My Cup Runneth Over

Snow one week, warm sunshine the next...I LOVE fall!

Just over a week ago we had 15 inches of snow - it was fabulous! It's always exciting when there is at least enough snow on the ground to play in and when this storm brought enough to cancel sevearl activities - even the kids' CHESS classes - we all got excited about a true "snow day"! (We've always told our kids that when the snow is so deep they can't make it to the table - we'll cancel homeschool for the day! Ha! No - in reality - we often take the morning or afternoon off to go sledding or play in it.)  The snow came to the mountains a few days before we got the big storm. This is the view from our deck - gorgeous indeed.

 
  
 

 

But, I wasn't quite ready to give up on having some more warm fall days - much as I LOVE summer, winter and spring - all three, fall is truly my favorite season! So, I was thrilled when the temps warmed back up and the past couple of days it was 70-80 degrees! I love to be outside soaking up the sun - feels like an extra gift during this time of the year. We met friends at the park the other day and I was really ready to pack up and go home for Ren's nap when they left - but the sun came out and I just couldn't tear ourselves away. The girls ran around playing with some other kids who were there. It was a great afternoon, and worth giving up the naptime to enjoy it. (I had a few other posts I was going to do before this one - but Mom insisted I get this one up so she could snag these pics of the girls.)

 
 

going on 2

I just ran across these pictures from over the summer. I LOVE having 4 kids and can't begin to imagine life without any one of them. And I truly am so thankful that they are all home with us together. I think there is so much good that can cmoe from having several kids growing up together. That said - the occasional day I get with just Ren has been pretty fun. A chance to enjoy her with my total attention. Last summer Loe went to our church's 3 day VBS and we also had friends invite us to go along to another VBS here in town. Loe had a blast with her friends and I had a blast with Ren! We did all kinds of things together - including a walk around a local park and then wandered over to Starbucks for a snack. I think the baby of the family gets a lot of perks - having plenty of ready hands to hold her, read to her, play with her, etc.. But, sometimes being the baby means your life is really all about your older siblings and it seems you are along for the ride! So, having some time to be the only kid for just a bit now and then is so great. I am getting the same opportunity on Wednesdays during this semester as the 3 big kids are in classes on that day. Today Ren was very excited to play at the office with Daddy for a little while when I was getting a massage. We stopped at Walmart on the way home and even that is an adventure. I am not in a rush - so she stops and explores everything! Takes forever - but it sure is fun to watch her. I get to talk to her a lot more. (I don't worry too much about her missing out on all of that focused vocabulary building time since she does have Eloise for a big sister!)  Speaking of words - this girl is starting to hook a few words together. But, she is also repeating just about everything we say! Some recognizable, some not. But, what a joy to hear her saying all these words! It's just incredible how far these precious little girls come when they are home in a family living and learning and growing together.  

These pictures just made me laugh! The girls were playing something and I can't even remember what now (the danger of not blogging pictures until months later!) but how cute is Ren in those snug capri's and the princess shoes?! Loving it! And that sweet, big sister hand on her back - guiding her along. Looks like Ren is just praising the Lord! I think it was some kind of game - but I do pray that she learns to dance before the Lord and praise His holy name! She gives me a funny look when she seems me dancing around the house in praise. But, this girl is moved by music I catch glimpses now and then of her joining in! I imagine she'll be dancing for joy before long!
 

   

 

 
  
 
  

Harvest Farm Fun!

We had a grand time at Harvest Farm again this year. We went on a weekday afternoon and it was fabulous. The weather was mild and we practically had the place to ourselves! Harvest Farm is a part of the Denver Rescue Mission - so all proceeds to to such a great cause. The folks working at the farm are so friendly and great with the kids. We enjoyed our entire afternoon - wandering through the maze (though a tad muddy from last week's rain/snow!), a hayride, kid-sized maze, and more. But, my favorite had to be the petting zoo area since Ren was having SO much fun! The moment she spotted any animals while walking around she went crazy! It was the cutest thing. This photo below made me laugh. It looked like these guys all 4 lined up for the photo! Very cute.

 

 

This cute little goat Loe is feeding below was not interested in staying in the pen - but instead hung outside with the people.

 

 
  

 

 

When Trevor was taking the girls through the little maze he sat Ren up on one of these big bales of straw and she immediately turned to jump into Trevor's arms. He barely caught her since he had no clue she was going to do that! Then she asked to do it over and over again! No fear!

