The Voice Of Adventure

Grocery Plan

2012-01-04T16:14:00.001-06:00

- After researching and making a spreadsheet for a good portion of the day I think we are getting close to done! What we did was compared what we think we usually spend at the grocery store to the Sam's Club prices and to the Amazon prices. There were items that were far cheaper on Amazon. There were a lot that were within a dollar difference between Amazon and Sams Club in which case we defaulted to Amazon cause I'm a fan of instant delivery! There are a small handful of items we will shop for at the grocery store... Like grass fed beef... Since neither Amazon or Sams carry it for a reasonable amount. Here's what it comes down to... A whole lot will come from Amazon and be on subscription and delivery. Most of the rest I can order and pay for online at Sams Club then all I do is pick it up! Then I just have to run into the store for about 10-15 small items a week I think. So WAY simpler.... Oh and we are getting stuff I would previously skip getting cause it was too expensive AND it looks like we will still be saving a good chunk of change! We will post what items we decided to buy at which stores on my blog. Of course SO much is personal preference. If you have 4 kids, like mostly organic, antibiotic free, healthyISH but compromise if it's too expensive... Then the list might really help you. It may at least give you a place to start. This is all highly experimental and requires the ability to bulk buy certain items but if our numbers are correct I think we are about to start saving some major cash AND almost or more exciting saving tons of time and stress. Here's hoping! I'll keep you updated. I'll tell you when the blog post is up. Happy new year to you!! Isn't our day exciting??? We are party animals!

Last week I posted on Facebook about our attempt to simplify grocery shopping and save money. Here is what we discovered if anyone is interested. :-) Remember... no tax on Amazon and free shipping with Prime. At Sam's Club you can shop on line and they will pull it for you. Then you just pick up. Hope this is a blessing to some of you. Angel

Do we have room?

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000-06:00

“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!”

Neal A. Maxwell

Last week Eagle's Nest Children's Home (where my dear friend Amy Block serves) was asked to take five new children to care for. These precious babies are siblings- ages 1-9- and were found alone.. surviving by eating dirt.

The problem is that technically Eagle's Nest is completely maxed out. We are talking 3 bedrooms and 32 kids people.

I guess the sensible answer may have been... "We just don't have room." No one could have blamed them right??? I mean they are BARELY making it as it is over there... No adoptions are going on and little money coming in. As soon as Amy told me about these little ones my mind immediately remembered someone else who found no room.

I know that's where their minds went too because they moved beds around... made it work... squished and shared. They made room...

Oh to make ROOM for HIM!

It's not about how we celebrate or don't celebrate His birthday. It's not about our traditions or how much we spend. It's about OUR HEART!! It's about OUR HEART... OUR HEART! DO I MAKE ROOM??? Would we have made room for Mary and Joseph that night? What if things were crazy and our lives were full and they were strangers?

We can't truly know what we would have done.. or can we? The truth is we can know each and every day what we would have done... What do we choose each day?

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Mathew 25:35-40

Here again is our opportunity. Everyday we make the choice of whether we make room. Different seasons of our lives can make this look different. Through the seasons God has asked me, "Will you make room in your heart? Will you make room in your home? Will you make room on your calendar? Will you make room in your wallet? Will you make room in your family?" In various seasons different people have needed that "room" for a night or an hour or a lifetime. Each time deep in my soul I know I am making room for Him and I pray I don't miss an opportunity to see my savior. As Mother Teresa once wisely observed

"They are Jesus. Everyone is Jesus in a distressing disguise."

Eagle's Nest has continued to say, "We will make room."

Eagle's Nest has received the amazing news that a donor will match up to $10,000 to help them continue to make room!!! Let's do this thing! Let's make some room!!!

If God is prompting your heart to "make room" for these little ones will you please go HERE to make a donation to help? Would you please share the need so that others can help "make room?"

2011-12-14T18:08:00.000-06:00

Several weeks ago I went back and read the archives of my first blog started in 2005. That blog was written during a time I was being stretched so far beyond what I had ever imagined. As I read I realized so many of you may relate or even be facing that journey now. Maybe it's in adoption or maybe a totally different set of circumstances is stretching you into more than you ever wanted to be... I am going to dig through and post some of my favorites and hope they can minister to someone's heart inside the painful journey.

This post was written on our first visit to see Zoe who went by Mirna at the time. We had been waiting a couple of months since accepting her referral and I still had a very false hope that she would be home QUICKLY and that SOMEHOW I had some element of control in this. Ha.... silly girl.

Hugs, Angel

December 30, 2005

If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat...

Matthew 8

23Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.

Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

Mathew 14

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed....

This trip has been perfect with all it's ups and downs. I truly feel God's presence in our journey. At the same time my heart is aching. I feel as if it wants to jump out of my chest and stay here with her. I am torn in two and as I write this entry my tears keep flowing.

I have faced deep pain with my Kaitlyn. I have faced her as a newborn in the NICU and a 9 month old in major skull surgery. This is infinately more painful for me. I could hold Kailtyn as she went through these things. I could sing to her, tell her I would always be there. That's what mommies do right? Make it better.

Next week my precious Mirna will say goodbye to her birth mommy, maybe for the last time. Everyday she is faced with the intense grief and loss. I can't be here to hold her through it. I can't whisper to her every single day 100 times, "I love you, you're safe now, no more danger, I'm here now." How do I leave her???

The only way I can do it and not lose my mind is faith. Faith much bigger than I've ever had before. Most of us who are of the Christian faith say we believe that God is in control. We say we believe that He is who watches over our children. Yet we don't usually have to heavily test that theory until they are teenagers and pulling away themselves. Even then it's a slow process. There is still the illusion of control in some respects.

So here I am in Guatemala giving up my illusions. I'm about to get on a plane and leave a little girl I have fallen in love with. A little girl who is starting to trust me. I have to tell her," I don't know when we get to bring you home sweet Mirna. I pray every single day it is soon. I will come visit you again as soon as I can. " I can only do that by looking at God's faithfulness.

I feel God whispering to me, "Trust me Angel. Get out of the boat. I know it's stormy but don't look at the waves. Look at me. You can walk on this water."

I feel like yelling back, "God YOU CAN STOP THIS STORM! Make it stop please!! Please just let her come home with me. I want to walk on water I just don't want it to be so scary."

God says to me, "The storm is what makes people get out of the boat. It's why you look to me and cry out for help. It's why you'll take my hand and look into my eyes and TRUST ME!! Do you trust me Angel? Either I'm in control of this storm or I'm not. It's time to decide whether you will look to the waves or look at Me."

As I am pondering what God is asking me to do I remember a lesson He taught me during Kailtlyn's surgery. It was the most heartwrenching moment I had faced up until that moment. I thought to myself, "How can I hand her over to this doctor and let him hurt her? She won't understand... She'll wonder why I'm letting it happen. Even as the thought entered my mind I knew the answer. I would do ANYTHING to make her better, even if it hurt her. My deep love for Kaitlyn forced me to allow her pain so that she could be better.

This is what God does for you and me. He allows us pain and we wonder WHY would He do this if He loves us the way He says He does. He allows us surgery in a spiritual sense. I know He cries as we cry. He holds us and whispers in our ear a hundred times, "I love you, I'm here, don't worry I'm holding you. There's no more danger. I just want you to get better and stronger. Just TRUST ME..."

I will get out of this boat. I will look to God today and not the waves. I will have to do it every single day. I will trust that God is there holding my hand and more importantly holding my little girl. I will know in my heart that this storm around me is there to help me grow. To save a little girl in Guatemala. GOD WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SAVE HER. Even if that means pain.

Looking back on many of my difficult moments in life I know that they were the biggest leaps of faith I had made at that time. I feel as if I'm in training. When I was younger the water was pretty calm and God said, "TRUST ME." Over the years the waves keep getting bigger and bigger. Yet I'm still supposed to get out and walk. To sleep through the storm. As we pass through these storms and word spreads God recieves the glory and many are healed....

34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Psalm 68

4 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.

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

God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Thank you for letting me share my heart. I'll do more of an update tonight. She is doing just great!

