Mid Summer Ramblings

Hang in there with me. I've got alot going on in my head right now. First of all, who ever said summer was for relaxing?? I am exhausted! To start, just when we had sent Sky back home and decided we needed to "circle the wagons" for a while we get the call about Berny. He has always had a special place in our hearts so there was really no doubt about who would host him. Then came the cousins for two weeks. Mixed in are orthodontic appointments for Madiboo, follow-ups for Berny, and Jay and I both teaching at Vacation Bible School. I am actually sitting down right now for the first time in months, well ok maybe just minutes, but it seems like I am constantly moving lately. Which is why I think I am just now starting to process some emotional stuff that has come along with all of this craziness. Here goes my brain dump:



Since Berny is here our trip to Haiti is completely up in the air. It seems to make sense financially to wait until he is ready to go home or we just end up paying twice. Plus the thought of leaving ALL 5 kids with my Mom just seems like cruel and unusual punishment - and I kinda like her. I am just now getting to be somewhat sad about it. I was planning to go in January of this year and ended up not being able to and now this trip is uncertain. It's hard for me because each time I think that I am supposed to go and that God has something for me there something happens to stop it. Is it the enemy trying to keep me away? Is God just working on my flexibility? I recently read this post http://makefunofyourday.blogspot.com/2007/07/to-sacrifice-or-obey.html on Angela's blog and it seems to be where I am. In fact not just with Haiti trips. Earlier in the year I was beginning to feel that we would always be a homeschool only family. I was starting to gain confidence in it. Now I am preparing to send my girls to school in a month. Don't even get me started on all the emotions that are wrapped up in that one. I had started to wonder if we were meant to adopt D's brothers, and now I am feeling very removed from the whole idea. It's not that I actually have heard from the Lord either way, I'm just so BUSY that I can't even think about it right now. I'm not in the Word like I should be, but honestly I don't know when I will get time. Just in writing this much I have been up and down atleast six times to change a diaper, get a snack for the kids, put a movie in, break up a fight, answer the phone etc. etc. Still I know that God is in control and that He will guide me. Even when I don't know where we are going, He does. And even when I can't see the next step He already has it in place. I'm clinging to that truth right now, and in the meantime I am loving all the kids and cleaning the house "as unto the Lord", and that is the best I can do. Perhaps on vaction next week I will be able to get quiet enough with the Lord to give Him time to fill me in on what He's doing(:

For a Friend

I have recently been talking to a friend alot about what I believe as a Christian. I am not good at evangelism in the sense that I struggle with trying to convince someone of something. Still I managed to send an email that outlined what you must do in order to have a relationship with God. I hope it conveyed all the love God has for them. I wanted to add these songs. Often God uses music to touch my heart and these made me think of this friend. If you are reading this, secret friend, then these songs are for you. The depth of God's love for you is indescribable, but I hope you can feel it.








Listen to What If (Brave Album Version) by Nichole Nordeman : http://free.napster.com/player/tracks/19479622



Listen to Why? (Recollection Album Version) (2000 Digital Remaster) by Nichole Nordeman : http://free.napster.com/player/tracks/19479625

Craziness continued...

Madiboo and Sunshine dressed for the family production of "The Snobby Sisters". The musical score is devastatingly powerful and we expect a long run on Broadway.

Madiboo and Randal on Rodeo.

Sunshine and Duchess are a beautiful team.

The gang.

Summer craziness!

Now you see why I have no time to write! 7 kids( my four plus visiting cousins from CT plus Berny), a national holiday, fun at the lake - endless chaos(: I LOVE my life!

Berny update and Tagged by Corey

OK, first off I wanted to let you all know that Berny is doing well. He is moving his legs - ever so slightly, but still - just a week ago they were nothing but jelly! He is getting more comfortable with us and so we see lots more smiles and silliness and... lots more tantrums - he is two after all(: He is a fiesty little thing who is willing to pick a fight with D over a toy even though he is basically completely incapacitated!

So, next item on the agenda: Corey (see list of blogs to the right) has tagged me. Here goes...

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:

1. Telling people, as I parented ONE very easy going child, that this parenting thing was really a breeze. OK God, you made your point. I'm officially humbled.

2. Driving a vehicle without the word "van" in its description.

3. Living in Sacramento, CA and loving getting to see the west coast, but missing my green Virginia mountains.

4. Teaching a fourth grade Sunday school class - BIG mistake...BIG!

5. Discovering the call for adoption on our lives.

Five snacks I enjoy:

1. Ben and Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream.

2. Popcorn - the really buttery, bad for you kind.

3. Celery sticks with peanut butter in them.

4. Funnel cake, with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar - NOT fruit - duh!

5. Coffee - pretty much any kind, with lots of cream and sugar.

Five songs I know the lyrics to:

1. My True Companion by Marc Cohn (Jay and my's song since forever)

2 Little Bit of Life by Craig Morgan (our family theme song)

3. The entire Veggie Tales Greatest Hits CD, including the Japanese version of "Where is my Hairbrush" Domo, Domo(:

4. Amazing Grace

5. Southland in the Springtime by the Indigo Girls

Five things I would do if I was a millionaire:

1. Pay off all my debt, including house!

2. Adopt a couple more kids.

3. Tell my Mom to quit work.

4. Support a whole buncha more missionaries.

5. Give my sister the wedding of her dreams.

Five bad habits:

1. Making drastic decisions when I am bored - moving, cutting off all my hair, getting a dog etc. Although, if it turns out well do you call it a "bad" habit?

2. Licking/nibbling on my lips.

3. Picking at the hang nails around my thumbs.

4. Starting too many projects at one time.

5. Talking before I think.

Five things I like to do:

1. Read

2. Ride horses

3. Watch my kids play

4. Plant a garden

5. Check out my friend's blogs

Five things I would never wear again:

1. Leggings

2. Leg warmers

3. Tight rolled jeans

4. A side pony

5. Mini skirt

Five favorite toys:

1. The great outdoors! You know trees, hills, creeks - what WE played with when we were kids.

2. Almost anything by V tech - those people rock!

3. A soccer ball.

4. A bike.

5. My daughters WII (: Loads of fun for the whole family!

Five least favorite toys:

1. Guns, swords, and pretty much any weapon. I have resigned myself to the fact that boys must have these and if not given them will create them out of legos.

2. X Box - this is from the Devil.

3. Remote control cars. When the batteries aren't dead they are just plain annoying, under foot and frustrating. When the batteries are dead everyone can't remember how annoying they are and can't believe the batteries lasted such a short time...again with the frustrating.

4. Happy meal toys. I have no words.

5. Bratz - or prostitots as we call them.

Five people I'd like to tag:

I really don't think that five people who blog actually read my blog, but if you want to join in you can do so in the comments or let us know where your blog is. Perhaps I can meet some new people(: