We're nuts.

Some may think we're crazy. I say, "No, actually, we just have triplets"! I'm so grateful that my mom and Charlie go along with the craziness, and I might even venture to say, enjoy it!

2010 Grape and Fall Festival Weekend

Yet another year gone, and the Grape and Fall Festival is here again! I sit here, on Sunday writing this post and wondering how in the world my children are all still standing and not crying! They have had the biggest weekend!

Graysen in front of the baby lamb. We made the quickest trip through the animals this year. It was stinky and none of the kids were very interested...except Blake and Silas who informed us that sheep tongue and injera is very yummy!

Friday they had 1/2 day of school (yes, this festival is that important to this town!), and then we headed to the fairgrounds with our armbands to ride rides. We spent at least 2 hours running from one ride to the next and drinking soda. This was the twins' first experience with this kind of event...you could tell from their eyes as we walked up (first #1)!

Sweet story: Graysen was scared to death on this ride and started to cry. Next thing I know Silas has put his arm around her and is holding her tight through the rest of the ride. Thank you Lord...I need to see little signs of bonding like this one!

Friday night the boys had their first soccer practice (first #2) and then we went out to eat pizza. My sister and her boyfriend picked the kids up from the pizza place and took them back to the fair to ride more rides! They stayed another 2 hours and got home a little after 9 p.m.! They were, of course, so hyped up they didn't fall asleep until after 10:30!

How lucky are we that our boys got put on the same soccer team as Ally?! Britt is coaching the team, and Lincoln is really enjoying helping!

Saturday we woke up bright and early and headed downtown (okay, so like 2 blocks from our house) for the street market and parade. Hunter stayed with his Grandma to watch the parade and the other three and I walked another 6ish blocks to the parade line up and helped with The Dance Studio float. We were in the parade (first #3) and then met back at our house for a quick lunch of sandwiches before heading back to the fair...AGAIN!





Marcinda took all four of my kids back to the fair and I headed to a blogger lunch...more on that later. Lincoln met them at the fair and they all came running back in the house at 5 p.m. I had green and gold shirts waiting for them and we literally switched shirts and ran back out the door!

Thanks for dinner and helping with the kids at the game Mom and Charlie!

We headed out to eat with my mom, Charlie, Kara, and 3 of her friends (more pizza!!!) and then to the MS&T Football game (first #4)! First home game of the season.


Chad had 13 catches and 157 yards I believe! We had a lot of fun getting our green and gold on and cheering him on! All four kids fell asleep on the way home from the game, so no bedtime routine for Mommy (yea)!



Mom and Charlie came and picked Hunter up, even though he was asleep, and took him to their house to spend the night. Sunday we woke up and got ready for church. Our pastor started a new sermon series that I'm really excited about! We went straight from church to Mom's and she had lunch ready for us. After a quick lunch we headed to a local playground to meet lots of family members for an impromptu birthday celebration for one of the kids.After coming home for a short rest time we headed to Nick and Britt's for dinner (steak for the adults, hot dogs for the kids...yeah, sometimes we're stingy. ha ha). We always have such a good time with them.


Off to bed early...we're back to school tomorrow! I can't believe we packed that much fun into 2.5 days!



ps - a happy birthday shout out to little S! S is our dear friend's newest addition to their family. He is still in Ethiopia, and they are celebrating without him - but it won't be long, they get to meet him in almost exactly a month!

I'm Fancy

"Look Mom, I'm fancy!"

I think you know it's right

Today I got Jack in the Box tacos.
little it may seem, but those tacos bring back big memories.

Memories of the night we said "see you later" to my Grandma.

After we said "so long for now", I drove my Aunt Diana home from STL.
and we drove through Jack in the Box and picked up tacos.
We met back at my Grandma's house and ate together.
Jack in the Box tacos.

But you know...
I think that's how you know it's right.
When you can see someone off to Heaven
and then eat Jack in the Box tacos.
Because you're at that much peace.

Yes, I crawled in bed that night and cried my heart out.
Because I knew I would be sitting here,
writing this post, 5.5 months later.
Missing my Grandma,
crying still.

But when it was her time,
when God had finished her mansion in Heaven,
and His sweet small voice called her home,
we were all at peace.

My heart still aches,
I cry often,
but as the tears fall,
I look forward to the day that she will hug me again.
Because this is our temporary home.

