tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73691574936520896312024-02-24T18:45:02.041-08:00Shine Like StarsDo everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you SHINE LIKE STARS in the universe as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. - Philippians 2:14-16Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-49767219887015248292013-08-24T07:54:00.000-07:002013-08-25T05:00:12.858-07:00And the TRUTH Shall Set You Free...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has been two years since Isaiah and Ruth became a forever part of our family. It's been a year since I've had the courage to log onto this blog. A long, emotionally draining, grasping and clinging to the hem of Jesus's robe, kind of year. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At first I didn't post because I convinced myself that no-one wants to hear the ugly and the hard side of adoption. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That isn't true. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I didn't write because of fear. I didn't want to be judged by those that had never walked the road of adoption. My pride told me to keep quiet because I was suppose too have all the answers. And after enough time passed, I just became to overwhelmed to write. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I began to see our failings as <i><b>my</b></i> failings. I saw every setback and emotional breakdown as something I wasn't doing right. I saw every failed test as my inability to teach. I took every lie I was told incredibly personally. With every "My REAL, BIRTH mom loves me more!" I would lay a stone around my heart. And the construction of my wall was going unreasonably fast. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It eventually took me out. I just wanted out, but I din't know how...I felt trapped. I didn't want to get up and home school a child that was going to argue with me about E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. I didn't want to pray for a child who was just going to spit venomous insults in my face. I didn't want to discipline a child who was just going to steal again and then lie about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My well ran dry. There was no grace on reserve. My love now had conditions. I began keeping score. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I knew it was wrong. I knew what Karyn Purvis (the adoption whisperer as I lovingly refer to her) would say about this. But what shamed me even more is that I knew what the Bible said about this. I KNEW!, but I couldn't help it. I was drowning and it was all I could do to keep my head above water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well-meaning people asked and commented, "Oh how wonderful adoption must be!" "Heavens, your family is too cute!" Or my all time favorite, "I would adopt in a heartbeat if we could get the kids ya'll got!" (Yes, we live in the south and that is how we really talk.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I would find myself just methodically nodding my head saying the only true thing I held on to, "God is good." It satisfied their need to believe that all was wonderful and it reminded me that I believe in a God that is sovereign and whose will is perfect and He, that called us to this, will carry us through. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't think I'm alone in this struggle. I know there are mamas and papas out there that are struggling to find that one thing to love in their child. They are fighting the enemy through every thought condemning their child. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This isn't a battle won over night. This isn't a battle fought flippantly while standing up texting your BFF. (Though you desperately need a BFF!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the kind of battle Ephesians 6 talks about... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but it's against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." </i> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our children are not our enemy! They are not out to get us, even though that's how it feels in the flesh! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Adoption is authored by God. He is the only one that can redeem! Not us. He may choose to use us in the healing and the restoration of our children, but mamas and papas, I'll let you in on a secret that took me two years to finally hear... WE.CAN.NOT.HEAL.OUR.CHILDREN. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We can not bestow upon their heads a crown of beauty where once only ashes lay. We can not turn their spirit of despair into a garment of praise. Only HE can. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please understand this was a very personal journey between God, myself and my incredibly resilient children. It has been a time of refining and molding of my heart. It has been painful and lonely. But it's also been glorious. The Lord has shown me that when sin increases in my children's life, my grace must increase all the more. (Romans 5:20b) He has very clearly shown me that He does not show favoritism and nor should I. God has shone a light into the dark parts of my heart; parts that needed healing and restoration a long time ago. Parts that I would have kept locked up had I never been called to love two hurting children born not from my womb. And for that I am, and will forever be, grateful. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am not at that magical, perfect place of harmony and unity. But I see the light. And as we travel this narrow road, I am continually humbled and reminded that we are far from perfect. My kids are going to interrupt. They may even tell me no. One of them might roll their eyes at me (until they are set straight by their father and then come directly back to me to apologize.) :) They may still grieve. They may miss their birth mother and country so much that they lash out at me. That's o.k.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I've learned that what's behind that anger is a gripping fear that he can no longer remember what his birth mamma looks like. And that scares him to death. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And what's behind her harshness is a fear of failure. A fear of acceptance. A fear of not being loved unconditionally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I look at our adoption as the lifeline that was thrown to me. It saved ALL my children from the demands and pretenses I put upon myself and my family because I felt the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">weight of the world looking upon us. It saved us from selfishness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is teaching us compassion in a way that is very personal and real. It has taught me that it's o.k. not to have all the answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because...</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I failed...and yet I'm still here. Much to my surprise, it didn't kill me. It made me stronger. It taught me humility and submissiveness. I experienced that His love truly NEVER fails, it never gives up and it will never, ever run out on me. It showed me that His grace increased for my sin.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<i><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 2Cor-12-9" id="en-NIV-29032" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"But he said to me, <span class="woj">“My grace<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></span> is sufficient for you, for my power<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></span> is made perfect in weakness.<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></span>”<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></span></span> Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. </span><span class="text 2Cor-12-10" id="en-NIV-29033" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29033F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></span> in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29033G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></span> in persecutions,<span class="crossreference" style="font-size: 0.65em; vertical-align: top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29033H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></span> in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."</span></span></b></i></div>
<div>
<i><span class="text 2Cor-12-10" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blessings,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jen</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-41604249197297454662012-07-26T07:02:00.000-07:002012-07-26T07:31:53.183-07:00NO Longer MIA<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s July.
Yes, I realized that the last time I blogged was in February.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I needed to take a break to walk the new road
that the LORD was calling me and my family too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In a nutshell:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In January,
we pulled Isaiah from public school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a very fast decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the middle of the 1<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>st</sup> week back after Christmas break, we
prayerfully decided he needed to be home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Friday was his last day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
curriculums ordered…no clue what I was going to do…just trusting the LORD to
guide us in regards to Isaiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shortly
after that, Brian left a 17 year career with his construction company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a year of praying, researching,
praying, testing, praying, reasoning with God and then finally submitting, he
resigned to start a non-profit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(More
info to come on this later.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And then to
top it off, like icing on a cake that you are too full to eat, we adopted a
dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because that’s what it looks like when you
are fighting for the heart of a grieving child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did I want one? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOT.AT.ALL!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to
see your adopted son curling up to your adopted dog and saying, “Ginger, I’ll
love you forever because you and me, we are both adopted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Y</span>ou are going to love it here because
it’s the best family ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to
play with you and feed you and tell you about Jesus so we can be together
forever!” was worth every muddy paw and chewed up pillow we’ve had in the last 6
months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All of this
going on while I was still healing from a surgery I’m not convinced I needed,
and health concerns I still didn’t have answers to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’m not
going to lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some days were very
difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was all unchartered
territory for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And keeping up with 3
at a school while trying to figure out how to home school one with some
learning difficulties was…AHEM…difficult to say the least.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But you know
the verse about the LORD’s strength made perfect in your weakness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well yeah, that’s how I survived – every
moment of every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> And when I finally relinquinshed and gave it ALL over to the LORD, my days got easier, my joy lingered and my hope returned. I am treasuring those moments of laughter and celebrating the victories. Why? Because there is ALWAYS "rejoicing in the morning." </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here are a few moments that are worthy of celebrating:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Though it
happened before January, it’s too important not to go back to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jaxon had made the decision to follow Christ
a few years ago, but every </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">time we discussed baptism, he would say he
wanted to wait for his brother to be home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So on 9/11 at 9:11, 5 ½ months after Isaiah came home, our 10 year old
sons, brothers who will carry the same last name forever, were baptized
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">(I'm so sad but I can't get the pictures to download. :( Just trust me, it was beautiful!)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In the spring, Jaxon received the Award of Excellence
in Writing from the State of Texas for a piece he wrote on Diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was for the PTA Reflections contest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He usually doesn’t show the initiative for
writing, but he saw the topic and came home one night and said, “Mom, I think
if anyone knows diversity, it’s our family.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So he sat down and wrote about our family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was beautiful to see his heart so
vulnerable and tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very Proud Momma
Moment!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">On March 18<span style="font-size: small;"><sup>th</sup>,
we celebrated our Gotcha day!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found a
Caribbean restaurant downtown so we got all fancied up and had an amazing dinner that Isaiah
LOVED!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ruth just wanted chicken from
