The Beginnings of Christmas

Molly's piano teacher gave students the opportunity to play Christmas music at a nearby nursing home in early December.

Molly played two songs and did a great job!

The 2nd and 3rd graders presented a wonderful Christmas progam with song

and even learned to sign "Silent Night".

Here is Brandon's class dressed as snowmen.

They also did a great job and even kept their stuffing in place!

When the children were done singing the music teacher said a few words that included telling the audience that she hoped they knew The One that we celebrate this Christmas season.

It was a great start to our family's celebration of Jesus' birth!

Happy 18th Birthday Joel!

Per Joel's request we celebrated Joel's 18th birthday with an apple pie and vanilla ice cream.

Okay, so this isn't the most flattering picture of Joel, but he said I could keep it on here. We celebrated Joel's birthday with Chinese take-out, yummy. He also started a new job that same day, preparing to be done with high school mid-December and planning a busy semester for January.

Joel is a wonderful young man with a deepening relationship with the Lord. We enjoy him greatly! He possesses a dry sense of humor that we all enjoy.

Happy Birthday Joel!

Chicago in October

My mom has been part of a clinical trial to treat her cancer at the University of Chicago. This means that frequently we make the trek to Chicago very early in the morning. Much of the time we have been a trio as Mom, Nathan, and myself have ventured out together. Nathan has even made himself a tiny little fan club of some of the staff. Nathan has been a great traveler and a nice distraction during a not so fun trip. My sister Valerie has helped out in between working and doing an internship for her class.

In mid-October the kids had the day off school on Mom's clinic day so Ken joined us and we all made the trip at 5:30am. Ken and the kids spent the morning at the Field Museum of Natual History while mom and I were at her appointment. When we were done we joined them down by Lake Michigan and had a picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day!

Nathan mugging for the camera in front of the lake.

Daniel in all his coolness.

Molly and Dad checking out the water.

M0lly and Daniel keeping a close eye on Nathan.
(There are several very wide stairs in front of them you can't see.)

While going to Chicago has lost some of its beauty for me due to the frequency of our trips, it has been very nice to be able to spend time with my mom. My mom is a lovely lady whom I admire greatly. It has been an honor to honor my mom in this way.

"Honor your father and your mother,

so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
Exodus 20:12

Running Fast and Far

Joel has run Cross Country the last two years. He enjoys the discipline and distance. (He is his father's son in that area.)

The group of seniors out of approximately 50 runners.

Two great coaches that we are very thankful for.


Guys in black on Awards Night.


Way to go Joel!

Fun Fall Fotos

The youngest with the oldest. Everyone looks forward to Allison being home for a weekend.

Natalie (midfield in purple) getting it done for her soccer team.

Joel working hard on the computer.

Molly in the mix playing soccer.

Brandon in the goal for his team.

Allison bought these chairs at Goodwill for a few dollars, the table we had already.

Here is the finished product in her apartment building at school.

Here is what the chairs looked like in the process of re-doing them.
They had been an ugly brown color, here they are primed.


Nathan enjoying the fall festival in our town.

Daniel and Brandon about to do the swings. Brandon wasn't too sure about what he was getting himself into.

If you look closely Ken and Brandon are in the middle of this ship, with daredevils Molly and Daniel near the end.

Brandon as Nathan's buddy.

#9 Molly

Molly turned 9 back in September (I know I am very slow with my posting.) Molly is the cup 1/2 full person in our house, she is the one to make us laugh with her crazy sayings. Molly plays the piano, reluctantly, loves Barbies, her American Girl doll, and anything pink. She spends many hours playing teacher. She is a girlie, girl that happens to be interested in bugs and riding her bike.

Happy 9th Birthday Molly!

Mooom, I Need Help!

Molly has done her own hair for a long time and 'usually' does a great job! But one day things went wrong...

Ken and I both worked at it for a long time. Just when we thought we were going to have to use the scissors....

Ken was able to get it out. Not sure her hair ever has totally recovered. Phew!

She is being much more careful these days.

Small Road Trip

Our 3 soccer teams are done, cross country has ended and we are into our school routine. We have hit some bumps at times, some larger than others. We are making it, though some days it may be more honest to say that we are enduring.

Saturday we decided that we would take a road trip but we didn't have really anywhere we especially wanted to go. So what to do?..... Natalie wrote out a bunch of directions on slips of paper. For example "turn right at the next corner" or "go 7.2 miles and then turn left" amongst others. We put them in a coffee mug and hopped in to see where we would end up!

