This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Just a few moments from the last week...

Everyone should enjoy Green Eggs & Ham every once in awhile... 

This is currently Eli's favorite book!

A week ago, Heghine got headed home to Armenia. We have talked with her and she made it home fine and is enjoying time with her family again!

The kids at t-ball last week...

 Eli loves to catch!

 heading up to bat with a smile!

 It was hot & windy the other night, thankfully the weather is looking cooler for our games tonight!

Waiting...

We are doing a lot of this these days in our family... waiting for the day word arrives that our sweet Clara can come home. A friend emailed recently and ask how it was going and if I could put a little update here, it has been awhile since I shared her about her.

 

 Our sweet girl is now 13 months old, it's been 3 months since we first got the call about our daughter and said yes. We are continuing to wait for a set of paperwork that we had hoped would arrive quickly this time around, but God has had a different plan. That makes for some up and down days as we wait but we know His plan is always perfect and He demonstrated that to us in a very real way when we waited so long to bring Nate home in 2008/2009. As I look back, I see the things God taught us then and how He continues to walk with us faithfully now. God used that journey in our lives to prepare our hearts for Clara. He continues to prove faithful each day as we wait for her.

Please continue to pray for Clara as we wait- that she will be healthy and safe, that her health will continue to be good and that her little heart will be ready for the transitions that are to come with the changes in her life. We are so thankful for those who are caring for our daughter right now.

We also ask that you pray for our family as we wait. That we will trust the Lord and His faithfulness in timing, travel, finances and all the plans that go with it. That our heart will also be ready for the days of transition ahead as we go from a family of 6 to a family of 7.

Waiting can be hard. As we have waited for Clara, I have often went back to this post, written Nov. 21, 2008, while waiting for Nate. I just thought I would share it again here today with each of you. It really shares my heart of the same feeling we have on this journey to Clara as well.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:4-8

I'm up late, finishing some craft projects while the kids sleep, enjoying the quiet house, a cup of hot chocolate and just spending time with the Lord. I had hoped to have great news to report that we finally were heading to China to get our Little Man, but no news yet.

As the days tick away, it seems to get harder for me to wait. Earlier today I was thinking about how much our Little Man has changed since we first saw his face almost 7 months ago. In many ways, it's sad for me to think about each day that has passed that he wasn't with our family, to think about all the "firsts" that we have missed. Was someone cheering for him when he took his first step? Were his care givers excited when he said his first words? Did anyone hear them... tonight while I was praying through the scripture above, I was reminded that my son has not been forgotten! He has a Heavenly Father who has loved Him before his life began, a Heavenly Father who has heard every cry even when someone else didn't, a Heavenly Father who has seen all the firsts and who loves my little boy beyond measure!

His Heavenly Father is also mine, He loves me too and knows the ache in my heart for this little boy and for my family here at home. He knows my desires, for us to finally be together as a family. My Heavenly Father has heard my prayers daily for our Little Man and He has listened!

I am so thankful for the comfort offered in these words in Philippians. He wants me to rejoice no matter what my circumstances are, and to actually find joy in them! He has given me much to be joyful about each day! Time to spend with my other children, teaching them, creating with them, enjoying the special moments and memories we have each day. He doesn't want me to miss out on them! He also ask me not to be anxious about anything! This includes waiting for Little Man to come home. God knows the time, He knew it when He created my son. I can find peace and rest in knowing that He is taking care of each of us every moment. God promises many times in His word that He is with us, that He will be our strength and carry our burdens.

I needed a lot of carrying today and I'm so thankful that He is always willing!

The Armor of God!

Sunday morning in the service, the Sunday School kids presented a program- The Armor of God! It was awesome. Just a few pictures of the program...

The Armor of God

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 

Ephesians 6:10-18

Saying good-bye....

In a little less than 12 hours, Heghine will be on an airplane beginning her long journey back to Armenia. It is a bittersweet time right now- many good memories of her year here of new experiences, culture and family. Yet, 10 months is a long time to be away from home so the excitement of returning home is here. 

