Happy Anniversary!

Today Ken and I celebrate our 21st Anniversary! I don't think we could have imagined where the Lord would take us in this great adventure. But it has been wonderful!

The Lord has truly blessed us with so very much. I know that the things that Ken and I treasure the most are the relationships that we have. Never imagining that He would fill our home with seven children, or allow us many friends to share our lives with. Then there is the blessing of our extended families which we are so grateful for.

It was during our first Boundary Waters Canoe trip that we started on this path. No running water, no walls around the toilet, no showers surely married life can be easier than that! It has not always been easy, it has had some heart break, but it continues to be a wonderful life.

When I think back to what drew me to Ken I think of his gentle spirit, his faithful walk with the Lord, and his willingness to reach out to everyone. He continues to be that man and more today. I am so very thankful for him and to the Lord for bringing us together.

Happy Anniversary, Honey!

One Year Ago

(Note: If the playlist music is playing you will have to 'pause' it to hear the video, sorry.)

One year ago today we were in Guatemala to meet Nathan. It was a short trip but a wonderful investment. The Lord allowed us a special time with Nathan, meeting him, loving him, cuddling with him. While it was hard to leave him at the end of our trip we wouldn't change a thing. It was four days that we would have missed forever.

We left part of our heart in Guatemala when we left but we would return in June to put the pieces of our heart all together.

Meeting Nathan increased our prayer life as suddenly he was very real. Leaving him behind helped me to understand how completely the Lord loved Nathan and reminded me that while he would be a part of our family He truly belonged to the Lord.

Where's Clifford?

This morning while we were doing school Nathan was busy playing in the sunroom at the play kitchen. The catch is that the dog food and water dish are also in the sunroom. So...when Clifford the Big Red Dog was brought to us as Clifford the Big Red Wet Dog we had a pretty good idea what had happened. Clifford needed a bath! Nathan was all smiles until I put Clifford in the dryer.

He wasn't sure what to do then.

We asked him where Clifford was and this is the look we got.

When we turned on the dryer light and asked him, "Where's Clifford?"; he pointed.

Reunited at last!

Happy Birthday Honey!

Happy Birthday Ken!!

Ken and Brandon enjoying the zoo on a sort of warmer day.


Ken and Nathan going up a hill.

Go Illini!





Happy Birthday Ken!

Young Minds

Not too long ago we were in the van heading out and Molly asked, "Are there really guardian angels?" We told her we would look in the Bible to answer her question. One of us asked her why she asked and she said, "because I think that there is an angel sitting on my lap right now and it is looking all around.

Encouragement

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." I John 4:12

Today was a day of encouragement. It was sunny and almost springlike, which I personally needed. It was fun to drive over to an Adoption Conference in a neighboring city with three other wonderful ladies. Those two things were a blessing on their own but we also attended a great conference on adoption.

It was wonderful to hear like-minded people sharing their hearts for the orphan. Just hearing the excitement, hearing people search for answers about where God is leading them, and hearing stories shared about how the Lord has gone before others to bring orphans into families is delightful. The Lord knew what He was talking about when He told us that we need to be in fellowship with other believers, it's inspiring. It is good to hear about God's faithfulness in others' lives, it spurs us on in our own lives. It was a good day.

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Please Pray

Please be in prayer for Abby. Her little life has touched many and her family has a wonderful testimony for the Lord. They are in a battle for her life. You can follow the link on the side to hear more about Abby. Please pray for her family.