Chick-Fil-A. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1wF_hOMZK4of27ug57Y-jjyZsIBMzAcwn8uytdgPTWfjHSvMpTYyU26TijtNxOE8_lYCXM7f8bcs9_FDht5AGOcxcEZKNOfBmdlqPCjF9tNa0zQm8t2i0lGA96DIZzc1s3dwu2BuaUY/s1600/Gotcha+day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF1wF_hOMZK4of27ug57Y-jjyZsIBMzAcwn8uytdgPTWfjHSvMpTYyU26TijtNxOE8_lYCXM7f8bcs9_FDht5AGOcxcEZKNOfBmdlqPCjF9tNa0zQm8t2i0lGA96DIZzc1s3dwu2BuaUY/s320/Gotcha+day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our precious baby girl, whose name should be Joy, turned 7 in May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she got a full, invite-the-class, kind of birthday party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never let the kids invite more than 5-10 kids, but Ruth’s face just lit up at the mention of all her “best friends” in her Kinder class playing with her at her party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously I couldn’t say “No.” <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span> But I couldn't say "Yes" to 25 kids either, so we compromised - she could invite all the girls in her class. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> She insisted on a swim party!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3F7dTzsdwIUP6b1ZmKILf5a6JNwKblvhP8zDsZEXyUmiHVWv5LvOi3NM-Swbv0tXlZ2CRc1U7Blqh9gY1ZMfiaotxSQPN7kAWg58pPCWVLSNG991N9eJAIg5Bnn1inkC3WwUmZxd7oQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3F7dTzsdwIUP6b1ZmKILf5a6JNwKblvhP8zDsZEXyUmiHVWv5LvOi3NM-Swbv0tXlZ2CRc1U7Blqh9gY1ZMfiaotxSQPN7kAWg58pPCWVLSNG991N9eJAIg5Bnn1inkC3WwUmZxd7oQ/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth with two of her favorite friends from school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Oh, how I treasure this little girl!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The last few months have brought a shift in the relationship between Chloe and Ruth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got along from the moment they met, but it’s become something deeper lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s absolutely beautiful to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So much so, that I find myself saying yes to things that I would never have condoned<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>prior to adopting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, sleeping together on school nights. Even when I say, “Not tonight,” I find them like this…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">They have their own secret sister dance that is adorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their baths take over an hour because they can’t stop talking and playing long enough to wash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Chloe will sneak snacks to Ruth when she senses a meltdown is on its way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have a formed a bond that brings tears to my eyes just typing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Jesus…plain and simple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s humbling and inspiring and its beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p> </o:p>And then May came and our summer league swim season started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the next 2 months, I loved on and coached 182 swimmers, including all my 4!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was an amazing season and I couldn’t be more proud of each and every swimmer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once again, I’m left with tan lines that someone my age shouldn’t be sporting. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isaiah finished the season with the Most Improved award in his age group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>YEAH!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the other coaches, after winning the coaches relay. :)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Blessings!<br />Jen </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"But I will sing of your strength,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">in the morning I will sing of your love;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for you are my fortress,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">my refue in times of trouble.<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-59-16"> <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-14807G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-59-16"></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span class="text Ps-59-17" id="en-NIV-14808">You are my strength, I sing praise to you;</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-59-17">you, God, are my fortress,</span></span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span><span class="text Ps-59-17">my God on whom I can rely." Psalm 59:16-17</span></span></span></div>
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</span></div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-37002639981970328672012-02-15T07:55:00.000-08:002012-02-15T07:55:39.173-08:00Valentine's Day FlamesValentine's Day was flaming hot at our house last night!<br />
...just not in the way one might assume.<br />
<br />
Yesterday was a little crazy with kids activities overlapping, so at 4:15 I showed Brian what needed to be done to dinner and out I ran to take Ruth to swim lessons.<br />
(Yes, I totally see the irony that I'm taking my youngest to swim lessons considering I teach and coach 180 kids in swimming so please don't point that out to me.) :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I was running a few minutes getting home because of this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7kWf_0lBCGrC4Y4oMlGkrkPHP-vuKbyDVWIaLj91zh-fWPFk-69Env5rgTOvBNNaaQs5CvrxwT01ZjPTJn_Hd4R8ZeYxaUMqVRfrG5Ff_Ra-BZ48nauyt7KKwzWnt2dh_VF422k5_I0/s1600/Ruth+swim+ribbons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT7kWf_0lBCGrC4Y4oMlGkrkPHP-vuKbyDVWIaLj91zh-fWPFk-69Env5rgTOvBNNaaQs5CvrxwT01ZjPTJn_Hd4R8ZeYxaUMqVRfrG5Ff_Ra-BZ48nauyt7KKwzWnt2dh_VF422k5_I0/s320/Ruth+swim+ribbons.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ruth passed 2 levels and got to ring the bell and receive her ribbons. </div><div style="text-align: center;">YEAH Ruthie!!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So I walked in at about 5:15 and looked outside to see this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEjj8X06co5egWs77NVJVkQKN6K54O49l5WbP7LwoYg81DoKLj0YuoymZpZ2Nj3lm8T0iBPfhVE7GcGsdmyULfokowzOKCDkxUgdbi6QIalNQdu9_QBcByO-NfqqjQ5dUxvet1VmryEo/s1600/open+flame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEjj8X06co5egWs77NVJVkQKN6K54O49l5WbP7LwoYg81DoKLj0YuoymZpZ2Nj3lm8T0iBPfhVE7GcGsdmyULfokowzOKCDkxUgdbi6QIalNQdu9_QBcByO-NfqqjQ5dUxvet1VmryEo/s320/open+flame.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So I went and grabbed the fire extinguisher so Brian could do this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvpLTh2rMT7ofg-CoKFG5rJN_Ees_pgrfAnA3tHgBqvgzKH7bz3VMi5XbSpPJMhR23Ze77gV80EGXP3b02FuMf2uFgYfUxF_78v_EU2C0wOk6ypbwE2XEvvxSCC06xSietOXNHlKqe1A/s1600/grill+fire.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvpLTh2rMT7ofg-CoKFG5rJN_Ees_pgrfAnA3tHgBqvgzKH7bz3VMi5XbSpPJMhR23Ze77gV80EGXP3b02FuMf2uFgYfUxF_78v_EU2C0wOk6ypbwE2XEvvxSCC06xSietOXNHlKqe1A/s320/grill+fire.JPG" width="239" yda="true" /></a></div><br />
Apparently, putting olive oil on heart shaped hamburgers is NOT a good idea if you are going to grill in an open flame. <br />
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I LOVE my exciting, never-a-dull-moment life that the LORD has blessed me with!! Hope ya'll had a happy Valentine's Day too!Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-81929525250876027632012-01-09T07:03:00.000-08:002012-01-09T07:38:52.222-08:00Our Weekend...<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Happy New Year! Yes, I'm still alive! And I have SO much catching up to do! And I fully plan to go there. Later.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's been a rough couple of months. No, that's a lie. It's been a hard year. There is a verse in Psalms that says, "...your Word is a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path." I haven't been able to see my path. I barely have enough light to illuminate the steps for my feet. And as the year progressed, the light seemed to grow dimmer. I ended the year with a surgery that humbled me like nothing before has. And I will write about that later. This particular blog is not about that.</div><br />
The last few months we've had No Time on the weekends for us - for family, for life, to enjoy each other, for laughter. Brian has either taken the kids somewhere without me because physically and emotionally I just haven't been up for anything, or we were being dragged through this rat race we are calling life and our obligations no longer belonged to us. <br />
Both of these last two things have changed. <br />
My fog is clearing. My joy is returning. My body is healing. And we are taking our life back. No more <insert evening activity here>. No more <insert weekend sport here>. Nothing on the agenda. That feeling alone can give you years back to your life. It's Freedom.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So Saturday morning we realized that we had a completely free weekend! N-O-T-H-I-N-G!! And it was an absolutely beautiful day! High in the 70's and sunny. I needed to be outside! So I suggested camping. Granted, I've been camping once in my adult life and it was without children, but I thought it sounded fun. Brian couldn't get a campsite anywhere the day of, so we threw that idea out (I think that was the LORD just watching over me). :) Then I suggested Enchanted Rock. It's a beautiful place in the Hilll Country. It's also a vertical climb, on your own legs, of at least a mile. Brian quickly reminded me that a week ago to the day, I had been in the hospital and there is no way that he would let me go. I argued my point. He won.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This was my 3rd suggestion... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSB4ml7zNClVQbzJQ4V-tRuQ48BYAeXjx_wZ0hlFXWEk2SwNhxcLOakbOx30JXslbeSZX5BTGPH03px6amLN2a44Znb2HR-7J8nG2mWDbDphGXzA-cp7n_gloiniGUddTvdilKGQeeYg/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSB4ml7zNClVQbzJQ4V-tRuQ48BYAeXjx_wZ0hlFXWEk2SwNhxcLOakbOx30JXslbeSZX5BTGPH03px6amLN2a44Znb2HR-7J8nG2mWDbDphGXzA-cp7n_gloiniGUddTvdilKGQeeYg/s400/301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah and Ruth had never been to the Zoo so I knew this would be fun for them! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I actually remembered to take pictures so I'm just going to let the pictures tell our story...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Reptile House: </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuASEsPy8ynnBczRVmyYD5vMc6SGhquOyBUpQ9pW0c_OPIyc1iSo2fX4NGXWt_UEVMpgHA8eLGW9kFasjxbLOb4zSZwFHpKPNuEH4VgJzYnB3Z-XwmMD7upBnNbMfMePw2GhV_oIMUPQc/s1600/239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuASEsPy8ynnBczRVmyYD5vMc6SGhquOyBUpQ9pW0c_OPIyc1iSo2fX4NGXWt_UEVMpgHA8eLGW9kFasjxbLOb4zSZwFHpKPNuEH4VgJzYnB3Z-XwmMD7upBnNbMfMePw2GhV_oIMUPQc/s400/239.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, Chloe, that's how your mother feels about snakes too...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNgfKsPSftfuit1pYnakthwG7xlflbzRmyLR-OCGp-g6V6E0HdH_ElTnVMF8QsP7zKJCb-jV2fmEk6duX6v03dleHpjfxRhgKv1s3UmMSeLbjkZjdEFDnYoWHndS_fJcF5goVCozUzj0/s1600/244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNgfKsPSftfuit1pYnakthwG7xlflbzRmyLR-OCGp-g6V6E0HdH_ElTnVMF8QsP7zKJCb-jV2fmEk6duX6v03dleHpjfxRhgKv1s3UmMSeLbjkZjdEFDnYoWHndS_fJcF5goVCozUzj0/s400/244.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chloe did this with every-single-animal! She might have more pictures than me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tzSMBYv-kcYho2BgFuf1ci6jCCVfU4VKhu_Q6o01p4OlNpi3gWk6r534tBBMsXHK5mzFPItj6J0_zYO5ev9f3BhkM8xmmGLp0OFgYy53j6bJi_bKMOlkPGmH5m_ycm-YMlg0ZbfnQg4/s1600/254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tzSMBYv-kcYho2BgFuf1ci6jCCVfU4VKhu_Q6o01p4OlNpi3gWk6r534tBBMsXHK5mzFPItj6J0_zYO5ev9f3BhkM8xmmGLp0OFgYy53j6bJi_bKMOlkPGmH5m_ycm-YMlg0ZbfnQg4/s400/254.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the bonding between siblings! Only the LORD can do that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkX-_FfJ22VgtPjcRT-dII-19QMDGxsGkGEA3izlcU34bkriDqa1VKJjs8vyQ-2iu6RWff8mvzcunRXaL8JDd7auPW3kjrpOT85qkIwh3n_I0oSLqGUrA119NscQ1pxmV8_75S2LiY4k/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkX-_FfJ22VgtPjcRT-dII-19QMDGxsGkGEA3izlcU34bkriDqa1VKJjs8vyQ-2iu6RWff8mvzcunRXaL8JDd7auPW3kjrpOT85qkIwh3n_I0oSLqGUrA119NscQ1pxmV8_75S2LiY4k/s400/266.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's an Okapi. Which poor Isaiah just couldn't quite understand. He thought is was 1/2 cow, 1/2 zebra, 1/2 horse, all with the neck of a giraffe. I have no idea where he got interpretation, but that's what he came up with. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjEWkK60ryw5NbWDmyJp1-6Ohk0S4GbtpPb5yD0aLmDsHV2Os6iKqEV7hOOqmaYTHNR_AcxetgIcnuqCFcJxgfe-U7qrQBOmxCzCK9dUZ1E7-TXobNAFwZCLwBh901GTeg95e9506KGA/s1600/272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjEWkK60ryw5NbWDmyJp1-6Ohk0S4GbtpPb5yD0aLmDsHV2Os6iKqEV7hOOqmaYTHNR_AcxetgIcnuqCFcJxgfe-U7qrQBOmxCzCK9dUZ1E7-TXobNAFwZCLwBh901GTeg95e9506KGA/s320/272.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruth LOVED the fact that she had an Elephant on her shirt and kept yelling at the Elephants to look at her shirt. Too Cute! :)<br />
She also kept asking for a pet elephant. She wanted to ride it instead of drive in a car.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfVKbMY7k54qtAhWqlAycK65NcmfGXgr79IpieCc0pF4pD8lYLkc1yq_Ya9YF587UU31-P7BIFLjbxZdKnCiEsfe4yVTF4JkyYgzByMJM3Vei7DMelOYUmcvirXsrcua-0w_PVXQJq6Q/s1600/280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtfVKbMY7k54qtAhWqlAycK65NcmfGXgr79IpieCc0pF4pD8lYLkc1yq_Ya9YF587UU31-P7BIFLjbxZdKnCiEsfe4yVTF4JkyYgzByMJM3Vei7DMelOYUmcvirXsrcua-0w_PVXQJq6Q/s320/280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Elephants kept spraying themselves with dirt and the girls would yell, "STOP!! You're getting yourself all dirty!! <br />
They are going to make you take a bath if you don't stop!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The Hippo did this...</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp9Q60ortQbmzSqBo0GlXZndls6NAUwV30C1Q4KnaMxIrVwdxdCWHYSykAvIaNUFdwiUV3Ri3ztF1u4U-6KSxhtmSj2kye30rBhF74WYEy75w4faGAzXaPFBfFaYyQvJhOT0zyiUWKPg/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVp9Q60ortQbmzSqBo0GlXZndls6NAUwV30C1Q4KnaMxIrVwdxdCWHYSykAvIaNUFdwiUV3Ri3ztF1u4U-6KSxhtmSj2kye30rBhF74WYEy75w4faGAzXaPFBfFaYyQvJhOT0zyiUWKPg/s400/262.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwXY6RX2alYmm0pfolnLaa71-fakJ9hGcGoZyAb55jjIcohgaFy1Ol9_jlhoZzfjoveYHblDsHhO0MfW2pzyu3NUVW1pdjKpixk3vJk6rMbHri4bhngcnhBuR5lPEH1MLjCcKfDSAtfI/s1600/263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwXY6RX2alYmm0pfolnLaa71-fakJ9hGcGoZyAb55jjIcohgaFy1Ol9_jlhoZzfjoveYHblDsHhO0MfW2pzyu3NUVW1pdjKpixk3vJk6rMbHri4bhngcnhBuR5lPEH1MLjCcKfDSAtfI/s400/263.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Which made Ruth do this... :(</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And because every trip to the zoo must end with our traditional train ride...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKLWIWw-fBUPPN0QSXsiWhCGZbOe_sGGvhXF7CKo8fM5Eq9xxgMDbG8T-z6J6bPguXt-XgEnnQ4WotPVwocIQV2EAa6_oDxNqeqhyTGYKxZGJcpvzArky3oSsHUSBYwMBp6CvXL2umdA/s1600/303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKLWIWw-fBUPPN0QSXsiWhCGZbOe_sGGvhXF7CKo8fM5Eq9xxgMDbG8T-z6J6bPguXt-XgEnnQ4WotPVwocIQV2EAa6_oDxNqeqhyTGYKxZGJcpvzArky3oSsHUSBYwMBp6CvXL2umdA/s320/303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have to share this picture of Chloe and her beloved daddy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I just love the joy on her face!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp2FVl6o5KFBKJEZR3tSohzTXvyLXpXjhpeAUECebyFMHUx38sYBuWiBYHA5RLlNScoIKmo0_80agfHER2KoYefJgT9Qucxb53MDp8ZiKhYLOdQ-se7baoKzRLQ9_Yw5cpADJJirEfeM/s1600/310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp2FVl6o5KFBKJEZR3tSohzTXvyLXpXjhpeAUECebyFMHUx38sYBuWiBYHA5RLlNScoIKmo0_80agfHER2KoYefJgT9Qucxb53MDp8ZiKhYLOdQ-se7baoKzRLQ9_Yw5cpADJJirEfeM/s400/310.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this was the rest of our weekend...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE52N1r6CZNVgXRBacrspkONb_EFxL_2R7DYbCvYYKPR3JOokcNPcLx-oG7VT4uwsePT8AloWNy7X6nFlYyzy772ON991vyDllRxzHL-nFrL6XZWRvkeues4BiHj4Xle0GzTwISU-m8a4/s1600/311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE52N1r6CZNVgXRBacrspkONb_EFxL_2R7DYbCvYYKPR3JOokcNPcLx-oG7VT4uwsePT8AloWNy7X6nFlYyzy772ON991vyDllRxzHL-nFrL6XZWRvkeues4BiHj4Xle0GzTwISU-m8a4/s320/311.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxo4eEke7NxVDQQ0dOcza2BjWzKeZ_LSDhAAYF_Ga237rbGFFVSprvRRuiQrsb0w1-qnK3HY-AjPwIehsRbl9sKgEi1-vqoQhYL1aWtKpAPPS9fRDrXr7oMglAwI6n1pv1BGgN1G2uCg/s1600/316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxo4eEke7NxVDQQ0dOcza2BjWzKeZ_LSDhAAYF_Ga237rbGFFVSprvRRuiQrsb0w1-qnK3HY-AjPwIehsRbl9sKgEi1-vqoQhYL1aWtKpAPPS9fRDrXr7oMglAwI6n1pv1BGgN1G2uCg/s320/316.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZPYt8Pl0x326xzPg5YiKP2eMb3UDo1Uk6VZxEF79Y6fIDzzbFE3ie_cPmL3DXupuGLje8CkYiuompbbaqKkZhMbQhSmnSqF5My0vXyr-0XdNufULF5NDJJKdaeegh3CjSrhUMK9Bzl0/s1600/323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZPYt8Pl0x326xzPg5YiKP2eMb3UDo1Uk6VZxEF79Y6fIDzzbFE3ie_cPmL3DXupuGLje8CkYiuompbbaqKkZhMbQhSmnSqF5My0vXyr-0XdNufULF5NDJJKdaeegh3CjSrhUMK9Bzl0/s320/323.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And games! Our favorite right now is Apples to Apples, the kids version. Our weekend was all about Family. We had Fun. We Laughed. We made Memories. The kids put away 11 loads of laundry WITH a good attitude! We ended our weekend with the boys last flag football game on Sunday night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As I type this, I realize I really want a farm somewhere. I want my mom to grow all our fruits and vegetables. I want some of these:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><img height="240" id="il_fi" src="http://www.timberlandalpacas.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/kashmir_and_mojo_Timberland_ranch_photo.89182024.JPG" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="320" /></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I have NO idea what they are, but they look cute. And really, really soft!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I want a crystal clear spring fed creek that runs through it with huge oak and pecan trees for the kids to climb in and explore for hours. I want Colorado scenery with Texas weather. I want a little white school house where I can teach my kids their subjects from a biblical worldview. We were made for fellowship so I want other families that we can do life with. I'm not talking about some freaky compound that will end in a gun and fire standoff... (Waco - 1990's). