Celebrating Melia - 6/7 Party

 We love to celebrate Melia. We find little ways to celebrate like drinks on the 1st of each month to celebrate our "got ya" date, and gifts for A's.... We realize celebrations haven't been the norm for her, and they speak to her.  As July 1st approached and her time of being with us for 6 months approached she asked if we could have a party. We agreed - but the month was CRAZY and so we asked about maybe celebrating her 6th and 7th month with a big party on August 1st? She agreed. 

And thus, a theme was formed - Melia's 6 7 party! LOL   We filled a pinata with candy free prizes, we bought goody bags, balloons, bracelets, tattoos, plates etc, tablecloths, a pinata and a photo backdrop with the appropriate number of months we were celebrating - 6 and 7. 

We invited family, past guardians, family friends and Melia's sisters and their foster families to join us. In the end we had a pretty good crowd, though we missed those who couldn't make it.  We did have a blast. We were especially thankful to Erik and Ingrid for picking up Melia's sisters and bringing them out. 

In this picture, Jared, Arielle - their kids, Bre's kids
Nolan, Stacia, Mike & Me
Melia and her sisters

Jared manned the pinata. He did a masterful job keeping it from being split open until everyone had a couple of swings at it! The company sent the cute blindfold and wand - we brought out a baseball bat for the second round. 

Melia

Annie

Trudy

Alena

Bella

Benny

Gideon

Noah removed the blindfold so he could see. 

Josiah

Danny

Akemi

We couldn't have asked for a better day for a party! The outside plan was far better than the inside plan. It was 82 degrees at our home. Melia made a pineapple upside down cake, I made brownie bites, Akemi made jelly filled DOUGHNUTS (maybe Malasadas? Awfully close if not.) and Alena brought a Guava cake. Dessert was well covered. We also had fruit, veggies, meat and cheese, deviled eggs, pigs in a blanket, bagel bites and pizza rolls. 

Melia spent hours figuring out how to put up the volleyball/badminton net (Michael helped with the finishing touches of the project). 

Guess who blew up all those balloons? 

Ellie and Papap

The photo background and props were a hit! 

Erik and Ingrid (far right below) were the girls' first guardians when their father was injured. Ingrid has been friends with their Auntie since high school and attends ACF, our church. They were the ones who contacted us back in November about providing a forever home for a teen girl.  How thankful we are that they did! 

::snort:: Ellie has the general idea! LOL 

Our out of Valley guests had left, the local grandblessings were playing in the yard, I was picking up plates and trash, when we noticed two uninvited guests in the garden! I SWEAR we are known as the Buffet place to be! 

Bre sent this photo of the kids having a glow stick party at home later in the evening. 

It was a great day to be together, and it was fun to remember and celebrate all that has happened in the 7 months since Melia moved into our family. 

What a WEEK!!!!!

Some weeks are predictable. Other weeks are NOT. 

My week began with a summons to the courthouse for jury duty. This was predictable.  I was selected to be interviewed. I couldn't pay attention because this was the very week we were in court last year for the sentencing of our son's murderer. I was having a hard time paying attention as my mind wandered back a year. I was honest and realized my bias against the public defender. As the questioning went on and I answered honestly several jurors teared up, several court officials had tears, and I figured I would be dismissed. It was iced when I was asked why I was biased against the public defender. What a question! 

"Well, it was my experience the only person in the process who was allowed to say things without proof or correction was the public defender." In the aforementioned trial things were said about our son with no proof, in direct contrast to evidence and it was ok as the defender is allowed to "provide a defense."  They let me go late in the afternoon. I do have to call every night for the next two weeks to see if my services are needed.  

I raced to the post office and the grocery store. As I pulled into the parking space things lit up in the van. I was GLAD I was pulling into a spot. Michael can't bail me out - he's home recovering. I turned the car off, bought groceries and tried to go home. 

click...click...click

Cory and Allie rescued me. Allie brought the code reader and took groceries home. Cory read the codes and learned I needed to buy a new battery. He drove me to Napa and we got the new battery installed. I was off and running. 

Tuesday, I ran errands and tended to Michael. He began to have new pain. 

Wednesday, I took Melia to volleyball practice and as we came home all those lights popped up again. I was still able to control the vehicle. I was so close to be home and didn't want to be stranded again. More lights blinked on. The screen that usually tells my gas mileage and usage popped on "Brake system failure, call dealer" and then "VSC failure call dealer immediately."   By the time I got home the gas pedal was the only thinking working on the van.  

This wouldn't normally be a problem, but the truck's brakes need repaired. Michael bought the parts to do the job and then was told not to twist, lift etc....he didn't get to it before surgery.  This means I have no working vehicle. The mechanic cannot get to the van until Monday.  

Wednesday afternoon Cory came over and moved all the RV batteries to the RV as they are too heavy for Michael to be moving just now. 

