Ninjas and Tutus

Rejoicing!

2011-11-08T07:47:00.001-08:00

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New Waters to Navigate

2011-09-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

Look at this picture. ADORABLE. Luke wanted to hold Chlo-Chlo, and Zach wanted to brush her hair. A picture is worth a thousand words, and this one does not disappoint. The boys love their baby sister, and we are seeing a side of them that is new, exciting, and wonderful. They delight in Chloe with much tenderness, and yes, even self-control! No boxing or Ninja moves on Chloe yet. :)

Along with the joy of growing our family, we are also navigating new waters. Especially me, since I am most often with Chloe around others. The new waters? People's questions and comments about our adoption.

Sometimes, people ask, "How old is the birth mom? Did you meet the birth father? Why did they choose adoption? Is this an open adoption?" Sometimes, questions are even more personal.

I am often caught off guard by their questions. We know what we want to share and what we don't want to share, but that doesn't keep me from sometimes not having the words and sharing more than I want. But to love our daughter and protect her, we will set boundaries, which means doing a better job of not being caught off guard.

I think most people mean well. They are trying to connect, don't know much about adoption, or maybe they are letting curiosity lead them. I sought prayer and counsel from another adoptive mom, and I really liked the way she prayed for us. Here's how I was encouraged and led to pray as we encounter questions:

That I have words to respond with something that feels true and right and that will honor Chloe's privacy and dignity. That our family can be a light to others in the beauty of adoption. Not by giving the details, but by modeling the truth that Chloe was always meant to be a part of our family.
That Chloe's story is sacred, it belongs to her. That God quiets the hearts and minds of all that know Chloe and let them only see that she is Chloe Claire B., and that she has never been anyone different.
That we not cease in giving thanks to God! He used every little detail and made it happen, so that we could bring her home. Those details do not need to be shared but to be glorified, by Him alone. They are glorified in the secret place and in the hearts of the people who need to know them.

Ready!

2011-08-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to get Miss Chloe Claire home! The NICU anticipates Wednesday being discharge day. :)

As her discharge nears, and placement papers are signed, so come the adoption expenses. All good because it means she is ours.

However, please share with others the opportunity to give. The puzzle project donations are still going, and we'd love to raise another $5-6000.

I let the boys help me choose her coming home outfit, and they chose the one that said "Little Sister".

My heart is full of joy.

Chloe Claire

2011-08-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Born August 24, 2011

6 lbs 70z

18 inches

Her name is Chloe Claire, and we can't wait to bring her home. We hope that she will discharge from NICU this week. She's precious, tiny, and so dear. She's stolen our heart, and we are in awe of the LORD. He has certainly rescued this sweet life, and we marvel at being able to join Him in loving her.

We continue fundraising as adoption expenses are due soon. We invite you to celebrate with us through prayer, praise, and donations. The puzzle project will continue.

We are beyond thankful for your love, prayer, and generosity. I opened baby girl clothes last night given to us by a friend. I could have just cried from the joy of it and how dear people have been to us.

Glory be to God.

Less than 3 weeks!

2011-08-23T14:22:00.001-07:00

Well, our birth mother's due date is less than 3 weeks away! She's feeling good, and we're excited!

Kirk had fun painting the baby's room, and before painting, we let the boys write a scripture verse on the wall. Then Kirk painted over the scripture. We also had friends drop off a crib this week, and today a baby swing arrived (compliments of GG).

I can't begin to share how God has used our family, friends, and friends of friends to give, share, support, and pray! Why even today, we learned that someone bought the Florence, Italy package from the auction. And the auction was over a week ago! Several friends went in together and contacted Jill to buy the package for $1000. The auction raised almost $1700! Praise God.

The puzzle project thus far has raised just over $5000, and it's still going. We still hope and pray for more donations. Our hope is to raise $12,000, and we're over halfway. Regardless, of how the LORD provides, we are super encouraged by what has happened so far!

If you have a heart for adoption, and a desire to join God in this journey, then pray about how you might give and pray. Invite friends, family, community groups, and neighbors to join you.

How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!

All who delight in him should ponder them.

Psalm 111:2

P.S. Luke begins 2nd grade tomorrow, and Zach 1st grade. Sniff, sniff. Love them, and they are growing up to fast.

Who's Good at Puzzles?

2011-08-19T13:00:00.000-07:00

The puzzle arrived, and it's just what we ordered: 1008 pieces! Who's good at puzzles? :) Not me. Thankfully, the boys and hubby rock at puzzles. Our next order of business? To write the names of donors on each piece.

If you have not heard, the the LORD has raised just over $5000 (thus far) through the B4 + More Puzzle Project ! Wow! Yippee! Thank you, LORD. Amazing! We are so thankful. And the puzzle project is not over. We have 3 more weeks until our birth mom's due date, and we'd love to raise approximately $12,000. Please pray about joining us through your prayers and gifts! And invite others to be a part of the B4 + More Puzzle Project.

Our friend Jill of Express Yourself! Creations hosted an online auction to raise money for our adoption. The bidding ended this morning, and I can't wait to hear what the LORD raised through this fun event. Regardless of the amount raised, we are most thankful for the donors, Jill, and bidders. And those who prayed for it up and down! What a love story to share with baby girl one day--that so many came together so that she might have a family and know God's love.

FAQ that I'd love to answer:

1. "Are the boys excited?" They really haven't been too sure about this adoption thing, much less a baby girl thing. They've expressed themselves in common ways that little boys do, and sometimes, it's been a challenge. Overall, I see a gradual warming up to the idea with some moments of taking a step backwards. I was most encouraged yesterday when we walked through Old Navy and the boys really wanted to pick an outfit for baby girl. They were super cute, holding up onsies, skirts, and little shoes, asking "Mommy, can we get this?" Baby girl now has a cute floral bodysuit with white ruffled skirt, compliments of Luke and Zach. Love it.

2. "When does the adoption finalize?" or "Can the birth mom change her mind?" Presently, she can change her mind. She does not sign papers relinquishing her rights until 48 hours post deliver. Once she does that, it is irrevokable. So, we could be present for delivery, feed the baby, hold the baby, and love the baby during that time frame and the birth mom change her mind. Risky? Yes, but worth it. We are certain the LORD has called us on this journey, and the birth mom seems committed to her adoption plan. However, we recognize we don't know what tomorrow brings. If the placement goes forward as anticipated, the baby comes home with us, and the adoption finalizes 6 months later.

That said, we covet prayer. Yesterday, we learned that the birth mom is 2cm dilated with contractions. They don't anticipate her delivery early, but it's exciting to hear her body is preparing. I ask that you pray for her body, mind, and soul. She's not comfortable, and she must have many emotions and circumstances to process. Baby girl sounds good, and we eagerly wait to meet her.

Nothing can separate us

from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus...

Romans 8:38-39

Online Auction Info

2011-08-15T13:50:00.001-07:00

Jill Garcia is hosting an online auction to raise money for our adoption! She has put a lot of prayer, creativity, work, thought, and organization into this fun event.

Bidding starts tomorrow!

If you want to view auction packages ahead of time, then visit

b4plusmoreauction.blogspot.com

The blog provides all the information you need to visit the eBay store for bidding!

4 weeks to go!

2011-08-12T07:24:00.001-07:00

Just 4 weeks to go! Really? This is very surreal, exciting, scary, humbling, and amazing!

We met our birth mom this past week. We like her. She made us laugh, and I was encouraged by her perspective when referring to her decision for adoption: "This is not about me. This is about her (baby)."

We learned that she wants me in the delivery room! Me? I faint at the sight or thought of blood, pain, and goo. And how truly humbling. I can only imagine that I will feel both tremendous joy but also sadness over that experience. I am being invited into one of the birth mom's most intimate moments. God has invited me there. A divine appointment to love both her and the baby, regardless of what happens. I've wanted to write about this all week, but my words don't convey the moment ahead of us.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1

For we are God's workmanship....

Ephesians 2:10

Wow! So far...

2011-08-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

So far....

The LORD has raised $2995 through the B4 + More Puzzle Project! Amazing! And it's still going, so join in! See our cute Pay Pal button to your right.

Our friend Jill plans to host an online auction to raise money for the adoption! And many people have offered to donate an item, a service, a product, their expertise, or a craft. We're talking decorated cakes, jewelry, interior design advice, prayer journals and more. Auction details to follow soon! Let the bidding begin! :)

Another friend plans to donate 15% of her sales during August and September when you mention my name with your order. Check out her site, and invite friends to shop! www.Stelladot.com/annemaddox

Someone else plans to sell a special possession on Craig's List with the desire to donate the money towards our adoption.

And many others have offered to give or loan us baby items such as a crib, high chair, pack 'n play, carriers, girl clothes and so much more!

Amazing! Clearly, this story is not just about us but about so many others. God's big picture is BIG, and His purposes far reaching our little family. What a sweet, powerful story we will have to share one day with this baby girl. She will hear of all the friends and family (and even acquaintances) who gave, sacrificed, worked, and prayed in order that she might have life, and a forever family. Her B4 Forever After! (My friend Jen came up with that one)

BABY DUE DATE IS IN 5 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!! That's so close!

We meet the birth mom this Monday, and we'll share more following that very special visit.

Her Story to Tell

2011-07-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

"Life, you'll notice, is a story. Life doesn't come to us like a math problem. It comes to us the way that a story does, scene by scene. You wake up. What will happen next? You don't get to know--you have to enter in, take the journey as it comes..." (Eldredge)

We're all drawn to story. Stories connect us, give meaning, and answer our questions about life. As Eldredge says, "Who am I really? Why am I here? Where will I find life? What does God want of me?" Hopefully, the stories of our life lead us to The Story. God's story.

God has a favorite story, one that changes lives. He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for our sin, so that in Him, by faith, we might have eternal life. For we too have been adopted and now call him "Abba".

As we wake up each day and continue this adoption journey, we hear many questions from friends, family, and acquaintenances. They want to know the story. "What do you know about the birth mom? What about the birth father? Why can't she parent the baby?"

Very good questions but not our story to tell.

We believe that God has given this baby girl (Or baby boy! Doctors can be wrong!) a story, and it's her story to share. As you can imagine, adoption stories involve selflessness, love, joy, but also grief, loss, and pain. That's why we'll be vague in answering your questions about the birth parents.

We hope and pray that one day this baby girl might have two stories to share: her adoption story and her story of grace.

Thank you for being a part of our story through your prayers and gifts! As we move forward, we grow in anticipation. We can't wait to meet this little baby, although she is not ours yet. We meet the birth mom soon, and know that this story could have turns or twists we don't anticipate. Thankfully, He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and we know the outcome of The Story.

Be a part of the B4 + More Puzzle Project!

B4 + More Puzzle Project: Joining God in His Story

2011-07-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

We have the opportunity to adopt a baby! The birth mom is due September 9th, and her doctor says it's a girl! :) We'll mentally prepare for a boy too just in case the doctor is wrong. Either way we are excited!

Join us in this amazing journey!

Take a look to your right for more information about the B4+more Puzzle Project. We're inviting everyone to help bring this sweet baby to her forever family. So please consider giving towards a piece of the puzzle, even more towards life.

You’ll witness God’s economy as we write each name on the back of a puzzle piece. We’ll keep you updated as the pieces come together!

Also, please post this to your facebook page or blog and get the word out. Invite your mother, brother, neighbor, or pen pal to join in! Thank you for being a part of God’s story.

If you have questions about fundraising, please leave a comment.

Love,

The B4 + More

Kirk, Jessica, Luke and Zach

PRAYER REQUESTS

* That we celebrate but also guard our hearts through this process. Not only is this an exciting, amazing process, but it is also very vulnerable.

*That the birth mom experiences God's love and our care for her

*For Luke and Zach as they take it all in. That they follow our lead. And that we lead them with wisdom.

*For God's provision as Kirk continues his job search

*For this sweet baby growing in her mother's womb. Psalm 139: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

You're Invited!

2011-07-16T13:57:00.001-07:00

You're invited to participate! Read on...

God's providence as been on my mind alot. We have been unemployed 4 months and have had plenty of opportunity to experience His care. From anonymous donations to cover the boys' tuition, to free Diet Cokes at Chick Fil A, the LORD has not been shy in granting us more than we need.

As we anticipate adoption, we also fix our thoughts on His providence. Not only is He watching over us, but He is also watching over a life. A life growing in the womb. A child we have yet to meet. And He is watching over the birth mom's life, moving in ways to draw her to Himself in love.

What an amazing work of God's! Adoption.

That said, we're inviting you to participate. You may have a hand in God's economy, a hand in placing a child in his/her forever family, a hand in valuing life and experiencing love.

Please pray about whether God might have you make a donation towards our adoption. You may make a donation via pay pal. See our button to the right. You may email us with questions. We're working on a more itemized explanation of adoption fees.

The home study cost was about $600-700. Done. Paid for. Whoohoo!

We can also take advantage of the tax credit: $13, 170

That leaves us with just under $12,000 to raise. Again, we'll provide a more itemized account of fees as requested.

Very soon we hope to present you with a fun fundraiser....

In the meantime, please pray about whether God has given you opportunity to participate through a gift right now. No amount is too small.

