Runnin' behind

I will post as soon as I can, but as you can imagine, we're a little crazy around here...and my baby girl is sick. Her fever spiked again this morning. Catch ya'll later. Thanks for your sweet comments and for following our journey!

We're Home!

Sorry for the long haitus...but we've been on a very important mission. We are now HOME FROM CHINA with Kooper and Kinley!
GOD IS GOOD!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

My precious Kayden, she's one smart cookie! Last night she said to me, "Mom, I really think you need to change your number because I know you're 44, but you don't look 44, so you should change your number." :) :) :)

Today she was telling me about God speaking to us through His Holy Word and said, "I thought we had to wait to get to Heaven to hear God's Word, but He speaks to us today through His Holy Word. There's even red letters in there that are actually Jesus' words."

Then, this, "We can read the same thing in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John because they are the four Gossips. Then we can read more in Acts and Romance." (I love it!!!)

Counting my blessings

Beautiful weather Saturday. Beautiful children always!
Goofy, gorgeous children!

Ummm ... not great at setting the timer ;-) Someday I will have an amazing camera that takes fantastic pictures ... and I will learn how to use it!

Blessings too many to count!

Truth for Today!

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Prov 13:12

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. Psa 9:1-2

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psa 19:1

Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! Psa 66:5

...for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name. Luke 1:49

Is this Yours?

Not the beautiful baby girl - but the dress, is it yours? It could be! My friend Diane is holding an auction to raise travel funds ASAP. Please check it out HERE.

Memorial Box Monday ~ Giving Back

Giving back what is already His!
This is kind of hard to write because it involves a confession – yikes! But in order to share my testimony I need to get real!

Last month as the adoption process progressed and we realized we were going to soon need a LOT of funds to complete the journey we began to put the pencil to the paper. It just wasn’t adding up. We have been trusting God for everything in this process, following as He leads, finding that His plans are far greater than we had imagined. But the cost was escalating, and though we had come up with over half of it, there was still a l.a.r.g.e. balance.

We went to our friend and pastor and shared our hearts. For the previous processes we have been able to borrow the funds, if necessary, to complete the process. I know that debt is not the best option … but we have committed to do what was necessary to bring our children home, even it if means paying on a loan for the rest of our lives. Now, God has never allowed the debt to last very long – He’s always provided for timely repayment!

This time is different. Since starting up a new farming business, we have exhausted all collateral and ability to borrow. In the past we’ve felt we trusted the Lord completely for everything we needed, but this time we were really, really trusting Him. We’ve held fundraisers, giveaways, applied for 6 grants, received anonymous love offerings, cut our budget to bare bones and saved every penny we could, and still we were short – really short.

On September 12 we committed to fasting in order to seek the Lord. We desperately needed to hear from Him. Maybe He would confide His provisional plans to us. Or maybe, better yet, He would change us! We began our first extended fast. And the Lord spoke volumes.

Many times the enemy tried to make us doubt, question our motives, or remind us of our own weaknesses and allow discouragement. We spent a lot of time in the Word and in prayer, and God was faithful to speak. What we really wanted was direction, to know how He was going to provide all we needed, if we were to keep it to ourselves or make it public. We wanted Him to change our circumstances … but we didn’t expect Him to change US so much!

He began to remind us of Truths He had spoken to us months before about following Him with reckless abandon because His plans are so awesome and His power so limitless (Psa 40:5; Eph 3:20), others may forsake us but He never will (Psa 27:10), many may question our calling, but He is faithful to carry us outside the barriers of our comfort (Jer 29:11 ), He wants us to have abundant life here and now (Psa 27:13-14), and all good things come from Him (Psa 16:2).

We didn’t know how long the fast would last, but our prayer was that the Lord would speak the same things to each of us, individually. Throughout the week we shared things He had spoken to us, and then on Friday, were struck with an awful truth: we had become unfaithful in giving. In the previous months the budget had been tight, but there was no excuse. The simple truth is we had stopped recognizing that what we receive is God’s. We k.n.e.w. it was from Him, but we were not living that out by giving back. How He desperately wanted us to understand His abundant provision by trusting Him enough to give back to Him first. No wonder we were at a financial dead end! We lacked faith!

As we talked about it, we realized we needed to repent and start giving immediately no.matter.what! I am also grateful for the way He uses His faithful children to speak and live out His Truth. (Thank you, L, for taking the time to counsel and pray with us as well!)

