What a great start to a post, right?

But really, today at Wal Mart was very interesting indeed.

I decided to head there early in the AM. With the kids (all of them, in-service day for the boys). In my pajamas. Without, ahem, support for “the ladies”, if you know what I mean. (I was wearing a sweatshirt, so it wasn’t so obvious but we are starting a garden so I thought perhaps to fit in I should start going without “support” more often to fit in sufficiently).

Anywho, we started out at the can take back center. It had been over a month since I took back any cans so things looked really bad (beer cans, a few whiskey containers, a few wine jugs, the usual). But as I was putting the cans in the container I turned to the kids who were sprinting towards the computerized job application center.

“Kids, look at me, do not touch the screen. Understand? No touching. Did you hear?” – Me

“Yes” -kids

I turn back around to finish the can business. Take a peek at the kids just in time to watch Tariku touch the screen.

“Tariku! Come here. What are you doing?” – Me

“Touching the screen.” – Tariku

“Why? Did you hear me just tell you not to do that?” – Me

“Yes.” -Tariku

“Ok, well spit out your gum, and you can take a break with me then.” -Me

All of a sudden a guy (we’ll call him “genius”), also taking back cans, breaks out in applause.

Applause. Towards me.

He starts yelling, “Thank you! Thank you for being a good mom! Thank you for following through on what you say! Consequences, they’re called consequences, people!”

Have I mentioned I love Wal Mart?

So genius and I have a good talk. About how his wife threatens the kids and then keeps threatening and then keeps threatening them.

Genius told me his kids know that when he tells them he’s going to throw their butts through the window, they know he means it (we’ll start calling him “misunderstood”).

Ok…moving along, back to my superb mothering skills…

“Seriously”, misunderstood says, “that’s what’s wrong with parents today though, man. They have no respect from their kids. You got that, look at him (pointing at Tariku) that kid knows you mean what you say.”

And I suppose he does. I suppose all my kids do.

I’m not mean (though they might think so from time to time) but I do tend to hold my ground decently well. Sometimes, though, I get so angry I’ll say something like, “Stop doing that or you’ll never get a toy again for the rest of your life.”

Riiiiiiight.

Either way, today I decided Wal Mart isn’t so bad after all. Or at least genius/misunderstood isn’t so bad.

I also decided next time I might throw on some support, a bit of mascara and really throw people for a loop in that place.

Have them every Wednesday. Would have them every day if I could, particularly when the temps are in the 80s!

And these two are beyond precious, so loving they truly know no strangers.

Oh but these two, are the very best of friends. Their relationship has seriously taught me a few things about my relationships. They love each other so fiercely, I can’t get enough of them.

Though adoption is typically considered life giving to the children being adopted, that’s not truth, it’s a farce (mostly). Rather, my life was saved in a way I cannot articulate.

That is the truth, that is adoption.

Tell your story.

Notice the Power Ranger’s thought bubble. “Poop”. Really?

Did I mention my brother and Lindsey are getting married May 22, of this year? I’m so excited.

Clearly, this means every day is “go time”. This weekend was “go weekend”. Lindsey’s sister came over Saturday and her mom and mine came Sunday to help out.

Good times. So excited for them.

First stop, THE place to get all things wedding.

Lindsey was soooo excited about the bows!!!

Pretty good little shoppers!

Then we worked on putting ribbon on bubbles. A table full of sisters and bubbles!

The finished product.

It was also my baby bro’s birthday, as you know. So there were candles (and beer, obviously).

“Uncle Markie” and kids.

The happy couple and my kids.

So yesterday was kind of a big day in our family. It marked 2 years since we brought Tariku home.

2 years. How is that possible?

I didn’t blog, I have no pictures of our guy on this day.

I’m a horrible, horrible mom who was somehow blessed with this wonderous creature we call Tariku.

Some of my friends call this day “Mindful Monday” in the blogworld.

I have no deep thoughts about my life 2 years ago and my life now. I have talked (incessantly perhaps) about how our lives have changed since our little habesha walked into our hearts.

But honestly, the more time passes the easier it is to forget these days. To stop concentrating on milestones. Because even though they act as good reminders to say a little “thanks” heavenward, every other day he’s just our son.

