New Picture

You may notice to the right that our family has grown. Someone pointed out on our other blog that we had not updated the picture over here. Thanks! We have had quite an amazing journey to Ukraine to adopt our two new beautiful daughters. If you don't have that blog, it is www.twojourneysofgrace.blogspot.com and hopefully soon I can start posting here more often! For now I am barely finding time to post on one blog :) So come visit us at the other blog for now!

Merry Christmas!!

School Days!!

Allee and Jadon started back to school last week (5th and 1st) and it has been a great start this year! Allee was a bit nervous about a week before school started and was just loving summer and didn't want it to end! I was sad about that because it just seemed out of character and she has always been so exuberant and joyful about school. I guess it is a lot harder now that she is getting older!

Anyways, about five days before it started, we took a walk to the mailbox and what was there but a letter from her teacher, Mrs. Elliot! Mrs. Elliot had planned to retire from teaching last year and Allee had been sad because she was really looking forward to having her. Well, Mrs. Elliot wrote that she felt that the Lord was calling her back for another year and that she was so excited about what He was going to this year. It was just a great moment, and somehow, the words that this sweet, godly woman wrote, just turned Allee's entire perspective and suddenly she was excited about school! We are just thanking the Lord for such wonderful teachers at this school who are there to serve and glorify Him by teaching, equipping, and inspiring the students. I just can't say how thankful we are for Mrs. Elliot and expect her to be one of those teachers that you just never forget! Then we went to orientation and found that there is a new little girl in Allee's class - that is exciting as well because not many new students transfer in by 5th grade. Allee told me that she imagined that the girl was both excited and nervous and that she could understand because she was in her shoes just a year ago. She said that she hoped to help her feel comfortable - I just love her kind heart!

Jadon is also off to a great start with school - we had known who his teacher was for a long time. She goes to our church and is another amazing woman whom we have heard is one of those you never forget as well! We are just so excited to be going into a year where our children have been placed with teachers who understand and support the journey our family is on and the challenges that may cause this year and who are ready to support our children through this process. We could not have handpicked more perfect teachers for them this year but of course we didn't have to!! Jadon is already loving first grade (can he really be that old?!?) and will learn so much this year. He looks SO big in his uniform!

We are just unbelievably grateful for The Master's School. I have posted about it before, but I have just never seen a school like it before. Some really neat things are happenning in the life of the school right now and we finally have a permanent location (that we will move to in a few weeks - for now we are in a church that is sharing their space with us). Despite the fact that it was not ready on time due to some unforseen setbacks, the Lord provided and pulled together many people within the community, including the city council and the mayor, and as a result, the Lord is being glorified as so many people are watching how He has provided and how the leadership has responded to some difficult issues with grace and faith. It has been awesome to watch!

Poor, Sad, Neglected Blog..

Much apology to those of you who have been waiting for an update here... We have been busy with the other blog and have kinda forgotten this one. It is soon to be updated!! And if you don't have the other address - leave me a comment and I will email it to you. For varying reasons we didn't want to link this one to the other but would love to share it with you.

More coming soon!

Almost Home...Please Pray

And update on my sister and her adoption of Bennet~

Ashley and Jason (and my parents) left the country on August 2nd to travel to Ethiopia to bring home 18 mos old Bennet Toufiq. They found out just as they were leaving that the immigration paperwork from USCIS had a mistake about the age of the child that they are adopting. It was off by a few months. As a result, it had to be corrected at the San Antonio CIS office and then sent to NH and then to Ethiopia. This saga began August 1st and it is STILL not corrected by San Antonio CIS. There is a Senator involved but still no results. We do not understand - this is a really simple typo that just needs to be redone but no one seems to grasp the urgency of the situation.

So, Bennet cannot be issued his visa to come home. Ashley and my parents are (as I type this) flying home and will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Jason stayed in Ethiopia to take care of Bennet and wait for the visa. This is difficult for all involved because Bennet bonded almost immediately to Ashley but to noone else. Ashley can't stay b/c all flight are booked and there is a better chance of only one adult getting a flight out on standby. And they didn't feel comfortable for many reasons with Ash being the one to stay. Soooo, Jason is alone now in Ethiopia with Bennet, hoping to come home next Tuesday if this paperwork is resolved by then. If not it could be another six days.

PRAY

for a sense of urgency for all those responsible for the paperwork

for Jason during this time - that God uses it for good to bond him and Bennet

for Ashley as she is heartbroken at leaving her new son who has already faced so much loss in his life

for Ashley and my mom as they both just came down with a stomach bug and are on a 16 hour flight

One last note - it will be a sweet reunion between Ella and her Mommy tomorrow!! Ella has been nothing but a delight to have but the last day or two she has REALLY been missing her mommy. I think it has been pretty crazy for her here with the arrival of Nastya and Katya. Going from usually being an only child to one of SIX is hard on a little girl!!

Pancake Mix-Up!!

We have had Ella - my three year old niece - for the past week and will have her until Wednesday. Her parents (and my parents too) are in Ethiopia adopting her baby brother! So we stayed at my parents' house to help take care of the pets there and to just enjoy the fun swimming pool and all there is to do outdoors there. It was a mini-vacation for us even though I'm a bit jealous I can't be in Ethiopia!!! But we have had wonderful, fun-filled days and enjoyed Ella so much.

Well the first morning the kids asked Zach to make pancakes because it is kind of a tradition that my dad always makes pancakes for them when we are at his house. So Zach began mixing the batter, heated the pan, and proceeded to pour the first pancake in to cook. It was a little on the runny side so he thought "add more flour"...That didn't help and they began to get more runny, so he added a bit more with the same result. He was so confused but at least the kids were talking about how yummy they were. They were saying things like, "These are even sweeter than Puddy's". That was the first clue! He finally tasted them and realized that he had added powdered sugar instead of flour! It is quite deceiving in these glass jars!

