Kris and I have been friends, via our blogs, for many years now.  She is always the one I turn to when I have html problems - she's just so tech savvy when it comes to blog templates and she's bailed me out of many sticky situations when it comes to my blog template!

Little did I know, back when we first became friends, that God was preparing us for a special project.....
This past spring, when I started working for TOS, Kris and I got the wonderful and fun job of creating the very first TOS planner - The Schoolhouse Planner!  We found out that we work very well together and that we think much alike - I think the results (the finished planner) make that obvious!  We're already brainstorming on the "new & improved, bigger & better" 2009 edition of the planner, which should be set for release sometime this coming spring!

Needless to say, I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to meet Kris two weeks ago in TN.  She was everything I expected her to be and much more!  Kris, thanks for being a great friend and an amazing co-worker!  I'm looking forward to more fun projects with you in the future!

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I've always known that teenage girls can be "petty" and "catty".  I used to be one, after all!  However, I think maybe I thought I could somehow keep my daughters from going through some of the pettiness and nastiness often associated with teenage girls.  However, we have recently encountered a few "situations" that have led us to believe that homeschoolers are not exempt from these things......

One of Ashley's very best friends (and a fellow homeschooled student) has recently said some very nasty things to her, things that best friends shouldn't say, things that acquaintances shouldn't even say.  This friend has told Ashley (on more than one occasion) that she doesn't like her style, that she thinks she has a horrible singing voice, and that she hates her hairstyle.  Now, seriously, would you say these types of things to someone you profess to really like?!  Would you even say them to someone that you don't like?!

When Ashley tried to explain that these are hurtful things, her friend came back with the excuse that you SHOULD tell your friends things like this.  WHAT?!  Did I miss something?  Did, somewhere along the lines, etiquette change?  When did it become acceptable, or even necessary, to hurt your friends by saying unkind things?  She even went so far as to quote a verse from Proverbs that says you should accept "criticism".  After some research, Ashley and I have discovered that only the New Living Translation uses that word, instead of what it really means, which is "correction" or "discipline". 

I tried talking to this girl.  Now, before you think I'm a meddling parent who can't let my child "fight her own battles", let me explain that I am also this girl's Sunday School teacher.  When I tried explaining about the verse, and her quoting it out of context to make excuses for her rudeness, she got rude with me!  Please!  Again, maybe I'm missing something, but if my daughter would disrespect an adult like this girl did to me, she'd be facing some serious discipline!

If it's not enough that Ashley is dealing with this "issue", last night she got some nasty messages on her Facebook, from a former HSB blogger, no less.  What that means is there is another homeschooled teenage girl out there who is trying to stri up trouble.  Ashley ended up deleting her Facebook. 

So, tell me......why can't they just be nice? 

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I just wanted to take some time (while I've  got a free minute or two) and update you on  few things.....

First of all, the girls and I made it to the Jonas Brothers concert on Tuesday night.  I was NOT the oldest person there!  LOL  Despite the fact that I hated the opening act (The Veronicas) and I thought Demi Lovato did more screaming than singing, I really have to say that I enjoyed the Jonas Brothers.  This may be sad, but it's true -  I found myself singing along to all the songs!    I've said it before - I love music!  And I'm glad (and proud) to know that I've also instilled a love of music in each of my girls.  If you'd like a more thorough concert report (along with pics of the JoBros), be sure to check out Ashley's blog.  Just to hold you over, though, here's a picture of the 3 of us, waiting for the concert to start:

In other news.....I took Ian to the family doctor this morning.  He has been coughing a lot this week and his nose is running.  I called the dentist yesterday and they told me that the anesthesiologist might cancel the surgery if he sees that Ian is congested.  I hated the thought of putting off the surgery any longer (because he is experiencing so much pain with his teeth); but, on the other hand, I would never want to do anything to put Ian in danger (if I can help it).  So, we had him checked out.  His doctor said that his chest is clear, so she encouraged us to go ahead with the surgery.

