What I am trying to read...

These are the books I am trying to read.... "trying" being the key word in that sentence.  Now I just need know where I can either 1. Find someone to read them to me while I fold laundry, change poop and clean floors or 2. Find where I can purchase approximately 4.3 hours to add to each of my days.

This is the short stack right now.  I actually just remembered 2 others I am working on- "Lessons at Blackberry Inn" and "Radical" (again:).  And I HIGHLY recommend "Orphanology"(4th book in my stack).  It's a book that I pray changes many, many hearts and lives.  Thank you to my dearest friend, Dawn, for blessing me with a copy.  

What are your favorite books that are a must read?

In Him,

E

Because I have more pictures than words....

My mind can't seem to spit out the words but the tangible photographs and ones that have been captured in my mind are priceless.  

This boy.  Why?  He seemed to think that it would be a good idea to place himself inside Celia's bumbo.  He soon realized there was one problem...getting out.

But, after several moments, he figured it out.  He had been left in the care of his older sister, and needless to say, there was no assisting going on ...only pictures!  And don't tell me I am the only mom who loves that the pictures were taken!!

Also, please ignore the mounds of laundry surrounding this cute little bundle.  When things are folded and not put away in 29 seconds, you see what happens.:)  

My second to oldest decided to actually try something she discovered on Pinterest and her nails turned out so cute!

This is one of my favorite fine motor exercises.  I have had Charlie doing this for quite some time but he never tires of it.  It's a great way for him to work on something productive while I am getting dinner ready.  I do cut the pipe cleaners down because they bend too much if left long and frustration soon sets in. 

And guess where I found this cutie this week?  Sitting in her sister's desk chair peeking at me sheepishly.  In the picture you do not see said sister giggling and holding onto her from under the desk.

The girl loves strawberries...the bigger the better!  I cannot wait to take the gang to the strawberry farm in the next couple of weeks to pick gallons and gallons and gallons.  Such a treat!

Some sister lovin'!  I really don't think this guy is lacking.

She decided it would be a great idea to jump out of the swing.  Praise the Lord for no broken bones!

The simplest things....a fort on the sofa.  Look at his face...cracks me up! 

ANTS!!  Charlie called his friend over to check them out at a recent ballgame.  Loved watching the wonder and awe these two showed me.  Reminded me to pause and soak in every single moment.

On the way to our annual family vacation in the mountains with Mimi, Papa and all the aunts, uncles and cousins.  We are thinking that a big van is in our very near future.

MC with our God daughter, Ella.  Beautiful girls!!

Apparently, this is what boys do.  Dirt bike games.  

More sister love!

Okay, after seeing the photos that our 11 year old took of her sister last week, I am convinced that the 2 of them should go into business together.  They are both so creative and the photos are turning out amazing!!  Anyone want to volunteer to let them practice with your family?:)  I am serious- they are very excited to capture God's wonder with their lens.

Praying each of you have a blessed Sunday basking in His glory and grace!!!

In HIM,

E

Say YES!!

I originally posted this about 2 years ago, but I find myself incredibly burdened for the children....our children. The ones living right here....in our own communities who have noone. NOONE. How can this be? Aren't they all "ours" to care for? Where have we gone wrong?

Please, watch this video in it's entirety. Think about your own children.

This is our call. Not something we dreamed up. Not something we feel we need to do to be cool. Not something we do to gain attention 'cause let me tell you.....it is very hard sometimes to put on the face of Jesus when people are cold and thoughtless with their comments and questions! It is something we do because He commanded us to. It is in the Bible. Period.

I pray that God will use our family. Advocacy, prayer, support, fostering, adoption...all are real needs. And while we aren't sure where He has us headed yet, we are eager to find out!

In Him,

E

Why, Oh Why?

It started nice and calm. An afternoon dying eggs and spending some quality time together.

See, what a sweet sister showing her inquisitive brother how it's done.

Then...he had to lick it. Why, oh why, does he do that?!?! Hand sanitizer, soap,

freshly Clorox wiped tray.......egg dye?!?! Weird.

Nervertheless, I decided to let him give it a try.

And I was impressed. He watched and followed directions perfectly.

Oh, and the sweet, calm sister works on.....oblivious to what is about to happen.:)

Still working...

SO YOU SEE ME....THERE....IN THE BACKGROUND?!?!?!?!

RUNNING FOR COVER!!!

He decided to dump out most of the orange dye and THROW/SWIPE it all over the room!!!

Just look at him!! WHY, CHARLIE?!?! WHY?!?!

After the clean up, she continued and finished the eggs without her trusty sidekick because....

......we decided it was safer for everyone if he sang and shook to Veggie Tales away from the table.:) And he acted like nothing had happened.

