Thankful Thursday!

(Ethan receiving his orange belt in Karate)
Well, this Saturday, our oldest child, Ethan will turn 10 YEARS OLD! Wow! It doesn't seem possible that we have had him for that long! What a blessing he has been to us! He is a true first born! He likes to be the captain of his own ship! He enjoys leading and teaching others! Our prayer for him has been that He will recognize that God is his leader, and to be willing to submit to HIS authority before ever leading someone else! His name sure fits him. Ethan in the Bible was a man who was a worship leader. Daniel, also Ethan's middle name, in the Bible, was a leader who followed after God and did not give in to cultural influences.
For the first 2 hours of Ethan's life, he was wide awake, looking around at everyone that was in the room. He didn't fuss or seem hungry. Ten years later, he is still that wide-eyed boy who gets his energy from being with others. He would even rather be with people than focus on eating. He is so full of life! We thank God for Ethan's life, and look forward to seeing how God will use him for His glory!

Thankful Thursday!

As I sit looking at bag upon bag of clothes, I am very grateful for those who pass on to us their "hand-me-downs"! It is like Christmas whenever we bring home bags of clothes. I couldn't ask for anything better. It's like the store comes to us. . .no standing in a dressing room for long periods of time trying outfits on. . .we get to do it in the comfort of our own home. . .what clothing budget?--we don't need one. . .and when our kids (and me) outgrow them, it's fun passing them on to someone else so they can have Christmas at their house! So many times, we have needed certain size shoes or pants, or Karis wanted a Ken doll that she didn't get for Christmas(guess what she found in a bag of clothes yesterday?), or I needed(wanted) mascara--thanks,Sis & Mom--We would find them like hidden treasures in a bag of "hand-me-downs"!
I am remembering how one is never too old to appreciate "hand-me-downs"--When my Grandmother died, my Mom passed on some of my Grandmother's things to Mark's Grandmother who commented more than once how she enjoyed wearing some of my Grandmother's things.

Thankful Thursday!

I have enjoyed reading "Vinegar Boy" to our boys! This book is an historical fiction about a boy who was abandoned by his parents and shunned by society. He is sure that he will be adopted once Jesus removes His ugly birthmark that scars his cheek. The day he goes to be healed by Jesus is when he sees Jesus being crucified. . .I won't give away the rest of the story, but it did cause me to put myself at the foot of the cross once again. How would I have reacted? angry? speechless? sad?
I can't help but state the obvious. . .
I am thankful for Jesus' death and resurrection!
Without Jesus' sacrifice for us, we would not be adopted into His family!
This really hits home now with me, of course, thinking about Katarina. . .
Going through this process has been a lot of work and emotionally trying at times, but nothing compared to dieing for someone. Will I ever fully grasp what that means for Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for my sins, so we can spend eternity together?
Oh, how I long to give Katarina love and a chance to have a family who loves her and cares for her, and to tell her about this man Jesus who died so that she could be a part of HIS family FOREVER!

Thankful Thursday!

What is foremost in our minds is that we are grateful to have a date in which our dossier will be submitted. That may not seem like much, but to have a little better idea of when we might travel helps us plan. We know we won't be traveling over the summer, so we can go ahead with our plans of going to Fort Wilderness family camp, having a garage sale or two, do some work on the house, etc.
In the end, the timing is up to God. We trust that He goes before us, preparing Katarina and us for when we will be her forever family.

Garage Sale to Raise Money to bring Katarina Home

We just wanted to let you all know that we will be having a garage sale June 5 & 6.
We would appreciate anything you would like to donate to the sale; or if you have time to help us set up either day of the sale that would be great!
Also, please feel free to come by and visit us! It will more than likely be one of the biggest garage sales you have ever been to!
Feel free to spread the word about our sale!
And of course, above all else, pray for God to be glorified!
Thank you!