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm talking about simplicity (with electricity). Slowing down (but still keeping a car). Being able to to leave for a month on a mission trip to Africa WITH our children. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">You hear adoptive mommies quote James 1:27 ALL the time to prove their point - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">But there is a second part to this verse that is equally as important - "...and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">That's what I want. That's what I want for my children. To teach them to be in this world and love this world and fall head over heals in love with the Creator of it all, but not become polluted by the world. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So who's in?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh and by the way, this is my fantasy so make up, shoes and bras are optional. :) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-45020957820064360292011-11-19T06:30:00.000-08:002011-11-19T06:30:52.755-08:00Happy 10th Birthday Isaiah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-fsKOSD1DNkaTxMQAB2TDNs4AVSbTEgOqkpL39kN05odBfoAu5BouLQdJFtoTJ3szUHsGIz80iE4HgHD1t5wFjmavZMSTTO0jH39bZXelKF3wAlJK4EtSrl2ElPpKarJQ-SQkPX1DsM/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hda="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-fsKOSD1DNkaTxMQAB2TDNs4AVSbTEgOqkpL39kN05odBfoAu5BouLQdJFtoTJ3szUHsGIz80iE4HgHD1t5wFjmavZMSTTO0jH39bZXelKF3wAlJK4EtSrl2ElPpKarJQ-SQkPX1DsM/s400/TheJonesFamily-1152.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is Isaiah's 10th Birthday. And here I am - sitting at the exact same table, on the exact same computer, at roughly the same time, drinking coffee probably from the same cup, as I was last year.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just for reminiscing purposes, I went back and read my blog entry from this exact moment a year ago - </span><a href="http://shinelikestars-intheuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-birthday-isaiah.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Isaiah</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I decided to write a birthday letter again...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To my dearest Isaiah,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today is your 10th Birthday!! I know you are SO excited to be 10, so let me officially welcome you to 2 digits! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not unlike last year, my heart is burdened. But I'm not burdened with sadness. I'm burdened with excitement and anticipation! I'm writing this while you, sweet boy, are safe and sound upstairs, still sound asleep in your warm bed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But WAKE UP!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm ready for you to open your eyes and see the balloons that are adnoring the stairs! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to see the look on your face when you open your presents! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to make your favorite breakfast and take you to lunch! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In truth, I can't wait to spoil you with our love and time today. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have waited paitently through every one of your siblings birthday. You've seen their balloons, their favorite foods, their presents, but never once did you show a spirit of jealousy. You have a heart that is so incredibly rare Isaiah. It's a pure heart. It's a compassionate heart. It's a kind and generous heart. It's a loving heart. You would give up anything for your siblings or your friends. You sincerely empathize with those around you that are hurting and lonely. Remember the puppy at the pet store? You had a nightmare that night. Not because the puppy was was sick and dying or someone was hurting it. You woke up crying because that puppy was all alone in his kennel and you were devastated that he was feeling lonely. OH! It breaks my heart that you still so clearly remember and identify with lonliness. But maybe the feeling of lonileness breaks your heart so much because you now know what it feels like to belong and to be wanted and loved and you wanted that for the puppy. Was that it sweet boy? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh my boy, my prayer is that you NEVER lose that! That this world doesn't rob you of how Christ made you! That the enemy's lies, which form in your head, never take root in your heart! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In your last Birthday letter, I said that your birth mom loved you, but she was unable to care for you. Oh Isaiah, I never knew how true those words were! Though I can't imagine how incredibly hard it was for you and Ruth that day daddy and I met her, I will forever be grateful for those minutes with your birth mother. For now I also know why she chose the name Isaiah for you. Isaiah, we CAN GIVE YOU SOME PART of your history! Do you know how important that is?! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also realized that I never went back and told the story of how that money came back to us. (You'll have to read here first to understand... </span><a href="http://shinelikestars-intheuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-birthday-isaiah.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Birthday Isaiah</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) (Well, short story version is that a complete stranger that I sat next to on the plane, as we were returning home from meeting you, mailed us a card and a check written out in the exact amount your present cost! How crazy cool is that?! God is SO GOOD!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Isaiah, your smile lights up a room! Your thirst and curiousity for life and everything all around you is contagious! Your passion and your prayers is something I truly admire! Your willingness to help is something I wish was contagious (for your brother and sister!) :) You love and defend the Aggies as if you had already been to Fish Camp. You have a natural athletic talent that is so awesome to watch. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy 10th Birthday Isaiah! We Love you and are so proud to call you our son. I can't wait to see what this next year holds!!</span>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-38922014204837053222011-10-27T19:12:00.000-07:002011-10-27T19:12:30.441-07:00Isaiah's Bedtime PrayerIt's been a while since I've blogged. And if you relate the absence of blogging to the possibility that my life turned upside down since school started, then you would be correct.<br />
<br />
But something happened tonight that I want to both share and remember.<br />
<br />
Our bedtime bible story was the story of baby Moses. We read it, discussed it and then I prayed. I then asked the kids if any of them wanted to pray. Here is what ensued...<br />
<br />
From Isaiah:<br />
Dear God, <br />
My daddy tells me all the time that I'm going to do great things. Now I believe him. I'm adopted just like Moses. You saved his life because you had a plan for his life. Because he was going to grow up to do something great for you so you kept him safe and alive. Now I KNOW I'm going to do great things because you saved me and my sister Ruthie. You saved our lives and gave me the best family ever. I love my family God. I love my daddy and my mommy and my brother and my sisters. God, you gave me the bestest family in the whole world. Thank you. Thank you that when my birth mom couldn't take care of me, that you had another mom for me. And thank you so much for my daddy. Thank you that he plays with me and he teaches me all the stuff I don't understand, like rounding, but now I do, because my daddy taught me. And thank you that my mom always makes me food and washes my clothes. God I really, really do love my family. I have the best family... <br />
...<br />
<br />
And on and on his prayer went for about 7 minutes...EVERY WORD thanking God for us - his family. For giving him a better life. <br />
When he was done, I couldn't even utter the word Amen because I was too choked up. <br />
<br />
I'm not going to lie, it has been a rough few months. But in that prayer, all the tears, the heartache, the frustration that has been piling up in my heart, all of the hard stuff no one talks about in non-adoption circles - ALL of it paled in glimpsing the security he feels in knowing he is wanted, love, provided for and CHOSEN. Not just by us, but by a God that loves him fiercely. All of it paled in comparison to seeing a little boy feel the love of a Heavenly Father. In that moment that Isaiah realized Moses was adopted to be kept safe, his wall of insecurity shattered. He knew he was also chosen to be kept safe until God is ready to fulfill His purpose in Isaiah's life. <br />
A new identity is slowly being bestowed upon Isaiah's head. It hasn't been easy, but with each victory Isaiah has, my character is being refined and my heart is learning what true unconditional love and forgiveness really is. <br />
<br />
Thank you Lord, thank you.Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-76000704434519956862011-08-10T14:02:00.000-07:002011-08-10T14:07:43.631-07:00To Be a Little Girl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Daddy, will you catch me if I jump? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-egmfBVrk_aoyi2JYya9phs10JBTWWy4-oSlMHt12iYTl6GkvbYmAiBhROwIVwl9uL7NxoO_Vo8oxoD-evBVz1xNEipGBA6SI1AlorBjt24Jw9ukkdnPHcMLsOxRsa6j_OmHNmO47byo/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-egmfBVrk_aoyi2JYya9phs10JBTWWy4-oSlMHt12iYTl6GkvbYmAiBhROwIVwl9uL7NxoO_Vo8oxoD-evBVz1xNEipGBA6SI1AlorBjt24Jw9ukkdnPHcMLsOxRsa6j_OmHNmO47byo/s320/TheJonesFamily-1050.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And Daddy, when I ask this, I am really wanting to know so much more. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm asking, "<strong>Will you always be there for me?</strong>"<strong> </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">For you see daddy, my heart is still so very tender and I need you to protect it as I heal and grow. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And when my tears come, hold me in your strong arms, for that is where I feel the safest. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And when I don't understand something, your patience and compassion are what is helping me to learn. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Daddy, your love is teaching me to...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">LAUGH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVwN1qRKS-GTpdW7m71fL-Tfl8CCCwtvZ09AXjMCntgJdlcSVq9-YpOIBw2yY2saB7HHRptkMTaTVRbCZbU9jnJMLzMZKhzSZvRA1DF8jzTL8InQEXtoV_vDCb5187Hn4S-tCQHCv9oQ/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVwN1qRKS-GTpdW7m71fL-Tfl8CCCwtvZ09AXjMCntgJdlcSVq9-YpOIBw2yY2saB7HHRptkMTaTVRbCZbU9jnJMLzMZKhzSZvRA1DF8jzTL8InQEXtoV_vDCb5187Hn4S-tCQHCv9oQ/s320/TheJonesFamily-1098.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">DANCE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja74bk7nrSZ4DGa61PJfd8sLU05cpumZTiumTKmj9XibZ5HNnaSMqHeHbQdtAQa0LLe334mxbmSb-4cndmN0BnvbwfzOOyLtcMnj4FhPS1huLZ6WJSpdnXRXxhUyrOTtNWfCOgIlifn4Q/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja74bk7nrSZ4DGa61PJfd8sLU05cpumZTiumTKmj9XibZ5HNnaSMqHeHbQdtAQa0LLe334mxbmSb-4cndmN0BnvbwfzOOyLtcMnj4FhPS1huLZ6WJSpdnXRXxhUyrOTtNWfCOgIlifn4Q/s320/TheJonesFamily-1083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">SHARE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTfNg-l9n50Cf7o0txU8zEngLe38nYA1a-tgxMFFkHjgDXq4ufeyElQQz_w9b0TQ4x6d4McKBAWKOV42q-Xn9nRqzgS3cn9T27n2tkPW7IWZ4VEaWYm4gdxbeyW86sgKU96hnCpsFpoA/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTfNg-l9n50Cf7o0txU8zEngLe38nYA1a-tgxMFFkHjgDXq4ufeyElQQz_w9b0TQ4x6d4McKBAWKOV42q-Xn9nRqzgS3cn9T27n2tkPW7IWZ4VEaWYm4gdxbeyW86sgKU96hnCpsFpoA/s320/TheJonesFamily-1173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">You see daddy, what I'm really learning is to be a little girl again. </div><div style="text-align: center;">A little girl that's delighted in, for I've never had a daddy whose attention I captivated. </div><div style="text-align: center;">You daddy, are teaching me that I am a beautiful, precious and irreplaceable child of God </div><div style="text-align: center;">that is worthy of love.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">So Catch me when I jump Daddy...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNJ7mhCQhq-rBOGpMOj2DTvCvMaGejQTPq2XEM2gGmVS-TjyWv0zKPQLKa_z8qo0hzrdwikWcmqOA52Y954tEchn0JiU6ce0paN2MldFka3LcxS7CMPWHll9Z0faTWb0u2_9ZrG71hCE/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKNJ7mhCQhq-rBOGpMOj2DTvCvMaGejQTPq2XEM2gGmVS-TjyWv0zKPQLKa_z8qo0hzrdwikWcmqOA52Y954tEchn0JiU6ce0paN2MldFka3LcxS7CMPWHll9Z0faTWb0u2_9ZrG71hCE/s320/TheJonesFamily-1055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And hold me tight...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZt-w7CxmOH4EqPT1-Znkz7NUutMX4IASCuaGOT2B6rw9Hyu1reXutjLmbhJTFGna9Rb_DtSCFiPNnPSGEzzlc88kdLEBj4W07XHAG96ci31B65IjbH5TVVVE3msq1d2znphEZTT_hno/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHZt-w7CxmOH4EqPT1-Znkz7NUutMX4IASCuaGOT2B6rw9Hyu1reXutjLmbhJTFGna9Rb_DtSCFiPNnPSGEzzlc88kdLEBj4W07XHAG96ci31B65IjbH5TVVVE3msq1d2znphEZTT_hno/s320/TheJonesFamily-1061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And NEVER LET ME GO...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXK_SiAtzN_DSYW2qyRr421qxD8wXl1DP1txDPGWvpla2Eeie1eN0HQfizLm6IayxkfilJ7c58rNtDgOEVLq8561fVdZ_IGdaixIxGQ-pTUwfWOx0onrkKTQC9N1_zEpb7gRdtUVs5bk/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXK_SiAtzN_DSYW2qyRr421qxD8wXl1DP1txDPGWvpla2Eeie1eN0HQfizLm6IayxkfilJ7c58rNtDgOEVLq8561fVdZ_IGdaixIxGQ-pTUwfWOx0onrkKTQC9N1_zEpb7gRdtUVs5bk/s320/TheJonesFamily-1063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">And I will learn to dance for always and forever...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DtasmKlPoYWuLHqCOhTRvdlwz4lc1-FyllwB7rb6HjVc_S7IgfDLP1SGLA3NFzymVt9suXOD6-c1aqoiA1HB8qkFuUy-qNiit40KzVOm6GCS4uNABEz8cUZhQ-6RRXU2pB3x04elqSw/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1086-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DtasmKlPoYWuLHqCOhTRvdlwz4lc1-FyllwB7rb6HjVc_S7IgfDLP1SGLA3NFzymVt9suXOD6-c1aqoiA1HB8qkFuUy-qNiit40KzVOm6GCS4uNABEz8cUZhQ-6RRXU2pB3x04elqSw/s400/TheJonesFamily-1086-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" style="text-align: center;"><br />
"...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes..."<br />
Isaiah 61</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-1556317263616927402011-08-08T14:55:00.000-07:002011-08-08T14:55:29.822-07:00PlaydatesI'm in mourning...<br />
<br />
I took my 4 precious children along with 2 precious friends to an indoor <strike>petri dish of germs </strike>inflatable playland. We haven't been in a couple of years, but I had groupons that needed to be used and it was the perfect activity for ALL the children - big and small, boy and girl. <br />
<br />
About 5 minutes upon arrival, it dawned on me...I was the only mommy there that wasn't with another mommy. My kids still had their playdates but where was mine? The thought completely took me by surprise and then left this little hole in my stomach. My playdates are days of past. Wonderful memories of a phase of life that is gone. <br />
When your first and even your second are itty-bitty, us moms live for playgroups and playdates. They are our moments of sanity in a world that is full of dirty diapers, sleepless nights, choking hazards, growth charts and car seat safety.<br />
<br />
(For those that might need clarity, playdates are mommies sitting in the middle of toy strewn rooms, oblivious to the noise, carrying on adult conversation over their 3rd cup of coffee. We pretended we were getting our children together for their sake (like they really need to be socialized at 2), but every mommy knew the truth - these were OUR playdates.) <br />
<br />
Gone are the days when I turn my head and my 2 year old has done this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisio3lSqtFvYE7IBJU6Q0luSV-z4WWyaI_IxD0nAgaDvI9swMXlxJQOduZOXvTuDoD4Gq2iI02xYH6tB_kNX_GH6Hrdwi6L3_8xWTVVAQNf7bL22b83juBNQevDwwB6dZZVzCeISLmMVg/s1600/228167_508134263152_45102734_30236351_8579_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisio3lSqtFvYE7IBJU6Q0luSV-z4WWyaI_IxD0nAgaDvI9swMXlxJQOduZOXvTuDoD4Gq2iI02xYH6tB_kNX_GH6Hrdwi6L3_8xWTVVAQNf7bL22b83juBNQevDwwB6dZZVzCeISLmMVg/s400/228167_508134263152_45102734_30236351_8579_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