Angel

A Wink And A Smile

2011-11-29T19:28:00.001-06:00

Do you ever have one of those moments you feel like God just winked at you and slapped you a high five??? Well, I just had one! For Christmas this year Kaiya pretty much requested "Stuff that's Chinese." Our little girl has a deep, natural passion for her birth country- more than any of our other children We wanted to honor her heart and find gifts that would fulfill that desire. I easily found everything we wanted to get her on line that I thought would make her feel connected to China.... Except one thing. I had in my head this certain dress I wanted her to have but just shrugged and let it go because I couldn't find it unless it cost an arm and a leg! :-) Then today I was sorting through a bunch of things I've needed to sort for months and found this dress I bought in China. My mom and I bought it when I picked Kaiya up in China. She was only 2 but we bought it 4 sizes larger because I thought maybe she might want one later and then totally forgot about it. I think it's her EXACT size now and it's EXACTLY what I was wishing for her. I think God gave us a nudge in that Guangzhou shop knowing that 3 1/2 years later a little girl would ONLY want "Stuff that's Chinese" for Christmas. I love that our Father cares. For her this is more than a present. For her this is CHINA. I'm thinking we will give it to her Christmas Eve to wear to church. I can hardly wait to see her precious little Chinese face. Shhhhhh DON'T TELL HER!!! Thanks for the high five God. You're very cool.

2011-11-29T12:59:00.001-06:00

This morning I feel like God is asking me to pause and take a look backward.. and then forward with him. He's been taking me through my journey over the years with Him. He led me to go back to my VERY FIRST blog post Sep of 2005. I haven't looked at it in years, or ever. Oh my word... I can't begin to tell you all the things I see in this post that in hindsight are nothing short of amazing. I may have to write about it. I have tears and a lump in my throat. Do you see it?? If you know me well some parts will stick out- we are adopting from Korea, faith is hard for me, my illusion of control. At the time it was just a young mommy sharing her heart. Who could have known this little blog would be a tool God used to change my life?? Who could have guessed it could have led to some of the best friends I have, to a not for profit being formed, to mission trips, sponsorships, conferences... to a whole new world far beyond what I knew was out there. I am so eternally grateful for the record I have of the journey. This blog post was at the beginning of everything changing. This blog post was in the easy, happy part. 2 months after this post I would feel like the earth was shaking under my feet and my whole view of life would begin to change forever with a little girl. Some of you walked the story with me. That's it. I'm blogging again. Here's the post...

http://www.thevoiceofadventure.blogspot.com/2007/08/zoes-adoption-journey-archives-faiths_02.html

My first Entry Ever
WELCOME TO OUR NEW BLOG

So I guess I'm joining this new generation of "bloggers". I know some of you techie type people know exactly why it is called blogging. Please fill me in! BLOGGING?? I have many reasons for wanting to start this blog.

One main reason is that Russ and I are adopting from Korea. I have been so blessed to see other blogs where people are sharing their experiences and pictures. It brings hope and clarity for me to read their rich experiences.

When we discovered Kaitlyn (our first baby) would have to have surgery for metopic craniosynostosis we scoured the Internet. The most helpful things we found were websites made by parents telling us about what we were about to face. We recorded Kaitlyn's surgery day by day on our family website. We have had many families e-mail tell us it helped them.

My prayer is that this blog will serve as

1. An encouragement to other families who are going through the adoption process
2. A tool for those considering adoption
3. An update for our friends who want to keep up with the process
4. A journal of this journey of faith we are embarking upon
5. Just a record of life in general to look back on

The reason I am naming this blog Faith's Journey is that I believe that is what adoption is. Generally this is what my life is. Believing in what we cannot see.

FAITH=Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence

Hmmmm sounds scary huh? Even irrational.... Or maybe it's the most reasonable thing we do as human beings. To believe in more than ourselves. To embrace the fact that we don't know or see everything. Why is faith so hard for me? I think it's because I have give up my illusion of control.

From what I can tell adoption is going to be such a lesson in Faith's Journey.

I'm not a saint..

2011-09-03T10:12:00.003-05:00

I get this "You are a very special person" response a lot in reference to my adoptions, homeschool, missions, whatever.. It's very sweet and I always take it as a compliment from that person as I know they meant it to be.

Then I get the other side that treat me like I'm a complete lunatic. That's probably closer to accurate.

Here's the thing though... I'm not a saint or a whacko. I'm just a slightly crazy mom who loves Jesus and my neighbor. I feel like the truth is we all sometimes want to make someone into a saint or whacko cause then we don't have to ever face the fear of doing the things they have chosen to do.

I get that... But it makes me sad.

I can see it... I mean first of all I don't think every person should adopt... Or homeschool...or whatever. I guess what makes me sad is how many people are terrified to even ask the question, "God, am I supposed to do that? Is this something you have for me? What is it you have for me that I am scared to see?"

When we won't EVEN ask the question we've already lost something so dear. When we run from what we may be called to do claiming someone else is "special" or "WAY over the edge" we damage our very souls. We just have no idea what we are giving up for ourselves when we offer others this absurd sainthood or assign them "holy insanity." We are PROTECTING ourselves from joy unspeakable and from a life changed into more than they could have imagined.

Yes, this life requires brokenness. Yes, the process is sometimes very uncomfortable- even painful. Yes.... But it's also more amazing than I can express. My broken, amazing joy has come through the vehicle of adoption and homeschool and missions... I can not guarantee that is the vehicle God has for you. What I can guarantee you is that God DOES have a vehicle to brokenness and joy for you. I don't live this life because I'm a saint or clinically insane. I live this life because I asked God the questions I was terrified to ask and then answered "Yes." I didn't answer "yes" calmly as you might imagine. Many, if not most times I answered "OK FINE!!!!" with my heart pounding like a drum in my ears. Many times my insides were kicking and screaming that this was crazy... That I would regret it....that maybe I really was clinically insane. Still all the time my heart knew the truth. This was my path to brokenness and joy. I could get on or miss it.

I'm not a saint or ready for the white coat and padded room. I'm just a person who loves Jesus and my neighbor. I say yes to things I'm scared to do.

You can do that too.

Hugs, Angel

Cycle 3 Resource Listings-Usborne,Story Of The World, Netflix

2011-08-17T02:21:00.001-05:00

These are extra resources to help our students learn more about

Cycle 3 of Classical Conversations.

These are my personal notes to help me supplement my homeschool teaching. I am happy to share these resources in hopes that it will give you some valuable resources. Please feel free to pass them along. I have not read or viewed many of the resources listed and encourage you to view them before presenting them to your children. I hope this list is a great blessing to you as you homeschool this year. :-) Angel

All History Timeline and Sentence pages will refer to the Usborne World History Encyclopedia.
All Science will be pages for the Usborne Science Encyclopedia.
Story Of The World pages come partly from volume 3 and partly from volume 4 this cycle.

Usborne Geography Encyclopedia pgs 162-163 USA info, 270-271 USA map- This is for all 24 weeks since we will be focusing on the USA this cycle

I have included 2 series of shows from Netflix Instant Downloads that we will watch each week as they closely tie for learning about American History.

These shows are listed as “America- The Story of Us” and “Liberty’s Kids.”

Episode Guide to America The Story Of Us http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us/episodes/

Episode Guide to Liberty’s Kids
http://www.tv.com/libertys-kids/show/6584/episode.html

At the end of the weekly list I have also included ADDITIONAL Amazon Instant Play and Netflix Instant play movies as well as movies that can be bought as dvds. By each movie I have listed the CC week or weeks covered. These are to be used as you see fit and you need to determine whether you find them appropriate for the age of child you are homeschooling.

SUPPLIES- If you wish to use all these resources you will need the following: Usborne World History Encyclopedia, Usborne Science Encyclopedia, Story Of The World volumes 3 and 4, Netflix Instant Play, Cycle 3 Classical Conversations materials

Optional supplies include: Usborne Geography Encyclopedia, Story of The World Volume 3 and 4 cds and activities books, Amazon Instant Play movies, purchased movies

Week 1

History Timeline pgs 114-117 Egypt,

History Sentence pgs 289, 296 Columbus

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 19

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 1

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 1-2

Week 2

History Timeline 124-127 and 131 Minoan Culture, 114-117 Egypt,

History Sentence pgs 322-323 Pilgrims

Science pg 346 Axial Skeleton

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 61-64

Netflix - America The Story Of Us- Episode 1

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 3-4

Week 3

History Timeline pg 132 Hammurabi, pgs 134- 139 More on Egypt in this time period,pg 142 12 tribes of Isreal

History Sentence pg 330 Boston Tea Party

Science pgs 348-349 Kinds of muscles

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 209-212

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 2

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 5-6
Episode 1- The Boston Tea Party- ties with history sentence

.