Love, hugs, prayers,

The B4 + more

Matthew 10:29 What is the price of two sparrows--one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?

prov·i·dence/ˈprävədəns/Noun

1. The protective care of God as a spiritual power.

2. God providing such care.

Adoption: Dear Birth Mom Letter

2011-06-26T16:53:00.000-07:00

Friends,

You may know a birth mom desiring to place her child into a forever family. You may know of a child who needs a home. Please consider passing this "birth mom" letter along if you do. We also have it available in pdf format including pictures. We can email that copy to you as it's great to have a hand out. We ask that you do not share identifying information such as our last name. Our email address and the phone number for our adoption agency is available below.

Love,

Kirk and Jessica

Dear Birth Mom,

As we wait on God to grow our family through adoption, we pray for you often: that you know God loves you; that He loves your child; and that He has a plan. We are eager to know your story and share ours with you. We respect your selfless decision to place your child in a loving family.

Kirk grew up in the DFW area, and Jessica in East Texas. God crossed our paths through a local homeless outreach. We connected while trying to feed a homeless man a hot dog! Our friendship grew, and we married in October 2001. We discussed adoption early in our marriage. God gave us two boys: Luke (7) and Zach (6). They will make great big brothers! Luke is going to plan the best birthday parties for his new sibling, and Zach will give lots of hugs and kisses. There’s no doubt both boys will make their new sibling laugh. We’ve got silly, fun boys.

Kirk has a degree in finance. He has worked with college students, acting as a mentor. He has also worked in sales. Jessica has a degree in counseling and stays home full time as wife and mother. We have a wonderful community of loved ones through church, family, friends, and school. Kirk is strong, gentle, and patient, and he knows a little karate! Jessica is giving, caring, and compassionate. You will often find her baking cookies (and her family eating them--YUM!). We enjoy the outdoors, swimming, biking, soccer, reading, and fishing. Our faith in Jesus is the foundation for our marriage and family.

We aren’t perfect, but God has taught us forgiveness. We practice it daily! We have room in our home and hearts to love another child. We want to provide a loving family, a place to call home, a place to dream and try new things--a place to experience God’s perfect love. Most of all, we want our child to become the man or woman God intends.

We hope you desire to know more. We are eager to share this journey with you.

If you would like more information about us, please contact Little Flower Adoptions at 214-363-

5117. You may also contact us directly through email: b4home@gmail.com

Love,

Kirk and Jessica

Mother's Day Treat from Luke

2011-05-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day, Luke and his class completed sentences describing how his/her Mommy is special. I laughed and enjoyed Luke's with much delight. Gotta share!

Apparently, I "make" his favorite meal: potato chips and Sprite. I'm slaving over the stove on that one. Cutie.

And I'm really "smart" because I can do a flip-flop. My flip-flop days are over, but it's too cute that he thinks I can.
Luke,

I love you. Thank you for thinking I'm as pretty as a "shiny-shiny-shiny pretty new rose."

xoxo

Mommy

Our Nest

2011-05-02T10:32:00.001-07:00

We have a sweet, little bird nest in our front yard. We learned it's a Northern Cardinal, and they should hatch any day. We can't wait!

The Daddy bird will take over feeding when they hatch, and it's cute to watch him hover near the nest these days. The Mommy bird faithfully sits on her eggs.

As I watch the birds and anticipate the hatching, I marvel at God. Creator of life. Sustainer of life. Merciful. Sweet enough to create baby birds, and strong enough to sustain ocean waves.

That's not all the nest makes me think about...I am thinking about our desire to grow our own nest. To adopt. When and how, we still don't know.

But we wait, praying and anticipating.

Psalm 68:6

God places the lonely in families...

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

My Cup o' Blessing

2011-04-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Below I have a few B4 Easter pictures...As you can see, the boys enjoyed an egg hunt in our backyard. No fancy Easter baskets for these boys. Nope, they got Target bags. They had the best time hunting eggs. We don't do it every year, so it was a big treat. Luke made me laugh, running from hiding spot to hiding spot yelling "I found oooonnnne!" Both boys darted all over the yard, and once they found all 20 eggs, they asked, "Can we do that again?" For the thrill of the hunt, we did it three times. Love my boys.

We also made a Resurrection Tree (idea from Noel Piper's book about traditions). The boys drew pictures and used scripture to tell the story of His crucifixion and resurrection.
Luke drew the card below with Jesus on the cross.

Kirk served with children Sunday morning, and the boys decided to sit with me during the Easter service. We sat three rows back from the very front, and our worship auditorium seats 2500. I was so excited that we arrived early and had seats, but after we were seated, I thought "What am I doing? What was I thinking? I'm sitting three rows from the front with two silly boys."

Thankfully, they did really well! I fed them a few jelly beans, and they did dot-to-dots and read books. They also caught some of the message and demonstration. When asked about what they heard that morning, Luke said "That Jesus died for our sins, and that we can't get to Heaven by what we do but by asking Jesus in our heart."

Amen, sweet Luke. So thankful you caught that.

Seems like the LORD has removed many earthly securities for us this Easter season. That made for deep reflection, heart felt prayers, and seeking. I don't want to depend upon earthly securities, but at some level I do. As I prayed through this season we are in as a family, I often heard the LORD say, "Jessica, am I enough?"

The LORD provided a verse from Psalm 16: You are my portion; my cup of blessing!

He is risen!

Love and hugs from the B4 family

Losing Teeth Over Here

2011-04-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

I never knew how losing your first tooth could be so fun and exciting, how social it could be for some children, and how grueling it could be to get a tooth out. I've learned something about each of these the past few months.

Luke lost his first tooth in February, and Zach lost his first tooth this week.

Luke waited a long time to lose his tooth, and it very much challenged him socially to be one of the later boys to lose a tooth in the first grade. He didn't like it one bit. When the time came to pull his first tooth, he was all for it. Pliers? Sure, he said. Yank it? Sure, do it! Just excitement and joy, and out it came. Done.

For Zach his first tooth was dangling out of his mouth for about 24 hours as he begged to have it yanked out but wouldn't let us. He wanted it out so badly, but he just didn' want it yanked. We experienced a lot of frustration from the sweet guy. Finally, he allowed Kirk to truly yank it, and I've never seen him so happy and excited.

So here we are with missing teeth and many more to come.

Love. My. Boys.

And glad Daddy does the yanking.

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-27T13:26:00.001-07:00

This past Friday I went to the boys' Parent Teacher conferences. During Luke's conference, I read his writing journal. What a treat! His journal entries were precious. I loved the one he wrote about his birthday this coming summer. He listed every friend he plans to invite. My social boy.

I also enjoyed his entry about Spring Break. Here's a little excerpt:

"We went to the Arboretum. We saw a lot of flowers. We saw a lot of castles. My mommy had surgery, and our grandmother bought us a lot of toys."

It's true. Grandmother Bunny stocked the boys up on Legos. She kept them the day of my surgery, so they headed to Target for Legos. Of course. :)

BUT I can't believe he didn't write about underwear in his entry! One of his and Zach's favorite topics, and over Spring Break we helped Brother Bill's Helping Hands pack new underwear for local students in need.

Luke putting the underwear ON his head. Not a part of the plan but I knew it was coming. BBHH collected approximately 7000 pairs of underwear for needy students. Amazing! God's economy is amazing!

Zach opened the packages while Luke rolled the underwear. Each gift included a note from BBHH.

Amphitheater at Arboretum: boys and friends acted out Star Wars for us. Luke played "dead" for a long time.

Luke xoxo

The Arboretum was beautiful! And we didn't do too much damage, even though we showed up with 5 boys and two toddlers.

Zach xoxo

Pre-Spring Break Grandparent's Day

My Monk and Pharaoh

Blessed. Blessed. Blessed.

Cinnamon Bun

2011-02-22T11:56:00.001-08:00

Meet Zach's new pet:

Cinnamon Bun

We call him "Cinnamon".

Who Knew?

2011-02-21T10:07:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love about Zach is that he is a cuddler. He cuddled as a baby. He loves to hold his stuffed animals when watching a movie and stroke them. When he's sad or mad, he soothes himself by hugging his stuffed animals. And he likes to play with my hair! Even better.

So it's no surprise that the little guy has taken to wanting a pet bunny. He talked about it for awhile, so we gave him a goal: Save $25, and we'll help you buy a bunny.

Zach started receiving an allowance this past late November. Three dollars every two weeks. ($1 for spending, $1 for savings, $1 for giving) He also earns money by memorizing scripture or taking on extra chores.

So he counted his money this past weekend, and he did it! Twenty-five dollars. He was ecstatic!!!

Ecstatic!

He jumped. He screamed. He danced.

And he coined a new word: Bunday.

Today is Bunday, not Monday. We told him we could work on buying one today, and he's been chanting for "Bunday" all weekend.

Now for serious bunny research. We heard one of our school's teachers is a bunny expert. Gave her a call today. She's passing on her book: Bunnies for Dummies. lol

And I found this link online about bunnies.

http://www.pet-rabbit-care-information.com/best-rabbit-breed.htm

Who knew? I mean...who knew? I just thought we'd buy a bunny. Nope. Might have to get it fixed. Or they hump alot. Get aggressive. They potty train. They need daily exercise. There are bunnies with reputations as biters. Already made a list of "NO" to any bunnies with said reputation. And they chew. We have to bunny-proof our home in case they chew through an electrical cord. They are sensitive to noise. Mmmm. Wonder how that will work with two spirited little boys.

And imagine this...female bunnies can be more stand-offish and aggressive, especially when they are in heat. I can't relate at all. My hormones never do that. Totally kidding.

Who knew?

By the way, Kirk and I both have tragic, childhood, bunny stories.

Praying that Zach does not.

Off to bunny shop! :)

He Sends the Snow, and the Blue Jays

2011-02-04T12:24:00.001-08:00

I am not a cold weather, stay inside all day kind of gal! I like the sun. I am easily cold. I like to get out and about.

So when we awoke to ice and no school Tuesday, I pleaded with my husband to take us out in the car. We ventured to Chick Fil A, but it was closed. Subway was open--score! Then of course, the boys and hubby "kidnapped" me and forced me to participate in spins on the ice. In empty parking lots. In the car. The hubby knew I needed a little excitement, so he gladly spun us around as the boys yelled "Awesome!" and Luke laughed "Is this against the law?"

That was Tuesday...Day 1.

Today we're on Day 4. No sun. No school. Ice. Snow. Threats of rolling black outs.

And during our 4 days, we've kept busy. Tried to at least. We've experienced slumps and grumps like everyone else, but mostly, we've had some fun!

We've used our gas fireplace non stop.

We've played with Lego...ALOT!
Mommy has made headway on her book: Wild Things, The Art of Nurturing Boys. FYI, the book states that confining boys is not the answer to behavioral issues and rowdiness. Ya know, like being iced in for 4 days? Way to call it, "Wild Things". Each day they've become louder and rowdier.
We've kept BlockBuster in business! Yesterday and today we are exposing the boys to their first ever Star Wars movies. The originals.
We've baked cookies. And repeated as necessary.
Today we awoke to the most beautiful snow. It's gorgeous. God is amazing! The LORD reminded me of Isaiah 1:18: He will wash our sins as WHITE as SNOW.

Like I said, we've had some moments of grumpiness. This morning I wasn't much in the mood for more snow and ice. I laid in bed praying. I prayed for eyes to see ways that He romances me and meets my needs. To not focus on being cooped up but to give thanks and have joy. He reminded me of some cute little blue jays that have been outside our kitchen window lately. I just love them, and in that prayer time, He let me know they were from Him.

When I finally got out of bed to prepare breakfast, I glanced outside our kitchen window--a fat little blue jay was perched on a branch!

He hears us. He knows our hearts. Meets our needs. Sends us love gifts like blue jays.

And washes our sin as white as snow.

B4 Tried and True: Pizza Recipe

2011-01-24T15:23:00.000-08:00

I love to know what others are cookin'! So here's one of our tried and true pizza recipes, along with my personal touches.

It's easy to make. Has lots of veggies. And tastes great! 3 good reasons we love it. Still working on the boys loving it, but Kirk and I eat it on a regular basis.

Mexican Black Bean Spinach Pizza

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 2 slices)

Ingredients

1 (10-ounce) Italian cheese-flavored thin pizza crust (I use whole wheat instead.)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
2/3 cup chopped onion (I don't use this much. Personal pref.)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 garlic clove, minced (I just add a little garlic powder. A few dashes.)
1/2 cup bottled salsa (I use peach/mango salsa. Always! So good.)
1/2 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry (I put the entire 10 oz package)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (Hubby loves cilantro. I don't. I leave it off, since I'm cooking.)
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (I don't use this. Hubby would love it. I don't. Can you tell this is really the Jessica pizza?)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (I'm pretty sure I use the entire package of shredded cheese. And we love Colby Jack)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese (Again, Colby Jack all the way.)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place pizza crust on a baking sheet; bake at 375° for 5 minutes or until crisp.

Mash beans with a fork; combine beans and next 4 ingredients (beans through garlic) in medium bowl, stirring to combine. Spread bean mixture over crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Spoon salsa evenly over bean mixture; top with spinach and cilantro. Drizzle with hot sauce; sprinkle with cheeses. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until crust is lightly browned.