We so gradually phased out from that stage of life and into the next that I never realized it was never coming back. And that was 4 years ago!<br />
<br />
My kids still have playdates. But I don't anymore. We use the kids playdates as an opportunity to run errands, grocery shop, clean or go to appointments. I think we think we don't need them anymore. But as I watched the mommies handing off their babies so they could run to the bathroom and overhearing mommies discussing what preschools they should send their precious babies too, or what recipes they make that their kids will eat, I realized that maybe, I need that mommy playdate every once in a while. Because the mom handing off their baby is saying, "I trust you with my life." The mom that is discussing preschools is unsure of what the future holds and only wants the best for her child. The mom that is sharing recipes is inviting someone to share her life with. All of these are invitations into her heart.<br />
<br />
As my kids grew out of that baby and toddler and preschool age, I found I needed the help and the advice and the comfort from other moms less and less. Maybe that isn't so good. Maybe I need myself a good playdate!<br />
So be-warned...if I invite your child over to play with one of mine, there is a good chance I'll be standing there with a cup of hot coffee for you!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcxblFVUXFj2zNMfViYqTyb2uPRrGgERENJ9A-dkPkA570mTrBANr86iIM7OpZeD0l1Qw-CoqArj4yfWCljwTFYpHI9Qa5SrR_6ot0fzxqYAfQCtsRE1kZAn-XfUJ6l8zvWkItI2g5Ws/s1600/Coffee-Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcxblFVUXFj2zNMfViYqTyb2uPRrGgERENJ9A-dkPkA570mTrBANr86iIM7OpZeD0l1Qw-CoqArj4yfWCljwTFYpHI9Qa5SrR_6ot0fzxqYAfQCtsRE1kZAn-XfUJ6l8zvWkItI2g5Ws/s1600/Coffee-Love.jpg" /></a></div><br />
(By the way...on the whole preschool thing...IT DOESN'T MATTER whether you put your child on a waiting list when she was conceived, or stood in line all night for registration or don't send them at all, your child will turn out just fine!) :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."</div><div style="text-align: center;">Proverbs 22:6</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-61497418205840835102011-08-04T15:24:00.000-07:002011-08-04T15:24:59.331-07:00Summer in a NutshellOH.MY.GOODNESS! Where did my summer go?? I thought coaching was keeping me from blogging, returning emails, phone calls, texts and cultivating friendships, but apparently it wasn't. Apparently it's just me and my lack of sufficient energy required to maintain that level of commitment. <br />
<br />
The last 2 months have been incredible! So many stories and adventures to blog about! <br />
That I WILL get to. <br />
Eventually. <br />
Like when school starts in 2 weeks. <br />
I hope. <br />
<br />
But in a nut shell...<br />
After swim team, ALL 4 of my kids went to TBarM as day campers for a week. WONDERFUL!!<br />
Then we took off for Colorado where we spent most of July!<br />
Now we are back in South Texas and all that my kids can do is look at each other, because it's so stinking hot! They don't even have the energy to talk. I.Totally.Understand. So we are going back...to Colorado that is. To the highest incorporated city in the nation, where the high on the hottest day is 72 and the low is in the 40's and the sun shines every day, even when it rains. I'll try and make it back before they need to report to school.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I can not wait to post these, but we had professional pictures taken!!! Here is a taste of what the very talented and fellow adoptive mommy-to-be, Jennifer Verme at <a href="http://bendthelight.com/">Bend the Light Photography</a> captured...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm1NNlCj6tBe1MGHFRbVm-8vkAor6bLtz6fUw-LW-Kgbs1E1k07ODJcK_H2_zWcgpP_3XhP9Ds6atfweQGxafjEIVUl0tLTvWW9F-pr4n-UNeuRh_FMEDhL4eY9FhqNsYe-LbApbc9k4/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm1NNlCj6tBe1MGHFRbVm-8vkAor6bLtz6fUw-LW-Kgbs1E1k07ODJcK_H2_zWcgpP_3XhP9Ds6atfweQGxafjEIVUl0tLTvWW9F-pr4n-UNeuRh_FMEDhL4eY9FhqNsYe-LbApbc9k4/s400/TheJonesFamily-1038.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokyZHCpskMFrtKXqikwe8iW4LMFZ1s3uUDPU8T8o3suhDIXixACvqL4eV1sN9EOlRQWjl3-iWsEIRSxtMAOsp02MYYou3cyNxT5Qd38qH9IYYECeBtF4Sox-g2Y3ijbp3uOxHM0IcP2o/s1600/TheJonesFamily-1126-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokyZHCpskMFrtKXqikwe8iW4LMFZ1s3uUDPU8T8o3suhDIXixACvqL4eV1sN9EOlRQWjl3-iWsEIRSxtMAOsp02MYYou3cyNxT5Qd38qH9IYYECeBtF4Sox-g2Y3ijbp3uOxHM0IcP2o/s400/TheJonesFamily-1126-2.jpg" t$="true" width="266" /></a></div><br />
Blessings!Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-28875048435134799522011-07-07T09:08:00.000-07:002011-07-07T09:20:34.470-07:00That's A Wrap!Well...I made it! Only by the complete grace of God though did I make it. <br />
There were days I honestly didn't think I, or my children, could handle one more day. But God promises His mercies are new everyday and whatdayaknow - that happens to be true; so this became a promise that I clung to.<br />
<br />
You see, for the last 2 months I've been doing this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG1tOHYSe-_1Wp-_Jmz7eqA-AcGYAup0CtkcVXiODNlaZkc8X0OSPge7KGHnBVMh8UdwzLK5IhwqwIp1MzaNaqRImnCaRnKARwVgyHaDPw8_B7Ai-Xco8qnMQBtEy5Fuye_HTH5A4VvI/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG1tOHYSe-_1Wp-_Jmz7eqA-AcGYAup0CtkcVXiODNlaZkc8X0OSPge7KGHnBVMh8UdwzLK5IhwqwIp1MzaNaqRImnCaRnKARwVgyHaDPw8_B7Ai-Xco8qnMQBtEy5Fuye_HTH5A4VvI/s320/162.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And this...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH7YsEZqIuJbn5IOV1ENRWLd8X4GMXiWMSHufjyHz5Md5Tg0NweA1cWTJWdyf8109F6Q7pu2Fy_Ak9lhIGTavM6JudaiTNPYsyiZLclgSdnaAvPA54dg6AsCSlJmZcB7MQKU6VHWlA1k/s1600/150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH7YsEZqIuJbn5IOV1ENRWLd8X4GMXiWMSHufjyHz5Md5Tg0NweA1cWTJWdyf8109F6Q7pu2Fy_Ak9lhIGTavM6JudaiTNPYsyiZLclgSdnaAvPA54dg6AsCSlJmZcB7MQKU6VHWlA1k/s320/150.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And teaching kids to do this...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioas_XKvJejKOI7coqV39xEHoFplk5F6-5BN5DTL0qRxAnfCc5layHJ0nGNtuQ04BAKjFQA4Yjh3dwhh_ukJt56bLdcDf81V0X-bMq7H9JyPjniu9guoU1dgv9ATeBrDpa3nVcTouxcAw/s1600/227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioas_XKvJejKOI7coqV39xEHoFplk5F6-5BN5DTL0qRxAnfCc5layHJ0nGNtuQ04BAKjFQA4Yjh3dwhh_ukJt56bLdcDf81V0X-bMq7H9JyPjniu9guoU1dgv9ATeBrDpa3nVcTouxcAw/s320/227.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes...I'm totally bragging on Jaxon's dive. But I'm SO proud of how far it has come this season!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Something I absolutely love - Swimming and Coaching (but probably wasn't the wisest decision I've made considering I & R had only been home about a month when the season started.) But the LORD carried us through! And He even brought us an angel to help. I am forever grateful to her for the love and care she gave my children and she will forever be their beloved "Sammy." Thanks Samantha! I wouldn't have made it without you! You saw me and my house at it's absolutely lowest and yet you still came back. WOW~ I'm hoping time will erase those memories from your head forever. :) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Behind me are 40 - 60 hour work weeks; but I've been left with 176 children that I came to love, the greatest coaches I've ever worked with, an amazing tan (one that I will blame all my wrinkles on in a few short years), Speedo tan lines that someone my age shouldn't be sporting and an undefeated season for our coaches relay. :)<br />
<br />
My kids don't seem to resent me and I'm still partially sane, which is the best I could ever hope for anyways.<br />
So...<br />
To my children, thank you for your patience and your adaptability. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-wRVxbPfvzix4-G7ecQ95rPokmIKwpPZJKVo6IAXguk54wrwDwmti1EyoCNxnwIuzZj9uRcOiKwyylpPFPdM3d_0OMkn0f3ie5aKyELFDNeNgYQx9pgRKg2HoNwKKgEWC8H6FxXOUCY/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-wRVxbPfvzix4-G7ecQ95rPokmIKwpPZJKVo6IAXguk54wrwDwmti1EyoCNxnwIuzZj9uRcOiKwyylpPFPdM3d_0OMkn0f3ie5aKyELFDNeNgYQx9pgRKg2HoNwKKgEWC8H6FxXOUCY/s320/077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibK1_I4QLfj-G5rMjV2yuq_-PFNQ8g3cYe6SV9ABXeWHLCnqZbkcofsQzD7zSqMG3fcFVkUoofZ5-8B6PEozSa5EeAJUtBHdCU9wGWxnhA0w9LHjo3_YZ1QEXBlM8-gpx9IwIrauKZPg/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibK1_I4QLfj-G5rMjV2yuq_-PFNQ8g3cYe6SV9ABXeWHLCnqZbkcofsQzD7zSqMG3fcFVkUoofZ5-8B6PEozSa5EeAJUtBHdCU9wGWxnhA0w9LHjo3_YZ1QEXBlM8-gpx9IwIrauKZPg/s320/220.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjdOUGQ_AKNeUMuTDP-V9kKtDJiOcUUYXMlPplrXdCUQvL8DL_IC5te4pnvBm1skKF0XJuktd-wRHRdNPlxF6apsXBq4ypd68Oc55PAqO4WmB85oIz178SGZtUsDnFNwwuv-HKleTypw/s1600/189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjdOUGQ_AKNeUMuTDP-V9kKtDJiOcUUYXMlPplrXdCUQvL8DL_IC5te4pnvBm1skKF0XJuktd-wRHRdNPlxF6apsXBq4ypd68Oc55PAqO4WmB85oIz178SGZtUsDnFNwwuv-HKleTypw/s320/189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>To my Husband, you extended grace far beyond what would be reasonable. Thank you. <br />
To my friends, forgive me for my abandonment. Thank you for not taking it personal. I owe each of you that I didn't return phone calls or emails to for 2 months, dinner at Chuy's. :)<br />
And here is a shout out to all those working moms. I have no idea how you do it everyday. God Bless YOU!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Though Isaiah didn't swim on the team this season, he lost no time in learning how to put on a cap...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOum_us2aB9HK38RNBSb82f8eKfb4kQeOM0p6jKrbLJp69AdSN2u7u-gwUZs267cVwNC6KmOBPgU-xr_aiTLV2YViW44hxG5mSG77ZeL6qIm1MIe6JTorsizXh6iHbLGCcgPr2GtIbn0g/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOum_us2aB9HK38RNBSb82f8eKfb4kQeOM0p6jKrbLJp69AdSN2u7u-gwUZs267cVwNC6KmOBPgU-xr_aiTLV2YViW44hxG5mSG77ZeL6qIm1MIe6JTorsizXh6iHbLGCcgPr2GtIbn0g/s320/122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And if he doesn't get the swimming thing down, he already has the making of a coach...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Je5JDogXotEHvhSSCYWL-500QSH25mus8Rr65NogsNMsXI25_hHglWBZddS8KcZGIC_qFYQczuuNbQvLqjtZRmNDD0TLdmyHcrIfP6LoXGW9UDRXbxeE-LjzJHC23wKW0YBRdcZ8O7c/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Je5JDogXotEHvhSSCYWL-500QSH25mus8Rr65NogsNMsXI25_hHglWBZddS8KcZGIC_qFYQczuuNbQvLqjtZRmNDD0TLdmyHcrIfP6LoXGW9UDRXbxeE-LjzJHC23wKW0YBRdcZ8O7c/s320/094.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Where Ruth is, her BFF is not far behind... :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRaNKhbm-2lBhgeORv7kyK0GvPbI-MQ7q_e2Uz6wdtpg3eajq9CcY0rfAOfTR6Y5bAvyf7jDlIJFLX3A8ZKdgm2cVDdjcHOk-6labEs1b3DHXbuqWT3WRF8bFfzIXNh9n7hKkclINl4g/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRaNKhbm-2lBhgeORv7kyK0GvPbI-MQ7q_e2Uz6wdtpg3eajq9CcY0rfAOfTR6Y5bAvyf7jDlIJFLX3A8ZKdgm2cVDdjcHOk-6labEs1b3DHXbuqWT3WRF8bFfzIXNh9n7hKkclINl4g/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, HELLO SUMMER! Oh, how I've missed thee! With your lazy, jammie wearing, board game playing, movie watching, bike riding, snow cone making, playing till dark - kind of days. I am committed to make the most of you from now till August 22!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Till next season! :)</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-64803937727447451822011-05-30T07:12:00.000-07:002011-05-30T07:12:16.536-07:00Happy Anniversary my Love!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMn3TK5gNzNUjJSUzGq0zUIjgjHLHiuQ7cGe0G0D95xcvD0W6jXc_AKP_QHPl-k_eqwmjc-B4QFI47IU06evAtLUkOXO7pWH_d5O_kCXDjQ0kTPqrTk18ElEcwLUVgFtVWSSaISE5nVc/s1600/IMG_1872_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMn3TK5gNzNUjJSUzGq0zUIjgjHLHiuQ7cGe0G0D95xcvD0W6jXc_AKP_QHPl-k_eqwmjc-B4QFI47IU06evAtLUkOXO7pWH_d5O_kCXDjQ0kTPqrTk18ElEcwLUVgFtVWSSaISE5nVc/s320/IMG_1872_2.JPG" t8="true" width="319" /></a></div>Today we enter into our 14th year of marriage. But we've been together 17 1/2 years. <br />
WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE??!! I don't feel old enough to have been married this long!! :) <br />
<br />
Brian,<br />
I think back on my life 19 years ago and the dreams I had and the things I thought were important, and I shudder to think where I would be if God had allowed me to go down the road I had planned for my life. I was an insecure, selfish, prideful, full of judgment and gossip for anyone that would listen, hurting young woman. I came to you with a history of bad choices, yet you showed unconditional love and forgiveness time and again. <br />
(I know we joke about this, but I really think God prepared you, knowing He would call us to adopt, through the first few years of dealing with me!)<br />
In the Bible, this is how love is described: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.<br />
Brian, in every essence and meaning of the word, you are LOVE. You are patient (more than anyone I know!); you are not envious, nor do you boast. You honor others (even when I feel it's not deserved); you are not self-seeking. I can honestly say in 17+ years, I have never seen you lose your temper, nor can I understand how you truly keep no record of wrongs (how is that humanly possible? It's not, I know.). You rejoice with the truth (especially when it comes to our children as they grasp right from wrong); you would lay down your life to protect us; you trust, you hope and you never give up. We are married today because your love never failed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5xHO0mS4LyDLA2rBcIba6UmL-J5QUH8gC_d0w2JShhVbho9NhRzhot1OCuOosKh3oB3t-_r4JUamX9XNzyp9c0GT_uRVz2MQ8f96ivSfes4rF1HJxdGjGK8_wHh-xiIOKOpmRs8Qjp4/s1600/me+and+brian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5xHO0mS4LyDLA2rBcIba6UmL-J5QUH8gC_d0w2JShhVbho9NhRzhot1OCuOosKh3oB3t-_r4JUamX9XNzyp9c0GT_uRVz2MQ8f96ivSfes4rF1HJxdGjGK8_wHh-xiIOKOpmRs8Qjp4/s320/me+and+brian.jpg" t8="true" width="248" /></a></div>What I love about our marriage is that you are my best friend. It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we do it together. From grocery shopping, to mountain biking, to adoption, there is no one I want by my side more than you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4AnoKeYEpFWWA7pSch0YSGdqEEBNiCR2ueSxeLUlwAr6bqKr8SBLJe1LT2mEUPJc615btjZQx1Ww3ppe5NjBXqZGAcOWgzOm9WJtdBclfYVfdZ-q77D_bCL28bZRixMsn09QhMzmrrM/s1600/me+and+brian+-+race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4AnoKeYEpFWWA7pSch0YSGdqEEBNiCR2ueSxeLUlwAr6bqKr8SBLJe1LT2mEUPJc615btjZQx1Ww3ppe5NjBXqZGAcOWgzOm9WJtdBclfYVfdZ-q77D_bCL28bZRixMsn09QhMzmrrM/s320/me+and+brian+-+race.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I don't just love you, I'm IN love with you. There is a difference - a HUGE difference. Trust me. :)<br />
I LOVE that nothing phases you. That when I lose my second wedding ring, you tell me, "Jen, it's just a piece of <strike>VERY EXPENSIVE</strike> metal. It doesn't define what we have." That when I'm stressed and behind on laundry (and groceries and housework because I've overcommitted myself once again), you just swing by Target on your way home to buy a new pack of underwear and socks so I'll not know that you didn't have any clean ones. That when I had my one and only panic attack because maggots were multiplying by the millions and falling from our kitchen trashcan and slithering out from the pantry, you let me call you out of a meeting and rush home to take care of it as I stood OUTside continuing to freak out. <br />
<br />
I LOVE that you are the foundation for which the LORD allowed this family to grow. <br />
<br />
Brian, thank you for leading me and our children. Continue to seek God in all you do and He will direct your path for this family.<br />
<br />
I Love You because You first Loved me. Thank you. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DFx9Ve68Ce3RZsb-c8aXHOr3cno6h2uXJydKegiCXLRG78TCfzU7S5EzTXBl_IM3QVFdAyWtWUemrm8FDEK25Q5sI-0vK9cvHo5kKIObep1p98wHZpAnagn7jG3PloZsc4OZpHeaAJI/s1600/me+and+brian+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DFx9Ve68Ce3RZsb-c8aXHOr3cno6h2uXJydKegiCXLRG78TCfzU7S5EzTXBl_IM3QVFdAyWtWUemrm8FDEK25Q5sI-0vK9cvHo5kKIObep1p98wHZpAnagn7jG3PloZsc4OZpHeaAJI/s320/me+and+brian+1.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-52351884543980350852011-05-25T07:26:00.000-07:002011-05-25T07:29:17.486-07:00I will Love You for YOU"He cries in the corner where nobody sees,<br />