We stayed home Thursday...rested, took care of Michael. 

 Melia had an optometry appointment, and we added a visit to her baby sister Amika. Allie volunteered the use of her car.  Just as we turned onto the final road to the Bentah Nuutah clinic, I heard a loud grinding noise, and the car began to violently shake.  There has been talk of struts needing to be repaired. I thought maybe a strut had fallen out....don't.judge.me.  (but you can laugh).  I checked under the car, around the car and couldn't figure out the problem. I alerted Allie and Michael at home and went into Melia's appointment. Melia sported cool shades for a couple of hours. We ordered a pair of glasses for Melia. We discovered braces and glasses aren't paid for by the clinic. That's o.k. The care has been such a blessing to us. 

As we crossed the parking lot, I was able to see the problem. Allie's tire had exploded and it was flat! I was game to change the tire, but the tools and jack weren't in the car. We cancelled our visit to Amika. 

Nolan picked up Allie and the tools and came to our rescue!

Are you counting? This is the third vehicle break down in ONE WEEK that *I* was in....when we got home, I was surprised to see this! What an amazingly welcome sight! Dillon and Kylee are the new leads for the Palmer campus of ACF, our church. They had repeatedly asked us to let them know if we needed help and had offered to bring groceries, pick things up for us, and all sorts of things. We kept saying we were fine, we are pretty self-sufficient with all the kids around. ::grin:: 

Finally, on Thursday night, with both our vehicles down when Dillon asked if there was anything he could do I asked if he could change the brakes on a truck. He showed up! While Dillon worked, we visited with Kylee. 

CoRielle dropped the grands off for their 2 hours with Bachan and Melia. When they came back, they mowed our yard. 

The girls went off with Jared to the Bear Paw Festival. 

We started the fire and prepped for s'mores. It was a small group this week, but the fellowship was meaningful. It has been nice to meet this summer in smaller groups around the fire with no pre-planned discussion. This week Rebekah, Aran and John came...oh and Runa! Isn't she a doll? 

She is John's riding partner. 

We had no clue Aran was a fire chef! I mean he can COOK in that fire. We also have a fire chief in our group....but anyway Aran prepared corn, Brauts, and apples and we didn't even open the s'more kit. LOL  The girls got back from the festival and Melia was able to check in with all of us.  It was a nice ended to a very hectic week!

In the midst of an unpredictable week, we were blessed by kids, Dillon and Kylee and our life group members. They showed up. They.showed.up. and healing is growing in community. 

Big Catch Up - Shew it's been busy.

 Life has been really busy. We have been catching Melia up on much "delayed maintainence."  We have also been busy with life, school and church.   The easiest way to catch up since May 7th is do a giant "catch up"....

May 7th - Bella and Annie surprised us in the middle of lifegroup! Check out this lovely flower bouquet from Bella! Bella is growing into a very thoughtful young lady. 

May 8th - Melia had a dental appointment. The purpose of this is to take care of a tongue tie. They referred us to oral surgery in Anchorage as well as to Orthodontics out here. Thankfully, there are no pictures of this appointment. 

We also had CoRielle's children over for a few hours, got out the summer toys and had a fire...Post and photos to follow. 

May 9th - Melia and I met with her sister Akemi and Akemi's foster mom at a mall in Anchorage. We had a really good time shopping for dresses for Akemi's 8th grade graduation. Both Melia and Akemi got beautiful, sparkly, black dresses.  I was introduced to Korean hot dogs. I'm a fan.

May 10th - Mother's Day - Post and photos to follow. 

May 11th - Melia and I visited her 6-month-old baby sister. We also saw the dietician and Melia's primary care physician at the Valley Native Primary Care Center. We continue to be impressed with the clinic and the care she is receiving.  

May 13th - I met in Eagle River with Kimber to discuss new ways to be involved in discipleship ministry at our church. While I met with Kimber, Melia was able to meet up with Ayana, her oldest 1/2 sister. Ayana is 21 and was home for Mother's Day. The girls had a nice visit and then I took them to lunch at Lime Leaf.  I didn't take photos. 

While we were occupied Michael had a spinal MRI, one step closer to understanding his constant pain. 

Bre and children came by for a make up campfire and s'mores. Post and photos to follow. 

Melia ended the evening at a Sibling Game Night at Nolan and Alex's. 

May 14th  -  I took Melia to the nail salon for a 2-hour appointment. She had acrylic nails installed. ::snort:: She wanted the nails by Akemi's graduation and hopes they'll last through our Idaho trip.  Kathy at Dream Nails did a great job. 

Melia had an orthodontic evaluation. They confirmed she needs braces. They seconded the referral to the Oral Surgeon in Anchorage. 

Life group is growing and we needed 2 tables tonight, 16 of us. This is fun. We started late in the year and its sad the year is ending just as we're digging in. We plan to offer a summer schedule - fire and s'mores so we can still maintain connection. 

