Look What we are Grateful For!!!

Remember when our van was totaled right before Christmas?

Well, we just received our new van. And we are so glad to have it! Thank you LORD for providing...
And THANK YOU Mom and Dad for your help!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

My brother and sister (in-law) gave us this baby gift! I have been holding Keshawn in my lap to feed him and I am so grateful for to have a high chair now.
I love you Kim and Karla, Scott and Tiffany. Thank you for this gift!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-Baby Love

OK, I'm really into this collage thing...it's a fun way to share so many cute pictures...
and, I am so enjoying my first real week home with my new son. We have been lazying around; just hangin' out...no school, just playing, reading and sitting around holding Keshawn.

And today, I am so grateful that Keshawn is home and that we are all together. I love the sweet baby-ness of Keshawn and the love my other children are already showering on their new brother! They adore him.

What can I say...I'm in love with baby love!!!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

I'm grateful for times of rest. I know that there will be busy days in the next few months, so I rest now...look at my little darlin's a little more, try to move a little slower, enjoy the smell of fresh bread.
It has been a bit of a "blah" week. I wish we would receive news about when I can travel to Ethiopia. Caresse is going to have to have a second surgery on her knee, but we are praying we can wait till January. I'm behind on things, however;
It is good today to remember and be grateful and rest in HIM.
"Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered." I Chronicles 16:12

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful for what we call "green cream", or Eden Salve. When any one gets a scratch, scrape, bruise, and any other "boo-boo's (even imagined ones-LOL), this is what we run for. You can buy it at Bulk Herb Store. They have a little one that I keep in our van and a larger one that stays in the house.
Here is the description for this amazing, natural cream...

"We formulated this salve using an effective blend of herbs and natural ingredients to numb pain, as well as heal and soothe. It acts as an astringent to draw out infection and poisonous bites. It is an antiseptic and fights bacteria. When you and your family needs it, Nature’s Healing Touch is here for you!"

We never leave home with out this 1st aid cream and it is always within easy reach here at the house. See, it quickly brings a smile...
I am also grateful for my older darlin's who help the little darlin's get ready to go outside to play in the snow. Without this help, my little ones would never see snow until they were old enough to dress themselves...something about trying to find all that snow stuff for 8 children, then get it all on (8 hands x 10 fingers and 8 feet x ...well, you get the point), and send them outside just OVERWHELMS me (LOL).
I am also very grateful because my parent are coming to see us tomorrow for the weekend and we love having time with them!!!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-LIPS

I know, it's kinda crazy...

but I love these boy lips....

and sweet girl lips....

and sibling lips....
I'm thankful for all the precious lips around here that fill my mommy heart each day with kisses, and love.

And I'm grateful that it is nap time, cuz all those lips make a lot of noise and it is time for a little quiet.

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-19 days

I am thankful that today is finally Oct. and it is only 19 days till our court date...(though I'm nervous also).

I am also grateful for our family and friends who share these moments with us!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

I am grateful today for the toys that hold childhood memories of my babies!
"Thank you Larry and Bear for the good times and the memories."
"Father God, I am always beyond grateful to be a mother to these precious little people. To love them, and watch as they grow and become, to nurture and teach. Please give me your wisdom each day and may I always look for and enjoy those little childhood moments!"

Randomness and a Pie Your Don't Want To Miss

I always believe in giving the best part first...why wait, eh?


Here's the best part...I have lost weight on this bean and rice diet...come'on....did I hear a Yeahhhh!!!???

However, I am going to make up for the "loss" with this delicious recipe called Apple Cake in an Iron Skillet...oh my, you must try this...

Caresse and I didn't even wait for the ice cream...and from the "crazy look" in her eyes, you can see that you want be disappointed.

THIS is why I need another baby...do you see how big he is?

Nature journaling outside...I love it when it is nice enough to do school outside!!!



As I was diligently doing school with the others and NOT neglecting the little ones, by any means...I heard, "Mom....look!"...
"Good, job Sweet Heart, could you climb down like a good little monkey now?"


