Stomach Flu was no match for Super Girl!!!

Well, I have been homeschooling 3 kids with a toddler in tow........that is all I have to say about my lack of posts! Halloween was a blast even with Kate recovering from the stomach flu.......she last threw up at 10am on Halloween (after about 28 hours of throwing up) She rallied to join the box, scarecrow and train engineer. I love being a mom!

We are doing it!!

Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart and can be very bittersweet but I have logged in about 4 days so far and the kids are doing great. I will let the pics speak for themselves. : ) We did the traditional first day of school pics out front and they turned out great! A shout out to Tisha, Carrie, and good ol' mom and dad for lots of encouraging words.

Sunday Funk

I am writing in an attempt to fight against the "Sunday funk" that has seemed to settle on me the last couple weeks. School starts in 3 days. I am stressed. I don't know how to homeschool a 7th grader, 3rd grader, 2nd grader and mother a toddler at the same time. Did I mention we have our house on the market too? Yet, I am trying to cling to what I know to be true. God equips us for what He calls us to and He fills in the gaps.
I got a new camera for my bday but have been having some technical glitches. Hopefully I will be posting lots of pics soon.

Gotcha Day Anniversary #1!

Mike and I first held Moges Michael in our arms one year ago today in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Since that day he has filled our life with craziness, love, adventure, crying, laughing, snuggling, messes, discovery, and joy in and throughout it all.


We met 5 amazing families who were there for the same reason and I carry inspiration from each of them today and into the future. From one the beauty of doing family adventures (like adopting 2 kids from Ethiopia!) together. From another the way to expand the adventure by adding in some ministry work and the beauty of trusting God by adding older girls to your family of boys. From yet another the reminder that we are never too young to start the adventure.........and let it be the step that leads them back to Ethiopia. From another family that you can add twin toddler girls to your three boys at home and continue as a full-time homeschooling mom who loves the Lord and people in beautiful ways. From the fifth family I learned that our journeys do not always take us where we think we are going. Life is complicated and God is good but it doesn't always feel that way when life takes a turn that is painful and confusing beyond words. Yet faith remains.

So, there is my shout out to these families who have such a special place in my heart. May God bless you today and every day with joy for today, hope for tomorrow and a deep abiding love that fills in all the cracks.

And to our precious Prince Moges Michael. You have turned our life upside down in the most unexpected and wonderful way. You belong in every sense of the word. We know that God has an amazing plan for your adventurous spirit and we are beyond thankful that His plan for your life includes us as your forever family!

Wordless Wednesday ~ 4th of July Edition

Such a Daddy!

My kids have the best daddy I could have ever dreamed up for them

He loves on them every day

He comes home from work as quickly as possible after working hard to provide for his family

He plays soccer, basketball, Wii, wrestles, rides bikes, hikes, fishes, colors, and whatever else sounds fun to the kids

He trains and helps us all learn Bible verses

He prays............early in the morning

He laughs

He snuggles

He rocks!

Happy 12th Birthday Silas!

Our firstborn turned 12 today! Oh, such memories. I was shopping at Lamonts when he was born. How many of you moms out there can say that about the day your son was born? I was a nervous wreck since he came a couple days before we were set to have dinner with his birthmom and make a birth plan. I didn't have a cell phone yet either. So, Mike got the call to go to the hospital and I...............kept shopping. I did make it to the hospital an hour later but sadly we did not get to meet our precious son until the next day. That was the longest and hardest 24 hours of my life. I had yearned to be a mom for years and it looked like my dream was coming true, or was it? So many uncertainties in adoption but it in fact was.
Silas has been a delight and a challenge from day one. A delight due to his cheerful personality, cute factor, and curious nature. A challenge due to his perfectionism, ability to focus on one thing for far longer than should be humanly possible, and ability to wear his emotions all over his entire body (saying "shirtsleeve" would not state this point nearly enough). Yet, he has been perfect. His life story has been beautifully written by his Creator and he was meant to be born to Andrea and meant to have Mike and I for his dad and mom. I wouldn't change a thing about him or his story. He belongs, mostly and always to his Father in heaven but also always in the heart of his birthmom and forever in our family in the place of honor as firstborn.
Silas you continue to delight daddy and I every day. Your talent for art and creativity astound us, your joy is contagious, and having you for a son is one of the greatest honors of my life. Happy Birthday Si, I love you to the moon and back!