A Thank-You

"I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers."

We were watching Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech last night, all 6 kids listening, littlest ones on our laps. I listened with tears in my eyes and I held Hope tight.

We said thank-you to God and to Rev Martin Luther King Jr. It was a short lesson but one Aidan and Annah took to heart. If changes had not been made these two curly-headed toddlers would not be a part of our family. Praise God, changes took place! Is there still discrimination, yes, does evil still abound, yes, and that will not change until Jesus reigns, but praise God, changes took place!

~"I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nationwhere they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "

~"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together."

~"We can never be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream."

~"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"

~"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood."

~"This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

~"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

a special surprise

Sometimes God blesses you more than you deserve and it's hard to accept! Actually more often than not, we are unworthy of His gifts, aren't we? The free gifts He gives like littles one giggles and witnessing the joy of siblings caring for one another. Or watching the pure happiness of a dog running like the wind trying to catch his boy. And then there are those gifts worth many many dollars. These are equally humbling.

I was blessed with a HUGE gift and I keep thinking I cannot accept! I haven't figured what to do.

I keep peeking in boxes, and then shut them quickly, feeling like I'm looking through someone else's things! Am I being silly??? Is it pride??? Or is it truly a gift too large to accept, even when given by a Believer only wishing to show God's love and blessings?

In the boxes and bins pictured above are SO very many homeschool supplies. Books, books and more books, loving and painstakingly gathered unit studies with crafts and games and the love of learning packed in!!! Sonlight, Shurley Grammar, Exploring Creation with Physical Science, and one I didn't even know I wanted yet... Heroes of History, Maps of the US, Maps of the World and on and on and....

even a microscope! It's overwhelming and I'm not sure I can accept it all...

*Edited to add, I listened to my mom, and I've begun unpacking. This gift is straight from Him to me, through an earthen vessel. Guess what I found? These two books... "Dim sum, Bagels,and Grits: A Sourcebook for Multicultural Families." by Myra Alperson and Adoption as a Ministry, Adoption as a Blessing by Michelle Gardner. How cool is that!?!

More crazy dancing girls

Chad's latest creation

wordless wednesday

hmmmmm...

where, oh where, could my baby girls be???

the Touchstone of Character

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self‑control; and to self‑control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Peter1:4-8

I may have written about this before but I don't care, I feel like doing it again. :o) Drudgery to me is attacking the laundry of 8 people and a dog on a Monday morning facing a week of a long to-do list and food of the floor from last nights rushed dinner before church.

I was offered encouragement this morning and thought maybe writing it out would cement it in my heart and head and possibly offer you encouragement as well!

From my favorite book besides the Bible, Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest Journal

June 15th
In the mattery of Drudery...You have inherited the Divine nature says Peter(.v4), now scrw your attention down and form habits, give diligence, conentrate. "Add"means all that character means. No man is born either naturally or supernaturally with character, he has to make character.

Nor are we born with habits; we have to form habits on the basis of new life God has put into us. We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel fo the grace of God.

Drudgery is the touchstone of character.

The great hindrance in spiritual life is that we look for the big things to do. "Jesus took a towel...and began to wash the disciples' feet."

There are times when there is no illumination and no thrill, but just the daily round, the common task. Routine is God's way of saving us between our times of inspiration. Do not expect God always to give you His thrilling minutes, but learn to live in the domain of drudgery by the power of God.

It is in the "adding" that is difficult. We say we do not expect God to carry us to heaven on flowery beds of ease, and yet we act as though we did! The tiniest detail in which I obey has all the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it. If I do my duty, not for duty's sake, but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience the whole sperb grace of God is mine through the Atonement.

random picture

21st picture in my may folder...
the twins at their birthday party :o)
(Brittany's random picture post)

Happy 9th Birthday to Aidan!

How is it possible my first baby is 9 years old today? Actually right now, 9 years ago, at 10:30 he was born. So quickly! I woke to my water breaking and within an hour I was deep in the throws of labor. I had to be pushed into the Jeep; oh how I wished I'd planned a homebirth since I planned on going naturally anyway! Who knew I'd go so fast! I huffed and puffed on all fours while Chad sped from Covington (Kent) up to Redmond where my midwife met us at a birth center. I was told since it was my first I would not be in a delivery room...just yet. I let them know in no uncertain terms that this baby was ready NOW. lol I even dropped down onto all fours in the elevator when a particularly strong contraction came and I knew his birth was immenant. They checked me (to humor me) and low and behold...10 centimeters and ready to give birth! Before we knew it, Chad and I were proud parents of a 8lb 10oz baby boy named Aidan Jacob. Little did we know he would have 4 younger siblings someday. Wow, God is good and we have been blessed.

