It's Time

 It's time.

Time to put away the school books.

Time to enjoy the beautiful spring weather.

Time to explore the "prairie."

 Time to run outside without a coat and play, play, play!

 Time to explore with neighborhood friends.

 And time to start up a lawn service.

So far, Jacob has 3 regular customers.

Guess he will be needing to eat more to keep up his energy.

There goes the grocery bill...

again...

Teen in the House

I used to tell Jacob that once he hit 12 years of age, he had to stay there.

No teen years allowed, or I'd be shipping him off to boot camp.

I couldn't imagine having to deal with a teenager.

Well, he decided to turn 13, and I've decided that teen years can be pretty exciting.

Teens are capable of so much, and I really can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for Jacob over the next few years.

As you can see, he is much loved by his baby sister.  She even made him a card that she "wrote" all by herself.  And she decided to "read" it.  Somehow it always seems like she adds so many more words than what's on the paper.  Girl loves to talk!

 Brothers...anxious to go toy shopping together.

Yes.  My 13 year old still loves toys!  Yeah!!!

 Char drew him his own creation called BrainHead.  We told him he should patent and market it!

 Laura was too fast for a cuddle.  Instead, she's into photo-bombing.  She is forever walking in front of the camera just as we take a picture!

 Definitely a jelly-bean kid.  The dentist will love him (or my wallet) next month!

 And his wish this year...an airsoft weapon.  He and some buddies are celebrating his birthday next week with an airsoft battle.  Friends of ours have graciously allowed the boys to use their wooded acres for the battle, and their fire pit for a bonfire.

 My birthday was the day before Jacob's.  Yes.  I was in labor on my birthday 13 years ago.

I usually remind him every year.  Just in case he forgot how I spent that day.

In pain.  On my birthday.  Just sayin'.

 My pyro lighting his candles.

Score!  He kept his no-candle-left-burning-using-only-one-breath trend.

 For his birthday, he chose Steak&Sh@ke.  Can you guess why?

Oh, and I wonder where Laura gets her knack for photo bombing...Daddy...

Crazy Fun

 Spare time?  Not really.

Craziness? Definitely.

First, we had to prepare for Easter Sunday, which also happened to be Jamie's birthday.

Amarin was, of course, in charge of making the icecream cake...extra thick!

 Charlie and Jenna had the honors of smashing the cookies needed for the crust.

 

 However, "smashing" his brother is much funnier.

We also helped organize an Easter egg hunt for Laura's friends at school.

The kids had so much fun!

Then there are the all victorious mornings when we find treasures at breakfast time.

Like 4 mini-wheats stuck together.

That's some excitement right there.

 

 We even squeaked in a date night...in our own dining room...with take-out Chinese food.

 Then there was the hour-long chat with Jenna over hot chocolate, as she relayed memories of orphanage life.

 Finally...birthday time!  Jamie got a guitar.  He has been wanting to learn how to play, so now he and his little sidekick can learn together.

 And this is our best attempt on a windy Easter morning to get a photo of the kids.

As you can see, Laura just loves the wind.  She couldn't get back inside fast enough!

 However, she does love "helping" Daddy in the kitchen.  She knows if she stands next to him long enough as he cuts the ham, she will likely get to taste test it.  And she's right.

 Dinner was ready for our family and our neighbor family of 4.  Then the doorbell rang and we were mobbed by 17 friends. Yes.  17.  It was hilarious as they all piled in the house.  They had already eaten, but thought socializing would be so much fun!  Of course, eating again was indeed an option.  Best of all, they were all here to celebrate Jamie's birthday.  28 people for Easter dinner...and only 10 of them were adults!

 When all was said and done, and leftovers were plentiful, what to do but invite everyone back the next night for dinner.  So, here we are preparing dinner for 16 children. 

 And since we've absolutely lost our marbles, we may as well continue the trend.

I got a text tonight from my friend saying they were on their way to pick us up in "short bus" to take all the kids out for .99 cent kids meals.  Be ready.

So...1 dad, 3 moms, and 14 children headed out in this...our "short bus."

 

 The boys' table.  Can you believe they chose to sit across the restaurant from the rest of us?

We can never say we live a boring life.  There is just way too much fun to be had!

He is Risen!

2 More Suitcases

I woke up this morning with a headache.  So I walked over to my cupboard full of medicinal options, grabbed something that would take away the ache, got a clean glass of water, and VOILA!

Headache gone.

How easy was that?

But it's not so easy for some because they do not have the luxury...yes, luxury...of a cupboard full of medicines.  Can you ever remember a time that you felt physically ill and didn't have the medicine you needed either in the house or at the local store?  I doubt many of us have ever experienced that.

Last July, we came in contact with the directors of Baobei,  a foundation which provides life-saving surgeries to orphans in China and has helped more than 70 children in last 4-5 years.  Little did I know then how involved we would become with this amazing organization.  At that time, we  sent medicine...medicines that we take for granted, but that they can not easily find for the babies.  The directors were so thankful.

Well, it's time to send another supply of over-the-counter meds to China.  Will you help?  I've added a Paypal link to the right, you can mail me a check, drop off kids' over-the-counter meds if you live nearby (see list of needed items below), and be in prayer that we fill two suitcases within in the next three weeks.

Thank you for caring for the orphan!

Items Needed
Benedryl
A&D Ointment
Diaper rash cream
Triaminic strips (daytime & nighttime)
Mucinex for kids
Neosporin

Best Friends

My best friend and I went on a vacation.  Just the two of us.

Best friends.

That would be my hubby.

He whisked me off to warm, sunny Florida for 5 days!

We haven't done this in a long, long time.

It was a much needed retreat.

He knows my favorite place to rest is by the ocean.

