Who you are

Because of who you are...

Travis, I have learned that God does not make mistakes and that even when things do not go the way you had planned -God is IN the plans.

Because of who you are... Keegan, I have learned that the right road always leads to the right place…and because God is in the right place, everything else just falls into place...

Because of who you are...

Addisyn, I have learned that it’s important to be the person God created me to be- a unique individual with my own thoughts and dreams.

Because of you...

Kallan, I have learned that true happiness lies in the little things in life- a hug, a smile, a bed time prayer.

Because of who you are...

Mya, I have learned that God’s plans are always better than mine, and no matter how big the mountain I should never give up hope.
Because of who you are...

Aleigha, I have learned to never ignore my heart and that God is much bigger than I had ever believed.

Because of who you are...

Kaden, I remember to always look to Jesus first... because while I may not be able to 'save the world' HE SURE CAN!

Thank you for being just the way you are.

Love, Mom

War of the Vacuums

Is there any such thing as too much help?

I am thinking maybe so...

The Bible Vs The Cell Phone

Heard this today in church and it really made me stop and think...

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cellphone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day for new messages?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?


Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. Makes you stop and think "where are my priorities?

Oh, and no dropped calls!

Something to think about...

Just in case you thought things weren't going your way, this might help you put things in perspective...

* 800 million people will not eat today.
* 300 million of those people are children.
* Every 2 seconds someone dies of starvation.
* 1 billion people live on less than 1 dollar a day.
* It would cost 20 billion dollars to provide
health care for the entire world.
* Americans spend 20 billion dollars a year on ice cream alone.
* 6% of the world's population is American.
* Americans consume 40% of the world's natural resources.
* Only 8% of the world's population owns a car.
* The 92% that don't, think the 8% that do,
are exceedingly rich.
* 1 billion people NEVER have the clean water
that we wash our cars with.
- From World Vision

THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME

"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord". Joshua 24:15

Happy Father's Day!!!

Dear Dad,
I want you to know that I do not take having you for a father for granted. The older I get the more I learn and appreciate all that goes into parenting a child. I understand now all that you gave up for me, the long hours you worked to support me and the time you poured into shaping me. I can only hope that you are as proud of me as I am of you. I remember growing up how I thought of you as a super hero! I always felt loved, protected and safe. I always knew that no matter what MY dad was there for me. When there was a job that needed to be done you were the first one there to help out. You were trustworthy, well respected and loved. I remember waiting at the door for you to come home from work and how you would hug me and make me feel like the most important part of your day. I remember visiting you at work and how you would take me to the top of the highest grain elevator and I would feel like I was on top of the world! You taught me by your example to work hard, stand for what I believe in, the importance of family… but more importantly, you taught me that there is more than one way to be rich. I have found those riches- that true happiness in the Lord. I want you to know Dad that I love you and that you truly ARE my hero. Thank you for your always being there for me, thank you for being the kind of person you are, and thank you for supporting me always. You bless me. Because of who you are- I am able to be me. I love you. Happy Father’s Day!

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. ~Clarence Budington Kelland

To my precious husband on Father’s Day,
Did you ever think you would have SEVEN little signatures on your father’s day card? Seven little hearts loving you and seven little sets of eyes watching all you do and following your example?

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much”. Luke 16:10

When I sit back and watch you with our children I stand in awe of the miracle in front of me…that God would allow me to be your wife- and be a part of our living miracle takes my breath away. Watching you love our adopted children- knowing that you see them the EXACT SAME way as you see our biological children makes me fall more and more in love with you every day. Thank you for not seeing our children for the color of their skin or caring who’s genes they came from but loving them for who they are. I love your heart- I love what you believe in. Marrying you is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. Thank you for loving me and our babies the way you do. Thank you for saying yes to adoption. I have seen first hand how you have gone without so that the kids and I could have and do more. I have watched how your needs always come in last place and how you are only happy when we are. I cannot believe that God blessed me this much. Thank you for supporting us spiritually, financially, emotionally and physically. Thank you for believing in my dreams and for encouraging our kids to be all that God has planned for them to be. Thank you for being the best Father ever. How can I ever say thank you enough?