Suddenly we were free! We still didn’t have the funds we needed, but we had the direction we so desperately sought. Our role is to faithfully give back. On a Friday evening, six days later we broke the fast.

Early Saturday morning a sweet sister from church stopped by, totally unexpected, and gave a gift of $1,000 toward our adoption! We shared our testimony of the previous seven days and told her that only $900 would be applied to our process because the first was for the Lord. That’s my God! We don’t deserve His blessing, but He is so faithful!

The following weeks as long-awaited paychecks began to arrive, we were so excited to set aside the Lord’s portion first, and He began to restore our finances! Still we lacked the amount needed for the adoption. Suddenly we had the idea of a benefit/fundraising dinner. We weren’t really sure how it would go over, but with the encouragement and prayers of our brother/friend/pastor we quickly put it together. We mailed personal invitations, spoke to our ministerial alliance and hung flyers.

Five days later we prepared a pasta feast with expectations of feeding 300 hungry guests. The weather turned cold and illness was rampant. But we had been praying for God’s provision. We had been placing our hope in Him. We knew He was speaking to the hearts of His children and many would respond. We just knew it. We were told over and over again by dear friends that He was surely going to do something big … and we had no idea how big!

We probably served between 150 and 200 people, but we were not discouraged. The cash box was whisked away as we began the massive cleanup effort. In hindsight I’m so glad it happened the way it did. Our pastor (friend!) has been one of our biggest prayer warriors and encouragers over the last six years of adoption blessings, and he was the one who shared what God had miraculously done on a cold Tuesday evening in a small church in a town of 500 citizens. We needed $21,000 to complete our process, and God provided $21,115!!!!

Because so many wish to remain anonymous, we do not know who gave or how much. We apologize that we can’t thank each individual personally, but publicly we say THANK YOU for seeking and responding to our Heavenly Father, and we PRAISE YOU, Father, for knowing and providing exactly what we need! Even when we are not faithful, YOU ARE!

Friend's Giveaway!

Oh my, my friend Kim is hosting a giveaway of an a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. dress! You must check it out here and enter! Thank you, Kim!

Garage Sale Halfway Point :)

I mentioned that Oklahoma Hearts is having our fundraising garage sale this week, so we are swamped. Did I mention the wind chill is 25?!?

Today is the last day. Once we close today, all the stuff gets loaded and hauled to good will. Praying the people come today!

Have a great weekend!

My GOD Supplies ALL!

Praise my Father in Heaven! Even before we ...
chopped a few vegetables ...
... made a little sauce ...

... sliced a few loaves of bread ...

... frosted a little cake ...

BUSTED!

... made a little spaghetti ...

... and added a little more frosting ...

... He was already working in the hearts of His people! We are in a place of total dependency on Him. Through a time of intense prayer, He directed our steps. He spoke many things into our hearts (which really need to be in a Memorial Box Monday post!).

We knew He wanted us to keep trusting Him and not to step out ahead of Him. He reminded us often:

... for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. Psa 50:10

We're not talking pocket change here, or even airfare. We were asking for ... well, what is possible only with God! Clayton and I talked about whether we really should tell you the amount we needed. After all, it's beyond humbling, almost to the point of embarrassing. Beloved, I say it again, we serve a mighty God!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him," 1 Cor 2:9

It was a busy, fun, exhausting day. There were so many unfinished conversations as I tried to sit and chat and then noticed something needed to be done. We saw so many precious people walk through the serving line, and some were missing due to illness or distance. We have so many people to thank, and as I start thinking of names, I realize I am forgetting so many and I don't want to forget anyone. So you know who you are - we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for serving, praying, loving the Lord, giving your time and resources! Thank you, Brother Brian, for believing with us!

At the end of the day, "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:19

No doubt about it, when God calls His people to a task, He does not expect us to be equipped; He expects us to let Him equip and supply, even when the need is $21,000! In our pastor's words, "I stopped counting at 21!" Praise Him! I have been up many times in the night just offering praise!

I wish we had a list of all the people who came. My friend Lori gets the prize for driving the furthest, 2.5 hours!!

The cheerful clean-up crew sometime after 9:30 p.m.

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. 1 Cor 1:31

Thank you for responding to His call. May He receive the glory and praise!