Week 4

Usborne World History Timeline pg 144-145 Phoenicians

Usborne World History Sentence pg 330 Declaration of Independence

Science pgs 364-365 The Nervous System

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 213-217

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 2

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 7-8
Episode 13- The 1st Fourth of July- ties with history sentence

Week 5

History Timeline pgs154-159 Greece, pgs 184-185 Rome

History Sentence pgs 330-331 Washington

Science pgs 368-375 The 5 Senses

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 223-226

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 3

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 9-10

Week 6

History Timeline pgs 160-161 Alexander the Great, pgs 186-187 More Rome

History Sentence pgs 350-351 Louisiana Purchase & Westward Expansion

Science pgs 354-355 Digestive System

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 278-281 & 297-302

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 3

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 11-12

Week 7

History Timeline pgs 188-191 Rome continued, 192 Birth & Ministry of Christ

Science pg 362 Excretory System

Story of The World Vol. 3; Pg. 309-313

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 4

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 13-14

Week 8

History Timeline pgs 192-193 Death of Christ & Persecution of Christians& Constantine, pgs 194-195 Rome burns and Constantine and Split of the Empire

Science pgs 350-351 Circulatory System

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 4

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 15-16

Week 9

History Timeline pgs 204-205 Barbarian Invasion, pgs 210-213, Vikings, pgs 202-203 Justinian the Great, pgs 206-207 Mohammed and Islam, pg 216 Charlemagne

Science pg 387 Lymphatic System

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 4

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 17-18

Week 10

History Timeline pg 217 Otto 1 Holy Roman Empire, pgs 220-221 The Fuedal System, pg 234 Cathedrals in Europe, pgs 240-241 The Crusades

Science pgs 358-359 The Respiratory System

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 19-20

Week 11

History Timeline pg 273 Marco Polo, pg 219 The Hundred Years War & Joan of Arc, pg 242 Black Death, pg 288 Prince Henry the Navigator, pg 253 Fall of Constantinople

History Sentence pgs 348-349 Lincoln and Civil War

Science pg 363 Endocrine System

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 49-53

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 5

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 21-22

Week 12

History Timeline pgs 284-287 The Renaissance, pg 289 Columbus, pgs 302-303 Martin Luther and the reformation,

History Sentence pgs 348-349 Robert E Lee End of Civil War

Science pgs 350-351 purposes of blood

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 51-53

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 6

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 23-24

Week 13

History Timeline pg 289 John Cabot

History Sentence 349 free slaves

Science pg 12 atomic number

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 53-56

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 6

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 25-26

Week 14

History Timeline pgs 322-323 Pilgrims & 13 colonies

History Sentence pgs 338-339 Industrial Age

Science pgs 24-27 Elements

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 173-177

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 7

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 27-28

Week 15

History Timeline pgs 330-331 America Declares its Independence

History Sentence pg 367 Roosevelt

Science pgs 10-11 Atoms

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 161-167

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 29-30

Week 16

History Timeline pgs 330-331 Washington & Lousiana Purchase

Science pgs 46-47 Hydrogen, pg 63 Helium

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 7

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 31-32

Week 17

History Timeline pgs 324-325 Slavery in the South, pgs 350 Westward Expansion, 350 Remember the Alamo

History Sentence pgs 358-359 WWI

Science pgs 50-53 Carbon, pg 64 Nitrogen, pg 62 Oxygen

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 216-221 & 227-231

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 8

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 33-34

Week 18

History Timeline pgs 348-349 War Between the States & Lincoln,

History Sentence pgs 368-373 WWII

Science pg 48 Flourine, pg 63 Neon, pg 39 Sodium, pg 38 Magnesium

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 305-309

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 9

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 35-36
Week 19

History Timeline

History Sentence pg 378 NATO

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 223-227

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 37-38

Week 20

History Timeline pgs 358-359 1st World War, pgs 366-367 Roaring 20s & Great Depression, pgs 368-373 World War 2, pgs 378-379 The Cold War, pgs 380-381 The Space Race

Science pgs 338-339 Theory of Evolution

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 402-408

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 10

Netflix- Liberty’s Kids- Episode 39-40

Week 21

History Sentence pgs380-381 Moon Landing

Science pg 179 Shapes of the Earth- Geological changes

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 385-389

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 11

Netflix- The Wonder of It All- Connects with History Sentence

Week 22

Science pg 179 Shapes of the Earth- Geological changes

Story of The World Vol. 4; Pg. 477

Netflix- America The Story Of Us- Episode 12

Week 23

Science pg 339 Natural Selection

Story of The World Vol.3; Pg. 219-223

Week 24

Story of The World Vol.3; Pg. 219-223

AMAZON INSTANT VIEW MOVIE IDEAS:

Brother Sun, Sister Moon-wk 10 The crusades and St Francis

Roots- about slavery (only to buy on instant play or on dvd)- wk 17

9/11 Commemorative Collection Season 1- wk 22 (history sentence)

AMAZON MOVIES ONLY ON DVD:

The Magic School Bus: Human Body- Science-anatomy

The Exodus Decoded (History Channel) (2006)- Moses and Exodus- timeline wk #4

Prince of Egypt - Moses and Exodus- timeline wk #4

Joseph: King of Dreams- Joseph and Egypt- timeline wks #2-3

Joan of Arc-wk 11

The Alamo (Widescreen Edition) (2004)- wk 17

NETFLIX INSTANT PLAY IDEAS:

For Science

National Geographic: Incredible Human Machine- Anatomy

National Geographic: Skin- Anatomy

How Does the Brain Work?: Nova scienceNOW- wk 4

Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed- intelligent design-wk 20

God of Wonders- wk 19

For History Sentences and History Timeline

America- The Story of Us- wks 1-20

Liberty’s Kids- wks 1-20

VeggieTales: Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Noah's
Umbrella- wk 1

Babylon: Past, Present and Future-wk 2 (Babel)

History's Mysteries: Sodom and Gomorrah-wk 2

Egypt: Engineering an Empire-wk 3

The Ten Commandments-wk 3 and 4

VeggieTales: Dave and the Giant Pickle-wk 5

Empires: Kingdom of David: The Saga of the Israelites-wk 5

The Tabernacle- wk 5 (Solomon’s reign-tour of temple)

National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: Alexander the Great-wk6

Greeks: Crucible of Civilization-3 episodes- wk 5-6

The Miracle Maker: The Story of Jesus-wk 7

Pompeii: The Last Day- wk 8

National Geographic: Secrets of Jerusalem's Holiest Sites-wk 8 (Jerusalem)

The Case for Christ-wk 7 and 8

The Dark Ages-wk 8 and beyond

National Geographic: Inside Mecca- wk 9 (Islam)

John Wycliffe- wk 11

Marco Polo-wk 11

Empires: Martin Luther-wk 12

Here I Stand: Martin Luther-wk 12

American Experience: Robert E. Lee- wk 12 history sentence

National Geographic: Beyond the Movie: The New World: Nightmare in Jamestown-wk 13

In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials- wk 14

George Washington: American Revolutionary- wk 15

FDR: American Experience-wk 15 (history sentence)

The Revolution- wk 15 & 16

Ken Burns: The Civil War- wk 15 & 16

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman- wk 17 (slavery)

Secrets of the Dead: Slave Ship Mutiny-wk 17

American Experience: We Shall Remain-wk 17 (Trail of Tears and more episodes about the Native Americans)
The Best of the Real West- wk 17 (1 episode on the Alamo)

Texas-Wk 17 & 18 (Alamo and War with Mexico)

Modern Marvels: The Railroads That Tamed the West-wk 18

Wright Brothers' Flying Machine: Nova-wk 20

Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State- wk 20

Just Around the Corner- wk 20 (set in time of great depression)

WWII in HD-wk 20

The Panic Is On: The Great American Depression as Seen by the Common Man- wk 20

Vietnam: Homecoming-wk 20

Unforgettable: The Korean War-wk 20

NETFLIX INSTANT PLAY FOR PRESIDENTS

Reagan: American Experience

American Experience: Nixon

Jimmy Carter: American Experience

LBJ: American Experience

Truman: American Experience

The Person On The Side Of The Road..

