The Muench Bunch

We carried on our annual tradition of celebrating New Year's in a hotel in Des Moines. Just our family rolling in the new year. We went out for a nice lunch at a Mongolian grill, then spent some time shopping a the Jordan Creek Mall. Back at our hotel we enjoyed the swimming pool. We have stayed at this same hotel many times. They have a small pool, a hot tub, and a kids pool. Th kids pool is warm like a bath tub and Luke had the most fun floating around in it. He even floated under with his goggles. Sometimes I think of all the hours spent driving to and from swimming lessons and all the money paid, was it really even worth it. I think it is so imprtant for my kids to know how to swim, but the lessons didn't seem to really help much. Jayden can swim to save her life. Jacob has had a ton of lesson, but spends all his time like a fish swimming under the water. I don't think he can really swim above water. Luke would rather not be under water. Back in our 2 room suite, we de

Yesterday was 57 degrees and today it did not get above 1 degree. Mark woke to what looked like more bites. We were worried it was bed bugs. That would have to be the worst. Chiggers maybe or we had heard of grass lice. After seeing the welts this morning I told him he needed to go see a doctor. He went to short term clinic while the kids and I went to church. He discovered he has sand fleas. They get under your skin, and cause red itchy welts. He got some medication and they take a week to get rid of. After church we met my parents for lunch and showed pictures and talked about our trip.

Today was our first full day home and we are going to have to deal with little water in the house. Enough to cover the basics but that is all. We had to go to Karen's to wash all our laundry and take showers. This was my first hot long shower in over a week. It felt wonderful. Karen fixed us lunch and we told about our trip. In the evening we opened the presents under the Christmas tree. The kids each had a couple things to open. It was our little family gift exchange. 

 Our last day in Jamaica. We had time in the morning to go shopping and sit by the pool and take in the last rays of sunshine for a long time. We had the hotel breakfast buffet. It was considered a buffet, however the waitress gets it for you. There is no all you can eat. It was more like the least you can eat. We are spoiled and excessive back home, no wonder everyone is overweight.  Our first flight was 1:40 to Charlotte, then to Des moines arriving at 8PM. We were home a little after 10. Traveling is so exhausting. Our team managed to get home safely without anyone getting sick and all our luggage in tow. It was great to get home, open the door, and have the boys smiling running to us with hugs. I missed them! We hugged and talked until 11:30. My bed never felt so good. I slept like a log until 8:30 the next day.

This is a good explanation of  the “new” adoption process and how it will impact families hoping to adopt from the Nest. Written from a Nest Director…She basically told me the same thing we have been hearing for months. Bottom-line is the country has gone to a centralized National database that all adoptions are processed through. Regional offices no longer have any ability to “match” children with prospective families. I talked to her at great length about the unique situation many of our families are in – they’ve come to Robin’s Nest to serve and have been called by God to adopt a specific child. I did my best to persuade her. I believe she understands the situation but they have no ability to assist any longer. I asked if it helps or harms a match if a specific child is requested and she responded it doesn’t matter because the request will be disregarded. Miss Hill commented that they have more families wanting to adopt than children available (particularly ages 0-5. Older children

 The last day at the nest, I had mixed feelings, I was ready to take a hot shower, eat food that I like, sleep in my own bed, and most of all see my boys at home. At the same time, I did not want to leave these sweet kids, knowing I may never see them again. I was up to the main house by 7 watching the yougest kids eat breakfast. We had a morning devotion time, then had breakfast, packed and spent time with the kids. It went so fast and the bus pulled up at 10. I held kids and watched as the boys ran around on scooters and the cool runnings cart. When it was time for the group photo, Omar latched onto me. He took a quick potty break so I was not worried to hold him. After the picture I held sweet Aldane.  I did not know quite how to say goodbye to him. I had only just met him and grew to care a lot for him. His eyes said it all. I could tell he knew what was happening. He knew he really liked us and did not want to see us leave. He knew today was leaving day and that he would most l

Christmas morning the boys opened Santa gifts and stockings with Mawgee and Peepaw. Mawgee said Luke was so excited and amazed that Santa really did come to Grandma's house.  In the afternoon they went to Grammer and Po’s for more gifts and family time. We are so thankful that they were both willing and able to take care of the boys and make Christmas special while we were in Jamaica. We are so fortunate to have great parents and to our kids great Grandparents.

Day 7 Christmas Waking up on Christmas morning was very different this year! We did not wake up to our children anxious to sneak out and see what Santa left. There was no cold snow outside on the ground. Waking up on Christmas morning in Jamaica was warm sunshine and 30 some brown children excited and anxious to eat the sweeties in their stockings and open the wrapped presents. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.  Everyone was up early for Christmas morning. The Jake’s house boys were excited, up, and eager to start present opening. The boys all had an assortment of gifts and a stocking with sweeties. The big hit for Christmas was the remote control cars. Each boy also got a scooter, hat, clothes, and a hair brush. The hair brush cracked me up, especially when one boy, Jeheim looked at it with a confused face and put it up to his bald head. They also got nerf guns and one big keyboard for playing music. The big surprise was the push carts. At fi

Mawgee and Peepaw took the boys to the Williams Christmas Eve service. Afterwards cousin Alivia came back for dinner and presents. The three of them had fun running around playing with headbands. Grandma said, Jacob was starting to not feel so good.

Each morning we have morning devotions on the roof. Today Jodi Ann came to visit. She has graduated the house and now lives in a teen home at the age of 18. They are helping to educate her and help her get a job. She was so happy to see people she knew from the trip last year. In the morning I organized donated shoes. They had so many and of course any girl loves shoes. It was fun to see the darling little shoes in all sizes. We organized them in a handy way by size. More often, they hand these shoes out to staff and community kids.  Lunch was cheese or tuna sandwich and I do not eat tuna. The bread is so good thick and fluffy, but having it every meal does not seem like it would be good for the digestive system. The past couple days there have been groups that come in for the day to help. Basically they show up around 9, work a few hours, eat lunch, then leave back to their all inclusive hotel on the beach.  It is a little hard knowing we are living here for 8 days and they come