And lastly I want to honor my heavenly father. Thank you Lord for your example of the ultimate father. Thank you for the life you have given me and the sacrifice you made so that I could live. I stand in awe of you Abba father. You and only you fill the void in my heart and complete me. I know Lord that my possessions, my heath, my accomplishments- even my family are gifts from you. I have done nothing to deserve them, and they are only on loan from you. Thank you for letting me be a part of this amazing family and being surrounded by these precious Fathers. I love you Lord above all and more than anything in this world Lord. Amen

The Way

There are times in our lives where we find ourselves lost… heading down a path we never intended to end up on.We are not even sure how we got there or if there is a way out. We are searching… looking...

trying to find a way out- a better way.

We have tried every direction...

Money (yet once we spent it, it is gone)
Food (after we eat, we are still unhappy, and now we are over-weight which makes us even more unhappy!)
Entertainment (we tried laughing and having fun, yet we were still crying on the inside)
Popularity (It is here today and gone tomorrow. There is no lasting happiness in popularity)

Our own strength (we tried so hard to prove to the world we were strong enough, cool enough, good enough and yet we were not).

All of those only bring tempory happiness. We see that now, recognize it- and long for MORE. But where do we go?

Which way do we turn?

Time is running short, we have already wasted years of precious moments in life, doing one mistake after another, trying to conquer and achieve things that have no value.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

And then we sense Him calling us, we feel him changing us… we hear His voice saying that no matter what happened in the past, we can choose to follow God today and be free from any guilt or shame. He promises that we will be successful if we follow His word exactly. If we allow Him to direct our steps, He will not allow us to ever again loose our way. We will find rest for our soul and a whole new world will be opened to us. We will be changed at our root.

So we run into the arms of our savior- the one who loves us most of all.
For there we know we have found true happiness.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Summer entertainment

With the rising price of gas and food- entertaining seven kids all summer without going broke is sometimes a challenge. Luckily up the road just a few miles they put in one of those water parks where the water sprinklers randomly go off and there is a playground park next to it. The kids LOVED it and thankfully it was all FREE. Packed a picnic lunch and we had a wonderful day!
Aleigha, Mya and Kaden love making crafts. Yesterday the collected their favorite rock, scrubbed it clean and then decorated them into 'pet rocks'. Simple and cheap and kept them entertained for a good amount of time.(big sister helped too!)

For the older kids- I have decided that summer would be a good time for them to learn how to cook. (Makes them appreciate how much work it is for me to cook meals too). Last night was Travis's turn. He sort of cheated and had his girlfriend Cayley help. But they made a wonderful pasta with 'pink' sauce, salad and a lemon cake. With Travis going off to college in a year it is good for him to be able to make something other than frozen pizza. :0)

Things that change my priorities in life

There are some things in life that change you forever... some things that you just cannot EVER forget.

This picture, is one of those things. One of those things that change me, change who I am and what I stand for. Seeing this pictures makes driving a new car, going on a vacation, and eating dinner out tonight not quite so cool. It changes my desires in life and makes me sick to the very core of my soul. They say a picture is worth a thousand words... if you were there right now, right now seeing this child in front of you what would you say? More importantly- what would you do?

Can I tell you something?

A child JUST like that is closer than you think... a child that needs you. What are you going to do about that?

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what is says. James 1:22

Shoo Fly don't bother me!

So GREAT- found out to day that Kaden is SCARED TO DEATH of FLIES!!! He'll just be playing away having a good time and then all of a sudden he'll come SHRIEKING through the room running as fast as his little legs can carry him (and that boy can RUN FAST let me tell you)and hide between my legs! Does anyone have any idea how many flies there are in this world?? OK, off to look up how to deal with fly phobias or else it is going to be a looooooong summer!