He’s no different. He eats, sleeps, laughs and pees just like my other kids. I kiss his knees when they’re bleeding, I sing his nickname song and I ache and miss him when he’s not around me.

I adore his laugh, I can’t get enough of watching him eat, he’s life and love and brilliant and forever ours.

I had great hopes 2 years ago walking through the tunnel of the airport towards our family and our home.

But my hopes then don’t compare to our present day reality.

We loved the last two years and are looking forward to the next eternity together. Love that boy.

I know I’ve told you before about how much I love my little brother. I have since the day he was born, from what I remember (except for the notable exception when I asked my Grandma-on the day of Marcus’s birth 24-years-ago today-if him being born meant I couldn’t sit on my mom’s lap anymore….ahhhhh). Marcus was the cutest kid, the cutest kid. Always a little prone to shyness, but would always do whatever needed to be done. Help mom clean? Sure (show off). Help Tesi try on dance outfits? Sure. He was good like that.

But it’s funny how relationships change and grow in different ways as we get older. I still felt/feel fiercely protective of him but it became painfully obvious he could take care of himself as the years progressed. There was one thing I knew I could do, that was pray for him, and so I did.

After I met Zach and realized just how great and fun marriage could be, I started praying for my brother and sister to find that too. I started praying that they find people who can make them feel the way Zach made me feel, have a relationship that was so fulfilling like ours. I prayed that they’d find someone whose strengths matched their weaknesses and vice versa. A person who would challenge them, encourage them and love them. I also prayed that the people they ended up with would know that marriage isn’t all butterflies and roses, that it takes work and sacrifice and determination. That it is no fairy tale, even the best ones. That marriage commitment is just that, a commitment to stick it out, to work it out, despite how so very hard that might be.

And about 2 years ago I started hearing my parents talk about Marcus dating a girl named Lindsey. Marcus had dated before, but it was primarily of the “group dating” variety with his friends. Nothing really serious. But I kept hearing more of this Lindsey person. Then I got to meet her and I was pleasantly surprised. Not because Marcus wasn’t capable of picking good women to date, but because she was so great. Smart, funny, outgoing, didn’t put up with his crap, gorgeous, looked at Marcus with googly eyes, etc. They were instantly really cute together. I saw Marcus in a way I hadn’t for awhile (by nature of not being around him much when he was in college and I was in the family way) and that was this caretaker, nurturer, go-to guy. It was just so fun to watch them together.

Then Marcus got into the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Lindsey decided to transfer to St. Ambrose and last August the pair of them moved to the QC. Having spent more days and weekends playing cards, watching movies and grilling out together I was just in love with the two of them together. My prayers became, “Please don’t let Satan screw these two up. Protect them. Nurture them. Encourage them. Bless them.”

And so He did. On Thursday my brother proposed and Lindsey accepted. A whole new ballgame. I get to be a sister-in-law again (I’m thrilled) and Marcus gets a whole new “title” in his life, that of “husband”. I have no doubts about these two. No doubts that there will be the very best of times, that they will be great for each other and to each other and that the times when they’re not, they’ll work through it and do what it takes to come out the other side together.

But for today, I’m just so happy and so excited for them.

Oh, and Happy Birthday baby bro!

So today was the annual “One Day Without Shoes” sponsored by TOMS.

That meant for the whole day (with the exception of when I was either walking through the Y-they have a policy about barefeet-or teaching my classes) my piggies looked like this.

The “One Day Without Shoes” campaign asks us to go without shoes for a day, an hour or a moment to put ourselves where a lot of the developing world is…shoeless.

I’ve talked before about Tariku’s feet. There’s a disease in Ethiopia that infects the feet and leads to some pretty awful stuff, 100% preventable with good foot hygiene and…shoes. Tariku clearly went shoeless his first 3 years of life. This is a real issue.

So try it tomorrow.

Until then, go here and getcha some. I might just have to purchase the “Purple Sumatra Vegan Classic”. Buy a pair, a pair goes to someone who needs them. One for one, it’s almost too easy.

Saturday night, with the whole family there, we decided to have a little photography session.

Before any picture taking there is always wrestling involved.

No wrestling is complete without their almost 87-year-old great grandpa getting involved too.

Lots of generations in this little picture.

With the grandparents (and dogs, obviously).

Our full family picture. I think I now know why they tell actors to never work with kids or dogs.