Celebrating Chaos

SNOW? WINTER???

2012-01-26T16:45:00.001-05:00

The calendar tells us that the season is still winter, but this is the most snow that we have seen and it was weeks ago! The kids were delighted with even this small amount of snow and took advantage of the short time it lasted!

You have to understand that for kids who have always been homeschooled and never had a snow day, they are feeling desperate for one now that they are in school. It doesn't look like they will get one however!

Never Take it For Granted!

2012-01-12T11:52:00.000-05:00

The hustle and bustle of the holidays had almost been pushed aside, and the kids were heading back to school -- some had already started and the other two were getting ready to head back. We had a great holiday that sped by far too quickly. My parents had stopped overnight to celebrate Christmas with us, and now we were moving back into the hub-bub of life.

It was last Tuesday morning when I came down into the kitchen and noticed I had missed a phone call from my dad about an hour earlier. I quickly assumed that something must be wrong with my 98 year old grandmother, but instead discovered that my mother had suffered a heart attack and was very ill. My parents were still traveling and were in St. Louis, staying in a hotel 2 miles from the hospital that saved her life. (Ultimately we know it was God!)

I quickly called my siblings, sent my kids off to school, rented a car, threw together some clothes, and drove to St. Louis. I am so thankful for a supportive husband and kids who made this possible. Rob and M held down the home front so well I don't know how much they really need me ---- other than to get groceries (LOL). But so thankful for them!

My mom had a long week. Everytime we thought things looked good, something else came up, but God gave us some great doctors and she is now home and on the road to recovery. God is faithful, and we all saw it. She wouldn't be here today, unless God had placed her where she was, and we are so grateful.

We never dreamed that when my parents left here that Saturday morning, that we might not ever see each other again, this side of eternity. Fortunately, it didn't happen that way, but it could have. Hug your kids, love your spouse, hug your parents and never take it for granted....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-02T17:07:00.000-05:00

Christmas with Gma and Gpa!

2011-12-30T22:38:00.001-05:00

Living miles away from so much of our family means that we often don't get to see them at Christmas, but this year we were blessed to have my parents swing by for a very short visit between Christmas and New Years!

The Cast Comes OFF!

2011-12-29T22:29:00.002-05:00

It was the night after Thanksgiving when little Miss A was jumping onto her gma's mini exercise trampoline and fractured the growth plate near her ankle. Now it isn't like we don't have a regular, full-size trampoline that she has played on for years, but discovered the exercise trampoline is better for causing the small break! She spent one whole week on crutches before progressing to a cast and walking boot, and then another 4 weeks before the cast came off. And now she is free again!

A Glance at 2011

2011-12-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

It has been a year -- a year of growth, a year of change, a year of learning, a year where God is pruning and teaching. It has been a year with many smiles with tears sprinkled in. It has been a year of memories and new places. It has been a year that God is using to teach us, mold us, and to refine us. It has been 2011!

* Rob graduated with his PhD in the spring!
* After graduating, Rob began his own company and is staying busy creating a positive user experience for those using software -- and who doesn't these days!
* We celebrated graduation with a trip to Florida-- the beach, Disney World, Sea World, and Epcot!
* The kids are now 9, 10, 11, 11, 13, and 17.... and we are still 30 aren't we!
* We just celebrated 21 years of marriage with a weekend away to a lovely bed and breakfast, thanks to Sarah who volunteered to manage our crew!
* After homeschooling for 11 years, our entire crew is now attending school and really doing well, although hating the homework!
* We have a teenage driver in the family!
* Our driver works as a lifeguard, both guarding and teaching swim lessons, and works as a mother's helper one afternoon a week.
* Our driver is also taking college classes for high school credit and has begun an American Sign Language Associates Degree.
* All three boys are still enjoying Boy Scouts -- camping, shooting, and learning all that is involved with scouting! They spent one week at camp where our oldest scout earned the honor of being elected to the "Order of the Arrow," a select group of scouts who demonstrate leadership skills and embrace the values of scouting.
* The boys are still playing soccer~
* Our driver, who also enjoys participating in Venturing (a division of Boy Scouts for girls), was just recently recognized with a 2011 Leadership Award and a rank advancement.
* Julie enjoyed taking her first photography class this year and now needs to find some time to practice!
* Rob and M ran the annual Fourth of July 5K this year.
* We got a Schnug - a pug schnauzer mix puppy who has wrapped himself around everyone's heart!
* Over Labor Day we enjoyed a weekend together at Family Camp where we played together and made many new memories.
* Our teens now stay up later than we do, but oh how we enjoy those late evening chats!
* Our little girls are no longer so little, but delight in so many things. They love to read, cook and to do crafts.
* The twins continue to do well and have now been home for over 2 years. It is hard to believe that this was their third Christmas home!

The year has been full and we are so thankful for God's faithfulness through all the good and the not so good!

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T22:51:00.000-05:00

Season Greetings!

2011-12-18T16:43:00.001-05:00

It is that wonderful time of year again when we find ourselves enjoying the beauty of the season! So many traditions have developed as the years have gone by, and we look forward to and treasure each one. The house has been decorated, the shoeboxes sent to Operation Christmas Child, and school parties completed. The shopping is almost done, the enthusiasm high, and the house is filled with Christmas music and smells.The advent book this year is Tabitha and captivating our attention each night! We still have lots of baking to do and so looking forward to our Christmas break! There are quiet whispers here and there as kids make their plans, and there is that wish for a white Christmas. Most of all, our hearts our filled with thanksgiving for the One we celebrate and honor this season.

These are the things that fill our home this season as we celebrate Him who has rescued our hearts, loved us, and blessed us in so many ways. Though life is never easy, we find it much richer with Jesus walking by our side.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
~ The Crew

Back to Blogging.......

2011-12-16T10:30:00.000-05:00

I wish you could have overheard the conversation last night as these boys were getting ready for their first school program. (First, you must understand that we are a pretty casual family. Dressing up for our boys means putting on a nice pair of jeans and a button down shirt or sweater and just wearing your nice pair of tennis shoes.)

All week they have known that I have been hunting for 'dress' clothes for their school program, which required a tie and dress shirt and thus dress shoes too -- insert groans! As they were getting ready last night, our shortest boy scout came in and announced he was ready to go. He looked great, except his shirt was untucked. We told him he need to tuck in his shirt and he about had a heart attack - "What! I have to tuck it in too?!" He couldn't believe it!

About 10 minutes later we overheard him in his room telling his twin that he needed to tuck in his shirt. Again we hear "WHAT?! We have to tuck it in?????"

I promise you it wasn't 5 minutes after the program, just outside the auditorium that "A" took off his tie and promptly unbuttoned his top button!

2011-10-23T21:46:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we watched the movie "Jump In" together which is a movie about teens who compete in jump-rope double-dutch competitions. Those kids could do amazing tricks! Since yesterday was a beautiful fall day, the kids took the opportunity to sharpen up their own jump-rope skills and though they couldn't come close to the movie, it was a delight to my heart to see all of my kids out there working together on their skills!

Unexpected Changes

2011-10-22T17:02:00.002-04:00

Seasons come and go in our lives and sometimes we have to be willing to let them go---- as difficult as letting go can be.

Homeschooling has long been a part of our life, something that I never dreamed at the start of this year, would be coming to an end. I have loved having my kids home, I have loved seeing them grow, and I know it afforded us much more time as a family unit. I feel strongly that homeschooling greatly helped our adopted boys through the transition into our family as they played catch-up in the academic world and in learning English. Homeschooling, although full of struggles, was good for our family.

A couple of years ago our oldest began attending school when we saw the demands of high school, teaching the other 5 kids, maintaining the home front, extra-curricular activities, church activities, and having a husband who was a full time student and and working almost full-time. I have always just learned to do what needed to be done, often sacrificing things that I never should have.

This year we already knew that God was leading us to put our oldest son in school too, and that would leave me with just the other four kids at home. I was looking forward to this school year, excited about what we would be studying, and had almost everything in order. Just before school started it became obvious that our co-op was changing their focus and we just were not able to keep up with their requirements -- the first clue that God might be directing a change. After several weeks of school, driving kids back and forth to school (one who is attending both the high school and and the community college), multiple interruptions for doctors or therapy visits, and the everyday stressors of life - I hit a breaking point. Homeschooling on the fly was not working out for me.

As I began processing what life looked like, I realized there just wasn't enough time to be all things to all people. I wasn't living my life by priorities, but by the loudest demands in my life. Devotions and prayer were things that I had to do on the fly, while planning meals and finding time to get groceries were a constant struggle. There was no time to exercise so I lived with constant muscle pain, which I have dealt with for years and increases without exercise. I longed to spend quality time with my kids -- I had kids who needed someone to process life with, but I was always putting them on hold. And there was little left to give to my husband, let alone anyone else.

Saturdays became an all day grading marathon and organization time for the next week. And I grew tired, very, very tired. And when I am tired I am not very patient, I became short-tempered and I didn't like myself very much. I have always wanted to be a good mom, but I just had nothing left to give. I felt broken and very much like I had failed.

God has blessed me with such an amazing man, and this man began praying and looking into potential changes for us. He brought my sister out for a week, who just helped me fill my freezer, put some sanity in my life, cooked, and held my hand! (She was an amazing gift!)

A friend, who we don't cross paths with too often, called Rob out of the blue and they started talking about the local Christian school. A place that had the best options for our kids, since a couple of them are still making up for lost time since they haven't been home quite 2 years yet. Doors opened that we never dreamed of (just as in our adoption process) and within one week our kids began attending a regular school for the very first time.

It was stressful jumping in mid quarter- at mid terms, adjusting to a whole new routine of life and now dealing with homework in the evenings, but the difference is that I have 2 hours every morning where I can take care of my priorities, before I have to pick up someone. I am finding time to seek Him and allow Him to direct my paths. That is hard for me, even after the whole adoption process which was a whole faith journey in itself, but how easily I forget where God has been, and my faith falters and I second guess myself. I like control, I like to know how things will come together, and I like a plan. Putting our kids in school is a step of faith -- financially, socially, spiritually, and even academically. But I know God led us to this point b/c I would have destroyed so much if I hadn't let go.

