Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Friday, October 21, 2011

To God Be the Glory!!!

There is a glow that is coming to the Redmond Airport I can see it headed this way and about 3:20pm it is going to be so bright that all of us at the airport will be basking in God's Glory as we witness what He has done again.
  He has brought a family from 2 different sides of the world together today.  He has placed 2 beautiful orphans in a beautiful family to a forever family, to be orphans NO MORE.  He has given 3 beautiful children a new brother and sister, He has blessed a mom and dad with 2 more beautiful treasures to raise and watch them grow.  




John 14:18

New International Version (NIV)
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

These kids are anxiously awaiting their brother and sister whom they have prayed for to come home and today is the day.  These kids will witness an answer to their prayers...they will see God's work in their little lives and how their child-like faith has moved mountains and grown their family in more ways than one.
This family has an open loving heart and a desire to love the Lord and love people to the best of their ability and God has opened their hearts and their arms and their home and now they will go from a family of 5 to a family of 7!!!!  God always does things bigger and better than we ever can imagine or dream.  


This mama can rest easy tonight knowing all her treasures that God has given her (so far) are in one nest on the same side of the world under the same roof.  It is crazy and amazing what God can do and does to put the lonely in families.

Psalm 68:6

New International Version (NIV)


6 God sets the lonely in families,

These beautiful treasures are from Redeemer House.  And ohhhhh the joy we are feeling in our family that Esther has family from Redeemer House coming to a home, to a family  that are some of our dearest friends...these kids will once again share meals, go to the same school, be neighbors and friends...doing life together on a daily basis.  When God redeems he does it a 100%.  He is the author of redemption...for eternity, but also, He is so loving and so good that He gently redeems us here as well. 
 Redeemer House has been a wonderful part of redeeming and saving many children with God's direction and grace, and Redeemer House has loved many children back to health and as these children pray for a forever family.  They learn to live as a family, and love, and be loved. Then the Lord so graciously hears the prayers of their hearts and brings them a  forever family, and he brings a family a wonderful treasure to join their and be "blessed" with more "blessings"!!!  



Psalm 127:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

 3 Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
   when they contend with their opponents in court.


Friday, October 14, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Times During This Season of Life

Luke and Esther all dressed up for a fun overnight Oregon Trail field trip experience.  Esther is a little confused as to why they would CHOOSE to sleep outside and cook over an open fire, and go to the bathroom outside, but she's all for it!  If it's a good time, she is all in, and it's a good time!

We are having a ball going to Kole's football games...he is doing great.  Tonight is Senior night at the game, and I can already feel myself tearing up...

Luke is having a ball playing tackle football for the first time this year...he is quite the tackler...we think he may be taking out some pent up frustrations...he is NOT at all the biggest kid, but he can hit pretty hard.  

Amazing Grace!!!!!  

Charsie is doing very well at Cross Country, she has been running Varsity all year, and she is a Freshman.  She also has some FUN FUN friends on the team, so it is good from all aspects.

This is one of Charsie's coaches...Esther finds friends EVERYWHERE we go.  :)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Blessed and Overwhelmed

Last week Maezie did the update so this week I will...so, this is how this mom is doing.

For me, the pendulum swings from one extreme to the other....I go from feeling OVERWHELMED WITH BLESSING to just PLAIN OVERWHELMED

I start in the morning...my favorite in the whole world with a cup of coffee, my Bible, and my sweet Maezie all piled around me for some time spent with the Lord - BLESSING

I then get to making lunches for 5 different people...4 kids that go to 3 different schools, and my man going to work - OVERWHELMED

I throw in a load of clothes - BLESSING (I'm weird about laundry)

I take first Charsie to catch her ride to her school - BLESSED...I've always loved taking my kids to school it gives me time to connect and pray for them.

I check computer - BLESSED (love reading how everyone else is doing...facebook, blogs, and such.)

I take Luke and Esther to school - BLESSED (they are both loving school this year.)

I go through the mail - OVERWHELMED

I bathe Meazie - BLESSED

I feed Maezie - BLESSED

I try to do some work in the office - OVERWHELMED

I feed Maezie - BLESSED

I feed Reece - BLESSED and sometimes OVERWHELMED (depending on his mood)

I talk on the phone - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED (depending on who it is and what is the subject matter)  Talking with friends and family - BLESSED....anything else - OVERWHELMED

Feed Maezie - BLESSED

I pick kids up from school - BLESSED

I take kids to sports - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED (if Maezie needs fed during this time)

I get dinner together - OVERWHELMED 

On Fridays we go to a football game - BLESSED and OVERWHELMED...Kol'es senior year and I am going to miss this kid like NOBODY"S business, we are having a blast watching him play this year.

Shower / bath time for all the kids - BLESSED (love clean good smelling kids)

Bed time - BLESSED BLESSED BLESSED all the chicks are in their nest accounted for and safe and healthy...except for Lashae and she is now in someone else's nest and I feel BLESSED that she has a good man and a nice and safe nest as well. :)

All in all I'm BLESSED and God is good all the time....I'm OVERWHELMED by some circumstances, but I'm reminded quickly just how BLESSED I am and that God is good all the time, and the OVERWHELMING stuff, is just no big deal and the blessings outweigh them by soooooo much!

Now, I've sat in front of this computer with mail and bills all around me...so feeling a bit OVERWHELMED and now I'm going to go hold Maezie and remember how BLESSED I am.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Maezie Speaking

Ok...this is Maezie doing this post:  Everyone wants to know how I'm doing....and they should after all I do believe I am the PRINCESS.  Esther calls me this all the time so I am convinced it is true.


I'm doing so good...I'm a good eater...I'm a good sleeper (during the day especially).  I love getting up at 12:30am...2:30am...and  4:30am....then I just stay awake...my mom taught me right from the womb that she likes to get up early, so I have become her new alarm clock...I hope she's grateful for my efforts.


I like being held, A LOT....I figure there are so many hands anxious to hold me that I'd better keep them doing what they love the most....just another job I have done that I hope they are grateful for.


You are probably wondering how the other kids are adjusting to me...well, Esther loves me, but it took a little adjustment on her part....I think she was worried where she fit into all this, and now she knows...she has a Princess sister and nothing else has changed.  Esther's kisses are my favorite of the whole family, her lips are like big silky pillows on my skin.


Reece is still wondering who is in charge...I can tell you and him and everyone else....IT"S ME...I'm in charge of everyone, because I'm in charge of the Mommy, so that makes me in charge...sometimes, when Reece thinks he's in charge, I'll be sitting there just eating away, and the Mommy...gets up REALLY fast and talks really loud at Reece...I don't like it because it disturbs my meal, and startles me, so I hope Reece realizes soon that I'm in charge, so the Mommy will quit jumping up so quick and being so loud.


Kole is scared of me...he says I'm too small, and I'm lazy...he thinks I should walk or talk, but I know once I do he will wish I would sit down and shut it.


Charsie loves to hold me and she is GOOD at it.  She snuggles me right up and I'm happy as a clam.


Lashae...she asks for pictures of me EVERYDAY because she misses me so much. 


Luke...he loves me, and he is just so glad that I'm able to make it to his football games, and I haven't stopped him from any of his sports...he thinks I'm pretty cool because I'm probably his youngest fan.


So, there ya go, that's my life, it's pretty sweet.