Let me know if you like it!

Boyhood Rite of Passage

2011-01-23T16:54:00.000-08:00

"Daddy, can I have a pocket knife?" "Mommy, when can I have a pocket knife?" For the past two months, we've heard their pleas for pocket knives. The heart of it--for adventure and responsibility.

Kirk longs to join God in making the boys into men of God. Recently, Kirk heard this at church:

Define manhood for your boys.
Step up.
Speak up.
Stand firm.
Stay humble.
Serve the King.

We decided pocket knives was the next step. The next seed to plant. A rite of passage in boyhood.

I'm so excited for them! And my hubby did a great job of making it a ceremony. War paint. A discussion on responsibility and trust. An outside fire. And then Kirk said to each boy, "I'm proud of you". In other words, "You have what it takes to become a man".

Once they figured out they were getting pocket knives, they started laughing and yelling with excitement.

They can't wait to hold their own knife. Kirk's going over the rules and expectations as they peer eagerly.
More serious talk about knives. Kirk spent alot of time on this part. Safety. Responsibility. When they can get their knives out. When they can't. How to use it.
Prayer time. The guy's huddled up around the campfire to pray.
Kirk gave the boys a lesson on carving sticks. And how to tell which side is the sharp side. Very important, don't you think?
This part was so, so, so cute. I love being a boy mom.

A seed planted...

1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.

Essential ROH

2011-01-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

The boy count at our house this afternoon is 6!

And I love it. Boys are so fun.

It's loud. Full of wrestling and smashing each other's faces into the carpet. Popcorn on the floor. Legos in every nook and cranny.

A "potion" of who knows what is being mixed in my backyard. And the mention of bottoms creates hysterical laughter.

To set the tone for this play date, I rolled out "essential rules of the house":

1. When you wrestle, no heads or necks. Everyone must leave with their heads intact.

2. Noses are for boogers only. Do not push toys, knives, or food up your nose.

3. When you take your turn peeing on our floor because I know you will, then feel free to grab the Organic cleanser or wipies and clean up after yourself.

4. Do not roll each other down the stairs. In fact, no diving or jumping off the stairs either. I know you think it's a grand idea, but it's not.

5. Everyone must be allowed to breathe. Do not cover airways as you mash each other's faces into the carpet.

6. If you are in doubt about whether it's a good idea, take it outside. Most things outside can pass as legit.

What did I forget?

My Bad

2011-01-03T10:34:00.001-08:00

I woke up late this morning and hurried the boys. First day back to school after Christmas break. They were extra silly. Extra hyper. Getting uniforms on was a killer. Looking for their water bottles a challenge. Thankfully, I packed their lunches the night before.

I even raised my voice a bit (just a bit) when they were climbing all over the room, wrestling, and laughing while being instructed to "Get dressed!"

Whew. Out the door. Only to receive a call from my husband 5 minutes later.

Kirk says,"There's no school today. Starts tomorrow. No one's here."

Ooops. My bad. :)

2011

2011-01-02T15:12:00.001-08:00

The LORD willing, things to come in 2011:

Celebrating 10 years of marriage!
Turning 40! (really?)
Buying a pet bunny (Zach wants one. He's saving $$), or maybe trying the dog thing again.
Raising crazy boys, ages 6 and 7 (The other day I bought a cute straw basket, and the sales asked "A new laundry basket?" I answered, "No, it's for Nerf guns." More to come. Stay tuned. I heart being a boy mom).
Adopting a little one. Humbling and exciting to anticipate.
And mostly, that it's about Jesus, not me.

Mischievous 101

2010-12-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

While your Mommy is driving to Super Target, eyes on the road, make a plan to wrap the seat belt in front of you around the seat's head rest.

Arrive at Super Target to let your Mommy discover your creation--and that the seat belt is in lock position.

Watch your Mommy struggle and wrestle to loosen the seat belt with no progress.

Receive a rebuke for your naughtiness.

And receive encouragement for how God made you smart, clever, and creative--but to please use it for good, not trouble.

Crushed x3!

2010-12-13T14:26:00.001-08:00

Seems like I hear about crushes alot lately. Girls chasing boys. Boys claiming 5 girls have crushes on them. And today Luke asking, "Mommy, how do you get a crush?"

Well, I'm crushed x3! My handsome hubby, Luke, and Zach. This weekend I took my sweetie on a surprise Christmas date--an archery lesson! I thought he looked extremely handsome holding his bow and arrow.

Lookin' so good

Christmas Chapel 2010, Luke's Smile Melts My Heart

Christmas Chapel, Zach "The Friendly Beasts". I think he's the cutest ever!

I heart my 3 guys. Smitten. In love. Crushed.

And I'm ready for another crush--Baby Bargenquest-t0-be! Today our profile and pictures went up on the adoption agency's website. Wow!

Christmas Gifts that Matter

2010-12-09T13:55:00.000-08:00

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.

Through knowledge

its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

Proverbs 24

I can really grow disgusted with holiday shopping commercials. And the lines. The greediness. I found it particularly sad that on Thanksgiving Day people lined up at SuperTarget to get a spot in line, spent the night in the parking lot, and then started shopping bright and early the day after Thanksgiving. How ironic that on the day we are to practice thankfulness (being content) we are heading to lines for MORE.

I love the wisdom of Proverbs 24--true treasures do not come from Super Target, Toys R Us, or Nordstroms. Precious riches come from knowing Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 9:10, John 1:12-14)

And to celebrate I've got a few gift ideas to share. Gifts that matter. No batteries needed. No storage space. No money back guarantees.

Even better, they shape the heart.

First, Operation World has a great resource for guiding a loved one through prayer. Prayer for the world. And hopefully an appreciation for all that we have--contentment. Now that's a gift!

All the countries of the world featured
Maps of each country
Geographic information
People groups within each country
Economic information
Political information
Religious make-up of each country
Daily Prayer Calendar
Answers to prayer
Challenges for prayer
Persecution index

Second, I love hand made gifts. Breads, frozen casseroles, and jams. Notes of affection and gratitude. Gifts of service: sweeping the sidewalk, running errands, making a meal, or babysitting.

I love the below hand made item: Bird Seed Ornaments. Not only because it's hand made, but it also provides a way to appreciate nature--to marvel at God's workmanship. And get us out of stores and into His creation.

How to Make a Bird Seed Ornament

Finally, World Vision has a Christmas catalogue. You can give give the gift of clothing, education, or medicine to the poor. You can sponsor a child. You can give towards water wells, or buy a goat and chicken, providing food and income. Make a donation in honor of a loved one. Ask them to join in with you instead of buying gifts for one another. Or visit a local food pantry together this Christmas and serve other together.

http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?go=gift&&section=10389

O come let us adore Him! Merry Christmas! Give a gift that matters!

John 1:The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Adoption Journey--A Call to Prayer

2010-12-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

As we wait for next steps to take place with adoption, I need reminders:

That this story--this adoption journey--is not about me. I am called to die to self.

For unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (crops). John 12:24

And the journey is about more than what we see.

Yesterday we learned of a potential birth mom, young and newly pregnant. Sounds like she can not parent her child, and she does not have support of her family. We're praying for and waiting for follow up to occur. I'm trying not to get too excited. No doubt it is exciting! No doubt it's just what we're hoping and praying for.

Yet over the past year we've received other leads that have not ended in adoption. Word gets out and you start receiving phone calls.

But each lead is significant.

Each lead draws us to prayer for the soul of a child. We receive divine assignment from the LORD when we learn of a birth mom, an unborn child, or children in need.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Please pray for this birth mom who needs direction--that she experiences God's love. Pray for the unborn child who needs a forever family. And pray that all involved choose life.

We'd love for you to follow our journey. We have a Facebook Page called "Bargenquest Adoption" (Community) that you may join.

You may also continue following our blog. We will post fund raising efforts on the blog as well as our expenses, so that you may pray about participating.

Frankenstein

2010-12-02T06:38:00.000-08:00

I took Zach to get a hair cut. They cut it a little too straight across the front. I didn't notice one bit. He looked as cute as ever to me. I thought he looked even more like Kirk.

His brother, however, said "You look like Frankenstein!" and laughed. I thought that might hurt Zach's feelings, so I corrected Luke.

Later that evening, Luke told Daddy "He looks like Frankenstein!" and laughed. Zach laughed too. Daddy smiled. Zach's feelings weren't even close to being hurt. He thought Luke was funny.

When I asked Kirk later if it was a bad hair cut, he said, "Well, it's not the best hair cut." And smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me?", I asked. "You let me talk about how cute he was. I need to know these things."

Kirk said, "It's hair. It'll grow out."

Oh yeah, I'm in guy land.

What Every Mom Needs to Know about Boys

2010-11-30T07:02:00.000-08:00

1. They steal your heart the first time they say "Mommy"

2. Boys are like tornados. Never turn down free housekeeping.

3. After potty training, keep a container of Clorox wipies near the potty. Wipe often.

4. Keep food on hand at all times. Don't let them get too hungry.

5. Let them get dirty. Let your house get dirty. You will have happier more confident boys.

6. They get louder around 5pm, just when you are dying. Prepare.

7. You may find dead roly polys or other critters in the house.

8. True boy stink begins around age 5. Letting them skip a bath for more than one day means extra stinkiness. Your choice.

9. They love to talk body parts, toots, poo poo, and pee pee. They figure out how to moon each other, even if you never, ever bring it up.

10. They wrestle like little puppies.

11. They have energy that you'd kill for.

12. They get big and can take you down. Set the tone for your authority early on. Mean business.

13. They still need hugs and kisses from you even when they start to say "Ewww. No kisses."

14. They need Daddy time, individually and together, without you. If they start to cranky, they probably need a Daddy date.

15. Having gum on hand at all times is helpful! If they get restless, hyper, or grumpy, offer gum. Chewing does wonders. Giving them a drink with a straw helps too. Try it.

16. They will one day notice girls. Get ready. Until then, do all you can do to be their number one, favorite girl. The days may be long, but the years fly by. Enjoy every minute. Pray they save all of their love for Jesus, Mommy, and their future bride.

27. They need to play good guys and bad guys.

28. Make sure you have ample dirt and sticks.

29. Think long term. You are raising a boy to be a man of God. It's a marathon, not an event.

30. Study your boy. Know his learning style. Know his love language. Help him find a way to express his emotions.

31. They need lots of proprioception (touch, body awareness). Roll them in a blanket. Hug them. Let them wrestle.

32. Give them snacks and exercise often throughout the day. For us, it's almost every 2 hours. A little something goes a long way.

33. They will bring you a snake one day, or some other critter. Be excited for them!

34. They need heroes. Mostly Jesus and Daddy.

35. Engage them in outreach and serving. Let them practice leadership, selflessness, bravery, and kindness. God wired them to be leaders--servant leaders.

36. If they have brothers, they feed off each other. Just sayin'.

37. They don't do well at SuperTarget unless they have an Icee. Giving them a list of items to find helps too.

38. They need regular doses of the outdoors, woods, wild life, and adventure. Plan it.

39. They like to spin, jump, climb, and fly. Anticipate broken bones and blood.

40 Have low expectations on pretty flower beds and a landscaped yard. They like to dig. Designating an excavation site helps, but you'll still find holes where you don't want to.

41. One day you might overhear them talking with their guy friends about how their Mommy falls asleep alot--and "is always tired". You won't deny it.

42. They need Jesus. And they remind you that you need Jesus too.

Hits the Spot Best Soup (A Recipe!)

2010-11-29T17:06:00.000-08:00

After tasting something yummy, we often quote my grandmother (now 91 years old): "Hits the spot!" Think strong East Texas drawl. Beautiful white hair. Bright blue eyes. And a mischievous smile. That's Jesse Elma, my grandmother.

She's also known for saying "Tastes fresh". A Southern lady. Very social. Very particular. Loves attention and being Queen Bee. So in honor of Jesse Elma, I titled this "Hits the Spot".

I snagged this recipe from Cooking Light years ago, and it's a Fall favorite. Pair it with home made pumpkin bread, and it's yum-o. And while my grandmother is known for her funny sayings, I'm known for forgetting ingredients and doing without. Or sometimes throwing something else in there to cover up my forgotten this or that. My mother doesn't get this. She follows the recipe.

Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

1 (6-ounce) box long-grain and wild rice mix (such as Uncle Ben's)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped red onion
1 cup chopped celery (Kirk doesn't like celery so I leave this out. Just as good.)
1 cup chopped carrot (I buy a bag of shredded carrots. Saves time.)
2 garlic cloves, chopped (I rarely do this. Just shake a lil' garlic powder in there.)
1 (8-ounce) package mushrooms, halved
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups water
2 tablespoons dry sherry
2 (15.75-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (12-ounce) can fat-free evaporated milk
3 cups shredded roasted skinless chicken

Preparation

Prepare rice according to package directions; set aside.

Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and next 4 ingredients (onion through mushrooms), and sauté for 6 minutes or until onion is tender. Lightly spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup, and level with a knife. Stir the flour, tarragon, and thyme into the onion mixture, and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add 2 cups water, sherry, broth, and evaporated milk; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes or until slightly thick. Stir in cooked rice and chicken; cook for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

And then there's the pumpkin bread....

