Fun with Boys

Last Sunday the boys sang for the church. They were so so cute. We weren't sure E would sing with the group because he's never wanted to before, but he stayed up there, and sang and as you can see...sang with gusto. It was so beautiful. Makes me want to cry with joy watching them sing in church every time!

The song was done to sign language.... GOOD STUFF! We had the big choir, the praise band, the orchestra and the kids singing together... oh man...it was like heaven!


These are the only pics I took of Thanksgiving... bad blogger momma...lol
Mashed taters!

This tree is beautiful!! It's NOT in our yard but in the pictures below you will see how much it takes to clean up after this tree. We had fun though! The boys had a blast raking, (I did NOT coerce them... they actually enjoyed it.) N said "This is the BEST DAY EVER! I will remember this day forEVER!" Seriously...I don't make this stuff up. Guess we won't have to go back to Disney, we will just have him rake leaves. :)




YAY! Leaf piles!

Can you find the boys?



It was a good day!

Truth Pandemic

The Truth is contagious. Spread it!

Project HOPEFUL invites you to join with us in spreading the truth about HIV/AIDS and children living with the disease. Please watch our video, Truth Pandemic and then share it with five of your friends so they can learn the facts too. Help fight social stigma Join the Truth Pandemic!

Thankful

Happy Friday after Thanksgiving.

Yesterday I had a whole thankful post all written in my head, and then the day happened and I had to stop and re-evaluate.

I am still thankful! More so than when I woke up in the morning yesterday.

It dawned a beautiful chilly morning. D and I got up and dressed for our second annual Turkey Trot. We met with our friends and walked up to the starting line. The race is in our neighborhood so it's very convenient. D runs fast, and I do not, so he ran on ahead and I kept up my much slower pace. I kind of enjoy that, I just put on my ipod and chug on through. :)

Then at about 1/4 mile from the end of the race I came around a corner and there were fire trucks, ambulances and EMT's doing chest compressions on a man on the ground. If you have never seen that done, you don't want to...what a scary vision. Then as I got closer the man on the ground had his feet up and had on D's socks, and black shorts and no hair, and since they were bag breathing for him I couldn't see the face. I froze in panic... stared...and then realized that the shorts were not the same ones D had had on... I was able to move again.

But then it struck me as I watched all the people running along with me that no one had seemed to notice...there was a man dying in front of us and we were just running by. I started praying fervently for this man, his family and loved ones. And then started running full force needing to see my husband to verify that it truly wasn't him on the ground.

I was within feet of the finish line when I saw him trotting towards me. I lost it... I didn't realize how effected I was by the scene earlier until I saw my husband before me healthy and handsome and smiling, then perplexed as to why I was sobbing in the middle of the road...lol So dramatic...lol oiy

Then as we were walking back to our vehicles I received an email from my dear friend T in Ethiopia. He had heard on his radio that it was Thanksgiving in America and he took the time to write a beautiful email. It contained scripture and a thanksgiving that there were people in America that remembered him and loved him and hadn't forgotten his family and friends in the Leper colony in Addis.

Yesterday became a day of reflection. A day of remembering on a soul level how very blessed and thankful I am for all that I have.

When we went around the table last night saying what we are thankful for, most of the family said they were thankful for family. And I am no different. I am. SO very thankful for mine. But I am so much more thankful for a heavenly father that loves me so very much. For a father that has given me my husband. The man that truly is the best man for me, no matter the amount he can make me nuts, or mad or annoyed. He's the man that loves me for me, he loves the Lord and he loves his children. He gets me.

I am thankful for the Lord that provides. The one that didn't allow the piece of furniture we have been trying to sell for a year, not get sold, until D was ready to move forward with the adoption, then have it sell within a day to provide the money we need to apply for our Home Study update. Can I get a woo hoo?!

I am thankful for the Lord that has given me friends in a country that in the beginning of my Christian walk was the furthest place I wanted to be. Receiving an email from T, who is thankful for so very much...when he lives with so very little.

I am thankful for a Lord that put me in a position with an amazing organization like Project HOPEFUL at such a time that they are about to make some HUMUNGOUS strides for mothers and children with hiv. I am thankful for a Lord that opened my eyes to this issue in the first place and asked me to help Him.