Dinner Invitation!

It's gonna be a busy day, and I'm so excited! Thank you for your prayers for our fundraiser tonight. It's going to be awesome, and I can't wait to share what the Lord is going to do! Hope to see you there. 5-8 p.m.!

Will you please pray for Kenzie. She hasn't been feeling well and today we're going to the doctor to see what's going on.

Also, Oklahoma Hearts for Adoption is preparing for a huge two-day garage sale this weekend! I haven't been one bit of help marking items (sorry, gals) ... tomorrow I promise to devote my attention to the project. Please pray for good weather and lots of great customers!

He's Got the WHOLE World in His Hands!

Seriously? Did she say that?
Clayton was telling me something that happened to him yesterday. I truly want my blog to glorify the Lord ... so consider it grace extended in the midst of stupidity :)

He was in a store with the three-year-old 'twins' when an acquaintance walked in and commented on how much they had grown. THEN she said, "I'm a person who believes we ought to support the children in the country in which we live."

Dumbfounded by the out-of-time comment, but being the godly man he is, my sweet husband walked to the counter top and drew an imaginary image of the world, pointed to North America, China, Africa, etc., and asked her, "If you could see the world through God's eyes, which of these children do you think He loves more?" WTG, Honey!

She obviously just needed a soapbox moment because she continued on with how we need to help the children here in our country (no doubt about that!). Helping the children here starts in our own homes, taking responsibility as parents. But that wasn't really her point. She just wanted to voice her disagreement with our family, in the presence of my children.
So, to this dear woman who has never:
parented a child
fostered a child
adopted a child
taught a child
advocated for a child
I would say, "my God loves you anyway."

Dinner plans

I'm talkin' lots of food! We hope to feed lots of people. Good thing I like to cook :)
Maybe we'll go from this ....
...to this!

But only if that is God's plan. This dinner is to raise travel funds for two Treasures to come home. It's scheduled for next Tuesday, October 6. Everyone is invited!!!! There are so many of you I've never met, and I wish you lived closer so we could meet face to face! Will you please join us in prayer that:

1) God would be glorified

2) This event would cause adoption awareness

3) Our faith would continue to grow as we are fully dependant on Him

God is good!

but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.

Praise be to God,

who has not rejected my prayer

or withheld his love from me!

Psa 66:19-20

September - where?

Where did September go? It's not quite over yet, but seriously, we're heading into fall already! I know I've been negligent in posting pix of the kids so here are a few from September (and maybe the end of August). Apparently I didn't grab the camera as much as I should have. What have we done in September?

We moved Kuyler back to college. You go, girl. Not flat head, just good balance.

Weight training on his deck. Ummm, she only weighs 35 pounds.
We celebrated Kuyler's 21st birthday!
Kolton rode his horse Pistol in the parade.
Kaeleb won his turtle race.
We're watching Kolton play football - so far undefeated! Go, 45!!!!
We're cleaning :)
Watching Suite Life on the computer.
We went to See You at the Pole.

We had special friends over and made homemade salsa - yummy!
We also had a baby shower for Tina and her precious daughter waiting in Korea. April started her fundraiser - awesome necklaces! Youth is in full swing! We had NUF Nite last Wednesday with a Wii tournament (so I was the first contestant eliminated ... and I'm ok with that :), and we're headed to the corn maze next weekend. And lots of cool stuff in our Wild Goose Chase, praise the Lord!

Every Child Deserves a Home

Get your Kleenex handy and be blessed by this beautiful video! What a reminder that this miraculous journey is not about ME, but about the fatherless and God's calling upon our lives. I must put aside my frustration and discouragement and cast my cares on Him - whose timing is perfect. May He be glorified as He raises up families who respond to His invitation to encounter Him!
*Please turn off the music at the bottom of the blog before playing the video.

Righteousness

Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Gal 3:5-6

Kayden Faith Comes Home!

Kayden Faith, today we celebrate your 5th Forever Family Day, and we praise God for you!
*Please shut off the sound at the bottom of the blog before playing the video.
God bless you!

Memorial Box Monday ~ My Grace is Sufficient

My grace is sufficient!
Minding my own business, getting ready for work in late 2003, and on the radio I hear this incredible testimony of how an 11 year old girl prayed, encouraged and finally inspired her parents to adopt from China. It was as if the audible voice of God was whispering amazing plans into my pounding heart.

