Busy.

Things have been busy at our house. Every time I think of something heartfelt, societally deep or just plain wonderful to write about, I am instead overcome with packing a box. Last year we felt the Lord impress upon our hearts to sell our house and be freed from mortgage debt. We are still living in the same house with the same FSBO sign in the front yard. Recently, we hired a realtor who holds to the same biblical convictions our family holds. He has had us busy moving furniture, packing up the needless things, painting our door red and basically making our home look like there are not seven people who live here. He understands the work involved as he has 8 children of his own. That is to say his desires for us were not stated out of an overwhelmingly ridiculous, unattainable, childless self-living standard. So, we have worked. We have slowly moved things to our rental storage unit, forcing us to continually evaluate whether or not something is really worth paying a storage fee. We have accumulated 15 years worth of stuff. We have been pretty faithful to weed out as the years have sped by knowing that it is all gonna burn one day anyway. However, things are expensive to replace. It is a game. A dance. The memorabilia, the needed. We are taking the next few days off. Our tree is up, gifts have accumulated (all things that will work well after our house is sold), meals are planned and family is beginning to arrive this evening. We will celebrate. As Peter was called in to work this morning and will be gone for the next several days, we will celebrate Christmas with our children on Monday morning. I was going to try to write a bit more but I am needed. Daniel needs me to fix his horizontal stabilizers on his paper airplane.

TSA Inspiration

Kid Quote

It's been a while since I've posted a kid quote. We are a fairly health conscious family. I mill my own grain, we buy all our meat from Polyface Farms and we try to eat our daily veggies raw. The kids are getting a fantastic education when it comes to where our food comes from and why we eat what we eat. However, if I am really honest, none of us can really refuse a Snickers bar and my birthday dessert consisted of both a triple chocolate cake (thanks Dad!) and a Cold Stone ice cream cake (thanks Mom!). So as not to confuse you; my parents are still happily married after 38 years. They just happen to know I like chocolate and double dipped on cake! My faithful husband supplied the pizza in abundance (thanks Husband!). This has turned into quite an introduction for today's quote. So, here it is, as stated by 6yo Daniel.

Mom: Wow, that is a lot of people going to McDonald's.

Daniel: Those people are gonna die in a minute!


Well, at least we didn't eat at McDonald's for my birthday meal, ahem.

Veteran's Day.

Like your freedom?

Freedom to worship as you wish-
Freedom of speech-
Freedom to walk into the grocery store and buy what you need-

Freedom, I like it.

If you do...

Thank a veteran.

You wouldn't have it without them!


As for me, I will be kissing one who has been gone far too many days this month!

Look who turned 6.

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday Dear....guess who!
Happy Birthday to you!

Our sweet boy, Daniel, wanted another dinosaur birthday celebration this year.
He has had these dinosaurs surrounding him every night since his big day.

The look of surprise. I love it. So genuine.

Precious big boy hands can just barely hold the box.

I think of Daniel and I tear up.
I am so blessed that the Lord chose me to be his Mom.
Oh God, Thank you!

Happy Birthday, Precious Boy!
We love you,
Daddy and Mommy

Bookends.

Bookends come in all shapes and sizes. We have a set of long ago used tail hooks from two F-14's that my husband flew. They have been moved from house to house and moved throughout each house trying to find a nice resting place. They have been my most memorable bookends, holding up large books about F-14's, Naval Aviation, F-18's and any other book we have related to the military. Although they are my bookends which escort me down military memory lane, they were only my most memorable until this week. This week my sister in law visited with her three children. Peter was out of town so the children and I journeyed to the airport to bring them home. As we arrived home one of my children, obviously disregarding my instruction to bring everything from the car into the house, made a run for the door and threw up all over the front door mat. Oh! So, you weren't disobeying! I spent the next several minutes hosing down my porch to make it passable for my waiting extended family who had been patiently standing with their luggage near-the-of-the-driveway. Welcome to my home, I announced as they made their way to the now clean door. I was positive that this particular child had just had something bad to eat as they felt better almost immediately. My sister in law got settled as I made the other child ready for bed. Said child came down the stairs, laid on the couch and all of the sudden made a dash for the bathroom and threw up in virtually every direction while I yelled for paper towels, Windex and Clorox Wipes. I will spare you the rest of the details, but suffice it to say that I had to strip my bed and I was up every hour on the hour until 2 am. The next day all was well, must have been food poisoning. We had a great time with the cousins and were able to have my brother in laws kids over to play as well. We continued the next day with a big field trip and all was still well. I was even more convinced it was just food poisoning. For the next few days all-was-still-well. We did a big family field trip to our nations capitol and hit Five Guys for dinner. And then it happened. My sister in law was leaving the next day to fly home. We had enjoyed a wonderful week together. I was so happy it had just been food poisoning! No. That night found two of her children ill and the following day found one more of mine not well. The rest of mine had stomach aches, so I deprived them of their normal food intake, warning them that it was for their own good. We have, so far managed to have only two throw up. (And there was great rejoicing!) My sister in law, however, made it all the way home with two having gotten sick here and the rest of their family becoming ill at home. Bookends. My very memorable bookends. I am so grateful that God gave us gorgeous weather, healthy children and time to talk throughout the week. We miss you and hope you are feeling better today!

It happened.

It happened! It actually happened! Every once in a while you think, well, maybe it might. Just maybe. And then you think oh no, what if it does? What if it does happen? Maybe I should delete it. Maybe I should stop now. No, it's my choice, it's me, it's part of my ministry. It's part of my life and part of who I am and I want to use it to glorify God. In all ways I want it to glorify Him. And I want to be able to share what He has done. For He has done great things! I want to be able to show that children, hurting children, are adoptable and although it may not be the "normal life" that was previously hoped for, it's the life He wants for me and it is being used to shape me, mold us, and to once again totally glorify Him. It becomes an amazing journey, one hoped for and desired. That desire becomes so strong that you don't want to stop, you want to adopt more, for His glory, and you want to tell everyone about it and how good it can be. So I keep writing and I think, maybe it will happen. And then it does. You are worshipping at a new place and someone looks at you like they know you. You rack your brain as to whether or not you should know that person, they sure seem nice. Then, they come up to you eager to introduce themselves and smiling, announce they read your blog! Then you are grateful. Amazed. Humbled. You are glad you keep writing. You get a renewed sense of purpose and hope for great things to write about in the future. And you hope for a few minutes here and there to actually say the things on your heart. So, to my new friend Brandi--Thanks for reading and thanks for extending your friendship! I look forward to getting to know you more. And to the rest of you out there (because now I just know there are thousands;) I look forward to meeting you one day should the Lord provide the opportunity.

Bounty.

We took the children for a 20 minute fishing trip last night. It turned into an hour and a half as we were with friends that we rarely see. Peter brought his new cast net and God brought a bounty of fish directly to him as He waited on the pier.
The children (and the adults) stood amazed.

Living for Him.

We are reading through the Bible as a family for the second time. Last year we read straight through. It was the first time my husband and I had both read through from cover to cover. We have both been Christians for a long time, but had only ever read a book here or a chapter there. It was such a different experience to read straight through and to share that with our children was a very powerful thing. We have wondered, since we finished, how many people in our church have read the entire Word of God. We are giving our children an incredible gift of biblical knowledge that we hope and pray will be heart knowledge as well. I stand amazed at how much they have taken in and how much they can recollect.

Our reading yesterday was from the book of 2nd Kings chapters 22 and 23 where Josiah reads the Law of Moses. He rents his clothing due to his sorrow at having disobeyed God as well as understanding that his forefathers had completely abandoned what God had told them. Josiah tries to honor God by tearing down idols, killing idolatrous priests, tearing down the high places, and cutting down groves. He then holds a Passover as had never been seen during the reign of the kings of Judah nor Israel. Verse 25 tells us,

"And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him."