So now, here we are four weeks later. Our kids are doing well --- they are happy when they leave and they are happy when I pick them up. They hate homework, but who doesn't! I don't know what the future holds for us, but for today I am happy where we are at -- (even though I would never had believed I would find myself in this place!).

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 55:8

Scouts Court of Honor

2011-09-16T22:43:00.000-04:00

This past year the twins joined Boy Scouts and have had the opportunity to grow and mature in many new ways. They jumped in with both feet, took on leadership roles within their patrols and have worked hard to advance in rank. This was their first official Court of Honor where they were honored with an advancement in rank and the few merit badges they earned. Great job boys!

Old Friends

2011-09-16T22:24:00.000-04:00

It was a special treat when my closest friend from high school stopped over for a quick visit! Cheryl, along with her hubby and youngest son were driving through and we had the chance to catch up for a few hours!! Although Rob had left to take our two oldest to the "Do Hard Things" Conference, there was still plenty to catch up on!

Life has taken both of us on roads we never dreamed we would travel, but so blessed to know that this girl is always just a phone call away! So thankful for my precious friend!

School Begins

2011-09-15T22:20:00.000-04:00

This was a year with many changes on the school front for our crew. Our lifeguard moved to the local public school and began taking some college classes at our local community college, while our oldest Boy Scout began attending a STEM school. Big changes for both kids -- and for mom and dad. After all these years of homeschooling and a few years of private school for our lifeguard, moving to the public arena was a bit concerning. Fortunately God is bigger than all of this, and it was such a blessing to see Him put the pieces together to direct the steps of our kids! The rest of the crew reluctantly jumped into our homeschool routine at home and off we began another year!

Remembering the Pool!

2011-09-08T09:12:00.000-04:00

Summer has come and gone and so has all of my time! I have so much catching up to do on our blog if it is going to chronicle our story without any major gaps in it --I print the blog every 2 years to remember where we have been and what God has been doing.

Although we didn't spend quite as much time at the pool this year, we still enjoyed plenty of days cooling off and playing in the water while often under the watchful eye of our favorite lifeguard!

Summer Fun

2011-08-25T22:02:00.000-04:00

Painting a Summer Flower

Hang'n Together

An Artist at Work

Smiles at the Alley

With the end of summer I have to take a moment to mark the fun that we had! Each year continues to fly by faster than the last! I managed to only complete one major house project this summer (painting our bedroom furniture black), but we did work our garden, enjoyed the local pool, read a lot, and just hung out. We enjoyed some great books about Hero's of our Faith and the kids took on small projects of their own. We organized and cleaned--- just not enough in my mind- and I was blessed by Rob to take a two month photography class. I have so much to learn, but learned so much too!

I chaperoned and I drove -- I drove my kids everywhere it seems. To work and back. To another job. To Scouts. To church. To Camp. I drove. But once, while driving, my precious son reminded me to cherish even that time, for those times afford special one on one conversations that are often hard to come by in a house as crazy as ours. What a blessing!

The boys built the wood pile holder (for lack of a better name) behind the shed and I love it! It was a great project for them! Now if I just had an indoor fireplace!

I enjoyed morning walks several times a week and quiet times on my back porch. This, perhaps more than anything, I will miss the most! I LOVE sitting out there in the quiet of the day! I cherish the laughter, the games that were played, and the late morning risers who brightened my day. I thank my Father for blessing us with summer.

Back to School Hurrah!

2011-08-23T09:40:00.000-04:00

It was that time of year ---- the school supplies were bought, the lesson plans mostly done, books were on the shelves, and the impending school year was upon us. To celebrate the end of our "relaxing" summer we headed out to a local dairy for miniature golfing, delicious ice cream, and a tour of the barns. This was the twins first time mini-golfing (with the family) and visiting this dairy!

We had a great time, beautiful weather, and new memories together --- too bad daddy had to work, but oh yes.... Jaclyn graced us with her presence instead!

Unusual Talent??

2011-08-14T20:54:00.000-04:00

I once worked for a doctor who took a picture of each of their guests with a spoon on their nose and then hung it in their bathroom for all to enjoy! This past week we shared this talent with our kids and they quickly embraced it -- some easier than others. However, this Boy Scout seems to have a natural ability -- he quickly hung these on his face. He used nothing to assist the spoons in sticking, unlike Miss Sarah who we caught breathing onto her spoon!

Not sure you can call this 'talent', but it sure was pretty funny!

My Date with a Lifeguard!

2011-08-11T13:17:00.000-04:00

Now 'Date Night' could really be one of my favorite nights of the week, but this week I got two of them! Now our traditional 'Date Night' is most always sharing a burrito bowl from Chipotle and coffee at Starbucks. We LOVE it! It means an easier meal in the kitchen for the kids, and adult conversation for a whole evening with my favorite man!

For Mother's Day this year my favorite lifeguard promised me a night out with her for dinner, but with our crazy schedules, we just got around to going out! It was a wonderful evening with yummy food at Olive Garden and great conversation! Thanks sweetheart! I love you!

2011-08-05T13:08:00.000-04:00

I love it that this hard working woman values time with her siblings! So much so that she took her hard earned money to treat her baby sister to the Winnie the Pooh movie yesterday. Princess L was delighted and was even excited about the Smurfs souvenier cup she got (it's the little things you know!).

A Summer Visit

2011-08-05T10:33:00.002-04:00

So a few weeks ago (can you still tell I can't figure out how time flies by so quickly?) we were blessed with a visit from my sister and her awesome family! Every year since forever we have alternated getting together each summer, and each year it gets a little more complicated! But we don't care, as long as we can still connect! Last year the kids and I drove cross country without Rob and our oldest princess. This year they all made it, but were just not able to stay quite as long. That's OK... we will take whatever we can get!

The kids are at ages where they spent hours and hours playing games, both electronic and board games. Partly because it was incredibly HOT and partly b/c that is just what was fun to them. Of course we had light saber battles and Nerf wars thrown in there as well, along with a trip to the pool, a visit to the Air Force Museum, Kung Fu Panda 2, and lots of Wii action! I love it that our kids get along so well!

The adults..... well there was plenty of catching up to do, dinner out for the adults-- including coffee, some card playing, and of course the girls had to shop! The guys met for lunch one day, and we kind of just chilled! Would do it again in a heartbeat!

Birthday Memoirs~

2011-07-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how time is flying by this summer! I am so not ready to think about letting summer end! As time flies by it brings with it another birthday, and so now I am even older. My family blessed me in many special ways, and I am indeed blessed! This year my parents even made it here, which hasn't happened in a very long time!

Overheard Today~

2011-07-20T08:56:00.000-04:00

I hate grocery shopping, planning meals, etc... but when the cupboards are bare and you have company coming you just have to get out there and get it done! So yesterday afternoon I set out with my "little girls" to make and Aldis and Sam's run. The girls had started packing the 1st grocery cart up (yes there were 2) while I was paying, and when I came upon them this is what I overheard.

Princess L "I don't know how to bag groceries very well Princess A. When we grow up you will have to go grocery shopping with me."

Princess A replies, "I am probably going to be too busy being a nurse and telling people about Jesus."

Love it!!!! May Jesus continue to call their hearts towards Him!

Scout Camp

2011-07-10T22:11:00.000-04:00

Mid-week the scout camp invites the families up to join their kids for dinner and and the evening campfire. Our scouts always look forward to this as we bring Chipotle and homemade cookies! They might actually be excited to see us too, but the jury is still out on that!

As you can see the troops sleep in old army tents in the good ole outdoors! They hang their wet things on ropes between the tents, brush their teeth in the woods, and swim in the lake above.

One of the projects that Scout N worked on was this "jungle gym" that they lashed together. Pretty cool stuff! The twins learned to shoot, build fires without matches, and all kinds of other fun stuff!

To top the week off, Scout N spent an evening in the hills with only his bedroll, water, and a possibles pouch. To earn his Pioneer Award, he had to build his own shelter and spend the night under the stars. Unfortunately it was a rainy night, and about 4:30am they hiked back to camp, but the task was successfully completed!

The parents night program is full of fun scout skits and silliness as we see what the kids experience all week long, but once dark falls there is a special ceremony to induct a few select scouts into a special honor program called "The Order of the Arrow." This year 2 scouts from our troop were selected to be part of this Honor Program and Scout N was one of them. (The picture in the middle is symbolic of that ceremony, although you can't make much out.) We are so proud of him and the man he is becoming, in part, through the scouting program!

2011-07-10T21:25:00.000-04:00

Our 4th of July weekend was out of the ordinary as we began the weekend by sending our boys off to Scout Camp! Packing up 3 boys with all they need to survive one week in the heat without electricity, sleeping on a cot in an army cot, and fitting it all into a plastic tub was quite an ordeal. This was a first for the twins, but they were really excited about it as they had visited last year and had a general idea of what they were getting themselves into!

After sending them off to camp, we settled down to a lazy weekend. The little girls and I enjoyed a 7 mile bike ride Sunday afternoon and then we all cooled off at the pool. Our lifeguard spent much of the weekend working, but that is the life of a lifeguard when the pool is open!

For many years on the 4th of July, someone from our family has always run the area 5K race with Rob. This year our lifeguard was excited to have the opportunity to run with her daddy and they had a great time together. It took them just under 30 minutes with 1300 other runners, but the tradition continued... and they got really cool shirts too!

After the runners made it home with donuts for the rest of us, we headed down to the river for a little bit of fishing. Unfortunately, not all of us have fishing licenses so the lifeguard and I watched while the girls and Rob played with the worms and spent a couple of hours casting with no bites. Not quite the fishing trip one would prefer, but still plenty of fun!