I am thankful to for the Lord that placed friends and family in my life that make me want to be better than I am.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
Numbers 6:24-26 NLT

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Last night at dinner this is the conversation:

E: Momma, when did Indians live?
Me: They live now honey. Daddy is part Indian.
E: (face perplexed and in awe turns to look at D) You part Indian?! WOW you fish really good! (insert rueful expression) I can't even build a bathroom. How you get Indian?
D: My daddy was half indian and his mommy was all indian.
E: ???? So when I grow up me be indian too?!
Me: No buddy, you are all Ethiopian. You grew in your Ethiopian mommy's tummy.
E: Mommy you Indian?
Me: Nope. I am just a bunch of white stuff.
E: Huh?
Me: My family is from Europe.
E: Huh?
Me: Germany, Poland, England, Scotland, Wales... (I SO wish I could capture his face when he gets perplexed, or confused...lol). No I am not Indian or Ethiopian...just plain old me.
E: Ok. :)

The conversation ensued about lineage, and how he's Ethiopian and his Birth parents. N was quiet until he piped up with "I am African American!"

I love this stuff, I love working through who we are and our differences as well as same-ness... :)

More later on thankfulness... It's a long post! :)

Blessings

People Magazine and Project HOPEFUL

Hey guess what?!

Carolyn and her family are representing Project HOPEFUL in the December 6th issue of People Magazine that will be out this week!!! It's supposed to hit stands tomorrow the 24th.

SO SO excited!!

They are sharing the truth about hiv and hiv adoption... check it out!!!

REDically Tacky 4 Africa

From Steffany's Blog:

Today is the day!
The official start of going
REDically Tacky
for WORLD AIDS DAY!
and believing with
Radical faith
that 5k will be raised
for the PROJECT HOPEFUL
Sisterhood+ Project.

That's right friends 5ooo.oo for Project HOPEFUL in 2 weeks. Selling Headbands and getting donations. We can do it together. The headbands are amazing, and so very cute!!

Check them out, and wear one proudly!!

Click on THIS LINK and get yours~~

Operation Christmas Child, A Birthday and Silliness

So I am catching up on some pics and activies that we got to enjoy this week.
On Saturday I took the boys with me to the KLove Operation Christmas Child packing party. My job was to help the Girl Scouts fold the boxes... so I put the boys to work. They loved it! It was really so very cool to see my boys helping give back. Although it was interesting to explain why we were doing this...cause why doesn't Santa just bring them presents? :)

E-man is a folding master! :)
N was too busy checking everything else out and wanting to help in all the other places...lol LOVE his heart to help, it's hard to corral it sometimes though...lol

Filling in their 'About me' forms. SO sweet!

A little silliness... she's got loaded whipped cream...better back off!

S's 17th Birthday was on Wednesday...can you believe the couple above birthed such a beautiful young lady?!
My Z and my parents. :) He's SO grown...he'll be 21 next month...oh my goodness!
My sweet niece. :)
S, mom in law and D...
Me and my bigs..and my momma. :)
She was REALLY happy about this gift! :)
My sweet baby girl...
Not sure what happened at the table after dinner...all the kids and my brother decided it was time to make crazy faces... who do you think won?




Happy Birthday my sweet, beautiful, amazing, smart, caring, one of a kind baby girl!!!

Ladies On A Mission Guest Blogger

Hey ya'll I have been given the honor to be a guest blogger today over on my friend Lisa's Blog called Sharing Life with Lisa.

She is an amazing woman of God, I think you will love her blog.

Take a sec to go check her out...and in the mean time you can find today's blog post there. :)

Blessings and Happy Thursday!!!

Andrea

How Do You Choose To Live Your Life?

My philosophy today... “Life is not a journey to the grave, with the intention of arriving safely, in one pretty and well-preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting ‘Take THAT Satan’” (Author unknown)

I know I know, it’s not scriptural…lol but it’s the way I am feeling.

So much happening in life these days, and as my dear friend Laura reminded me, I need to put on the full armor of God. Yesterday was one of those days that I did not put on my armor until much later in the day, and was feeling the bruising.

It’s funny how life can do that to you isn’t it? The day started with a huge joy when I learned a dear friend is pregnant. (Found out this morning that another is as well …YAY A!!) Then got to work and just started feeling down…held down by sadness.