It is heart breaking to read through the kings and see opportunity lost, defilement, and when a king decides to tear down an idol yet leaves up the high places and the asherah poles. I am reminded of how simple we are as we try to live for God. Today's Christian accepts a feel-good, watered down, simplified version of the Holy One and the Bible. We have exchanged the truth for a lie. Romans 1:22-25,

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beast, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

We have prayed that the Lord would show us the high places, the idols, and the asherah poles in our lives so that we may tear them down for His glory, not to seek salvation through a set of rules, but to love Him, to honor Him and to walk humbly with Him. As though we didn't already draw attention just being the family the Lord has made us, now we are setting different standards for modesty, movie watching, sheltering of our children, teaching to serve, standing for truth, and going against the flow of societal and even Christian norms. We don't want diet Christianity. The importance of knowing God and His Word is the absolute. Don't those all sound like good things? But when they challenge a friend, or make someone feel judged just by being near us, even though these are our convictions, our standards, our choices and not imposed on anyone else, that is when it becomes a testing ground. That is when it becomes hard. That is when we remember: Who are we trying to live for? Who are we trying to please? Colossians 3:22-24,

"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

We know we live to serve God. That we, like Josiah, would love Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might and that our lives would be a testimony to His faithfulness, His love, and His grace...that is my prayer, that is my hearts desire.

The last week of summer vacation.

The kids and I have been tackling a big item every day this week. It feels so good to get things cleaned up, organized, dusted and painted.

Monday--Finished sanding and painting the old blue chairs. They are now a nice flat black and will look great on the porch. We also sanded the rest of the deck and will seal it when the rain stops falling. Peter and the boys worked on what Peter calls the workout room (I call it the laundry room :). Things are looking good on the shelves and off the floor. Lovin' it.

Tuesday--The playroom overhaul. We were able to get rid of three bags of toys for giveaway and one of trash. We also pulled up the old car play rug and took it right to the curb. No more old rubber backing dissolving on my floor! They worked hard and were generous with their giving. I rewarded them with pizza for lunch. We all sat in the newly cleaned/organized playroom, snuggled around the boys little table, ate our pizza, and enjoyed "bubble water."

Wednesday--We tackled the pantry. The kids got into sorting like things to put back on shelves, read dates to make sure they should even go back in there, and enjoyed many still-good surprise snacks that had somehow made their way to the far reaches.

Tomorrow we unload the boys dressers and break down their captains beds. I sure hope my vacuum is in perfect working order for all the dust that is gonna fly. Pete has been gone for a couple days but will be home to help with this big chore. I have a feeling a little fishing and swimming will be on the agenda for tomorrow after Daddy is home again.

Friday we buy the boys their new beds. We are headed to Ikea. Ya know, the place where you really need one of everything?

So, that is how we have been spending our "last real week of summer vacation." Of course we homeschool pretty much year round as that is what works for us and Peter's ever-changing schedule.

June-July 2010 Summer so-far Whirlwind

June and July have had us traveling quite a bit. It seems we get home, Peter leaves for work, kids and I regroup, do laundry, etc and then we either meet Peter at the airport for another trip or have the trailer ready to go as soon as he is home. It has been this way since the beginning of June. We are blessed to be able to travel during the days in between his working, though I must say we are all wearing a bit thin. Peter and I laugh at ourselves as we just keep on going! However, tomorrow, we nap.

Ashley rescues chipmunk from Uncle Jim and Aunt Carol's pool.
Brave girl!
Then it bites her. This is how the trip began!

Who didn't shut the frig door before we drove away? Nothing like milk all over the floor and having to deal with those stinky clean up towels for the remainder of the drive! ;)

Can you smell the chocolate yet?!
Hershey Park
Need I say more?

"Come on kids! Come one! This is Mommy's favorite ride from when she was little!"

