Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Fredrick the Chicken (Conversations with Ethan)

Fredrick the Chicken
A Story by Ethan.

Once there was a chicken named Fredrick. He lived in a barn. He was a mother.
So he went out one day and the daddy chicken watched the babies. She heard a noise and did not know what to do so she went to see what it was.
And it was a shark! Just swimming in the water. It was two sharks and an alligator and they tried to bite one of her feathers off. So she got a stick and stabbed them and they died.
The end.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Memorial Box Monday- God is a DJ


This is a funny little story that happened last week, only funny because it's a little more personal than I want to be and I have debated sharing it or not sharing but it's a neat little story.
If you don't know what a Memorial Box is, click here to read my first MBM post. It's not my idea, Linny started it and I just think it's a great thing to do, to remind myself of God's faithfulness.

So I was in the car (isn't it weird that most of my MBM stories happen when I am in the car? Thats weird.)

So I was driving and just praying in my head, just talking to God and telling him that lately I have felt kind of like He wasn't around, like I felt alone without Him and that it was hard sometimes not being able to see and talk to Him face to face. I told Him that I know He is always there but I felt far from Him lately.
And then this commercial came on as I was wrapping it up and before the commercial was over this song started playing. Like God couldn't even wait a few more seconds to let me hear it.
He just wanted me to know that He is there all the time.

And in the middle of the song, I heard Him say,
Just trust me.

Never Alone by BarlowGirl

I waited for you today
But you didn't show
No no no
I needed you today
So where did you go?

You told me to call
Said you'd be there
And though I haven't seen you
Are you still there?

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel you by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here, and I'm never alone

And though I cannot see you
And I can't explain why
Such a deep deep reassurance
You've placed in my life

We cannot separate
You're part of me
And though you're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

"And behold, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age."
Matthew 28:21


Sunday, September 26, 2010

1000 Butterflies for Zoey


Although we don't know who our baby girl is yet, we have decided to name her Zoey.
We will keep whatever name (or names) she already has as her middle name(s) but Zoey is what we are calling her and what we will change her first name to when we bring her home.

Zoey means "life."

We didn't know the meaning when we picked it, but it seems appropriate given that:

A. The Lord knew her very name before He made the Universe, and loved her before she was made.
B. Jesus Christ died for her, to give her new life.
C. Her parents, in much love and heartache, will give her up for a chance at a better life far away, knowing they will probably never see their baby girl again.
D. God has called us to be her family, to love her and teach her the love and hope of Jesus.

And so in honor of that, I want to put a new fundraiser out there. I'm going to set the deadline for New Year's Eve. That gives us a few months.

I am going to make a mosaic wall hanging that will go in Zoey's room, using this Martha Stewart Punch:
Martha Stewart Classic Butterfly Craft Punch

Each little butterfly will be unique and beautiful and a reminder of the meaning of her new name, since the butterfly is a sign of new life.

I am going to set up a Chip In Button on this blog and for $1, each little butterfly can be sponsored and a message, bible verse, etc can be added along with the name of the sponsor. My goal is 1000 butterflies. That is $1000. When all are sponsored, we will hang them up in a double glass frame and I will show you the finished mosaic.

If you would like to sponsor one ( or more) just click on the Chip In Button and it will tell you what you need to do.

There are not many things $1 will get you nowadays.

A cheeseburger
A candy bar
A Happy Hour drink at Sonic

Would you please consider giving up one of those things, giving up just one dollar to help us bring her home?

If you know of anyway to get the word out, please feel free to do so. Facebook, your blog, etc. I would love to see this end very soon. God could do it. He could find 1000 different people to all give $1 in one day.

Thank you for considering being a part of yet another fundraiser for Zoey!
We love you all!

Thank you all so much!

Friday, September 24, 2010

What a Wonderful Savior!

"Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death."
Psalm 68:20

Praise Praise Praise!!!!!
Do you hear the cries of joy coming from my living room tonight?


Sasha has found a family!!

Hallelujah!

Wow.





Why Wouldn't We?

I found this video on another blog and I really like it (well,ok, I like alot of adoption videos).
For a couple of weeks before we started talking about adoption, before it was even on our radar, I would be sitting in the same room with all 3 of our kids, and feel like not all of them were there. I could see them. I would count them. But I felt like one of them was missing. I couldn't understand it.
Until The Lord laid adoption on our hearts. Then I realized that one of my children is missing. I know where she is, I just don't know who she is. Isn't that weird. Are you thinking that's a little crazy?
(That's ok if you are. I still love you.)