In Him,

E

I Surrender

PRAISING HIS GLORIOUS NAME THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY!!

AND ON THIS DAY.....I SURRENDER ALL!!

FOR HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

In Him,

E

ONE MORE THING....IMPORTANT!!

I believe you can vote for Kelly ONCE PER DAY!!! DO IT, PEOPLE!!:)

(said with the love of Christ!)

In Him,

E

Kelly Needs Us

Kelly and I met a year or so ago through blogland. I have been sitting here trying to remember how we met and I suppose it has something to do with the fact that Kelly has a little guy blessed with DS, Boston, who is Charlie's age.

In addition to Boston, Kelly is the proud momma to Brooklyn, a beautiful 6 year old girl. Sadly, Rett Syndrome has stripped away from Brooklyn many of the daily functions and tasks we never think about (walking, talking and hand use). And as hard as it is for Kelly to watch her precious girl become more and more dependent, she continues to fight for Brooklyn every single day.

Kelly is so strong but now she needs us. Her twin sister has nominated for a NEW ADAPTIVE MINIVAN!!!!! Brooklyn's wheelchair is heavy yet Kelly lugs that thing around because that's what Mommy's do. And Brooklyn continues to grow and get bigger yet Kelly lovingly carries her in and out of their vehicle because that's what Mommy's do. How amazing this gift of a new van would be for the Butler family!!

Please, view Kelly's post here. Midway in the post you will find the link to vote for Kelly and her crew. Remember to use PROMO code 971 to gain the Butlers 5 extra votes.

Now......GET VOTING!!!

Praying for a new van for the Butlers!!

In Him,

E

Waiting...

Waiting now for the day to celebrate HIS RETURN and REJOICE IN HIS PROMISES!!!

In Him,

E

Scraps

Wow. Read this post. Here is just an excerpt. Do my kids only get the scraps?

"Do the children get fed first, before phone calls and dishes, before errands, emails, ministry, to-do lists, hobbies, cyber-surfing, before all things seen? Does life stand in line behind the young and the needy, take its turn after their hungry souls? Are my children deep nourished?

Nourished with me. With laughter and hugs and shared stories, with music and dancing and poetry and literature and art and nature and wind and sky and all of the God-Glory.

Or do I feed them scraps off the floor?"

In Him,

E

Spy Party

We had a blast at cousin Eli's "Spy" birthday party this weekend. Just had to share pictures of 2 of my most favorite spies.:) And yes, I know, that boy desperately needs a haircut!

She was too cool for a mustache.:( Why, oh why, does she have to grow up?!

Hope your spring is full of love and precious moments!

In Him,

E

"I Thought My Child Was Perfect....Until Somebody Told Me He Wasn't"

The following story was not written by me. It was included in a newsletter I get.

It sums up exactly what I have been feeling lately regarding therapies and changing our children. While I absolutely support the idea that we should give our children every opportunity to succeed, where/when do we stop?

In Him,

E

"I Thought My Child Was Perfect....Until Somebody Told Me He Wasn't"

"The first five years of my son’s life were a delirious extended honeymoon. Every time I looked at him – and I looked at him all day long – my heart ached with tenderness. I couldn’t stop cuddling and kissing him and in five years I never once felt anger toward him. My mama friends hated me for it, as they teasingly told me all the time. But he was more than I could have imagined and to me the world’s most perfect child. And then one day someone told me he wasn’t.

From the beginning, Cody moved to his own inner beat. He was a precocious learner, highly motivated with great concentration. His interests, before the age of three, included astronomy, geography and geology. I was not surprised that he had little to say to other toddlers. When I arrived at his preschool, I’d often find him by himself at the edge of the playground, his nose buried in the jasmine, while the other kids drove their big plastic cars and tossed balls. “My own gentle Ferdinand”, I thought with a smile.

As Cody’s lack of interest in his peers persisted, his kindergarten teachers suggested a full psychological assessment. Initially resistant, his teachers persuaded us that we had nothing to lose by gathering information. By doing the assess- ment, they asserted we could learn how his mind worked and the best way to nurture his phenomenal gifts. Six weeks and three thousand dollars later, we sat in a carpeted office facing a ponderous wooden desk, while an earnest young man with faded blue eyes told us our son had Asperger’s Syndrome. Anyone familiar with Asperger’s knows that the diagno- sis is both subjective and somewhat nebulous. It’s a behavioral diagnosis – there’s no lab test that can tell you whether or not someone has it. It’s also a spectrum diagnosis which means there is tremendous variation in how it is expressed in different individuals. As the saying goes, “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

