isn't this beautiful?

I was folding laundry today.
Piles for five kids...

 

(been doing a little garage sale-ing and thrift shopping - explaining why Abe already has a pile!)

oh MY!!!

Did I *really* do this???

 

First - Kim - yes, I KNOW this looks worse than Nolan's long hair :)

Second - it isn't going to look this way for long. I promise. He looks like too much of a hoodlum!

Third - I am getting ready to go to the grocery store and I am already second guessing taking this kid in public.

Fourth - he said "yeah, we have to shave it off before Sunday, because I can't have a mohawk at church!" At least he knows that :)

Fifth - well... Does it *really* matter? If you know Austin, you know he is the softest, most tender hearted little boy in the world and that this stereotype of a hoodlum isn't true. I was cutting hair last night (Chris and Austin) and Austin said "can I have a silly haircut for a few days?" I didn't have a good reason to tell him "no". It IS summer.

A prayer request for my friend Connie (who's coming to China with me) - he daddy is dying. SHe was on her way to be with him last night and he wasn't expected to make it through the night. I don't know if he went to be with Jesus already or not, but would you just pray for her and her kids?

driving to China

So.
Amy says to Anna this morning - "Anna, get your shoes on. Let's drive to China and get Abraham."
I SOOOOOO wish it was that easy.
I told her that.
"I know it take a long time. But we just need to go get him."

 

Ginger was barking at something today. I looked out the window and Austin was outside with Moby (we are dog sitting) and Ginger and the were looking at an ominous, black mass...
UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Chris wisked into action and saved his family from the terror...

sooooooooooo EXCITED!!!

I just couldn't wait to share this!

I have been looking for a rather large piece of artwork to hang on our kitchen wall. At first I thought about a picture. Couldn't find one that I liked.

Then I went to a really cool home party that has expressions that you can put on your walls. I loved them and bought a great picture for the master bath (which I am painting right now and will post pics of soon), but I didn't see anything that really caught my eye for the kitchen.

My decorating right now really is focused on our identity as a family. Our mission. Our life.

I needed something cutsom.

I saw that Jody and Andy had an awesome decal made for their family.

I am such a copycat. :)

I contacted Elephannie who has an Etsy shop and gave her my idea...

I could have never imagined she would come up with THIS!!!

 

It will be here soon and I will photograph it on the wall and post it. I can't wait.

It's perfect.

Jiang, Too

That's her AKC name...
We call her "JiJi".
We like her a lot.
Here's some new pics (for those who have asked)...

 

 

 

my favorite children's book and the winner!!!

My favorite children's book is Fox in Socks

This book just makes Amy laugh and laugh! Especially the Tweedle Beetle Battle at the end. I fell in love with the book in college during a "Late Night" skit night. A couple of guys at Vennard did a rap (it WAS the 90's!) to Fox in Socks and it was HILARIOUS! I really like anything Dr. Seuss.

Austin helped me draw a winner tonight and he drew #9... and that number aligns with the comment from my favorite momma to almost 5 chicks...
Laura!!!
Yes - she's my sis in law, but it wasn't rigged - I promise!

Thanks for "playing" my game. It was fun. Maybe we can play again sometime...

no lazy saturday this week...

Lots of yard work today. Lots of backyard yard work.
The yard is awesome, but the backyard had lots of visual obstructions and it is a little stressful to let the girls play on the swingset without being RIGHT there with them. There *was* a hedge between the house and the swingset; it is GONE!!!

 

Chris taking out the hedge as the girls cover their ears :)

 

Almost done...

Next week we are fencing in a "safe" area of the backyard. Peace of mind for us with the littles. Just a chain link (so we can see through it if we are hanging laundry or mowing). Perfect...

Thanks for entering the give away!!! Keep it up!

give away!

I just feel like giving something away!

I saw this book

about a month after I got home with Anna and KNEW it was too soon to buy it, but mentally made note of it. Last week I ordered TWO copies of it and decided to give one away on my blog.

It is such a sweet little story for any Momma Hen to read to her peep.

So - here's what you do...
leave a comment. You gotta. De-lurk if you must :) Register for a google account if you haven't and leave a comment.

Tell me what your favorite children's book is.

And PLEASE...
link me on your blog. This giveaway is open to ANYONE!

I will have my kids draw a number (assigned in order to the comments) on Monday night.

I have recently started moderating my comments, so you may not see your comment appear immediately, but it will appear.

I think that's all for now.
Have a great day! I am off to pick up Ash and Austin from camp and can't wait to see them!!!

tagged by Laura

My sweet sis in law Laura tagged me :)

-Favorite person: I think it's still Chris - but we haven't really spent a lot of time together lately :)

-Favorite food: smores!