A Glance Back at Father's Day

2011-07-03T14:19:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night we spent some time with Rob's family as we honored his dad for Father's Day! We so appreciate his commitment to God, helpful spirit and the enthusiasm that he shares with all around him!

To honor the wonderful man in my life and the amazing father to our kids, we planned a day of relaxation and little blessings. Rob has spent the last 4 years working long hours, going to school and sacrificing rest in order to balance all that was on his plate. We purposely went to church Saturday night to allow him to sleep in and he took FULL advantage of that!

Late morning found him finally wakening and breakfast in bed was served-- a long standing tradition we have adopted. The kids shared their special cards and gifts with him with the intent of blessing the man they have been blessed to call daddy. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and enjoying blueberry pie -- the perfect slow down for this hard-working man!

2011-07-03T14:10:00.000-04:00

It's summer and already a month has flown past! I wish I could simply slow down the days! I am so enjoying an easier pace of life, less demands, and the opportunity to begin doing some of the things that got let go through the years as we just tried to keep our heads above water!

I have been walking several days a week and now lifting weights a couple days a week hoping to strengthen my muscles and ease the muscle pain I struggle with. It is amazing how exercise can make such a difference!

I love having more time to spend in quiet time with our Savior -- especially sitting outside with a cup of coffee in hand and delving into the Bible Study I have been enjoying at church. I love how God always brings us what we need, when we need it. (I just wish it was an easy lesson for me to embrace when I am in that cylce of waiting!)

I love card games with my kids, afternoons at the pool, and time to read my favorite books! I love to enjoy the fruit of our garden and quiet times on the back patio. Watermelon and fudge pops!

Although this may sound like a wonderful life, the chaos still abounds--, but it is a rich life and we are blessed!

We are in a season of catching up, a season of rebuilding our family dynamics, and a season of discerning what God has for us next. Just having Rob come home at night (not going to school) and being here on Saturdays is a whole new idea for us, and believe it or not, actually took some time to readjust to. But still, we are so GRATEFUL to be here on this side of that journey!

I am thankful for God's blessings where we are, for the joy of our family, and a God who walks each step of this path with us! There is much chaos in a family our size, but also much joy. It's summer-- and we hope to enjoy ALL of it!

Happy 40th to My Sweet Sister

2011-06-23T08:17:00.000-04:00

Today my precious sister reaches a milestone in her life and I want to honor her with my favorite 40 things about her! Happy Birthday Girl! Thank you for always being there and being so much more than just a sister, but my friend!

She is:
1. Gentle 21. A loving wife

2. Tender 22. Persistent

3. Kind 23. Dependable

4. Compassionate 24. An awesome sister

5. Helpful 25. Hospitable

6. Caring 26. Teachable

7. Creative 27. Responsible

8. Loving 28. Friend of God

9. Serving 29. Encourager

10. Fun Loving 30. Beautiful

11. Bargain Hunter 31. Delightful

12. Easy Going 32. Sweet

13. Diligent 33. Flexible

14. Loyal 34. Tender-hearted

15. Discerning 35. Joyful

16. Adaptable 36. Loyal

17. Animal Lover 37. Patient

18. Wonderful Mom 38. Fathful

19. Industrious 39. Merciful

20. Precious Friend 40. Peaceful

You Never Know~

2011-06-21T21:57:00.000-04:00

So one of the things on our kids daily "to do list" is to have their devotional time with God. Some of them are choosing to read scripture while others use an age appropriate devotional book, while yet others are reading their way through Bible stories.

Today we were out doing yard work when out of the blue, one of the kids who was working with me begins to tell me about the devotional story he had read in his Bible Story today. He asked me if I remembered the story of the rich man who said he wanted to follow Jesus, yet when asked to leave behind his riches he just couldn't do it. After making sure he understood the story correctly, he says to mean "You mean our things can get in the way of following God?"

Oh the wisdom of that young mind. How often do we, do I, allow myself to lose sight of God all because other things consume my time and energy. Our country is so immune to this struggle as we are always on the hunt for "more"-- and in our immunity to this struggle we have lost sight of Him who holds it all in His hand anyway.

Oh may our hearts be tender to the message God's word holds for us all!

Catching up!

2011-06-15T17:03:00.000-04:00

YES, I know that Easter has long come and gone, but for our family we just completed our annual Easter Egg hunt! I know that is terrible, but life has been running at such a fast pace that the act of simply having everyone home all at once for the "hunt" has been difficult!

We did enjoy a lovely Easter together as a family, celebrating God's sacrifice and provision for us....we just spread the celebration over a great length of time!

Free as a Bird~

2011-06-15T16:13:00.000-04:00

Spring Soccer

2011-06-14T12:10:00.000-04:00

I do believe this was the longest soccer season ever (due to all the rain we had), BUT it sure made our spring a little lighter too as we finished the season this past weekend! The boys played hard and had a great time even though the number of wins wasn't quite where they would have liked it.

Graduation Day!

2011-06-12T19:36:00.000-04:00

Reflections on Graduation

2011-06-11T17:40:00.012-04:00

Today my family survived a 3 hour ceremony called graduation, and willingly endured much boredom to watch and cheer during my 30 seconds on stage. I'm typically not an emotional guy, so the flood of emotion that hit me as my advisor "hooded" me in front of all of those people took me by surprise.

God has been so incredibly good to me over the past four years. He provided the perfect advisor and a great project. He provided funding for me when I didn't know where it would come from. He provided strength and support on each of the 100 occasions that I quit, and helped me go back into the lab to start again. Thank you Jesus for walking this road with me. I could not have done it without you.

I have my story of struggle to get through school - working full time, adopting twins, supporting six kids, etc. However, as I watched the 1300 graduates walk passed today, I realized that each of them have a story also. For many the story may not be very interesting, but for a few I think we could be inspired by their stories.

The blind woman making her way through the line had a special place in my heart, since I know the struggle that blind folks have with reading.
The woman guiding her wheelchair with her mouth because her CP is so debilitating that she can't even move a finger.
The unmarried 40 year-old mom getting her Bachelors degree, hoping to make a better life for her kids.
The young woman who after receiving her diploma, looked up to the sky with tears in her eyes and whispered, "This is for you mom!"

Each of us pursue achievement in different forms and at different times in our lives. For some, graduation is what they were supposed to do. For others it was a very meaningful experience. For me, it was as much about God healing my heart as it was about pursuing academic success. God will do that, you know - take us through intense struggle to bring healing.

So, tonight I want to say again, "Thank you Jesus for pursuing me and bringing healing to my heart. Thank you for being my counselor and guide."

Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
Shout unto God with a voice of praise!
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
We lift your name up! We lift your name up!

2011-06-10T21:18:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago Rob was running our boys to practice when they drove past a cemetery. Upon passing the cemetery, Rob casually said to them, "You know people are dying to get in there." This sent the boys rolling into fits of laughter as they thought it was hysterical! Once things settled down, one of them proceeded to ask Rob why some people were afraid of cemeteries. He went on to explain the concept of ghosts and why people find fear. This child immediately pipes up with "I wouldn't be afraid - I am a warrior for God!"

What a great reminder of our calling.

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-05T21:02:00.000-04:00

Memorial Day weekend came & went, and with it we had the privilege of spending some time with our very special friend, Miss Sarah! The kids, especially, all love to have her visit and since she has spent some time in China she taught us how to make Chun Bing, kind of like a Chinese Taco and oh so good! We love it when she teaches us how to make real Chinese food!

We also enjoyed a cookout with our family on a beautiful summer evening! Yeah for fun!

Summer Break is Here

2011-06-05T17:42:00.000-04:00

Every year to celebrate the end of the school year we head out to Dairy Queen for an ice cream lunch! The weather was chilly, but the spirits sure weren't! WELCOME SUMMER!

Farewell to Florida!

2011-06-05T17:39:00.000-04:00

Last Day in Florida!

2011-06-05T17:25:00.003-04:00

One of the things our girl has discovered this past year is a growing love of photography. I absolutely love these of her discovering the beach behind the lens!

Our last day in Florida was spent at our favorite spot ---- the BEACH! Unfortunately the winds were really strong that day and the water much rougher, but we still enjoyed the beauty of it all!

Favorite Memories of Florida!

2011-06-02T13:09:00.001-04:00

Florida 2011

Princess L— Helipcoter ride at Sea World, getting my stuffed Shamus, Thunder Mountatin Railroad at Magic Kingdom, the parades at Magic Kingdom, visiting the characters and Journey to Mars at Epcot.

Princess A – The countries at Epcot, The Manta, Kraken, and Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld, all the roller coasters at all the parks, riding the waves at the ocean, being picked by the mime in Epcot for his show and being with my family.

Scout A— The Manta & Kraken at Sea World, riding the waves at the beach, all the mountain roller coasters at Magic Kingdom, and Soarin & the countries at Epcot.

Scout J— Soar’in, Journey to Mars, and Test Track at Epcot, playing football at the beach, and relaxing & watching TV.

Scout N— Magic Kingdom Rollercoasters (Space Mountatin, Splash Mountain, & Thunder Mountain), Playing in the waves at the beach, and playing football at the beach.

Princess M– Eating sorbet in France, The Manta at Sea World, playing in the sand at the beach, the parade and fireworks at Magic Kingdom.

Daddy- Sleeping in on Tuesday morning, riding the waves with the boys at the beach, and picking up Ally and Loghan up in the waves to ride the waves.

Mom—Watching the kids play at the beach, Loghan’s delight with the characters and princesses, building sand castles with the kids, and seeing the parks through the delight of my kid’s eyes.

Other Memorable Moments

A frog jumped on Princess A’s leg while we were waiting for the tram totally freaking her out!

Scout N and Princess M got pinched by crabs at the beach!

It's Epcot!