"E" for Effort Zach!! And the kids approved!

Catching Up!!

I have gotten way behind on blogging - if you've read the other blog you know why!!! But we have had such a wonderful summer. It has been fun and relaxing and full of memories. I wanted to try to catch a few on here before I forget!!

Fourth of July at the Wimberley Rodeo!!!

Allee and Jadon did their first calf scramble - it was so much fun!!! They came close but didn't quite get a calf - maybe next year!

It wouldn't be complete without fireworks at the end!!

We stayed at the river house that weekend and Jason, Zach, Jadon, and Ben made spears from tree limbs and went on the craziest adventure trying to spear fish down the river. They even saw a water moccasin - they were careful though. A true male-bonding experience...

The boys are practicing fishing with their spears. Jadon was too cute - intensely focused on spearing a fish and SO sure that he could do it. They did catch some but not with spears :)

Solomon just hanging out!!! This is my parents' New Foundland puppy!!!
Zach was hard at work doing a little mowing!! A little later in July we celebrated the first birthday of our sweet niece and nephew twins! How cute are they!!! We love you Luke and Emma!
And no fun summer would be complete without a little animal torture (oh, I mean dress-up)... Seriously the kitten looked good in the dress though - she may have even liked it :)

Wonderful News!!!

I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!!!

Words cannot begin to describe how excited we all are. I remember when they first decided to adopt from Ethiopia - I couldn't wait. But wait we all have - it's been about a year and half since they began the process but God's timing is perfect, and this is the time He has chosen to bring this baby home! My sister and her husband FINALLY are officially the parents of an amazing baby boy and are getting ready to travel to Africa and bring him home. Go see his gorgeous pics on their blog! It has been so awesome to watch their faith and perseverance on this journey and I can't wait to see him united with his parents and to meet him myself. We are all so excited that God has chosen to place this child into our family. We love you already Bennet Toufiq!

Two New Additions!

What could be cuter than KITTENS?!?

Schedules, Scripture, Charts, and Children...

Well I wish I could say that we are incredibly consistent with ALL the things above, but I must confess it is up and down. At least the children are here all the time!! We will have seasons of being in healthy routines, choosing to do the first things first (like purposefully teaching our kids God's Word and really training them in non-confrontational times - not just putting out fires, etc) and then we will have seasons where it seems that not as many issues are presenting themselves, and then we will have seasons where we are just totally off track. Survival only seasons. How do I let things get to that point? Something will happen - maybe a busy season like Christmas, maybe a vacation, maybe stuff like moving and house remodelling, or sometimes I'll just get lazy... None of these are excuses, by the way, just the misguided reasons that I (key word) allow to take precedence over what is most important!

And then things hit the fan - bad attitudes are common, first time obedience is not! And of course these times coincide with times when I am not only being lazy about training my precious children but also when I am not seeking the Lord by spending regular time in the Word and praying like I need. Why such ups and downs? Why is it that I cannot just realize once - "Wow - life is much harder when I am not allowing myself to be filled with the Holy Spirit each day, when I am not being renewed by the truth and power of His Word on a regular basis."? No, I seem to have to relearn this lesson many times over!!! I can do nothing apart from Him!
John 15:5
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing"
I know this, I believe this - but yet I do not always act on this truth. Lord, thank You that Your mercies are new every morning and that Your grace is never failing.

So after being painfully aware of the fact that we needed a fresh start - again - well first I made a plan for myself to spend regular time in the word and began reading back through a Sally Clarkson book, MomWalk. I made a basic daily schedule with chores, pulled back out the training charts that we use from time to time, made a plan to work through an awesome devotion book that has been very valuable for us, Our 24 Family Ways by Clay Clarkson, and made little verse books with construction paper folded and stapled for each child. So now everyone is doing their chores, exciting about getting stars on their charts, knows what to expect each day, and learning scripture that is a far better teacher than I could ever be!

It has been fun too! And so amazing to see an almost overnight change in their behavior. It is like they were just bored and confused over what was expected. I was feeling much the same and everybody was grumping and arguing. This led into more criticism on my part for their behavior which of course did NOT result in a great desire from them to obey me!

Anyways, I am so thankful that God is gracious to me and that He is teaching me that when I fail I don't have to stay there and I don't have to beat myself up. I just have to call out to Him and seek His grace and mercy and power in my life. And I pray that I am more consistent - even (or especially) with the busy, exciting times we have just around the corner - moving AND adopting!

So, just wondering - what works for your family? What things that have helped you stay consistent and do the things you intend to do? I would love any insights you have in this area! Just click on comments below.

Out of the Box...Or Maybe In It

Well, I was in the process of putting together this great video with music and everything...it was so funny. In my mind it was a work of art. BUT, when I got to the adding music part it wouldn't work and then I saved the project to work on later. Well, when I reopened it, it was all messed up... So, a few pictures and descriptions will have to do!



As I already said - the Potts are moving. Not right away but fairly soon. Here's the deal. For really our entire marriage, we have dreamed of raising our children in the country where we could work together outdoors, raise animals, ride horses, and just enjoy nature...Some of you know we bought a few acres in College Station before realizing that God had different plans! We were sad to leave that land have been incredibly thankful that God did not allow us to build on it, because now it is so clear that this is where He intended us to be. So...to make a long story short, we looked and looked for land that was close by the New Braunfels/San Marcos area and affordable and enough land to do what we wanted. Oh, and it had to have nice trees and good dirt too.