My Prince Charming

I grew up hoping and dreaming of my Prince Charming. I prayed every day for God to send him my way. I dreamt of my love story.

What I didn't realize is that the King of Kings wanted to romance me. Not just send me a Prince to do it for Him. He wanted to do it himself! Oh, how much more satisfied I am with my life now that I've learned that lesson!


Luckily He sent me my Prince as well. He's not a prince because of his worldly actions, but because he's chosen the King to be his father just as I have, which makes me a princess! I love that about him!

Africa, and those left behind

The post in italics below is not mine.
I wish I could put my thoughts into words like the author of this blog.
But, I can relate,
I can understand.

Africa will always be a part of me.
It's not just a place we visited.
It's not just my son's homeland.
It's a new part of me.

The kids we met there at Layla house were not just statistics, or names, or even faces.
They were real. kids.
Someone's kids.

There are a few who will forever have my heart.
I wish I could share their pictures with you.
Because they are precious.
Their hands were warm, around mine,
their foreheads soft under my lips.

I pray for these kids every single day.
Not a day goes by that we don't pray for and think about those we left behind.

And although it has broken: a piece of my heart,
I am glad.
Because it has moved to me to action.
It has inspired me to be a better person,
to work harder,
to love deeper.

From the blog glitter, small world:

a lot of people who go to the continent of africa come back and say the same thing- once you've been there, you never fully leave. i can attest that this is so true. once you've seen it, you can't be rid of it.

you can't let it go.

you can never be out of africa.

i have learned a lot about myself. africa has taught me a lot about myself.

i know my heart will never be completely full - that it will never be completely whole - and i'm so thankful for this empty piece of me, because i can't deny it, and it forces me to action. it forces me to action because i cannot forget what i have seen.

i can't shake those sad eyes, those abandoned faces. i can still feel those hot little bodies against mine.

i know who i am now. who i've become. i will always have two homes. africa is in my heart. it's in my feet and in my blood.

there are over 42 million orphans in africa. did you know?

i didn't. not for a while.

and when i learned the statistic, i still didn't know. i didn't really know.

it was a number. a four. a two. and a [million] that i couldn't comprehend.

and i think that maybe that is how we all are, accidentally.

because numbers are only numbers. they can only be numbers... until they become faces.

and then you learn the names of those faces.

and then those numbers are babies.

real babies with tiny fingers and tiny toes and little noses and mouths.

and pretty soon those babies have stories. 42 million stories.

i'm usually not really one to preach, but sometimes it's good to remind people.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this...

we could all fill it in-

is this...

[to go to church]

[to read our Bibles]

[to volunteer]

[to be good people]

but what did Christ actually command? what does He command?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."

and they are. they are in distress.

for a while six months in south africa seemed like a long time. a little more time than i'm used to.

but i know in my heart that i won't be back there for a while. maybe a long time.

and it makes me feel a little homesick already.

it makes me a little heartsick.

heartbroken.

and hopeful.

hopeful that i will carry those stories inside.

hopeful that i will be strong enough to tell them.

and hopeful that when i get home the Lord will allow my heart to be still and my feet to be planted in one place. and that he will use my stories to change hearts.

because i know when hearts are changed then people are moved.

and when people are moved then they are spurred on to action.

and when we take action we can change the world

and give those babies families and homes and love.

i can't wait until it is my turn to bring one home.

because 42 million is just a number until it has a face.

and a name.

and a story.

UMR Girl's Soccer...oops, I mean MS&T

Our family is lucky to know not one, but two girls who play for the local university's soccer team. Miss Kim (above), and Miss Michelle (below).



After church this past Sunday we went over to the field to watch their first home game!


We enjoyed sitting on the benches, and then when the kids were tired of that, we moved to the hill on our old quilt. (Ah, how I adore sitting on an old quilt under the sun!!)


It was fun, and I hope we are able to catch several more this season!

S'mores and Snow cones!

We decided to go out of summer with a bang!
Today we had both snow cones and s'mores...two of our favorite summer treats!


Hunter also got a (late) birthday present...a snow cone maker.


I found a recipe for the syrup online: 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water, 1 koolaid packet...easy and cheap!


We can't wait to use it every. single. day. next summer!


Today I also pulled out their fall clothes. Ah, how I love jeans and hoodies.


Goodbye sweet summer.


You'll be back before we know it!

Are You Done?