2011-08-05T10:53:00.004-05:00

The Story of the Good Samaritan... We know it. We love it right? We've heard great sermons on it.

The whole year of 2010 God had this passage swimming in my mind... I learned more than I thought possible from this little section of scripture. Today I wanted to share the part of my journey through this parable that has most bent my mind, heart and soul...but first check out the parable one more time. :-)

Luke 10:25-37

The Message (MSG)

Defining "Neighbor"

25Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?"

26He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"

27He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."

28"Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."

29Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"

30-32Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

33-35"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.'

36"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"

37"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

I don't know about you but in my vision I'd always seen some sweet little character of a man walking by. This is a kind man, a quiet man, a generous man... SUDDENLY he is ATTACKED by no fault of his own.

This is how it always went in my head and I had strong opinions about it.

You've judged the dudes that passed by right???? Ok maybe it was just me. I judged them. I mean what kind of people see some poor dude dying on the side of the road and don't DO anything about it??? LOOOOOOSERS...

While I was busy being judgmental God whispered this...

What if the people that passed by him KNEW who he the guy on the side of the road was?

What if he was a drug dealer, a thief, a guy who hurt others...

What of he had robbed other innocent people himself and had finally gotten what he deserved?

What if this guy HAD IT COMING?

What if they KNEW who he was and he was dangerous?

What if he was a cruel person who had done horrible things?

What if he didn't care about anyone but himself?

What if he had hurt the innocent?

What if he had cheated on his wife?

What if he was judgmental and self righteous and persecuted the imperfect?

What if he was racist and violent?

What then.... was there a good reason those two left him on the side of the road?

Have we left someone on the side of the road for very good reasons?

I don't judge the two so harshly anymore. Now I wonder how many times I have been one of them. Maybe they were on their way to help the innocent. Maybe they were rescuing orphans or the homeless or preaching that day. Maybe they weighed it out and the good they were doing seemed more vital than helping that dangerous person on the side of the road.

It always seemed so clear cut... not anymore.

Helping the person on the side of the road isn't JUST helping that poor little innocent guy who doesn't belong there. It's just helping the guy on the side of the road... the end.. that is the command.

This has been a stretching, painful and exhausting journey for me. Learning to love my neighbor has been so much more challenging than I ever anticipated. I still don't know how to do it but I think I am learning.

It turns out there is such deep joy in loving the person on the side of the road. It turns out loving that person no matter why they are there brings freedom and allows me to throw judgement over the side of a cliff. It allows grace to flow in new ways I didn't know were possible.

It challenges me constantly and I truly had no idea how many people I had justified in leaving on the side suffering in their beaten state.

Sure, maybe it was their own mistakes or failures that had beaten them up. Yet, there they were in pain... spiritually bleeding and dying... and there I was prancing by to go do good. Man alive. How many times was I the person who passed by???

Loving the person on the side of the road. Sigh.. God help me do that well. May I finally be the one who "treated him kindly."

How I Survive Cooking :-)

2011-08-04T19:08:00.004-05:00

Who has time to sit down EVERY week and make a menu and shopping list??? Not me! I needed to do something easy, inexpensive and gluten free.

Yes, I know some of you super moms love cooking and make culinary delights most every night. Yeah, that's NOT me. It's a good week if we don't eat hot dogs most nights. So if your in my boat then this might be the blog post for you. We aren't aiming high here... we are aiming right above hot dogs. ;-)

I created a rotating weekly menu that includes a shopping list for that week plus some basics I buy weekly. This makes it so simple to have enough variety without buying too much and ending up with a big grocery bill. I plan for 4 meals a week. A couple times we do leftovers or whatever. Then there is usually eating out once or twice.

Each of the recipes is simple enough that Zoe (12 1/2) can make them on her own or with a bit of help from me. As we get comfortable with these we will slowly add more options. I just thought I would just post it for any momma peeps that might want to tweek it and make it their own. I have found it makes my life SO much easier.

Weekly Menu

WEEK 1

Sloppy Joes and green peas

Tacos and refried beans

Chicken sketti and salad

Chicken tortilla soup and corn

Ingredients to buy-

2pd ground beef

Rotisserie chicken

Sloppy Joe seasoning

Taco seasoning

Tomato paste

Tomato sauce

Taco shells

Lettuce chopped small bag

Small sour cream

Frozen peas

Frozen corn

Refried beans

Spaghetti noodles

Cheese

1 can Cream of mushroom

Chicken broth

Salsa

Salad

Tortilla chips

Lemon juice

Pimento peppers

Bell pepper

Onion

WEEK 2

Nachos and salad

Spaghetti and green beans

Meatloaf and peas

Beef stew

Ingredients to buy-

4pounds ground beef

Beef stew meat

Tortilla chips

Taco seasoning

Cheese

Refried beans

Lettuce chopped small bag

Frozen corn

Frozen peas

Salsa

Spaghetti noodles

Spaghetti sauce

Frozen green beans

Meatloaf seasoning

Carrots

Potatoes

Beef broth

Onion

Salad

WEEK 3

Tostados and peas

Eggs and sausage and oven baked potatoes

BBQ potatoes

Chicken and dumplings and salad

Ingredients to buy-

1pd ground beef

Rotisserie chicken

Prepared BBQ

Tostado shells

Taco seasoning

Refried beans

Frozen corn

Frozen peas

Salsa

Lettuce- chopped small bag

Oven bake potatoes

Eggs

Sausage

Sour cream

Cheese

Potatoes

Pamelas pancake mix

Chicken broth

Salad

WEEK 4

Salad with chicken, walnuts and raisins- honey mustard

Chicken salad and salad

Chili

Cheese Quesidillas and refried beans and corn

Ingredients to buy-

2 rotisserie chickens

1 pd ground beef

Chili seasoning

Small bag walnuts

Raisins

Honey mustard dressing

Mayo

Sweet relish

Mustard

Salad

Kidney beans

black beans

Chili beans

Canned seasoned Tomatoes

Tomato paste

Can of corn

Mozzarella cheese

Sour cream

Corn tortillas

Refried beans

Frozen corn

WEEKLY

Cheese

Turkey

Tortillas

Beans

Cereal

Almond milk

Fruit

Peanut butter

Yogurt

Granola

Chips or granola bars

Eggs

Frozen vegetables

Protein bars

Cheapskate's Guide To Disney

2011-08-03T18:21:00.005-05:00

I used to have so many people ask us how in the world we could afford to do Disney so often. When I would tell them it was one of the cheapest family trips we could do I'd watch their jaws drop. SO about a year and a half ago I wrote this guide in hopes that my not rich Disney loving friends could get in on the Disney action... So many people have asked for me to send it to them and I realized there was SO MUCH more I could add about restaurants and rides and what to bring and where to go... SO I thought I would update it for my cheapskate Disney loving peeps. Enjoy!!

I guess it's no secret that we have a family passion for Disney. What may not be as known is that I am a total cheapskate and despise spending more money than necessary on a given experience. Let's say I want it all for half the price. ;0)

SO ANYWAY!!! I have had a lot of requests for info on how we do Disney so here goes...

We do Disney relaxed and inexpensive. It's the way we like to do things. If you are trying to do a quick 3 day trip and are only able/willing to go during school vacations this plan may not work for ya. However, I will add a section toward the end for short busy time trips to Disney for when all else fails!

TICKETS- Interesting fact about Disney park tickets.... 10 days for the park only cost a teeny bit more than 5 days at the park. It is MUCH more economical to go for a longer stay...not stay on site... and not have extra magic hours. Oh and a ten day pass can be used over the course of 14 days. At least that's how it's been in the past. So you can take rest days to just swim or head to a beach.

On another note- if you do get annual passes they are not for a season. They are for a year from the date of purchase. You get free park hopper included and free parking all year. You also get discounts around the park. Discounts vary but this last trip it was 10-20% off everything.

LENGTH OF STAY- We find staying a little longer and not going to the parks ALL day is much more fun for us. We may only go to the park for a few hours some days or take a day off. Russ usually can take one week off work so while the girls and I may stay longer- he will fly in on a Friday and fly out the following Sunday. That gives him 9 full days and 2 half days.