He's the kid with a story no one would believe.<br />
He prays every night, <br />
"Dear God, won't you please, could you send someone here who will love me?<br />
Who will love me for me,<br />
Not for what I have done or what I will become.<br />
Who will love me for me,<br />
Cause nobody has shown me what love, what love really means."<br />
<br />
(These are the first few verses of JJ Heller's song, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk">What Love Really Means.</a> )<br />
<br />
We've been home almost 2 months, and with that, comes an understanding of what our children have been through. There ARE stories that no one would believe. There are still tears in the corner where no one will see. There are hurts and aches and insecurities and years of pain...<br />
BUT<br />
Oh, my precious children! God heard your prayers for a father Isaiah, and He felt your pain Ruth. He did send someone to show you what love really means!<br />
<br />
I still look at you, and in complete humility before my King, wonder why He chose us?! Of all the more qualified, more patient, more compassionate families in the world, HE chose us. He chose us to love you. To teach you. To bestow upon you a new name and a new identity. But all of this is NOTHING compared to the fact that He chose us to be the recipients of YOUR love - your life-sustaining, never ending, unconditional love. We are the ones that are blessed with your laughter and your innocent inquisitions, and your delight in life. <br />
Some days I feel like I am on the receiving end of a miracle I didn't even ask for. <br />
<br />
So to you Isaiah, I'm telling you now and forever:<br />
I will love YOU for YOU.<br />
Not for what you have done or what you will become,<br />
I will love you for you.<br />
I will show you what love really means.<br />
I will love YOU for YOU. For the gentle, athletic, inquisitive, helpful and smart child of God that you are. <br />
I will love YOU for YOU. <br />
<br />
So to you Ruth, I'm telling you now and forever: <br />
I will love YOU for YOU.<br />
Not for what you have done or what you will become,<br />
I will love you for you.<br />
I will show you what love really means.<br />
I will love YOU for YOU. For the funny, dancing, story telling, gift giving, pure child of God that you are. <br />
I will love YOU for YOU.Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-40849781388000892922011-05-23T19:49:00.000-07:002011-05-24T05:21:13.289-07:00Bad AppleAfter June 1, it'll be possible to hire a prostitue using an iPhone app.<br />
<br />
No, you didn't just miss read that. It says exactly what you think it says...<br />
<br />
After June 1, it'll be possible to hire a prostitute using an iPhone app.<br />
<br />
I keep thinking that this is some sick joke, maybe a publicity stunt that Apple is pulling, but it's not. It's sick and appalling. Women and children should NOT be for profit! They should NOT be sold to the highest bidder!<br />
<br />
To quote my friend Mark Langham at <a href="http://aconspiracyofhope.blogspot.com/2011/05/iphone-p-is-for-prostitution.html">Conspiracy of Hope</a> "As if the struggle to stem the tide of the sexual objectification and exploitation of girls and women isn't bad enought without Apple recklessly endorsing this app. No way that pimps will use this, no chance that child traffickers will create false profiles and faciliate child rape for profit."<br />
(That last sentence was sarcasm at its finest by the way.)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here is the original story from Digital Life by Rosa Golijan:</span></span><br />
<strong></strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">According to ZDNet, dating service Sugar Sugar has managed to get Apple to grant its app a spot in the App Store. The curious thing about this news is that Sugar Sugar is not an ordinary dating service. Instead of putting together people who are simply seeking traditional relationships, it links up sugar daddies — wealthy men who are willing to shower young women with money, gifts, and other compensation in exchange for companionship — and their so-called sugar babies.</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">In more blunt terms: The service helps prostitutes and their clients connect.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">We've certainly heard about such services in the past — WhatsYourPrice.com, Craigslist's darker corners, and an assortment of shady "dating" websites come to mind — but Sugar Sugar's app is headed to Apple's App Store, a place known for its strict guidelines and approval process:</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The SugarSugar Dating App will be available for download on June 1st through SugarSugar.com and iTunes, and will be compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Android, and BlackBerry devices. The app will use GPS technology to instantly identify those seeking ‘mutually beneficial’ arrangements within the user’s vicinity. After ‘checking in, the application will map out the profiles of nearby members. Users will be able to trade stats, show photos or send messages to arrange an effortless rendezvous.</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">We don't really know how on earth the app slipped through the App Store approval process. After all, there are several Apple "guidelines" which should've prevented it from getting a seal of approval. Among them:</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">16.1 Apps that present excessively objectionable or crude content will be rejected</span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">18.1 Apps containing pornographic material, defined by Webster's Dictionary as "explicit descriptions or displays of sexual organs or activities intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings", will be rejected</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">18.2 Apps that contain user generated content that is frequently pornographic (ex "Chat Roulette" apps) will be rejected</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">22.1 Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users. It is the developer's obligation to understand and conform to all local laws</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">22.3 Apps that solicit, promote, or encourage criminal or clearly reckless behavior will be rejected</span></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Given that there are three guidelines which the Sugar Sugar app nearly violates, one which it might violate in some locales, and one which it most certainly violates by promoting prostitution — behavior which qualifies as criminal in many places — we'd assume that Apple would flat out reject it right away. But here we are — a few weeks away from the app's debut."</span></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please let Apple know this is unacceptable! You can do that </span><a href="http://www.apple.com/webapps/feedback/"><span style="font-family: inherit;">here.</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">THANK YOU!</span>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-54543990981202058372011-05-05T08:11:00.000-07:002011-05-05T08:11:23.559-07:00Mother's DayIf you've ever wondered how YOU can get involved and fight the injustices of human trafficking and sexual explotations of children, please go visit my friend and anti-slavery activist Mark Langham at his blog, <a href="http://aconspiracyofhope.blogspot.com/2011/05/mothers-day.html">Conspiracy of Hope</a> <br />
<br />
He has some wonderful ideas on how you can honor and celebrate your mom while helping out organizations like <a href="http://www.ijm.org/">International Justice Mission</a> and <a href="http://www.myrefugehouse.org/">My Refuge House</a><br />
<br />
Thank You Mark for never ceasing to be a voice for the voiceless!Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-56221856927432667452011-05-02T14:06:00.000-07:002011-05-02T20:25:38.843-07:00Guilt is NOT from the LORDRuth's birthday is in a week. And it's all she and I have been talking about for about 3 weeks - the food, the cake, the activities, the friends. She is SO excited at even the concept of a party for her and the fact that presents will be opened for her. And because of that, everywhere we go, I hear, "Mummy, I want this for my birthday please!" Well as wonderful as it has been to talk about it for her, unfortunately, that is where it has ended for me. Between sicknesses and emergencies and just the daily life with 3 in elementary school and one almost 6 year old attached to my hip, my follow through has not been equal to my intentions. Well... knowing that whatever we do for her birthday, it's going to have to be this Saturday (yes, like 5 days away) I realize that I better get a move on. So I multi-tasked. While grocery shopping, we swung by the cards and party supplies and I let Ruth pick out a pack of fill-in birthday invitations. I filled them in and to save a stamp, I hand delivered them yesterday. <br />
<br />
Then the guilt sets in. Not righteous conviction, but completely from the enemy guilt. Guilt that I know has no truth or validity to it, none whatsoever. Yet, it starts with such a little whisper that I give it a moments notice as it accuses me of not throwing her a bigger party. Then the whisper shames me because I bought her fill in, from the grocery store, invitations, when I've always done handmade or spent an unreasonable amount at my favorite stationary shop for birthday invitations. The whisper tells me lies, lots of lies, that I don't want to write down here because I don't even want to acknowledge them. I only want to speak truth over my heart and my children - ALL of them.<br />
<br />
As I'm allowing these lies to pass through my mind and trying hard not to let them settle in my heart, my precious little Ruthie walks up to me and hands me 3 pages that have been folded, taped and stapled together and tells me it's a present for me. It is a letter she "wrote" for me. As she translates her figures and shapes into words for me, this is what I hear...<br />
"Mummy, thank you for bringing me to my birthday. Thank you for letting me eat a chocolate cake. Mummy, thank you for my Princess skirt because I really am a Princess. Thank you that you are bringing my best friend Gracie to my home. I love her. And you. And Daddy at work. And Jaxon and Isaiah and Chloe at school. But thank you for my birthday. The End." (Her party hasn't even happened yet and she is thanking me for it!!)<br />
<br />
I was in the middle of washing dishes and had to turn off the water, for my heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. How amazingly tender and good is our God that He would use the exact child I am having such guilt over, to immediately discredit the lies of the enemy and then show me what really is important??!!<br />
It's not whether I spent 5 days or 6 weeks planning or the amount of money I spend on invitations or party favors or decorations. It's about celebrating the day that God destined, before time began, to bring her into this world. It's about honoring her and enjoying and eating all of her favorite things. It's about inviting her best friend to share and enjoy in the memories made. <br />
<br />
Oh LORD, thank you for coming for me at the most vulnerable times and for loving me through the insecurities and momentary laspes of judgment! Forgive me for not bringing EVERY thought captive to you Jesus!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." </div><div style="text-align: center;">Romans 8:1-2</div><div style="text-align: center;">"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; </div><div style="text-align: center;">I (Jesus) have come that they (us) may have life, and have it to the full." </div><div style="text-align: center;">John 10:10</div><div style="text-align: center;">"He was...not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. </div><div style="text-align: center;">When he <b>lies</b>, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of <b>lies</b>." </div><div style="text-align: center;">John 8:44</div><br />
Just because I thought this was cute, I'm throwing this in...<br />
O.K., this has nothing to do with perspective...well, actually it kind of does. It all about Ruth's perspective. It is cold here today (shocking, I know!). I think it's in the low to mid 50's and it might not even hit 60. And this is coming off 98 and 96 degree days! It blew in last night - no rain, just a cold front with wind. Well poor little Ruthie has NEVER been in weather this cold. But daddy put in a new slide yesterday and she was bound and determined to go play on it. So I bundled her up in the warmest clothes we own - a sweatsuit from Gymboree and tennis shoes. :) She lasted 10 minutes and came in begging for an umbrella. An umbrella??? "Yes, Mummy! I need an umbrella to not be cold." When I was done laughing, I explained that umbrella's are for sun and rain but not cold. She is still convinced otherwise though and as I type this, she is trotting outside with a Hello Kitty umbrella, bound and determined to stay warm under it. HA! :)Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-53542952116204036732011-04-29T08:51:00.000-07:002011-04-30T10:55:59.602-07:00A Matter of Perspective - Take 2We have been home just a few days more than a month and LOTS of things have changed. But the thing that has changed more than anything, is my perspective...on EVERYTHING!<br />
<br />
Let me explain...<br />
<br />
Instead of becoming frustrated that I have been interrupted countless times and have heard, "Mummy" 236 times already and it still isn't 11 am, I am rejoicing that I have children that want to come to me and are not running away. <br />
<br />
When I've been asked for the 150th time that day, "Mummy, pick up me please" ... or "Mummy, hold me please," I rejoice that they want my arms wrapped around their little bodies and they want their head curled up on my shoulder. It's easier to ignore the hurting hip, sore lower back and arm that has gone numb when you're busy praising the LORD for the children He gave you.<br />
<br />
When we hit day 9 of sickness, I am grateful that I am a stay at home mom and I'm not having to call into work for sick kids. And I'm grateful that my kids are creative...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaP7fVJmb3VZpdymskoBSDMCRcrDje97LTyZpUlp_p7ALu8UbyytBSAMCWRROiAAo3hVJ6aBPNZ6ULxnel8joYz45kZyO1B-G2qzkpxNJ5PsGZYh0O_SfPtEz4MWgYqAMUNGbQCGF7G8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSaP7fVJmb3VZpdymskoBSDMCRcrDje97LTyZpUlp_p7ALu8UbyytBSAMCWRROiAAo3hVJ6aBPNZ6ULxnel8joYz45kZyO1B-G2qzkpxNJ5PsGZYh0O_SfPtEz4MWgYqAMUNGbQCGF7G8/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center">This was day 5 of Tent City. Inside there were actual rooms and tunnels - very cool.</div><div align="center"></div>When I look at the laundry and the dirty dishes and know there is no way I will catch up...yet again. I sing this little song...<br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">Thank God for dirty dishes;<br />
They have a tale to tell.<br />
While others may go hungry,<br />
We're eating very well<br />
With home, health, and happiness,<br />
I shouldn't want to fuss;<br />
By the stack of evidence,<br />
God's been very good to us.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Rather than stressing that there is blood all over the floor and the ER is going to cost us a small fortune, I am praising the LORD for insurance and wood floors, which are easy to clean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5v4dqQQAqXPNn9_HMpdnrL3X47YMTSYbuV0beKMdiGz3yop7UJAKoiabzeIl12VZyqp72SmJ2LUhkScwZ3uI3AhU1wjWp-ns4FQZutwWV2WdqDQOLT_JYTs1LgnbTy76Rw5e1S-GuDg/s1600/Ruth+-+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5v4dqQQAqXPNn9_HMpdnrL3X47YMTSYbuV0beKMdiGz3yop7UJAKoiabzeIl12VZyqp72SmJ2LUhkScwZ3uI3AhU1wjWp-ns4FQZutwWV2WdqDQOLT_JYTs1LgnbTy76Rw5e1S-GuDg/s1600/Ruth+-+hospital.jpg" /></a></div><br />