2011-06-01T12:35:00.001-04:00

I would have to say that Epcot was probably one of our kids favorite parks that we did -- although we all thoroughly enjoyed the other parks! One of the funniest things was watching our middle princess interact with the mime. This was especially funny, because the last time we were there (7 years ago) our oldest Boy Scout was selected by the mime and he actually caused the mime to bust out laughing! And our princess was cute to watch too!

A Visit to Sea World!

2011-05-28T21:07:00.000-04:00

I love this picture of my little Go-go (as I affectionately call her) as this little one cried when she thought that she wasn't going to get to see Shamu! Long before we decided to include this park on this trip, she had her heart set on Shamu, and then buying a stuffed one to take home with her! (And frankly I couldn't image doing the other parks and missing this one either.)

Again, there were so many things that were new to our kids at this park, and it was so much fun to watch them discover it all! They loved the dolphin show, having no idea that animals could do such tricks. They laughed as birds stole the fish they tried to feed the seals, and they were floored by the size of the walrus in the show! We sweltered in the heat that day, but it was still a blast!

We hit every rollercoaster, and discovered that our smallest little man loves anything FAST! It doesn't matter what it does! Our middle princess, along with her older sister is also on that same train! We ended the day with a refreshing meal at Cracker Barrel and a swim in the pool!

2011-05-28T20:35:00.001-04:00

While we were in Florida we had the opportunity to visit with Rob's grandmother who lives not far from the Orlando area. She was delighted to have us and we were so glad that we were able to connect with her. The kids were able to swim a while and then took turns touring her neighborhood in the golf carts -- a novelty to them! We had some yummy strawberry shortcake and spotted some alligators in the the ponds. It was a sweet afternoon!

We Interrupt the Vacation Update for "The Ball"

2011-05-21T23:16:00.001-04:00

Yesterday our beautiful daughter attended her first school formal and had a marvelous time! I remember my own school formals like yesterday, so how can our daughter be attending her own?

Since she attends a small private school, the formal is open to the entire High School and done much differently than your normal prom. First, "The Ball" is truly that.... and the kids have learned to ballroom dance, although they do mix in a variety of dances to keep it fun. They also have a formal dinner prior to the dance and a senior recognition time. Only seniors are allowed to bring a date and who you dance with is determined by your dance card which is pre-assigned.

A wonderful friend did the girls hair and they had a great time preparing for the ball.... and looked like two beautiful princesses!

The Perfect Day At The Beach

2011-05-19T21:31:00.000-04:00

I don't know if there is any place I love better than the beach! (For Rob it may be the mountains, but beaches are just behind it!) After a FULL fun-filled day at Magic Kingdom, we slept in, packed up a picnic dinner, and headed over to Cocoa Beach. Our younger four kids have no memory of every being at the beach, so it was another first for them and a delight to everyone!

What a blast they had jumping in the waves, finding sea shells, playing in the sand, and eventually a game of football in the waves! We stayed for hours....until the sun went down and it started to cool off. A perfect way to spend a day!

Disney's Magic Kingdom!

2011-05-16T13:45:00.000-04:00

After the last four years -- a master's degree, a PhD, and a very long complicated international adoption--- we decided to celebrate! We needed time to reconnect as a family, to laugh together, and we wanted to give the kids the gift of Disney- as it is something we have never done together! The last four years were not only hard on Rob and I, but also on the kids. As good as Rob was about trying to make time for his kids, the reality is that they missed him --- we missed him & he missed out on so much too!

Even though we had just driven over 1000 miles the weekend before, we packed up again last weekend and headed to Florida. We found an amazing rate for a condo that slept all of us, dug out our shorts, packed up the car, and headed south! Last Monday we spent the day at Magic Kingdom-- we had a great time, and our youngest princess was thrilled with all the characters! The older kids preferred the faster rides and the 3D shows, but everyone LOVED it all!

Since this was the first amusement park our twins have ever done, it was another delight to see them experience so many new things! They never backed down from a ride, and A loved anything FAST! As we were getting some lunch one day, one of the girls working the bakery had Haiti on her name- tag and we got to talking to her. She was delighted to meet our twins and shared a giant chocolate chip cookie with us!

Happy Retirement Dad!

2011-05-03T11:13:00.000-04:00

This past week my dad joined the world of the RETIREES! 46 years ago he graduated from college and took a job with John Deere and has worked there ever since! He has traveled to many wonderful places with that job, and it was something he did well and enjoyed. My father is a chemical engineer and has spent years choosing the right plastic for all those little pieces on those tractors.

This past weekend my mom wanted to honor him with a Retirement Party and she asked us if we would make the long journey home to help them celebrate.... how can you say no to something like that? So even though we spent two full days in the car driving and only one day there, it was SO worth the surprise on my dad's face when we walked in! Never have I seen my dad so moved to see us!

We had a great time connecting with people we hadn't seen in years, visiting with my siblings and their families, and just hanging out! There was a wonderful turnout of people who blessed my father, and as always my mom organized a wonderful event.

My dad is excited about this new phase of life he is entering, and I hope he enjoys every moment of it!
We love you dad!

Loved this card!

The kids claimed a back table and settled into a game of Risk!

Another Teenager in the House!

2011-04-25T22:13:00.000-04:00

HAPPY 13TH BIRTHDAY TO AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN!

Our precious, oldest son,
We are blessed to be your parents and delight to watch you grow and mature, both physically and spiritually. Your love and pursuit of God encourages us in our own relationship with God. Your heart for your long awaited brothers and the joy you have with them brings delight to our home. From soccer to piano, scouts to school... we enjoy watching you develop your gifts. Your leadership skills and determination will carry your far -- and we know God has big plans for you! Always keep your eyes on Him, and follow closely after His heart. We love you!

It is hard to believe that we now have 2 teenagers in the house! How time flies! To celebrate his day, N chose to have dinner with mom and dad at the Mongolian Grill- yummy! By the time we arrived home, Grammy & Papa were there to join the celebration! We kicked it off with a video montage of his first 13 years. Those chubby cheeks may be gone, but he still makes us laugh in a big way! After blessing him with some specially chosen gifts, he blew out the candles on his double layer peanut butter chocolate chip cookie cake and we all enjoyed eating it!

The celebration will culminate with a weekend trip away with his dad next month, a special time for his dad to build into him and encourage him.

Advent Reading

2011-04-20T10:02:00.002-04:00

For years we have enjoyed the advent books by Arnold Ytreeide and this year we were delighted to discover that he had released one for the season of Lent. This book actually includes characters from the advent books, but is a stand alone story. Each day's reading leaves you wondering what happens next and with a short, practical challenge regarding your relationship with Christ. I don't have to remember to read it each day, because my kids never fail to remind me. This is a great resource to use with your kids and cultivate your family identity, and truth be told -- I enjoy the story just as much as my kids!

What Have We Been Up To ???

2011-04-16T13:24:00.002-04:00

Birthday Parties have come along way since I was a kid! The girls had the fun of getting makeovers and manicures to celebrate a friends birthday! What beautiful girls we have!

Family Nights -- This one reminding ourselves what obedience really looks like!

Working Hard!

Learning at our Classical Conversations Homeschool Co-op


Celebrating the completion of the dissertation with Boston Cream Pie!

Rob successfully defended his dissertation and completed his PhD!

And these are just the highlights! Life continues to run at such a rapid pace, but I am so hopeful that now Rob will be able to help relieve some of the running that I do! Soccer is in full swing, and so is the camping/hiking season for the Boy Scouts! Already, this weekend is their second trip out.....backpacking and hiking at Red River Gorge. What great experiences....... just not for me - LOL!

There have also been school decisions to be processed and pursued, church activities for the girls, changes for the future to work out, and kids to be parented! When you add hair appointments, doctors/dentist appointments, piano, homeschooling and such..... I don't have to wonder why I am so tired!

But now we are excited about entering a new phase of life -- one without daddy being in school--- and celebrating what God has done! Just the other night Rob and I were discussing how we KNOW that without God we would never have been able to come through the last 4 years. It has been hard, it has prompted gray hair, and it has physically rendered us tired. But we are blessed--- to have a God who sees more than we do, who has covered us in every area, and granted us more than we could imagine or deserve!

Dr. Rob

2011-04-13T21:24:00.000-04:00

What I've Been Up To

2011-04-06T19:16:00.004-04:00

Here is a brief video of what I've been up to for 3.5 years.

2011-03-23T11:00:00.000-04:00

Several months ago my precious sister called and asked me if I would go with her to visit our grandmother who will be 98 years old this summer. Of course part of me leaped at the chance to spend a weekend with my sister and visit our grandmother, but the other part of me had no idea how I could pull it off with our crazy schedules. I mean seriously, I can't even find time to get groceries... how in the world can I leave for a weekend!

This past Thursday evening my sister flew into town, and we set off on our journey Friday morning. It turned out that the boys had their first camp out of the year so they would be gone all weekend as well. Our Venturer had her own weekend camping, rock climbing, and rappelling while Rob's parents graciously kept the little girls. That allowed Rob to sleep and recover ( he is still sick) and to complete another chapter in his dissertation.

The last few weeks our gma has steadily gone downhill, especially in her mental capacity. This is a woman who has always been busy and way more energy than I tend to have. But now she had been moved to a lock-down unit and wasn't thinking clearly. We had no idea what we would find, but God graciously gave us a wonderful weekend together.

As it turns out, my nephew had been fervently praying for a couple of months that gma would be well enough for us to have a good visit, and God answered! [Love the prayers of our kids!]

It took just a moment for her to recognize us (she didn't know we were coming... or at least when) and she was delighted! As we talked we realized how many gaps she now has in her memory (something she has NEVER had! I mean her memory has always been better than mine!), but as the weekend progressed she continued to improve. By Sunday she was initiating conversation. Our aunt and uncle, who oversee her care, where amazed to see the improvement. She had been started on a new medication a week ago and wonder if that is what is making such a difference.

Watching a loved one grow old is hard, but so thankful for the blessing God gives us to spend the time with them.

