New Year

I haven't posted recently because we had a rough start to the new year with John suffering severe sciatica pain & me dealing with yet another infection. After 2 Drs, 3 Chiropractor visits, x-rays & steroids, John is on the mend (& I am too) & we are feeling encouraged. Phew!

Here are a few random shots of the last weeks at our house...

Luke, with a completed gift from Nana & Papa.

 He looks so grown up to me in this pic!

Nathan's portrait of Mommy. I love it, of course!

Since John & I were very sick/in pain, the boys rose to the occasion & helped out a lot. John walked Mark through the process of waffle making & Mark was so proud to provide breakfast for everyone! Sweetness! I love it! 

Truth/Hope

Christmas in LOTS of pictures

 Our non-relaxing, but fun, Christmas walk, where the boys have a Nerf Gun fight & we realize Romeo has become a HUGE knuckle-head on the leash. Lots of training to follow...

 Nathan decorated a cardboard box & said it was a bed for baby Jesus. Sweetness!

A gift from Nana & Papa in Canada

  Mark's gift from Nana & Papa

Luke, opening his gift from Nana & Papa.

 Early in the morning - excited Nathan wearing his new head lamp & sleepy Mom

  You've just got to love that set of chops!

 Luke strikes a super pose.

 Nathan, with another gift from Nana & Papa.

Lego is the gift of choice for all of our boys.

My three fave boys in the world under the tree at the park.  I'm so thankful God blessed me with those three little monkeys  boys! :)

Merry Christmas all!

 We're off to light the candles on our "Happy Birthday Jesus Cake". :)

Luke is 8!

Our precious Luke Emmanuel is eight years old today! He was so excited yesterday that he told me he wanted to go to bed early so the day would "come sooner".

Luke is a kind, helpful guy with an amazing athletic gifting. He is good at every sport he tries, especially soccer. He plays year round now & loves it. The best part about it, is that he is a team player and is not at all arrogant about his talent.

At home, Luke is a hard worker, getting up before everyone else to do his independent school work. He wants to learn & "get smarter" so he just goes for it.

Luke, we are so thankful for you & are proud of the kind & fun boy you are.

 Happy Birthday & lots of love ALWAYS & ALWAYS! 

Family Photo 2011

Our family photos this year included two parents, three cute little boys, three dogs of all shapes and sizes, and a tripod, all in the front yard for the world to see. We may have provided a few passerby a reason to smile...or snicker! We got through it though, with an acceptable shot & still all speaking to each other. Ha! :)

Here are a few of our attempts:

Romeo has decided he doesn't want to be in this one. That is my hand in between his sharp

puppy teeth.

Every time John got the camera timer set, he would race back to us to get in the picture. Romeo and Jake are trying to figure out what is

going on back there!

It's funny how sometimes the "fails" in life provide the best, funniest memories. That's something I need to remember this Christmas.

 How 'bout you?

Urgent!

This gorgeous boy needs a family very urgently. Johnathan lives in an orphanage & is 15 & will turn 16 at the end of Dec. In his country, when children turn 16 they are turned out of the orphanages to the streets with $30 to their name. They are at great risk to be trafficked. For more info about this precious boy, contact Amy at

waitingchildren@gmail.com


Please pray for Johnathan & the many other children like him that need families!

December Fun

 Nathan with sweet girls.

 Nathan with more sweet girls. How he LOVES girls!

I may home school him until he is 25 or so- ha! :)

 This is Nathan's new joke. I think he put the Santa toy in the fridge accidentally the first time, but now it is just interesting to see exactly who will be in the fridge.

Cute brothers