{marshmallows and hot chocolate}

I love fall arriving...

I love hot drinks...

hot chocolate and marshmallows on a cool morning...

especially since our house is usually cool because we leave the windows open at night and pile on the blankets!

I have a new hot chocolate lover...

"chocolate milk, mama... peaz!!! is usually the request,

and we have to add lots of "mellos, peaz?"

So yummy!

Sweet boy, mama loves you!

You make me smile as you tackle this new world around you each day with JOY!

{Nine}

Last week, we had another birthday in our house.

This guy turned 9... how on earth did that happen!

 Seems like he should still look like this...

We started with his favorite pizza for supper...

Then ended with this cake... Lenna made it...
with Keebler Coconut Dream cookies, these are Nate's favorites!

There were a few "trick"relight candles on the cake which made blowing it out fun!

He finally got them all blown out though!

Nate, we love you and are thankful that God put you right here with us.

You are a gift! We chose your name after a great missionary who gave his life serving the Lord, it means, "God has given." I am glad He has given you to us.

We love you son!

Happy 9th birthday!

Some have ask how Nate has done with his 2 surgeries in the last year.

 Just last week, we were in Denver seeing his cleft team. We were excited to hear that he has enough grafted bone this time that he will not need to be re-grafted again! So he has a "year off" for him to grow and for teeth to fall out and come back in so we can move forward with beginning to move his teeth into the right spots, etc. He will have a couple more surgeries to come but those are down the road a few years and we are thankful for that!

{celebrating 11 a little early...}

The other night, we celebrated Abigayl's birthday about a month early.

A few months ago, it was announced that Matthew West was coming to our area on his Live Forever Tour with Francesa Battistelli and "Mr. Talkbox."

She ask if we could go to the concert with some of her gym friends for her birthday gift.

 Here was our happy crew...

 First up was Mr. Talkbox...

 Then Francesa Battistelli...

She was awesome! The girls knew a lot of her songs and sang along...

The night finished out with Matthew West... Wow!

He opened with one of my favorite songs!

Of course, how can it not be good when it starts with a cello on stage (that's Lenna's thoughts and I must agree!)

West "stories" so much in his concerts, it was beautiful!

He then sang this one...

 

And how can worship not be good when you are in a place packed like this...

It was a great night of celebrating "11" a little early for our girl!

{29 again:)

Someone had a birthday this week, I am pretty sure he turned 29... again! 

Or maybe it was 39... again!

Either way, it called for a celebration.

Lenna made his favorite Sweet German Chocolate Cake from scratch...

It is amazing! Shawn's grandma's recipe.

He is an awesome daddy to this crazy crew! 

I am so thankful for him!

Happy Birthday Shawn!

A new belt for Nate...

Nate got to test for his new belt this week!

He had no idea so it was fun to show up and watch him test.

He chose Eli to be his test partner...

Hooray!!!!

Eli got a white stripe for his belt the same night.

 

Both boys are now grey belts!

{Hey Mr. Froggy...}

In our part of the world, we see a lot of toads in the summer time. Our kids love to catch them, build them houses an pretend we live on a toad farm!

The other night, the kids were excited because we actually found a large frog in our yard!

 We caught him and looked at ways he was different than the toads we usually see, the main thing being his long, powerful legs!

 We let him go in the flower bed and went to find out what he was...

 He was a Plains Leopard Frog. I have seen small ones in the backyard and around the garden but never one this big!

I love science lessons in the yard!

He makes me smile...

Five months ago today, this sweet boy joined our family. He was scared, crying and overwhelmed by all the changes happening in his life when the girls and I met him in Changsha.
How far he has come and how he has won our hearts!

He has joy...

he chooses it each day!

Oh, the wisdom his little heart has been teaching me!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

 Psalm 136:1

When I look back at all the little details that God worked out for you to come home to us, I am overwhelmed by His mercy! You were such a tiny baby when we fell in love with "Garrison," and looked forward to the updates from your sponsorship. Then when we decided  to try and bring you home, the mountain seemed so tall to climb and we had to let go and completely trust that God was in the details.
I will never forget the day I finally met you, sweet son of mine, and I am so thankful for you and each of your brothers and sister!
We love you Wesley!

The Eclipse

I have been slow in getting these posted but a few weekends ago was the Super Blood Moon Eclipse. We took the kids out in the country to watch, they rode bikes and ran while we watched the Great Artist preform over head.

I took several pictures, trying to capture it in it's glory... 

It was a beautiful night... and the moon was bold as it began to rise...

the tiny shadow began...

Almost covered...

 Then the Blood Moon shone so brightly...

 We headed home but watched as the light begin to shine again on the other side as the shadow passed by...

 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Psalm 19:1