4+1=147 million minus 1

Once our eyes are opened, we cannot 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

147 million. The approximate number of orphans in the world today. One.hundred.forty.seven.million....the number is too much to comprehend. too much to wrap our minds around. too much to take. too much to feel responsible for. Isn't it someone else's problem? Isn't it someone else's gift to serve in this kind of ministry? We already have 4 kids and only 3 bedrooms. Where can we possibly put another child? How can we afford another child and will the world think we've gone mad? These are just a small fraction of the thoughts and questions that have been stirring my mind for months and months. A heavy burden I have taken to the Lord day after day.  There are so many incredible things that have transpired during this season and as I reflect I see that the stirrings in my heart didn't start just seven months ago but actually over two decades ago when I secretly prayed that my parents would adopt my baby cousin that we would care for every weekend while his parents went away to work. And then I see the faces of the children in Puerto Vallarta on our honeymoon when we both agreed it was hard to enjoy ourselves with so much poverty all around us. The face of one of those sweet little boys graced our bulletin board back home for months. We lightly joked that we wished we could have brought him home with us. But those were the fleeting thoughts of a young child and a young couple. Our family soon began to grow and any of those seeds that had been planted were long forgotten. Until now. After hours of praying and talking and praying some more our family has decided to take a leap of faith and add to our family through adoption from Ethiopia. Are we scared? You bet! Do we feel equipped? Absolutely not. But this is the best part because we know we can not do this on our own. This can only be done with Him. 

On Tuesday we sent in our application and on Thursday we heard back from our agency. Our amazing case worker who has been so supportive along the way explained that the news was not great but it wasn't bad either. Because we know we will be a fundraising family and we already have a house full of kiddos they'd like to see us have the ball rolling on the fundraising before we officially start the papework trail. We are okay with this. I will admit, last night I really started to question it all again but this is where I cannot lean on my understanding but give my cares to Him and believe that if this is in His design for us then it WILL happen. I know there will be many more times (daily) along this road that I must surrender my worries and my pride and believe in His promises. So....we will very soon be hitting the pavement with our fundraising activities. Maggie has been brainstorming for months and has quite the list going already. As we begin this journey we would covet your prayers and support. And it is our prayer that throughout this season we could be an example to others and that for those who have ever had a tiny tug toward adoption may we shine a positive light on the process.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.

           James 1:27

97/365

{Chocolate Chip Mint just for Bij:)}

I've been a little MIA on the blogging front the past couple weeks. Just busy and don't seem to be finding the alone time in the evenings. We've actually had a pretty mellow week with sports which has been welcomed. The weather has been so crazy. One minute the skies are blue and calling us to come out and play and the next moment we're running for cover from the hail! The kiddos all seemed to take turns over the weekend with a funny little bug that consisted of a high fever, pink cheeks and sleepiness. It only seemed to hit each of them {Jo actually had her turn earlier in the week}for about 12 hours and then was gone. I guess if we have to have a bug that's the one to get. Millie and I are soooo anxious to plant our garden....this weekend maybe? Just tonight she was pulling apart her pea pods and making a pile of peas on the table. When I reached over to grab one for Josie she snapped at me explaining those were the "seeds" we were going to plant in our garden.

I know, it's not much but that's all I've got for now! Hopefully I'll be back soon with some pictures of us playing outdoors....please warm weather, come and stay awhile!

96/365

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.    

                      Ephesians 3:20-21

Sometimes it's hard being #4

1. "Hey Ayeeya {Amelia}I'm up from my nap, let's play!"

2. "Ummm. What are you doing? Are you going somewhere?"

3."Hey, hey, hey...I said are you going somewhere?"

4. "Mom, she's leaving me...do you see she's leaving me?"

5. "Ahhhhh!! Come back here now Ayeeya!"

6. "Wait for me....I'm coming too!"

95/365

{color}

Catching Up

I really have no good excuse for the lack of blogging this week{my apologies, mom}...just busy with good stuff. Like the return of this sweet boy and his mama. Auntie and Goose popped over for a visit yesterday and we had a great time watching all O's new tricks. He grew in just one short week. I love watching him watch the kids...just how far must they go to get him to break that grin into a full giggle?

Millie in his face trying to get some kisses...

...and check out those baby blues!

Last night Sammy had his "Growing up and Growing Older" presentation at school. This has been a tradition in our district's elementary schools since I was a kid. Sam did his on Grandpa Poulin. Thanks Papa for providing such great information and lots of pictures. Sam's display was one of the most decorated in the entire 4th grade! When he got up to introduce his person he said "My person is Bill Poulin and he was a great catcher in baseball and he loves to golf!"  He learned a lot of neat things about his Papa!

And can someone please tell this little monkey to stop growing because she's obviously not listening to her mama!

And....uhmmm, I think my sister has some news to share but I'll leave that to her! No pressure Ali!

