Tis The Season

The kid's just found out via referral photo that their best friends in Ethiopia are coming to live in our town!
The crew. Can you find all nine kiddos?
Yadel the Birthday Boy!

Betel the Birthday Girl!

Eliana and Stephan

Thanksgiving fun at the beach.

Surprise Birthday Party for Grandma Alice at the beach.

Tis the season...to be jolly, thankful, blessed. Life here is crazy, busy, and full. Life here is amazing, good, and fun. Parenting nine kiddos, 7 whom are adopted, and 5 that were older child adoptions can be very challenging....and very rewarding. I the words of Dickens "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of Hope, it was the winter of despair." That really sums up our lives right now.

With the newbies, I have one home being homeschooled, and we are working on obstacles to learning, and behavior modification. One is the picture of perfection & doing so well on the outside. But having been through so much in that short life, is in art therapy to help deal with all of the stuff on the inside. One is doing well and going with the flow...except when that stubborn streak come in to play.

They are gifts. I am thankful that the Lord entrusted them to us. We are working on peeling away all of layers of past and present stuff, so that they can grow into the young men and women that God has planned for them to be. "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. That's what it's all about...not trying to reach perfection, but redemption!

Speaking of hope and a future, two of the most special girls on the planet that have been at the Gladney care center in Ethiopia for three and a half long years, have been referred to a dear couple right here in my small town. We are rejoicing in this WONDERFUL news today. Two more children are getting a forever family.

That would be my Christmas wish.....for every boy and girl on the planet to get a loving family. It shouldn't be optional! It rips my heart to know how many millions of orphans there are in the world. In the mean time, my three new children just experienced their first Thanksgiving, are seeing their first Christmas lights, and are about to celebrate such a special holiday in a warm home with plenty of love, food, clothing, and an abundance of gifts. Priceless!

Sorry for the rambling. My heart is so full of these nine blessings, but heavy with the millions of others that are looking to fill someone's heart. Maybe this Christmas season, you will step out in faith, and it will be YOUR heart that is filled with one of these orphans.