I get this question from so many people.
I know most of them mean well.
But I also know that some say it more as a joke.
Like, "So, you're finally done, huh?"
It seems these days there are very few people who can fathom that we may want more.
Most couldn't believe that we wanted more than 2.
Now...more than 4?!
Surely not.


I know some people feel like we shouldn't have more because of the amount of money we make.
Some feel like we shouldn't have more because of the size of our house.
Some feel like we couldn't possibly give more children the love and attention they deserve.


To them I want to say this:
Do I ask you for money to buy my children groceries?
Am I on government assistance programs?
Am I providing them with less of a life then they had as orphans?
Do my children appear unhappy or unloved?


Now.
Are we going to be able to take elaborate family vacations to Disney World or the beach often?
no.
Are we going to pay for our children to go to college?
probably not.
Are they going to wear new name brand clothes?
nope.
Will we go out to eat every week together?
no, we won't.
Will they have their own bedroom?
no, they don't.


But they will have fond memories of lots of family time together.
They will get an education if they work hard enough for it.
They will be clothed in clean clothes.
They will eat. Every meal.


I am deeply in love with each of my children.
It's something that I can't explain to others.
Sometimes I am short on patience.
Most of the time my house isn't in great shape.
But it's okay.
I'd rather invest in hearts and souls.


I understand that not everyone understands our hearts.
I don't understand others hearts either.
It's okay.
It's what makes the world go round.
Let's just love and respect each other for our differences okay?

We're not irresponsible.
We will not make a bad choice for our family.
But this...this is our hearts.

This blogger just wrote about this same subject...my thoughts exactly.

i see moments like this & immediate praise God that this is my life.

that we listened. not on our power, but by His grace.

we get asked a lot if we "are done."

done bringing children into our family.

to be honest, i'm still usually taken back by the question.

unless it is a close friend, it seems pretty personal to me.

add to it that i'm usually trying to keep track of our 5 littles while i answer,

i usually stick to a polite, ambiguous answer.

you want to know what i'm really thinking though?

what i really start saying when i have the time to?

DONE?! how could i ever say we are done?

as long as we have more patience & more selflessness to learn...

as long as we feel called to it...

as long as there are 30,000 children dying each day from preventable causes...

as long as we have room in our hearts...

as long as we have a warm home & open arms....
as long as there are over 140 million orphans in the world...
as long as there is even 1 child waiting for their forever family...

as long as we keep trusting that His plan is better than worldly treasures...

we will not be done.

My Thursday Nights

Somehow I have managed to have my blog for about 2 years now without ever mentioning my almost every Thursday night activity!

During the school year (September - May) I go to


with some very good friends of mine after work almost every Thursday night.
We always go either after work (which ends at 8:30) or, if there is no work, after I put the kids down for bed.

Parents, I must say...it is SO important to have some adult time in your life!
Here are some perks to an evening like I have:

• It's after bedtime, which means that I have no "Mommy guilt" for skipping out on time that I could be spending with my kids.
• Even though it is late at night, and I miss out on several hours of sleep, I feel so refreshed the next day because I've had some adult interaction
• It's so good for my soul to spend time laughing with friends and eating food that I haven't cooked! ;0)
• We chose Applebees as our meeting place because they have 1/2 price appetizers after 10 p.m.! So...being the frugal group that we are, we order salads when we get there, and then wait until 10 p.m. to place our appetizer order! We each purchase one appetizer and all share, so there is more than enough food, and we get an evening out for approximately 10.00!

It all started with the two of us:

Megan and Ashley. Oh, what a pair we are!

Soon, we added Miss Michelle to our group. She started working with us at the studio as her college schedule allows it, and we absolutely adore her!
Welcome to your first appearance on my blog, Michelle! ;0)

I'm quite sure Applebees has had a few Thursday nights when they wonder what in the world we talking about...our conversations are a bit odd at times, I must admit!

Toward the end of last year (April-ish) a childhood friend of Megan's began to join us.
Meet Mikey.


I wonder if he'd like me calling him Mikey on here. Oh well, he won't ever read it!
Mikey is one of a kind. Such a sweet soul, and funnier than almost anyone else I know! He definitely keeps our table laughing.

This year we have added yet another new addition to the Thursday night crew! Michelle's younger sister Kim has joined her at MS&T this year, so she's along for the ride!!

Welcome Kim, I'm so looking forward to getting to know you better!
ps - it's not a good idea to drop out of school...ha ha

Once in awhile we'll have a guest appearence by someone special to our crew. Sometimes it's my sister, sometimes it's Megan's mom...this particular night Lincoln and I splurged, called Miss Mindy to babysit, and he came with me!


