they had a unique experience. they caught a hummingbird. i'm sure when they let the beautiful little bird go he was mocked by his counterparts, but what a delight for Asher.
God is amazing in all of His creation!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
a visit with a hummingbird
i have been meaning to post these pictures of the trip that Clay & Asher took to Georgia.
they had a unique experience. they caught a hummingbird. i'm sure when they let the beautiful little bird go he was mocked by his counterparts, but what a delight for Asher.
God is amazing in all of His creation!
they had a unique experience. they caught a hummingbird. i'm sure when they let the beautiful little bird go he was mocked by his counterparts, but what a delight for Asher.
God is amazing in all of His creation!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Clay & Asher
most people who know Clay know that he was never big on having a boy. actually he was never big on having children to begin with...he liked the idea but the practicality of walking it out was always hard for him.
when we found out we were having Rachel he hoped she was a girl. one of the only men i ever knew who wanted a girl over a boy. and God, being gracious, loving & ever mindful of what we need, gave us Rachel.
Rachel has been a joy....and still is. then came Elizabeth & Abigail.
And Elizabeth has taught him real sacrificial love. Our friend, Ron Braaten, a missionary in Belize, always said that when he holds his adopted kids & smells their heads...he smells Jesus. Clay understands that now with his relationship with Elizabeth. She is ours...no doubt about it.....but it's definitely a relationship that builds your walk with the Lord because it's a spiritual DNA that connects us.
Clay has said over & over again that Abigail...out of all of our kids, gives him an unconditional love that builds him up that he has never experienced with any other person.......only his dog, Georgia, provided that type of Godly love before for him in a very real, almost tangible way.
then came Asher. Asher has truly shown Clay that having a boy is a unique bond. The maleness factor is strong! Boys have this built in gene or need to play with guns, air planes, dirt, dogs, cars, trucks, swords..... a built in gene that predispositions them to wrestle, giggle at the mention of the word "poop", tease their sisters & pull daredevil stunts, like climbing to the very top of the swing set & sitting or standing on the roof of the treehouse, that scare their mamas senseless.
Clay has truly, truly been blessed with Asher. He enjoys having a little male around that wants to go to air shows & gun shows........ that wants to ride in his truck & use his drill & ride on his tractor.
Last week Clay had a house torn down. He had me meet him with Asher so Asher could go with him to see the "coolness" of the destruction of the house. Not only did Asher get to see the house getting crushed to a big pile of rubble...he got to participate! I think Clay was as excited for Asher as Asher was at getting the experience. (that's Mr. Paul helping Asher.)
Here is a picture that Clay just sent me from the trip he & Asher took to see Mema in Georgia.
when we found out we were having Rachel he hoped she was a girl. one of the only men i ever knew who wanted a girl over a boy. and God, being gracious, loving & ever mindful of what we need, gave us Rachel.
Rachel has been a joy....and still is. then came Elizabeth & Abigail.
And Elizabeth has taught him real sacrificial love. Our friend, Ron Braaten, a missionary in Belize, always said that when he holds his adopted kids & smells their heads...he smells Jesus. Clay understands that now with his relationship with Elizabeth. She is ours...no doubt about it.....but it's definitely a relationship that builds your walk with the Lord because it's a spiritual DNA that connects us.
Clay has said over & over again that Abigail...out of all of our kids, gives him an unconditional love that builds him up that he has never experienced with any other person.......only his dog, Georgia, provided that type of Godly love before for him in a very real, almost tangible way.
then came Asher. Asher has truly shown Clay that having a boy is a unique bond. The maleness factor is strong! Boys have this built in gene or need to play with guns, air planes, dirt, dogs, cars, trucks, swords..... a built in gene that predispositions them to wrestle, giggle at the mention of the word "poop", tease their sisters & pull daredevil stunts, like climbing to the very top of the swing set & sitting or standing on the roof of the treehouse, that scare their mamas senseless.