I’ve shared my testimony many times of how He spoke adoption into our family, and I will continue to praise Him for changing our lives! We had never talked about adopting, didn’t know anything about the international process, and we certainly didn’t realize there were over 143 million orphans worldwide needing loving parents to tuck them into bed every night.

As we dove into the process and learned more about it, we often became overwhelmed and weary. We serve an amazing God who knows our every need, and at that point in our faith (I had been a believer for 2 years and Clayton for 6) He knew we needed confirmation that we were following His calling and not stepping out on a limb on our own strength.

For 11 months we claimed the promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9(a) “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” We questioned our abilities so many times. We questioned how we would afford the process. We questioned our ability to love. I will testify that on September 21, 2004 I learned love takes on an entirely new realm when we love through our Heavenly Father! All the questions, fears and doubt were washed away as the Lord sweetly affirmed His plan for our family and Kayden Faith was placed in our arms.

We had kept this journey to ourselves for several months so we would know for certain it was what God intended for us. We were immature spiritually, but we didn’t want to be influenced by human wisdom. We really wanted to shout from the rooftop what God was doing, and once we did we were often asked by family and strangers why we would adopt … and why from China. Everyone wanted a ‘logical’ answer. We had thrown logic out the window and decided to follow the Lord with reckless abandon, trusting Him for everything we needed. His Word enlightened, refreshed and motivated us. His people encouraged us. His Spirit moved us. His love enveloped us.

I am convinced the more time we spend in His Word and in intimate prayer, the more we know Him and can hear His voice. But I also am convinced the Spirit is constantly moving and speaking, even when we least expect to hear, “My grace is sufficient for you…”

Prayer

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22

If our family comes to mind this week, please lift us up. May you have a blessed week!

AND THE WINNER IS ...

DEBORAH! Congratulations! Thank you to everyone who entered. You have blessed us beyond our imagination.

Sorry for the delay in posting ~ I was trying to reach the winner to let her know first:)

Giveaway Drawing Tomorrow!!!

Hi, Friends! Just a reminder that we will draw for the giveaway at 12 p.m. CST tomorrow, September 16! If you have any questions, please email me.
Thank you to these ladies for entering so far:
Linny
Laine
JA Thompson
Tammy E
Cindy
Shelley
Robin
Linda
Tanya
April
Erica H
Mandie
Deborah

Power Verse

Isaiah 55:9, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)

2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)

These were the power verses in my devotion this morning, words I so needed to hear. We are in a time of trusting that His ways are higher, much higher, than our own. While it isn't wrong to trust our means and resources to solve problems, it is sin to trust them more than God! His plans are better, His timing is perfect, His resources are unlimited... He is sovereign! The results may not be visible at this time, but we know He is ALWAYS trustworthy and faithful and the battle is won.

He is strengthening us. We are praising Him!

Thank you, Lord, for knowing what we need, even before we do, and satisfying ALL our needs. Please help me to trust YOU and praise YOU in ALL things. In Jesus' name, Amen!

An Orphan's Prayer

"An Orphans Prayer"

I am waiting...somewhere far...far away on the other side of the world.

I may not know who you are or what you look like, but somewhere deep in my heart I know you are out there, that one day you will come and find me.

It's a long journey, and it takes a lot of time...I wish it could be easier.

But I know the ones that come for me will not count the cost.

They will only see the joy in finding me.

For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless. Day by day wondering why I was born here and not somewhere else? Asking why my life couldn't have been different?

It is so lonely.

Even though I am surrounded by hundreds of other children, I know that something is missing...I know in my heart I need a place to call home. My arms long to be wrapped in a father's embrace...I long to be saved by a mother's love...

Gazing out the orphans window, I offer a prayer of hope, "Oh God please help them come quickly."

Even as I lay in the darkness each night somehow I feel assured, that no matter how lost I appear, I am not alone. Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe my tears, touching my lonely heart. The one who made me, the God that knew me before I was born, hears me every time I call. He whispers His promises in my ear. I listen with hope to His voice.

But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me. The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth. I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?

Yet He calms my heart and assures me He will find you. That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly. He has promised me that he will make a way through the fields, that He will personally cut a path, and lead you right to my orphanage door.