94/365

{one more from yesterday}

Mondays with Millie

So I've mentioned before that Millie has a few problems with speech but nothing we've been too worried about. Well, when we went in for her well child visit the doctor was a little concerned about how much I was interpreting for her and it might be possible she's not hearing well.  I set up an appointment with the speech therapist at one of the elementary schools and Mille had her screening today....as we thought....she's perfectly normal. Absolutely no need for any type of speech therapy...yay! However, per a conversation at the dinner table last night I think the hearing test may still be called for. The conversation went a little something like this....

Sam: You know the new iPad? Chuck {our neighbor} just bought one.

Rock/Me: neat

Millie: oh, oh, oh I know what is an I patch! It's what pirates wear over their eye and it's black

Hmmmm.....something tells me we may need to still get that hearing checked out!

And just for the record, I think this might be picture #58 of Millie picking dandelions. She loves those yellow weeds!

JOY

Expressions of pure joy! Exactly what is in my heart today~

93/365

dugout

92/365

Nothing says good times like a dirt smudged face like this one!

Kick off those flip flops

Just one of those days we could kick off the flip flops and enjoy the warm sun and fresh grass under our toes. We had a blast playing outside this afternoon. Millie and I worked on her game of catch while Sam and Rock worked on theirs. Maggie logged some miles on her bike. Sam, Millie, Maggie and I chased the chickens around for a bit. They are getting big and FAST! Maggie is the champion chicken wrangler. She is way more brave than I am{still suffering from a bit of bird phobia....baby steps}. Jo and Millie had some fun times playing with the car {aka beep beep}. It started out as a game of Millie pulling Jo and quickly turned into Jo chasing after Millie and the car.

Jo loving some roaming time in the field. The top picture reminds me of the opening credits of Little House on the Prairie when the girls are running down the grassy hill. I loved that show!

Rock and I even got to sneak away for a dinner out tonight. Thanks mom and dad for watching the monkeys and thanks Gator Girls for the sweet gift certificate for Coach Rocky!

When the Saints

 
Maggie and I have really been loving the new Sara Groves CD she got in her Easter basket. There are some beautiful songs on the album and she has the most soothing voice. One night last week we we're listening while I was cooking dinner. The particular song we kept playing over and over was "When the Saints" and after a couple times through a line in the song jumped out at me.
 
I see the young missionary and the angry spear
I see his family returning with no trace of fear
 
I wasn't sure if I was hearing the words right so we jumped on you tube and sure enough not only was I hearing them right but the video shows the missionaries that were killed in 1956 in Ecuador during their attempts to share the Gospel with the Auca people. The reason this is so special to us is one of those five missionaries was the father of a pretty amazing guy in our lives. Steve McCully was just a toddler when his father was killed on the beach that day along with four other missionaries. His mother was 8 months pregnant with his younger brother Matt. It is an amazing testimony of courage, forgiveness and the healing power of God. Not only did some of the families return to live among this tribe but salvation was found in that tribe and one of the men that speared Ed McCully is now leading his people to Christ. Books have been written and even a major motion picture made {End of the Spear } to document this incredible story. Our family has been so blessed to know Steve and his wife Ellie. They are such an example of living the Gospel and are truly a light in our lives.
 

90.91/365

Sam and Jo giving smooches during his game. I pray he's always willing to love on his little sisters in front of the team. And when the heck did he get this big?......

Man he's growing up! Gotta love the mouth full of seeds.

3 games down, 2 more to go this week!

Our day in pictures

I had planned to post this last night but I seemed to have dozed off on the couch snuggling the baby monkey. We've had some full, buys days lately that just make this spring seem to fly by faster and faster. Yesterday was no exception. We dropped the big kids off at school and then hit the Starbucks drive through to pick up a little something for Auntie Kristen while she waited in the airport. I also ordered myself a little treat for the morning and was so pleasantly surprised when I got to the window and the person in front of me had paid for my drink! Thank you silver mini van...you made my day:) We stopped by to get some quick love from auntie and Owen before they took off for their first flight together to visit friends in California. After some good loving, kisses, and even a little book reading we raced home to get Jo down for a morning nap and Mils and I put the finishing touches on these cupcakes for her class. She had it planned out perfect....flowers for the girls and worms for the boys. She was a little surprised to find out that not all boys want to eat worms.

We had a quick lunch and then off to preschool. Amelia's class was having a late Easter Egg hunt so after Jo and I ran a few more errands we came back to hide the eggs before the big hunt. Josie was thrilled to spend some time on the playground with all the big kids and she did a great job walking in line out to the hunt.

Millie took a short break from her egg hunting to give me a smile

One of Mille's BFF's Lily

Millie trying to avoid eating the frosting on her cupcake

Jo devouring the frosting on her cupcake

We had a little down time in between school and baseball so Rock and I both got to fit in short runs. Those runs {as short as they may be} help keep me sane! Then off to ball....Maggie had her first game and Sam had practice. Maggie was thankful to finally be playing a game after their first three were rained out. I seem to forget how crazy baseball season is. The kids do sports all year but baseball is just so hectic with all the rainouts and make-ups. We are especially thankful when we see the sun this time of year!