 

  
 
 

 

Love the scenery at the farm - good looking boys, beautiful clouds, buildings and fields.

 

 

  

Ren begged over and over again for us to do the 1-2-3 swing her up in the air thing. She, like most other kids - thinks this is big fun.

 

 
 

She would have stood here feeding these guys as long as we let her! Once the goat nibbled on her finger a bit when she didn't have her hand totally flat and she turned and "told" me all about it and made this face below. Then went right back to feeding it some more. Oh...it was a good day at the farm - fall is my favorite season. These kind of days are a big part of that!

 

  

Fall Happenings

 

God just knew what He was doing with all the colors He created to go together in each season. Wow! So spectacular. Some day I hope we can take a trip back east during the fall to see the gorgeous leaves changing and maybe visit some of our country's historical places. That would be an awesome trip. But, in the meantime I'm thankful we get little tastes of those colors here in Colorado with trees, bushes and even in a $5 bouquet of flowers!

  

The kids getting ready to go to their CHESS classes - they clean up real good! ;)

On our way to a park the other day Loe happened upon a caterpillar and he happily climbed right into her hand and proceeded up her arm under her sweater! She wasn't thinking that was a good plan - so she turned him loose on the grass.

 Having a game night is a very cozy way to spend a fall evening together. We played Blokus and Scrabble and laughed a lot. Someone mentioned on Facebook how nice it is to see people enjoying their teenagers. That we do - they are a blast! I love their sense of humor, their conversation and their company.
  

And I love watching these two play together. I can't get over how quickly Ren is growing up and what a good big sister Loe is. She got out all of her Polly Pockets and helped Ren dress them and played this and that. Ren drops something about every 30 seconds and Loe patiently gets down and picks it up over and over and helps her so much. During the moments when Loe is tired and frustrated by Ren I really need to keep in mind how good she is with her the rest of the time! 

 

 
  

Observation Day at dance class

  

This is Loe's 2nd semester of dance. We are SO happy to find Celebration Ministry of Arts. It's made up of mostly homeschooled kids, though I think there is a mix. We could call it PE and bible!  Loe took a worship dance class last spring for 3-5 year olds. We attended the performance at the end, prepared to enjoy watching all these little ones do a cute dance. Well, the entire group of classes performed and we had our socks blessed off! It was a very incredible worship experience. WOW! The little ones, were indeed adorable, but how precious it is to watch them dance for the Lord. It brings tears to my eyes every single time I watch them dance - just imagine how much joy this brings to the Lord - how He loves them even more then we do! This fall Loe is taking an optional ballet class that helps them with their worship dance. It's more work and less fun, but she does a great job and is smiling practically the entire time. The girls are all still learning and find it challenging to do all the moves exactly like their instructor - often a leg is bent or a hand is on the wrong side or a kick in the wrong direction! But, the teacher, patiently keeps correcting them. They'll get it eventually! And though a bit young Loe is taking part in the 6-8 year old worship dance class. They spend some time doing a bible devotion, some fun dance moves and then they spend much of their hour working on the dance they will perform at the end of the semester. At the end of class they each get a scarf and the teacher reminds them what worship dance is all about and they each take turns dancing across the floor doing whatever moves they feel led to do - dancing for Jesus. I love it!

Since parents can be so distracting (with little siblings and flashing camaras and chatting) they invite us into class once each semester and ask us to stay out the rest and let the girls focus. Hunter helped out by hanging with Ren so I could go in and sit through both classes. It's so fun to get a glimpse of how Loe is away from me and under someone else's teaching and authority. She did great. I can't wait for the performance in November! Let us know if you'd like to come watch. We had friends who were there last year and loved it so much they signed their daughter up this year! Loe was thrilled, since now she has 2 friends in ballet and 3 friends in worship dance! The standard "uniform" for dance class is black pants and a t-shirt that covers their tummies. (I also so appreciate the respect for modesty here!) But, when they are younger they let them wear leotards, skirts and tights if they want to. (What little girl doesnt like dressing up like a ballerina!) But, all the leatards Loe has (including some great new hand-me-downs - thanks Jami!) are all sleeveless and so Loe opted for something with sleeves and warmth on a chilly day! The drive is about 40-45 minutes from our house, but I don't mind at all - Loe enjoys the classes so much and I enjoy getting a chance to visit with friends and Ren can play outside on the nice days. Friday afternoons are all about dance and that's OK with me.