Random Thoughts-

2011-03-15T21:47:00.001-04:00

*It's Tuesday and I have already put 200 miles on my van since Saturday...... and yes that is normal.

*There still aren't enough hours in the day.

*Groceries are clearly overrated.

*22 weeks of memory work is ALOT of memory work

*Daniel chapters 1-6 have much to challenge me with

*I keep reading books challenging me with "the lesser of these". Wonder what God has around the next bend?

*It will take approximately 4 years for our boys to have an educational working understanding of the English language according to the ESL teacher we spoke with

*Parenting is so much more about refining me as a mom......

FAITH ~

2011-03-12T08:35:00.003-05:00

"Faith, when everything is as you want it to be..... is not true faith. It is only when our lives are falling apart that we have the chance to make our faith real."

My girls and I had the opportunity to watch the movie "Amish Grace" this past week and my heart was struck by the above quote. I don't think we really know how strong our faith is until the bumps in the road come along, and I know my faith hasn't been what I would want it to be as I have struggled down life's path. But I do know that our God is bigger, stronger, and able to do much more than we can conceive when we trust Him.

Oh that we may make Him bigger!

Birthday Memoirs!

2011-03-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

I never dreamed that we would end up with half of our family birthdays in February, but we do! And the weekend that they fell upon this year had more activities than any other weekend in a long time - of course. But still we managed to honor each child and make lots of smiles!

The boys actually were at a weekend scouting event (the twins first), our lifeguard spent the whole weekend in training - literally. Rob spent Friday night with the boys at Scouts and worked on his dissertation all day Saturday. The little girls and I celebrated the weekend with a trip to the Dollar Theater to see chic flick "Tangled". Of course the girls had games Saturday morning and I spent the day making cakes! Yes, there were 3 -- I guess the fact that the boys have never had this before makes it difficult on me to not give them each their own! This year we had a 'Emergency' cookie cake for our 9 year old princess who adores medical and cop shows from the 70' & 80's, a scouting cake for Twin A, and a soccer ball ice cream cake for Twin J.

Even though the twins were gone for their birthday we wanted to surprise them in some small way, so we made arrangements to join the scout troop for dinner that evening and supplied the dessert! The boys were definitely surprised and we got to see them a little on their special day!

Sunday was designated the official day of celebration which we kicked off with donuts all around, Chipotle for lunch, a few gifts thrown in throughout the day, and a birthday celebration that night joined by Rob's parents.

It was a crazy weekend, but with much to celebrate!

Spring is Comin

2011-03-07T12:44:00.001-05:00

The fact that spring is in the air (kinda) and the days are longer, brings hope to our days!

The winter has been hard..... really hard.

One might think I have no right to say such a thing. I mean if you look at our family we look good. We are healthy, our long adoption process is finally over, Rob is almost done with school, our marriage seems strong, we have food and a great home, our kids like each other, and there is even enough money to allow our kids to do extra curricular activities. I would probably take a look at my family, and in my judgmental spirit think "She just needs to get over it --Her life is good. There are so many people out there with REAL problems."

I could defend my struggle.....there are plenty of reasons it has been hard, but I am coming to the conclusion that my heart is more responsible for my struggles than the actual stressors of each day. Honestly, I am running on empty....and have been for a while. I don't make the time to recharge myself spiritually, to allow God to fill me with His strength, and to listen to Him. I don't live by the priorities I want....and I am on a destructive path if I don't run back to Him- daily, always.

Yesterday our pastor referred to a passage in Daniel 5 where Belshazzar is about to lose his kingdom, because he knew the truth (what God had already done) and chose to walk a different way.

²² “But you, Belshazzar, his son,have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this. ²³ Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. ³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians,was slain.

That struck me -- b/c I know I need Him, I have seem Him work, but often allow how I feel to direct more of my path than God. That is not the life we are called to.

This past October I had a "mountain top experience with God" - literally on a mountain top in Colorado at a Captivating Retreat. I have never been to a retreat where, first of all --- I knew NO ONE. (That is very out of character for me.) But I also have never had so many assigned quiet times with God with a specific assignment for my time with Him. It truly was amazing! Amazing to "listen" to Him, to experience His heart for me, and to worship Him. Probably the most amazing worship time I have ever experienced!!

And I want more of that...... more of Him!!

But when I arrived home at midnight that Sunday night and jumped back into the demands of life, I easily lost sight of my weekend with God. Oh, I really tried for a few weeks to fight for that relationship with Him, but I eventually lost sight of that deep intimacy --- that which my soul longs for.

So, with this season of Lent upon us, I am excited to re-purpose my walk and turn my focus back where it needs to be. I know it will only be in His strength, that the enemy seeks to kill and destroy, but that our God is mighty to save!

2011-03-05T22:00:00.001-05:00

I would never have dreamed that my beautiful daughter would grow up to be so adventurous! When she discovered all the cool stuff that Boy Scouts get to do, she decided that she had to find something for herself. Venturing proved to be just that! She loves backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, shooting and anything close to that! This year she is her crew President and has the opportunity to really put her leadership skills to work.

Like the Boy Scout program, there are also opportunities to earn various award and to advance to a level equivalent to an Eagle Scout. This past week she was awarded her Outdoor Bronze Award, the Religious Bronze, and the Religious Emblem.

Great Job Venturer!

The Unpublished Acknowledgement

2011-03-05T12:37:00.005-05:00

This morning I began to go back through my dissertation in order to begin to wrap up the first five chapters (of seven), and I realized that I needed an acknowledgement page. This is the page where the author thanks his advisor and lab mates for helping him though the arduous process of writing a dissertation. The first few sentences of my acknowledgement thank Julie also, but not like I'd really like to.

An old quote says, "Behind every great man, there is a great woman." I'm not claiming to be a great man, but I do believe that I have as good a chance as any to be great, since I have a great woman behind me. Most of the time I think Julie probably more closely identifies with the Jim Carey quote: "Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes."

Four years ago when I started back to school we never anticipated how difficult it would be for us. I think this is the way most things are in life - If we knew how hard it would be, we would never do anything worthwhile: get married, have kids, help others, etc. Unless someone is married to a genuine workaholic or had a mate go overseas for a long period of time, I think it would be hard to relate to our last four years.

My smokin' hot wife has graciously run six kids around to practices, doctors appointments, church and school activities, and piano lessons - by herself. She taught five kids, including putting together lesson plans, grading, and all of the other time consuming activities of teaching - by herself. She kept our house clean and food in our bellies - by herself. She mowed the lawn, kept the drive cleared, and house maintained - by herself. She paid the bills and kept track of insurances - by herself. She was essentially a single mom for four years. Yet, through all of that, she loved unconditionally, forgave easily, promoted joy, and attempted to praise God in our storms.

Over the past four years I've quit school a hundred times, and each time this wonderful, selfless woman would pick me up and send me back to finish what God had called me to, in spite of the fact that quitting would make her life much, much easier. She believes in me when I don't. She loves me when I'm tired, and sacrifices for me when I don't deserve it. Thank you Julie for loving, caring and supporting. May God bless you as much as you have blessed me.

This Spring I'll defend my dissertation and graduate. Many people will ask me, "How did you finish a Masters Degree and PhD in four years, while working full time ? And with six kids!" There is only one answer: Jesus gave me strength when I was weak, healing when I was broken, and Julie when I needed encouragement. My diploma will only have one name on it, but it should have three names on it.

The dedication page of my dissertation reads, "To JC and JK" (Jesus Christ and Julie). My source of life and my reason for living.

I love you Jesus, and I love you Julie.

Thank you both so much.

The Newest Scouts!

2011-03-05T10:00:00.001-05:00

The twins have kept up with their older brother in every way possible since they came home, so having the opportunity to join him in Scouts has been long anticipated! The day has come and they are loving the opportunity they have to wear a uniform, to earn the ranks, and begin mastering the skills that come with being a new scout!

Because we are still seeing gaps in their understanding of the English language, we were a bit concerned how they might actually do since Rob isn't yet free to go with them each week. However, with the help of a big brother, leaders who are faithfully working with them, and an encouraging scout troop-- they seem to be doing great! It is so cool to see them "owning" their roles as a scout and working on their requirements without anyone even telling them to.

Meet the Newest Lifeguard

2011-03-04T21:23:00.000-05:00

After 2 intense weekends of swimming, she has completed and passed her Life-guarding Course! Congratulations Sweetheart! We know you will be a great guard and are so proud of you!

2011-02-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone and this beautiful princess is another year older! Happy Birthday sweet girl! We are so proud of you! You never back down from a new situation, you have such a sweet heart, and love to bring a smile to others. Keep your eyes on Jesus sweetie! He has great plans for you!

Birthday Smiles!

2011-02-26T21:37:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday our dear son! You bring a smile everywhere you go, make an amazing pizza, and tackle life with zeal! You have a tender heart and we pray that you will always be sensitive to the leadings of our Precious Father who has such great plans for you! You have blessed our family in more ways than you can imagine!

Birthday Smiles!

2011-02-26T21:31:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday our Amazing Son! We are so blessed by your sweet, tender heart, your silly laugh, and your gentle spirit. You are one of the hardest workers we know, a speedster on your feet, and so very strong! You are such a blessing to our family and we cannot imagine this life without you. God blessed us beyond our imagination when he brought you into our home. I know He has big plans for you! Happy Birthday!

Some Weekend Fun

2011-02-21T16:48:00.000-05:00

Balance

2011-02-21T16:46:00.000-05:00

With six growing kids in our family, the schedule is always a balancing act--- one I still struggle with. What are the best choices for each child, and what is best for our family? How much can we realistically afford? Honestly, our older kids have done more simply because life was much simpler with just one or two of them, and in fact our oldest was so shy we had to teach her how to interact with others and to look people in the eyes. However, I have to admit that I didn't take our kids schedules before God when I considered their activities, and I realize now how important that is. Society tells us that our kids must have extra-curricular activities, they must have all the opportunities out there to succeed, and for sure they need sports. I won't deny that all these opportunities provide opportunities for our kids to grow, but only God truly knows where our kids will be someday, and if I am not looking for Him to direct their activities I may truly lead them astray.

