Ethiopian Adoption: Why Ethiopia?

Oh my.  If this doesn't tug at your heart, I'm not sure what will.  We look forward to the honor of giving one (or more) of these beautiful children a forever family.  How amazing is the love our Father lavishes on us!

Tyler Turns 9

I'm amazed at the truth...time does have wings!  How can it be that our baby boy is nine years old already?  As much as a I love each stage of their growth and development, and I love being able to communicate with my children who are actually little human beings, I also get nostalgic about their younger days.

We celebrated at the park this year.  It was a gorgeous 72 degree "winter" day, and everyone had a great time.  I love to see my kids playing and spending time with their friends.

We had to do the whole "blowing out the candles" thing twice.  Daddy forgot to video tape the first run-through.

Our Sweet Zaiden getting so big!

Of course, there had to be some tragedy at the party.  It's a good thing that there were engineers there.  The guys put their heads (and throwing arms) together to figure out a way to get the football to float back to the edge of the pond.  Pretty exciting stuff.  I think they all felt they wouldn't be missed if they didn't attend, but more than that...they were needed!  Thank God for quick-thinking daddies!

Casey, Hannah, Zaiden, Rhyan, Dyami, Trey, Isiah, Trevor, Wyatt, and Ty.

Nana surprises Ty with a kiss goodbye.

Our Christmas Slide Show

This was a fun way to include several photos from the last few months. We hope everyone had a very blessed Christmas! (Click on this text to see slideshow.)

Schooling at home...and while asleep!

How would you feel if you got out of the shower at 7:30 a.m., and found your 8 year-old son with his grammar book open and ready to be tackled...without you even asking?!?!  First of all, I can't remember why I was up and showered that early.  It must have been a rehearsal or errand-running day.  Second, my poor son was still sleepy, so his grammar book was open and ready, but I'm not sure who or what was doing the tackling!  He wanted to get some work done and please his mama.  Bless his sweet heart!

Day at the Zoo, December 10, 2010

  I actually caught them with natural smiles!

                                             

Aslan?

I think Ty belongs in Monkey Village!

Rhyan is looking so much "older".

We had a great day!  The weather was perfect, and it wasn't crowded at all.

He's Home!

Not much to share tonight, except...Paul is home!  He's been working in California since the middle of September.  Our faithful and ever-loving God saw favor on our family and blessed Paul with a job here in Chandler, Arizona!  Woohoo!  We don't have to uproot.  We don't have to drive hundreds of miles away.  We are blessed beyond measure!  Now begins a new chapter for our family.  Only the good Lord knows what our future holds, but I have no worries or concerns.  His plans for us are good, because we are called according to His will, and we love Him, and He loves us with an everlasting love.

Yes I have loved you with an everlasting love.
Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you.
   Jeremiah 31:3

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God
to those who are the called according to His purpose.
   Romans 8:28

He Gathers His Lambs

Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting with a mom's group that has so blessed my life.  I meet once a month with amazing women in a prayer and fellowship group called "Homeschooling by Grace".  I can't even begin to explain the richness and humility I experience with these ladies.  Part of our time yesterday was spent reading and discussing Isaiah 52: 1-12.  Here are verses 9 and 10:   
⁹Break forth, shout joyfully together,
         You waste places of Jerusalem;
         For the LORD has comforted His people,
         He has redeemed Jerusalem.
    ¹⁰The LORD has bared His holy arm
         In the sight of all the nations,
         That all the ends of the earth may see
         The salvation of our God.

We spent a lot of time sharing our thoughts on the meaning of God's holy arm and His right hand.  There are many places in scripture where God reminds us of not only the strength and mighty power of His arm and right hand, but also the comfort that He gives us by drawing us near.  He gathers us with His holy arm.  He gathers His flock.  We are His lambs; His children whom He loves with a love we can't even begin to comprehend. 

This has remained on my heart for two days now.  It has brought to light even more a voice I believe is the Lord's calling us to grow His flock.  Not too long ago, I finished reading a book called Adopted for Life, by Russell D. Moore.  Paul and I have talked about, prayed about and pondered the possibility of adopting a child or children into our family.  At the beginning of our marriage, we had a vision of several children prancing about our home.  We have two amazing blessings, and I keep getting closer to the place of feeling that our family can grow with even more blessings, and be an instrument in growing God's family at the same time.  I'm truly not sure yet that this is what God has for us.  I'm praying a lot, and I am researching, and reading.

Lately, I can't help but see what I think might be signs from God that adopting might be in His plans for us.  I even feel that bringing us to our new church home may be part of this journey.  We are blessed to know two families from church who have adopted beautiful children from China and Africa.  Another family has been on the same path that we are, in terms of researching and preparing spiritually and emotionally for adoption.  After all, we are all adopted into the family of Christ.  We should all have a heart for adoption in some way, shape, or form.  Evident Life adopted us into their family without a bat of an eye.  Our church is beyond doubt a church with a heart for adoption.

God is so good, and has recently brought us through stormy seas.  We sold our home through a short sale, because Paul had been a "casualty" of the faltering economy.  God sustained us and abundantly provided for us, and we are not homeless.  Nor do we lack for food, warmth, or comfort.  The Lord has provided a new job for Paul, and a fresh start for our family.  How can I not want to bring another of God's lambs into the joy and mercy that has been shown to us?  How can I not want to raise another child to know and commune with the Lord?!?!

I pray that Paul and I truly surrender to God, and that we are still, so that we can listen to His voice.  He will let us know where to go next.