Clay has truly, truly been blessed with Asher. He enjoys having a little male around that wants to go to air shows & gun shows........ that wants to ride in his truck & use his drill & ride on his tractor.
Last week Clay had a house torn down. He had me meet him with Asher so Asher could go with him to see the "coolness" of the destruction of the house. Not only did Asher get to see the house getting crushed to a big pile of rubble...he got to participate! I think Clay was as excited for Asher as Asher was at getting the experience. (that's Mr. Paul helping Asher.)
Here is a picture that Clay just sent me from the trip he & Asher took to see Mema in Georgia.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
just an update
with our child in the wilderness....we, thankfully, have a wonderful pediatrician that put this child on a mild anti-depressant. it does run in both Clay & my families & it wont hurt to give this child a boost to help them cope.
thankfully there is no thyroid issues or anemia issues.
we are expecting a turn around, because God loves us, we have called on Him & are believing for His help for this child.
thankfully there is no thyroid issues or anemia issues.
we are expecting a turn around, because God loves us, we have called on Him & are believing for His help for this child.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
in the wilderness
we have a child that is feeling a bit out of sorts these days. they are feeling lost and depressed......basically lost in the wilderness. it makes me very sad for this child as this child is such a joy most of the time.... a blessing to us all - a person with so much potential. we instructed this child to take captive their negative thoughts concerning life & life's circumstances. the best way to do that is to find scripture that pertain to what you are dealing with & memorize it & speak it....say it out loud...pray it. believe it.
this precious one found this scripture...particularly verse 10. God is so good. this scripture brought tears to my heart for this child as it was exactly what they needed to hear & know...that even while we may be in the wilderness God is there with us. He encircles us. He is our protector, our strong tower, our fortress, our ever present help in the time of trouble. i have been praying this along with our precious one & asking God's favor & peace to be on them.
Deuteronomy 32:1-43
The Song of Moses
1“Give ear, O heavens, and let me speak;
And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2“Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As the droplets on the fresh grass
And as the showers on the herb.
My speech distill as the dew,
As the droplets on the fresh grass
And as the showers on the herb.
4“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.
5“They have acted corruptly toward Him,
They are not His children, because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
They are not His children, because of their defect;
But are a perverse and crooked generation.
6“Do you thus repay the LORD,
O foolish and unwise people?
Is not He your Father who has bought you?
He has made you and established you.
O foolish and unwise people?
Is not He your Father who has bought you?
He has made you and established you.
7“Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of all generations.
Ask your father, and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.
Consider the years of all generations.
Ask your father, and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.
8“When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,
When He separated the sons of man,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
When He separated the sons of man,
He set the boundaries of the peoples
According to the number of the sons of Israel.
10“He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
11“Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
That hovers over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
That hovers over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
13“He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He made him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He made him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
14Curds of cows, and milk of the flock,
With fat of lambs,
And rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats,
With the finest of the wheat—
And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.
With fat of lambs,
And rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats,
With the finest of the wheat—
And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.
15“But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—
You are grown fat, thick, and sleek—
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scorned the Rock of his salvation.
You are grown fat, thick, and sleek—
Then he forsook God who made him,
And scorned the Rock of his salvation.
16“They made Him jealous with strange gods;
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
With abominations they provoked Him to anger.
17“They sacrificed to demons who were not God,
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not dread.
To gods whom they have not known,
New gods who came lately,
Whom your fathers did not dread.
18“You neglected the Rock who begot you,
And forgot the God who gave you birth.
And forgot the God who gave you birth.
20“Then He said, ‘I will hide My face from them,
I will see what their end shall be;
For they are a perverse generation,
Sons in whom is no faithfulness.
I will see what their end shall be;
For they are a perverse generation,
Sons in whom is no faithfulness.
