Family Picture

Family Picture

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Almost Turkey Time

We have been busy making Thanksgiving treats.  Wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving Day!




Anna does the eyes, beak and legs with icing

Amy unwraps the Reeses cups
                                                                            
       
Turkey cupcakes ready for Thanksgiving

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Pumpkin Bread

We took an afternoon to bake pumpkin bread for the girls' teachers at our homeschool program.
I think it is important for them to be a part of a service project as we show appreciation for others.
Anna is a good little baker.  She cracked the eggs, ten to be exact, and spooned in the pumpkin, plus did a lot of measuring of the dry ingredients.  Amy likes to help but she also likes the quick jobs, so she poured in the secret ingredients of vanilla and butterscotch puddings.  Both girls helped to make the loaves pretty with ribbons and special notes.  Before it is all said and done ( not all in one day) we will have made 12 loaves of pumpkin bread with a loaf or two for ourselves to keep as well! By the last batch, Anna could pretty much make pumpkin bread all by herself. My house smells like autumn!



Ready to deliver tomorrow

Science

I got up early enough to catch this sunrise

Learning about plants with our celery experiment

Bar graphing some skittles from the Halloween candy stash

Part of the fun is eating the candy afterwards while we finish the rest of school

Made/built a science lab at Lowe's.  Amy still loves to hammer.

These came with several good experiments we plan to do together

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Field Trip to Huntsville AL

Back in October we went to Huntsville to visit the Space and Rocket Center with Anna's Homeschool Science Classes.  We had a great time.  We went a day early and stayed an extra day so we could also do some other sight seeing.  I am just a bit behind in posting a few trip pictures.

An original Log Cabin

Few  of the city, from the Burritt estate

The rockets are really something to see

Our precious friends came also

The girls loved the view from the elevator

Feeding and chatting with the ducks

Friday, November 7, 2014

"Momma, Why Did It Take So Long For You to Come For Me?"

Amy asked me this question at the end of the summer.  
At the time, I answered her as best as I could.
Sharing this conversation has been something I have pondered off and on in my mind.
In light of November being National adoption month, there are some things to be said for sharing our story.
First off, so my sweet Amy will have this to read some day, if the question still lingers in her heart.
Secondly, in hopes that someone, who may be on the fence regarding their decision to adopt, will stop waiting and move forward.
 There are so many children.  Children who wait.  They are lonely.  They are hungry.  They are afraid.  Their days are so long.  And their nights are even longer.
How do I know this?  I have the eye witness, personal account of a sweet little daughter, who is old enough to remember,  and who has shared with me so many things. The worst being that after she had to leave her foster grandmother and go back to the orphanage, she was so afraid and upset, 
 "that she wanted to just be dead."
Her testimony wrings my heart out.  And quite honestly,I hope it wrings yours out as well.

We all have a part to play in caring for those who are vulnerable.  
Adoption, fostering, hosting, giving of your time and talents, giving of your money for others to go if you can't, money for provisions in providing for the least of these,
 and praying.
May my sweet, happy spirited, life loving Amy Joy,  be a voice for the children who wait, a voice for each and every  child who is not in a position to speak up for themselves. 
  As these children wait for hope, love and the belonging that comes with family, the older they get......the chances of them finding a family.....goes down.
 These are God's precious children.  
Who will go?  Who can He send?

  Please don't let it take.......so long.......to help them.... to go for them.

Amy in China,  holding one of the toys we sent her.  This was taken about 5/6 weeks before we got her.

This picture was taken last week.  One year and six months after the above photo from China.


My dearest Amy,
In answer to your question:
Please know, we came for you as soon as we possibly could. 
We prayed for you long before we even knew you.
We said yes to you in less than 24 hours of learning about you.
We loved you from afar while we waited for you.
We had hoped for a girl with a special hand like yours.
 Two years earlier we pursued a little girl like you, with a special hand like yours, but her papers were not ready so we could not adopt her.
All along, God was preparing our hearts for you, my sweet Amy.
He knew you were meant to be our girl,  before you were even born.
God is good like that.
May you always remember He loves us with a Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, 
 Always and Forever Love.
 He delights in setting the lonely in families, The Bible tells us so.

We completed the paperwork in less time than it usually takes.
Our bags were packed weeks ahead of time, but we had to wait on official documents.
We booked the first available travel dates when China gave us approval to come for you.
We longed for you as we waited to come for you.
We hate it that the wait was so long,
but we are trusting in God's timing.
1 John 4:16 We know the love that God has for us and we trust that love.

We testify to the fact that we have seen God's loving hand in the details of you joining our family. 
Precious Amy, we have all seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
May you read these accounts and see the photos recorded here, someday when you are older, and see yourself blooming and growing as you live out the wonderful plans God has for you.  Plans of hope and a future.....not to harm you!
We know you have been through some very difficult days.
May you take comfort in realizing, that how you start out in this world
 is not going to measure out to be nearly as important as where you end up.
We love you and we have now through eternity to spend together.

 Because you often ask me, "Momma is that true?" 
Amy Joy, my beloved daughter, "You can trust these words I write are true."

Isaiah 45:3  I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.  

Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen. 

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Amy's Actual Birthday day

We celebrated Amy's birthday a couple of days early because it was the weekend and Will came home from college, plus Wesley could join us as well.  Amy didn't mind having an early family party.  On Monday, November the 3rd, we got an early start on school so we could cut out early for some birthday fun!  I surprised Amy and Anna with a trip to Monkey Joe's bounce house.  The girls had a blast as they pretty much had the place to themselves.  After they ran, bounced, climbed and slid down slides until they were worn out, we left to go to Target for personal pan pizzas and cherry icee's. 
Our final stop was to bath and body works to pick out some good smelling hand soaps.  
When we got home we did a fun craft and played outside.  Amy had noodles and a big bowl of grapes for her dinner as those are her favorites.  Then more birthday cake for dessert.  Amy said she had fun on both of her birthday days!  





Monday, November 3, 2014

Happy Birthday Amy

We can hardly believe you are 8 years old!  You are growing so fast sweet girl!  In one year from arriving home from China, you gained 7 pounds and grew several inches.  I think you have almost repeated that in these last six months!  You continue to amaze us with your growth.....physically, spiritually, emotionally and even academically!  You are one smart girl!
 We love you and are so proud of you.  Your happy spirit and boundless zest for life gets us going in the morning and keeps us rolling throughout the day!  You make us laugh and brighten our day with your smile.......Amy Joy you are a wonderful gift to us!  We celebrate you today!  We cherish you each and every day! 

Psalm 18:19
He brought me out into a spacious place,  he rescued me because he delighted in me. 
Our Birthday Girl

Favorite Birthday balloon

Lots of presents for the Sweet Girl turning 8

One of her favorite presents

May all your Birthday wishes come true!

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