He has to be at the surgery center at 8am tomorrow morning.  Please join us in prayer for him.  Here are some suggested things to be praying for:

• That he will be pain-free leading up to the surgery
• That he will not have any adverse effects from the anesthesia (we know nothing of his family history, so this makes me nervous)
• That his cold will not affect the surgery in any way
• He is not allowed anything to eat or drink after midnight tonight - Ian is a major drinker, so this will probably not go over too well with him in the morning
• Pray for his recovery - to be quick and painless
• Pray for us, as we will be waiting and worried about our baby
  
  Thanks so much!  I'll update tomorrow, as soon as I can!
  
  

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I've shared before on my blog how blessed our family has been by the ministry of Steven Curtis Chapman and his family.  When I heard that they were going to be on Good Morning America and Larry King Live, I was sad that we don't have tv service and wouldn't be able to watch.  We did watch the GMA segment afterwards on the internet.  And just this evening, Ashley and I sat down to watch the Larry King Live segments.  All I can say is "wow!"  I mean, other than the fact that Larry King can be a bit rude, as far as getting names wrong and butting in a lot, the Chapmans did an amazing job at holding up and professing their faith.  I cannot even fathom the tragedy that they've been through this year, and my heart continues to break for them, but I'm also continually inspired by them.

If you take the time to watch the YouTube videos (link above to the 1st segment) take notice to Will Franklin's t-shirt.  That is the Show Hope t-shirt.  Brian, Ashley, and I have that same shirt - we got them last year when we volunteered at Steven's concert in Lancaster.

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As you know, my family is very impressed with Steven Curtis Chapman and his wonderful family.  Not only were we beneficiaries of a grant from Shaohannah's Hope, but we also had the honor of volunteering at one of Steven's concerts in PA back in the fall, at which time we met Steven personally and become even more impressed.

I am saddened this morning, as I just heard the news that Steven & Mary Beth's youngest daughter, Maria (adopted from China) was killed yesterday afternoon.  She was struck by a car in her driveway, driven by her older brother.

What a tragic loss!  Please join me in lifting the Chapman family up in prayer.  May God surround them with His comfort and His love and may the Chapmans feel the prayers of those of us who love them.

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Because we don't have cable tv, we tend to be a bit behind the times when it comes to current events.  The news we hear is what Brian comes home from work with~  things he hears on the radio or during the Glenn Beck show.  Anyway, I caught a glimpse of the "Mistaken Identity" story while glancing over Brian's shoulder as he was reading the news on msn last Friday.  I'm always intrigued by things like that, so Ashley and I sat down at the computer and watched the Today show coverage.  We saw that Dateline, that same night ,was going to be a 2-hour special about the story.  We wanted to watch, but we had our Casting Crowns concert that night. 

Finally this morning, we sat down and watched it.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here.   You can read some of the story and even watch the 2-hour Dateline special. 

I am just in awe of these two families.  Matt Lauer asked them repeatedly if they ever question why God allowed the situation to play out as it did.  Both families answered in the same way~ that they don't question God~ that they trust Him.  As I sat there watching the news coverage, and listening to them tell their stories, I had tears in my eyes, and often found myself just shaking my head is disbelief over the whole thing.  It just seems so surreal to me. 

BUT, I know from my own personal life experience that God has a plan and that everything happens for a reason.  I've often said that often we don't know what that reason is for years to come, if ever.  However, it is so obvious to me that God used this situation for His glory~ these two families are sitting in front of a national audience, proclaiming their belief and trust in God.  Wow!  Powerful stuff! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts......

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I was thinking about this entry as I drifted off to sleep last night.......

My kids are at such different ages~ Ashley is a teenager, Gracie is 7 (and wanting to be a teenager), and Ian is nearing his 2nd birthday.  They are each at such different levels, but they are each developing their independence in new ways.