When we have a second trip to the ER, for a different child, I again praise the LORD for tile floors, which are also easy to clean blood off of. And instead of sulking that it ruined a fellowship night we desperately needed, I praise God that because we were with our fellowship team, we had friends that were not only available, but that we trusted to watch our other 3 so Brian and I could go together. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDit2pEHtKn49g_C7gvPHnOd-g9VDLBSj3RDj6cKVoajXxsdMwCvghHxxJ7ws7IUgrcKGPLhwX9NfVGCfEsVYcBXsfn_-9_nJFvXUJRAxtGlb5sajxrTZSyX4GRffwWJo0NggWWRMz-6A/s1600/Isaiah+-+hospital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDit2pEHtKn49g_C7gvPHnOd-g9VDLBSj3RDj6cKVoajXxsdMwCvghHxxJ7ws7IUgrcKGPLhwX9NfVGCfEsVYcBXsfn_-9_nJFvXUJRAxtGlb5sajxrTZSyX4GRffwWJo0NggWWRMz-6A/s1600/Isaiah+-+hospital.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And instead of becoming offended at comments and hateful looks from another human being, I simply smile at them and thank God that he brought me one more person to pray for.<br />
<br />
When my heart breaks for the umpteenth time for Ruth, I weep tears of joy that she trusts and loves me enough to open up.<br />
<br />
When I become overwhelmed and am hanging on by a thread, I am so grateful that I have a Savior whose arms I can run into. Who wipes away my tears and fills my heart with all the Grace and the Patience I need to make it through another day.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I've totally had to let go of the expectation that car rides will be quiet, for I have a constant cheering section EVERY SINGLE TIME I get in the car. If I'm coming up next to a car, I hear, "You can do it Mum! You can do it! GO MUM GO!!" And when I pass the car, I hear, "YEAH!! I knew you could do it!" And this happens with every single car we pass. Heaven forbid if I let a car pass me, you would think I just lost a gold medal. I keep thinking it will subside, but not only has it not, it has taken on a life of it's own and gotten all the kids involved. Oh, and green lights. I think the kids live to yell, "It's Green Mum! GO!" I will never miss another another green light again! :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Isaiah just started school. Here he is on his first day, wearing what now has become his favorite shirt...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9VB827bt3O6HXlqwMIbK3jixlPqRabaG7vf9ol9vduPnA8fC6fKPKL-M1JxPuvsx90WG6eqQ8ljqnm3R41A0kWF9XjLBjsgsV_GabQ8tgOnIdL8Sh7VQApJGyrK8smjHDtC0YZHFe9U/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9VB827bt3O6HXlqwMIbK3jixlPqRabaG7vf9ol9vduPnA8fC6fKPKL-M1JxPuvsx90WG6eqQ8ljqnm3R41A0kWF9XjLBjsgsV_GabQ8tgOnIdL8Sh7VQApJGyrK8smjHDtC0YZHFe9U/s400/053.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Because I posted a pic of Isaiah, here is a picture of Ruth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEf70gU70E1Q4wkTSMLyjNTvGVV3RXFcKJA9r6amyT2OlhfCTyMz89x-JmaJ3Sy7i9XyHoI3aBab_CNFfCXwuQaeVH-yKNnuEiNTA9DZuLFrizEFJUlM04TCANccdCcjHvfivXDGLibI/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhEf70gU70E1Q4wkTSMLyjNTvGVV3RXFcKJA9r6amyT2OlhfCTyMz89x-JmaJ3Sy7i9XyHoI3aBab_CNFfCXwuQaeVH-yKNnuEiNTA9DZuLFrizEFJUlM04TCANccdCcjHvfivXDGLibI/s400/007.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalms 25:5</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-58433723643262458812011-04-04T20:17:00.000-07:002011-04-04T20:17:30.454-07:00A Plea For OrphansAdoption is a story authored by God. It is beautiful. It is redemptive. It is a rescue - for God rescues us from an eternity separated from His love when He adopts us into His Kingdom. <br />
<br />
In most countries, children age out of the system at 14 or 16, at which time they are turned out into the streets, with little to no resources and little to no education. 70% of girls that age out of foster care end up being sexually exploited. These are the children at most risk for ending up in brothels or child prostitution rings. Though I could graphically describe to you the conditions that these children will be subjected to, this isn't the blog for that. I'm here to make a plea on behalf of a few orphans who face a very bleak future.<br />
<br />
Though I will always advocate for orphans of all ages, it's the children that are older than 6 that capture my heart. It's those children that many see as damaged goods, not worth the time or trouble because of the emotional effort involved once you bring them home. But, this is the LORD's battle. For He loved each of these children before they were born into poverty. It's to His Glory to restore and redeem their life! Only Christ can bestow upon their heads a crown of beauty where only ashes had lain! <br />
BUT...the LORD needs His church to be His hands and feet! <br />
<br />
I've linked to the blog, All Are Precious In His sight, <a href="http://allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/2011/04/haitian-kiddos-need-your-prayers.html">HERE</a>. I was going to copy and paste her blog entry in it's entirety, but I think you need to go over to her blog and read about the 11 orphans from Haiti that she is advocating for. You never know when God will use a story or a picture to change your life forever. :)Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-11603478339500084822011-03-27T20:22:00.000-07:002011-03-27T20:22:13.143-07:00I'm Learning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a-tiaNPtRD6PIbj9qctSKYUSDGPCFfb-D4u3OfjbFvBSez9V4gfvz-tKDbGxVu4i_qIII1F3BIrmfvxBiKJyDW7z7C817Uu8gUJzK5xH7so_qgc-a7byp33rLk4Th_lXzx9HR5EQ5_w/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2a-tiaNPtRD6PIbj9qctSKYUSDGPCFfb-D4u3OfjbFvBSez9V4gfvz-tKDbGxVu4i_qIII1F3BIrmfvxBiKJyDW7z7C817Uu8gUJzK5xH7so_qgc-a7byp33rLk4Th_lXzx9HR5EQ5_w/s400/068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We've been home for almost 48 hours now. But we've been together as a family for 10 days. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what I've learned during that time...</div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;">Slippers means flip flops.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Sunglasses are a prized possession.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Flakes is a universal term for all types of cereal. </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Crabs coming under doors and crawling over floors don't bother me as much as I thought they would.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Brian can officially take on 6 children in a Nerf gun war and still win.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Plaster means band aid.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">I don't have the first clue how to cook Plantains.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Shoe shopping at Target the first day home was a very bad idea.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">All children love cinnamon rolls.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Hugs and kisses is a universal language.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">All electronics need to be password protected.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">I Spy can be played anywhere at anytime and with anyone. (And apparently sisters can be used as the color that you spy.)</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">When Ruth says she isn't ticklish it really means, "Please tickle me!"</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">You shouldn't give a child the combination to a combination lock because you might not like what they do with it. </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Lice freaks me out.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Bubble baths can make girls giggle for hours.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Rarely will I be able to finish what I start without being interrupted or pulled away.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">Emails will take a minimum of 4 days to get answered and on average 6 hours to complete. </div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">I have needed every prayer and encouraging word said on our behalf and I will continue to need them.</div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">We are blessed with people in our life that are willing to wait out the 2 hour difference in plane delay, just to be able to welcome us home. </div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">And I have learned that I have the most incredible friends that know what I need before I know I need it. That bring our family dinner to the airport. Who stock my fridge and fill my counter with groceries so I won't have to go to the store at midnight. That don't eat at the fundraising dinner because they are doing all the work. That hang welcome home signs on our house. That pick up our car and then bring it back to the airport so we don't have to pay parking. That support us and pray with us and encourage us when the fears and the tears come. There are SO MANY people that have played an integral role in our adoption of Isaiah and Ruth that I want to thank, but right now, to Allison Doan, Jill Goolsby and Cristie Martine, I have no words for everything you've done and continue to do. You represent a piece of God's Kingdom to me. And I will forever be grateful for you. May the LORD richly bless each of you and your families as you continue to seek His will. I can't imagine this journey without you or your families. </div><br />
I will close with some more pictures.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIJuP7F7PqTpEmRF7BvbBt7_9W-I8wiMnmZe8NwvlrCdcrJRxt5D4ByVxS3SzClybB47ACBm21sfU8wqZv7yV_RihyphenhyphenQmZiVlzuXuzVc5mFThcf1ORnS1YYSbhBRjmpBaQSN5BAfSn1c8/s1600/Coming+through+doors.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIJuP7F7PqTpEmRF7BvbBt7_9W-I8wiMnmZe8NwvlrCdcrJRxt5D4ByVxS3SzClybB47ACBm21sfU8wqZv7yV_RihyphenhyphenQmZiVlzuXuzVc5mFThcf1ORnS1YYSbhBRjmpBaQSN5BAfSn1c8/s320/Coming+through+doors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJLl4xQTb2v4hCdzuMdceGpcTs_v1vbeqNj6o76Sq6iQ72Ty7hwHf7_JFn8P7HVOJPVx9Qvv5-LCDVXgPKxsp58jgFNazy7hlDC6tl7lfFI2ZQf6CTgSfErX8EnP5_eGetV6Ag-LS_A8/s1600/Family.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJLl4xQTb2v4hCdzuMdceGpcTs_v1vbeqNj6o76Sq6iQ72Ty7hwHf7_JFn8P7HVOJPVx9Qvv5-LCDVXgPKxsp58jgFNazy7hlDC6tl7lfFI2ZQf6CTgSfErX8EnP5_eGetV6Ag-LS_A8/s320/Family.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fPfA0J8MesOpNthP96CKZuEIbMo2EhyJqfXP00OjEdN9AjmOh6Dq73mH-Jqckanne-RcvnHDHRBj44sIAdznfWRyrBDJ31D9aIB4vtXRLVSjwFTfRCdk2E-ZtJiNVSUIhs-vWlv7N3M/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fPfA0J8MesOpNthP96CKZuEIbMo2EhyJqfXP00OjEdN9AjmOh6Dq73mH-Jqckanne-RcvnHDHRBj44sIAdznfWRyrBDJ31D9aIB4vtXRLVSjwFTfRCdk2E-ZtJiNVSUIhs-vWlv7N3M/s320/090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-62658699145020015752011-03-20T13:04:00.000-07:002011-03-20T13:12:48.896-07:00We are finally together...I'm sitting outside under a covered patio, listening to the rain pour down and watching the turquoise waves come crashing in. I have 2 children racing matchbox cars. I have 2 children coloring. The kitchen is cleaned from lunch and a load of laundry is washing. My husband is sweeping the tile floor. <br />
<br />
And in the time it has taken me to type these 4 sentences, I have been interrupted 21 times. That's an interruption almost every three words. <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This last time was Isaiah. He wanted to show me what he had written...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"I Love you Mummy."</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA-XUajNhgr-gBP7fl4tjrPxfEW8VCTR-L9-XIHAqJvtXpSwtBSGCHledS9Ca4p5sXYhL29VLyGkQFtO5s-5KzcYE8NtORQv6hbOy3WaIEN25yIAtA3Uuok2eq7qpyQjt4Wv9q0xffUQ/s1600/549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVA-XUajNhgr-gBP7fl4tjrPxfEW8VCTR-L9-XIHAqJvtXpSwtBSGCHledS9Ca4p5sXYhL29VLyGkQFtO5s-5KzcYE8NtORQv6hbOy3WaIEN25yIAtA3Uuok2eq7qpyQjt4Wv9q0xffUQ/s320/549.JPG" width="320" /></a>Oh, my sweet dear boy, how tender is your precious little heart?! So many people have stopped us and told us how lucky you and Ruth are, but I'm only beginning to realize the depth of how wrong those people are. We, your mom and dad, are the lucky ones. </div><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5hR_RQsWapMGyUFb1KJWKWrKb9gXHDQjNJa1Vq1AcKRCxGQz-BKuu5rUkkiiUPzxmNiMdSGBYiCtEXvxH37gVpf81rw39q87_oYUdc-cILoKEb5kuDlYFZmSBbfL5K3yjOCv6JlSQks/s1600/448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5hR_RQsWapMGyUFb1KJWKWrKb9gXHDQjNJa1Vq1AcKRCxGQz-BKuu5rUkkiiUPzxmNiMdSGBYiCtEXvxH37gVpf81rw39q87_oYUdc-cILoKEb5kuDlYFZmSBbfL5K3yjOCv6JlSQks/s320/448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I don't have the time or really the words to describe how our family has come together these last few days. So I will share a few pictures. Hopefully they will tell their own story.</div></div><br />
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The rain has now forced me inside, but the doors are open and I can hear the waves and the rain competing for power. And all the children and daddy have come together for another game of Uno.<br />
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</div>My heart is full and I am filled with peace. And though I know trials and tribulations await us in this journey, God's love and grace will always be sufficient. And I will forever be grateful and humbled that the LORD called us to be Isaiah and Ruth's forever family.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-56323028438462177042011-03-10T08:07:00.000-08:002011-03-10T17:37:31.344-08:00Thank YOU<div style="text-align: center;">"...May the LORD reward you for your kindness..." Ruth 1:8</div><br />
Please forgive me in taking a few days to get this post out. I am overwhelmed and a little speechless at everything that has taken place the last month of this adoption journey. I don't know where to begin, nor do I even have the first clue how to thank some people. Some have given of their time and money in such a sacrificial way, that to just say "Thank You" feels as if I am cheapening what they've done. <br />
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Your outward expression is a beautiful portrayal of what is on the inside. And I have no right to "Thank You" for that. What I can do and what your love and selflessness has made me do, is go straight to my knees weeping and praising and thanking the LORD for you! For your beautiful heart! <br />
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And what continues to get me, is not that you are giving from the overflow, but that you are giving in faith, from what your family lives on, praying that the LORD blesses and multiplies the money. Friends who are neck high in their own adoptions or ministries gave. Friends, whom the LORD blessed me with one week prior, offered support and prayers and encouragement like I've never seen. Friends I have never met have offered incredible support and prayer through their own blogs. <br />
My Gateway family...oh see...I'm tearing up just thinking of what you've done. You have been our prayer warriors and supporters from the very beginning! Many of you being the very, very first people to know about this adoption as we sought your counsel and prayer. I absolutely can not imagine walking this without you. And I absolutely can NOT WAIT to introduce you to the beautiful little boy and girl you've been praying for!!<br />
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This entire journey, God has been refining me in the areas of unbelief, patience and humility, with the spirit of humility, by far, being the hardest. Recently, God used my family to once again teach me how to accept gifts humbly. If you don't know this already about me, I don't take help easily, especially from those I think I am suppose to help. So the LORD used those exact people that I want to help, to help me. It was hard for me to accept. So much so that I tried to tell them that I just can't accept it. <br />
So to you (you know who you are), my words will never do justice to the sacrifice you gave. You truly humbled me to a place of speechlessness. I pray your legacy lives on in the hearts of my children for generations to come.<br />
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I know I am not doing justice in conveying my gratitude and appreciation, and I know that there are at least a hundred people that I need to thank by name, but please rest in knowing that I have thanked the LORD for you and I will continue to do so. And for all of you, this is the story that reminds me of your love and sacrifice...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and </div><div style="text-align: center;">watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Many rich people threw in large amounts. </div><div style="text-align: center;">But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="woj">“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all the others."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Mark 12:41-43</div><br />