Yep, almost 30 years later and I still dream about swimming in the chocolate vat.
Ummm--Yum!

Some fantastic camp site somewhere between Hershey Park, PA and The Creation Museum. We stopped here for the night as we were so tired. It turned out to be a great park. The children were fascinated with the abundance of skunks!

A Zorse and a Zonkey

What did you read today? This skeleton read John 3:16.

We were going, going and Daniel was gone! We had been running at full speed and he just couldn't wake up for fishing. I was able to make him stir just enough to get some yogurt down and pjs on, then right back to bed. He slept through the night 5:30pm-morning. Fyi, he is 5!

Next day fishing before heading back to the Creation Museum.

Show us your scared face.

On our way towards Western Maryland we decided Bob's Big Boy would hit the spot. We had never taken the children to one, yet we had both been there as children. We arrived only to discover this place is called Frisch's Big Boy--with the same picture out front and same motif inside. The servers had never even heard of Bob's Big Boy. We thought that was pretty weird. I mean weren't Bob and Frisch at least brothers--cousins--estranged 5th cousins?

Ahhh, Western Maryland and a sweet visit with cousins. We went hiking.

The fabulous cousins.

Isn't God so creative?
In our culture we tend to praise the creation over the Creator.
Look at what He made for us to enjoy.
If we do not praise Him, the rocks will cry out. (Luke 19:40)

Fishing with the cousins at the spring fed lake on their neighbors organic co-op.
Coooollllddd.

These two are almost exactly a year apart.
Daniel loves his big cousin.

Peter cleaned 30+ fish and to our dismay we did not get a picture of cousin Kim pan frying the whole lot of them. She is an excellent cook and we enjoyed every bite.

The next week the cousins came our way and we all enjoyed playing together at my parents pool. We never get enough time together when they are out our way. I guess another trip to Western Maryland is in order!
End June

We do not have enough pictures of the end of June and beginning of July. We took at trip to CA to visit more family and cousins whom we had not seen in three years. It was a wonderful trip and as usual we can't get enough of being with them.

Then it was off to San Antonio, Texas for the Baby Conference. We met up with several friends and made even more. The conference dealt a lot with adoption (which you may have noticed we have a connection with!:). We enjoyed hearing the latest on how adoptions are proceeding in Haiti as well as personal experiences from a panel of adoptive parents. It was a blessing to be with so many people who see children as a true blessing from the Lord. The average family size was 7 children. When the conference was over we hit The Alamo!

The Alamo!

The Nashville airport is so cool.
Seriously, where else has five drinking fountains of differing heights?
All perfectly sized for my kids!
We actually got stuck here on our way home this week as the storms had grounded the planes. Besides having fantastic drinking fountains, they also have a kids play area for the under 42 inch crowd. We were not the only family letting our kids run around in the play area at midnight.

We arrived home on Tuesday morning at 5am and finally went to bed. We are still getting back on schedule. I have been a bit tired this week, so please forgive any typos. I would usually re-re-re-re-read to make sure they were not there as I do not want to give homeschooling Mom's a bad name.
Ya know: "See, look at her grammar! And she thinks she can teach her kids!"

Our little Abi

May 28th was Abigail's 10th birthday!
We had a small party (of course we double any typical party and bring our own fun!)
with just the 7 of us and my parents.
We enjoyed a yummy meal of Japanese Hibachi--always a favorite with this crew!

A-adorable smile
B-bubbly personality
I-incredible joy
G-giddy
A-able to achieve
I-intonation in song
L-laughing little lady

Her new Little House bonnet from Papa and Gramommy.
Don't let the balloon topper fool you!
(Not pictured: her new 18 inch doll)

She was happy to get a horse for her doll.

Her new blanket sewed lovingly from Grandpa and Oma.

Enjoying smores on our first camping trip.

Abi-You really are full of life! We love you and look forward to watching you continue to grow in the Lord as you fully enjoy His journey.

xoxo, Daddy and Moma