We pulled out the directions one at a time and wondered where they would lead us. Our drive took us through much farmland where we saw horses, goats, sheep, and cows. Most of the farmers were done with their harvest so the fields seemed rather large. The kids often commented through the trip about what they were seeing. No Ipods, no toys, just us. It was a fun adventure. It didn't take us anywhere special but it was a special time. At the end we ran into a grocery we found and bought caramel apple doughnuts and juice and had a snack then headed home. It was a simple time but a great change of scenery.

Back home we are focusing on putting others before ourselves, both at home and away from home. We are also focusing on being "doers of the Word". Some of us are more successful at this than others but we continue to work on it.

As we are now in November it is our desire to have our family focus on the abundance of blessings that are surrounding us! I love the month of November when we take the time to say thank you to the Lord for all that He provides. The Lord truly has provided us with all that we need and much, much more.

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A Tale of Two Birthdays

I have shared this story before but I take some time this morning to share it again.... While adopting from Guatemala and after precious Grace went home to be with the Lord we were waiting for a referral. It was getting close to Natalie's birthday and she would pray each night that we would get a referral on her birthday. Sadly her birthday came and went without a referral. Not quite two weeks after Natalie's birthday we received our referral (a wonderful day!) and found that not only would Nathan be a part of our family but he was born on Natalie's birthday! We were amazed at how God had answered Natalie's prayer for without us even knowing the Lord had given us a referral on Natalie's birthday.

Natalie is now a teenager and Nathan is 3! Happy Belated Birthday to both of you!





Natalie it has been alot of fun this summer watching you grow closer to the Lord. I love your desire to be in the Word and to learn.













Nathan you go with the flow, as is needed in the 7th child. You are such a little cheerleader for our family.

We love you both so very much! You are both such a blessing to our family!

Happy Birthday Natalie and Nathan!

Stuff in my Head

I find that I have less time to post then I used to so I have continued to contemplate why I blog and the value of the time it takes. When I mentioned to Ken my thoughts his reply was, "it is such a great record for our kids". So.... guess I'll stay with it a little longer.

Brandon's 1st day of 2nd Grade
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Our school year has started and that is always an adjustment of sorts. Schooling is a year to year decision in our home. This year we have a junior in college, a freshmen and senior (last semester) in high school, a 7th grader, and 2nd and 3rd grader. The younger 5 in our public school. Nathan and I manage our home together. The adjustment this year has been a little bit more of a challenge as two of the kids moved up to a new school, but not bad.

Molly's new desk in 3rd grade
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Our children are not overly involved in activities, the problem is that the one thing they choose to do is all at the same time. Right now we have 3 playing soccer - yes 3 different teams, and one running cross country. It still is rare that we do not eat dinner together, though the time changes with the schedule. It is a light and momentary time so it is doable, it is also a lot of fun to watch how each has progressed from last year.

The college move-in crew - Allison's Junior year

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Natalie is very excited about being a part of our junior high youth group. Joel is filling out college applications. We are trying to get Nathan interested in potty training. Time marches on.

I have been thinking through what I want to do differently this school year to help our home run more efficiently. I have a couple of goals in mind but not ready to write them down yet.

Nathan looking cute

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No Longer a Teenager!

We have this wonderful young lady that lives in our home some of the time. There are clothes in her hamper, her bed is slept in and at times she comes with many friends in tow. She has been known to make yummy crepes, biscuits and gravy and many pans of brownies. She is a delight!

Last month Allison turned 20 and I wondered where the years have gone. We are getting deeper into that tender stage of life where her independence is becoming greater than her dependence on us. This is a bittersweet time as this is what we have brought her up to do - follow the Lord independently of us but it is with the realization that we have a different role in her life.

For fun here are 10 things I love about Allison (not in any particular order):

1. I love that she desires to "Trust God" in all things.

2. I love when she gets goofy when she is tired and starts doing weird things.

3. I love that she has a love for people of all kinds and acts on it.

4. I love that she is my daughter!

5. I love her beautiful dark hair.

6. I love that she is a great big sister, setting a very good example for her younger siblings.

7. I love that she has a servant's heart.

8. I love that she is girly.

9. I love her insights into people.

10. I love that she talks to me about important things in her life!

So, Happy Belated Birthday Allison! 20 years ago you were a precious gift to us and you continue to be a wonderful gift from the Lord today!

Missions on the Mind

This past week our church hosted a missions conference. We had the privilege of hearing several of our church's supported missionaries share what God has been doing and where He is leading them. Some were "seasoned' missionaries while others are preparing to go the field. Each was encouraging to listen to.

Yesterday we heard a family share about their experience working in the states with refugees. They shared about how we can reach out cross-culturally in our own community. We often think we have to go somewhere exotic but really the Lord has given us the opportunity to reach others for Christ right where we are.