Okay, funny side story about Mindy coming. The kids were already in bed when she got there, and as I was walking out the door I turned and asked her if there was a particular time I needed to be home...like I was in HS again! She just smiled and laughed, assuring me I could come home whenever I wanted to. It was very sweet of her not to make fun of me. I felt really silly when I got in the (mini-van) car with Lincoln to head out.

We are always assured to have a fun filled evening sitting in our booth. More times then not our evening is filled with a sampling of the following things:

Very animated stories, often with visuals like this one about being chased on Spook Holler Road:

Awesome songs like this one:

And performances outside...we really do try to keep our annoying behaviors to a minimum.





*Note: All of these wonderfully immature things have taken place without any alcoholic beverages! Amazing how silly we can be when we are able to let our guards down!

I'm reminded of how ridiculous we must look...

Tonight at dinner we were all sitting around talking when Blake says something about us having 4 TVs. I started counting and realized that we do have 3 (ridiculous thing #1), but not 4. I asked him where they were, wondering where he was going to come up with the 4th TV. His response:

I tv in Mommy's room, 1 tv in living room, 1 tv in my bedroom, 1 tv in the car house.

The what?! Yes, the 'car house'. How ridiculous it must look to them that not only that almost every family in America has a car, but that most of us have more than one. To top it off, we have "houses" for our cars!!! We know them as garages...to my sons, they are as big as houses.

Wow.
Once again, I'm brought back to reality.
Not my reality, but so much of the rest of the world's reality.
Boo.

Get Bridged!

A fellow AAI adoptive family has started an awesome new business called Get Bridged...and they are doing a giveaway! I absolutely adore this mom, her heart for God, her children, her husband, and her heart for those living abroad. We have connected recently through emails, and I soooo wish we could meet in person some day...maybe, Charity?!

Also, hop over to her blog and wish her a congratulations on her recent referral of their new son!

Here is the post that she wrote on her blog introducing Get Bridged...I know some Christmas gifts will be coming from there this year!

"So it's about time I did a giveaway on my blog. And what a better time to do it than for the grand opening of our business, Get Bridged. What's that, you say? You didn't know about Get Bridged? Well then, let me tell you all about it and make sure you keep reading till the end because we have an awesome giveaway in store for one of you!

I hadn't blogged a whole lot about Get Bridged before because our vision behind the business had been changing so much and for awhile we didn't even know when we would be opening.

Our business idea kind of started out as a way for us to work in Turkey, but as God began challenging us in regards to caring for the poor and least of these and aligning our hearts more with His, Get Bridged was birthed.

Get Bridged Inc. is a not-for-profit charitable organization registered in the state of PA. Our goal is to make people aware of different humanitarian needs around the world and offer them a variety of ways to get involved. We do this through two main ways: One is through buying products from less fortunate artisans around the world and selling them from our online store. Secondly, we come alongside other organizations that are working among the most needy, highlight their cause, and do what we can to raise awareness and finances in order to help them make a difference.

Get Bridged loves to make things multiply! Picture this: you go onto the Get Bridged online store and find a beautiful set of hand crafted coasters, made by a group of artisans in Kenya. You purchase the coasters for $25 and notice that part of your money goes directly back into buying more products from artisans in the future. But it doesn't stop there. There are also three businesses that had made pledges to help an AIDS orphanage in Kenya, and because of your purchase, each business matches your "gift" of $25 and gives that same amount to the orphanage. Because you bought some coasters, you not only get some coasters, but you helped artisans have more business, and the pledging businesses give a total of $75 (3x your gift) to help AIDS orphans! That is multiplication! That is just another way to make a difference!

So here is how you can help spread the word and have a chance to win a Get Bridged sweatshirt and a $100 giftcard for the Get Bridged store.

All you have to do is one (or all) of the following:

1.) Post about Get Bridged on your blog with a link back to here
2.) Post about it on Facebook
3.) Grab the Get Bridged button on the side of my blog and put it on your blog using this code:

Please be sure to leave me a comment and let me know how many of the above you have done. Each one counts as an entry. Drawing will occur in a week from now!

Make sure you head on over to the website (www.getbridged.org) to learn more about how we work. While you're there, check out the store, buy a beautiful handmade product (or two or three) and spread the word!"