Balance

Organization means finding a place for everything- and putting God in first place.

~Summer is in full swing and while I was looking forward to summer being laid back and relaxing- it has not started off that way. First week off and already the pace is being set. Travis and Keegan did a football kicking camp and have started football work out. They go to the school to lift weights every morning and come home sore and tired. Kallan leaves for Church Camp today (oh I am going to miss that sweet boy!) and will be gone for a 4 days (the longest I have ever been away from him). He is excited beyond words and cannot wait to get on that bus! Addisyn and Keegan get to go next week to the Junior High Church camp and Addisyn also starts Volleyball camp today. Travis doesn’t get to attend church camp this year because he is taking college English at the local Junior college. By the time he graduates from High School next year he will already have his associate’s degree! Proud of them all!
The little ones are much easier to entertain. They are thrilled with watching the garden grow, trips to the library, water balloon fights and bike rides.
As for me, I am just trying to keep it all in order and do my best to raise these precious souls into the kind of people that God will be able to one day say “Job well done”. People who know me well know how important balance is to me. It’s always a challenge but I really believe that raising healthy, happy kids is all about BALANCE. Not too much TV, healthy snacks, but a 'not so good one' occasionally too. Work to keep them from getting lazy, but still time for fun. Discipline along with lots and lots of hugs and kisses. Time with family, time for friends, time for reading and a lot of good sleep- while always keeping their eyes focused on God. I have found that when all of these things are falling into place, each area getting attention, then life in general is pretty darn good and it makes for one teriffic summer! :0)

"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

The Perfect Mistake

My Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to orphanages in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what had happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was really upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this." Months later, the director of the orphanage was on furlough in the United States. He wanted to visit all the churches that supported him in China, so he came to speak one Sunday at my grandfather's small church in Chicago. The missionary began by thanking the people for their faithfulness in supporting the orphanage. "But most of all," he said, "I must thank you for the glasses you sent last year. You see, the Communists had just swept through the orphanage, destroying everything, including my glasses. I was desperate. Even if I had the money, there was simply no way of replacing those glasses. Along with not being able to see well, I experienced headaches every day, so my coworkers and I were much in prayer about this. Then your crates arrived. When my staff removed the covers, they found a pair of glasses wedged between two blankets. The missionary paused long enough to let his words sink in. Then, still gripped with the wonder of it all, he continued: "Folks, when I tried on the glasses, it was as though they had been custom made just for me! I want to thank you for being a part of that." The people listened, happy for the miraculous glasses. But the missionary surely must have confused their church with another, they thought. There were no glasses on their list of items to be sent overseas. But sitting quietly in the back, with tears streaming down his face, an ordinary carpenter realized the Master Carpenter had used him in an extraordinary way.

There are times we want to blame God instead of thanking him! Perhaps it is something we ought to try more often, "Thank you, God, for not allowing my car to start this morning." He may have been saving your life from a car accident. "Lord Jesus, thank you for letting me lose my glasses; I'm sure they'll be put to good use or there is a lesson to be learned." I have to remember this in these times of trial with my own family. ~author unknown

God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. - Phil 4:19

My Hero's

Often times, as an adoptive parent people comment on how 'nice' it was that we 'saved' these children. They often act as if 'I' did a heroic act by adopting my children. But let me set the record straight. Let me introduce you to the REAL hero's....

Super Aleigha

Aleigha was our first adopted child. This precious little hero came to us at the age of 6 months from Guatemala. I had no idea how her adoption would touch the very depths of my soul. She changed me. Gave me the courage to be more than I thought I could be. She made me look beyond my own small world and see the entire world through the eyes of Jesus. I will never forget the look of trust and hope that I saw in her big black eyes the day they placed her in my arms. Thank you Aleigha Grace for the gift of you.