My prayer is....When He speaks...Please don't forget to listen...When He calls don't be too afraid to go. For I am waiting...somewhere, far...far away on the other side of the world to come home.

~Anonymous

Swimmin' Upstream

The following quote from Francis Chan's book Crazy Love has been rumbling in my heart for a while now, and I just have to share.
"Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are. If life is a river, then pursuing Christ requires swimming upstream. When we stop swimming, or actively following Him, we automatically begin to be swept downstream."
Wow, it's that last sentence that gets me! I can so relate to that. It's just not enough to label myself a Christian. How do I wear that label? Being a Christian is an act of ... well, action. It's a daily pursuit of my Savior, an ongoing relationship with my Creator. The minute I stop reading, praying, praising, loving I am quickly whisked back into this world, into a clouded perspective, into a societal focus.
I can talk it, but if I don't live it, it's pretty evident. See, I've been there. I've gotten busy and let my relationship slide. "I'll read tomorrow. I'll pray later." Do you know what I'm talking about? But tomorrow turns into next week and next week into next month. In the meantime there is something brewing inside me.
Not only has my perspective changed, so has my attitude. I become skeptical, cynical, critical, jealous (ouch!). I begin questioning other relationships. "Why is so-and-so acting that way? Why did she say that to me? Why doesn't she speak to me?" Have you been there?
When I stop actively pursuing the One who gives me purpose, I begin living for my own purpose, in my own weakness, walking my own crooked path. When I stop receiving the love of the One who loves me so much, I can't give or receive it according to the Word. It's so easy to love those who love us back, but we are commanded to love the stranger, our enemy, even the one who would harm us (many times with their words).
When I'm floating back into the murky waters, they permeate every part of my being. My spirit. My attitude. My relationships. My heart. My actions.
Where are you today? Even if it's been a while since you've talked to your Heavenly Father, He's ready to listen. He's ready to speak to you. Let's swim upstream together!
Lord, please give us the desire to daily swim upstream with you, actively pursuing you, saying yes to your plans, shining your light in this dark world. In Jesus' name, Amen.

One Week to Giveaway!

Don't forget our Giveaway! Drawing is one week from today! Click on the Chip-In above to enter. Thank you to those who have already entered.

We'd Love to Adopt ... If We Could 'Afford' It!"

I've been wanting to share my heart about this for a long time, and now I know the time is right. I'm going to leave most of the talkin' up to my friend Linny over at A Place Called Simplicity because she has such an eloquent way of putting things. I'll say that I share her heart and wholeheartedly agree with her thoughts on 'affording' adoption.
Truth is, we spend our time, money and resources on what's really important to us. As Americans, somewhere along the way we've developed an entitlement attitude. We think we deserve such-and-such.
I can't tell you the number of people who have said to me, "We'd love to adopt, if only we could afford it." Let me tell you in all the adoptive families I know, there are probably a hand full who had the funds at their fingertips (and we're not one of them).
This post is not meant to convict anyone. It's keeping it real ... for me and anyone else who needs to be real.
See, I've been wanting to redo my kitchen walls. Every time I take birthday pictures of my kids, I see the lovely ivy wallpaper I so carefully chose and applied ten years ago when we built this house. Thing is, my kitchen is a big room and it will cost a lot to redo the walls! There's nothing wrong with the wallpaper, other than I want something more modern, updated, upgraded! Even if I could afford it right now, should I do it? I mean, I know two other families within minutes of my home who are adopting internationally, and I'll bet they could use the funds it would take to paper my kitchen! We're still praying for God to reveal how He's going to creatively provide for the rest of our journey - and I don't think He wants me to repaper my kitchen and sell admission tickets :) We know He will continue to provide all we need, just as He has in the past!
I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, we've never had money set aside for adoption, but when the Lord called us in obedience He didn't intend for us to 'have all our ducks in a row.' He wants us to depend on Him! He wants to receive the glory! We believe in our case if we'd had the funds at our disposal, He would not receive the credit, or we might not have stepped out in faith in the first place.
I've recently finished three books that have given perspective to obedience and how we spend our resources: Crazy Love, Wild Goose Chase, and Brother Yun. None of these guys drive a bigger car or live in a bigger house just because they can - or even if they could. In fact, they're all about down-sizing so they can give away what's left. Now that's not a concept we're familiar with!
Like so many folks, I struggle with materialism. I DO work hard! But does that mean I deserve something more for myself? Not according to God's Word. When I came to the realization and understanding that it all belongs to Him, it helped me change perspective. We DO need more room in our house. But we are not going to build on. We DO need a bigger car. But we're not buying one! All of those things would be for our own comfort. We are plenty comfortable now. We've given up a lot, but we haven't sacrificed! We don't know the half of what it means to sacrifice. We haven't given our lives to profess our faith; we haven't left our air-conditioned home to move halfway around the world to share the Gospel; we haven't lost a child in the war ....
The question I'm asking myself is, "What does God think of what I'm doing with what is His?" How am I taking care of His things? His children?
His Word doesn't say to care for the orphan ... when you can afford it, or whatever you do for the least of these, when you have plenty, you do for me. Ref: James 1:27; Matthew 25:40; Phil 4:12; Gal 6:3; 2 Cor 5:15; James 1:17; Matthew 6:19-21.
What I am 'entitled to' I do not want! What I want, I am not entitled to! I must follow in obedience, keeping my eyes on Him as my Provision!
Our Motto: We don't have retirement, but our investment keeps growing! :)
Don't forget to check out Linny's blog! You'll love it!