21‘They have made Me jealous with what is not God;
They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,
They have provoked Me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are not a people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation,
22For a fire is kindled in My anger,
And burns to the lowest part of Sheol,
And consumes the earth with its yield,
And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
And burns to the lowest part of Sheol,
And consumes the earth with its yield,
And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.
23‘I will heap misfortunes on them;
I will use My arrows on them.
I will use My arrows on them.
24‘They will be wasted by famine, and consumed by plague
And bitter destruction;
And the teeth of beasts I will send upon them,
With the venom of crawling things of the dust.
And bitter destruction;
And the teeth of beasts I will send upon them,
With the venom of crawling things of the dust.
25‘Outside the sword will bereave,
And inside terror—
Both young man and virgin,
The nursling with the man of gray hair.
And inside terror—
Both young man and virgin,
The nursling with the man of gray hair.
26‘I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces,
I will remove the memory of them from men,”
I will remove the memory of them from men,”
27Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy,
That their adversaries would misjudge,
That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant,
And the LORD has not done all this.”’
That their adversaries would misjudge,
That they would say, “Our hand is triumphant,
And the LORD has not done all this.”’
28“For they are a nation lacking in counsel,
And there is no understanding in them.
And there is no understanding in them.
29“Would that they were wise, that they understood this,
That they would discern their future!
That they would discern their future!
30“How could one chase a thousand,
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had given them up?
And two put ten thousand to flight,
Unless their Rock had sold them,
And the LORD had given them up?
31“Indeed their rock is not like our Rock,
Even our enemies themselves judge this.
Even our enemies themselves judge this.
32“For their vine is from the vine of Sodom,
And from the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of poison,
Their clusters, bitter.
And from the fields of Gomorrah;
Their grapes are grapes of poison,
Their clusters, bitter.
33“Their wine is the venom of serpents,
And the deadly poison of cobras.
And the deadly poison of cobras.
34‘Is it not laid up in store with Me,
Sealed up in My treasuries?
Sealed up in My treasuries?
35‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution,
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’
In due time their foot will slip;
For the day of their calamity is near,
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’
36“For the LORD will vindicate His people,
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
And will have compassion on His servants,
When He sees that their strength is gone,
And there is none remaining, bond or free.
37“And He will say, ‘Where are their gods,
The rock in which they sought refuge?
The rock in which they sought refuge?
38‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices,
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your hiding place!
And drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you,
Let them be your hiding place!
39‘See now that I, I am He,
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
And there is no god besides Me;
It is I who put to death and give life.
I have wounded and it is I who heal,
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.
40‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven,
And say, as I live forever,
And say, as I live forever,
41If I sharpen My flashing sword,
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
And My hand takes hold on justice,
I will render vengeance on My adversaries,
And I will repay those who hate Me.
42‘I will make My arrows drunk with blood,
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’
And My sword will devour flesh,
With the blood of the slain and the captives,
From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.’
43“Rejoice, O nations, with His people;
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
For He will avenge the blood of His servants,
And will render vengeance on His adversaries,
And will atone for His land and His people.”
Thursday, September 6, 2012
rachel is a senior
Rachel is a senior today...officially! before this year is out i will find her first day of kindergarten picture and post it in this space.
i can say with all honesty, that i blinked.....for a moment.....and she grew up. as much as i want so much to hold on...i know the time is coming to let go. i am so proud of her. i cant wait to see what God has for her in the years to come.
i have posted it before, but i will do it again. this song is one that a group called Lady Antebellum sang. the moment i heard it i was reminded of Rachel. i will post the lyrics & a youtube link.