Super Mya

Mya came home to us 2 months shy of her 4th birthday. I remember the first time I met Mya she came walk down the hall of the orphanage dressed in a purple princess gown. But what struck me more than anything about this precious hero was how happy she was- despite the curve ball life had thrown at her. It amazed me that no matter how hard her past had been, despite the suffering, despite the abuse and the broken heart- she was so willing to open herself up once again and trust. She knew nothing about me, but because of the hope in her in heart she never gave up trusting life would get better. There have been times when I have been guilty of feeling sorry for myself and letting myself feel hopeless. Mya is a constant reminder to me that no matter how helpless things get- with a positive attitude, enough courage and a heart of hope you will survive. Thank you Mya for being just the way you are. You bless me daily.

Super Kaden Adopting this little hero was not something I had ever planned and yet I can honestly say that I have never felt closer to God then when Kaden walked into our life. I used to have this idea or 'image' of how my children would be- and Kaden changed that- for the better. He taught me that my idea of 'perfect' was totally warped. He helped me to look deep inside myself and see the changes that needed to come. He made me be stronger than I ever thought I could be and he gave me a passion for life that I never had before. Because of this child my life has taken on a new meaning. He has made me whole and I will forever be grateful.

THANK YOU GOD for the privilege of watching your children- these true hero's SOAR!!!!

HIV knowledge

How much do you know about HIV? Play this 'game' and see if it challenges our stereotypes and assumptions.

Our newest additions

Guess what guys!!! We have some EXCITING NEWS! We added to our family again! YEAH!

Kaden is tickled pink!

We have two new kittens- and we named them Smudge and Fudge! Aren't they cute? (and you thought it was another child didn't you??)

I wonder if I can talk mom and dad into a horse next???

My way or the Highway???

There is a old popular Frank Sinatra song called “My Way”. The lyrics in the song go like this:
“And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and ev'ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way.”
The song became so popular that many of us not only know the words to the song- but live them. We live our life daily, scurrying around doing things ‘our way.” Because after all, we know what WE want. We have become pro’s at ‘doing our own thing’ and believing we should ‘have it our own way’.
I believe that God is all for us being unique- after all, He made no two of us alike. He loves originals and He wants us to be who we are/who he created us to be. But sometimes I think I get confused between putting my own interests ahead of Gods. And unfortunately our own natural instincts are usually just the opposite of how God wants us to respond. The whole world is full of people bent on doing what suits them and not following God’s ways. We act like little god’s and get angry when our crowns gets bent and things don’t’ go ‘our way’. And I will be the first to admit that often times I have left God out of my plans completely and then expect God to ‘bless’ what I have already decided to do. Yet when I reject God’s way of doing things and choose my own path, I am ultimately rejecting God’s perfect plan.

I am a list maker. Yet sometime back I made the decision to trust God when the things on my list didn’t go as “I” had planned. I decided to quit telling God how I wanted things done and just turn my day over to him. I am here to warn you, if you do this He will take your offer serious. If you would have told me 10 years ago even that I would be raising seven children- one special needs- I would have never believed you. I would have never planned or chosen this for myself- and yet I can honestly tell you- I have never felt more fulfilled or never been happier.
I am often asked if we are ‘done’ adopting. Honestly, I do not have the answer to that question. Only God does. I can tell you one thing though- I do not ever want to say no to God again. I won’t turn my back on God so I can be more ‘comfortable.’ I will try my hardest to never say no to God out of fear or because of what others say we should or shouldn’t do. I desire to serve one God and answer only to Him. I will do everything in my power to walk by faith and follow where He leads me even when I do not understand or cannot see where He is leading me. And as hard as it is- even when things do not go my way I will cling to God and praise God for his faithfulness.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

The Starfish Poem

Many of you have probably read this before... but it is one of my favorites and worth repeating.
Can you think of ONE PERSON who has touched your life- making it a little bit better just because they cared? Just ONE PERSON? ONE PERSON really can make a difference. We must never forget that.

THE STARFISH POEM
Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore.
As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think of someone who would
dance to the day. So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing, but instead he was reaching down to the shore,
picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"The wise man then asked, "Why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."