She's Crushed on Me

2010-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Luke has blushed and giggled over a certain girl for a year now. We don't encourage crushes, and he won't admit to it, but we can tell. He falls on the ground when he sees her, or hides. No kidding. His face turns into one big smile at the mention of her name.

Zach, on the other hand, just started this girl talk stuff. And he enjoys the attention.

OH. BROTHER.

One of his long time girl-friends recently chased and kissed him. It wasn't all her. Zach quickly told me that she kissed him "TWO TIMES!!!". He smiled at me and took off. He ran back her way, IN FRONT OF HER, looking at her, as if to say "Catch me!"

Then he jumped in the car the other day and said, "Mommy, Anna crushed on me." Again, smiling.

Me: "Zach, how do you know she's crushed on you?"

Zach: "Noah found out."

Me: "How did he find out?"

Zach: "He just did, and now I have bodyguards. Noah, Luke, and David are my bodyguards" Big smile.

Several days later he informs me that so-and-so wants to marry him. He thinks it's too funny.

I said, "Zach, did you tell her what I told you to say? That men lead relationships with women, and you're not a man yet, so you're not leading. And no thank you? Did you tell her that?"

Zach: "I forgot."

This is gonna be tough: Training a boy to be a man. Sure does bring a lot of chuckles. Sure does bring a lot of prayer and challenges. But it's worth it.

And may I add that the mommies of these girls are doing fabulous. They are training their little girls to value modesty, purity, godly love.

When training your kids feels insurmountable, when worldly influence surrounds them, and when you're tired as get out, remember the LORD is for you. He gives us all we need to join Him in turning little ones into men and women of God.

2 Timothy 3:17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Psalm 18:29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

Prayer prompter for the day:

When your kids talk about friends and crushes, pray that they experience God's crush on them. That His love will crush out all distractions, hinderances, and affections that are not of Him.

Anticipation!

2010-11-23T12:50:00.001-08:00

Yesterday we turned in ALL of our adoption paperwork for the new agency. We are waiting for just a few more forms: doctors' "good health" statements and references.

Today we have 2 references in and 1 to go. Two doctor's forms in and 1 to go!

We're so close.

Home study here we come!

Adoption Journey

2010-11-22T07:53:00.000-08:00

In my 20's I worked for the county mental health. I worked with children and grew to love so many of them. During that time, I began dreaming of adoption. I thought of cute names for children I might adopt one day.

When I later met Kirk and we married, we talked about adoption. The prayers began, even though we started our family through biological means. This past January we began taking steps of faith towards adoption.

And as some of you know, we learned of two little girls. They needed a forever family. The LORD did not place them with us. What a loss. What an opportunity to trust God even though we didn't understand. Through the emotional roller coaster, He has deepened our desire to care for the orphan. To grow our family.

We connected with an agency this summer and began the process. A few bumps in the road and many prayers later, and we are now on a new path. About two weeks ago, we decided to not continue with the initial adoption agency.

Over the past 10 months or so, we have learned of opportunities to adopt other children or sibling pairs--all word of mouth referrals. None of those opportunities ended in adoption. Yet we clearly see His hand.

The LORD has often used John 5:19 in our lives: Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. The LORD wants us to do what the Father is doing--to pray for open eyes, so that we join Him where He's working. Regarding our adoption journey, we also apply this first. Will the LORD perhaps use a loved one or network of community to bring us our child? Perhaps. We wait with anticipation.

We've recently broadcast our desire to adopt even more, creating a "resume'" and profile sheet so that others can share it with a potential birth mother. We've also created a "photo book", one that a birth mom can hold in her hand. The photo book helps her know our hearts and family more so that she can consider us as adoptive parents. We've also decided to use Little Flower Adoptions to complete our home study.

As of today, an application will go to Little Flower Adoptions. And then we'll wait for approval to have a home study. The steps seem to be moving and flowing.

The LORD even blessed me with a "God moment" this past week. After struggling with uncertainty and self doubt, He confirmed the calling and provided joy and anticipation. He spoke to my heart.

Zach and I served at Brother Bill's Helping Hands this past week. Families in the zip code who meet criteria for assistance come to shop the food pantry. Zach and I helped with kid crafts so that Mommies could shop. During a lull of no children in the craft room, the Director walks in with a big, blue bundle. She asks, "Would you like hold a 6 week old while his Mommy shops?" I thought I was going to cry--from joy.

She put that little bundle in my arms, and I knew God was speaking. I don't really know how to express what He did. Just a moment of joy, comfort, reassurance, and tenderness. I know that when God places our child in my arms, that I will love him or her with all that this Mommy can love. Once the little blue bundle left, a few more children came in to color--and soon an 8 week old baby girl. Total greatness. Total God spurring me on. My Heavenly Father. Love Him.

So as we take the next steps to adoption, we continue to remember two truths that have led our journey:

Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from Him.

Children are reward from Him.

Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

when it is in your power to act.

You can participate in God's good work by praying with us. We are so honored that you would take a moment to pray. We are praying about ways to raise funds. We are praying for obedience to each step. We are praying for our boys--that God prepares their hearts for a new sibling. And we are praying for the birth mom and child.

Share some love, leave a comment.

Living History Day Greatness!

2010-11-20T08:02:00.000-08:00

Living History Day at the boys' school is a favorite! The school goes all out, and we dress in costume, experiencing a part of history. This year--the Middle Ages! Above, Zach and Luke with their hand made shields. Each student received one to take home and decorate.

I really can't think of a better way for our children to learn, to value history, and to ultimately see the Hand of God all over history.

May Pole Dance, sixth grade girls

On the grassy knoll with shields ready, opening ceremony

Procession: King (headmaster), Queen (Grammar School Director), and everyone else!

Luke 8th from the left

The joust, courtesy of high school boys and trikes!

We had a basket weaver, glass blower, juggler, and jester!

All are encouraged to dress for the day. We are Fair Lady, King, Prince, and Monk.

The students rotated to different activities: a Medieval play, calligraphy, petting zoo, bow and arrows, and relays.
Luke is sporting his last minute, made from foil crown that he asked Mommy to make 5 minutes before we headed to LHD. He's working on calligraphy.
The boys were given burlap sacks to carry their snacks in, apples and granola bars. I wish we had a picture of the feast. Everyone ate from bread plates that included fowl, corn, bread and a cookie. They could not eat until the King ate, exclaiming "Vassal!"

Bow and Arrow time!

A few "firsts"

2010-11-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Following Luke's first EVER broken arm, Luke had his first EVER project. His first EVER presentation.

He chose the seal and had to share 4 interesting facts, write a story, and create a visual. No doubt he's a story teller, and I can not wait to see how God will use that gift. He spoke of the equator and Greenland, sharing much adventure and danger.

So we've endured our first broken arm, cast, first project and presentation, NOW if ONLY we'd experience his FIRST lost tooth! Luke can't wait!

Father God, let Luke's life be a story of your love, grace, and mercy. I pray that You write stories upon his heart and in his life that give glory to Your name and bring sweet laughter, healing, and wisdom to the souls of many. In Jesus Name. Amen.

That's What I'm Talking About

2010-11-18T12:41:00.000-08:00

[AC] Advent Conspiracy 2009 Promo Video

Catchin' Up

2010-10-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

Poor blog. You've been so lonely. I miss you. Having two school aged kids rocked my world for a few weeks. Having two soccer schedules kept me busy. And a broken arm. Our first. Well, that's been harder than anyone ever let on. Plus, moving. Adoption paperwork. A birthday. 39 is the new 29! And our anniversary! Nine years Oct 27th!

It's all made life full and good. I am more blessed today than ever. Highlights from our Fall:

--Watching Luke almost score a few soccer goals (until he broke his arm that is)! This was a first for him. Loved his perseverance and ambition.

--Watching Zach serve at Brother Bill's Helping Hands by sacking groceries. Love his joy in hardwork and serving.

--Watching both boys take off in reading

--Praying with a solicitor who came to our door and received Christ as LORD and Savior

--Celebrating nine years with my beloved, husband!

--Sharing the gospel with a kind, friendly Jewish man while out on our anniversary date!

--Finishing our adoption paperwork and anticipating

--Studying Daniel with the ladies at Watermark

--Finding endless snakes and frogs with the boys at our new homestead

Luke and Zach @ one of Z's soccer games. Luke is not shy.

Celebrating Mommy's 39th birthday!

Family Dinner for Mommy's Birthday

Luke's camp out with Daddy and 1st grade boys. He'd just broken his arm in this pic. He was on a social high from a great time. Who knew his arm was broken? Except he's clutching it.

Kirk coached Zach's soccer team, and upon their final game, he gave each boy a medal. Along with each medal, Kirk spurred them on with words of affirmation. He spoke on their character. Love Z's face here. He intently listened.

Covenant's Ride and Run to raise money for Tuition Assistance.

Anniversary Dinner and 24 hour getaway! Totally wonderful. Enough said. :)

Ask and You Will Receive

2010-10-06T14:14:00.001-07:00

"Father God, please let us find a grass snake at the new home..."

We've moved!

On the eve of our move, my husband found a grass snake with the boys. They love that kind of stuff. My sweetie used it as an opportunity to pray for our transition. The three of them asked God to help them find a grass snake at their new home.

And God answered in good, plentiful ways.

Our new yard is crawling with critters. Grass snakes, grasshoppers, frogs, a skink, a rabbit, crickets, and lizards.

Luke, Zach, and Grass Snake posing for a picture!

Soccer Stars

2010-09-14T19:11:00.001-07:00

Zach at his very first soccer game! Daddy's coaching. Could he be any cuter?

Zach #10

Luke enjoying friends at his first game! The more the merrier!

Luke, #23, Go Knights!

Where the Wild Things Are

2010-09-12T14:38:00.000-07:00

I love my wild things. They play hard.

They defeat bad guys, make troll bridges with sheets, pretend they're giants, go undercover as spies, create lions' dens from packing boxes, and build hide outs .

They make me need a nap! In a good way.

Their minds are sponges. And they've become strong enough to take me down.

They are smart, charming, strong, energetic, loud, inquisitive, ambitious, impulsive, cute, funny, vulnerable, brave, daring, social, imaginative, and creative.

The other night they created quite the wild rumpus during shower time. They laughed, shouted, and threw water.

What a privilege to cooperate with God as He shapes two little boys into men of God!

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6

Two Thumbs Up!

2010-08-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

After a few days of tears leading up to the first day of school, the boys had a "two thumbs up" day! Whew! Thank you, LORD!

I prayed my booty off today. The past few days of tears and uncertainty and even increased bickering made me a wee bit emotional myself. And tired.

Letting go is hard to do.

Thankfully, both boys came home from school chattering. They even both posed for me after school.

Zach gives a thumbs up. Luke gives two high fives! They had a good day.

Here's my sweet view as we walk them to class.

A brother picture before the day begins!

I am so thankful for a good first day. And thankful that the teachers this morning sweetly closed the door on we dorky parents, hovering around, trying to get final kisses good-bye.

Wish There Was App for My Brain

2010-08-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

My head is spinning! If only there was an App for my brain.

We received an offer on our home a week ago. The week before school starts.

We also finished adoption training a week ago. The week before school starts.

And the hubby is out of town. Enough said.

With school starting, the boys have separation anxiety and sadness. Good summers and good bonding make parting a little harder.

So we are in the midst of school volunteer sign-ups, back to school activities, calming and encouraging little boy hearts, looking for a home, finishing adoption paperwork, and meeting new people.

I apologize in advance for forgetting new names and faces, for confusing dates and forgetting where I'm supposed to be and when, for being a lil' stressed.

If only I had an App for my brain.

But I don't have an App, not even an iPhone. I'm still workin' the flip phone. God bless.

So where does that leave me? Resting in God's grace.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Mountains, a Moose and Mary's Mountain Cookies

2010-08-12T18:00:00.000-07:00

Mountains, a Moose, and Mary's Mountain Cookies. All God-given.

We spent the past week in Breckenridge, Colorado.

God gave us rest, laughter, and adventure. God gave us new memories. We had a really good time. None of us wanted to come home. And a few tears were shed when it was time to leave.

The mountains were awesome. I took a nap one day with a view of the mountains from the couch. Hard life.

We heard there was a moose spotting in Breck, so we prayed with the boys to see one. The next day we stepped off the gondola, and there he was.

A big moose, about 25 feet away from us. We watched him for at least 20-30 minutes. Probably getting a little too close. Apparently, they charge. And apparently, it was mating season.

A local told us that his wife had been chased by one for over a mile as she pushed the baby stroller. Their dog got between her and the moose. So glad our moose was more interested in chewing leaves.

And Mary's Mountain Cookies...well, they are delish! Enough said. We treated ourselves 3 times to Mary's cookies while in Breck for 5 days.

We have many more pictures, but I haven't uploaded all of them yet. For now do you see Mr. Moose in the pic below? Luke and Zach are dangerously close. Living life on the edge. We vacation hard core.

See, Mr. Moose just eating leaves. My mom asked me if it was "sweet" when I told her we spotted a moose. She's cute.

Love, love, love this picture of Kirk and Luke. We drove to a well-known moose spotting area one night. Total silence. Rain drops. Very romantic, even with two little boys in the backseat. The route took us to the top of a mountain, off road.