 

 
  
 
  
 
  
 

Cozy Cow Dairy

Last week we went on a field trip to the Cozy Cow Dairy. We've driven past this place several times, but had never been there. What fun! They have an observation room for kids to watch them milk the cows. The gal that gave us the tour was very knowledgeable and the guy that was bringing the cows in and hooking the milking machine up to them was so fun! He squirted the window with milk at the kids. Then we watched a video about the dairy, listened to Clara the cow talk about what cows eat, their digestive system (all those stomachs!) and how they make milk. Then we got to try fresh cheese curds and fresh milk. (Ren has a very cute milk mustache in the last pic!) The kids got to feed some calves and goats. I loved seeing the Jersey cows and calves. We had one when I was a kid - Dolly and she was such a sweetheart! The babies are adorable! They also have a shop where you can buy some of their milk, ice cream, cheese and other products. You can eat lunch there - but we didn't have time. We had to zip over to dance class right after the tour. Thanks for planning the trip, Lara! We loved it and want to go back! (I won't go into just what Kristen was laughing about so hysterically in this photo - but I got her back by taking her picture! Ornery sister-in-law - what are ya gonna do?!)

  

  

  

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
  
 
  

Powell '09

Another gorgeous Lake Powell trip! Life with little ones all over again has certainly changed our lives - for good! But, there are times that I have to work through those changes and accept that daily life, trips, sleep - every area will be different for a while. This was one of those times. Since the girls can't swim yet, we have to be very vigilant about safety and keeping track of them. Loe does pretty well because she listens well and understands the danger. She can grab her life jacket and hop on the boat very easily - which she did, nearly every time the ski boat went anywhere! She had SO much fun! Ren, doesn't listen quite so well yet! She's adventurous, curious and has quite the stubborn - defiant streak that we are working on and praying about! So, we had to keep our eyes on her EVERY MOMENT! She hung out and played with toys on the houseboat a lot. We took walks along the shore, looking for lizards, skipping rocks, splashing in the water. She liked that some, but really preferred to be on the houseboat. Trevor was amazing, if he wasn't taking a trip to the marina or pulling kids on tubes behind the boat - then he hung out with the girls every afternoon for a few hours so I could go relax on top of the boat - reading or laying in the sun listening to music. NICE!

I've been going to Powell since I went with a friend in high school when I was 15. I never get tired of it - God's creation is simply incredible there. The contrast of HUGE rock walls with intense blue sky, the water changing colors as the sun hits it at different angles. The moon rising each night as we ate dinner on top of the boat. Staring at the stars at night as we fall asleep on top - they are so bright, the milky way is clear, shooting starts go by and we listen to some worship music - giving glory to God for his mighty works. It's difficult to describe our Lake Powell trips and the pictures do not give it justice. On top of the beauty - just the time with family and sometimes friends is exceptional. Getting up in the morning, eating, reading the bible, playing with the kids, visiting as the sun hits the rocks around us. The kids wait for it to be warm enough to hit the water.Before long everyone scatters. People come and go grabbing snacks and lunch before heading back out to the sun and water.  Eventually, late afternoon hunger drives everybody back - eating chips and salsa, sometimes sipping a cold beer or Margarita, waiting for dinner. Each family takes turns cooking a few dinners for the group and let me tell you we eat well at Lake Powell! After dinner and watching the sunset and starts come out we usually venture back inside - the kids play cards, we might put a movie in. And then back out to stargaze and worship. And so ends another fabulous day on the lake.

September weather is often perfect as was the case this trip. The first few days it was cooler and windy. But, after that it was hot and sunny during the day and cool and clear at night. Fabulous! The boys always have a blast at Powell - riding the Sea-dos, skiing, and LOTS of tubing. We had a great spot to anchor the boat - with room for the kids to explore, skip rocks, swim and build a fire a few nights. It's so fun to look out and see the kids of all ages from 2-18 playing together.

Loe brought her nature journal and we saw bats, lizards, crows, fish, chipmunks and some cute little birds that hopped around the boat looking for bugs. It can be so quite at times on the lake that the sound of the crows wings as they fly over is very loud and distinct. We only experienced a light shower a few times during this trip - but in trips past we have gotten to witness the power of major thunderstorms with thunder echoing off the canyon walls and then if it rains hard enough sudden gushing water flowing down the rocks from differing points. It's incredible.

