Warm & Cold - Pictures

Lee bought himself a very nice new camera for his birthday:). As a consequence, I have more pictures to share with you all!

Yesterday was beautiful. It felt like a warm spring day and the boys enjoyed their time outdoors:

Then today we had a snow day! Hard to believe we went from spring-like weather one day and back to winter the next.

It still didn't stop the boys from enjoying some outdoor time, though:

Adopted: Verb or Adjective

My mom sent this devotional to me the other day and it is the most beautiful description of adoption.

Adopted:   Verb or Adjective?

 

God has one "begotten" Son.  He adopted the rest!  But the Bible never refers to us as adopted children, only as children.  "Adopted" is the action God used to make us His children but is never used to describe us.

 

As "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3), we needed God's adoption action.  It cost Him.  He gave His only-begotten Son so we might become "sons."  Through faith in His adoption process of death and resurrection, we receive the inheritance of eternal life and the unparalleled privilege of coming to Him as dear children come to their Father.

 

What a positive light this sheds on earthly adoptions!  Couples sometimes say, "We want our own child."  That's understandable.  But there are two ways to get your own child - through birth and through adoption.  Once either is accomplished, the couple has not a "birth child" or an "adopted child" but their own child, a gift from God.

 

Rejoice today in your adoption by your heavenly Father.  Pray for couples seeking to adopt.  Pray for the children needing a family.  Adoption - what a positive and loving action!

 

Abba, Father, thank you for making me Your very own child.  Amen.

This is a picture Anthony drew of our family today during church. We are so thankful for the blessing of our boys! 

  

Guess Who Else?

Guess who else we saw today??

We've been missing (Z) so it was a welcomed surprise when she called us today! We did Face Time with her and then had a playdate this afternoon. The kids had a blast and it was a joy listening to their laughter.

We bought her those GoldieBlox and Lee actually had the chance to pass on his love of engineering to our fun, spunky, intelligent (Z).

Praising God for continuing to bless us with the opportunity to be a part of her life!

Guess Who?

Guess who we got to babysit last night??

Can you tell how excited all of my boys were to have him?

Remembering

If she were still with us, Ashley would be five years old, but four years ago today, Jesus took her home.

Can't wait to give you hugs and kisses when we join you in Heaven sweet girl!

Jeremiah 29:11

David came out of the bathroom the other night reciting this verse. I had bought this because it was the verse God had given to me when we weren't sure what His plans were for Anthony and it brought me such comfort.  I hung it in the bathroom because...well, I figured that one day they would read it after seeing it multiple times a day. See, it worked!

Anyway, I desperately needed that reminder. God has been reminding me that He cares so deeply for my boys and that when things get rough...I need to hand over my worries and frustrations because He has it all under control.

Today, I am praising God for how much I love my boys. I am especially grateful for the quality time I have been able to spend with Anthony. It has been much needed.

God is going to use that kid in big ways - I just know it!

I Might be a Little Crazy

My hope for a fun year of school at home next year has caused me to become slightly....um....compulsive about organizing so that things are as easy as possible for when we start. 

I am constantly telling myself: "This is a work in progress, try things out and if they don't work - try something else."

Here are some things I am 'trying out' : 

1) The top row of our living room organizer has now officially become storage based on subject area: Literacy, Science, Math, and History.

Where there is a will...there is a way...don't ask me how I found space for all that other stuff that was in there! Ok, if you really want to know...let's just say that I am assuming Lee won't agree to fostering another baby for a while so I admit that I am using the crib's dresser drawers. Should God surprise us again like He did with Baby C, we'll be calling on friends to help us with storage for sure:).

Ok, so back to my craziness.

2) I've already made a first draft of our school schedule that I am sure will change ten times before it works.

3) Finally, and probably the most surprising idea I am trying out is Weekly Meal Planning. I don't particularly enjoy cooking. I can, but I don't cook as often as I should. While trying to understand my aversion, I realized that it is mostly because of all the planning that is needed. Figuring out what we want for dinner a week in advance only to go grocery shopping and then realize I forgot something or maybe we don't feel like eating that particular meal and then the food just goes to waste...it is horrible. So I result to shopping like a minimalist and thankfully my amazing husband picks up where I am lacking.

Next year, I am hoping this will change! Want to know how? I have planned out four weeks worth of meals and with each weekly menu is the corresponding grocery list. So now, all I have to do is print out one Weekly Meal Plan, head to the grocery store, and I'm good to go for the week! Here's is an image of Week 1 :).

There you have it. I might be a little crazy, but at least I'm having fun with it!

Hope you all have had a wonderful start to 2014!