Alpine slides. Total fun. However, I was wrongly accused of not going fast enough.

Zach and my honey on the ski lift, on their way to the top for the slide.

Zach posing at the river walk. The last time we were in Breck, he was 1 1/2 years old. This trip brought back memories of when he was so little.

Mommy and her almost first grader. Separation sadness is stirring. For both of us. Our summer has been so sweet.

I love the boys' friendship. Buddies.

My three favorites.

Love, love, love my boys.

Come back later for more pictures!

Let's Get This Party Started

2010-07-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

Free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

Luke requested an archaeology party for his 7-year-old birthday party! So did a little diggin' and excavatin'!! And in lieu of gifts, we asked his friends to fill our giving bucket. Check it out!

Birthday Mohawk

2010-07-23T19:57:00.000-07:00

If he can ask for a Birthday Mohawk, then he's not my baby anymore. :( Luke turned seven-years-old today! And he's planned for a month now to celebrate with a mohawk. So Daddy did a little buzzing and styling this morning, and voila! Tonight Pei Wei for dinner. His request. Smart boy. And Mommy's favorite. Tomorrow, an Archaeology Birthday Party.

Working on Wicker

2010-07-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

We're working on wicker! And the patio chair was $1.50!!!

Zach loves to help, especially with wood working and painting. First, we are removing the black paint and debris.

A little sanding.

Then we'll paint.

Robin Egg Blue or White...but probably Robin Egg Blue.

Tadpole? Or Ice Cream Cone?

2010-07-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

I could probably make a Top 10 list somewhere: "Sappiest Mom", "Most Hormonal Mom", "Shed a Tear over Your Son Catching a Frog Mom". Today was the final day of Creek Camp, and I came close to tears.

I'm sure. It's Creek Camp. Not their graduation. Not their wedding.

But the boys had so much fun. They had their first "camp slideshow". Received their first "camp awards".

And they best buddied with one another over algae, frogs, minnows, tadpoles, cookies, and lemonade. How can it get better in the life of two little boys?

But the awards presentation was not about hormonal, sappy moms.

Luke earned the award "Best Outdoorsmen". He tried not to smile, even though I could tell he was excited.

And Zach earned the "Happy Camper" award. Luke had to tell him it was for him, to stand up and get his award. Little guy didn't have a clue. Cuuute.

In addition to the lake frog from this past weekend, the boys accumulated two frogs at creek camp. They found a bone, wood, shells, and algae. Today's find was a tadpole who joined us for the ride home. We had big hopes for this frog in the making.

Sadly, he was knocked over and left to flounder on the car floor. It was either the ice cream come being handed to me through the window at TCBY or the tadpole.

You can guess what I chose.

A brother is born for adversity

2010-07-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Sometimes, the adversity is between brothers in our home. Can I get an amen? Sibling rivalry. Conflict happens.

And within the family, God creates a safe haven for learning how to love well, forgive much, and endure adversity.

I have loved watching our boys grow in their friendship this summer.

We hit a few rough spots as Luke really missed his school friends, and Zach wanted all of Luke's attention. There weren't enough Legos. Someone hit someone. And someone wanted this, while the other wanted that.

Yet in the rough spots, a sweet bond deepened.

Highlights so far:

The boys playing LEGOS for almost 2 1/2 hours without looking up, just enjoying each other's company.
Dropping Luke off at a friend's birthday party and hearing Zach cry "I want Luuuuuke." And when Luke didn't get home in time for bedtime, hearing Zach say, "I don't wanna go to bed wifout Luuuuuke."
Hearing the boys laugh while playing LEGOS in their room. Zach is laughing hysterically at Luke, but soons says, "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone!" I hear Zach run to the bathroom, saying again, "Don't do anything funny while I'm gone, Luke!!!!" He quickly pees, and Luke cutely says, "I'm doing something funny."
Having a "cookie picnic" with the boys in their room, and Zach requests more cookies. Luke has a bigger cookie, so he quickly breaks off some of his cookie, and shares.
Luke receives a special prize at OT, and Zach of course wants one. So they make plans that Luke will work extra hard at OT next week, and Luke will earn a special prize again, but this time give it to Zach.
Watching them do what I remember as the "neste plunge" in the pool over and over. Laughing. Delighting in the fun of the other.
Sharing snacks with each other at the pool. If one gets ice cream, and the other one chips, they give each other bites.

These are the beginnings of a life-long friendship between brothers.

Remember when...

2010-07-13T15:03:00.001-07:00

Sunscreen, check! Bug spray, check! Hats, check!Water shoes, check! Pre-camp snack, check!

I remember when I played in the creek all day. I grew up with a large yard, including a creek that ran through the front yard. Behind our home sat a large field with cows.

Moooo.

By the way, this past weekend at the lake, we got a big kick out of stopping our car to talk to cows along the country roads. All 4 of us said "mooo" while the cows stared back. Have you ever noticed cows have zero personality? We totally looked like city slickers.

So growing up, the creek was one of my favorite "toys".

We jumped over the water, climbed trees, made mud pies. The creek was lined with Azaleas and Dog Wood trees. Lots of nooks and crannies. Sometimes, turtles. And good hiding places.

Luke and Zach are attending "Creek Camp" at the Heritage Farmstead Museum. They are exploring creek life, keeping a journal, building a dam and raft, and having a creek picnic.

I think I have country boys living in the city. I knew they would enjoy Creek Camp, but oh boy, do they!

Creek life is good for their hearts.

And it wipes them out!

God love the Creek Camp.

Floating, Fishing and a Frog!

2010-07-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

Hallelujah! The boys finally caught a frog! If you've kept up with our summer blog, you know that my boys have frog-hunted faithfully without one catch.

This weekend we had R&R at Cedar Creek Lake! Thank you Miller Family for sharing your home with us!

I love the lake.

No make up. No hair fuss. Cheetohs. Wear the same clothes every day. Swimming. Food Network. Fishing. Napping. Sun. Cheetohs. Food Network.

Yes, I mentioned cheetohs and Food Network twice. That's because cheetohs are a favorite treat--and good lake food.

And our friends' lake home has Direct TV, not something our home has, so I indulged in Food Network, and even sucked my boys into it. We had a few rain storms. Nap time! And Food Network!

And while cheetohs and Food Network were fun, they were not the best part!

I love fishing. And so do my guys. We fished Saturday and Sunday morning. Started bright and early. We caught catfish, and perhaps a perch or two, but mostly catfish. Kirk even had the grand idea of hunting for live crickets as bait. Boy heaven.

In between fishing, the boys jumped off the pier into the water, floated on a tube, and pee'd in the lake.

Catching the frog (even over peeing in the lake) won top prize for the weekend's best! The boys were beside themselves, and we brought our little visitor home in a large Home Depot bucket. His name, Hopper.

Now we're home, and I've got LAUNDRY!!!!!! All worth it.

Zach reeling it in.

Bubble bath fun!

Hopper, the frog. Notice Luke's dirty hands and fingernails. Good boy fun.

Brothers sharing the joy and glory of catching a frog. Hopper is in the pic too. Can you find him?

Luke's catfish

Just getting started on the fun.

Watching a little Food Network...or maybe Disney TV. Cute eh?

Bubble bath in the jet tub, with goggles.

You would think this pic of Zach is on the ride home. Nope, this pic is on the way TO the lake. He fell asleep asap. The boy has anticipated the lake so much that he's pooped. And he fell asleep on the way home too.

Do you ever have one of those times with your family that is so, so, so good? So good that you just want to escape to a secluded spot and live happily ever after? So good that you easily tear up as you watch your children laugh? That your husband's smile melts your heart in new ways? Does God ever touch your heart with the depth of His goodness and mercy?

For every good and perfect gift

comes from the Father above.

James 1:17

Wisdom in Colors of Grey

2010-07-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. Proverbs 20:29

Mmmm...lately, all of the hair stylists are talking "wisdom" in regards to my hair color. "Low lights and a few caramel high lights will cover alllllll that wisdom."

*Sigh*

It's true. I am gaining ground on gray hair. Say it isn't so, but it is.

And while I love my late 30's because I can claim some rights to wisdom as an almost 40 year old...not to mention the 30's have been good to me! God blessed me with a darling husband and two cute boys in my 30's.

But I don't wanna. I don't wanna grow old.

I'm still a baby, I know, but it's undeniable.

I'm aging.

I even caught myself saying things that sound like an "old" woman.

As I watched a young boy run through the parking lots, not looking both ways, without parental supervision, and with no regard for cars, I yelled, "Oooo! Don't make me nervous. Look both ways."

Oh my goodness! I really said it. My motherly self came out sounding like an old self. Not to mention, I sounded ALOT like my grandmother. She loves to use "oooo" and "nervous" alot. :)

My "wisdom" is showing!

Make me an appointment at the salon please...my "splendor" needs a little touch up!

Lovin' the Lady Bugs

2010-07-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

Look! Our ladybugs are here! You have faithfully followed our journey from larvae, to pupa, to adult ladybugs!

We've got Larry, Lulu, Lolly, Lenny, Lala, Lupe, Lud, and LeLe the Lady Bugs! But we may need a few more names...

Leave a comment, sharing your favorite Lady Bug name, and you are entered in a drawing. Excited?

Tell me your favorite Lady Bug name, and you could win one of my favorite books: IF by Amy Carmichael.

Enjoy July 4th!

Going Green!

2010-06-30T19:47:00.000-07:00

Meet my "new" Kiwi Chair, compliments of an Estate Sale this past weekend.

I. LOVE. IT.

It's my new spot for time with the LORD and journaling. The other day my hubby saw me sitting in it, writing furiously and said, "Aren't you cute!" He enjoyed seeing me in my Kiwi chair, that I really wanted, that was a big bargain.

He loves making me happy. :)

And I love making him happy. "Momma's VBS" this week was about serving.

Mark 10:34, the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.

So we served Daddy by making Key Lime Pie, his favorite.

The recipe called for a fancy Key Lime juice, but I bought key limes. I love the color!

And I thought I might squeeze Key Limes to show my man how much I adore him. Forget it. I tried to squeeze one, and it was impossible. Pour the juice, boys! Put the key limes on display in a glass bowl!

The pie? A success. My hubby loved it.

Nothing like making that man happy!

I'm thinking we ought to "go green" more often.

Kiwi chair and Key Lime pie.

Who knew such romance could stir from "going green"!?

By Luke

2010-06-27T12:44:00.001-07:00

God is growing a heart of perseverance in Luke.

Today was no exception.

He saw friends climb to the very top of a pole on the church playground. When we picked him up, he was excited to tell us what his friends had done. Now he wanted his turn to try. I have a feeling he didn't want to try in front of friends.

Luke is a great climber. And I had no doubt, he could climb the pole. Yet he was struggling to do it. His athletic shorts slipped on the pole. His hands became sweaty. We wanted to walk him through his fear and doubt.

God showed us his heart.

He wanted to do what his friends had done and didn't want to be left out. He didn't want to be different. Yet at the same time, he wants to be different.

He said, "I want to do something that no one has done before. Something cool, fun, and exciting!" His heart longs to be unique. He's responding to the God-given need we all have--to be unique and special. To have purpose.

Luke has dreams. Dreams that reflect his unique hopes, that reflect his thirst to be special. We prayed with him. We hugged him. We let him talk.

We asked him what kind of things he wants to do that no one has done before, and made a list.

Luke's Dreams (in his words)

To fly
To shrink
To see outer space and the whole galaxy
To become huge
To fly in the atmosphere
To get to discover animals no one has discovered before
To get to find Noah's ark
To find the ark where the 10 commandments are
To go to the bottom of the sea
To discover a jungle that no one has found yet
To find pirate treasure
To discover a dinosaur that's still alive
To have the longest life of the world

He pointed out that he couldn't do "all" the things on his list. Like fly or shrink.

I said, "Luke, I know one way that you could do all of the items on your list."

Luke, "How?"

"You could write a book. You could write a story about a little boy who does all of these things, and when you write about them, you get to do all of these things."

He sat quietly, appearing pleased and thinking.

Soon a smile.

We encouraged him that God gave him the dreams, that God can accomplish each dream on his list, even though they may not all happen as he anticipates.

So it looks like Mommy and Luke will write a book. He wants to illustrate and create the stories, while I help him write.

I won't share details about our bestseller, but I will share that Luke wants the cover to say "by Luke".

What about your "bestseller"? You have a story to write also. How can God use you?

Psalm 139:13-14 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Steroids, Rocks, and Pupa

2010-06-25T07:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a week of steroids, rocks, and pupa! I bet you can guess my highlight was not steroids.

Luke's poison ivy did not improve over the weekend, so the pediatrician put him on oral steroids Monday. I asked if we should expect any side effects, and the nurse said probably not given it was only 4 days of medication.

Wrong.

By Tuesday or Wednesday, Luke became very emotional. At one point, he was alternating between tears and laughing. We stopped the steroids yesterday, and he is back to himself. When I told him that the medication may have made him cry more, he said, "Yeah, I felt different." Smart boy.

The boys memorized Psalm 18:2 this week, and yesterday we visited the Rock Barrel. They earned a dollar to use in the store, and we had fun exploring rocks. Zach chose two arrowheads, made in Mexico.