It was then that I remembered that while tomorrow is a day for complete joy, my sweet S turns 17 yrs old (not sure how that’s possible…lol), but it’s also the anniversary of my father in law’s journey to heaven. Both reasons for rejoicing, but the latter has been sort of sitting on my heart lately.

Perhaps it’s the reminders, perhaps it’s the time we have spent pouring over old pictures, perhaps it’s the fact that I am hormonal…lol or just a little unhinged...who knows.

I got some really huge fun great news while at lunch…Can’t tell you about it yet…but seriously God is too cool for words! The way He works things out is unreal sometimes.

I got home to a recount of my S’s day and the issues that she’s having with ‘friends’ being ugly and mean. Of rumors being spread and people not being truthful. Sometimes parenting leaves you feeling like you could cause bodily harm to people that hurt your children… the momma bear in me growls pretty big when you mess with my kids. (Of course I would not!!!... but you momma’s know what I mean)

And on top of it all E-man is having some issues keeping his meds down. THIS one bugs me the most. I am sure it’s easily remedied, but it’s still freakin’ me out. He’s been through enough, we need to get this fixed and let him live a normal happy childhood…he deserves no less! And so much more! So pray for him will you?

As I went to bed I read my devotion and this is was the scripture…

Matthew 11:29 (New International Version)
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

What I decided this morning is that His Grace is New Every Morning!! I am doing what I know God has planned for me. I feel good about His leading, I feel His hand on my life, I feel His presence in the places HE is taking us. I know He loves my children in a way that I cannot, and His Pappa Bear claws are way bigger than mine! Death’s sting has no place here, because my Savior over came it… today I choose to count it blessing that there are trials because it means that I am causing Mr Ugly some heart burn.

How do you choose to live your life?

Refreshed and Rejuvenated

It's how I feel. :)

It's amazing what a couple of days with people that 'get' it, will do for you. :)

The best part is that having D there has helped tremendously. He's 100 % onboard with my work with Project HOPEFUL and has become part of the team...not just sitting on the sideline asking why I have taken on another mission.

LOVE IT!

Carolyn's husband and D got along so well...there may be some fun, Man vs Orphan Crisis, happening with those guys. Be on the look out. :)

I have taken on some more opportunities... GOOD ones! :) I sometimes wonder about my sanity, but I am loving this new venture...and can see how God has been setting things in motion, moving things into the right places so that I can help Him in this way.

I was telling my friend today that I am so stinkin in AWE of His gift of allowing me to help in this way. He set these ideas in my head, He let them grow and form...then He led me to someone that is doing THOSE things. He's making it happen. The coolest part is that I don't have to be the one in charge, or be the idea person, or make all the decisions... I get to be part of the greater picture. A bigger team, that I didn't have to form. How daggon awesome is that?!

He knows I have to 'work' right now, since we need health insurance...so I can do that and this.

Oh, and by the way... we gonna have some more kiddos... :)

How's that for adding to the mix?!

If you are my friend on FB please don't talk about it there...there are people that I know don't read this ...that do read that. :) But we are getting ready to start again...sooner rather than later. D was like struck in the head with a 2x4 when Eileen spoke on Friday night...then the pastor after her was phenomenal... afterwards he told me that God gave him his burning bush, talking donkey and a 2x4 all at the same time.

I told him that he will have to hold on to his hat because I know there are 2 kiddos out there for us...:)

So, guys...are you ready? We have some great adventures ahead... mission work, mission team work, 2 mission teams... some other big stuff I can't tell you about yet so hold on to your hats... and kiddos on the way.

I am ready...BRING IT!

Say Yes

MidAtlantic Photos

Here are some pics from the weekend. I wish I had gotten my camera out more, there were so many new and great people there... thank goodness for FB...lol I have a bunch of new friends. :)

Our display tables...
Beautiful necklaces by Funky Fish Designs
HOPEFUL women... these are such great ladies!! ;)
Eileen Mestas speaking... man what a power house! She changed the course of our lives with her words!
Handsome men of Project HOPEFUL. :)
Traci organizing... what a woman! :)
Susan Hillis, who knew a scientist from the CDC could speak to our hearts with such conviction?! :) She did!
Tom Davis sharing from his heart... again. Life changing. He's a great guy... didn't want to get all cheesy and ask for a pic with him, just had a nice conversation.
Sporting our Tacky Headbands

Chinese Orphan children performing dance for us... they were stunning!

We ended the night with Meredith Andrews amazing! :)