It turned out that what we were looking for happened to be in the backyard! Well, not ours - my parents! My parents live on about 80 acres and have offered us about 8 acres on one end for quite awhile. We knew it would be a permanent decision and if you know us, we don't make decisions quickly - but after much prayer, lots of talks and various events, we realized that this was just where we needed to be. Some have wondered why we didn't realize why we didn't figure this out sooner :) We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to live so close by our family and to have a gorgeous piece of land to build on, with even more land next door that we are able to enjoy with those we love dearly. At first it seemed a little bizarre - I mean my sister ives on the other end, my parents in the middle and now us too. Like a commune, right! :)





But you know what? We love these people and we enjoy the 'village effort' of living life together. We love the interactions and the way that we help each other's families and feel very blessed to have a family that we are so close to that we truly will love being next door neighbors!





So, that brings me to the next part of the news - the video clip (which was going to be put to the tune of Green Acres :) ) I was making was of last Monday when our house moved in. It had such great footage, with my very favorite cowboy :)

That's right we are moving...

From This...

To This!

The plan is to live in the mobile for a little while and then build our home in a year or so. The beauty of this plan is:

*We have an amazing view (pics soon)
*We will save LOTS of money for awhile
*We can move the home to one of Zach's properties after we are done living in it and actually make a small profit rather than losing years of rent money while we build
*SIMPLICITY (in more ways than I can begin to list for soooo many reasons)


It may be a little cramped, especially with very possibly soon being a family of SEVEN, but hey, great bonding times!!! And would you believe that it actually is about 2000 sq feet - that is really pretty big.

So, we are very excited and wanted to share!

Song Choice

Okay, I have been trying to think of the perfect song to describe a big change that is about to occur in our lives and after many possibilites:

Heartland by George Strait
Gone Country by Alan Jackson (I think)
Green Acres
and well, I'l have to leave off the last one until later -

okay I'm having waaaay too much fun with this - but then it is my blog so I can :)

But I decided on the one you are currently listening to

Where the Green Grass Grows by Tim McGraw

Okay so maybe some of you have guessed what the Potts are up to....

WE'RE MOVING!!! TO THE COUNTRY!!!

I will update with details very soon...

Stay Tuned...

Things are really about to get interesting around here...

Lost and Found

As you can see from the title - we lost Ben's hampster yesterday! It was quite the drama yesterday morning when we realized the cage had been left open and he was gone! We began searching the house with no sign of him -or should I say tearing apart the house (moving furniture, pulling things out from under the beds, even pulling out the dishwasher). Of course this happened just as my babysitter arrived - it was pretty crazy :) I knew he was sleeping somewhere and we'd have a better chance at night so we were careful to keep the doors shut and the cat out!

Sure enough, yesterday evening I found him in the bathroom - probably looking for water. There was much rejoicing :) Hopefully this will be Teddy's one and only unsupervised trip around the house!!

Riding Accident!

My sister and Allee's amazing horse trainer was giving Allee a lesson this afternoon. Allee's little pony, Major, was having a bit of an attitude during the lesson - probably due to the hot weather. We have noticed some attitude problems with this horse before, but today was worse. So Ashley told Allee to get off and decided to correct Major. She did a few corrective turns and then with no warning he started bucking and threw her off and then proceeded to try and kick her. Now Ash is a truly incredible rider and has ridden many horses much more challenging than this rather small pony. But this feisty little pony caught her by surprise. She hit the ground very hard on her lower back. She was in a great deal of pain that we discovered (after a trip to the ER for x-ray and CT scan) was due to two broken lower lumbar. The part that cracked is the outside tip and the doctor said that it will heal itself with no need for any brace or anything else. But it causes a GREAT deal of pain, and she will be on pain meds and not able to do much for 6 -8 weeks. She plans to get a 2nd opinion from a back specialist to make sure that they are not missing anything that would need further treatment.

So we are incredibly thankful that she was not hurt worse and that this will not cause long-term injury. But we are sad that she is put out for awhile and especially just before her trip to Ethiopia. I just hate that she has to deal with this - she is so awesome to teach her students with such skill and care for each one of them. We are so blessed to have her teach Allee to ride and could not imagine having a better instructor. What is especially ironic about this is that Ash really emphasizes riding safety, makes sure that kids do not progress any faster than they can safely do so, and makes a point to only have safe, well-trained horses. Well, guess who just lost out on that status! Major will soon be finding a new home - he had shown a few slight concerning behaviors before, but with his act today, there is no way that he could be trusted with a child on him. It is sad for us all because he is super cute and Allee has done really well on him. But safety must absolutely come first. This horse is well-trained and this attitude really can't be 'retaught', so it looks like he will be returning to the person that Ashley purchased him from.

So Ash, we love you and pray that you make a super fast recovery - but don't push it!!!! We will help with you with anything you need - just call!

Alexandra is in DOUBLE DIGITS!!!

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY SWEET ALLEE!!!

Wow, I can't believe this girl is 10 years old today. How quickly ten years has passed and yet I cannot really remember life without her. Allee has been a joy and light to all those around her since she was born. Just a few things I love about our sweet girl ~

She is still full of energy and life. She fully engages with whatever she is doing - if she is acting out some play she created with the boys, she is doing with complete enthusiasm, if she is worshipping at church, she does it with complete abandon and with her full self, if she is enjoying a day outside playing, she completely lets go and just soaks it all in and is one hundred percent present in her surroundings. I love that she is always one hundred percent and her joy is truly a gift and is contagious to those around her. She often is leader among her siblings in having a positive attitude or in serving one another with a happy spirit. She is truly our very own Pollyanna :)

Allee is full of compassion - if I am sad or down she is quick to encourage me with a sweet note and picture or a kind word. She has done this since she was three years old. And she is sensitive to her brothers - she used to cry when Jadon and Ben received spankings. She understands now the need for this but it still makes her a little sad. And she is so sensitive about the needs of those around us outside our family. We saw this with her relationships at school and especially with her willingness to give and serve and sacrifice for Nastya and Katya.