We spent much of the weekend preparing for her to head home- weeding through the stuff of the year, packing and celebrating with friends and church family...

 Saturday evening, we had all Heghine's favorite American foods at a little party... they were just made of cupcakes!

~Fried Chicken~

 ~Veggies- these were peas and carrots~

 ~mashed potatoes~

 ~corn on the cob~

 Lots of last moment memories with friends...

 Then a reception at church...

We headed off to the big city this afternoon for some last minute fun. Heghine's flight leaves at 7:00am in the morning so we will be at the airport at 5:15 to check her in. Please keep her in your prayers on her flights home, it is going to be long! She's arrive home at 6:30am on Thursday morning in Armenia (8:30pm Weds. night here.)

Harvest Time...

Thursday evening and Friday afternoon, our kids got the chance to ride in the combine during wheat harvest (Thanks Mr. Wayne & Miss Anita for loving on our kids!) Harvest this year has had a lot of ups and downs, the drought has been rough on the wheat so some fields are doing ok and others are not. As I thought about the harvest and watched the other night, I was reminded of something said at a memorial service lately about a farmer... He always gave his fields to the Lord, trust Him to provide and sometimes the Lord gave and sometimes He took away...

As I watched, I was reminded of many friends we have who are faithful workers in the Lord's Harvest... Some of them are listed with the links to their blogs below. Would you take the time to run by their blogs and leave them a note of encouragement in their comments?

This faithful workers are working the harvest for the Lord... sometimes is it wonderful and sometimes it is tough.

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:2

Aaron & Joanna along with their family serve in the Solomon Islands

Greg & Helen serve with their family in Canada

Tripp & Heather along with their family serve in East Kalimantan, Indonesia (Borneo)

Jennifer serves orphans in Bolivia

Jeff & Colene along with their family serve children in the Philippines

These are just a few we know with blogs, there are many more and I am sure you know others... take time to encourage them in the Harvest today...

 

Play ball!

Ball season is in full swing and the kids are having fun. Friday night Lenna's team played in our hometown and the t-ball team played in another. I took Abigayl, Eli & Nate for the game and took a few pictures. I missed Eli, I'll catch him in the next game! Enjoy!

 

He's little but he has a mighty swing!

 

Waiting with Mr. Matt on 3rd base for the chance to run home!

 Our friend, Maiya, plays on our team too!

 Crossing home plate is always a reason to smile!

(Picture taken by Lenna on our way home form the geology tour:)
See the post below for the picture tour of our weekend!

The weekend in pictures....

How do you know you are on the State 4-H Geology Tour?

You spend your day driving between stops and all other cars on the highway pull over because they think you are a 50 car funeral precession!

Then all your kids hop out of the car with empty ice cream buckets in hand,

Quickly find their friends they have waited all year to spend time with again and start looking for rocks and fossils!

 Along the way... little critters and small burst of color that reflect God and His amazing creation!

 

  

Lots of smiles... And lots of naps in the car seats while driving down the highway!

 

 Mountains (or the next highest rocks available) conquered with friends...

Fun times at parks along the way... this skate board park made for a great sliding adventure..

Fun times with siblings and cousins who were along on the trip...

 So many precious memories of another year's adventure together...

Remember, we all stumble, every one of us.  That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.  ~Emily Kimbrough

 ps... I can't forget to mention the other exciting event that took place at our house...

Thursday things to be thankful for...

Boys+Friends+dirt= loads of fun!

The first fruits of the season that we are enjoying from the garden in the back yard- onions, peas, broccoli and lettuce for salads.

bendy bracelets made with friends with oven baked clay ...

 a surprise visit from grandpa and time for stories to be read...

bread dough rising...

bunk bed tents and stories loving read inside by an older sister to friends...

 read aloud books arriving for the next school year...

freshly quilt seams on Lenna's first big quilt for the fair...

making ziplock bag ice cream on a hot summer day...