For example, Ashley is 14.  I love having her with me here at home each day.  We've become such good friends, yet we still maintain a healthy mother-daughter relationship.  I love that she feels she can confide in me.  But, when her friends are around, she'd much rather "hang out" with them than with mom, and that's ok.  She's able to go out and do things that her younger siblings cannot do yet, and that's exciting to her.

Gracie is not my baby anymore, and she's enjoying learning and doing new things that require her to have more household responsibility, such as folding and putting away her clothes, etc.  She's been very independent where her schoolwork is concerned for quite awhile, but is learning to be more independent of mom for many other things as well.

However, here's the sad part:
For well over a year now (every night since we returned home from Vietnam), Ian and I have shared a bedtime ritual.  I would rock him for awhile, sing songs to him, then put him into his crib(more recently, his bed).  Last night, though, when I said "Should Mommy rock you now?" he pointed to his bed.  I expected  that, when I laid him down, he would cry and decide he wanted to be rocked, but he didn't.  He went to bed totally independent of mom!  Though I'm proud that he's growing up, this was a defining moment for me.  True, maybe tonight he'll decide he wants rocked again.  Then again, maybe not.  He's growing up so fast, and I have treasured those moments we've shared together, rocking in his room. 

Oh, how quickly they grow.  I'm so thankful to God that I can spend so much time with my kids~ teaching them and learning with them and watching each new step they take toward their future independence.  I do wish I could keep them little a bit longer though!

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22 years ago today, my parents and I, along with our pastor and his family, set off on a road trip to the Newark, New Jersey Airport.  It was there that, later that evening, we would meet my 2 brothers for the very first time.......

They got off the plane with their escort~ they were so little and so cute!  They had on so many layers of clothing that they were sweated wet and their hair was plastered to their heads.

On the way home, we got into a wreck, our car was totaled, and all 10 of us rode home in our pastor's little Plymouth K-car (or was it the Dodge version?!)   There were 2 little boys who couldn't speak a word of English, surrounded by people they had never seen before, and poor David had to have stitches in his forehead and the arm of his brand-new coat was ripped to shreds.  Welcome to America!  (Mom later sewed up the coat only to discover little bits of glass throughout the sleeve.)

It's been an interesting 22 years!  My  brother David is married with 3 little boys of his own;  he's a 5th grade teacher at a local school.  Hard to believe he's come so far, from that little boy who couldn't speak a word of English, to a man who's now teaching other kids!  My brother Jonathan is also married and has a good job for Ricoh;  no kids yet, but he's become quite the world traveller (and just recently returned home from a trip to Hawaii). 

We'll all be celebrating together on Saturday.  Happy Airplane Day, Dave & Jon!  I love you and am proud to call you my brothers!  And, I thank you for introducing adoption to our family!

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Have you ever had a really strong opinion on a certain issue;  then something occurs that makes you re-think your stance?  Let me see if I can  think of a good example.......

OK, how about this?  I've seen mothers in malls and other public places and they've had their child on a leash!  Goodness, that has always seemed extremely inhumane to me.  However, here I am, the mother of a very busy little toddler BOY, and I'm beginning to wonder what Disney World will be like with him a year from now.  Hmmmm......could it be that we'll need a leash?!    God forbid, but I may have to eat my words!  I've seen the new ones that look like a little animal backpack type thing~ somehow they look a little bit better to me. 

Anyway, my question is about another controversial child issue~ one that it seems people differ in greatly in their opinions.......THE FAMILY BED.  Now, if you had asked me years ago if we would ever have the family bed, I would have adamantly said "no way!"  I thought that Ashley was the world's worst sleeper~ truthfully, I don't think the girl slept through the night (faithfully) until she was 11 years old!  But, we persisted through each and every bad sleeping habit that she had, and she made it  through.  Gracie was quite the opposite~ she wanted put to bed in a dark room with the door pulled closed and left alone for the night~ could a child be more simple?! 