She delights in giving to others. She saves most all of her allowance and money that she earns and she loves to buy gifts for others. She also is always making crafts or cards and wanting to give them to those around her.

A few things Allee loves:

1) Horseback riding - wow has she taken off in this area lately!

2) Little House on the Prairie - I think she has seen every episode

3) Reading LOTS of books

4) Talking :)

5) Playing all sorts of imaginative games outside

6) Swimming and tubing in the river

7) Snow skiing

8) Mommy time on Monday nights - sometimes we go to Freddy's and eat some yummy ice cream while doing our bible study

9) Daddy dates

10) Sweet friends

11) AMAZING aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces and nephews -how blessed we are

12) American Idol - yep we let her in on the fun this season :)

Okay and just so I don't seem too biased (but can't a mommy brag a little when her baby turns 10?) I also must mention a few quirks I love. She shares with me incredible clumsiness that she inherited from me. You can always see stains on our clothing or new bruises on either of us from running into tables or tripping or spilling our food. She actually tripped going up to receive her award at the end of school program and that's when a friend of mine realized who it was!!! And she got a bit of Zach's forgetfulness or ADD as some might say :) - I can say "Allee grab your bag and get in the car" and it never fails - the bag is still in the house... Oh and did I mention she likes to talk? ALOT?!!!

Today we had a wonderful birthday beginning of course with the birthday cake to wake her up with. We had the extra treat of having Gran and Poppy with us to celebrate. Then we (Gran, Allee, and I) went to have pedicures. Well, Jadon was with us too, but he found other entertainment :) Then we went to Huisache - a great little restaurant in New Braunfels. Afterwards we all found matching flipflops :) Then Allee cashed in on her birthday coupon - a Beta fish. We went to the pet store and she picked out a beautiful blue Beta that is now in her room.

Thank you Lord for my sweet daughter and for a wonderful day to celebrate her!

SCHOOL'S OUT!!!

WOOOO HOOOO!!! We had our final day of school today. Jadon is officially done with Kindergarten and Allee with fourth grade. Today was so much fun. We had Fine Arts Day this morning. Jadon's class did enactment and recitation of some Ogden Nash poetry called Carnival of the Animals. (hopefully I have that correct) Anyways, they all dressed up as different animals in a carnival. Jadon was lion and the whole thing was so well done and super cute. Until the end that is - Jadon and his good friend David bumped into each other (I think Jadon went the wrong way) and David got a pretty good knock on the head. I didn't know what happened - but was soooo glad to learn that it was an accident! He received the godly character quality of patience, which I can definitely see in Jadon when he is working on a difficult project or task or learning a new skill, such as in soccer. I hope to help him carry this quality over to his relationship with his brother this summer!

Allee's class recited the poem "Sick" by Shel Silversteen. It was also very cute and they each dressed up with a different ailment described in the poem. Allee received Honor Roll medal for the year. She did so well and always did it without complaining. She received the godly character quality of kindness. I can very much see this as part of character that defines her. She is very kind and thoughtful to those around her.

So then we went to a swim party and the kids had so much fun while the moms got a chance to talk. We have all made some wonderful friends this year and I am truly blessed by the sweet families we have come to know. We are so thankful for this school - it has been very evident that this school was founded through prayer and for the purpose of bringing God the glory in helping to equip children. It continues in that purpose and it has been amazing to see how the Lord is using different people with their varying gifts but with a singular focus to know and glorify the Lord and brought them together in this school to work together in teaching these children. I hope I am making sense - I just love how so many different people can work together with the same goal but who all do different jobs to make it all happen. And we have been able to see God at work in providing for this school family. We have a new school home - a permanent home for the first time and it has been provided in some amazing ways. Our Mom's In Touch group that met weekly to pray for the kids, teachers, and school, continually prayed that somehow this new home for the school would be provided in a way that would bring God, not man, the glory. And the way it all happened, could not be more evident that the Lord provided in a way only He could do.

Anyways, it was a wonderful year, but we are so glad for summer!! I can't wait to sleep in a bit tomorrow!

Summer Preview...

We had our first taste of summer this weekend! The kids had off school this past Friday and this Thursday will be the last day of school! Yea!! So on Friday we pulled out the slip-n-slide, the water ballons and put on the bathing suits. It was great fun outside and so nice to not be going anywhere. Just enjoying each other and being home! Then, we had another classic summer activity with some watermelon and a seed spitting contest :)

Saturday rolled around and we repeated many of the same activities with Daddy home and a bit of outdoor clean-up mixed in. We were so excited to be outdoors that we spontaneously decided to go tube the river. We had to gather supplies - tubes, snacks, etc - on the way because we realized we were a bit ill-prepared. But it added to the fun. Benjamin picked this lime green tube and it was so small - but just perfect for him. I wish I had my camera - he was too cute on the river :) It dawned on me that we have entered a new phase of life - no really small children. Which means naps are not always necessary, and we can do things like tubing that even a year a ago were very difficult with Benjamin. I do love babies but it is exciting to be able to enjoy more things with our children - especially since Zach and I love doing outdoor, adventuresome type things. And it's so much easier when I can say, "Okay everybody put your swimsuits on, grab a towel, a drink, and a snack and get in the car" rather than do all that for them.