Lake Powell is huge - with hundreds of miles of shoreline - spanning from Utah - across the state line into Arizona. The world's largest natural arch, Rainbow Bridge, is found there. When the lake was higher and there were fewer visitors I used to swim under the bridge with my friend, now the lake is lower and so there is no water under there anymore. There are Anasazi Indian ruins to explore, trails to hike and canyon, after canyon, after canyon to take the ski boat or Sea-Doo down. I love to reach the end of some of the canyons and not be able to see the sky as the walls become so close together that reach out and touch the walls and they block out the sun. As the water level rises and drops over time it reveals different parts of the rock formations. It is just an amazing place...enough about the lake - here are some shots from the trip.

 

 

       
  

   

   

     

      

   

    

    

    

  

  

     

  

  

 
     

  

    

  

   

Live-in help!

For those that tell you things like, 'teenagers are nothing but trouble' and 'you'll be lucky to survive the teen years'. Don't listen to them! Teenagers are SUCH a blessing and so much fun! We thoroughly enjoy hanging out and visiting with them, watching movies, going places together, and when it comes to needing some help around the house or yard - they are awesome! Yesterday these guys (Hunter isn't pictured because he was being ornery and avoiding my camera!) hauled and spread a BUNCH of compost and gravel. They have helped and helped and helped with moving furniture and boxes with each move, not only our last few but friends and family several times over. They help in way more ways then I could list right now :) We are truly blessed!

   

Oops - this isn't a teenager - though he has been known to act like a kid very frequently! He, too, is the one of the biggest blessings in my life!

     

Becoming good buddies

I continue to be thankful that the girls are becoming friends - and that their friendship is stretching and growing deeper. God is so faithful! Don't get me wrong these two have their moments (sometimes hours!) where I want to stick them to a velcro wall and leave them there a while! Some times Loe can be so frustrated with Ren and impatient with her. But, I tell you - most of the time this girl just flat out amazes me with her patience and giving heart where her sister is concerned. Here are a few pics from the last few days. They play so much together now - what an answer to prayer! Despite their age difference and personality difference.  They pretend to be cooking all kinds of stuff in their kitchen or they'll drag dishes upstairs and make us something special. They play tag and hide-n-seek - so cute - Ren covers her eyes with her little chubby hands and "counts" to maybe 3-4 then zips off to find Loe - who has barely had time to get anywhere. Ren finds her and squeals with delight which makes Loe squeal right along with her. They play dress-up and Loe spends forever helping Ren put this or that on - layer upon layer including the hair.  Loe's favorite thing lately is to fix her own hair and Ren's. This is amazing because Ren is not too fond of having her hair fixed, though she is getting better. A couple times this week I have caught Loe fixing Ren's hair - not just in one pony tail on top - but 2 or 3 around her head! Ren barely says anything while she's doing it. They build very interesting creations together with Kinex or Tinker Toys or blocks. They draw with sidewalk chalk outside. And one day last week when I wasn't feeling very well Loe got a bunch of stuff out onthe table to color and caft. Ren wanted in on that action - so Loe quickly offered to help Ren color in her high chair. (Helps to keep this one confined when she is armed with writing utensils of any kind! They spent over an hour - coloring and talking and Loe helping give Ren a new batch of crayons or more paper or help her peel stickers - over and over and over again. She spent way more time helping Ren then she did working on her own picture. (And she can be one of those people that conquers her projects!) I was in awe, not only of Loe's patience and sweetness with Ren as she encouraged her to draw. But, also with Ren's attention span - staying with one activity for so long! Yay Ren! Gives me hope for our homeschool year and finding ways to keep her occupied!

Yesterday was rather cool and fall-like outside. I haven't dug out any winter clothes or done any shopping yet for fall! So, they had these sweaters in their closet and Loe has been begging to wear hers. It was a good day for sweaters. She was all too happy to help Ren button hers up.

    

 

 

A Seed

I am addicted to blogs - have been for years. It's a peak inside another families' life - some are incredibly gifted writers, photographers, some bring a smile to my face, or challenge me. Dale's blog is one that makes me think. And his last post directed me to this blog.  Please go check it out - today's post is incredibly moving - but the one before that explains a bit about how she arrived in Uganda. I read several posts and then read a few out loud to my guys - or tried to as I struggled through sobbing and tears. God is using this young woman in incredible ways. And I am praying God uses her and this ministry to open the eyes (as she did mine) not only to the needs of the precious children in Uganda, but to seeing what it is like to be sold-out for Jesus - to serve Him at all cost.  I also followed a link on her blog to yet another (see how I can spend too much time on this computer!). This family is waiting to bring home their beautiful son and daughter from Uganda. Adoption. It is a miracle, it is a blessing. Caring for orphans is a calling, it is God's heart -  no question.