TIMING- At Disney timing is EVERYTHING!!! Going during Christmas vacation and summer vacation means a lot of your time is guaranteed to be spent in line. No thank you. I make sure we go during slower times of year when the parks are more enjoyable.

You can also determine which parks you should go to on which days. Check out this crowd calculator. It tells me how crowded the parks will be overall on certain days and even which park is the least crowded on any given day. In my testing it seems to be right on most days. I find it very handy.

For park hours and events I like this site http://www.wdwinfo.com/Wdwinfo/hours.htm

TRANSPORTATION- we travel by car.... well the girls and I do. Russ usually flies in to meet us so we don't have to use his vacation days on travel. Not only does this save a TON of money in airfare but we also don't have to rent a car or stay on Disney World site for transportation.

ACCOMMODATIONS/Pros and Cons of staying on site- I have tried staying on site at Disney and frankly I DON'T LIKE IT! The rooms that are a decent price(still pricey I think) are the size of a shoe box. If you want a spacious room be ready to pay and arm and a leg. No getting ANY breaks from the kiddos unless you pay for a suite or 2 rooms. Putting the kids to sleep before you and watching a movie with your honey....GOOD LUCK! While I still had fun staying on site I was more than ready to get to our townhome.

Not to mention then you are stuck eating on site which is NOT so cheap and I felt like crud not eating normally. Plus I just didn't like having to wait in line every time my kiddos wanted a drink or snack. I find it more convenient to grab it from the stroller or back pack. The economy rooms do not have a refrigerator or even a coffee maker so eating cheap or healthy is a challenge.

Many people are lured by the convenience factor to stay on site. If you stay in one of the more expensive hotels that is very close to the parks this may be true. It is not necessarily true for the economy hotels on site. I found waiting for a bus and then riding to the hotel/park took about as long as driving to the town home.

Extra magic hours also entice many to stay on site. I will say I can see the lure of this if you are staying a very short time or during a very busy time... If you are doing the trip off season then with a crowd calculator you will have plenty of time to do so much without wearing yourself down. During peak season extra magic hours are still VERY busy as they only keep the main attractions going.

We are big fans of renting a home off site. We rent off of http://www.vrbo.com/ and almost always stay in Kissimmee, Fl. It is very close to Disney and convenient to everything you could need.

Another big perk of going off season is the rates you get on rental homes. CHEAP! Last year I think our 4 bedroom home ran us about $600 a week with pool heat. Not 100%. 2 years ago we got a 4 bedroom at Encantada with a heated pool for $500 a week cause we booked so many weeks. Then we split the cost with family and friends who came with us. So total cost to us for a month of accommodations in a NICE house with a heated pool???? Less than $1000.00

FOOD- We generally just eat at the rental home. Disney parks allow you to bring in a small cooler type bag. We pack snacks and water and whatever. We keep ours in a stroller. They also have lockers available. A lot of times I have each girl carry a small little string back pack with a water and the snacks they want for the day. Then when we do end up waiting for something they just grab their snack.

The food on site is very good for theme park food. I just can't eat it all day. They even offer almost everything gluten free. We love that! So depending on how much money we have we will indulge in the occasional gluten free hamburger or wonderful margarita. Oh and the chocolate caramel corn is DIVINE!!!

SOUVENIRS AND GROCERIES- When we need to buy odds and ends we usually head to the Super Target. Super Target in Kissimmee has a huge section dedicated to Disney stuff that is MUCH cheaper. You can get the Disney pins, panchos, umbrellas, frames, spray fans etc.... Of course we do the occasional item in the park. We just make sure it's something we want of higher quality that we are willing to pay the money for. I just won't buy a lot of gadgets in the park.

The park items last forever and are very nice. You will find so many great options so take your time and shop.

I also recommend buying your groceries at Target or Walmart if you are on a budget. Publix can get PRICEY.

COSTUMES- I plan ahead and buy off of amazon.com WARNING the costumes in the park are GORGEOUS and well made and VERY EXPENSIVE! I'd rather bring hair glitter and dress up my own little princess or pirate and use the money for other things.

HOTEL- If we need a hotel for travel on the road or an extra day I usually book it on www.hotwire.com super cheap. I stick to 3 star and above and they have always been great.

TIPS TO KNOW-

* If this is your child's first trip to Disney or it's been awhile try to find documentaries on Disney. They often have them on the travel channels. Or you can order the free info dvd from Disney or watch things on line. Let your child watch it as much as they want. Explain to them that Disney is always fun and nothing there will hurt you. Look at the rides together and see what they are drawn to and what seems to concern them so you can explain it. Explain that at Disney people love to dress up like Halloween because it's fun but not scary at all. Disney is a lot to take in and a child who feels familiar with it will have more fun. Mom and Dad will also have more fun if their 3 year old doesn't scream every time someone walks up in a costume. ;-)

*if you have small or sensitive children start them small and work up... start with Magic Kingdom. Do the carousel then It's a Small World. Next try Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo and see how they are. If they still seem timid try The Jungle Cruise or Alladins Flying Carpets. Avoid the 4-d shows like Philhar and Haunted Mansion until you know they are warmed up and get that Disney is safe.

* for sensory sensitive children bring squishy ear plugs to help them with the noisy rides and fireworks. This will make it more fun and less scary for them. Also practice with them on how to cover or close their eyes if they get overwhelmed.

* a portable, easy camera and video device is easiest. Make sure you bring battery chargers and a big memory stick for the camera so you won't run out of space so quickly.

* carry a phone charger with you so you can park by a plug and recharge if you need to do that... or an extra battery works.

*If at all possible get your Disney apps loaded onto your smart phones. You can use these to check crowds and how long lines are while you are in the parks or on the go.

* single rider option is available on many popular roller coaster type rides like Expedition Everest, Rockin Roller Coaster, Test Track... no matter how long the ride is the single rider option usually only takes 5-10 minutes wait. This will make it easy for those preteens to ride the roller coasters 10 times in a row. :-)

*Make sure your kids and you always have

drawstring backpack

snacks

water bottle- the ones with a filter are extra handy at disney

small stick suntan lotion most of the year

sweatshirt for night anytime except summer

pancho for frequent and sudden Florida downpours

Ipods, Ipads, books or whatever for lines or break times

* You can get fast passes for some of the popular rides. This is a reservation for a time to ride that particular time without waiting in line. Just go to the ride you want... use your park ticket and use the machine to get one. They are free and run out so go as early as possible.

*See the parade once if ya want... the Magic Kingdom night time parade is awesome BUT... If you've seen the parade SKIP IT and head for the popular busy rides right when it's about to start. The lines CLEAR OUT while everyone watches the show so it's easier to get on the busy ones.

*Wear UBER comfortable shoes. I have literally fractured my foot from walking so much on the hot concrete at Disney in thin flip flops. It's lots of walking and I learned the hard way that good shoes are not optional. I buy very nice, squishy flip flops for all of us.

WHAT NOT TO MISS IN THE PARKS-

Well, this actually totally depends on the ages of your children. We have all ages so I'm just gonna list the absolute family favorites and you can go from there. FOR sure be sensitive to what rides might be scary for sensitive little ones. Of course we LOOOOOVE everything at Disney but there is SO MUCH. So when we are limited this is what we hit first.

Magic Kingdom- Pirates of the Carribean, Big Thunder Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World, Philhar Magic movie, Winne The Pooh ride, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan when the line is low

Hollywood Studios- Toy Story, Rockin Roller Coaster, Star Tours, Little Mermaid show, Clubhouse Disney show, drawing classes, American Idol experience, Beauty and the Beast show, Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground when it's not too hot (WARNING!!! Shows at Hollywood Studios end kinda early... like 5. So even if the park is open late there isn't that much to do with the little ones. Get there earlier for this park or you'll be bummed. I know this from experience. That being said... we love this park.)

Animal Kingdom- Dino Dig when it's not too hot, Nemo show, Expedition Everest, the safari ride, jungle treck to see the tigers, Lion King show, It's tough to be a bug

Epcot- Nemo ride, Turtle Talk with Crush, the big circle ride at the front... what's the name??, Club Cool to taste sodas around the world for free, Test Track, the boat ride in Mexico, the movie in China

BUDGETING- This last trip we tried something new for our spending. We went to cash budget for all of us. We decided how much we could afford per day for each child and I divided it into separate envelopes for each child for every day. For instance- Zoe-Monday, Zoe- Tuesday... The deal was that this money had to cover EVERYTHING above Disney tickets and food from the house. Each child had a back pack and could bring food if they wanted to save their money for other things. If they wanted food in the park, toys, a movie ticket or anything extra they had to use their money.