The missionary used the text of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37. They shared three points that I thought I would share with you.

1. Be on the same road.
*We need to love others.
*We need to be willing to take a risk to be on the road with others.

2. Be spontaneous.
*If we are running all the time it is difficult to be spontaneous.
*Be prepared to be spontaneous.

3. The Good Samaritan acted out of compassion.
*Compassion enables us to roll up our sleeves and get dirty.
*Compassion enables us to see beyond the obstacles.
*When being hospitable - remember the food is not the most important thing.

4.Involve others in service.
*(my interpretation here.) We don't have to go it alone, allow others to help too.
*Love others.

It was a great morning challenging me to think deeper about how we do missions right here.

As a side note: Please pray for our oldest two children and their team as they minister this week in London.


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Challenged

I know that it is truly summer here. The temperature this evening was 87 and it was humid, though there was a nice breeze as the kids enjoyed the pool. (the four kids that were home) And while it is summer I have been thinking lately about what season of life I am in. Actually, trying to figure out what season of life this is? With an about to be 20 year old down to an almost 3 year old sometimes I get confused where I fit.

The one thing that the Lord keeps bringing to my mind these days is "Who am I sharing the gospel with?" I feel that I could use the excuse that at this time in my life my family is my mission field, or my 4th grade Sunday School class, or the families that I come into contact with through the Orphan Ministry that we are involved with but what the Lord is impressing on my heart is that there are others out and about that need to hear the gospel.

I am being challenged to look outside my comfort zone and I am asking the Lord to open my eyes to those that need to hear His truth and secondly that when He opens my eyes to someone that then I respond by taking hold of the opportunity to share His truth with them.

Pray with me, won't you?

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Working Together

We have this wonderful cherry tree in our backyard. Early June the cherries are ready to pick. We usually fight the birds for the cherries, some years when the birds were particularly busy we hung a rubber snake in the tree to deter them - it didn't work. A couple of years ago we went to bed with lots of cherries and in the morning the tree was empty, not one cherry left. We think that perhaps a band of very hungry and satisfied racoons got into it.

This year we got to them before any little varmints did - except our two legged variety. Our neighbor has picked cherries, our kid's friends have picked cherries, we have picked cherries. We have delivered bowls of cherries to other neighbors. (It's almost like growing zucchini.) Some of the kids did a great job of picking cherries along with eating many.

Daniel eating and picking.

Nathan helping Daddy (Ken is right behind him)

Molly and Brandon busy at work.

When they were done the not so fun part was pitting them so they could be frozen. We will be enjoying them for quite a while. While it takes some work our cherry tree is a blessing.

Happy 2nd Gotcha Day!

From here-----

Two years ago today about a half hour after we arrived at our hotel a dear Mama from the Children's Home brought Nathan to us. What a special time that was as we were reunited with our son that we had originally met in February. I can't believe that it has been two years and yet it seems that he has been here forever.

He is talking more and more, loves to keep up with his older brothers and sisters, and has a wonderful sense of humor. He does a little jig to get a laugh and has such a bright smile.

I am attempting to upload some pictures and it isn't working this evening, I will post them perhaps tomorrow.

Happy Gotcha Day Nathan! You are a wonderful blessing from the Lord.

To here!

Love you!

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Busy Weekend

We have spent much of the weekend staining our house. It needs it badly and I was ready for a change.

The backyard, a little disheveled

.......The kids and I started on the back before Ken got home from work Friday. At first I was a little unsure, paint never seems to look exactly like you picture it in your mind. I thought this would be a little darker green but I really like it now that more of the old blue is covered.

While we painted some of the younger ones entertained themselves in the water. For a while Nathan wanted to paint with us so we gave him a cup of water and a paintbrush and he "painted" the bricks.

.........It was a hot day and is usually the case: heat + water = water fight!

They were all lovin' it! Not sure how a couple of the kids escaped being involved.

We continue to work on the house. A thunderstorm mid-day today put a stop to our painting. We'll keep plugging away at it. I'll post pictures when we get more done, only two upper level sides to go!

Go Fish - The Mom Song

Happy Mother's Day!

To all of you out there that are a mom, will one day be a mom, or act as a mom to someone that may be not even related to you - Happy Mother's Day!

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May you be blessed by the Lord as you fulfill the role you have been given by Him.

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We had a great day worshipping the Lord and being together. My family is an amazing blessing from the Lord, one which I don't feel that I deserve most days. I received a wonderful present of a new bicycle, my old one was, well, very old and needed to be replaced. I look forward to the adventures it will bring!

Happy Mother's Day!