James 1:27 - 'Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 'Psalm 86:6 - 'God sets the lonely in families...'  Let me say from experience that the blessings for us as adoptive parents are as much (if not more!) then what the kids receive being placed in a family.

To be honest we didn't go into adoption with that mindset. We weren't considering growing our family in any way when God spoke to our hearts. Which is why it took Him a good 6 months to get through to both of us! But as soon as we were convinced this was His plan for us - we were on board. We selfishly wanted to bring our girls home (though we had no clue who they were yet!) NOW! All in God's timing...we made the decision to pursue an adoption 6 years ago. We now have two amazing little girls along with our two awesome boys. As we explored the areas we could adopt from - we researched many countries' programs. India, Guatemala, Africa, Korea, Russia, China. We settled on Korea - my hopes were for a young baby and they come home fairly young from Korea. We had friends with a son from Korea - so the process seemed familiar. But, God didn't allow us to proceed until He had us focused on China. He knew our daughters were there. And as I read more and learned more I realized that many of the kids there were in orphanages - with sometimes 30+ kids to a room with 1-2 nannies caring for them. While in Korea the babies are all in foster care and there was a long line of people ahead of us - waiting to adopt. Since we had children, we felt awkward about stepping into line knowing there might be families getting in line behind us who hadn't been blessed with children yet. Somehow, at the time, the China program felt different - the agencies were begging parents to sign up. The need was GREAT for parents to adopt and the process was predictable and smooth and FAST for our first adoption! 1 year from application approval to adoption day in China!

Our second adoption we received many gifts along with a grant - specific to a Chinese adoption. We were thrilled and grateful and in awe of God's provision! The months ticked by and turned to years. As we saw the wait was continuing to grow I began to get impatient and search for another option. I had a vision (not sure if it was directly from God or me!) of either an African/American child (domestic adoption) or a child from Africa joining our family. Zambia had opened up a new program and if we could have switched our grant money to that program we would have done it in a heartbeat! But, we couldn't and so we waited...and waited...and...waited. 3 years after starting Ren's adoption, I traveled to bring her home. No question that she is ours and God knew what He was doing! We just didn't like the wait! Or perhaps He was planting a seed in our hearts.

I don't know if this seed will grow into another adoption story in our family - it might. Trevor and I are both open to whatever God has for us. Some days we feel very busy and "full" as a family and content to imagine that our calling is now to raise up these 4 to God's glory. But, some days I feel a longing, a thought or two that our family is not complete. We will wait on the Lord to see. Perhaps the seed will turn into serious prayer support for other families waiting for their children in Africa  as well as prayer for the children left behind all over the world. Or it will grow into our family being able to help the orphans in a practical way - through donations or mission trips. The boys and I talk frequently about how God might use them. He may call them to a mission field, He may bless them with a bunch of kids to minister to, He may use them to develop close friendships at any workplace in America and His light will shine through them. Are we willing to be used by Him? Wherever He takes us?

I don't know what God's plans are. I watch my boys grow up healthy and strong and loved and have so many options open to them after they graduate. I look at my daughters - who were once orphans - but are no longer. They are loved and cared for and beautiful and strong. They have a family that loves them fiercely. This afternoon I was getting Ren ready for natptime and I admired her precious, chubby legs and arms, I snuggled her while she drank her small bottle - much more for bonding and snuggling then for nutrition. She gets all she needs through 3 meals a day, plus snacks. I watched her doze off..so content, so peaceful. And the contrast to what I read today on Katie's blog is overwhelming.

Father God - direct us, speak to us, help us to hear YOUR voice above our own, above the noise that surrounds us in this culture and society. We long to be your hands and feet. We want to love you, by loving others. Show us your plan - speak, not only to my family, but to the church as a whole. And I pray that we HEAR your voice. Please pour out provision for the people in Africa. Thank you that you know and love every child, every baby, everywhere. Thank you for Katie and so many others like her, who are serving you - both here and across the world. We love you, Jesus - thank-you for loving us first.