Luke found a beautiful treasure, Rose Rock. The formation looks like little rose buds and petals. We may need bigger rock boxes soon. Their collection is growing!
Our lady bugs are now attaching to the dome and entering the Pupa stage. We have raisins on our grocery list today as they will need raisins once they molt and emerge as lady bugs. Pet Lady Bugs! Feel free to suggest names. We'll need about 8-10 Lady Bug names.
And finally, we talked about Jacquie and Sophie this week (the girls we had hoped to adopt this past Spring). The boys bring them up from time to time, asking questions like "If we adopt them, will we get girl stuff?"

When we volunteered with Shoes for Orphan Souls, Luke commented on a pair of cute flip flops, stating we should get some for Jacquie and Sophie.

So we realized this week that our grief is not over. We individually and collectively still grieve that loss. This morning the boys and I spent time drawing pictures of the girls and talking. A friend reminded me that those girls will always be a part of our family history. So true.

Grief comes in layers.

Time to acknowledge the next layer.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Lady Bug Land in Action

2010-06-22T08:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday our lady bug larvae arrived in the mail! We are officially growing lady bugs! And you get to follow the journey. So stay tuned.

This morning the boys wanted to visit Einstein's Bagels for breakfast. Twist my arm. I can't get enough of cream cheese with my bagel, and a cold Diet Coke at 7:30am. Love it. So I took my Bible--and the two boys--and we found a patio seat to enjoy bagels. I opened up Psalm 18 and talked about how God is our Rock.

I asked, "How is God our Rock?"

Luke said, "Because He's strong. And He's always there."

I replied, "Yes, He is strong. Can we be strong without God?"

Zach, of course, pulled a Zach-a-roo and nodded yes with a naughty smile. Stinker-roo.

Boys. It's a journey. Not an event.

I love my journey.

My journey not only includes lady bug larvae, but it also includes being rescued daily. I need my Rock to rescue me from selfishness and impatience. From not being gentle.

This is where I go:

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Notice the imperatives. Be humble, be patient, make allowance, make every effort, keep yourselves, bind yourselves.

Notice the motive. Because of your love.

Love is an action.

Father, as I watch the Lady Bug land "in action", I pray that it reminds me to put Your love in action. Just as the Lady Bugs will grow and change, I pray that You change me. I yield to the Spirit, choosing to live out humility and patience. I need you. I am not strong in my own strength. I need the LORD, my Rock. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Momma's VBS 3

2010-06-21T05:28:00.000-07:00

The LORD is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer...

Psalm 18:2

This week's Bible verse will lead us to think about God as our Rock!

Father God, help me shepherd the boys' hearts this week to know You as their security, the One that gives their life steadiness, security, and a foundation. Give us applications this week and teachable moments. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Field Trip: the Rock Barrell! And if the boys memorize Psalm 18:2 this week, they receive a dollar to buy a rock.

Their rock collections are growing!

Shoes for Orphans Souls

2010-06-18T17:22:00.001-07:00

Shoes for Orphans collects and donates shoes to orphans all over the world. Recently, our family started a giving bucket, so that we can give towards this ministry.

And today we were hands on! We showed up with Daddy to pair sandals for shipping. We learned that before they give an orphan shoes, they wash their feet. I'm sure there's not a dry eye when that happens. Stirs my heart. And watching the boys take joy in serving today stirred my heart real good. Below Luke is grabbing more rubber bands.
He soon learned that I loved the baby shoes. He would grab as many as he could and show them to me, "Are these cute, Mommy?" He loved hearing me coo. :)
One of Zach's gifts is serving. He really steps in and works hard. And he rose to the challenge today, full of enthusiasm. Below he is digging into a box of shoes for our work table. As we emptied the box, he soon needed a stool to reach in. And we found one!
That man is my husband! My BFF. My servant leader. My man! Good lookin' and loves Jesus too. The boys were beside themselves meeting Daddy at the shoe warehouse during the work day.
No kid scissors today. Hard core serving. So thankful that Luke focused while cutting tags off shoes.

Shoes, shoes, and shoes! Father, place them on the feet of boys and girls who need provision, who need to know they matter. May Your love fill their hearts. We also ask that You place them within forever families. Thank you for opening our hearts to the orphan, and for reminding us that You adopted us.
May our prayers never cease for the orphan. And may Your love be glorified through Shoes for Orphan Souls. In Jesus Name. Amen.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

Psalm 68:5

Blackberry Cobbler Review

2010-06-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Poison Ivy and Fruit Flies. You're jealous, I know. But it's not anything that a lil' Blackberry Cobbler can't fix! YUM-o!

We made cobbler last night from our freshly picked berries. We give it 5 stars!

Luke ate 2 servings!

Zach doesn't like blackberries, but he loved eating the crust with ice cream. That part is good too.

And while I am sharing sweet, good, fun details about field trips, frog hunts, and blackberry cobbler, please don't think for a moment, that all is easy peasy in the B4 home. I ran into a friend this week who told me that I made her feel "normal."

Really? Tell me more.

This Winter I ran into her at Super Target, with both of my boys. Enough said.

I wasn't shy with my feelings and stress level. Apparently, that day I helped her feel "normal". Because I didn't hold back on how hard being a mom is, she felt better.

Glad to hear it.

I am more than normal, friends. I love to share about good times, but just so you know, I am probably more normal than you want to know about. :)

Both boys are having friend issues. Zach notices that he doesn't have special friends like Luke. And Luke wonders why his friends aren't inviting him over.

Zach has had a season of tantrums and negativity lately. Luke has had meltdowns over what Lego kit he can buy with his allowance.

And I? Irritablity, impatience, burn out, and frustration. Just to name a few.

Do you feel normal yet?

So when you question whether other moms are struggling to love their children well, have energy for the day, wisdom for every teachable moment, and a minute to go potty, then know without a doubt that they are.

But it's not anything a little Blackberry cobbler can't fix.

I will praise the LORD at all times! Psalm 34:1

Blackberries, Peaches, and Ice Cream!

2010-06-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

You can't visit Ham's Orchard without Ice Cream! YUM-o! They had peach and strawberry today. Our friends Braden and Sydney went with us. Not only did we get ice cream, peaches, and blackberries, but MOMMA got herself some chicken sketti for dinner! Dinner's on Ham's tonight. I can't wait!
Below you will find a Black and Yellow Garden Spider. Also known as a Corn Spider or Banana Spider. We found 4-5 of them in the blackberry patch. This guy was the biggest one!
My sweet Luke. I need an action camera. One that shoots with speed and zooms in. It's almost impossible to receive cooperation from the boys with posing. I need something that works beyond uncooperative but oh so cute little boys. If anyone wants to donate their Nikon D40...or D90, whatever it is, let me know. I'll scrub your potties for a month.
The berry pickers!! Sidney, Braden, Luke and Zach. Each earned their keep today. We brought home a bucket of blackberries. Tomorrow night? Cobbler.
So today's field trip took us to Terrell, TX!! We visited Ham's Orchard. And thankfully, the LORD blessed us with a little cloud coverage and wind. Because as you know, it's hot. And I did not plan a field trip with AC. We had a great time!What a fun spot for blackberry picking, peaches, ice cream and burgers!
In addition to the spider, a cricket, and a green baby grasshoper, we also saw two brown grasshoppers. As Luke told Daddy tonight, "They were making babies!"
Zach does not like blackberries. Not much of a fruit guy, but he loved picking them. I just knew it would convert him to berries by enjoying the berry picking experience. Nope. Won't even try the gallons of blackberries he picked. Not even with sugar.

Someone asked me today what curriculum I am using for "Momma's VBS".

Nada.

It's built in.

Plan an overly ambitious day of fun, and the "fruit of the Spirit" and "be filled with the Spirit" curriculum is built into your day. I think I tried to be Super Mom today. I didn't plan on it. I didn't say to myself, "Be a Super Mom", but as I look back on today, I was a little ambitious.

I had plenty of opportunity to therefore walk in the Spirit as the day went on.

I bleed too.

I needed a moment to not be touched, needed, or climbed. I love, love, love, love my boys. Really, I do. But I am no Super Mom.

By the grace of God I made it through an overly ambitious fun day and experienced God in the process.

And the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:20

Today's fun included the orchard, swim lessons, and then more swimming. And today's challenges included grumpiness, rowdiness, wrestling, fighting, a car trip, sunscreen, bathing suits, time outs, and poop. Yep, poop. Always gotta stick some poop challenges in your day.

Today's curriculum? Watch Mommy struggle. Watch Mommy ask for forgiveness. Watch Mommy ask Jesus for the power of the Spirit. Watch Mommy fail and yet stand in God's grace.

And by God's grace, the boys hopefully saw Jesus in me.

Don't be shy. Share a blackberry recipe or two.

And the Winner is...

2010-06-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

If you read the blog yesterday, then you know I had a frog hunt date with my three guys. We held a drawing for anyone who left a comment yesterday too. The promised prize? Whatever we caught on our frog hunt. So before I announce the winner (even tho no one really wanted it), here are some pics. Below is Frog Hunter 1, Zach. He's checking out the frog habitat, a creek.

And Frog Hunter #2, Luke, checking out the minnows they caught. As Luke said, "Daddy is the best minnow catcher in the world!!!" Mommy was put in charge of protecting the bucket of minnows while they hunted for creek life, and I promise I'm not telling a fish story, but one minnow leapt out of the bucket onto the ground. Guess he didn't like the bucket so much.
Below Zach is getting as close to the creek as possible without falling or jumping in. He did his best to catch a swallowtail butterfly and a frog. We heard croaking, and I saw it's hind legs as it jumped back in the water, but no catch. Just a sighting. The boys were VERY disappointed. They are serious hunters. That male thing kicks in, and they compartmentalize their thinking. They didn't have time for cute picture taking. They got a little intense in the hunt. And they had high ambitions and focus.
Although we didn't catch a frog, we found a few fun creatures from creek life. A dragon fly, minnows, and crawfish.
Luke is admiring the crawfish he caught. Love the freckles that are bursting out on his face this summer.

Zach is holding up one of 10-15 minnows we caught. Boy heaven...almost. A frog would have sealed the deal.
Frog hunting involves gear. In case you wanted to take up frog hunting. We use rubber boots, buckets, and butterfly nets.

I can't imagine life without my three frog hunters. They bring joy and excitement to my life. And they lead me to Jesus every day. Almost every day I see how prone I am to selfishness and yet He rescued me. He gave me more than I deserve. His mercy is excessive. His grace abundant. And His gift to me, Jesus....and three super cute frog hunters. Look at those cuties!!!!!!!!
And just a bit more suspense before I announce the winner of our drawing. Going to share with you a few projects and pictures. Zach loves anything soft. Loves to cuddle. Has a million stuffed animals. He's had his eye on Lamb's Ear, and this past week we bought some. He loves to touch it because it is so soft. We used our kid gardening book from the library to make these cute little beaded stakes for our pot--to fancy it up a bit. Like?
And we plan to grow lady bugs. We are eagerly awaiting the larvae to arrive. And YOU can join the journey of growing larvae by following this blog. You're excited, I know.

And the moment that you've all waited for (all 3 of you).....

THE WINNER is.......

Missy!!!!!

I really drew names, people. Just can't believe no one wanted a dragon fly, minnow, crawfish, or frog. So we threw it all back.

Wonder if Missy feels regret.

Momma's VBS 2

2010-06-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

This week's Bible verse (s) and theme:

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5: 22

Be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:18

Field trip:

Roll drum, please....

Ham's Orchard to pick black berries and peaches! Bring on the hot sun, people! Join us!

On a side note, the boys have invited me to join them on one of their frog hunts with Daddy. Tonight's the night. Zach wants me to come, so he can "gross me out". Luke's been talking creeks with Daddy all week, which new one to try, what they can find.

If you are a follower of the B4, share a comment on this post, and I'll enter your name in a drawing--for whatever we find on tonight's frog hunt. It's yours! :)

Summer Lovin'

2010-06-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am not lovin' the summer arguing that has peaked between Luke and Zach. But I am lovin' a few things this summer.

My friend Ashley R. introduced me to Tzatziki yogurt dip a week ago. Whole Foods, baby. Don't usually shop there because it's expensive, but lovin' this dip. I've eaten it with veggies and any crunchy, oaty cracker I can find. Yum-o!

And even though the arguing is increasing the speed of my gray hairs coming in, I am lovin' my boys. They are water coloring this afternoon. Peace at last.
A new dinner time activity--the Fruit Bearing Jar--also a stolen idea from my friend Ashley R. We hope the activity leads us to "love one another". The jar contains a ton of questions, guiding our conversation about relationships, family life, choices, and Jesus. Ashley had her questions on cute colored paper. I went for quick and simple white but put a cute bow around the jar. It works. And last night's first round of questions was sweet and fun. The boys were very thoughtful.
Example of questions...and a pic of our Fruit Bearing Jar. Might be cute to paint the jar. For now the red bow works.
And today we started a project from our gardening book, borrowed from the library. We are growing an Avocado stone. We soaked the stone in warm water for 30 minutes, cut the pointy end off, and placed it in soil. The stone should sit in warm light for several week and then sprout. Can't wait!
Another project I'd love to take on from the gardening book is a stumpery. If you know my boys, you know they love bugs. The stumpery is a cute display of decaying logs and ferns that will attract insects. First, we need to know which yard to build it in. Our home is for Sale by Owner. We like a home near Kirk's job, but if we don't sell our current home sometime soon, we're staying put. Either way we're good--there or here--but am eager to know where we'll make the stumpery. I love projects.