God wants to be a part of EVERYTHING in my life ... not just those areas where I feel like I need Him. That is what God is teaching me. To look to HIM for all direction. Sure it sounds easy, but the practice doesn't come that naturally to me--- I wish it did, and perhaps it will become second nature as I once again practice looking to Him for that direction.

Valentine Treasures

2011-02-18T09:03:00.001-05:00

Although life is running at such a frantic pace right now, I am truly blessed by the love that surrounds me! In my tiredness I am learning anew to look up to find my strength, to recognize God's goodness, and to value these treasures in a new way. So for today, these are a couple of my favorite Valentines this year!

The Creativity of Our Kids Makes Me Smile!

2011-02-17T17:03:00.002-05:00

2011-02-06T21:48:00.001-05:00

Every week is a whirlwind, but this week was topped with a day to honor the one who works harder than anyone we know, who models Jesus to us everyday, and has dreams to change touch the world as God leads.

Happy Birthday Babe!

Family Night

2011-02-06T21:09:00.001-05:00

A family favorite at our house has become our "Family Night" which is marked with pizza, soda, popcorn, yummy dessert, and an activity. We have been doing this for years, and as the kids have grown the activities may have changed somewhat, but not the concept. We may enjoy a movie night, game night, praise and worship, prayer time, and/or time learning more about God and our relationship with Him.

To mix things up these last few weeks I have added a little twist -- last week you had to have a joke to share, and this week...... a silly hat! You never know what these guys will come up with, but they certainly delighted in doing it!

Years ago, when our kids were very little, we were challenged to establish and cultivate our own family identity. As our kids have grown and entered these teen years we see, more than ever how very important things like this are. It may be a family night or you may have your own traditions, but regardless don't take lightly time like this with your kids. As our kids grow, there are so many things in this world pulling at them..... may "family" be their anchor as they navigate these turbulent times.

Mother Nature at Work!

2011-02-02T16:36:00.000-05:00

As much of the nation has seen some form of this storm, we were touched most by the ICE! You can see how the kids enjoyed it -- that is until we lost our power and our house plummeted to 55 degrees! But yet we are still so blessed -- we had plenty of blankets, plenty of food and water, and we had each other! Unfortunately there are plenty of limbs in our yard that will need our attention and one large limb hanging off of our front tree. Chain saw anyone???

After 14 hours without power we decided to head to Rob's parents to share their heat. We literally pulled into their driveway when Rob called to say that we now had power! Well, at least we were spared hauling all our schoolwork into his parents house, and they were spared the chaos of a family of 8!

Enjoy your snowday -- we are!

Reading to Change Your Life-

2011-02-01T10:40:00.001-05:00

Reading has always been an activity that both Rob and I have really enjoyed, and though these days Rob really only reads what he must to finish his PhD, God is still using books to stir our hearts. We love to read as a family, and we are working with our kids to cultivate a love of reading, helping them discover the joy that can come with it.

With that in mind I thought it would be fun to keep a record of what it is that we are reading.

Taliesin by Stephen Lawhead
Follow My Leader by James B Garfield
Two Towers by JRR Toilken
Harry Kitten and Tucker Mouse by George Selden
Meet Molly by American Girl
Elizabeth Gail and the Secret Box by Hilda Stahl
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop
The Christy Miller Series
Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The Shack by William P. Young
Set Me Free from Me by Paula Russell
The Hole in the Gospel: What does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed my Life and Might
Just Change the World by Richard Stearns
Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream by David Platt
(These last two are really rocking our boat!)

Happy Reading!

The Newest Life Scout!

2011-01-29T22:43:00.001-05:00

Boy Scouts has been a great experience for this kid and we are so proud of him and all that he has accomplished! He recently advanced to the rank of Life Scout -- just one level before Eagle Scout, received the Five Ribbons Awards (Achievement, Character, Leadership, Outdoors, and Service), and his Camping and Pathfinding merit badges. Never did I dream - or understand how scouting could influence, give direction, and teach a boy how to be a man. Congratulations our son!

A Battle to Fight

2011-01-19T23:47:00.000-05:00

Over Christmas break our family watched Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. This is a great flick with many unintentional spiritual lessons. For those who have not seen the movie, the general plot is that the Greek god Zeus thinks that the Greek god Poseidon's son (Percy Jackson) has stolen his lightning bolt. The two gods are preparing for an earth crushing battle, and it is up to Percy and friends to find the lightning bolt and return it before the two gods destroy much of the world.

In one scene Percy and his friends are tricked into eating a Lotus Flower while they are in a casino in Los Vegas. This flower puts a them into a state of mind in which they don't know time is passing. They spend three days in this stupor before Poseidon wakes Percy up and gets him and his friends back in the battle.

Unfortunately, over the past few months I've been in my own stupor - the busyness stupor. I have had a steady focus on my work, school, and trying to be a "good" dad. This focus has brought a little success at work, much of my dissertation completed, and a relatively open relationship with my kids. But, over the past few days God has whispered in my ear and awakened me to the battle raging around me.

In the first three days of this week I heard about four struggling young women who all come from good families. One 16 year old is pregnant and another 21 year old is pregnant out of marriage. Another girl was working at a local Gentleman's Club where she met a guy, got pregnant, got married, and divorced within less than a year. The fourth young lady, 16, video taped herself performing inappropriately and posted the video on YouTube for her boyfriend.

Wow! Talk about an alarm! All of these girls have grown up in church. All went through Bible Club programs and memorized scripture. All of their parents are good Church-going people and could easily be sitting next to you at church on Sunday. Three of them have older siblings who have "turned out OK" (the fourth is the oldest in her family).

Just like Percy in Vegas, hearing all of this news in such short order has shocked me into an awareness of the battle that rages around me. The picture in my mind this morning as I prayed for these families was that of walking through a battle field and seeing friends of mine crying because of the devastation these girls have suffered. Please note that I am not so naive as to think that my kids would never go down this path. It is exactly this awareness that has scared me awake.

We all know that some children have a predisposition toward attitudes and behaviors. I do believe that genetics can play a role in this, and the whole idea that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and the sins of a father are passed down to four generations can definitely play a role here. I will also concede that we all make choices, and each person suffers wounds in different ways and chooses to respond to these wounds differently.

Given all of that, the one reality that we rarely consider is that there is a battle raging and we have failed to engage the enemy. I believe that not only are Christ followers are in Satans sights, but their kids as well. Jesus said in John 10:10 that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The enemy is very good at helping us forget this and direct us to the Lotus Flowers of work, entertainment, and church activities. He will gladly help us sing in the choir at church so it is easier for him to steal our joy, kill our dreams, and destroy our kids.

For me this has been a greatly needed, though unfortunate reminder that there is a battle raging for my kids and I need to be alert and engaged in the battle. I pray that I never forget that there is a battle to fight - and that six kids are counting on me.

Christmas Memories

2011-01-03T12:23:00.001-05:00

2010-12-27T11:20:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone! The anticipation, the smiles, squeals of delight, and grateful hearts make it all so much fun! After a hectic week of preparation, cooking, wrapping, and planning... a relaxing, family filled fun holiday celebrating our Savior's birth was perfect! By Christmas eve afternoon we were ready and looking forward to all the celebrations held.

Our advent book for the season was Bartholomew, and with great anticipation we finished it Christmas morning. Even though we have read all 3 books from these series several times, the kids still love this tradition as they imagine being a part of the life and times at Christ's birth!

At our Christmas Eve service, we enjoyed the beautiful reminder of Christ as the Light of Christmas (and our responsibility to carry it forth) through music and song, and then headed home to "let the feasting begin!" In our tradition, we enjoyed our Chinese food, appetizers, and plenty of sugar! Rob's parents joined us for the evening as we laughed and played together. Each Christmas Eve we give the kids the yearly ornament and a family gift. And this year we added to the tradition with a $1 White Elephant Gift Exchange. It was fun to see what the kids came up with for their gifts, but even funnier that no one wanted to steal anything!

We know these times with our kids (having everyone at home) are passing all too quickly, and cherish this time with all of them now!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-21T10:24:00.004-05:00

Merry Christmas from our House to Yours!

~2010 Year in Review

2010 would officially be a year of FIRSTS-- 'Firsts' as a family of 8, but a lifetime of firsts for our twins! What a delight it has been to see a whole new world open up for them, to see them gain confidence in their place in our family, and for us to celebrate this life that we have together!

Life in our household is hectic, rich in laughter, overwhelming, full of learning, filled with chores, discussions, school, soccer, scouts, piano lessons, chauffeuring, Awana, and other activities. We struggle to balance it all -- keeping the laundry put away, enough food on the table (b/c they love to eat), and even staying up on the grocery shopping is always a struggle ... but we feel BLESSED and know that God is a part of all of it, and are reminded of our constant need of Him in the chaos of life!

Life still finds Rob working full time and pursuing that PhD. Although it takes him away from the family 2 nights a week, and all day on Saturdays - he is making good progress and hopes to be done by June-- OH how we ALL hope so! I am not sure who is looking forward to it more - Rob or the rest of us! We want him home! This last year has seemed harder than previous years -- perhaps b/c we have already been at this for three years, or perhaps b/c our family has grown and is busier. Regardless, we are all anticipating the day of graduation!

Our oldest is now 16 years of age and is just biding her time till she has her permit long enough to get the license. All the state requirements have been met and that taste of freedom is just around the corner. On the other hand, we as parents are still struggling to make this mental shift in our minds! How can our little baby be old enough to drive?? As a sophomore in high school she is working her first part time job, president of her Venturing group and loves the opportunity that she has to tutor. She spent 10 days backpacking through Colorado this summer and had an incredible time taking in the wonder of God's creation! Amazing how a trip like this can impact your view of God!

