The Blame Game

This morning during our breakfast table bible study time while discussing how some people ask WHY God allows suffering, what part we play, etc. . .

Big Jo: "If we want to play the blame game with God, we will LOSE!"

insightful.

Brothers

Want to burn this moment in my memory forever.  So thankful that these two are brothers through the blessing of adoption!

Crazy Cousin Camp (part 2)

Our first year of "Cousin Camp" would have been busy enough with the morning sessions of basketball camp (see cousin camp part 1),

BUT,

this was also the week of our church's annual Teamworks! Soccer Camp (our unique alternative to VBS). So, every evening from 5-8, we were all up either volunteering or participating in soccer skills, drills, and games and hearing about our real Coach and King, Jesus Christ.

Not only was my dear husband the primary administrator of the whole thing, but I was also in charge of refreshments each evening! Praise the Lord for a wonderful team of people from our church who came together to really love and serve the children in our community. We had almost 60 volunteers and 95 children each evening. MOST of the children were not from families who attend church or who know Christ. How awesome for

them to be able to hear the Word and see the love of God's people in action!

Here are some pics of the week:

first picture above is of "Smarty" with her team (she "coached" an Under 6 team and did a GREAT job!)

Chatty was on the orange U-10 team with my little half brother - his "Uncle John." LOL!

Little Missy took over the Under 8's and scored many goals, but we were most proud of her helpful spirit of being a peacemaker for her teammates!

Big Joe, Mr. Z, and Speedy Mo all competed in the U-12 group. Speedy is only 8, but he is quite skilled with the soccer ball (as are his brothers!)

oops, a few more pics to follow in the next post

Still Alive

yes, we're still alive (but just barely! LOL!).

We spent the first 3 weeks of April fighting a terrible virus that just kept traveling in circles through the 12 of us. Both Jeff and I were sick almost the whole time and all of the kiddos had it at some point too! ugh! We're glad that is over!

So, after adding in Easter Weekend celebrations, Big Joe's 10th birthday, our Liberian children's 3rd Gotcha Day, the beginning of Little League (which Big Joe and Speedy Mo are trying this year), visits from social workers, gobs of paperwork for our foster agency and the adoption process, gobs MORE paperwork for our charter school (x 8), AND my dear husband preaching for 6 weeks. . .

which doesn't sound like that much, except when we add in the reality that we have had 6 of our 10 children for less than 8 months - so, most days, we're still in basic "make it through the day" mode (while trying to be ultra-intentional to help our hurting children heal and bond).

I'm actually not complaining. It just helps me to write it out so I can "see" the reality. I so often find myself wondering why I just can't "get it together" some days. . . I so often think of our lives as totally normal and get frustrated by the daily struggle for peace and contentment to reign in our home and in our hearts.

But, when I look at the big picture, I see that we're not only still alive, but that in so many ways, we are actually thriving. The change in our newest 6 children has been incredible. They are healthy and happy and growing in godliness. We have all REALLY bonded as a family faster than any of us thought was possible. God has been so good and this journey has been quite amazing. I just have to remember to see the forest through the trees, cause sometimes those daily "trees" just seem really overwhelming but the forest really is lovely!

well, that's why the blog has been silent for over a month! I'm hoping to post a few updates soon and I'm thinking about spending the summer posting lots of pictures!

There's a "hallelujah" in the bottom of the sea

You know that children's song, "There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea?"   You know. . . 

there's a hole in the bottom of the sea, 

there's a hole in the bottom of the sea, 

there's a hole, 

there's a hole,

there's a hole in the bottom of the sea.

now sing it again, only this time just substitute the word "Hallelujah."

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,

hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,

hallelujah,

hallelujah,

hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Now, sing it as loud and obnoxiously as you can - over and over and over. . . 

Great!  You have just experienced our family's 7AM wake up call this SATURDAY morning. . . 

compliments of our early bird,  "Big Joe."  LOL!

My husband wasn't so amused.  He rolled over and asked me if this is how loud our house was every morning.  

I grinned sleepily and laughingly responded, 

"Well, we could just shout down the hall, 'HEY BIG JOE, STOP SINGING THOSE PRAISES TO GOD. . . WE'RE TRYING TO SLEEP!'"

hmmm. . . guess not. . . on to verse two:

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HE IS GOD

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HE IS GOD

HALLELUJAH

HALLELUJAH,

HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HE IS GOD!

"Hey babe. . . I might need some coffee this morning!"  =)