they were all noticing my wild child's zest for life! And yes she is busy, energetic, curious, and most of all DESTRUCTIVE and like a bull in a China closet! :) I LOVE IT!

We had a costume party at our house last week with our MOPS group. Macy was a "pink tinkerbell" and Mia was a bee. Great to do this after Halloween cause all the costumes are on clearance! They were so sweet!










This little bee won't sting!



















We are missing 4 of our usual kids for this picture - but as you can tell - other than Macy and her friend Raegan - all of the others are 1-2 years old. And Mia is the only girl among that age group! Her rough and tumble ways should fit right in!

5 month update since gotcha

OCTOBER 13, 2007

Okay. So I have become absolutely terrible about keeping up my blog. But life with these 2 girls and Brad just flies by! :)

Mia has become a little bull. She started walking timidly on her birthday - (Aug. 21)....but has not stopped since! She literally runs into and over EVERYTHING! It is not that she is clumsy - she just does NOT slow down for anything! Her balance is so good - she climbs onto any table or chair that she can and then squats up and down like she is dancing - with a HUGE grin on her face! She is so proud of herself for climbing to such heights! But when it comes to running - watch out! She WILL run over you! Even if it causes her 15 bruises to get there!

It still amazes me that this little baby with such a blank expression and quiet personality could blossom into this "move it or lose it", vivacious, adventurous, life loving child! I am amazed more and more each day!

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OCTOBER 1, 2007

A couple of weeks ago a friend of ours had left his 4-wheeler at our house so could use the attached grass seeder (still working on this massive yard project). So we took it out for a family adventure one morning.

I will have to say, that as we rode for those 2 hours - it seemed like just a few minutes. The day was absolutely beautiful. Blue skies, cool air, and our family together. This 4 wheeler is the ultimate family ride. It has a dual seat with a back on it for me! There is plenty of room for all 4 of us to ride safely and comfortable! Of course we never got more than 5 miles an hour!!!! :) We just rode off behind our house and the airport....there are all kinds of trails back in here.

As we rode I thought about how blessed I am. I spent the time thanking God for his goodness. And I am convinced that the two most precious girls on the planet are mine!

Mia LOVED riding the 4 wheeler. She would just wave her little hand at everything....trees, squirrels, spiders, the wind..... And of course Macy loved it too! I have marked this day down as one of my all time favorite days of all times. I will always treasure it in my heart. Slowing down for a few moments of family togetherness. Mmmmm....