Max Belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ

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Max is named after my Grandpa Max Madsen who died a few months before my Max could come home to America. My Grandpa Max knew about my son Max, had seen his picture and knew we were naming our son after him. It was actually at my Grandpa's funeral that we got the news from our adoption agency that a very important approval that we had waited months for had been issued by China's government allowing us to move forward in Max's adoption. I felt that that approval was heaven sent aided by my Grandfather.

Anyway, my Grandpa's birthday was October 8th and my little Max had the privilege of being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints this past October 8th. It was a really special day and just one more sweet connection to my Grandpa Max Madsen.

Max was really excited to get baptized and was truly prepared. He has such a diligent little soul and has a genuine desire to do what is right. He felt this was right and has a budding testimony of the truths of the Gospel. I'm so proud of my little "double handsome" Max. (That's what JunShuang means in Mandarin.) I have no doubt that he will continue to honor the covenants he made with Heavenly Father when he was baptized as he grows up and it will one of the sweetest privileges as his mother to watch him.

I love you, Max!

Grandma Parker continued the tradition of making a cozy quilt with the child who is getting baptized's name embroidered on it along with the letters CTR or Choose the Right on it. Max LOVES his quilt and sleeps under it and the love from Grandma that goes with it every night.

It was such a special day!

 

 

My Morning's Mental Meanderings

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Last night after my children went to bed I celebrated my freedom and then almost cried. I was busy wiping their dirty hand prints off the walls and I realized that I'm half way through the work I longed and worked for years to have the privilege of doing. These children of mine are halfway raised. Ugh!

Ok. Now I'm not crying, I'm bawling.

There is nothing more in my life I'd rather do than mother. Sometimes I get so exasperated. Sometimes I get so worried. Sometimes I'll admit that I count down the years until they leave my house and are grown but most of the time I really, really love being a mother and all of the time I cherish my opportunity to spend my life serving these little ones. How they fill my heart!

Last night I tucked Noah into bed and he was so very tired that it was all he could do to barely open his lids to check I was there while he snuggled into his blankets. He asked for "fifty kisses", a sweet Noah-made tradition where we gently kiss his cheeks 50 times because one time isn't enough for my affection gobbling son. After the 50 he lifted his heavy eyelids and contentedly asked for "Just 15 more?" and when I told him I would he said with earnest endearment, "I love my Mommy."

My dear Noah, my sweetest Max, my precious Marilyn, your mother loves you too - with her whole mommy heart. How will I ever bear it when they are grown and gone? I'm dreading those years when my babies are grown and my husby isn't retired yet. I've got a very short career and nothing in this life will ever be as wonderful, as taxing, as fulfilling, and as sweet as RIGHT NOW.

Max Is The Star of My Heart

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Max was super excited to be the "Star of the Week" in his first grade class this week and get to bring a poster that told all about him. Since Max is the star of not just my week but my heart also, I decided it would be fun to write all about him.

Max is named after one of my very favorite people, my maternal Grandpa Max Madsen. Just like his Great Grandpa Max, my Max loves math and is destined to get some kind of mathematical degree someday. This morning when I told him that Max replied that he was going to be a chef instead and then informed me that chef's use a lot of math too. (He said this all while completing a math worksheet he had created for himself which included several different types of math problems and about 20 problems total. How cute is that?) Then he said this to me, "Mom, I wish [the TV Show] Cupcake Wars was still letting kids on. If I were on that show I'd win and then I'd spend that $10,000 prize to expand my kitchen!" I wasn't surprised that he wanted to be on Cupcake Wars or that he thought he could win but I was totally thought he'd daydream about buying toys or going on a cool vacation. What kind of kid dreams about "expanding his kitchen?!"

And that's Max. He's a delight and I'm so, so very thankful that he is my delight. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for blessing my life with this precious son. He is a bright and shining star in my heart.

I love you, my Max JunShuang.

Max has said that art is the hardest subject at school for him. He loves spending time with Daddy reloading bullets and watching soccer. He plays soccer at recess every day and is looking forward to being on a soccer team this fall. He's never needed any help ice skating and is very independent.

He loves to play Monopoly with me and is learning how to be a great strategist. He's a pleasure to have as a lunch date and I take advantage of that as often as possible.

He's a valiant young man who strives to do what is right and has it in his heart to be faithful and obedient. He wants to be baptized and is looking forward to being able to do that this fall when he turns 8. There's nothing better than a Max giggle - he's very silly. Oh! And he always needs a haircut! We love you, Max!

Johnny Appleseed Take 2

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Earlier this fall we had the pleasure of attending our family's 2nd "Johnny Appleseed" program put on by our school's First Grade. We'll never forget when it was Noah and Marilyn's turn because Marilyn was just fresh in our family and learning English. We LOVED hearing her sing, "Wasn 'e jus grand? Johnny Applesee, Johnny Applesee. Wasn 'e jus grand? John-ny Ap-le-see!" in her big grinning voice. Max was just as sweet too. He'd been singing the songs for the program around the house to anyone who would listen and for just himself too.

Grandpa and Grandma Parker made time to come watch and let Max know how much they loved him too.