Along came Ian......that child is making me re-think so much of my previous parenting ideas!  I told Gracie not too long ago that I think God sent Ian to us because we were becoming too dull~ and I believe that's not far from the truth.

Anyway, I've mentioned before that he is NOT a good sleeper.  Hasn't been since we brought him home over a year ago.  It's been very clear to us that he was pampered at the orphanage.  Just recently, I got some confirmation on that when one of our agency contacts told me that, when she saw him, it was exceedingly clear that he was a favored  baby.  Now, don't get me wrong, it makes me feel great to know that my little guy was loved beyond measure before we got him.  But, the thing is, it has made it extremely difficult to get him used to the way we think things should be! 

We joked that he was "the little prince" but the thing is, it's really not that funny anymore.  And, after a year of not getting a decent night's sleep for more than one night in a row (guess I wasn't supposed to get my hopes up!), I've given in!  Though Ian goes to sleep in his own bed each night, he ends up in ours~ anywhere between midnight at 6 am~ for the remainder of the night.

So, I lay myself out there........I want to know~ DO YOU HAVE THE FAMILY BED?
If so, tell me your experiences with it........
Is there anyone who has successfully gone from having your child in bed with you, to having that same child sleep independently? 
I want to know your opinions~  both pros and cons. 
I've tried everything that's been recommended (and then some) on ways to get this child to sleep alone, but I just can't take too many more nights of 3 1/2 hours of awake time in the middle of the night!

*If your answer is too much to leave in a comment, please feel free to post about it on your blog, just leave me a link in your comment.  Thanks!

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......to share our family's Christmas letter here on my blog (since I haven't had much time for blogging lately).

The following letter was included with a picture card (containing some of the pictures you see at the top of my blog)~ and sent out to  those that we don't see nearly often enough.

Most of the news has already been shared here on my blog~ consider this "our year in review"......

  The Strawser Family Christmas Update 2007

As you can see by our Christmas picture this year, there has been an addition to our family since our last letter (2005)~ hence the reason that we weren’t able to send any Christmas cards out last year. (And you thought we didn’t like you, didn’t you?!)

 Right after Thanksgiving last year, Heidi & her mom left for Vietnam and arrived home on December 15^th with Ian William Tran Strawser (born in Bac Ninh, Vietnam on April 20^th, 2006).

 This past year has been full of lots of changes for our family~ the addition of a little boy has been full of fun and lots of laughs. Ian is now 19 months old and he’s growing and changing every day. He doesn’t have much to say, but he knows lots of sign language and he makes a lot of noise!

 Gracie is 7 now and doing 3^rd grade work in school. She continues to excel in everything she tries.  She is such a joy. Currently, both she and Ashley are taking piano lessons and doing quite well. Ashley is 14!  She’s in 8^th grade and it’s hard to believe we’ll have a high school student next year.  We are continuing to homeschool and will do so as long as God allows. We wouldn’t have it any other way~ we love it! Some days it’s really hard to schedule everything in (around Ian’s infrequent naps) but it’s worth any added stress to have the girls at home each day.

 Heidi continues to be a stay-at-home mom and is active at church serving as the Junior High Sunday School teacher (both rewarding and challenging!) and as a leader in the women’s ministries. Brian still continues with his full-time job and is reffing basketball during the winter months.  He teaches Senior High at church, as well as serving on our search committee team, leading the youth, and being a deacon.

 Some of the highlights of this past year have been celebrating Ian’s first birthday in April, a weeklong trip (ending with Gracie’s birthday) to the beach in June, a trip to Baltimore in July~ to visit with the Meeks family who were on our adoption trip last year, several fun field trips (including the Crayola Factory and Sight & Sound), a trip to Ohio to visit old friends, a trip to Kentucky to visit new friends (as well as the Creation Museum), a teenagers’ makeover party for Ashley’s 14^th birthday, and meeting Steven Curtis Chapman!

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