Being the oldest brother has had an amazing impact on our 12 year old! We cannot believe the difference in our once - only boy! It amazes us to see how having the twins home has developed within him the courage to try new things and a whole new confidence. He is enjoying his second year playing select soccer and loves Boy Scouts. As a patrol leader he is not only advancing in rank, but learning what it means to be a good leader and to put those skills into practice. Still homeschooled, he really enjoys the opportunity to spend one day a week in the classroom with Classical Conversations and is doing well with his studies.

And where do you begin to describe the twins?? They have gone from being overwhelmed to loving life-- ok perhaps just the good parts! Both have worked so hard in school this last year, completing 2 years of math in one and refining their reading skills. They are excited to join Scouting this next year, joining their big brother on many of his adventures! Haiti is still close to their hearts (and ours) and we pray together for their homeland and their family & friends.

'J' is our out-going, even keeled kid who loves life! He loves everything from eating to soccer, piano, the trampoline, reading, Awana, electronics and Uno! He is becoming a great cook and can make pizza for family night from scratch! After being home a whole year he seems confident in our family and the world around him. He still asks questions about those things he doesn't understand and is always learning!

About to turn 11 in February, 'A' is a sweet, gentle, compassionate boy who makes our hearts smile in a whole new way. He loves Star Wars and soccer and is very fast on his feet! He also is doing well with piano, enjoys Awana, and has worked really hard in school. He is always the first to offer to help and loves nothing more than wrestling with his daddy!

Last, but not least, there are our "little girls" who just aren't so little anymore! Our soon to be 10 year old Princess has really grown -- more than just in body this year. God has really been working in her heart, and she has grown in so many ways. Most of the year she has delighted in the privilege of having her own room for the first time in her life -- a BIG thing for this girl! She loves to read and have time with mom and dad, enjoys Awana, and is trying her hand at cheerleading this winter.

Last, but never least, our Princess #3 turned 8 this year and is as excited about life as ever! Life is just one big adventure to this little one and she tackles it head on. She loves being in the classroom this year (one day a week) with our Homeschool Group, loves taking piano (just like the big kids), and is excited to try her hand at basketball this winter.

As mom to this crew, I am blessed, tired, and always in need of God's strength! I love the excitement, the laughter, and the relationships that fill our home. We work and grow through the conflict, we laugh together and we pray together, and together we press on with Him by our side knowing that without our Savior it is all in vain.

May your Holidays be filled with the wonder of His gifts to each of us!

An Early Christmas

2010-12-14T08:03:00.001-05:00

Several years ago God brought a very special young college student into our home, and throughout the years, we have been able to remain connected and see God continue to work in her life.

One of the many gifts God has given Sarah is a heart for kids -- And my kids love it when she comes to visit!

We were recently blessed to have Sarah for a weekend while Rob and I were able to escape for his annual Christmas party overnight. We always enjoy that short time away -- who wouldn't -- an overnight with no kids and it is FREE!! Oh, and we won a Flip video recorder too!

But in addition to being a great help with our kids, Sarah just becomes one of us when she comes! And we do so appreciate that about her! She has experienced so many incredible travels, taught in China, cared for hurting people, and blessed so many others.

But now, it was time for Christmas with Sarah and boy did she rock! She blessed our family with the game -- Settlers of Catan! Of course I didn't know anything about this game, but my kids literally played NO electronics for an entire week, all because they were playing this game ALL the time! If you need a gift for a bunch of kids- this just might be it! But she didn't just stop there -- she brought bottles of Ale 8 ginger ale for everyone! Now this one is really for Rob, as this is one of his all time favorites, but very difficult to find just anywhere. It was a very Merry Christmas with Miss Sarah!

Thanks girl! We love you!

How Do They Grow Up so Quickly?

2010-12-12T12:59:00.001-05:00

Our First Snow 2010

2010-12-12T11:48:00.001-05:00

I don't think anyone was more excited about our first snow than the twins, although don't get me wrong -- everyone was THRILLED to see it come! But the twins were out as soon as they could get dressed and stayed out for hours! Because we really didn't get that much snow, they were literally shoveling snow from the back onto sleds, and then bringing it out front to build their snowman family!

I think that things this year are perhaps even a little more exciting than last year. Last year everything was new, this year they are already anticipating the fun they know is out there!

You Have To Watch This~

2010-12-10T16:52:00.000-05:00

The first time I stumbled across this video I left it up to come back to since it was longer than 2 minutes, but never quite made it. Today, my 16 year old told me I "had" to watch it-- and so do you! I don't know what God has in store for us -- after surviving this PhD journey, but I don't want to miss out on Him or His plan! Check this video out here.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T16:33:00.001-05:00

The sites and sounds of Thanksgiving warmed our hearts as we celebrated, with thankful hearts, that which God has done this past year. Unlike most years, which would find us traveling across the country, we nestled into our home and rested. It was rest to our souls, rest to our bodies, and wonderful to be together - just being a family. There was Thanksgiving breakfast (which Rob slept through since it was noon before he roused!)-- the kids and I enjoyed warm cinnamon rolls, eggs & bacon while listening to the Thanksgiving CD A Time to Remember by Barbara Rainey. It is a fictional audio portrayal of the Pilgrims and all they endured for our freedom, a precious reminder of all that we take for granted. Once Rob joined us, we reflected upon the specific things that we are thankful for this year -- recording them in our Thanksgiving Scrapbook, and looking back at those things listed from previous years.

We joined Rob's family for a wonderful late Thanksgiving Dinner, but before we did there was the beginning of a 3 day game of Risk amongst the boys and the movie Christmas Shoes and bracelet making for the girls. It was a delightful day and just the beginning of a great weekend!

So Thankful for ALL that he has done!

I Chronicles 16:34 --- "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."

It Has Been 20 Years!!

2010-11-22T15:53:00.000-05:00

How is that 20 years has come and gone so quickly! Here we are -- 6 months shy of a PhD (for him -- we hope!), 2 masters degrees, 6 kids (4 homegrown & 2 from Haiti), homeschooling, loving Jesus, and seeking to maintain the balance in a this crazy life!

It was the spring of my sophomore year of college when this amazing guy asked me out for an evening of 'fine' dining in the Cedarville cafeteria. Unfortunately, I ended standing him up (not intentionally -- I just left a message that didn't get delivered). Alas, that did not deter him, and he tried again. (Thank Goodness!)

We were married 2.5 years later and had no idea what the future held. Yes, we had our plans, but we hadn't really left much room for God's plans. When you put 2 selfish people together, combined with 2 wounded hearts.... there is a great need of God. We just didn't know that was what we were really missing. You see, we did the "religious walk". We had a lot of head knowledge, served in the church, did all the stuff we knew to do, we prayed --- all the while missing that intimacy with God.

We worked hard to do all the things we knew to do -- Rob went on for graduate degrees, he became the "expert" in his job, and we looked like the perfect family-- all the while the under-current in our marriage was growing rougher & rougher. I liked control and security, and no man can completely meet that need. Rob was proving himself as a man-- proving that he had what it takes.

In the course of 10 years we buried 3 of our friends. When God called home the last of the 3, Rob had enough. Who was God if He would take another young man in his prime -- with a wife in the beginning of an extremely high-risk pregnancy and 2 other young children at home? These difficult situations sent Rob 'reeling' and on a quest to discover what he really believed. He read everything from the Koran to "When Skeptics Ask." But what really grabbed him by the heart was the writings by John Eldredge. The books Waking the Dead and Wild at Heart answered a lot of questions, and drew him into a relationship with God that is alive and real. A relationship that has brought healing and strength to his heart, and as a result taught me so much about loving Jesus.

When God works on your mate, you cannot help being affected. Our marriage is a living testament to that fact. In the last 6 years, God has brought healing and restoration to a relationship that once lacked the intimacy and understanding you long for in marriage. As God has healed our individual wounds, He has grown us, and He continues to grow us in character and strength. There is still so much growth to be done, but we are so enjoying the blessings of his refining work.

John 10:10-- "I have come that you might have life and have it abundantly."
That is the our desire for our family, our marriage, and our lives. To live the life the way that He desires for us, abundantly!

I wonder what the 20 years holds???

She is Sweet 16!

2010-11-15T11:54:00.006-05:00

It is hard to believe that it was 16 years ago that God gave us this precious girl! Little did we realize how God would use her to save our marriage, to teach us to depend more upon Him, and mold us to be more like Him.

She is strong & courageous, compassionate & tenderhearted, teachable & caring, loyal & adventurous, creative & daring! She asks the tough questions and is mature beyond her years. She is patient with her siblings and actually enjoys them. She has a heart for the lesser of these and longs to go to Africa.

Because her birthday fell right in the midst of many happenings, the celebration was spread across several days. There was the family Celebration the day before her birthday. Her gma from Iowa and her other set of grandparents joined us to commemorate the day.

For her Birthday Dinner with mom and dad we enjoyed The Mongolian Grill! We love having this annual date with her and surprised her with her final gifts of the day. If you follow her blog at all, you would know that she loves the phrase LOVE LAUGH LIVE. I found a neat necklace that stated "Live the life you love, and love the life you live!" This is our girl!

She had also asked Rob and I for a list of the qualities that we would want in a guy for her (someday). This is actually something she has asked us about for quite a while, and it was fun to be able to give these to her while affirming who God is growing her to be.

The celebration continued a few days later with a Dinner Mystery Birthday Party. Everyone was dressed as a Fairy Tale Character, with the Birthday girl being Cinderella! Little did she know that she was the "who done it!" She had a great time and many memories were made!

Happy Sweet 16!

I found a Sunday School paper....

2010-11-09T10:03:00.000-05:00

that one of the twins completed this last week at church, and it made my heart smile. They are discussing what it means to be different and how God uses us. I love some of his answers on his worksheet.

I can see that one day God may use me to --- Tell people about Him.

I hope God will use me to ---- help others.