So, spoil me, he did, with two resorts right on the Atlantic.  

All day and all evening, I could hear the waves crashing.

We went for lots of walks...

 ate lots of yummy treats and drank more than our share of coffee.

 We saw lots of wildlife like manatee,

 turtles (this one even hissed at me!),

 and pelicans.  This one came really, really close. 

I think he thought my iphone was food.

Good thing he didn't go after it, or he would have met his Maker.

 This was my view at the first resort as I rested by the pool.

 And this was my view at our second stop as I rested on the beach.

Sigh.

 And this was the joke we played on the kids.

We were texting back and forth with them, and I texted this picture saying, 

"Mom got a tatoo!"

There responses were hilarious!

Actually, this was a very sweet waitress that played along with us.

  And lets just say that without kids around, we could indulge in whatever we wanted to for lunch!

 So thankful for this time away with my best friend.

His Girls

Nothing sweeter that to get a picture like this sent to my phone.

Jamie took his girls out for lunch after church, and then shopping.

They just love their daddy!

Solo & Ensemble

It's solo and ensemble time!

Jacob participated for the first time today.

Jacob was assigned a solo, as well as part of a 6 piece brass ensemble.

He enjoyed it, and walked away with a "first" for his solo.

Then he and his buddies earned another "first" for their ensemble.

They were pretty geeked!  

(Does anybody really say "geeked" anymore)?

Well, they were!

 

His dad treated him to a shamrock shake.  He loved it!

Proud of you, buddy!

Prayer Partners Needed

A few weeks ago, I shared that doors were opening for our family. 

Doors opening to allow us to follow the command of James 1:27...to care for orphans and widows in distress.  The Lord has clearly burdened our family for the orphan, and though "our van is full" as we often say, the need is still great and the burden has not left us.

However, as with any burden, we can and do not wish to carry it alone.

"Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." 

Matthew 11:28

There is no way that one family can ease the plight of the orphans.

But when we pray and ask for God's help, when we lift one another up in prayer, the burden is lighter, and much can be accomplished.

Prayer is essential!

Recently, I began volunteer work for Baobei Foundation located in Shanghai, China.

"Baobei Foundation works with Shanghai medical professionals to provide life saving neurological or gastrointestinal surgeries to Chinese orphans."

If you click on the above link, you can see some of the beautiful babies under their care.

But the key issue here is that they are indeed orphans.

And though they are receiving phenomenal care before, during, and after surgeries, they are still without a forever family.  Once they reach a certain level of recovery, they are destined to return to the orphanage from which they came.

These children are the "least of these".

 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'  Matthew 25:45

Scripture makes it abundantly clear, that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving the least of these...the orphans.  And if we choose to ignore them, or wait for someone else to do something, we're not doing right.

If you're reading this, and you decide to close this blog without another thought, just remember, others are doing the same thing.  So, if not you, who is supposed to help?  If everyone closes this page and does nothing, what is going to happen to these precious children?

So, I'm coming to you readers, looking for earnest prayer partners.

Prayer warriors that will intercede on a daily basis for just one of these children.

I want people who will pray for upcoming surgeries, a forever family, and for whatever need may arise for "your child."

If you are one of faithful prayer, and would like to be a part of one of these children's lives, leave a message with your email so I can contact you privately. ( I won't post comments containing emails for privacy reasons).  And if you have children that pray faithfully, they are welcome to participate, too.  What a wonderful way to include them in the life of someone truly in need.
 In becoming a prayer partner, you will be agreeing to the following:
1. To pray daily for "your child."
2.  You will not post their photo anywhere online for the protection of the child, and future adoption prospects.
3.  Post their photo at home where you will see it daily...many times...to be in constant prayer.

Band Competition

 Friday night was Jacob's first band competition.

He's in a middle school marching/concert band, and they are such a cute group of kids.

Here they are walking in, absolutely quiet, in front of the judges.

 They played three pieces.  We sat there listening, and watching the judges writing frantically and flipping through scores of music.

 I tried catching him and his tuba buddy on their way out, but even with those monster instruments, they were too fast for a good photo.

Oh, well.  

The band got a 2nd, and Jacob said he really enjoyed it.

Two more weeks and he will be at solo and ensemble where he will play a tuba solo and play in a brass ensemble of 6.

So thankful for these opportunities for him!

Surgery Complete

This morning, Laura went in for eye surgery.

She had cataracts removed a few years ago, but her lenses were clouded again.

The last time, they could clear the clouds away with lasers.

This time...needles.

She was pretty happy this morning before surgery...her favorite toy...a warm blanket...mommy and daddy all to herself.

 But wait.  Did someone mention eye drops?

 Yep.  And after about 10 rounds of drops, the poor thing was about ready to cry her own tears.

 That did it.  Daddy...I mean, Laura...needed a cuddle.

 Surgery only took an hour, and then I got to go back to see her in recovery.

As I walked back, I could hear her crying.

Then I saw the 3 nurses that were trying to hold her still.

And that was after giving her a light sedative!

She is like wrestling an octopus...and very strong.

But she settled with in with me and rested...as long as no one came anywhere near her head.

She had little pink tears flowing down her face.  The dr. said that was normal, as was the swelling in her eyes.  They even had to trim away her little eyelashes.

 Within the hour, they released her to come home.

Jenna was ready to take over caring for her when I got home.  But no way!  I wasn't relinquishing cuddle time to anyone!

 Lady volunteers make the cutest little surgery hats for the kids.  The nurses found out Laura had a little sister, so they sent one home for Jenna.  She thought she looked beautiful!

 Look at this face.  How could anyone not spoil her?

 As of right now, we've been home less than 2 hours, and she has already slid off my lap to go play with her toys.  There goes my cuddle time!