Cody is seven now. It’s been almost two years since we received the diagnosis. The other day he said to me, “I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I think you were nicer when I was younger.” I was immediately struck by the truth of his statement. I was nicer then. While the addition of Cody’s little brother to our family two years ago was probably the largest contributor to the erosion of my once even temperament, there is no doubt that the stress of the diagnosis and subsequent interventions we sought – occupation therapy, play therapy, therapeutic summer camp, etc. – were a major factor as well. Meanwhile, my feelings about the diagnosis continue to evolve. If the word Asperger’s can help Cody get support services from our public school, great. If it gives people a framework for understanding his quirks, that’s good too. And if it can help him understand himself and feel less alone in the world, so much the better. What I don’t like is the tendency it creates in me and others, that there’s something “wrong” with him. Before the diagnosis, traits that I used to consider just individual quirks, now cause perpetual worry. There’s a fine line between supporting and “fixing”, between doing my best to help Cody become the happiest, most fulfilled version of himself and trying to turn him into someone he’s not. I’m constantly asking myself – where is that line. How many interventions are too many? At what point does he begin to think he is flawed? Cody will feel defective, if he senses that I consider him so. I cannot, must not, let that happen. How do I find my way back to the truth of my child’s perfection? What do I mean by perfect? Only this: My child is exactly as he should be. Cody’s essential self – who he is – is precious beyond words; he is an exquisite, utterly unique manifestation of life’s miracle. I knew his the moment he was born and beneath all the nervous chatter this process has created, I know it still.

Ima Amare is a writer and the mother of two perfect boys."

Happy!!

It seems she can barely contain her excitement!! She is ONE TODAY!!

Happy Birthday, my tiny, sweet muffin!

I just wish she could have been a little more subdued until I was able to

warm up to the idea.:)

Though, I missed the day of your birth, I will be by your side forever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of Celia's life!

Born exactly in your imagine...perfect.

You make my days beautiful.

In Him,

E

Addiction

Photograph by Viktoriya Evich Krudu Photography

It has been spoken by others that I have an addiction.

These things are said to the people I hold dearest. It hurts.

Addiction is a dirty word. It carries with it shame and secrets you don't want anyone to know.

Addiction tears apart families.

Addiction ruins those who were perfectly healthy.

Addiction involves words only whispered so the children don't hear.

Addiction is a dependance- something that cannot be controlled.

So am I an addict?

Am I really addicted to children? Am I really addicted to adoption?

I don't believe that God blesses one with an addiction. My children are a blessing.

An addiction keeps a person from being the complete person that God intends them to be. My children may keep me from getting a full nights sleep occasionally, but they are the answer to our prayers. God uses them to mold me into exactly what He intends me to be.

Quite the opposite of what addiction does.

Addicted to children?!?! Addicted to adoption?!?!

That is what has been said.

I do not believe that it is true. But if I am wrong, I cannot think of a more priceless, rewarding, perfect, amusing, perfect, holy, abundant, overflowing, rich, hilarious, absolute thing to be addicted to.

So, what do you think? Do those words sound like words that describe addiction?

Do the faces in the photo above look like those who reside with an addict?

"...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act."

Proverbs 24:12

In Him,

E

Just because she is SO DELICIOUS!!!

Look who God has chosen to give me to share my day with!!

Isn't she just scrumptious?!?!

We are so blessed!

In Him,

E

No Judging

Remember he has 4 sisters.:)

Almost 3 months...

Crazy, I know. I decided after a friend emailed me today wondering if I had fallen off the face of the earth that I should probably update.

In early December we were blessed by a photographer in our area. She gave us a gift that we will treasure forever. Here are just a few of the photos she took. Thank you Viktoriya!!

On Christmas morning heading out the door to make our rounds.

A few weeks ago we packed up the Uhaul and headed west....7 miles! We have been blessed with an incredible opportunity to live in my husband's grandmother's home. After months of renovations, we are in. Settled, no. But living and sleeping here, yes. Moving sure wears some little ones out.

Just a bit of the deliciousness I get to enjoy every day! Notice anything missing from this picture?!?! Yes...our mighty Celia is now tube free!! She has been working her little fanny off and has proven that NG tubes are not for her! She can eat plenty by mouth thank you very much! Yay God!

Happy 11th, my sweet sweet girl!!

These 2 are "best buddies" as our older one says. Celia grins from ear to ear when she sees big sister coming in. I love the giggles they share.:)

He. Is. Mischief. The End.

After her first ponytails.

Happy 19th to our oldest! God is working through this girl every day. I stand in awe.

So precious. I found these 2 working together on the dishes one night. Love.

I will try to do better with updates. I know this post isn't full of too much information, but Robin, know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. We are, in fact, doing so well and loving each day the Father gives us together!

In Him,

E