So it turns out I'm not crazy. (Or maybe I'm just not alone. haha)

I am going to be bold today and just flat out ask you (yes Y-O-U):

**Why Wouldn't You Adopt?**

Really, really think about that. And be honest with yourself.

Because your answer has the potential
to change the life of one of the

147 MILLION children without

a mommy to kiss them goodnight
a daddy to protect them
a bed to sleep in
a favorite toy to snuggle with
enough food to eat
clean water to drink
a birthday to celebrate
someone to say 'I love you.'
proper medical care
a home
a family
a hope
a future.

I've heard it said that the death of one child is a tragedy.
But the death of millions is a statistic.

So you are old.
Better old parents than no parents.

So you can't afford it.
We can't either. But God can.

So it's not a good time/you are SO busy.
Really? Really?

So you have little kids/too many kids/older kids.
Great- siblings are a good thing!

So you don't have any kids.
Great- lots of one-on-one time!

So no one else you know is doing it.
You know us.There are lots of families doing it
and you could spark a revolution!

So they may not look like you.
WHO CARES?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself."
Luke 10:27

Do you love the Lord?
Do you believe you have been adopted as His son (or daughter) and heir?
Do you believe that He loved you so much that He died to rescue you and call you His own?
Do you believe that He loves all His children, no matter where and who they are?
Do you love yourself so much that you would do anything- risk looking foolish, risk making people(or yourself) uncomfortable, risk losing everything you own to spare you own life?

Then why wouldn't you do the same for someone else?
Because Jesus did all that for us, and much, much more.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Meet Me in St. Louis :Day 3


Making waffles.

Getting pumped about going to Grant's Farm!

Sunday was a little dreary. It rained all night and we made plans to go to the Aquarium. But they fell through, so we decided on Grant's Farm instead.



This view reminds me of Pride and Prejudice.

On the tour.



Don't remember what I was saying here.
I seem pretty animated.
Oh the waiting!
Man I wish I could go...

They made me put their seatbelts on.
This is a great picture. They let them get off and pick another animal for round 2.
Did you know turtles are my favorite animals?
They are.
Teeny tiny ones and great big ones especially.


Caden loves horses, it turns out.
Ethan thinks it's so cool that he had a "Tiger's Blood" Snowcone.

Jessie the small horse.



Who knows.

Mom close your eyes...
3...
2...







Ethan, Charlotte, Caden, and Zoey.

I love it when he does this.

Sad lonely elephant. He just stood there staring at the empty bleachers, waiting for them all to come back and watch him.
I will give $10 to the first person who finds Charlotte in this picture.
Ahaha. No I won't.
3 out of 4 is a miracle with these monkeys



Everybody smile!
Thanks for traveling with us!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Meet Me in St. Louis :Day 2



Ready?



The seals there weren't as lively as they are here.


Red Panda


New shades!



Tractor.





Flamingos and Ducks








Not so sure about those little guys in tuxes.


7 seconds before I became World's Worst Mother...


3 Seconds.


Yep. It happened.
Didn't think he was going to remember his name for a minute, but I think he's ok.


This bear dreams of running away and joining the circus. He was about to do a backwards double somersault right off the little cliff there.

By the way, I wonder what circus people run away to become?


Not. Happy.



This bird was born in the Ugly Tree.


See?


Just a normal nap, not a concussion nap.




These were beautiful.


Look at its knees! Amazing.


Normal nap still.


My favorite part of the zoo. These giraffes were humongous! Especially this dark one.



A baby!



Does anyone remember in Jurassic Park when that computer guy (thats also on Seinfeld) gets lost and is surrounded by those little velociraptor things? The ostrich kept pacing back and forth in front of us and would pop its head over that rock and stare at us. I felt like that guy just before he got eaten.


She (He?) was making a big nest, which was my 2nd favorite thing to see.


3rd favorite.
Not gonna lie.







Can I get a price check? This barcode's not scanning.



Don't worry. I told him to do this.


Becky took these two into the Herpetology Center while the rest of us rested outside.


outside.

inside.


outside.


I love this picture.


Liz this is for you. They were huge!



Big ol' nest.


See- he's ok.



After we got back and rested awhile, we took a walk


to the candy store and the park.


Then it was time for dinner and bed.

Tomorrow: Grant's Farm!