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.