Do you know what my favorite part about Easter was?

Nope, it's not the beautiful dresses!

Nope, it's not the traditional cup of tea in fine china, with homemade cinnamon rolls that follow.

  

Nope, it wasn't watching a bunch of home movies; laughing and remembering and some even being a bit embarrassed.  Fun...but not it.

Nope, it's not coloring eggs!

Well, it could be going to church in full celebration ...but sorry, not it!

Nope, it's not the Easter baskets with all the candy!

Nope, it's not even the delicious food.

Nope, it's not the family bike ride we enjoyed this year, or getting caught in the rain at the end.

Nope, it's not even the puppy enjoying his new finds!

It could have been the girls putting a surprise together; playing and singing a song to one of my favorite Easter movies (Veggie tales Easter Carol)...very close, but still not it!

Nope not watching all the Easter movies...not even the Donut Man's Easter Celebration.

All GREAT guesses, but not it.  Give up?

My favorite part about Easter was the five of us coming together in our annual tradition of reading Benjamin's Box, opening Resurrection Eggs and Reading through the Scriptures and hearing the Easter story all over again, as if it was our first time.  As the years move on, there isn't much of a surprise anymore as to what is in the eggs, there isn't a different ending to the book.  But what I love is that God's word is alive and there is always something new to find.  I also stand on reassurance God's word will not return void.  This is the foundation of what is to come in the lives of these girls and generations to come - Jesus! He was, He is and is to come!

Another Teenager in the House!

That's right, we have another teenager...and all the emotions with it! Another teenager just puts me further on my knees.

Katie turned 13 on September 30th. The weekend before we celebrated by having a surprise birthday party...and she was surprised! We find that we are in such a instant gratification society that there are things we put ages on just so some things are that much more special. So in our house, when 13 comes so does ....

GETTING YOUR EARS PIERCED!!!!

Happy 13th Birthday Katie!

Prayer for Liberia

Once again...I have been lost in feeling of impatience, hopelessness and wondering if our journey will ever come to an end. But no worries, when I'm lost I search, when I'm lost I know my God is with me because I know when He says "I will never leave you or forsake you" it stands true today. So I have taken the last week to seek Him. And as always God spoke...

God is not a human being, and he will not lie. He is not a human, and he does not change his mind. What he says he will do, he does. What he promises, he makes come true.

Numbers 23:19

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-3

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This week we have heard a lot of news with what is happening in Liberia that could get us down, and I confess that I was starting that way. But sometimes joy is a choice, and even in our circumstances we are to be thankful. So when we are asked if we have any news yet...we don't, just more obstacles, more trials...but we are thankful and our joy remains in the Lord. This adoption remains in God's hands and so do Elijah and Ruthie.

Last weekend we had the privilege to lay hands on a container that has been bought through the orphanage project that I have spoken about. The container left this last week and is heading to Liberia, and tentatively will be there by the middle of March. I encourage you to continue to watch what God is doing in Liberia, in the midst of corruption, in the midst of oppression and in the midst of our trials...God is moving and doing a mighty thing! http://www.futurefororphans.com/

The filled container...

We wrote our "well wishes" to those on the other side of the world...And we prayed...

And I wondered...do you think we could just find some room so we can go too? :)

May God's will be done in Liberia. And may all nations confess Jesus is Lord!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere,

Go tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is Born!!!

(Our Birthday Song to Jesus, written by the Donut Man (Rob Evans))
Happy Birthday, Jesus

Happy Birthday to the Lord

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to the Lord

Let the earth cry out, "Hallelujah"

Let the people shout for joy

Let the star burn like the brightest candle

And celebrate the birthday of God's baby boy

Let the angels sing "Glory in the highest"

Let the shepherds shout for joy

Let the wise men bring out the presents

And celebrate the birthday of God's baby boy

Happy Birthday to the Lord!!!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

As the tradition began, on Duane and my first Christmas together, it as been the trend to go and hike, have turkey sandwiches, and hunt for our Christmas tree. Unfortunately we haven't had that same experience since we moved to Colorado - simply put, it is just different here because of a variety of reasons. We still went out, and found out that one of Lindsay's teachers has his own tree lot - so that is what we did.

We reminisced about last year how we were completing our home study and dossier and wanting so badly to have Elijah with us and how we anticipated what this Christmas would be like with him. We never thought it would be another Christmas without him. We are full of peace that God will bring him and Ruth home, but as we celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and all the events these two holidays bring it is so hard to not wish he was here. So I do ask as you pray, could you pray that God will continue to comfort us and that the waiting will come to an end, and our new family of seven can begin.

The girls looking at Christmas lights in 3D!

Courtney's Christmas craft.

Finally! Our first snow! Yeah!!! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We Do Give Thanks...

It has been so long since I have written. Between throwing together paperwork for our home study update, appointments, girl's activities and simply just keeping up with life sitting down to write was just impossible. But here I am...

Our Thanksgiving week was shared with Grandpa. We all look forward to his visits and having our family with us. The highlight I believe for Grandpa and Courtney was to have him at school with her for her class' Thanksgiving feast. Grandpa was adopted by the class and read them a story, encouraging them each to be the person God has made them to be. Why do we do that? Why do we try to be the other person we see that is more prettier, more skinnier, more wiser, more...? This Thanksgiving I say "Thank you God for making me the person you want me to be, and nothing else. I praise you and your creation!" I pray that same seed of thanksgiving was planted in the 5th grade class, and that they appreciate the person they are.

One of our highlights for Thanksgiving is making our Thanksgiving chain. We sat around the table and shared each link and offered each link to God. We thanked God for water - not having to worry where it was to come from, or if it is contaminated. We thanked God for Elijah and Ruth, even the waiting, for it is the waiting that we are becoming more aware of God's heart. Thanks went up for each of us, for the home we live in, teachers we have, and each of you - how we are thankful that God has allowed each of our paths to cross so we can pray, encourage and love each of you.