May 15th -  The highlight of our day was having CoRielle's kids over. Tea party!!!!

May 16th  - Melia and Stacia attended the Alaska Bible College commencement. It's hard to believe Stacia has finished her junior year of college. 

In the afternoon the family gathered -Post and photos to follow. 

May 17th - Impact Alaska - This is an event that is gathering momentum. It's one Sunday when the church goes out in the community. This year 17 churches and 2 organizations from Fairbanks to Homer participated. ACF changed oil, paid down gas, did yardwork, delivered doughnuts, cleaned and painted parks, cleaned up schools and a senior center...  Mike and Melia joined a group delivering doughnuts to first responders and businesses in the valley.  I was ill.  No photos. However, Larissa shared a photo and a story.  

Noah and Larissa joined a group in Eagle River to drop off doughnuts. At the ended they had a final prayer huddle. The lady next to Noah asked if he wanted to hold her hand for the prayer. He took that as a signal it was his turn to say the prayer. He said, "Thank you Jesus for Noah and mama and dada and thank you for the snacks that are sooooooo nummy!" 

May 18th - The MRI discovered the source of Michael's back pain. He not only has arthritis of the L4 L5 vertebrae, but he also has two cysts on either side of his spine at that point. This impinges on the spinal nerves resulting in near constant pain. Somewhere from 2 - 8 depending on if he is simply sitting or if he's trying to walk or twisting. SO...until the VA and cardiologist give all the approvals for surgery, he is sitting a LOT and trying not to twist, lift, stand or walk too far. Given the size and placement of the cysts the doc wants to do surgery rather than trying to rupture them. He thinks there is less chance of complications. 

May 19th  - Melia and I drove into Anchorage for Akemi's 8th grade graduation. It was a fun day. Alena, Melia's 15 yo sister,  was there with the Guardian Ad Litum, April, Ingrid, Tim and Chelsea....it was fun. Alena had to go back to school after the graduation. April and I took Akemi and Melia to lunch and then I took the girls out to take photos. Post and photos to follow - maybe if I get time to edit faces. 

Stacia, Melia and I went to watch "The Sheep Detective," in the evening. We enjoyed the movie. 

May 20th - Melia and I drove to the ANC in Anchorage for an Oral Surgeon consult. He irritated me when he repeatedly chided her for not having this taken care of years ago. Grrr.... he kept asking, "Why didn't you take care of this earlier?" Until I pointed out, she is a minor and her father didn't take her in. She is on meds and we'll go back in a week to see if he decides it's time to take care of the problem. 

May 21st - The girls and I began clearing out the storage/library room to make a summer room for Allie. We bought a bed frame and some drawers, moved boxes, and organized. We couldn't move the treadmill and Michael couldn't help. 

At Lifegroup Chandler showed us how to make s'more in foil. Yummm....and then he single-handedly moved the stubborn treadmill. Allie's summer room is ready. 

I discovered someone had totally dismantled the decorations at Josiah's gravesite. I determined to remedy the situation. Other graves were still decorated. 

May 22nd - Allie is home! What a long trip - but she did fly first class on the longest leg of the journey. No, not true. The layover was the longest leg. ::snort:: 

We made plans to meet Jared for lunch in Chugiak. Unbeknownst to us a garbage truck caught fire and it took well over an hour to make it 1 1/2 miles. We were hangry when we made it through. 

Charles helped me attempt to put the volleyball net up. "Hmmm....Bachan we need Papa's duct tape!" 

May 23rd - Melia and I took Arielle and the kids out for a BIRTHDAY BREAKFAST. It's Arielle's birthday.  

This was Ellie's first or second time in a restaurant. She watched everyone tell the waitress their order and then interupted....."Um...I nummies please."  ::snort:: 

After breakfast Melia and I took the boys shopping for gifts. It was a great little trip. 

I stopped by and had tea with Josiah and made sure his site is fully decorated. 

When I got back home Nolan was at the house and a night of games and laughter commenced. Post to follow. 

May 24th - Sunday morning tea followed by church, a really long "fast" food lunch with Jared and Noah. Allie, Melia and Stacia met up with Alena and went on a hike. Post and photos to follow. 

May 25th -  I made a last minute stop at the store and came out with a ballon to add to the picture. I was happy to see so many people out taking care of graves. Family BBQ. Post and photos to follow. 

May 26th - Allie spent an "at home" day. She took care of all the things one needs to do when moving locations. Melia and I ran some errands and bought some starts for a garden. In the process we ran into Bre and kids at a coffee drive through....we quickly took pictures of each other...because we're like that. LOL 

I made Chandler's corn on the grill - as well as salmon and veggies for dinner. That was good corn. I must do that again soon - but at $1.50 an ear of corn. Shew. 

Stacia invited friends over for a movie night. 

And now I'm caught up...... "sort of."