Back to Life!

We're feeling better around here, finally! I am so thankful for good health. Please don't forget our Giveaway! It ends in 2 weeks!

Question of the Day

Why are these packages impossible to open when you're sick?!? There are much greater issues to resolve, but this is what we've been dealing with this week. Goodbye, flu!

21 Years Ago ...

... our perspective, priorities and life as we knew it changed forever! At about this time ( 7 a.m.) Clayton was leaving for work, and I was going to push mow our large lawn. Clayton barely made it to work, and the yard didn't get mowed for several days. Did I mention I was 39 weeks pregnant?!? I felt the strangest sensation, and when I finally stopped, I realized I was in labor and my contractions were 5 minutes apart ;-) Clayton drove 25 miles home in about 10 minutes, we drove 30 minutes to the hospital, and 3 hours later ... our world was rocked for good! I never thought my heart could be so full of love. Kuyler Lee, we love you and are so proud of you! Happy Birthday, Son! Thank you, God, for using my oldest son to begin to bend my heart to Yourself!

Giveaway!

Between now and September 16 YOU have a chance to receive 8 fab items!
For each $10 entry in the Chip-In, you get one opportunity for all 8. Yes, one lucky person drawn September 16 receives ALL 8 items!
1 boy's "Chosen" t-shirt
1 girl's "Chosen" t-shirt
1 mama's "Unfolding" t-shirt (all from Wild Olive Tees!)
1 girl's backpack
1 boy's duffel
1 mama's tote (all from Crazy Dazy!)
1 scented candle by K&Ko Kandles
1 book (Crazy Love by Francis Chan)
Watch the slide show above to see all the items. If you have any questions, please email me.
Blessings to you all!

Opening it up and ...

... we have two giveaways coming soon! Stay tuned!

Ended Up Being a Good Day After All!

Look what came in the mail! Get your verse on! Check 'em out! Next time you see these, they will be on two precious bumpkins! We've had a rough couple of days, lots of tears and frustration. But even when we aren't faithful, God is! He came through, big time! I praise Him for His 'bigness' and His unending grace toward me!

Behold the Cuteness :)

So the lighting wasn't the greatest ... but these pictures were taken with purpose ... and we were not late for church ;-) Someday I want to have a nice camera (and learn how to use it.) Big changes in our household this week: Kuyler goes back to college :( Corn ends Friday :) Football and softball begin! We'll get into a nice routine .... and then change it up BIG TIME, praise the Lord!!!!!!

Face the Music - or the Corn

Less than 1 week of sweet corn left ...and though we've grilled our fair share, I have yet to put any up, until today. No problem, I'll tackle 2 bags today and more later. This is a bag...
With a little help we can get this done!

With the right equipment and a system ...

...we're getting somewhere now.

This ... times three and we're done for today!

HOLD UP! I promised to bake Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies for youth tomorrow.

That's what I'm talkin' about! Now I'm done!

NO WAY! I'm not goin' there today! That can wait till ... who knows, after corn maybe?

Yes, my sweet family, you MAY have cookies for supper. I can think of at least three food groups in them :)