So then today I was treated to a wonderfully sweet Mother's Day. They woke me up (late) with breakfast and coffee in bed. Benjamin made a vase with a candle in it at MDO for me and has been dying for me to open it since Wednesday. He brought it to my bed and asked if NOW I could open it. It was so sweet to see him so happy to bless his mommy! So we opened gifts that each of the children had made for me, went to church, and then enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the park. I even got to go to the movies with my mom and sister this afternoon. AND to top it all off, my sweet husband went to the store and MADE me chocolate covered strawberries. I feel so very loved and so very grateful for the amazing gift of my family. What a humbling honor and blessing it is to be a mom. To be honest, sometimes I take it for granted and sometimes I get annoyed with my family and wish for more solitude. But when I step back and consider what it means to be a mom, I am awed at the privilege and the joy of this journey. I wouldn't trade it for anything and I am praying that the Lord helps me to cherish each moment and to not get caught up in the busyness and miss the joys that are all around me! Thank you Lord for a blessed weekend!

What out if you see one of these!

The venom of the Coral Snake is neurotoxic, paralyzing the nerves. Often handled with impunity by reckless persons. Usually hangs on while biting, injecting as much venom as possible. There is a high percentage of fatalities from the coral snake bite. Treatment should start as soon as possible.

About three species of coral snakes are found in the United States. All are small, brightly colored snakes. The venom is neurotoxic and attacks the nervous system. Coral snakes have small grooved fangs which are permanently erect. They usually hang on after biting.

Wow - I'm sure glad Zach got him first!!!

Something's Missing!!!

Hopefully you can see that Jadon is missing his first tooth!! He was eating an apple and out it came - it had been dangling for quite awhile... We had plenty of blood and lots of excitement and of course the tooothfairy - he has been waiting for years for his turn while watching his sister rake in the dough :)

So exciting and another reminder of what a big boy he is becoming. Could Kindergarten really be just about over? But what a wonderful year it has been! It's hard to imagine all that Jadon has learned this year and all the ways he has matured and grown.

Guess Who's FOUR?!?

BENJAMIN ELLIOT POTTS!!!

My sweet baby is four...threes are no more . Tonight Ben and I snuggled in bed and looked at his first year baby book. I really can't believe how quickly the time has flown. It just makes me want to cherish each moment because more and more I realize how fast the years go by. Zach always says that time seems to go by faster and faster the older they get - probably because life gets busier. Hmmm...it does make me want to reevaluate and slow down even more, not be rushing so much, just say no to many of the good things available so that we can say yes to the best things.

How thankful I am for this sweet child of mine - he is still my baby even if he is becoming a big boy! Ben's birthday started with us (all of us woke up super early to beat him up) sneaking into my bedroom (he ended up in our bed last night) with a cake lit with four candles and singing him Happy Birthday. I saw this idea on a movie and it has become a tradition on birthdays in our house. He was grinning ear to ear. We then made breakfast, ate cake, and got ready for school. Ben took cupcakes for his class at Mother's Day Out and had a great time celebrating with his friends. He knew that we had a special present for him and could not wait for evening to come so he could recieve it. Ever since we went to Family Camp last Fall and one little boy had a hampster, Benjamin has been asking for one. We have thought that he was too young and that it might not have a long life in our home, but we decided he was now ready. He had quit asking after Christmas, but ever once in a while, he would bring up that little hampster in the ball - you know those plastic balls they can roll around the house in...

So, we had him close his eyes in the living room and out rolled the hampster in the ball. He was so excited to say the least! Of course we may have been equally excited to see his surprise and joy at a gift long awaited! What a special day celebrating Benjamin this has been!

Thank you Lord for creating Benjamin just the way You did in Your image and for Your glory and for giving us the incredible privilege of being his parents.

SICK!

Diagnosed with strep throat today - I have only had this one other time in my life. I forgot how totally miserable it makes me feel - incredibly sore throat, body aches, headaches, burning eyes, sweats, chills...

Makes you all want to come visit, huh?!

I am actually very happy to be alone - I had been saying I needed a day to do absolutely nothing... interesting way for God to answer that request! I have been sleeping, eating soup, watcing a movie, and just feeling sorry for myself :) I am very thankful for the antibiotics I got today and hope they kick in super fast. Allee has her second horse show ever tomorrow and it will be her first time to do jumping classes at a show. I really hope I can make it - but if not - our wonderful trainer (my sis) and my mom are there. We'll see... I'll update more soon.

Exciting News!!!

Go check out my sister's blog!

For those of you who don't know - they have been in process to adopt from Ethiopia for the last year. They got their referral for a precious baby boy on the last day of our trip! He is too cute but we can't post any pictures until he is officially theirs - I think after they go to court. We are all praying for a quick, smooth court date and that they can bring him home as soon as possible (we hope by May).

www.edenhorsefarms.blogspot.com

Home!

We survived the eighteen hours in the car both ways and arrived back home Saturday night very happy but very tired after five straight days of skiing and two on the road! Zach and I had a blast racing each other down slopes, taking on some challenging runs, and enjoying yummy food in the mountain restaurants. We skied with my dad, my brother in law, and even with my sister and mom when they weren't too busy shopping or getting a massage... Sorry guys - I had to say it :) (I actually wished I'd stuck with ya'll when I was totally exhausted with an aching body on the way home!) I do love to ski though - I love the glimpse of the incredible beauty of creation that you can see from the top of a mountain on a blue-sky day, I love the feeling of finally getting into a good rhythm skiing while listening to a great tune on the ipod (usually just before falling), I love racing, I love the cozy mountain restaurants, I love chair lift 10 watching all the experts and those who think they are, I love the quiet peacefulness of the Blue Sky Basin...