Maggie looking ready on third base

Blurry picture but this so perfectly captures Jo these days...she is so busy and doesn't stay in one spot long enough to get her in the frame!

Finally she found a twin to play in the dirt with and that kept her in the same spot for a few minutes. From behind you can't tell this two apart.

Fun filled, busy day! Our day today? Spring cleaning....woohooo! I'll spare ya the pictures of that!

89/365

{peek a boo}

We'll be back tonight to do some catching up!

Mondays with Millie

My little computer girl asked me yesterday to help her get started on a "pewter game" but wasn't exactly sure of the site whe wanted to go to. I gave her a couple options and she kept telling me "no, that's not it." So finally I went to pbs.org and said "how about this?" she thought for a moment, let out a little sigh and replied "I guess I can work with this."  Funny, funny girl. This is her at that science center....think she can get any closer to the screen?

So I have lots more pictures to post and lots of thoughts swirling around in my head but I have to get three girls out the door to fastpitch practice so it will have to wait. Happy Monday all!

88/365

{picked just for you}

Spring Break 2010

So we've been enjoying the typical Washington spring break...dreary, rainy, windy. Oh, and did I mention everyone is either congested, nose running and/or coughing. Today though, we had a bright spot in the forecast so we bundled up and headed outside to make the most of it. Even though the sun was shining it was still windy and cold but it didn't seem to bother the kids much. Amelia and Jo worked on their tennis skills for awhile. This consists of Amelia hitting the ball out of her hand and Josie chasing Amelia around with racket in one hand and ball in the other. She's just happy to be sporting some equipment.

Jo....so happy to be outside!

I just love this picture for some reason. Not sure why the girls needed umbrellas but Amelia made sure they both had one. Just in case I suppose.

The chicks moved out to the barn about a week or so ago and Jo hadn't been out to visit yet so we took a little walk out to peep their new home. This picture was taken moments before the "fall."  She was just content to sit and watch the chicks run around and kept saying "hi" and waving at them. She seemed just fine so I turned my back for a second to open up the barn door and then the scream let loose. I turned around and there was Jo face down in the coop with her feet up in the air.  I scooped her up and snuggled her close and then realized she was shavings head to toe. She just kept spitting them out of her mouth and saying "ick". Poor girl! She had a nice long tub after sharing the horror story with daddy and I'm hoping there aren't any emotional scars. After all, I did spend much of my life terrified of birds....I don't want Jo to suffer the same bird phobia:) And just in case your wondering...yes, the thought did cross my mind to grab the camera off my back and document the event...but only for a split second, I'm not that cruel of a mother!

87/365

Finally posted some pictures from Maggie's party over on the party blog. I'm already dreaming about Jo's birthday. I know, I know mom, I said last year when we you sewed all those red, white and blue pennants that I would use the 4th of July theme for years. But she does love Elmo so much and wouldn't a surf girl party be cute too? Thanks for going along with me mom!

86/365

Geography 101

"Right here mom, that's where us live"

This just arrived in the mail for the girls' room. Isn't it so happy? The packaging was just as pretty and such a sweet note from the seller. Check out her other items on etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/thewheatfield
Now I just need to dig up an old frame around here and find some spray paint.

85/365

{2010}

{2007}

Easter Sunday

We started our Easter with a beautiful morning of worship at church. After a little rest time at home we headed over to Grandma and Papa's house for a house full of family and yummy food. Of course the kids couldn't wait to get out for the annual egg hunt. Grandma and Auntie Frankie do such a great job stuffing all the eggs with goodies and the prized eggs filled with money.

It seemed like it took the dads forever to hide all the eggs and the kids no time at all to find them. The little ones get to head out first and Millie being the "biggest of the littles" did quite well!

Uncle Ry and Owen...his first Easter egg hunt and he was a trooper even in the cold wind.

Maggie Lu

Trying to get a smile out of Sam....this was his "not now mom" smile

Pretty Lua just loved toddling around grabbing a egg here and there.

Navid....he's such a natural in front of the camera!

Cousin Kaitlyn....getting way too big, way too fast!

After dinner the kids headed back out with the fun balloon toys Grandma had for them. They are so much fun and kept the kids entertained for the longest time. They actually come with a pump but Jo was determined to blow her balloon up all by herself.

The Cousin Collage! It's tough to get 12 kiddos all looking the same direction, let alone smiles from each one! And next year there will be one more! Yay for the new Rahbin baby joining the family in early October!

We had such a blessed Easter season. As a family we spent a lot of time preparing for what this time is really about. Through our Lent project we had many opportunities to talk about why we were seperated from God and how Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for our sin. We didn't have one single conversation about the Easter Bunny and when the kids went to bed last night, not one of them mentioned setting out baskets{of course they were thrilled with their treats this morning}. 

Last week on the way home from Sunday school Amelia was sharing about the Easter story.....she summed it up so perfectly "first it was a sad story mom. But then it been a happy one." Oh yes, it's a happy one indeed!

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever....
Isaiah 9:6,7