I Need A Name

I want to start a new group & I need a name for it. I see it as being a group of women who commit to the "health"of their family over how tidy their house is. (ie: VERY Messy house BUT happy & mentally-healthy family). I am tired of trying to keep my house tidy while I haven't had a quiet time yet (which I need!) & my son just really needs me to sit down & look at his bug book with him. Anyone else out there feeling this? I am saying this tongue in cheek but actually I feel it's the right way for me to go & I'm trying to work up a sense of humor about the dust bunnies & the stray socks & underwear that may peak out from under the couch at an inopportune moment. (The underwear is a problem because one of our dogs just LOVES to drag it all over the house. Oh, & he also loves to cary our shoes around, so we have the Easter Egg Hunt experience at our home daily as we try to find matching pairs of shoes. I digress.) Anyhow, I'm hoping someone out there "gets" me on this topic & can come up with a good name idea. Any takers?

Adoption Progress

I'm sure many of you are wondering (us included) how our adoption is progressing. Well, it is moving along according to reports, but we still don't have an official announcement to make. I am NOT trying to whine here, but I'd be dishonest if I denied that our hearts are ACHING for our child(ren)!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are trying to be very patient but, yes, it is HARD! We'd so appreciate prayer for our adoption process, our sanity & especially for our future child/ren.

Thanks!

Growing Chicks

The chicks have moved outside now & seem to love their increased freedom. We wondered how our hens would respond to them & it's been interesting. Two are merely curious but the others are scared of the tiny birds & have been squawking their complaints ever since they moved out. It's been really funny to watch them all together.

Mark & Hunter

My Sweet & Funny Little Boy

Mark: "Mom, my leg hurts. I think I broke a rib in there!"

Home Addition

We have been building a home addition to prepare for more family members. The new rooms are another bedroom & bathroom as well as two closets, but it is also going to allow us to re-pupose some rooms so we can have a walk-in pantry & a mud room. We've been doing it all ourselves (ie: 98% John's work & 1% mine & 1% Mark) so it has taken a long time, but we are getting more excited now, as we see the final steps taking shape.

Mother Theresa's Words & My Scattered Musings (or maybe my "soap box"?)

I've been reading "Mother Theresa - No Greater Love" & it is full of so many beautiful & challenging thoughts that I've wanted to ponder upon. Here are a few gems:

"Love each other as God loves each of you, with an intense and particular love. Be kind to each other: It is better to commit faults with gentleness than to work miracles with unkindness."

"Our mission is to convey God's love - not a dead God but a living God, a God of love."

"I will take any child, any time, night or day. Just let me know and I will come
for him."

"Love has a hem to her garment
That reaches the very dust.
It sweeps the stains
From the streets and lanes,
And because it can, it must."

So beautiful, huh? I especially love her comment about how she will take any child, night or day, & I would so like those to be my words! I have told many friends that if they ever know of a situation where someone doesn't know what to do with their baby/expected baby and is considering abortion, to please consider calling us because we would want them. But really, could I do that? I have limited energy, finances etc. I'd be risking a broken heart with the possibility of someone changing their mind later. There are so many "what ifs" & risks. I think I can say honestly though, that, that is my heart & maybe I will get an opportunity some day to live it out. I just don't see how you can be "pro- life" & not be "pro-active" in providing alternatives. But, and this is a BIG BUT, I also don't think it is OK to adopt just because you want to "do the right thing" or "save a child". Those are nice thoughts, but really, I think you should WANT MORE CHILDREN! For what? To raise, to love, to invest in. Not a hidden agenda, just because of love. Well, that's my two cents on that topic. Any other opinions?

Easter Eggs

Hamming it up for the camera.



Mark had a great time dying & decorating these eggs today. They aren't very artistic but are perfect "little boy style".

I Am Me

God has done so many cool things in my life. One of my very favorite is that I like myself. Really. That is a "God thing", in my way of thinking... wholeness...and I am so thankful for it. I don't necessarily fit into a steriotypical box either & I like that too.

*I want to dress modestly but I love low rise jeans (definitely not the "only wears dresses" kind of gal)
* I love animals but I'm not a tree hugger. I understand that people are more precious.
* I hate abortion but I care for & have compassion for women who felt they had no other option.
*I have high moral standards & sometimes am very disappointed because I don't meet them. (ie: I'm NOT perfect.)
*I want to be careful what I entertain myself with but I struggle with it because I love watching TV/movies.
*I want to save the world but can only do what I can do.
*I want to adopt but it's taking a looooong time!
*I believe God heals people all the time but it hasn't happened for me yet.
*I am well educated but I chose to stay home & raise my family rather than have a career right now.
*I think good manners are VERY important but my favorite children's story is "Walter The Farting Dog". (Honestly, it sooooooo funny!)
*I am VERY compassionate but can also be selfish. UGH!
*I like to sing but usually only when I'm driving...alone!
*I am fine with moderate alcohol consumption but I chose not to drink.
*I home school but I don't think it's "the only good way" to educate children.
*I think sunscreen is important but I don't always use it.
*I love organization but I'm not always organized.
*I despise hypocrisy & pride in others & then I notice it in myself. Ouch!
*I am me.
*Not perfect.
*That's OK.
*I know God has created me for a good purpose & that I am deeply loved.
*Wholeness - such a gift.
*Because of God's work in my life...I am me...& I love myself.

Mark's 7th B Day

This is my favorite picture of the day of my "handsome dudes".

My "baby" turned 7 this weekend. Where have the years gone? He told us he wanted to go to a tractor show for his special day, so that's just what we did.

I.....

My sister did this on her blog & I've decided to take a few minute to be introspective myself...

I am: God's daughter
I think: I have an amazing husband
I know: God loves me
I want: to be thinner/fitter
I have: everything I need, but not everything I want
I wish: I could adopt many more children
I hate: abortion
I miss: Emma
I fear: sharks
I feel: tired but hopeful
I hear: a dog barking
I smell: chocolate chips
I crave: more chocolate chips
I search: for directions on Mapquest
I wonder: what my annoying habits are (to other people)
I regret: interrupting others when they are speaking (an annoying habit!)
I love: generously, widely, gladly, boldly, deeply - I'd rather risk getting hurt than becoming hard hearted.
I ache: for children without Mommies & Daddies, single Moms, pregnant teens that aren't sure what to do, the poor, the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the depressed, the lonely
I care: a lot, but I want to care MORE
I always: breathe
I am not: perfect
I believe: God has a good plan & a purpose for every person's life.
I dance:when no one is looking
I sing: when I'm driving
I don't always: think charitable thoughts
I fight: being selfish
I write: in a journal sometimes
I win: when I am lovingly but firmly consistent with my son
I lose: when I lose my temper, yell, am inconsistent, lazy
I never: drive without my seat belt fastened
I confuse: lots of people probably
I listen: pretty well, but am working on becoming a better listener
I can usually be found: in a good mood
I am scared: of rejection
I need: lots of love
I am happy about: my family and the choices we are making.

Ahhh...that was fun...try it! :)

Babies

I wish I was reporting on REAL babies from Ghana, but chicks will have to do for now. I've been really wanting some Polish Chickens (the kind with the feathery top hats) & I finally found one at a recent chicken show. I would have preferred 6 of them but one is a start. I couldn't just have one lonely chick though, so we also got two white Cochin chicks to be good company. The top picture is the Polish chick "Roly". The bottom one is Mark holding "Tanner". Mark named him after a friend of his. For now, the babies are in our hallway under a heat lamp, but we'll move them outdoors soon.