Happy Valentines Day to YOU!

It is a day of Love.... I wish it were every day. I like Valentines Day. Not because I get something, but because I am reminded how much I am loved and how much I love my family. I am reminded today and wish the ephasis was every day! Our bible study is on marriage right now. Today we talked about perservering love. Love that does not give up in hard times. Love that knows it will not leave. Love that struggles together to the end of the hardship. Love that may be tested but comes out refined. Love that we as humans have to struggle to maintain at times because of our selfishness but given freely by God. I am so thankful God LOVES me and I know I can always count on Him! I am so thankful my husband loves me and I know because we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior we too will not give up on each other. We will choose not to leave. I love MY HUSBAND! Do you hear that world? I LOVE MY HUSBAND! Happy Valentines Day!

Another Boy I am in Love With!

This is another boy I absolutely love and adore. He is my second to youngest. He is our spit fire with a smile. A jokester with great eyes. He is full of life and loves everyone and everything. He is the boy that until recently could not sit down when eating. He would take a bite and stand up and go around his chair, or just move! He now has to sit when he eats. He is the boy that broke his leg on January 16th when learning to ski in Colorado. He chose a glow in the dark cast. That does not surprise me. This boy asked Jesus to be HIS Savior this past October. I love this boy! He is precious!

A Blessing

Today I learned from a very dear friend that they are looking into international adoption. Praise God he is moving people to adopt! I am so excited for them and can't wait for them to start their journey! One God moment I have to share for them is when they came home from their first informational meeting their son had taken a picture from the country they are looking to adopt in and placed in in front of their family picture. This picture had been sitting in a drawer for a long time and this little boy had NO idea what his parents were doing that evening. He placed the countries picture IN FRONT of their family picture in another room! God is SO COOL!

The things I actually say!

Yelling down the stairs to my boys in their dad's office, "Boys, quit yelling and fighting, there are people sleeping!"

Stop making that noise, don't hit your brother, yes he started it but you can't finish it, yes he is being a jerk and you can't follow him with it! Don't climb on that you might die and then what would I do? Yes I would be sad and yes I would miss you, no your brother can't climb on it either! If you do that then he will do this and if he does this then I will pull over and spank you both in front of whoever drives by! No you are not too old for a spanking if that is what will teach you not to do that!

I bought you chicken nuggets and fries. You have to eat all the chicken before the fries so you have something of value. (Do chicken nuggets really have value)? We are not going to the basket ball game to play video games and have fun, we are going to watch basketball.

You can not be grumpy in the morning if you choose not too. Your actions are your choice. You are going to make me mad and grumpy if you keep acting like that! I know my actions are my choice but you are pushing my actions to be grumpy. No, I am not pushing you to be grumpy, yours is your choice. I haven't done anything but tell you to choose to not be grumpy.

I don't seem like I love you when I boss you around all the time? I boss you around all the time because I do love you!

How would you feel if all you ever got to eat was rice and dry bread? That is what people in other countries eat and are so happy about eating it. Would you like me to fix you rice and dried bread for the next year? No? Then eat what I put in front of you or I will. (Like I really would only serve rice and dried bread for a year)? Come on Ann!

I am making you have the worst day of your life and I am mean? Oh boy... you want me to show you the worst day of your life and be mean? I can show you both and do them really well! Want me to?

Yes I love you, no I don't like to spank you, yes I love you lots and lots. Yes, I am still going to spank you because I love you. Will it hurt? If it doesn't I can get a spoon and make it hurt. You let me know. If it doesn't hurt enough we can have dad do it again later. You better not smile when I spank you or your dad will have to spank you later. If it doesn't hurt C, just act like it does or I will get really mad!

Okay, this is not over the last week. I have written down some of the things I have said for a while now thinking someday I would post them some place. I guess now is the time. :)

Discouraged

Today I found out Hannah and her sister were probably placed. That means we no longer have hope she will be our little girl. I am so sad. We were so close and then it is gone. I wonder if we went against God's plan of both girls. I don't know, never will. Now we wait. I feel like I need to do more than wait. I am praying too.... do I need to do more than that? I don't know what. Just discouraged. Sad too. My sister-in-law Traci found my blog without me telling her about it. Hi Traci. :) Still not sure I will ever share this with others, so shhh... don't tell you found it.

Two verses I read today were as follows; Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." And, Isaiah 40:31 "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, the will walk and not be faint."

I have hope, I do believe, but have no patience and no understanding and question why at times. Hmmmm praise the Lord I can trust Him to do what is best for our family and when it is best. I just hope I did not screw up His plans when saying no to two girls when we should have said yes. :(

I am crazy about this boy!

This is my youngest. As I am absolutely crazy in love with all my boys... there is something about my baby growing up and I want to put a stop to it. He amazes me at his "big boy" talk. He reasons like an older boy, when doing family devotions he always adds his two cents. He shares like no other kid I have ever seen! If you ask for a bite of his candy, or a piece of his food, he gives it without thinking twice. He will even share it when you aren't asking. He gives great hugs and isn't afraid to love you. I am so sad to see him growing up... is there a pause button? He is also a goof ball. Imagine that! He takes after his daddy in looks and personality. No wonder I love him so! My baby, my big boy is plain amazing.

New Beginnings

My friend Stacy, her hubby and youngest son are in China right now. They are bringing home their daughter Isabella. She has been waiting three years to hear the referral call. I can empathize with how hard it is to wait. I am SO happy for you Stacy. I can not wait to meet your daughter. I can not wait to see the blessings you each give each other as your lives begin together. Praise God Isabella is coming home. We have prayed a long time for this. God is so good.

As I am SO excited for them to be finishing up their journey and bringing their daughter home I am also sad as I wonder where our little one is. What is God's plan. There are so many children in our state alone that need homes. Out of the 800 or more children, isn't there one little girl that needs a home now that is 3 and under?

There are many blogs that are great witness to me. I read one called Building The Blocks, http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/. Amy, you are an amazing writer and you love the Lord. It is so evident in everything you write and say. I came to you first when praying about adoption and seeking God with which route we should go. Thank you for caring and praying. Thank you for loving God enough to give him the credit when it is due. For being bold enough to state your beliefs in him and teach others about him. It is such a delight to find other Christians out there in this world that are bold enough to take a stand about their faith and beliefs. There are other blogs, but today I want to say thank you to Amy for her faith and witness.

Father in Heaven, you know me, you know all on this earth and in Heaven and Hell. You know how many hairs we have on our heads. You breathed life into this world. You are Everything. You know my heart and you know my wants. You know my sins and you know my good works. You forgive me my sins and you rebuke my wrong doings. You lift me up when I fall short and you carry me when I feel I can no longer go on. Out there somewhere Lord is our little girl. Our daughter and sister to my boys. Bring her home dear Lord. Please bring her home. I also ask you to be with Stacy and her family. Bring them home safely and bless their lives with Isabella. In your awesome name I pray, Amen