The kids did amazingly well. Allee and Jadon picked right up where they left off from last year and progressed to the point that they can now ski just about whatever we ski - just a little slower (that is changing quickly however). Of course, the last day Jadon and I went to very top of the mountain and began our descent. He had to make a bathroom stop at the little place at the very top. By the time we got our gear back on and went outside, a heavy snow cloud/fog had settled over us. We were also, I think, some of the last people left on the mountain as it was getting late. I began to panic for a minute thinking I might lose Jadon in the fog if he got too far away from me since visibility was so bad! I realized too that I had to keep him in front of me because there would be no one coming behind us to help if he fell and lost a ski. So we went on down sticking close together and somehow took a wrong turn in the fog, ending up on a very bumpy black run (the levels go green, blue, black, double black and the bumps made it even more difficult). Not to worry about Jadon though - he just zipped on down handling the moguls (bumps) like a pro! It was me left behind and trying my hardest to stay up with him - my big, long skis just wouldn't turn as fast as his little ones! Jadon was so funny on the mountain - he would fall, roll with skis still on, stand back up covered in snow, and keep skiing - laughing the whole time! Such a trooper!


Allee made the amazing ski school level of "Mountain Five" - this means she was regularly skiing blacks and going all over the mountain with the ski school class. She loves the snow as is of course - "never cold and never tired"! She took on a challenging run at the end of the last day with Zach called The Zot. Jadon then wanted to prove that he could do it too but lifts were closed... I am going to have to take some classes to keep up with these kids next time!!!

Benjamin and Ella (my little niece) absolutely loved the snow and loved skiing at ski school. By the middle of the week they were riding the short chair lift and skiing down the hill. I did try to take Benjamin up by myself one day and it would take too long to describe the craziness of that experience! Apparently the ski instructors know something about teaching little ones to ski that I don't!!! One of Ben's favorite activities was playing 'puppies' with Ella in the loft of our condo - precious memories. I guess he likes that game better that playing Polly Pockets although he did some of that too!

Of course we couldn't get through the trip without just a little bit of this...but he did turn it off and relax most days...

In the evenings we cooked in the room, watched tv all together, took walks in the snow and had snow ball fights - ask Zach about the innocent person walking by who got blasted with a stray snowball intended for Jason - I wish I had a picture of that guy's face as he recovered from the unexpected shock while taking a nice walk with his date :) !!!! We took important visits to the chocolate factory and the candy store. But every night we hit the hay early so we could be on the slopes bright and early the next day...

Jadon and Ben also enjoyed eating lots of snow... seemed kind of yucky but I guess they lived!

We had a wonderful time and are so very thankful for such a great time, but are glad to be back in warm, humid weather - do you have any idea how much better this is for your skin?! I nearly dried out up there! We always appreciate home even more after being gone!

OFF WE GO!

Yep - that's about to be me :) Well maybe not quite but I can dream...

To Colorado we go!


Our bags are packed and we are ready to roll. We are headed off in a few hours for an 18 hour drive into the snow! We are so excited - especially Benjamin who has never really played in the snow before. (He's seen a few snowflakes but not REAL snow you can hold and throw and lay in...) Colorado is having one of the snowiest years in it's history... great conditions for skiing.

Our car is loaded up with snacks and treats, books to read, books/stories on tape to listen to, car games to play, little surprises for boring moments, music, and of course the most important item - the DVD player! Our course then there's pillows, blankets for each child, suitcases close to bursting with heavy ski clothing, an ice chest full of meals we cooked to eat while there, games for the evenings, cameras, the laptop... Gosh what am I forgetting - perhaps I would have been better off making a list of what NOT to take! It's fun though - the preparation is a bit stressful (as everyone would attest to last night :)) but part of the excitement too!

Anyways, look forward to some pictures in the snow when we return!!

Just a note - I know some of you have been wondering when I am going to post an update about Nastya. I will soon - there are reasons why I haven't wanted to post yet about things on here. We do have some positive news and I promise for an update when we get back! Thank you to those of you who keep checking and praying for us in that - don't stop!!

God's Word

Tonight was just one of those nights when Scripture came alive - sometimes I pray and read the Bible and it's just okay or good - I know I am blessed by it but it's not always so apparent to me at the time, other times I neglect reading at all - this always has apparent effects as I always get a wrong perspective, me attitude, worry more, etc.... But then sometimes God just allows a certain passage to speak to my heart - or maybe it just so happens that my heart is softer or more sensitive to His spirit - maybe I am just quieter, or maybe someone has been praying for me.... But whatever the reason, I am thankful for His word.

Tonight we were reading Mark 14 with the kids - Here's what we read

27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, `I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.' "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times." But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing also.

They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground and began to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. And He was saying, "Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will." keep watch for one hour? "Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"

I saw that Jesus knew that his closest friends would deny Him. I know that He knows my failings too. I saw that this hurts him when they are too tired to even pray for him in His greatest hour of need - and this is after He has just humbly washed their feet and has told them that His hour has come. After all Jesus has done for me and the grace and love He continually pours out into my life, I still can be so very selfish and yet He doesn't give up on me. I know that the rest of the story is that He does not treat them with condemnation or disgust at their laziness and lack of serving Him even a little like He serves them. No, Jesus is disappointed and probably hurt but it does not change that He continues to love them and the next day lays down His life for them. And why is He able to do this? Because He is first surrendered to His Father's will -not His own. This is the key to having this spirit of service and grace and love - to be surrendered to the Lord's will not my own will - even when His will is very tough. But I thought of the verse - "For the joy set before Him, despising the shame, Jesus endured the cross..." He focused on the joy that surrendering to the Lord's will would bring. Not right in that moment, but set before Him. I am reminded to keep my eyes of eternity and on glorifying God and not on the fleeting pleasures or discomforts of what I am called to do today. And to keep my focus on Jesus as my example of love and servitude.