To ALL of you that lift up prayers of intercession on our behalf; to ALL of you that give selflessly and generously; to ALL of you that offer support and encouragement...<br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center">"May the the Lord bless you and keep you; <br />
May the Lord make His face shine upon you, <br />
And be gracious to you; <br />
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, <br />
And give you peace."</div><div align="center">Numbers 6:24-26</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="left">It's only through the way you allowed God to use you that we will be leaving in less than a week to bring our son and daughter home.! Please continue your prayers as there is still warfare!!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div>I PROMISE to post pictures and details about the silent auction dinner and announce the winner of the diamond necklace in the next post!!Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-89421504388439606712011-03-03T07:47:00.000-08:002011-03-06T15:34:02.661-08:00Silent Auction and Dinner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMTr4nRERap6En-CwIOmkEEHjnOAXRDVMYZEVqDrZv_ZJ5F0k9ZYygqIjFYQmymFYr-Y9jucDYo-qMhi9L18qokqbW-BUt_G-oETcTUCggq5YTp75s1wnh2Kj26U6Vq6Gssdli1u11Ag/s1600/silent-auction_s600x600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMTr4nRERap6En-CwIOmkEEHjnOAXRDVMYZEVqDrZv_ZJ5F0k9ZYygqIjFYQmymFYr-Y9jucDYo-qMhi9L18qokqbW-BUt_G-oETcTUCggq5YTp75s1wnh2Kj26U6Vq6Gssdli1u11Ag/s400/silent-auction_s600x600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I just realized that I have yet to put any of our Silent Auction & Dinner information here on my blog. It's on Facebook and I've sent out emails, but I probably need it here too. So here it is...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nVMHL0krvP8ONa1xgI0smeqS8aUDFahLersEy-lTGRZGtq5WCL3wVqC2baAer-tShaSWM4ep08699uVEV7RV1DjF0UCPPoURyLyAP_ArcJS768nQQXa0hwYQpoKxvywcLmUkI6lnkX4/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_nVMHL0krvP8ONa1xgI0smeqS8aUDFahLersEy-lTGRZGtq5WCL3wVqC2baAer-tShaSWM4ep08699uVEV7RV1DjF0UCPPoURyLyAP_ArcJS768nQQXa0hwYQpoKxvywcLmUkI6lnkX4/s320/46.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Our adoption is final and we leave in less than 2 weeks to bring home Isaiah and Ruth! So in celebration of our growing family and as one last attempt to raise the final funds we need to travel, we are having a Dinner and Silent Auction on Monday, March 7th, at Ristorante Paesanos on 1604. <br />
<br />
The event begins at 6:30. You're in for a treat if you've never eaten here because Paesano's food is incredible! You will also be treated to a private concert by our very own December's End. Last year, they beat out over a 1000 bands to win Battle of the Bands, they have been featured on Good Day SA and though it's personal opinion, I seriously think they are some of the most talented musicians I have ever heard. We will have a silent auction set up, where you will have the opportunity to bid on great things like original paintings, photography sessions, gift cards to great restaurants around town, the yummiest little cake bites in the whole world, gift baskets, a romantic weekend get-a-way and many more things!<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C9F2Sacesu5vdvbKSvrYunWGlqt-WYnQUbP-Py0ReHGB51YEVN8kDBJ5CgUD7HItRgEHhaL_51mzXdZxLc_YmBpOcz9ldVwp1Gqa1kfCfBomazSbXU0fvnSLMb9VODktXvJR3JkWGpQ/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C9F2Sacesu5vdvbKSvrYunWGlqt-WYnQUbP-Py0ReHGB51YEVN8kDBJ5CgUD7HItRgEHhaL_51mzXdZxLc_YmBpOcz9ldVwp1Gqa1kfCfBomazSbXU0fvnSLMb9VODktXvJR3JkWGpQ/s200/DSC_0239.JPG" width="132" /></a>We will also be raffling off this diamond necklace the night of the dinner. From now until the night of the dinner, raffle tickets are $10 a piece. For information on how to purchase one, go <a href="http://shinelikestars-intheuniverse.blogspot.com/2011/02/huge-giveaway.html">here</a>. That night however, tickets will be $20. At the end of the evening, we will draw one lucky winner!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tickets are $40 to this event and you pay at the door. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here are answers to questions from you that I am getting:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">1. How do I pay? We don't have the ability to run credit cards, so please be prepared with cash or check. That is also true for the silent auction items. </div>2. What to wear? The attire is casual. Some will come straight from work so they will be dressed more business casual. But jeans and sundresses are fine!<br />
3. Can I bring my children? Absolutely! However, please be aware that this is more of an adult venue (no playscapes, playgrounds or play area) so if they are younger, you might want to bring something quiet to entertain them. <br />
<br />
So to recap...<br />
WHAT: Dinner, concert and silent auction<br />
WHERE: <span class="fn org">Paesanos Restaurant, </span>3622 Paesanos Parkway, San Antonio, TX<br />
DATE: Monday, March 7th<br />
TIME: 6:30 p.m.<br />
PRICE: $40<br />
<br />
Please don't hesitate to email me with any questions or suggestions! This is an open event so please feel free to bring your family, friends and neighbors! <br />
Also, I am trying to get a general headcount so the restaurant can plan accordingly, so if you plan on coming (and I already don't know), will you please leave a comment or jump over to Facebook and RSVP under the Event page I set up? THANKS!!!Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-17989570604442242072011-02-28T06:28:00.000-08:002011-02-28T06:28:04.008-08:00HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOGtg-9yGoNH6mDVbXf3OHmz4maZTVXrIwewPW5N6i56GKMaegYDVTB3Fn-2Ic5O2tOh39faMpChzQCC4LZ_8xIbTIkeb4lR-8JrivshCIZVSFnZmsVG6Rp-2i5A84m65n-2wf-CaQgQ/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOGtg-9yGoNH6mDVbXf3OHmz4maZTVXrIwewPW5N6i56GKMaegYDVTB3Fn-2Ic5O2tOh39faMpChzQCC4LZ_8xIbTIkeb4lR-8JrivshCIZVSFnZmsVG6Rp-2i5A84m65n-2wf-CaQgQ/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="left">Big THANK YOU to Ben Adams Precious Jewels in San Antonio who has graciously donated this necklace, with a retail value of $650.00, to help us raise money for the adoption!! </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">So from now until Monday, March 7th, we are raffling off this beautiful diamond covered cross necklace!!! For every $10 donated, your name will be entered into the raffle one time. (So for a $10 donation, you will be entered once, for a $50 donation, your name will be entered 5 times, for $100, you name will be entered 10 times, etc...)</div><div align="left">At our silent auction dinner on Monday night, March 7th, we will draw a winner. You do not have to be present to win!</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59dcsq-pGvM4Qba4abHysPr-M-FbQ99CJNtWjjnJ7w95ICv7ebFu8u8OUs52J4oGc2UgwdXRb_Lrkm4cRZqpIpqsPKaqfdBb6nMAb_XNaNocJInojl_wbzaoXgmyGdG1d-zQTRk80wu4/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59dcsq-pGvM4Qba4abHysPr-M-FbQ99CJNtWjjnJ7w95ICv7ebFu8u8OUs52J4oGc2UgwdXRb_Lrkm4cRZqpIpqsPKaqfdBb6nMAb_XNaNocJInojl_wbzaoXgmyGdG1d-zQTRk80wu4/s320/DSC_0236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left">PLEASE email me your name and a phone number at <a href="mailto:mamajax@sbcglobal.net">mamajax@sbcglobal.net</a> when you make a donation! If you don't, I'll still use the email address entered from PayPal, but it will be easier to get a hold of you if you win :) when I have your name and your number too! </div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you and Good Luck!! :)</div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqReFexU240wZFzNzpdXSQQW2vI6wetVNDEPDdZ7TseesK18UsLV640GnVvCDX5nYNuoLPWt0FK88FJxP_qMrG6KsvJim6YH49nHNPDLnSAwHU0eiD4fUG8eJvQj64CqvyHdQ88XtaG8/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqReFexU240wZFzNzpdXSQQW2vI6wetVNDEPDdZ7TseesK18UsLV640GnVvCDX5nYNuoLPWt0FK88FJxP_qMrG6KsvJim6YH49nHNPDLnSAwHU0eiD4fUG8eJvQj64CqvyHdQ88XtaG8/s320/DSC_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. Please feel free to repost this on your blog and help me get the word out!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left"><br />
</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-28873287192168973682011-02-25T07:08:00.000-08:002011-02-25T07:08:09.747-08:00The Elephant in the Room - $$$First, I want to say this...<br />
For those of you that have been following us and praying for us and supporting us along this adoption journey - the words "Thank You" don't seem enough. But know that it was your encouragement that carried us when the criticism came. It was your prayers that carried us when I thought I would scream in frustration. Oh, thank you, thank you for your compassion and your patience through this relatively short adoption (only 7 months!!!). I will never take for granted what you've offered us. Nor will I ever, ever, take for granted the protection, the guidance and the grace that my LORD provided us.<br />
<br />
So many of you have asked, or wanted to ask but didn't, about the cost of this adoption. So I'm going to be completely open here. My husband might ask me to remove this later, but for know, I'm laying it out on the table. <br />
The adoption of Isaiah and Ruth was quoted to us as $34,000. <br />
As of this past weekend, we hit the $50,000 mark. <br />
Granted, there were 3 things that were completely out of the adoption agency's control: <br />
1. Traveling during the peak season in the Caribbean, which triples airfare and hotel. <br />
2. We are bringing our biological children with us. <br />
3. The foster fees for our children. (There is no orphanage in this country, only private foster homes. So when you adopt, you owe $500 per child, per month, that they have been in foster care. For us, that was $500 x 16 x 2)<br />
<br />
$50,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY! It's more than the national average for yearly incomes. And we have received criticism regarding the cost of this adoption. We've been asked questions like, "Why don't you just foster? The government will pay you to do that. Why don't you adopt domestically, it's so much cheaper? Why don't you just adopt one, instead of two, it's cheaper? <br />
<br />
So I want to explain something very quickly... <br />
Brian and I were not called just "to adopt." <br />
We were not called to foster. <br />
We were called to be the family for Isaiah and Ruth - siblings. <br />
We didn't "shop" around for the cheapest country. <br />
We didn't search for the child that would cost us the least amount of money.<br />
The End.<br />
<br />
That said, the cost was a non-issue. We didn't have the $34,000, let alone the $50,000, so we just gave it over to God. He called us to adopt and as a sweet friends loves to say, "The LORD funds what He favors," so we proceeded with the adoption having NO CLUE how we would pay for it. But I knew that the money was SO insignificant to our God. It was a minor detail, almost just a footnote in this love story He is writing.<br />
<br />
To date, $40,000 has already been paid towards the adoption. We depleted our savings (but THANK YOU God, that we had savings!!!!). Brian cashed out stock he had in his company. We took out a small loan. We have had 2 fundraisers - a triathlon and the 147 shirts. We opened a credit card through our bank and put our plane tickets on that. (Sorry Dave Ramsey!) We have stretched pennies and cut back on everything, which honestly, has been so freeing! You get creative and find cheap ways to still eat out. For example... <br />
My favorite food in the whole wide world is Mexican. One of my very favorite restaurants is Chuy's. Pre adoption, our family of four would easily spend $40+ on dinner. Post adoption, our last bill was $9.21. "How," you ask? If you go before 7 p.m., there is a chip, beans, queso, taco meat bar that is free. Tortillas are also free. Brian gets a meal (we do have to order something so we don't get kicked out :) and me and the kids make our own burritos and nachos...for FREE!! (It actually tastes better free.) :)<br />
<br />
When Brian and I sit down to figure out the money aspect of this adoption, it just doesn't make sense - on paper - where $30,000 of the money has come from. IT ISN'T ADDING UP! But that's when we smile and praise the LORD. For we know that He already has this adoption paid for. He is just growing our faith while He reveals to us how He is doing it.<br />
So even though we are a little less than $10,000 short. Even though we leave in less than 3 weeks to pick up our children. Even though we should be completely freaking out right now. I am not. I have my "Boots of Peace" laced up real tight and I'm allowing that Peace to completely take over and become a Peace that surpasses ALL understanding.<br />
<br />
And I want to say, even if our silent auction doesn't bring in all the money we need, my faith and my trust in a Sovereign God is unwavering. This dinner is not a test for the LORD, to see if He will rise up to the occasion and answer our prayers. This dinner is a test in obedience for me.<br />
<br />
P.S. This is why I'm not worried about the money...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." </div><div style="text-align: center;">Philippians 4:6-7</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Therefore do <b>not</b> <b>worry</b> about tomorrow, for tomorrow will <b>worry</b> about itself. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Each day has enough trouble of its own." </div><div style="text-align: center;">Matthew 6:34</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" </div><div style="text-align: center;">Matthew 6:27 </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-76870364932232695952011-02-24T06:15:00.000-08:002011-02-25T05:25:55.298-08:00Taxi Driver's Association Beach Party (Also known as Day 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD1jvi_gwc2a_6dvUO6VMNzKfBu9DNsQrdck_USTJbrSMkfbp3-K0jT08YlUOqbtKecWgP2uc5xBTOm_5JAwzb7XT92Q6a6SAP4Ttf__MmTHlsqRl0oi1A6JhTrS94_eIAM9w87-Sx_M/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyD1jvi_gwc2a_6dvUO6VMNzKfBu9DNsQrdck_USTJbrSMkfbp3-K0jT08YlUOqbtKecWgP2uc5xBTOm_5JAwzb7XT92Q6a6SAP4Ttf__MmTHlsqRl0oi1A6JhTrS94_eIAM9w87-Sx_M/s320/221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I am warning you now, I will not do this day justice. There just aren't the right words to describe Day 3. If only I could somehow display my facial expressions and my hand gestures, it would be so much more effective. But that's not possible. And sadly, I have no pictures. Actually, it's probably for the best that there is no proof or evidence. Only memories, which can fade or become richer with time. We'll see what holds true in this case.<br />
<br />
It's Sunday, and because we did not bring the appropriate attire, we were not able to attend church. All I had were sundresses and flip flops, not even thinking that would be disrespectful to their culture. (I'm thinking our movie theater church, with our jeans, flip flops and shorts, probably wouldn't make it over there.) :)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yD_9o7o_dnttSp2U5D6dJiULGOR8jmgwI3lKjOSzF0Q0wMh4C1UnrsFB1cUQLmlVweIlOcvraXOChb4fQrqjpgJv4riGIzOfeEkofqQGIvdpi2H6M44NEFHzLzTDxS4K3gjXcMwE2Is/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yD_9o7o_dnttSp2U5D6dJiULGOR8jmgwI3lKjOSzF0Q0wMh4C1UnrsFB1cUQLmlVweIlOcvraXOChb4fQrqjpgJv4riGIzOfeEkofqQGIvdpi2H6M44NEFHzLzTDxS4K3gjXcMwE2Is/s200/087.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. McLeod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So Brian and I just waited until church was over so our driver could come get us. We had no plans or any ideas on what to do, so Mr. McLeod invited us to a beach party. Not just any beach party, but it was the the St. Vincent's Taxi Driver's Association Beach Party. All the taxi drivers in the country were coming together for a day of fun in the sun! It sounded perfect! How could we refuse? Actually, we really couldn't refuse. He was our driver and this is where he was headed for the day, therefore, this is where we were headed for the day also.<br />