-Quirk about me: I have a certain way of hanging laundry on the clothesline and it bothers me if it's not perfect.

-How would the person who loves you the most describe you in ten words or less? My hubby actually did this several months ago and he did it in one word (but it's actually a few): Proverbs 31. I think it's a stretch - for sure! - but I am answering the question.

-Any regrets in life? Read it for what it's worth (and it should show that I live with few regrets...): that I didn't get a tatoo when I was younger and "stupider" because I am way too mature and logical to do it now :)

-What can you NOT live without? coffee. I've tried. It isn't pretty.

-Favorite blog: This one I don't know this mom, but she is amazing and I am inspired...

-Something you can't get enough of: watching my kids play together

-Worst job you ever had: Why can't I think of something???

-What job would you pay not to have? Any of Mike Rowe's jobs

-If you could be a fly on the wall anywhere, where would it be? The CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs)

-Favorite Bible verse: Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently on him."

-Guilty pleasure: smores :)

-Got any confessions: I would rather let my my kids have their own way than discipline them or tell them "no" - but I know that my kids would be brats if I let them have their own way all of the time.

-If you had $1000 to spend on YOURSELF, what would you spend it on? a new laptop

-Favorite thing about your house: it's "home"

-Least favorite thing: That big, nasty spider Chris found the other day.

-One thing you are bad at: Waiting.

-If you could change one thing about your current circumstances, what would it be? I think I would want to know WHEN we were traveling to China; not necessarily make it right now, but just to know.

-Who would you like to meet someday? The little girl in Guiyang, China that Chris and I fell in love with back in 2005.

-What makes you feel sexy? When Chris tells me I am.

-Who is your real life hero? I think it's Pastor Dave. I have so much respect for his advice and opinion. I have watched him lead our church through some pretty major changes over the past 5 years and he has led with a balance of grace and truth.

-What is the hardest part of your job? Being patient.

-When are you most relaxed? In the morning when I am drinking my first cup of coffee, before anyone else is awake.

-What stresses you out? Constantly correcting toddlers for the same thing - over and over. Did I mention it would be easier to let them have their own way?

-Favorite quote: “No resume can predict why a man or a woman,at a safe distance from a crisis, suddenly announces, “This is my fight.”
(Greene)

-Why do you blog? I think it's a great opportunity to share my ongoing testimony with others; some that I will never know.

-Who are you tagging? Pam and Connie

i can't control the length of the wait, but i can control the depth...

profound.

a few liberties taken with the original quote :)

PA and DTC today!!!

Our pre-approval came today!!!
And we should be "dossier to China" today, too!
SO...
meet our son
Abraham Caleb

 

 

 

I can't wait to kiss those cheeks...
and I am thinking there are certainly some rolls on those little legs...

Isn't he amazing?

Surely in that cloudly sky today, there is a "cloud nine"...

*mondays*

Mondays used to me such a great day for me! I used to get so much done on Monday mornings. Lately though - I just feel lazy.
We had a rough night around here last night. Amy isn't feeling super well and was up really late. Then they were up really early. Not such a pretty combo...
And it's raining today.
A lot.
Pouring.
I just barely am out of the shower and am sitting in my chair - sipping a third cup of coffee :) - and Amy says "Momma - I am bored without my brother and sister". (Ash and Austin left for camp yesterday).
So this is what our morning looks like...



Can I just say that I already missed them last night? I have been home with them all day - every day - for over a year (with the exception of China) and I had the realization yesterday that I am going to miss them like crazy when they head back to school in the fall.
I won't be bored.
There will be a 4, 3 and 1 year old running around and keeping me on my toes.
But there is just a different dynamic around here without Ashleigh leaping through the living room or Austin singing "Sunshine of Your Love" (too much Guitar Hero...). I have the best bigs on the planet...

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!!!
I have been blessed by some pretty amazing fathers that God has allowed to be part of my life...

My husband...

 

This man is amazing. He has taught me so much about patience with these blessings. He has shown me how to have fun with my kids and live in the moment we have right now. I have said it before - and I will say it again - I am so thankful that when I was young and stupid, God knew what would attract me to this man as a teenager and he knew the kind of husband and father he would be today.

A lot of who my husband is today is because of this man...

 

I am thankful for the example Chris's dad gave him to be the provider for his family and a lover of his wife.

And THIS guy...

 

well - he's my Dad (hidden among 10 of his soon to be 13 grandkids!). He has always supported me, always encouraged me and always cheered me on. I was an only daughter and I am SOOOO glad I didn't have to share the daddy/daughter bond...

Some people only get two dads (a dad and a father-in-law), but some people are blessed enough to have an "extra" dad...

