Fun with Cousins

I just love this little bunch of kiddos!  We have several pictures over the years of them lined up on the couch, or stacked on the stairs.  Poor Grace is almost lost behind her big cousin Sherman! Hans was stuck to Harrison all day and didn't get far from him for the picture either.  Him and Quin thought it was cool to wear their hats like a "cool dude" turned around backwards.  We missed you Tigger and Kell!  Wish you would have been here too!

Harrison (in the red) who always needs to spice things up a little.....thought they should act like they are on a roller coaster.....sounded good to everyone else!

  These two little guys tagged along with Harrison like small shadows all day:)  He really enjoyed them.....a little Hero worship is good for everyones self esteem once in a while:)  They are the same age as Wren Dayu, but outweigh her by at least 15lbs, and are about 5-1/2 inches taller.

I added this picture so you can get a better idea of size.  Gracie is the same size as the boys..(she's older) but a little mite.  Wren Dayu is 5-1/2" shorter than her, and about 10lbs lighter.  And I think Grace seems little!

Our little girls are going to have so much fun with this sweet bunch of kids!

God's Word...New each day.

Why is it that you can read a verse or chapter or a whole book in scripture, and while yes it's always good.....sometimes the words seem to jump out at you, or present themselves in a whole new way?  As I was reading Psalm 104 this morning the words some how just kind of amazed me.....i got a visual picture that i never had before....I'm probably just slow..and the rest of you are way ahead of me here:)  but when I read in verse1-4..but especially the lines.....He.....
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind.
WOW!  How cool is that!  What an awesome God we serve!  Then in the verses 28-30 ...
What YOU give them they gather in:
YOU open Your hand , they are filled with good. 
YOU hide Your face, they are troubled
YOU take away their breath, they die and return to their dust
YOU send forth YOUR spirit, they are created
And YOU renew the face of the earth
May the Glory of the Lord endure forever!

And then we have the arrogance to think we don't need God, when the very breath we breathe depends on the Spirit HE has breathed into us.  And he Loves us....and wants the best for us! Bless the Lord O my soul!

Introducing Kyndahl

She's Adorable:)
She is Attending college near by
She resides with us
She is dating Thatcher
She babysits our kids:):):) that deserves 3 smiley's at least!
She has a heart of Gold
She does her own laundry:) my kind of resident!
She appreciates my shopping finds....shoes, sweaters, decor etc.
She helps cook and clean up***** that gets a five star rating!
We just love this girl.

Her older sister started Kindergarten with our oldest son Ashley.  so I guess we have known her and her family since she was 3yrs. old.  Her mother and I were room mothers together from Kindergarten through 4th grade for our oldest 2.  When we moved from Ohio, to Kansas in 2000, our families stayed in touch.  When she decided to attend College near us, we were able to see her often.  When life at the dorms became unbearable, we moved her in with us, now we claim her as one of ours:) So while we have always loved her, it's been such a blessing to get to know her and her family better in the last year.

What's in a Name?

Absolutely not!
If you name her that, I'm going to call her Watson.
One name completely torn from the list.....
That is the dumbest name I've ever heard.
That sounds like an old Lady.
No earth, moon, stars hippie nature names mom!

These are just a few of the comments... and snide remarks I've dealt with from my boys, in the name process!  Does everyone have this much trouble coming up with a name for their children?  Or maybe they are smart and don't give anyone any input until the name is decided on..... and then just tell them..... this is it.  Well as they say....hind sight.......sigh.

At my wits end...... I finally decided to try..... another mom's idea.....to ask God what His name for this little girl is.

   Isaiah 43:1 says.....  But now says the Lord who created you O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

 And Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7 both talk about the hairs of our head being numbered.....God obviously knows the intimate details of our make up.........so I decided it was reasonable to ask God to show me what her name was supposed to be.  If it were to be Wren.....I asked him to show me, when I opened the bible,  a scripture with the word bird, wing, fowl of the air.....anything to do with a bird.  And if it was supposed to be Iley......the other name in the final count down........to show me a scripture with island, or isle.  So only about half beleiving......I opened the bible......it fell open to Psalm 36:7.....under the shadow of his wings!....but me..... the doubting one... i'm like... ok....maybe that one was coincidence because i've had it opened to that alot, it might just be a weak spot....  So I did it again.....this time the first verse that I started to read was Jeremiah 7:33...."The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth.  (a little morbid...definately not a well read scripture for me!)  and add to that that yesterday I half heartedly did the same thing.....i forget which scripture I turned to, but it was something about a dove!  At this point I was convinced!  I told Troy about the whole experience, and he said great, sounds like it's decided. (He really liked Isley best) .....a few minutes later....we were riding in the car during this whole process.....I decided to read my morning lesson......because I hadn't had a chance to do it that morning, and I opened to Psalms: 97 and read~ The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad!  I didn't even know that word was in the Bible!  So he could have pointed me there!.....And so...... Her name is Wren.... 

 

Our Cheeky Wren:) look at those little stuffed cheeks:)

They wonder why family pictures take so long! HELLO?

                    because you have to have several like this...

                                          and like this...........................

before you can get one like this...............

 

Some worried about the couch holding up...

                           The old barn never looked so good;-)

                     Quakers meeting has begun.........no more laughing........

Considering 2!

147 million Orphans!  Think of all the little people crying themselves to sleep.  Or maybe they don't cry any more because no one comes to comfort them, so why cry.  No one to tuck them in, and no home to go home to... where someone  "loves them most of all."  God seemed to whisper to our hearts....Why just one, when there are so many.  We are prayerfully considering adopting two children at the same time.  Our homestudy is approved for two, and if the USCIS approves us for two, then the only thing stopping us is our own fears......and finances.  We are trusting God to handle both of these concerns.  HOW BIG IS OUR GOD?

Big enough!  Please pray with us that His will will be done, and he will bring that child to us in some way, If we are meant to open our hearts to two.  And if not, that he will close those doors also.

Everyone we have talked to about adopting two at the same time, says "yes it is harder"  "yes it's more work"  It's double the fun......but double the trouble:) It's takes a lot of your time, and a little more effort to bond with two at the same time. It's NOT easy, but it's doable, and worth it.   We are concerned that we won't be able to give enough focused attention to Dayu's sign language, but at the same time.... while we are signing to her we can be talking,  and the other one can be learning sign and spoken english at the same time.  That would give Dayu some one to interpret for her in social settings  as well.  A sister/brother that could learn sign language along with her.  They will both have to learn English.......in one form or another.  We just have to learn English through sign, so we can teach it to them. Pray that we can learn to sign fluently! 

New Pictures with Friends

This is our latest update.  So fun to see her interacting with her friends.  She is looking older in each set of pictures we get:(  Please hurry this paperwork!  We need to get to our little girl.  I am trying to be patient and, I know God is in control, and it will be in his perfect timing.......but.......I get so anxious! 

Here's that peace sign again! Cute little bunny:)

Dayu is on the far right.

Not looking shy here!

Dress up fun. It's a girl thing!  Even in China:)