And, here is a sweet moment with my daughter...I didn't say one bad word...I promise....
see, I HATE to sew...I like to cook,
however, Caresse loves to sew!

Here is her beautiful quilt that I helped with only because she has been "pestering", well, "begging", OK, she may have had a tiny tear in her eye....ANYWAY,
I did my part to help with this beautiful quilt that SHE LOVES.


Back to what I love...

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-Confessions and Beans

SOOOO, I have kept our beans and rice meals pretty simple, but I thought I would make the above recipe to change up things a little. (It is a great recipe...if you can't read it, let me know and I will send it to you.)

While looking through my recipe book, I saw this...meatballs, mmmm. So here is my confession...I am missing my beef! It's true, I am really missing it, in all forms! So our special diet this month showed me an ugly side that I have kept hidden...I like to eat what I want, when I want it. As I was struggling through this nasty revelation, Kalyn plopped down at the kitchen counter and said, "Know what I'm hungry for? Potatoes and green beans and roast and gravy!"
I was telling her what I am missing when Caresse started walking out of the room, covering her ears saying "Enough, hush, no more, I can't stand it." (Ha-ha).

So, back to the rice above cooking, the black beans in the pressure cooker, and I am grateful (and I really do mean that), for the salad that was ready to eat in Caresse's garden!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday-Mom

Today is my mothers birthday...and I can never say how very thankful and grateful for her I am. I wish you could know her like I do...
First, the above picture is at my parents 50th wedding anniversary. And that is my brother with me...I was in the middle of a "speech" so I look silly...
BUT, this isn't about me...it's about that amazing woman sitting on my dad's lap (I know, aren't they the CUTEST!).
My mother is a lover of life!!! She has taught me to look for beauty in creation and in people. She is unmovable about God's love for us all and we teasingly say that she is God's favorite.
Life has not been easy though...
Mom and Dad couldn't get pregnant even though they so badly wanted to have children. After 5 long years they found out that mom had a thyroid cancer. What a scare for my parents!!! After surgery, a miracle happened - mom became pregnant with me. Mom has said that she prayed that the LORD would let her live long enough to see her children grow up.
My name means "God is gracious". After I was born, my brother followed 22 months later, and then no more pregnancies.
Not only has she lived long enough for my brother and I to grow up, but she has seen the miracle of grandchildren growing up.
My parents love to go on vacations with their children. Two years ago, after skiing, my mother feel down the slippery step of our house boat and broke her leg. But it wasn't just any break...the doctors said it looked like a severe auto accident where her leg had been crushed.
Two years later, my mother is still on crutches.
Two years later, my mother is still doing her physical therapy and different drug treatments.
Two years later, with very little bone growth, my mother still prays and expects that the LORD will heal her!
Her faith is as sure as the sun rising and setting.
Her love as unending as the beauties of the Colorado mountains.
Her determination to stand on the truth of God's Word is as strong as the greatest ocean waves.
My precious mother...I love you and am so grateful that the LORD gave you to me!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

The below two quotes are from two blog posts at Building The Blocks...

"We can’t further His kingdom when all we care about is ours. We need to be willing to invest ourselves and our lives into others whether Gods asks us to do that through prayers, words of support, giving of our time, or financially."
You can read the rest of this post here .

"By teaching our children to serve and to put others needs first-we are giving them the tools of success- as parents, as spouses, as citizens and as employees. Yet even more importantly- we are teaching our children to appreciate what they have instead of constantly longing for more. Children who are starving in 3rd world countries would consider themselves blessed to be served a warm diet of beans and rice daily- and these children are just as important to God as we are. There are so many ways we can teach our children to give of themselves- and to make this world a better place because they are in it.

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)"
The rest of this post is here.