It worked BEAUTIFULLY!!! Their was no whining about who should get what. There was no guilt that I should get them ALL a Mickey Mouse ice cream if I wanted one. :-)

The best thing was that they didn't spend as much on silly things. They REALLY thought hard about what was important to them. Everyone walked away very happy about their purchases. One child spent was more on toys, one more on food and sweets, one on clothes.. and all of them were pleased. OH and they learned a great budgeting lesson to boot.

THE BUDDY SYSTEM- The other thing we tried this time we call the buddy system. We assigned each adult on the trip to a child for that day or half day. That adult was responsible for everything that child needed during that given time period. If an adult was needing time for something our oldest child was given a younger buddy to help.

The system worked BRILLIANTLY and we had our best trip ever. Every child was able to get special quality time with every adult. It also gave us the ability to focus in on the interests of the child we were with at the parks and split up then meet back together. It also made it so much lower stress for the adults feeling responsible for just one child.

Of course this will look different for each family and is entirely dependent upon how many adults, children and older children you have on the trip. It's a great consideration as you plan though! We love it so much we have taken to using it almost every time we go on a trip anywhere.

THE LAST RESORT- If you ABSOLUTELY must go during a school holiday here are some tips for making it more fun. We've done it and it can still be awesome. Some tricks of the trade help.

The week of Christmas is going to be the absolute busiest but it's cooler and has the amazing Christmas decorations! If you are going to do Christmas time make sure you look at the crowd calculator to always go to the slowest park and go during slower hours... like late at night.

Summer has times that are slower so take a good look at the crowd calculators and try to go then. Also work around the heat by taking naps and going late at night. The great thing about summer is usually at least Magic Kingdom is open late. So you can do one park right at opening- nap and rest all afternoon- then hit another park after dark.

If I was choosing to do a school holiday Disney vacation I would probably try to choose spring break. Spring breaks are staggered so not everyone is off at the same time which helps. The weather is also usually cooler during March/April though it can still be hot. Again, check out that crowd calculator and see what you can find out.

Also be extra sure to grab fast passes to your favorite rides as soon as you get in the park to avoid standing in lines for two hours. Watch the line times carefully on your Disney phone apps if possible. Talk to the family to decide which rides are really important and decide to just chill and enjoy the journey. :-)

PARKS AND MORE-

The Disney parks and more ticket option includes entry into Disney Quest and the water parks. I'll explain what they are and you decide if it's worth it to you for the money.

Water Parks-We have not done the water parks mostly because we have had weak swimmers with us every time we've gone or it's been cool and just not happening. I have heard they are amazing and we will probably go when the kids are older I just wouldn't try it with young children myself.

Disney Quest- It's like 5 floors of awesome arcade. You pay one price and play all you want for as long as you want and there are some VERY cool games and lots of old favorites. I don't even love arcades but I like this. That being said... I do NOT like it with young children. It's HUGE and can make a person with ADD dizzy. Put a 4 year old in there and you better be ready to just chase them from game to game. EXHAUSTING! With older kids you can separate and meet up with or just your honey... a blast.

CHARACTER DINNERS AND EATING EXPERIENCES-

There are so many amazing places to eat at Disney that I haven't nearly tried them all but I'll tell you some we have experienced. OH and for most of these it's never too soon to make a reservation. They book up.

Eating at Cinderella's castle- It's fun. It's pretty. It's expensive. It's only Cinderella characters. All my girls wanted to know was where were all the other princesses. OOPS! Which brings me to my next option...

King Akershus Princess Storybook Meal- http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/akershus/

It's in the Norway section of Epcot. It's not cheap but cheaper than the castle and depends on which meal. There are LOTS of princesses and my girls thought it was AWESOME!

The Brown Derby- This is a fine dining joint in Hollywood Studios. It is NOT cheap and the food is AMAZING! I wouldn't take my kids there personally cause I don't wanna drop that kinda money on a meal that's gonna be rowdy. It's a date or girls' night gig for me. The steak and mashed potatoes are so wonderful. They even have gluten free rolls and gluten free chocolate cake that is RIDICULOUS!

The Japanese restaraunt- This is the one in Epcot. It's Hibachi and it's fun. The food is good but not amazing. I think it's overpriced but not bad.

The French restaraunt in Epcot- SO YUMMY!!! I loooooove it and it's not cheap. The French onion soup.... ahhhhhh....

Pollo Campero- All you Guatamamas gotta check out the Pollo Campero in Downtown Disney! So much fun taking our Guatababies there and it's not too expensive for some decent food. :-)

Baby Cakes- Everyone is sure to love this scrumptious little bakery inside of Pollo Campero. BUT if you are a gluten free person you may never recover. EVERYTHING is gluten free and ohhhhhhh soooooooo melt in your mouth awesome. Don't let it throw you that everything looks a little different. It tastes GREAT!

The Candy Cauldron- This one's in Downtown Disney pretty close to the movie theater. OH MY WORD!!! BEST. CANDY. EVVVVVER. The monster pecan patties are my fav in the WOOOORLD. Everything is pretty much YUM! YUM! YUM!

Bongos- This is in Downtown Disney too. It's cuban food and fabulous. It's not horrible expensive but not cheap. The yellow rice and chicken is something I dream about at night. :-) They also have great live music and sitting on the porch by the water at sundown rocks.

Rainforest Cafe- They have one in Downtown Disney and at the Animal Kingdom. I've only been to the one in Downtown Disney. It's a HUGE one... bigger than the usual Rainforest. Average food. Above average but not outrageous prices. Cool experience.

T Rex-Take what I said about Rainforest but imagine dinosaurs instead of rainforest animals. There ya go..

Ghiardelli Cafe- BEST. ICE. CREAM. SUNDAE. EVER. Saw the price and almost screamed but the girls wanted us all to share one and buy it together. All three of us split one and it was plenty. The thing was huge and so super good. Can't believe I'm saying this but it was worth the price.

Margarita in Mexico- I don't even know the NAME of the place but in Mexico- Epcot- there is this little cafe by the water. It's right across from the pyramid structure. Anyway, their Margaritas ARE SO GOOD!!!

DOWTOWN DISNEY-

PLEASE!!! For the love of all that is good!!! Do not miss the beauty that is Downtown Disney. You can shop, eat, play, listen to music, go to movies, shows... whatever... and there's a lot of entertainment for free! FOR SURE hit it at night. Check the times but most nights it's open till 11 or midnight. There are all kinds of street performers and when it's lit up at night the streets are so cool.

OTHER DISNEY STUFF TO KNOW-

Cirque De Soliel La Nuba- Awesome show. Expensive and worth seeing.

TrenD- A store in Downtown Disney. It's Disney stuff but it's subtle and fashionable. You could buy me almost ANYTHING in this store and I'd probably love it. It's always a must for my Disney dollar.

The Lego Store- No matter how old you are the Lego store will suck you in. You can play Legos for free outside the store for as long as you like. Lots of free fun.

The boats- there are lots of little boats that go different places like downtown Disney or the resorts... it's fun to just get on and take a ride. They are all free.

The Boardwalk- Don't forget the boardwalk. This is a cute little area between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You can take a boat from either park, walk from either park or drive. They have several resorts, restaraunts, a beach area, bikes to rent, shops, etc. It's super cute.

AMC Theater- There is a VERY nice theater in Downtown Disney that is fun for seeing movies when you need a break.

NON DISNEY STUFF-

Discovery Cove- Expensive and way worth it.

Universal Studios- Only Islands of Adventure is worth it. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is out of this world. The ride in Hogwarts will BLOW YOUR MIND. Warning... it's a little shocking and scary but oh so cool. Oh and YOU MUST drink butter beer... that is not optional.

BE A KID-

Now after all the planning and organizing is done..... HAVE FUN! I mean it. QUIT being an adult. Live it up. Don't TOLERATE the little kid rides. SOAK THEM IN! Watch your kids faces... don't miss a thing. Don't rush the kids. Don't skip the little things. PLAY legos at the lego store. Make Mr. Potato heads with them in the toy store. Chase bubbles in the street. Plunk down on the sidewalk and watch the jugglers. These are the moments that really matter. THOSE are the memories.