I don't like being --- weird.

People say I am --- funny.

I don't like being --- weird.

I love being ---- a part of a family.

It Has Been A Year!

2010-11-08T19:52:00.002-05:00

It's is hard to believe that it has been a year since Rob and I flew into Haiti to bring home our two precious Haitian twins! In many ways it feels like they have been here forever, and in other ways like it was yesterday. Regardless, we are blessed to be mom and dad to these precious boys.

A year ago they were all smiles as we boarded the plane to head home, but by the time we traveled for 2 days to get here, they were overwhelmed and tired. Today, they are active, happy boys who bring a whole new spark into our home. They love to bike, play soccer, ride skateboards, flip on the trampoline, and shoot hoops. They LOVE Star Wars as much as their older brother and it isn't unusual for there to be light saber battle going on here. Electronics, of course, are fun and Family Nights are always a hit. They have learned to swim like fish, are doing well with piano lessons, and working hard in school.

They have been to the zoo, played in the snow, been sledding, fishing, watched fireworks, seen a parade, attended the theater, visited museums, met so many people, been to the beach ---- there have been so many firsts and we treasure them all!

God, in His perfect way, prepared the twins for our family and us for them! Yes, there have been adjustments, but we are blessed and so happy to have them home!

To celebrate we gave the boys the opportunity to choose what they would like us to do -- Chipotle, Toy Story 3, and chocolate cake with vanilla ice was the choice and we had a great time!

Pumpkin Fun!

2010-11-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

I know the boys vaguely remember that they carved a pumpkin last year (the day after they came home), but this year they were really into it! Our family spread out on the garage floor on newspapers, turned on K-love and laughed together as we created a huge mess!

Making Memories

2010-11-02T11:43:00.002-04:00

Fall has come upon us quickly and I find myself getting further and further behind in my journey to chronicle our journey as a family seeking after Him. Still we delight in the memories we make each day, the fun we are having, and another season of "firsts' as a family of 8!

As part of our homeschooling this year we have joined Classical Conversations, a program that has transformed the way we do school and my direction. I love what the kids are doing, what they are learning, and their approach to learning. I have learned more these last few months than in the years of homechooling I have done. As part of the program they organize field trips for us as well, and of course no one wants to miss the hayride!

School Pictures 2010

2010-10-15T22:23:00.004-04:00

So when you're a homeschooler you get creative to capture those famous "school pictures!" This was an incredible week weather-wise so one afternoon we headed to the park to finish our studies and to capture pictures of the kids.

We LOVE fall and its beauty. We so enjoyed the brilliance of color, the warmth of the breeze, and just hanging out together -- even if we did study!

Birthday & Soccer Make a Busy Day!

2010-10-09T22:06:00.001-04:00

Today our baby turned 8 years old! Oh where has the time gone? Our precious girl celebrated with a Princess Tea Party with her friends and then family tonight. She delights in life itself, so of course today was no different! So many smiles and so much fun!

Baby girl, you make us laugh and enjoy life simply because you enjoy it all too! God blessed us when he gave us you and He knew we needed you too! We love you and are so blessed to be your mom and dad!

(Always a princess at heart with a love for animals, YES -- she did ask for, and received a remote control car for her birthday!)

The boys also had an exciting day -- They ended their first soccer season undefeated and as the tournament champions! Between the two of them, they scored all 3 points of today's game! This is their first trophy -- something they have admired that the other kids have had, but now they have their own!

Our Favorite Soccer Players

2010-09-24T21:17:00.001-04:00

Fall is in the air, and at our house that means SOCCER! We have it all --the ref and the players!

One of my favorite things about watching the twins play is their joy for each other when one of them score. You will usually see one of them running across the field to congratulate the other with a hug! Their team is undefeated and they love that too. They are great team players, passing the ball around, but they truly love playing the front line and scoring. It has been fun to seem them do so well!

This is N's second year playing with his select team. I love to watch this kid play when he plays with his heart-- that is when he tares up the field! At his age it is much more of a challenging game and part of that is being willing to really put yourself out there. He is growing, and that is what we enjoy the most. He is learning life lessons that will help him mature as a young man.

Who Knew That There Were Castles in the Midwest?

2010-09-24T20:29:00.001-04:00

We are studying the Middle Ages in history this year and were delighted to discover that we could experience it first hand, right in our own backyard! Who would have thought we could find a castle here?

My Newest Art

2010-09-23T11:35:00.000-04:00

Off To Class

2010-09-18T22:35:00.004-04:00

The start of school was a whirlwind for our household since the day after vacation N headed off to begin his school program. This year he is doing the Classical Conversations Program Challenge A. He spends one whole day a week in the classroom and the assignments for the week keep him very busy at home. We are really impressed with the program, all that he is learning, and the opportunities he has in the classroom. N is really enjoying the interaction within the classroom too.

The rest of the kids began the Classical Conversation Program the following week. I love the fact that this program puts us all on the same page for Latin, science, geography, history, art, and speech. Each week the kids make a brief presentation in front of their classes on an assigned topic.(Another great skill for homeschoolers to develop.) They do the science experiments and art projects that I struggle to do at home, and they memorize a ton! So far everyone is still really excited about their classes.

On the other hand, learning to get all 6 of us out of the door by 8am in the morning-- with lunches for us all, packpacks all around and my cup of coffee --requires more planning than I have had to pull off in a long time!

M is still attending a local university model school and didn't begin classes until after Labor Day. By that time we were well into school and she couldn't wait to get back into the routine and to see her friends again.

Our summer flew by and I still don't know that I even feel ready for school now -- 3 weeks into it. But we are moving forward-- learning, and for the first time-- even built our own solar system. I don't know what all God has in store for us this year, but we know He will walk us through it all and know that we need Him in our every day!

Not Just An Ordinary Family Night

2010-09-13T21:46:00.000-04:00

It was the perfect evening to enjoy outside -- cool air, a clear sky-- and the end to a busy week. For family night, chef J had come to my rescue and made the pizza, while I dealt with the demands pressing on my schedule. By 6:30pm we were all settled on the back porch (except one who was delayed with a bad attitude) with our delicious pizza, popcorn, sodas and smores and we shared about our day -- our field trip to a local castle, dance class, work, etc..

For family night, God gave Rob a devotional on sin in our lives -- the effect sin has on our hearts, how we deal with it and the wounds that our hearts often suffer. Our kids engaged in the subject readily, but when Rob began talking about the wounding of one's heart, they really GOT IT! As we shared some of the wounds that we have experienced in life, they readily identified. From the youngest to the oldest, hearts were opened and the kids were sharing their own struggles and hurts in a way that I have never seen them open up -- all at once. We had the wonderful opportunity to talk with them about where that wounding comes from, who is behind those wounds, and how God readily wants to bring healing to those wounds if only we would let Him.

After a brief time of prayer, 2 of our kids requested to talk to me alone. What a joy it is to see God moving in our kids hearts! One was coming to confess a sin that had burdened their heart for several months, and another wanted to ask Jesus into their heart! What a privilege to share that moment with our precious man A!

We had a couple other precious, and even difficult discussions with our kids too -- it is hard to see your kids struggle, even though you know it is necessary for them to grow. But I am thankful for their hearts and hope that I will continue to learn to be sensitive, attentive, and open.

Don't ever take for granted those moments you have with your kids to build into them and listen to their hearts! When Rob planned this discussion for family night he had no idea how God would move, he just followed God's promptings of his heart.

May We Never Forget--

2010-09-11T21:56:00.000-04:00

Check out our eldest's thoughts on 9/11 at breakingintolife.blogspot.com. We are so blessed by her!

A Daddy's Girl

2010-09-01T14:58:00.000-04:00

Family Vacation

2010-09-01T09:53:00.003-04:00

We had a wonderful time away-- away from practices, the phone, and computers; away from school, and away from the constant demands of life. REST was just what we needed .......

In our stage of life it is so easy to fall into the constant trappings of busyness! It was a delight to spend a week without the constant demands of life and instead making memories.

It was another first for our boys (and even a few firsts for the rest) and that is still so much fun!
     *First family vacation
     *First time to really experience the mountains
     *First tram ride
     *First time to eat out at "sit down" restaurants
            several times in a week
     *First experience with a magician
     *First time to experience so many choices (31)
           flavors of ice cream!
     *First time to have a TV in every room!
     *First hike
     *First bear spotted in the trees
     *First experience with driving go-carts!
     *First alpine slide ride down the mountain
   *First swim under the stars -- ok it ended up raining, but hey!
     *First time to eat dinner at 9pm!

I asked God for a butterfly.......

2010-08-23T16:36:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful summer afternoon in the mountains -- not too hot, but warm enough to play in the mountain stream. We had hiked on the trails, enjoyed the views, eaten a snack, and had a great time being together and being outdoors. On the way back we had promised the kids they could play in the water before we headed back to the condo, and play they did!

I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on a rock, taking snapshots of my kids laughing and playing as they slipped from rock to rock, and occasionally slipping all the way in! To their delight they learned to skip rocks and practiced a lot. I still catch myself in awe at the fact that our twins are really home and a part of all this craziness! As the kids (and Rob of course) played, I noticed a pair of butterflies skittering around with no apparent worry or concern. They were so carefree and beautiful! Right there I simply asked God for the opportunity to photograph one of these beautiful creatures.

Now one might assume (incorrectly) that after struggling through an adoption that took almost 3 years and several visits to Haiti, that my faith would be rock solid, unwavering-- and oh how I wish that is where I stood. The reality is that I still struggle to trust when I don't see the answers, when life doesn't go the way I wish or I feel like I have no control. I am still learning that the God of this universe, the creator of this beautiful butterfly, cares enough about me to give me the privilege of capturing this picture. God's plans usually don't match up to mine, but as I am learning the journey of surrender I only hope to see Him more.

Psalms 86:4-8

⁴ Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.

Natures View

2010-08-20T15:33:00.000-04:00