What summer loves do you have? Any projects or new favorites?

Rock Stars

2010-06-09T09:42:00.000-07:00

The boys wanted to be Rock Stars this morning. Luke even gel'd his hair and grabbed Daddy's sunglasses. Luke had the piano and maraca while Zach played the harmonica. We four danced at 7:30am to "Let's Get This Party Started" and "I like to Move It." Good morning, boys!

Momma's VBS

2010-06-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

Mommy's VBS! June Mission: To take the boys on a field trip each week, something other than the pool. And along with a field trip take on a Bible verse and theme for the week. Perhaps a lofty aspiration. Perhaps we'll miss a week. That's why there's grace.

After today's sweltering visit to the zoo, I made note to self: Plan field trips in the AC.

We had a blast, but seriously people, it feels like a sauna out there. The heat gave us opportunity to practice a thankful heart and trooper attitude.

We visited the Dallas Zoo's new edition, Wilds of Africa. Very impressive. Loved the African music, the habitats, and animals. Made me want to go to Africa. Remembered that it's probably hot there too, with less AC. Left practicing a thankful heart for AC, water, and little boys.

Luke asked if we could visit the zoo again on his birthday. Uh...July 23rd? No. I told him we'd visit again on Mommy's birthday. October.

Favorites of the zoo:

My dates, Luke and Zach.
Pink lemonade we spent $2.50 on but was well worth it.
Giraffes--they were so close!
The Exploratory Room in the Kid's Zoo--the boys touched a Bearded Dragon and it had AC.
The African music.
The Elephants--could not get over how big their ears are.
The Cheethas--beautiful markings. God's paint.
And the Bug room because the boys loved it and wanted to visit it twice.

As I said I want to focus each week on a different Bible verse theme. This past Sunday at church the boys heard the story of a boy sharing his 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish with Jesus, who then fed 5,000 people with it (See Matthew 14:13-21 * Mark 6:30-44 * Luke 9:10-17 * John 6:1-15). We decided to focus on the sharing aspect of this story. The little boy shared and God multiplied. A Bible verse for the week:

Be willing to share.

1 Timothy 6:18

We have room to grow with sharing. So this week we'll circle back to the above story and 1 Timothy, praying it into our hearts, role playing, maybe a craft, and finding ways to live it out. Maybe a friend or neighbor will receive cookies from the B4 kitchen.

As I meditated on Matthew 14 today, my eyes opened to many other ways sharing came up in addition to the boy sharing his food...

Jesus shared compassion

Jesus shared authority with the disciples

Jesus shared thanksgiving

God shared a miracle

God shared provision

The people shared a meal

God shared His glory

Praying the LORD gives me insight and application. Praying the boys know God's heart for sharing and generosity even more. Praying for next week's field trip location. AC please.

P.S. As I finish this post, I am convicted that I need to share my time with the boys. Getting off the computer.

Anticipation

2010-06-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

Luke and Mommy dressed for the wedding.

Trying to get Zach to smile for the camera.

Looking as their first customers approach.

Ready to sell lemonade!

The B4 family had two greatly anticipated events this weekend: the boys first lemonade stand and Mr. T and Charme's wedding. We told the boys they could have a lemonade stand this weekend, so for the past week they have talked about it, made a poster, and even collected some yard sale items. They both have their eyes on new Lego kits, so they worked the lemonade stand and yard sale for Lego money. They were eager entrepreneurs.

After their first sale, Luke said with a big smile, "They were good customers!" Total sales, $22. Appreciate the teachable moments we had. We discussed how they would give the money back to God, and they chose Haiti. We shared that God loves a cheerful giver. And Kirk explained money, how to give change back, how many quarters are in a dollar, etc. A good first start.

Our other highly anticipated event this weekend was the wedding of our dear friend Robert Thongsavahn to our dear new friend Charme. Robert is an honorary uncle in our family, and the boys could not wait to attend his and Charme's wedding. Daddy was a best man, and they had all kinds of questions this week about marriage, weddings, and honeymoons. Yes, honeymoons. Yikes! :)

Luke said, "I want to go to a honeymoon. To see what it's like!" Zach asked, "What do they do on a honeymoon, Mommy?"

So many questions. So little time. J/k. I loved it. Didn't answer more than they asked.

This past week they also asked a question or two about making babies. Luke can't wait for Mr. T and Charme to have children, so they "can play with them."

Zach referring to baby making asked, "Do you have to do it in the bathroom?" And Luke "Do you have to take your pants off?"

Oh boy. What's funny is that at the same moment I was having this conversation with the boys, Kirk was having a man to man talk about marital intimacy with the groom to be.

So yes, our boys know how God makes babies.

What I realized this year when Luke began Kindergarten is that he was coming home with tid bits of information from friends with older siblings. We wanted to avoid him coming home with tid bits about intimacy before we had had the first opportunity to educate him.

So in the Fall of this past year, we had that talk with the boys. We stuck to simple mechanics and the heart of God for marriage and purity. The boys asked innocent, good questions, and it was a comfortable, sweet conversation. No shame. No embarrassment. I even drew a diagram. And we showed them a photo slideshow on WebMD of a baby growing in the uterus. They were fascinated, especially with the sperm penetrating the egg.

Back to the wedding. The boys had a great time dancing at Mr. T and Charme's wedding. They loved seeing their Daddy stand on stage as a best man. They also loved wedding cake. As we left the reception, Luke said, he loved the wedding "because of all the dancing". Zach said, "Mommy when I get married I'm going to make Daddy a groomsmen and tell my wife to make you a bridesmaid." Cuteness.

By the way, it's a shame I don't have a picture of my husband from the wedding. He was smokin' HOT in the tuxedo. More in love with that man than I was almost 9 years ago. So glad we made babies together. ;)

Father, may we protect their purity and innocence. Help us teach them that purity is a blessing, that marriage is to be honored by all and the bed kept pure. Lead us in shaping them into the men You intend them to be. Thank you for their precious hearts and questions. For the joy they had this week in anticipation. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, having great anticipation not only for the good things on earth, like lemonade stands and weddings, but also for eternal life with you. The Day when all things are made new. In Jesus Name. Amen.

In Love

2010-05-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

In love with my boys. No doubt about it. Their hearts? Gentle. Vulnerable and Innocent. Cute and endearing. Their minds? Curious. Inquisitive. Fascinated. Their bodies? On the go. Out of control. And growing like weeds.

These two cuties provided Mommy with some funny, sweet moments. They are quoteworthy. Lest I forget I am blogging.

Luke

On Friday Luke learned that Daddy would be gone most of Saturday. Daddy is the best man in a close friend's wedding, Mr. T, who also is the boys' honorary uncle. Well as much as they love Mr. T, they love their Daddy even more. And when Luke heard Daddy would be away all day Saturday, he said, "Why did Mr. T invite him? Doesn't he know that we have kids? Saturays are for families!" And then he burst into tears. Sweetness. Loves his Daddy. Gets it that weekends hold special family time. His words and heart made me laugh but also cling to the sweet, innocence also.

Zach

Last night as we put the boys to bed, I cuddled up to Zach. He grabs my neck in the dark, and sings in a silly voice (very high): "Iiiiiiii loooooove yooouuuu! And I am never gonnnnna let gooooo. Youuuu are the best from the east to the west. Uh-huh, oh yeah. Uh-huh, oh yeah." When I giggled at his "Uh-huh oh yeah" he did it more. A ham at home. Loves making us laugh and really wouldn't let go. I had to tickle his tickle spot to release the neck hold.

*Sigh* In love. Even better that both boys look like their Daddy. He's stinkin' cute, so I get to hang out with mini-Kirk's all day. In love with him too. Glad he made me his wife. xoxo

The boys went frog hunting with Daddy. And came home with a turtle.

Celebrating Luke's last day of Kindergarten with Ice Cream Sundaes!

Zach wanted to show everyone how I slave over the stove. :)

Luke with his class. End of the year party.

Quoteworthy...

2010-05-26T05:56:00.000-07:00

The boys are full of fun words, thoughts, and smiles. They love to make us laugh, and I need to write a few things down, so I don't forget.

Tuesday

Driving home from Luke's next to last day of Kindergarten, he talked about his day at school. He explained they had more than Morning Center and Afternoon Center. He seemed excited that they had three centers at school and tries to find a name for the third center, saying "uh...umm..." until he says, "It was Night Center". Cuteness with a capital "C". I laughed, and he seemed pleased but also a little embarrassed.

Later we all looked through his Kindergarten work as a family. We asked him if he was happy and/or sad about it being almost over. He said, "A little happy. And a little sad." "I feel happy that I'm done with Explorers. And I feel a little sad that I am done because then I'll go to school every day and not be with you (Mommy) as much." Awwwww. Melt my heart with a capital "M".

After bath time last night the boys enjoyed making us laugh so much that my mouth hurt. Zach sang songs from preschool and danced. Luke did his "Egyptian" dance. And they enjoyed being "hams".

Zach cuddled up to me after bath and said (while gazing in my eyes with a big smile), "Mommy, when I grow up, I'm going to make a book and a movie about you, so that everyone will know you." Bliss with a capital "B".

And finally at bedtime Luke looks at us and asks, "Since Thursday is my last day of Explorers, can I stay up a little late?" Another cute with a capital "C".

Really, momminess can not get better than this. Laughter. Innocence. Blessed.

Wednesday

The boys asked me about a girl friend's pedicure. They wanted to know why she painted her toes. Zach asked, "Mommy, do you like to go to the spa and get your nails done?"

Mommy, "Ummm. Yes, but I only go maybe once or twice a year."

Luke asked, "Why? Do you not like being pretty?"

A time for everything...

2010-05-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

Luke's Explorer (Kindergarten) class memorized Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 this past month: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..."

And this weekend we had a time for "firsts". First, wedding for the boys. First, ties to wear. First, cave tour. My cousin married this weekend in Austin, so the boys attended their first wedding. And they received praises for being so well-behaved during the outdoor ceremony at LadyBird Johnson Outdoor Flower Garden. If you sat anywhere near us, you would have heard Zach's question, "When can we go home?" ten minutes into the ceremony. :)

Once the ceremony ended, we explored the garden as guests waited for the reception. We saw caterpillars, a water snake, turtles, and beautiful flowers. Very fun! Remarkable that the boys restrained themselves from pond jumping in their wedding attire. Zach put every caterpillar he could find on his arms and hands.

On our way home from the wedding, we visited Inner Space Caverns. Luke wants to be an archaeologist, so he was super excited to explore. He was a little disappointed that we couldn't climb on and touch everything in the cave. We suggested that when he turned thirteen years old, he could return to do the "Explorer tour", so that he could crawl in the restricted areas, celebrating he's a teenager. To which he replied near tears, "I'll forget by then!" Cuteness.

Before heading home, Kirk drove the boys by UT, showing off his alma mater. Luke said, "I'll probably go there for college." Kirk has talked football with the boys, expressing what position they'd play well. Luke has said before he wants to play football for UT. When he saw the large stadium, and we asked if he'd like to play there, he said, "No, I'm going to be an archaeologist. I think I'll just go watch the games."

Love my guys. Many thanks to the Lakey family for sharing your ties and belts with us. And congratulations to Liz and Martin, Mr. and Mrs. Mufich.

Zach and Luke super excited to wear ties!

The B4 family @ LadyBird Johnson Wildflower Garden, near turtle pond.

Boys throwing pennies in a pond. Love this pic.

In the cave!

Looking up at the limestone ceiling.

Cu-uuuu-ute!

2010-05-12T12:48:00.000-07:00

Can you tell we love our new dog, Coco? Just had to post this picture of Coco letting Zach-a-roo lay on him.

April Showers...

2010-05-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Zach proudly showed us his work from the year

Zach and Mommy in his room

Zach and his class in costume on stage--see him!

He even blew me kisses from the stage.

Some say that "April showers bring May flowers", and for me, May brings a few sniff, sniffs...and some celebration! May, the ending of preschool for Zach, the ending of Kindergarten for Luke. Both wonderful joys and exciting milestones but both events that bring a teary eye to this Mommy who often says, "Don't grow up."

Zach had his last ever preschool program last night, and his last day ever of preschool is this Thursday. My baby is on his way to Kindergarten. Where did the time go? And my firstborn is going to be a first grader? I like. I don't like. I love watching them grow. I want them to be babies again in my arms.

So get ready boys...this summer your Momma is spoiling you. We are creating memories!

I love you...

I love these smiles!

2010-05-07T11:10:00.001-07:00

"Ice Cream Sundae"

Usually, when I take pictures, I get stiff, camera smiles from the boys. Today, a few key words resulted in genuine, cute smiles--the smiles I know and love. Note "key words" that created such marvelous smiles.

"Legos!"

On this one, I said two of Luke's favorite GIRL--friends' names. That got a real smile!