She grew up on a side of the roadWhere the church bells ring and strong love growsShe grew up goodShe grew up slowLike American Honey
Steady as a preacherFree as a weedCouldn't wiat to get goin'But wasn't quite ready to leaveSo innocent, pure and sweetAmerican honey
There's a wild, wild whisperBlowing in the windCalling out my name like a long lost friendOh I miss those days as the years go byOh nothing's sweeter than summer timeAnd American honey
Get caught in the raceOf this crazy lifeTrying to be everything can make you lose your mindI just wanna go back in timeTo American honey, yea
There's a wild, wild whisperBlowing in the windCalling out my name like a long lost friendOh I miss those days as the years go byOh nothing's sweeter than summer timeAnd American honey
Gone for so long nowI gotta get back to her somehowTo American honey
Ooh There's a wild, wild whisperBlowing in the windCalling out my name like a long lost friendOh I miss those days as the years go byOh nothin's sweeter than summer timeAnd American HoneyAnd American Honey
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Labor Day
We have a small list of things to accomplish BEFORE Ruth gets here. Time is short & we are really trying to fit it all in. Last night I actually spent the night up, alone, contracting....seriously contracting. from about 10:30 - about 4:30AM. I basically didnt get any sleep. the contractions were hard & had the potential to progress but they didnt. they didnt hit that certain "peak" that contractions have to hit to be considered "unbearable" for me. but nonetheless they were hard good contractions that kept me awake for most of the night. So with time getting short & if contractions like last night's continue we might not be able to complete our list BEFORE Ruth's arrival.
our list consist of the following:
*night of camping (Rachel's request)
*fishing with Elizabeth, Abigail, Asher & Esther. (all of the listed request)
*the zoo (Esther's request)
we also have a consistent request for picnics. so yesterday we went to a very close park & took a picnic lunch & allowed the kids to play on a very big playground. this is the same park where Clay & the 3 little ones ran into a copperhead about 2 weeks back. it's actually a camping park with hiking trails & a huge river that runs through it with paddle boats & canoes. thankfully we didnt meet any venomous visitors at Northwest River Park yesterday. we did meet a nice Russian family with a beautiful little pomerian dog. The children were very cool in that family...a girl & a boy & they both switched back & forth fluently between English & Russian. those children played very nicely with my children. we also ran into a young family with one little boy, who was younger than Levi, but walking. when we got on the trail that leads from the playground to the picnic, this little boy tried to join us. I told his Mom that he was fine...he would fit in nicely...but she decided to keep him.
here are some pictures from yesterday. i actually remembered the camera!
Esther wasnt happy that she had to eat her sandwich BEFORE she got any of the extra goodies.
Levi has become a master at the slides & he loves them now.
Clay playing on the swings.
i love this picture of Abigail. she has a drop of kool-aid running down her chin. to be a kid again & not worry about things like that!
and this is Asher on his motorized motorcycle. it actually goes about 15 mph & he does great on it.
our list consist of the following:
*night of camping (Rachel's request)
*fishing with Elizabeth, Abigail, Asher & Esther. (all of the listed request)
*the zoo (Esther's request)
we also have a consistent request for picnics. so yesterday we went to a very close park & took a picnic lunch & allowed the kids to play on a very big playground. this is the same park where Clay & the 3 little ones ran into a copperhead about 2 weeks back. it's actually a camping park with hiking trails & a huge river that runs through it with paddle boats & canoes. thankfully we didnt meet any venomous visitors at Northwest River Park yesterday. we did meet a nice Russian family with a beautiful little pomerian dog. The children were very cool in that family...a girl & a boy & they both switched back & forth fluently between English & Russian. those children played very nicely with my children. we also ran into a young family with one little boy, who was younger than Levi, but walking. when we got on the trail that leads from the playground to the picnic, this little boy tried to join us. I told his Mom that he was fine...he would fit in nicely...but she decided to keep him.
here are some pictures from yesterday. i actually remembered the camera!
Esther wasnt happy that she had to eat her sandwich BEFORE she got any of the extra goodies.
Levi has become a master at the slides & he loves them now.
Clay playing on the swings.
i love this picture of Abigail. she has a drop of kool-aid running down her chin. to be a kid again & not worry about things like that!
and this is Asher on his motorized motorcycle. it actually goes about 15 mph & he does great on it.
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