PLEASE, PLEASE take the time to read them both. Amy's passion is contagious.
Why am I putting her post here on my Grateful/Thankful Thursday post?
I have been blessed to have grown up in a family that was passionate for the LORD, missions and a desire for others to hear about the precious love of the LORD.
My parents and other family members have always supported us with their love and help as we have journeyed to each of our children. I have always been so thankful for them! (THANK YOU MOM AND DAD...YOU REALLY ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN I CAN SAY).
However, as Steve and I grew more passionate for orphans and felt that the LORD was telling us to bring another little one home, we seemed to loose friends. Not intentionally really...it's just that we were getting a little to "different".
So, today, I am grateful for this funny little world of blogging where I have found kindred spirits, made friends that "get" me and share my "radical" ideas. I am grateful to have "met" so many of you who challenge me, inspire me, accept me, and encourage me. I'm grateful to have found others who are living lives of love, dedicated to their families and to God's leading.
I love you all and am so glad that God brought you each into my life! Thank you!!!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

We met some new friends when we went to our favorite park to play today....
I'm thankful that the LORD puts us mothers together to encourage and enjoy each other...and it was so fun watching all of our children do what children will do in water (I forgot the swimsuits, oh well).
I'm grateful for the wonders of children...
can you guess what they found?
I'm so thankful for their curiosity that keeps my life fun.
The delights...
of being a child....
I am so grateful to the LORD for giving me this gift of motherhood!

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

I am so grateful to Linny for teaching me to look for the things each day that I am grateful for. Tonight we are getting packed to leave by noon tomorrow for Texas. It isn't always easy to travel with so many, but I am so grateful for this trip.
And for each of you, the cutiest little four year old in sun glasses' that I know...and, OH, please pray for our new little son in Ethiopia, Elam, that he will come home soon and be protected.
Sorry, I am tired and going to bed...
loves to all,
me

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

Guess who we got to meet for the first time today? And we had a wonderful, fun picnic in the gorgeous Colorado mountains. Any clues yet?


Hint 1: between the two of us we had 14 children...



Hint 2: she has an infectiously fun laugh...(I know that this one isn't fair to our bloggy friends, so just trust me)...


Hint 3: she has 3 handsome sons, and 2 beautiful girls...come on, I'm showing you faces now...

Hint 4: no hint...this little one is just so cute and so precious!!!!




I am so grateful to the LORD for introducing me to this precious sister and for the beautiful day that we got to share together, and with our precious children....






Yes, I got to spend the day with this precious Joyful Mom .

Now you can imagine the thoughts that went through the other people's minds at this area who were also out to enjoy the stunning Colorado day; two white women show up with 14 children, all the colors of the LORD's beautiful family...well you can tell us what you think we might have heard and if she is feeling up to more laughter, Joyful Mom, can tell you, while my family and I pack to go camping for the next three days.

Grateful/Thankful Thursday

We do have so much that we are grateful for...
-and the very 1st one is each of you who prayed for Kalyn and me and for our mission trip to Uganda...and thank you for your sweet notes to my husband and Caresse who took over the blog while I was gone...

-boy, we were grateful that we were able to get this emergency passport...

-so that we could go to Uganda....
-I am so grateful that the LORD gave me the gift of being with the children and people of Uganda...

-and I am so thankful to have gotten to take this trip with my daughter, Kalyn.

-I fell in love in Uganda....with this young man, Tonny, and have "adopted" him as my son...I am so grateful to the LORD for bringing more love into our home through the relationship of this young man and the other amazing young men that we met. They each have become like sons to me and a piece of my heart stayed in Uganda with them each!

-I also am thankful for this give away that I won from Carebear ... it was so fun to come home to this and share it with my little darlin's. Thank you Carebear.

-Our team for this mission trip were amazing and I am so thankful to have met them each and to have had the privilege of working and serving with each of them!!! They have become very precious to me and my life is richer because of their friendships. I miss them so much already! (Who will I pick on now Justin?)

There is so much on my heart as I think of this mission trip and I look forward to writing down those thoughts in the following days. Thank you again for your prayers and support for us as we went to serve the precious people of Uganda.