(For those of you that have heard this story told, are you laughing yet?)<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcb5GW4AuLpnouO5EhhBjYaxGBKRTEetoHpBnk9pGGdvRukQR7KsB6oNYh43ui3m1LgMQMbjf6GyQZ-sC9ozchT9IAcuCiBc4PTcaC3zVIiYZGVXTu1Grx16F9hhTeE3o83ulWRnV2r0/s1600/156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcb5GW4AuLpnouO5EhhBjYaxGBKRTEetoHpBnk9pGGdvRukQR7KsB6oNYh43ui3m1LgMQMbjf6GyQZ-sC9ozchT9IAcuCiBc4PTcaC3zVIiYZGVXTu1Grx16F9hhTeE3o83ulWRnV2r0/s200/156.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1AVDQzKnzJsGOvaXdU7Yisy9c7VUiSdyEDyRTtKgVCDkccBzCiPPNppgBFqO0ppt5aNW-QQo-dsS7qf2jrodmuduueSSsSgY-W4i9aCntNNWiLrYzlbdvfJzW5H2jCqt1KFPRVCQw3s/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1AVDQzKnzJsGOvaXdU7Yisy9c7VUiSdyEDyRTtKgVCDkccBzCiPPNppgBFqO0ppt5aNW-QQo-dsS7qf2jrodmuduueSSsSgY-W4i9aCntNNWiLrYzlbdvfJzW5H2jCqt1KFPRVCQw3s/s200/146.JPG" width="200" /></a>So we pick up our kids and off we go to another part of the island. I do have to say, St. Vincent is beautiful. Yes, there is poverty. Yes, there are sheep and goats roaming the streets. And we saw children walking around in underwear with no shoes. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> But everything is green and lush and tropical. St. Vincent is mountainous. So there are layers upon layers of trees and blooms. There are waterfalls. There was nothing dead or dry or flat. The only flat thing that I saw on the whole island was the landing strip at the airport and I have no idea how they made it that flat. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As we are heading to the party, our driver informs us that the movie, "The Pirates of the Caribbean" was filmed on St. Vincent. He asks us if we would like to go see the set. I think Isaiah shouted "YES" before we even had a chance to answer. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFadPeTU_lMNxm3IMOTKOYcC-CO1yKA6F9xgNp3J6OCpPOSOZjgeAn0ZXz26Xrtv54FxxxEEczIxQ7-GNI-oq7OXFiFFQuvqbzlX0klB32RLozNc8JCIoypFx2PMqQLBXDxRWnQSrTYhs/s1600/187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFadPeTU_lMNxm3IMOTKOYcC-CO1yKA6F9xgNp3J6OCpPOSOZjgeAn0ZXz26Xrtv54FxxxEEczIxQ7-GNI-oq7OXFiFFQuvqbzlX0klB32RLozNc8JCIoypFx2PMqQLBXDxRWnQSrTYhs/s320/187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo-e_pZXAkQOaNU9DzUnriU12Qjx8mVqQcLA0s1QTCXZd-MCviUpn3TO1wu-7lZrfqWJXggHkQGmuqC2rzgUNUEyujXj_gI9i05MudtpaEe6Vt-B1PDDIvAdiKKmKHktdvqs5RP5ZPSQ/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo-e_pZXAkQOaNU9DzUnriU12Qjx8mVqQcLA0s1QTCXZd-MCviUpn3TO1wu-7lZrfqWJXggHkQGmuqC2rzgUNUEyujXj_gI9i05MudtpaEe6Vt-B1PDDIvAdiKKmKHktdvqs5RP5ZPSQ/s320/213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">No one was there that day, but during tourist season, you can order drinks and lunch at the main building where a lot of the movie was filmed. <br />
(The main building is the white building on the right.)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihelGBu8y5lyruny4dL4YEFQ-qF9U1WuzAc0zCSwnkAZCCL4nslHGl_m-orf0u6lADN5-qfzvv711038mcct8D7tmLxhGsLOw-URo8H3soA4vOAQQSA2NdxzNmVTrZj5F6vpscyYtqx6I/s1600/215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihelGBu8y5lyruny4dL4YEFQ-qF9U1WuzAc0zCSwnkAZCCL4nslHGl_m-orf0u6lADN5-qfzvv711038mcct8D7tmLxhGsLOw-URo8H3soA4vOAQQSA2NdxzNmVTrZj5F6vpscyYtqx6I/s320/215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we are on our way to the Taxi party. Once we arrive, Brian and I head off in search for a place for all of us to change into swimsuits. The fact that we were seeking privacy to change was making this a little difficult. We eventually stumbled upon a public restroom where there was a sign listing the price it would cost to use the facilities. Umm...we have no $ on us. And there is NO CHANCE we are sneaking in. We look like out of place tourists, toting around 2 native children. We look uncomfortable, we look conspicious, we look lost and confused. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, I take my chance and trot in with Ruth. I decide to feign ignorance if someone asks me about the fees. No one does, but I get lots of looks and questions about Ruth. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">(You see, apparently, earlier that year, there had been a huge story about some white British people trafficking some babies off the island. So everyone's guard was up. And on top of that, if I mentioned adoption, the locals became very defensive and took the stance that there are no orphans in their country. Not the best situation to walk into for us.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I change us as quickly and as politely as possible, meet up with Brian and Isaiah, and off we go to find our one familiar face...fast!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Our driver was waiting for us so he could walk us past the guy in charge and into all the activities. Brian took anything and everything offered to him as we walked so as not to offended anyone. Once on the beach, Brian told me he would be back in a little bit. He was going to try and befriend as many big men as possible in the next 10 minutes in hopes we would have protection if needed! <br />
Unfortunately, the only man Brian truly befriended was Mr. St. John, a retired 70 year old taxi driver who offered little in the form of physical protection but Brian hoped that protection might come from the level of respect others had for this man. Oh, and Mr. St. John's friend (the name alludes me now) was a young man who thought we were his new best friends. I might need to add that he was so drunk, he mentioned something about hiding in a suitcase to travel, to eleminate the cost of airfare. Yeah, we are not planning on taking his advice.<br />
<br />
Our poor children, not only stood out because their parents looked different, but we had brought them brand new swimsuits. Isaiah had bright yellow swim trunks (it's easier to find kids in public places in orange and yellow) and Ruth had a cute little mango colored swimsuit with polka dots and a tutu sewn around the waist. Needless to say, the other children, IF they had swimsuits, did not have anything new or cute. Oh, and I had brought a pair of goggles. I think there was a wait an hour long for a chance to try these "glasses" that let you see under water. Isaiah finally gave up trying to get a turn and just let everyone else have them. <br />
<br />
The food and the drink, mostly different kinds of beer and a few local sodas, flowed endlessly. At one point, I found Brian finishing off some meat and rice. He asked me if I would like something to eat. I did, but I wanted to stick with just the rice. So he refilled the dish, which is half of a scooped out coconut shell and handed it to me with a wooden spoon. After I finished, I asked him where he got his own coconut bowl and spoon, since we had not brought our own. He then informs me that they weren't ours. They belonged to our taxi driver. Which he had given to Brian AFTER he AND his son had finished their dinners. Oh, and they aren't washed between usings, just licked clean.<br />
That adds a new dimension to the phrase, "Finger Looking Good!" :)<br />
<br />
There were many aspects of this story I intentionally had to eliminate because they are not appropriate or they were disresptful. These parts just happen to be some of the funniest and awkard moments of the day. Just imagine the craziest things that can happen on a black sand beach at a goat roasting, beer drinking, underwear swimming beach party with about 150 locals, 2 sheltered white people and their 2 black children, and that was our day! But I have to admit, we wouldn't trade that experience for anything in the world!<br />
<br />
It began to rain, which is a daily occurence, and the children started shivering. So we went back to the car to warm them and change their clothes and then head home. As we were heading back, the thought on everyone's mind was our empending departure the next morning. When we dropped the children off, we wouldn't see them again until we came back for them. Both kids did not hold back their pleas in asking us to stay. We explained that we had to go home to finish all of our paperwork so we could come back to get them. Because of their history of abandonment, not just from their mother, I can completely understand their fear that we also wouldn't come back for them. <br />
<br />
But what was different about us, is that God is writing this story, not us. And in His book, he does not leave you as orphans. He comes to rescue and restore. So we knew we were coming back...we just didn't know <br />
when.<br />
<br />
As we were driving, I took the opportunity to ask Isaiah, what his thoughts were the moment he saw us at the school. He said...<br />
"I looked at you and knew you were there for me. That you were my mum and dad. And that made my heart SO happy!"<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is the picture right after he said that...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KmqsPK4EEeWCKcxMTWoXL6Ftb52cq9RAm8v8h9QmEpsnxKlSdj4rdpjFTbu8oB6lEYfeUTjcHbHsdvoAZIv9GYPr9ynbL2DNQO4-6aqxgTk2veEAegycxlreBKJLXhogaF8WFBoxrPY/s1600/229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KmqsPK4EEeWCKcxMTWoXL6Ftb52cq9RAm8v8h9QmEpsnxKlSdj4rdpjFTbu8oB6lEYfeUTjcHbHsdvoAZIv9GYPr9ynbL2DNQO4-6aqxgTk2veEAegycxlreBKJLXhogaF8WFBoxrPY/s400/229.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7369157493652089631.post-5119397882201021952011-02-22T15:23:00.000-08:002011-02-22T15:40:08.331-08:00Isaiah & Ruth - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EHwuKNDy6hKJ6t7kdgzYFwDjlhCM31qx8K741klp18WV4fPF54mB9F6kraMiGjeneHyswDSemWlRJxALPtTC4mSbtK0maaWQGnZ4C9XOamxq6YzRgkMhNzCeEf3BWkskpqQvf6BacQ0/s1600/144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EHwuKNDy6hKJ6t7kdgzYFwDjlhCM31qx8K741klp18WV4fPF54mB9F6kraMiGjeneHyswDSemWlRJxALPtTC4mSbtK0maaWQGnZ4C9XOamxq6YzRgkMhNzCeEf3BWkskpqQvf6BacQ0/s400/144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Isaiah and Ruth are legally ours!! We leave soon to bring them home so I'm going to try my best to catch up to how we got to this point.<br />
If you haven't read about Day 1, I wrote about meeting the children and our first day together <a href="http://shinelikestars-intheuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/12/meeting-isaiah-ruth.html">HERE</a>. You can go there and catch up if you want. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m0kRDAf9CRvlVeG2XPMbV5Hxp20KG-trPs7NQsbvgAkX17un1R8b9xCxkzCD6zgUxw7bdizwt15o8pyARTBPh4Z9i8PCpvVj99uYmLRCtQAg1Q80G-vH5myGNymu7pj2sKLvrE3V0Eo/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0m0kRDAf9CRvlVeG2XPMbV5Hxp20KG-trPs7NQsbvgAkX17un1R8b9xCxkzCD6zgUxw7bdizwt15o8pyARTBPh4Z9i8PCpvVj99uYmLRCtQAg1Q80G-vH5myGNymu7pj2sKLvrE3V0Eo/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Saturday, September 20th, 2010, at 9 am sharp, we were pulling out onto the road. (I let out a little scream each time our driver pulls out to the left side of the road, thinking he isn't getting back to the other side of the road fast enough! Then I realize everyone has it backwards and it makes me feel a little better.) :) <br />
We are off to pick up the children for the day! When we arrive, the kids run to us, ready to go. Isaiah had been sick the day before, but he looked great that day and was ready for fun. As we were getting ready to leave, Isaiah asked if "T" could join us. ("T" is a beautiful 11 year old girl that had just come into foster care the week before.) We both agreed that she could join us (a decision that still impacts our life today...and something I will write about one day).<br />
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All 5 of us head back across town towards our hotel. From there we take a ferry a few hundred yards to a very small, private island that has a nice beach we can swim at.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMuGonpDA6DoeK37tpELxiYzyDSKubCxCtndgYfYFKcIe4IQMxs5z_YKFwZT6humpKVj8A1LixSYJEAH1FZwPyjqsCwFrsrrZgN0iqE0lHz6s8u3bLh3lzrdLCAf1iMR_2kERcoJw70o/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMuGonpDA6DoeK37tpELxiYzyDSKubCxCtndgYfYFKcIe4IQMxs5z_YKFwZT6humpKVj8A1LixSYJEAH1FZwPyjqsCwFrsrrZgN0iqE0lHz6s8u3bLh3lzrdLCAf1iMR_2kERcoJw70o/s400/118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ04fHTXURCALYrK5qiUFei4ysJYnLpnr6NV44Z-eZV1NQ301cyFUT88wDCvgst3yNYThts53ih8eVxjvSywMqxmluHrgwBw6o0olR0zgJOOf0sPi-5AFcjb6M4pzVM_PTKZ0b4bpIyQ/s1600/133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwQ04fHTXURCALYrK5qiUFei4ysJYnLpnr6NV44Z-eZV1NQ301cyFUT88wDCvgst3yNYThts53ih8eVxjvSywMqxmluHrgwBw6o0olR0zgJOOf0sPi-5AFcjb6M4pzVM_PTKZ0b4bpIyQ/s400/133.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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We played at the beach. We played at our pool. We built sand castles. We invented new games that required a dock, an ocean and a football. We played catch. We played monkey in the middle. We had lunch in a thatched bungalow. We laughed. We talked. We held hands and we cuddled. We introduced them to Oreo's and rice cakes. It was a beautiful day! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXnv4Ijq0qe7Rz2nAJ6PNK9JwUAR7hL6Es6ry0L25kwct709XEB8t40x3X-NY12AAmefw-Jx_AucLiYc3RNBH_zPgJDm7EOke_X-2ASQJ-I51Ve48JXOpENpLHXdZpiK6DHuZxp7wYJ8/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXnv4Ijq0qe7Rz2nAJ6PNK9JwUAR7hL6Es6ry0L25kwct709XEB8t40x3X-NY12AAmefw-Jx_AucLiYc3RNBH_zPgJDm7EOke_X-2ASQJ-I51Ve48JXOpENpLHXdZpiK6DHuZxp7wYJ8/s320/119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs7PC3iZIvxXevhjqY53tPerN2EJhzUj4E4t0YXSvLVuSp-E8iMsQu5gcTi1D89Fy5w2j2hB8LZnFn5u2ZpQ2SaN8F21y3ygel6xUbfyJ8529cGelpL8cvr_xF77yP6_PTyyq8wtR8y0/s1600/120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHs7PC3iZIvxXevhjqY53tPerN2EJhzUj4E4t0YXSvLVuSp-E8iMsQu5gcTi1D89Fy5w2j2hB8LZnFn5u2ZpQ2SaN8F21y3ygel6xUbfyJ8529cGelpL8cvr_xF77yP6_PTyyq8wtR8y0/s320/120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Isaiah asked his daddy to throw him no less than 100 times! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you know me, then you know I love to swim and I love to coach. Even if my children never swim competitively, they need to know how to swim, especially before summer league swim team starts. :) So, before you even ask me, yes, in the pictures below, I am trying to see where Isaiah's diving and swimming skills are. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdCT9GF-OhUoGwCBU4YnvEa5RLwQl0ytTIdg8gxUUYZJd_LrQUd7AAp61c387OF1imu8-usMo4iv5vLC89skSke6lIcFuso5F2YxQLNDru_FbnDwCUmmFsFS_gZjMDzfvrZieRMj9P78/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdCT9GF-OhUoGwCBU4YnvEa5RLwQl0ytTIdg8gxUUYZJd_LrQUd7AAp61c387OF1imu8-usMo4iv5vLC89skSke6lIcFuso5F2YxQLNDru_FbnDwCUmmFsFS_gZjMDzfvrZieRMj9P78/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4fTd3OX7xPAyfJQEZhnWzEg-4SxUGOjBn3JrL5wBamWWeCK2cGAPSaJTjnb1ICWloMpAAIDV0UrHkMbjDG6R5HbK91sNp5nr5WRZ0sTwCZk4fnAk53HRQo9S5i-2Dc2u4oatxTKNCMk/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4fTd3OX7xPAyfJQEZhnWzEg-4SxUGOjBn3JrL5wBamWWeCK2cGAPSaJTjnb1ICWloMpAAIDV0UrHkMbjDG6R5HbK91sNp5nr5WRZ0sTwCZk4fnAk53HRQo9S5i-2Dc2u4oatxTKNCMk/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">So he needs a little work diving. No problem! That's my favorite thing to teach. :) The positive is that he LOVES the water and actually has some natural talent. The negative? He forgets how to swim as soon as he needs to take a breath. Once again, no problem! I know how to teach that! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii912N0EavWDgIJRlmC_0pKQHHvRTKiTa-OjpsQUVQhHISimzAveuezgdtYZjo9Cs4TM4THdy6Zz0g8Nf50rGZG7-1QNuuyuyDW-dU0WYj6sgOxXhr5MAWaIgovh43GCzgkKs1kuf36fc/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii912N0EavWDgIJRlmC_0pKQHHvRTKiTa-OjpsQUVQhHISimzAveuezgdtYZjo9Cs4TM4THdy6Zz0g8Nf50rGZG7-1QNuuyuyDW-dU0WYj6sgOxXhr5MAWaIgovh43GCzgkKs1kuf36fc/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">As our day came to an end, we headed back to the hotel to change into dry clothes and take them back to their foster family. And in the short time we changed, they managed to finish off the package of Oreo's. Oops! :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">It took Ruth about 2 minutes in the car to look like this...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2VSXowSLsZiyT49Kaf2t20VnZPOJC_APNnCOSEM1lFGh70CWLHGZHtwj0fXpxLHlT4Z5wh_eRmD-6PxU_DFWFDXxAIEgffwh3XA2PQk13Q42ciR7Y2_lPzs_tpCZRNCKQDbnYn63dUw/s1600/ruth+asleep.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2VSXowSLsZiyT49Kaf2t20VnZPOJC_APNnCOSEM1lFGh70CWLHGZHtwj0fXpxLHlT4Z5wh_eRmD-6PxU_DFWFDXxAIEgffwh3XA2PQk13Q42ciR7Y2_lPzs_tpCZRNCKQDbnYn63dUw/s320/ruth+asleep.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Brian carried her into the house sound asleep and laid her in bed where I think she sleep till morning. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Sweet Dreams my Caribbean Princess!!</div>Shine Like Starshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10459451229509639397noreply@blogger.com4