And again, I said a few of his buddies names...and a few girls' names from school and got the real Luke smile.

We Heart Mud!

2010-05-05T14:29:00.000-07:00

Mud Buddies, left to right: Zach-a-roo, CoCo, and Luker-poo

This is what happens when Mommy is finishing a chore inside and tells the boys outside, with their new dog, on a 90 degree day in May, "Sure, you can turn the water hose on for a few minutes."

Mud, mud, mud--and beaming faces! And so for all that fun that Mommy "let" them have, they "let" me hose them down outside, butt naked, shreaking from the cold water, almost holding them down to get the mud off as they laughed from the cold water. Tit for tat? Good times for the boys, good times for Mommy! Loved returning their muddy mess with a fun, cold shower outside.

And Coco...well, he took his cold shower outside, "like a man". No running away. No shreaking. Just took it. Good dog.

Love being your Mommy, Luke and Zach.

xoxoxo

Boys, Barking, and Bonding

2010-05-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Mommy, now you have three kids! And now we have 4 boys and 1 girl!", Luke said.

Well, not exactly, but I'll go with it.

Boys want dogs. OUR boys wanted a dog. And a dog we found. Coco, a Beagle/Pug mix. Some call them "puggles". And he's cute, sweet, energetic and has super senses. He's playful one minute, but if he smells a squirrel, then he's done--all FOCUS. His nose twitches, and he ignores us. And he barks, alot.

This reminds me of Luke. If Luke sees a butterfly, lizard, frog or other creature, he is focused. Nothing can distract him. He's on a mission to catch it.

I took Luke and Coco to the lake for a walk this week. Zach-a-roo was at preschool, so it was Mommy Luke Day. When Coco saw the ducks, he went nuts--total focus--totally ignoring any command I gave. Well, Luke demonstrated the same tunnel vision. He was on a mission: to catch a frog. And as soon as he an amphibian leap, the boy leapt--right into White Rock Lake. Thankfully, it was a few feet deep. I could barely get him out of the water for pure determination to get that frog. Which had disappeared. But you couldn't convince Luke it was over. I felt like had two beagles on a walk.

And Zach has craved a dog. He's shed a few tears in our attempts to find the right one. He loves anything cuddly and loooooves Coco. He wants to feed him, walk him, and hug him. He wants to give him a middle name. And he's asked a million times about a dog tag.

So both boys are bonding as brothers over their new dog. What a precious time. Love it. Love seeing my boys enjoy each other. Nothing better than brothers playing together and content with each other's presence. Even better to see them enjoy their first canine companion.

Mommy and Daddy love Coco too. He is a stinker, I admit. We're training him not to get on furniture, but he's sneaky and tries his best. If he does something naughty, and we tell him no, he quickly turns over on his back to look extra cute as if he's saying "scratch my tummy". We think it's hysterical. He's also taken to Kirk's UT chair outside, and we frequently see him napping or scoping the yard from the chair. :)

Having fun and loving my boys--and balancing boys with barking.

Happy Birthday, Bun Bun!

2010-04-29T14:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my sweet Mom, our Bunny! Your faithfulness and presence in my life taught me to remain steadfast and endure. I am so thankful for you, the one who received many tearful phone calls at all hours, nursed me through many boo-boos and surgeries, watched me flip flop over and over, let me climb trees and play in the mud, encouraged me to try different things, provided me with a moral foundation, and patiently encouraged me as I waited and wondered about Kirk--and then screamed with silliness and excitement when we became engaged. You never lack for drama, optimism, and flair. When we called to ask if you liked the name "Bunny" as a grandmother name, you immediately made one of your special "ooooo, yes!" sounds.

I love your smile. I love your ability to wear red lipstick and pearls with anything. I love that you won't choose which restraunt to go to. :) I love that you use your hands alot when you talk. I love that you use much animation when telling "Jim and Jack" stories to the boys, so much, that they eagerly ask for Bunny to come over and tell a story. I love that you can make a house cozy. I love that you fill your home with books and magazines, every where. I love that you are thoughtful, kind, friendly, and courteous. I love that you adore my family. I love that you pursue your passion of teaching, wanting children to learn and express themselves. I love that you are prayerful. I love that you sang hymns over me as a child at bed time. I love that you gave me my name: Jessica Claire, after my dear grandfather and your sweet grandmother. I love that you think almost anything I tell you about my boys is cute and funny and darling. You enjoy them with delight--a blessing to my heart.

Most of all, I love you. Giving thanks to the LORD for making you, wonderfully and fearfully made, a workmanship of His.

xoxoxo

A Closed Door

2010-04-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

With peace God has shown us a closed door in our hope to adopt Jacquie and Sophie. We experience sadness for their sweet hearts and pray on their behalf that He is their Protector, Provider, and Father. And while God can always bring this opportunity back around, we experience peace in His letting us "see" a closed door. As we process this closed door and remember those little girls, we rehearse truth:

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Psalm 115:3

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

God places the lonely in families...Psalm 68:6

And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Slug Slime and Spit

2010-04-27T15:58:00.000-07:00

Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Would you believe that the desires of my heart include slug slime and boy spit? This week despite being feverish and sick-o. And despite a season of "waiting" on several issues in life and having uncertainty, God has given me much delight in watching my boys be ALL boy.

A few things that have made me laugh and smile this week:

1. A neighbor showed Luke a fish he caught, and Luke took great delight in smooshing the fishies eyeballs out. Gross. But good boy fun. And Luke loved it. Must emphasize kindness to creatures, but it was just Luke being boy.

2. The boys finding about 10 slimy, oozy slugs and getting covered in the ooze. The slugs were so stretchy they oozed down the boys arms. When the boys pet our neighbors' Golden Retrievers, we discovered that slug slime and dog hair don't mix.

3. Watching my boys take off on their bikes to the compost pile down our alley. They love to explore, and what is a compost pile near a dumpster to some, is treasure to them.

4. Watching the boys find wood ants and drown them in spit, trying to stick them together. They realllllly enjoyed this activity. The more spit the better.

5. Tree climbin' of course. Can't have a boy without some good ol' tree climbing.

6. Zach had a few cases of road rash from ridin' bikes. I loved giving him TLC, hearing the words "Mommy" often.

7. Seeing Luke giggle when he discovered that if he stuck his feet under our fence into our neighbors yard, the dogs would lick his toes.

8. Luke playing "tennis" with a June bug. Poor June bug.

9. The boys' brother language between one another, buddies, laughing with a little naughty tone and enjoying each other: punches, body slams, and kisses.

Zach wanting down from the tree.

Compost pile, wood ants, and drowning them in spit.

Luke waiting for the dogs to lick his toes.

Bargenquest Boys Blowin' Bubbles

2010-04-23T17:06:00.001-07:00

Luke likes his triple bubble.

Zach has a cute mouth when he blows bubbles.

Zach looking through his multi bubble.

Love this Luke look.

Zach, smiles & bubbles

Just do it!

2010-04-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

Just do it! Nope, not a Nike commercial. It's God's Word. It exhorts us to do more than just hear it, but to live it out. Apply it. One of my favorite things about motherhood is that God challenges me daily to apply His Word: I have two little eyes watching, two little hearts to shepherd. Not only do I have to ask how I might apply His Word to my heart, attitude, and circumstances, but how I might also show Luke and Zach how to apply God's Word. Yes, we can apply God's Word with kid life: Legos, Lunchables, and Lizards are the common ones in our home. :)

So today one B4 boy has been quick to anger. The first time he was instructed to sit in the thinking spot. Then we processed that God wants us to be quick to listen and slow to anger. James 1:19. We prayed for forgiveness and for Him to work in us, and then we rehearsed the right choices. He chose to show kindness by hugging his brother and asking for forgiveness.

The second time my precious B4 boy was quick to anger. He went to the thinking spot with his Bible, and then we added sentence writing. He had to write "I will be slow to anger"--the heart of this was not punitive or as a consequence but to practice right thinking. After he wrote the sentences, we talked about practicing God's Word in our mind. Thinking God's Word will give us a heart that is slow to anger. So to further apply, my B4 boy asked for forgiveness again and showed kindness to his brother by saying "I love you." Other ways that we apply God's Word in our home that the boys LOVE: acting out Bible stories, singing scripture songs, memorizing Bible verses and being rewarded with $ or a sweet treat, and drawing pictures of a Bible verse.

Motherhood...love it, challenged by it, want it, need help with it. LORD, Jesus I need You.

Well, I (we've) had our own application of God's Word. As we've prayed about our ongoing, roller coaster adoption opportunity, the LORD has given us Psalm 37:7: Be still in the presence of the LORD and wait patiently for Him to act. We sought counsel, we prayed more, we meditated on this scripture. And the LORD graciously provided application. And while I can't share all of the details, I will share that our application involves pulling back some, prayerfully setting God directed boundaries, holding this adoption opportunity very loosely in our hands. And as we followed Him in this direction, a great burden lifted. I who struggle often to do, act, motivate, coordinate, help, and manipulate, stepped back to let my God act. And act He will, in goodness, grace, and love.

On a lighter note, we are also trying out dog life. The boys want one. We had an overnight guest this week from the shelter. We're meeting another dog tomorrow. We don't know when or if we'll be a dog family, but it's fun to see the boys long for a canine companion. Almost every boy needs a dog!

My two precious boys, blowing bubbles.

Just do it! God's Word is relevant to every part of our life. His Word gives life and changes life.

Don't want to forget this...

2010-04-15T19:31:00.000-07:00

Sweet & funny moments need to be remembered. Blog time!

The boys have been sick this week--a fever virus. So we have watched a dozen Veggie Tale movies, a few other movies, laid around alot, and enjoyed Slurpees.

As we three cuddled, Zach says, "Mommy, I want you to live as long as Great Grandmother Elma (soon to be 91 yo) and Mr. Backus (our late neighbor who lived until 95 yo)."

Luke laughs and says, "Then you'd have to wear adult diapers." Too funny. :)

And Zach says, "Mommy, I want you to live to 100. I want to see you a lot."

Love how they expressed their need for me by hoping I'd be around a long, long, long, long time. :)

Love those boys but don't really hope to wear adult diapers.

Note to Self

2010-04-13T16:49:00.001-07:00

Testing Garden

Luke A and Luke B (Luke B making a pouty face on purpose. Wish he'd smile for the camera!) And then my camera battery died, and that's all I got. Two pics.

So...note to self...ALWAYS volunteer to help with the Arboretum Field Trip! I helped Luke's class today, and it was gorgeous. The LORD has a fabulous color palette! Luke's class looked through different colored plastics to see the flowers through the eyes of a fly, butterfly, bee, etc. They also used magnifying glass to examine flowers in the "testing" garden. They found many lady bugs to their delight! And finally, they did the Arboretum Scavenger Hunt: finding Native Texas animals that were statues in the garden. Finished off with a picnic and games of tag. And grass stains. And very tired feet from all that walking.

So glad I went! Luke was glad I went also, and I loved watching him and his guy friends wrestle and even hold hands. The love of 6 year old boys.

And it gets better. Upon returning home, sweet lil' Zach-a-roo missed his Mommy, so much that I got major cuddles. He had fun with his sweet grandmother GG while I was gone, but he saved up extra xoxox for me when I returned home. Loved it.

P.S. Additional note to self: ALWAYS charge camera battery before a trip to the Arboretum with a bunch of cute, precious children. :)

I am no Elastic Girl

2010-04-13T14:19:00.000-07:00

We met with the birth mom this past weekend. She invited us. Before going, we prayed, sought counsel, and went with eager, happy hearts--but holding any hopes with open hands. This adoption opportunity we've encountered has been nothing like I imagined, and yet I am captivated by a love for two little girls I've never met. I've only seen their pictures and heard in great detail about their little personalities.

I went from being an all BOY MOM with no thoughts of girls, to a thought about a little Hispanic girl named Sophia (where did that come from I asked?), to the LORD bringing two little Hispanic girls into our life named Sophia and Jacqueline.

So after a roller coaster ride of the adoption being "a GO" and then "CLOSED" and then "open or maybe cracked", we are in the still open and cracked season but also a "hold your hands very openly" season. We are in this. Fully abandoned to the LORD, ready to love and experience disappointment...again.Walking this journey as servants. His to use. We don't know how the story will end. And boy do I have days where I WANT the answer NOW! Other days, I am just "peachy" with the wait. Patiently Peachy.

After the birth mom inviting us again to talk more about a possible adoption, we had to open our hearts again to the idea and hope that Sophie and Jacquie would be ours, while also going with a specific motive: to be used by Him in love, regardless of the outcome.

Today? I am feeling the flesh want an answer, and His spirit calling me to wait and trust. Not wait and trust on Him making the answer "YES" to the adoption, but just to wait and trust in Him.

I found a definition on waiting:

"being and remaining ready and available for use"

This is a THEME in my life right now, waiting. The LORD has graciously, provided Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust the LORD with all your heart. Proverbs 21:30 No human wisdom, understanding, or plan can stand against the LORD. And Psalm 37:7 Be still an wait patiently for Him to act.

Being S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D!!!!!!!!!!! And I am no Elastic Girl.

However, He concludes this chapter of life, I know it has a good ending, resulting in love, glory, and His wonderful works.

Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Psalm 107:31