 

and here's mine. TJ has been my step-dad for over 20 years. Lucky him - he got me right as I was entering my teenage years! Can you imagine a worse time to become a dad?! It was hard to find a picture of TJ because he is always serving and rarely sitting still.

Thank you to all these special dads in my life. You are amazing and you are loved.

(and - I happen to have two "little" brothers that are pretty amazing dads, too! Adam has four children and a fifth on the way - while he attends dental school! Christopher has two adorably sweet little boys and another little man on the way. I am proud of you two!)

controlling chaos

That's my job. Just controlling the chaos. Four (almost five!) kids means a lot of chaos.
Please hear me, though.
It isn't without it's tender moments.
And as I was ready to drift off to sleep, I thought that I should blog this.
Anna is teething. She is hurting pretty bad.
She woke up after finally falling asleep.
Crying.
I went up, snatched her into my arms and she stopped.
I sat with her.
30 minutes.
Sigh.
Limp.
Relaxed.
Sleeping soundly.
Could this little girl

 

be the same little girl that fell down the stairs a week after we came home from China and wouldn't let me even pick her up to comfort her?
It's amazing.
Seriously.

answered prayer!

I love God's sense of humor! He indeed must have one in order to be so patient with me.
I honestly couldn't imagine WHY I got two "no" answers (no guilt intended to the two that said no...). I had a short list of people and was nearly ready to move onto the next person. But maybe Chris should go? Chris and I prayed about that a LOT this week - as well as reasoned through the logistics of him coming with me. No equation made sense if it involved Chris going to China.
Then I got a call...
Thursday a very good friend called me and said "Was I one of the ones that told you no?" Hmmmm. "Because I told you I would go with you!". Hmmmm. She did say that, didn't she?! Was the reason I got two nos, followed by a need for prayer and leading because I totally forgot this person had offered to go? Otherwise I would have just gone to the next person on my list. That wouldn't have been a bad choice at all, but probably not the BEST choice.
This friend is a mom of 6 kids! Three of them adopted from China - so she has been through three very unique "gotchas" and knows that these little ones can show a range of emotions, personalities and such.
I am SO excited that Connie is going to go with me to China! I think she will be a great travel buddy and encourager. I know that IF the going gets tough, Connie will be on her knees praying.
Thank you Clayton and kids for your willingness to "loan" me your wife and mother for a week. It is a precious gift and WE are soooooo very thankful.

treat Dad to a Frosty!

Another great way to help a child find a forever family...
We love Frosties at Wendy's.
Saturday and Sunday you can join us (not literally) for a Frosty at Wendy's and Wendy's will donate $.50 per Frosty to the Dave Thomas Foundation.

You can get more info here

would you pray with us?

Nothing super urgent, but it is super important.
While we were still in the "hmmm... maybe we should start thinking about adopting again" stage, we made the decision that Chris would not go to China this time at all. That meant we needed a friend to travel with me. It needs to be an adult. We actually decided that two friends - kinda "tag teaming" might be best.
I have one friend already who said "yes", but we are having a hard time finding someone else. Now before you go volunteering :) please know that we have people in mind already.
The thing is - if two people have already said "no" - we are wondering if this isn't the best plan. Maybe Chris is supposed to go for half the time? Maybe for the whole trip? Maybe we all go?
So here is my two part prayer request...
Would you pray that God will show us HIS plan?
And
IF his plan involved everyone going (crazy as it seems!), that he would provide abundantly for the overwhelming financial cost?

(Now might be a great time to mention that we are going to be fundraising for this adoption in the near future. We are planning a blog auction to take place during the Olympics and maybe a handmade craft of some sort for sale.)

Thanks for praying. We'll keep you updated.
And
still no PA for Abraham. It will come.
:)

the visitor

Another lazy night at home. I love them. The kids aren't playing ball this summer, taking lessons or much else except being home and enjoying family. It's a great thing. The two big kids are heading off to camp next week - all week - but that is the highlight of their summer. I haven't really heard the "b" word yet, though (bored).
The littles wanted to jump on the trampoline last night.
Anna isn't so good at "staying in the middle", so we all joined them...

 

There's a freaky Frank Peretti book called "The Visitor" and I am not sure what it's about, but maybe it's about THIS little guy...

 

now - for some perspective...

 

he really isn't THAT LITTLE!!!
Ugh!
Chris ran out to the barn last night to grab a nut (for a screw) and was greeted by this lovely visitor. Ummmm. Wow. I guess that is just another benefit of the country life. I hope that thing serves some greater purpose, because if it's just to scare the pee out of me, then that isn't good enough!

a great day!