I love that when He returns, He does not hold it over them but loves them completely AND puts trust in them to carry out His work on earth. He doesn't give up on us even when we blow it! I know this. But it was good to be reminded of His grace and servant heart.

And to look to Jesus as my model in graciously responding to my children (or my husband, friends, etc) when they fall short - just as my Father in heaven responds to me. And to love not based on the actions of others but on the love with which the Lord loves me. A lofty goal for sure and one that I am certainly not meeting. Okay not just not meeting but completely blowing it quite often! But I see here that God does not give up on me or quit believing in what He can do through me. Thank you Jesus for Your word, for Your grace, for Your love, and for Your example. Thank you that You keep teaching me and loving me. Thank You that You never change! Thank you that You promise that You are faithful when we are faithless.

Yee-Haw

Last night we went to a fundraiser for our childrens' school. Have I mentioned that I love this school? We are truly thankful to be a part of this school and for the friendships we have made! I could go off on all the reasons we are there but if you want to know more - just ask us :)

Anyways, so last night we were at the fundraiser out at Old Texas Town - a lovely area out in the country with pavillions and a big dance hall for events. We had a band, yummy bar-b-q and some silents and live auctions. The kids all played for hours running, chasing, having a hay ride, and DANCING!

The best entertainment of the night (for me at least) ~

And then he finally convinved a girl to dance with him...

Folks, it just doesn't get better than this! I almost laughed until I cried (until of course he broke out of his serious, focused dancing and looked at me - then I told him what a great dancer he was :))...

Lazy Blogger

It's true of me!!! I am going to try to be better :)

Why have I not been blogging? Busy, busy, busy... Okay I know you are saying that is a pitiful excuse because we're all busy. And you're right - that isn't a good excuse - I just can't think of a better one right now! I'll let you know when I come up with something! We have been doing lots of fun stuff - here's the latest...

Allee and I are mountain climbers! Yep - we climbed to the top of Enchanted Rock in Fredricksburg. It is this huge rock hill made from granite. There is very little foliage after you get past the bottom because there is no dirt and it becomes too hot in the summer. There were interesting little caves and creveases in the rocks that we climbed through and explored. At the top you could so far and the little people and cars down below looked like toys. It was awesome - if you haven't been, be sure to go. But unless you are really ready for a sweaty challenge avoid it in the summer - I hear the granite really heats up and you are blasted with heat from above and below - kind of like the beach but without the water.

Anyways, it was a fun day to enjoy a beautiful part of creation and to just sit back in awe of a little part of what God made. But as we were reminded in church this morning - as beautiful as days like these lately have been - this is just the created - we can only imagine the Creator's beauty and wonder. There is a refreshment that comes from a some exercise and from being outdoors and taking time to notice little wonders like lichens and mosses and fairy shrimp eggs (I think that's what they were called). I am thankful Allee and I could enjoy it all together.

THREE CHIEFS

Well we learned a bit more about each other and teamwork this past week. At Allee's school each child does a major project about anything they choose. The child chooses the project and then the family works on it together. Allee chose to learn about her grandparents' dairy farm. We spent some time at the dairy last semester learning about the milking process, the care of the cows, what is done with the milk, the history of dairying, and so much more. We even got to watch and video a calf being born. To make it even more exciting, the calf was huge, got stuck, and Tommy (Zach's dad) had to help deliver the calf. We weren't sure if it was alive at first and then were so overjoyed to see that the little calf was just fine! It was such a fun weekend in Sulphur Springs.



After a little more research and gathering materials, it became time to assemble the information onto the poster. Well, this is when we discovered (I should say rediscovered because we have known this for a long time!) that we are all a bit on the headstrong side. To those of you who know us well - you know that is a bit of an understatement :) And we all three had different ideas of how and what to present. It was comical seeing our personalities come out... I had to just walk away and tell myself "It's her project!" Zach helped a lot too but Allee did the majority of it herself. She did a great job! So we learned a lot about dairy farming and a little about teamwork and personalities as well :)



1 Peter 5:5 "Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."




Grandparents Day was this past Friday and we had such a great time looking at all the students' projects. I learned a great deal from the projects and loved seeing their varying interests. Benjamin was awed by some of the electricity projects that a few older boys chose! And the ceremony was truly a blessing for grandparents and for parents. We are so thankful for the wonderful, supportive grandparents our children (and us too of course) are blessed to have. What incredible things they teach our children and what love they share with them.



We are also so grateful for this school at this point in our lives - God was faithful to lead us to it this year, and we have been blessed to watch our children grow mentally and spiritually this year.

Brrr...

Okay it is COLD and WET for us in Texas - not a fun combination. We are just not used to this weather and I can't say I like it... I know this is nothing compared to many places - but at least in some places there are fun things to do related to the cold - like snow instead of rain! All right - I'm done complaining. On the other hand, we've had good excuses for hot chocolate, lots of card games and reading books :)

We are actually choosing to go to much colder conditions in March!! We are so excited to go skiing (with the kids - even Ben gets to go) in Colorado for spring break with my parents and my sister's family - Allee and Jadon can't wait. When we took them for the first time last year, Jadon began campaigning that maybe God was telling us to move to Colorado forever and Allee began saying that she might find a college in Colorado. So I guess they don't mind the cold at all! We are going to drive 18 hours to get there so that should be an adventure all in itself :) Am I really smiling about 18 hours both ways in the car - I may have a different emotion halfway home...