Don't try to squeeze in every single thing. Instead fully live in every single moment. THEN I promise you it's a trip you won't soon forget. And let's get real... if you can't have fun at Disney World you need to seek help quickly.

OK!!! Well I hope that helps some of you. We LOOOOVE our Disney trips. They are such wonderful family time for us. I wish you a magical trip. HUGS! Angel

The Accidental Homeschooler

2011-07-22T07:50:00.003-05:00

I guess most people assume that homeschooling was a choice for me. I can see why. Cause ya know... I love it, we've done it for years and think it's awesome. I didn't choose it though- until yesterday. Let me back up.

When Kaitlyn Elise was 3yrs old Zoe girl was 7 almost 8 yrs old and about to come home from Guatemala. She didn't know any English, couldn't identify any colors, shapes or letters even when asked in Spanish. She'd been raised in an extremely difficult environment and had been through more trauma than most people face their whole lives. She was coming home soon and I now had to decide how to best educate her. I was nothing short of TERRIFIED!

You would think my background would have prepared me. I grew up doing public school, then private school and finished up homeschooling till college. So I had experience in all three. I also taught private and public.

I knew I wasn't a fan of the typical public school for mostly social reasons at that time. I knew Zoe wasn't ready for the emotional drama that I faced in public school and saw many other kids face when I taught. Not that I was saying that some kids couldn't handle it. I have one child that could probably go k-12 completely unscathed cause of her personality.

I wasn't anti charter school but there were no great ones near me that I could find at the time.

ANYWAY, I also loved homeschooling as a student but didn't want to do it. Basically, cause I was terrified and I didn't want to sacrifice what I felt was required to do it. Even after my years of teaching getting a child caught up like Zoe needed to catch up seemed so scary. Inside I felt that I would fail her and then the burden of her failure would rest entirely on my shoulders. Shudder...

So I went after the next option. PRIVATE school. I investigated a TON of them. Some of them I loved. The ones I loved... we just couldn't afford. OR others I liked she just wasn't ready for academically AND we couldn't afford them. :-)

We tried university model private school. They go to class 2 days a week and then you do their work at home the other days. It was much more affordable and a nice compromise. However, I found that for Zoe they just weren't concentrating on what SHE needed to learn.

I knew in my heart homeschool was what Zoe needed. I knew I had capacity to do it. I knew that all that was keeping me personally from it was fear and a desire for more me time. S000000.... I cried for WEEKS and with fear and trembling I started homeschooling my kids.

Then a funny thing happened. I loved homeschooling. I mean there was stress and hard parts for sure. For the most part though... I loved it. I loved the flexibility and freedom and the time for relationships. So we just kept doing it...

...and then Kaiya came home and we kept homeschooling and made it work....

... and then Kai came home and we kept homeschooling and it wasn't working... :-0

THIS is were the crisis hit. Suddenly, I felt like I could NOT do this anymore. All the reasons I had started homeschool were no longer applicable. We could afford different options if we really stretched and tweaked things. Zoe is strong and healthy and academically pretty caught up now. Kaiya needed speech which I knew would be offered in school. OH and there was a brand new well rated charter school being built down the street. That did it! I was gonna put my kids' names in the hat and go for it.

I struggled through whether I was ALLOWED to do this. Was I selfish??? Was I doing something bad??? What would my homeschooling friends think of me?

It was a struggle. I prayed and sought God's heart on it. What I felt in my heart was that I had a choice on this one. That this one was about what I wanted. This wasn't black and white. This was grey. All my homeschool time had been about black and white... KNOWING in my heart that Zoe needed us to be a homeschool family.

I had invested so much into my kids I knew they'd be fine for awhile even if it turned out not to be awesome. Plus we could always pull them back out. Finally, just for a short season, this could be a decision about what I needed and wanted. I could let go of the guilt of taking care of myself. So if this was about me then it was a done deal right???

And so it looked like we were doing it! We filed paperwork and went for it. The kids were excited about this new adventure. I was excited about the potential freedom. We started making plans.

Then a funny thing happened. As we started planning for next year... none of us liked the plan. We didn't like the schedule, the requirements, the limitations.

Zoe, Kaitlyn and I started looking at each other realizing we were starting to miss homeschool before the school year had even started. Zoe and Kaitlyn started thinking that maybe they have it pretty good right here. I started feeling like... I don't think I want this thing I thought I wanted after all.

Could this be??? After all this effort and time and planning were we really thinking of going back to what we were doing when we started this whole process? Ugh... what was I thinking? Two of my kids were being offered spots at a free charter school that was really hard to get into and I was gonna call and say no? Was I CRAZY??? Ok, sure we all know I am but STILL...

Then it hit me. This wasn't about charter school, or public school, or private school, or homeschool. For this season this needed to be about what I could handle and needed. Even uttering those words felt so foreign to me. HOW COULD I DO THAT???? Ever since the day I got prego and with 3 adoptions quickly after it felt like the decision to do something significant for me wasn't even a thought. Was it ok to make a decision for me REALLY? Was I being horrible and selfish to think of myself?

If my kids would be ok then why wouldn't it be? Suddenly then I could breathe again realizing that God has so much more grace for me than I do. I could relax realizing that God loves me as much as He loves my children and that this was a season to make a choice for what my heart needed.

Then... this is the weirdest part. I realized that what I used to think I wanted- the dreams I used to have of kids in school and days to myself- those just weren't my dreams anymore. Now I wanted something so different. What I really wanted FOR ME... was to homeschool....

So yesterday we gave up our spots at the awesome charter school down the street. I still can hardly believe I did that but I feel so happy about it.

Yesterday, for the first time we CHOSE to be a homeschool family... not because we had to do it or it was thrown into our laps. We did it because we WANTED to do it. We scrapped the other awesome options because homeschool is what we love.

Now let me be clear. With 4 kids it became HUGELY apparent to me that I needed a lot more help than I've had before 4 kids. We have hired a friend to help with the little ones 4 and sometimes more days most weeks. This gives me time with just the older ones to focus on school and having some big kid fun with them. I am getting Kaiya speech therapy to help her. Also some friends and I are doing some exchanging time where I teach or help with their kids in an area where I'm strong while they help where I'm weak. We have dropped a chunk of the activities we were doing and are trading them for a more relaxed schedule. We're changing it up and making it what we want it to be.

I'm so grateful for this process. What a gift God has given me on this crazy little journey this summer. He isn't afraid of our freedom. He welcomes our questions and mistakes and craziness. He gets that we need to sometimes... as a friend told me... take the long route to get to an answer. We need to understand it to know it for ourselves and not just have an answer we were fed.

This summer I went from joyful obedience to the path God had given me to joyfully choosing that path for myself.

My children went from joyfully doing homeschool cause it was fine....to asking to homeschool because it's what they want for themselves.

THAT is worth some craziness.

Today is the first day I am no longer an accidental homeschooler.

Hugs, Angel

What do I do when my kids hurt someone??

2011-06-10T10:46:00.004-05:00

A sweet Facebook peep wrote me this morning and asked me if I've ever had any of my kids act out in a temper tantrum and if so what advice I'd give her. MY KIDS??? Oh nooooo... Of course not... they are perfect little angels... ehhh hem.. ok maybe I they have hit, pinched, bitten, kicked, tripped and FEW others things. BUT other than that they are so GENTLE. Hee hee.. I asked her if I could share my response with you because we all know us Mommas gotta stick together. These questions of what to do are challenging and are something I have truly struggled through to find answers on how to help my cutie pies not be little terrorists. Here is my answer to her...

Hi there!! I have dealt with that with all of them at one point or other actually!!!

The most effective thing I've done is that whenever they hurt someone I pull them aside and I say something along the lines of, "People are NOT for hurting. People are to love. How would your heart feel if "insert hurt persons name" hurt you like that? Would you be sad?? Please talk to "hurt person" about how you feel about hurting her."

THAT is the first step. If they hurt someone again soon after we've discussed this I tell them very kindly the SAME thing all over again but then say very sweetly, "You come be with mommy. You are having trouble being with other people without hurting them."