We had a wonderful Saturday at home today. Well, mostly at home. We did run "into town" for lunch and ran into some old friends. It was a great reward for actually eating at home almost exclusively this week! Granted - it was only McDonalds, but it was still fun for the kids. The friends we ran into saw our food on two trays (we were still at the counter when we ran into them) and the wife said "Wow - the amount of food is impressive!" LOL!!! And we don't even have a teenage boy yet or our fifth child!

We enjoyed an afternoon and evening in the quiet of our yard. We filled up the little wading pool

 

and Chris set up his early Father's Day present

 

We roasted hot dogs for supper and then played "some-more" and then made some smores!

 

We are finishing off the day on the deck off our bedroom. The kids are all in bed and there is a wedding next door. Actually - the bride and groom just rode by in a horse drawn carriage... Wow.

Good night. Have a wonderful Sunday!

time out!

Yesterday - Momma needed a time out. So I took it. Just me, my Diet Mountain Dew (with an energy booster and alertness booster added!), my Kit Kat, Country Living and "Let the Nations Be Glad". It was an awesome time to relax - for maybe the first time all week...

 

So, it's another lazy Saturday morning and I find myself very nostalgic. As I read about little Zeke and Kora , I can't help but think of how the Father did for Amy and Anna what he has done for these two precious little ones. It is just an amazing thing to see a child placed into a family. It isn't always pretty, but it is always a miracle. Always reason to praise the Father for his amazing love.

We received an email yesterday late afternoon from our adoption agency. Kathy was sharing an urgent need for a family that received approval to adopt this beautfiul 13 year old from China. She turns 14 on June 19 - and would no longer be adoptable after that date (according to Chinese adoption law). They were planning to sell a truck to finance the remaining adoption expenses, but the truck was not selling. They literally have to leave on Thursday to get their daughter or she will not be adopted. They still needed $9,000. An email went out. It was forwarded onto many, many people. Shortly after midnight, all the expenses were covered! What an AMAZING opportunity for people to gather around a family in need and provide EVERY dime they would need! The adoption story this girl will have to share someday...

We are still awaiting our PA (pre-approval), so I still cannot share pictures :( I should say that he is ABSOLUTLEY beautiful and I am pretty smitten. He is chubby faced and has an amazing little mouth.

Our postplacement for Anna was postponed until next week because of the weather Thursday night. It's all for the best anyway because Momma was a little spent and the kids (all four of them) were acting less than "good". It HAD to be the barometric pressure or something, because I have never had all four of them have such an off day at the same time before. Gail called me twice that day. The first time I kept apologizing for the kids in the background. Fighting. Whining. Crying. Screaming. It was funny and it was appalling - all in one.

Our senior high youth group left on a summer missions trip this morning. Please pray for their safety in travels. Lots of people I love are on this trip!

Trying to think if there is anything else...
Nope.

playing outside

The bigs just don't do as many cute things as the littles do. They would just be annoyed if I sat with camera in hand and watched them play and took pictures constantly. The littles either:

a)play to the camera thinking it's their own personal photo session

 

or
b)completely ignore the camera and play as if no one is trying to get their attention

 

We have been outside a lot lately and that is a GREAT thing! Today it is very hot (I think it's supposed to be 96 today!) and we needed to make a Target run this morning to get some water fun equipment. The bigs got a double slip n slide and the littles got a really cute sprinkler. Amy was misbehaving HORRIBLY today and I threatened her with loss of water time after happy nappy. It worked. :)

Potty training of "man and beast" (or "little girl and puppy") is going as well as can be expected. Little bit stressful... This too shall pass. I think we will again have a few "diaper free" months before we bring Abe home and start it all again.

We have Anna's 1 year post placement visit scheduled for tomorrow night. It has only been 11 months, but we need to get it written and submitted to Small World, so they can get it to China by 1 year. I am reminded almost daily of how much Miss Anna has changed, grown and learned to love and trust in the past 11 months. I promise that even 5 months ago I had resolved that if she never really knows how to love and trust us that we are still blessed to know her and love her. She is an amazing little girl that is THE funniest and silliest two year old I have ever known! She not only allows us to love her, but she also loves us back. She is a miracle and God is amazing.

Can't wait to see what He is going to do in Abraham...

jody and andy

I think it is safe to say that our China trips look like vacations compared to the adventure that Jody and Andy are on right now! They have their babies and they are just the most beautiful little ones! Well, I am a little partial to my own, but these are the two most adorable children after my own that I have ever seen. It's amazing to me how much more beautiful they are after I have prayed for them so much and so long. I may never even meet them, and yet prayer has knit my heart to them very tightly.
I know some of my friends want to follow along an an African adventure - so here is the link to their blog. She is a very, very gifted writer!