On another note, I am so proud of Allee. I have watched her start a very challenging new school this year with all new friends (who have all known each other for many years). She took it on like she does most things in life - with courage and hard work and an incredibly positive attitude. She worked so hard when the homework was new and different last semester and even made honor roll the first trimester. And she did it all without hardly a word of complaint. Sometimes I was more overwhelmed than she was and she would just tell me "It's not that much Mom" It was a lot at first and she inspired me with her attitude. Now she's got the hang of it. She is gifted with being super smart but more importantly she just is a hard worker and doesn't get discouraged easily. Anyways, I was just thinking about what a gift my sweet girl is... she is such a joy to us!

A Few Updates

We did get news from our agency that Nastya made it back her home and with ALL her belongings! Thank you for praying. We have all missed her greatly this past week. It is hard because we have not yet found a way to call and don't have any contact with her. We have put together our first care package and hope to send it next week but even something like that we are still learning what you do to go about mailing to Ukraine (affordably :)). We are very excited to have connected with a missionary group that visits her orphanage I think weekly, and we may be able to send things through them. What a blessing to have these missionaries working with these kids and to be able to see the effect they have had on this child. Everytime Nastya talked about them while she was here, she would just light up and it was clear from things she said and wrote that she truly knows that God loves her and prays to Him on her own initiative. It is wonderful that these people have poured love and hope into the lives of children who have so few who care about them. And so neat to see that while Nastya may not fully understand why they do what they do, she does feel love from them and believes that God loves her.


In the other news - we have just been busy playing catch-up with work and school and basic housework (piles were taking over and those who know me well know that is bad...:-o ) We are getting back into the daily routine after a great break from school and more structure. It was a nice break but good to be back into the "groove".


It is also a time of reflecting and praying for God to lead us to what He wants in this. We trust Him. This time with Nastya has changed us in some fundamental ways... we are trying to take some time to process it all... We have become more grateful for the incredible blessings we have been given - our family and extended family top the list. Of course we are always grateful for the people in our lives, but it deepens the reality that it is a blessing and a gift and we can't take these people and this time for granted. We do know that we are blessed beyond what we can comprehend and don't want to miss the joys of each day!

On Her Way to Ukraine...

Tonight we put the sweet girl who we have come to love deeply on a plane to New York and then to Ukraine. They said it would be hard - I had no idea it would be this hard. A week ago it would have been hard - now it was nearly impossible. I cling to knowing that God loves her more than we do, that He is with her, that He goes before her and before us.

This past week has been so precious. We hit some emotional roadblocks with her about halfway through last week. Things had been going great and then seemed to get more difficult last Tuesday or so. I think she was unsure about whether she could trust that we really loved her, and we still felt a bit distant although comfortable with her. Then this past Friday - after the t.v. filming - somehow (several close friends were praying I know - thank you!) things turned around and she really let down her guard. She began to open up to us emotionally. It's hard to explain how we could know that when we couldn't talk with her, but we have found that words are not as necessary as we might have previously thought and that body language and actions and a few attempted words in another language can speak volumes. This past weekend and this week have been especially precious and we are thankful for each moment. We have come to love her so much and it is difficult not to think of her as our daughter. But God is in control and we know that He is able to do all things and that He is good and loving. So we trust that His plans are perfect for our family and for Nastya. We pray that He would give us grace to trust Him and to clearly see His plan in each step.

Today and yesterday Nastya was very specific about what she wanted to do. And she was clear that she did not want Allee to go to school but to stay home with her - they have had soooo much fun together. It was bittersweet to see her relishing each moment. She had a glorious time riding her bike at my mom and dad's, feeding the horses one last time, taking a long bath (two actually), fishing for minnows with a net (the reason for the 2nd bath), and getting her back scratched. She also ate as much fruit as she could hold and plenty of sausage :) She kept asking to take back food to Ukraine and we sent a little on the plane, but of course she couldn't really take much with her. We hope to send a care package soon.

Please pray specifically for Nastya's belongings as she travels back to Ukraine. She loves her baby doll and her photos and several other items. She had been asking for photos and was delighted this morning to receive a book full of tons of pictures of all her adventures and favorite moments. We packed a suitcase of clothes and things too. Pray that she is able to keep up with her carry-on backpack and that her checked bag will make it intact to her orphanage.

Well, that's about it. We go to bed tonight incredibly grateful for this precious time that we have all had together. Thank you to each and every one who have been praying for us and encouraging during this time. It has been all the more special and fun to be able to share it with you.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Famous!

Well we made tv today! Or at least our pictures did :) But Nastya and the other four kids all were on live television along with our friends Becca and Craig Hill and our translator - Laura. San Antonio Living had them all on their show today to raise awareness about orphans and the possibilities to help. Oprah, Good Morning America - here we come! It was a great time for the kids, and the adults really enjoyed seeing a tv station at work. If you want to watch the show just go to http://www.woai.com/ and click on "SA Living" (one of the headings at the top) Then look down and click on "watch SA Living" and ours is, of course, Ukraine Orphans. Afterwards, we all enjoyed a nice lunch and encouraging conversation by the River Walk. There have been so many blessings through this time, but one of the biggest has been the precious friendships we have made with these other host families. These ladies have encouraged me and prayed for me and it is incredibly comforting to all be in this together. It is so wonderful to be able to talk with ladies who have such a strong faith and who are right in the middle of the same joys, fears, struggles, and hopes. And they are just fun to hang out with too!