6 months

Age 1

Our young man has amazed us with his unselfish love for others. At a young age this became apparent as he showed empathy and giving heart. He was always so quick to give the "big" piece to a brother or his mother. He brought me anything I needed when he became a big brother for second time at only 3 years and 2weeks of age. He said "WOW, another brother!" when Ryland was born. And of course the twins coming to our home was "the BEST day of my life" he said. My favority character quality my Aidan possesses is his love for others. Whenever I feed them and I do not sit down he asks "Did you eat yet mom?" or if I give him something of mine he asks if I had had enough yet before he'll take it "Are you sure???" so sweet!!!

Nearly 2

Nearly 3

Nearly 4

Age 4

Age 5Age 6
Age 7

Age 7.5

Age 8

Age 8.5

9 years old today!

I read this passage to Aidan the other day I had to chuckle thinking that we sure made a mistake when we chose a name that meant "Fiery One" because he is definitely like the Lord in that he is a "Gentle One" and you hear him in the wisper of a wind and not the fire or the earthquake.

We love you Aidan Jacob. ~Mom and Dad

The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

1 Kings 19:11-13

Adoption update

Oh my, how Hope and Halle have grown!!!

We're still waiting on the technicality of fingerprints (mine) of all things, to finalize the adoption.

Hopefully in 2 months they'll finally share our last name, they already share our home (for nearly 20 months!) and our hearts. :o)

Wordless Wednesday

Tennyson, Super-Dog!

Aidan and his best friend

Tennyson has been settling into his new family wonderfully. He is mellow! NO barking, no whining, no accidents, no excessive licking (0nly when asked to kiss), no jumping up (other than the first day!), no running off (he stays on leash to go outside) or major pulling, and he sleeps through the night in the boys room. He does try to do things he won't once he's neutered, ;o) but even that has been minimal. What more could we have asked for in a one-year-old dog??? Oh and he doesn't mind wearing his super-dog costume either. We took him the vet yesterday for shots and he weighed 90 pounds. She said he was underweight, when he's full grown and at his healthy weight, he will be about 100-110 pounds.

Two home schooled boys and their super-dog

On a side note, Ryland has begged to finish Kindergarten at home. He is way ahead and was pretty bored. Everyday I had to drive him to school in the middle of the twins' nap and he never wanted to go. That was a battle I didn't see the need to fight since we've planned on homeschooling anyway!

Make that three home schooled boys and their superdog!

As we prayed and talked over the Christmas break, we asked Ethan periodically where he would like to be schooled for 1st grade, and he said emphatically, "I choose HOME!" All the boys knew that after this year, home is the only option, but the year in question is this year, as they were already enrolled and I hate to put them in and take them out so quickly. But the T-Bella situation was stressful and chaotic and school was an excellent option which served it's purpose for October, November and part of December. I am happy to have all three boys home now, for good.Halle cooks for Tennyson

Back to the main subject matter, Tennyson... the girls LOVE him also! While he is just as tall as they are he is gentle and only smacks them in the face with his tail, to which Hope and Halle respond with giggles of glee! No licking, knocking over or anything else. What a blessing to not have any major training issues other than basic obedience. He is mellow, sweet and perfect for our family.

And Shiloh, our 10 year old kitty, loves Tennyson as well. Surprise, surprise, he doesn't chase her. lol Sharlet, the outside kitty, hates him but we don't care, she's NOT allowed inside anymore since she fights badly with Shiloh. Shiloh follows Tennyson around the house, rolling around at his feet. This morning they were both curled up asleep on the carpet next to me as I typed. :o)

Chad had emailed Tennyson's family for over a month asking all the right questions and he vetoed my choice of a German Shepherd for Aidan from purebred dog rescue. I had my eye on a white German shepherd we were going to visit the same day but the timing didn't work out. Chad was sure this was the dog for us and he was right. Good job Chad!!!