At first they usually even love this. Often their behavior might be because they need to settle down and get some good attention. I don't just stay still though. They hold my pocket or stay right with me and help me do whatever I happen to be doing. Soon enough they will want to go do something else and I will say VERY sympathetically, "I REALLY WISH YOU COULD BUT YOU CAN'T right now." They will ask why usually. I'll say, "It's Mommy and Daddy's job to make sure NOBODY hurts anybody in this family. Should I let anyone hurt you?? Should I let anyone hurt Zoe?" I go through the whole family. Then ask them, "Did you hurt someone in this family today?? Should I let you hurt our family?" (Always make sure to wait for their responses and stay open, kind and sympathetic. We want this to be a discussion not a lecture.)

OR if it's someone else not in the family I go with it's my job to make sure all the people in this family are safe people and don't hurt children... Or whatever... You see the trend.

Anyway, this usually turns a light on and they will seem to get it. I will say, "If I let you go play are you going to be a dangerous person who hurts my family or a safe person who loves people?"

If it happens again I do the same 2 steps but they stay with me a LOOOOONG time and FEEL the pain of not being able to play while I say sweetly, "I'm so sorry sweet heart. You just aren't a safe person. You hurt my family. I love you and I need to watch you to make sure everyone is safe BUT you can get some toys and play by my feet."

I've done this with every one of my kids and it works!! I even did it with an older child when she was 8. She had lived in a very hard situation and was doing spiteful mean things like giving her sister a pinch on the sly when she didn't do what was wanted.

For this child I made a chart cause she was older of how you gain trust. It was things like, look in people's eyes when you talk to them,use words when you are angry, tell someone when you are frustrated etc... I would give her check marks every time I saw her handle a situation the RIGHT way. For awhile I told her I couldn't trust her anywhere. She had to carry a baby monitor with her and have it plugged in so I could hear everything if she wasn't with me. She had to sit in church with us so I could, "Make sure she wasn't dangerous."

I take physical violence uber seriously. Some people probably think I make too big a deal out of a pinch but I figure it's much better to make the point when it's a tiny pinch than wait till they are beating the crud out of each other and used to acting out with violence when they are angry. So we have 0 tolerance on hurting people.

I can truly say our children rarely purposely hurt each other anymore. In a new situation sometimes the little ones get territorial and I'll have to do a quick refresher. Anyway, hope that helps. That's probably WAY more than you were looking for.

I know what it feels like to not know what to do. I really had to think this through when we adopted an older child. I knew her heart was not malicious. She was simply doing what she knew to do. Still she was 8 and we had a 3yr old so I had to nip it in the bud QUICKLY! So it's a subject I thought through extensively.

HUGS!! Angel

Where Am I Anyway?

2011-05-14T14:02:00.004-05:00

A few days ago a Facebook peep shot me a message asking me about where I "was" in a sense.

She asked, "Didn't you start a not for profit and do a lot of cool advocating stuff?"

Only she said it more sweetly and then told me I didn't have to answer.

She expressed an inner struggle with this stage in life- being busy at home with little ones who NEED SO MUCH. Then the struggle of looking around at what she feels like she could be/should be doing. Looking at others in a different stage and longing for it. She wondered if I ever felt that way.

Do I ever feel that way... HA! Do I ever feel that way??? With her permission here is what I wrote in return.

I'm exactly where you are.

I know in the future I will have time and energy to do big things. I have already purposed to live in a way that I don't go back to work when the kids are older so we can give my time away. I fully intend to be the next Karyn Purvis ya know!! OK... Not as cool as her but it is my dream to help equip people to be truly wonderful parents and help children blossom even when they've come from trauma.

For now I am in THIS season. Me running around doing so much I couldn't be an amazing parent and help my kids from trauma blossom would really defeat my purpose wouldn't it??? What a sad story if we spend all our time advocating but miss what God has put right in front of us.

Odds are that those men in the story of "The Good Samaritan" were off to do great things. One was a rabbi right??? They were so busy doing good they missed what was right in front of them.

The amazing thing in this season is how God is showing me how to love the people all around me. It's wonderful. Its not flashy but it is perfect. I get where you are and I think us THRIVING in loving our children is a testimony to the world of Jesus' love.

Us loving our neighbor everywhere we go is louder than signs and blog posts.

Jesus never sat on a committee and was only in active ministry for 3 years. 30 years he spent living and loving and preparing for that ministry.

In our world we'd call that wasted time.

I don't think so anymore. Things that make ya go hmmmm.... OK!!! You didn't ask for a sermon but those are the things I have pondered and struggled through. I know it's hard sometimes when there are so many things that are important.

I just have to remember that God created things in seasons.... Seasons... Not schedules or regimens or careers... Before electricity and modern machinery everything was run by season. When it was winter everyone rested, studied, sewed. When it was harvest everyone worked and got strong.

The important thing is
knowing our season and embracing it with joy.

I am in a pruning season. To do what God is asking me

I have been cut back and back and back and back till sometimes I'm not sure that old me is there.

It's not discipline for something I've done bad. To the contrary it's going to help me grow in unbelievable ways when my next season arrives.

Wow... That all just flew onto the page. Either I really have had that on my mind or God wanted you to hear it or I needed to process it or ALL OF THE ABOVE!!! I hope I was coherent. Hugs!! Angel

My friend confirmed that this is EXACTLY where she has been struggling and how it touched her to know she wasn't alone. That got us to thinking... maybe we aren't the only ones feeling this tension. Our generation has a large movement of people going out there and doing the big, scary, amazing things. It's awesome and amazing. It's exciting and thrilling.

Until about 7 months ago my blog was usually about my next mission trip, road trip, adoption, not for profit, charitable event, community activity, conference or fun activity.

Not that I won't still do these things... but 7 months ago I realized I was entering a new season I had no warning was coming. It was time to slow down for awhile and cut SO MANY great things I had been involved in doing... I had done just what I was supposed to do.. was just where I had wanted to be.. where I knew I should be... and it began driving me BATTY.

I'm still in this process. I'm still figuring it out. Sometimes I feel overjoyed at where I am and sometimes I feel exhausted and spent. Lots of days I feel overwhelmed.

I don't know exactly where to go from here. For now I have done what God asked and I feel Him urging me to just be here. Which is weird for someone who has spent so many years building and advocating and blah. blah, blah. Yet here I am with 4 children- 3 from hard places- and being where I should be just isn't as flashy or exciting.

I'm not requesting a plan or advice. I'm simply a traveler sharing my journey with you. I want you to know if you're also in this season you aren't alone.

I would also love hearing about YOUR heart. Where are YOU? Is anyone else in this season? Have you been there before?

So I guess that's where I am in a nutshell... the answer is... I'm not sure yet. It's somewhere I've never been before but I'm getting my bearings.. I hope.

Much Love, Angel

We interrupt this blogging hiatus for an emergency broadcast!!

2011-05-03T15:55:00.006-05:00

OK LOOK! I KNOOOOOOW I'm a loser blogger these days. Yes, I know I'm fickle... hot and cold... a fair weather friend. FORGIVE ME!! 4 kids is simultaneously awesome and kicking MY REAR END! BUT I could NOT pass up an opportunity to share something this amazing with you.

This is the something, well someone, amazing I want to share... this beautiful lady... Amy Block. If you've followed this blog for any length of time you've probably seen her sweet face pop up. (You should also receive an award for sticking with my loser blogging skills for that long)

You can check out her blog at buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com.

Ok... see now I'm starting to cry just writing this post. This lady means the world to me and I want to ask if you will help me, help her to do something amazing.

I met Amy during our first adoption. She had 4 bio cutie pies and had adopted 1 baby from Guatemala. She found my blog and had formerly used my agency. God laid on her heart that she should adopt an older child. Since I was adopting Zoe she asked if we could talk cause she was a nervous wreck. I was just young and dumb and didn't know anything anyway. Nevertheless... something clicked right away and we started chatting a bit by phone and e-mail. Then she had a long layover through Houston and we had dinner. Then she MOVED to Texas and we would make the 5 hour haul to see each other once in awhile...

We've never lived close together. We've never gotten to spend more than a day at a time together but this lady is like my sister. God sent her to me- of that I am CERTAIN!

When we met I didn't have friends who were adopting. I had precious, loving friends who cared deeply... but they didn't get my insanity and struggle. Amy got me in a way I desperately needed someone to get me. Ya know what? I get her too.

We've been through moves, adoptions, fostering, lost referrals, mission trips, financial stress, advocating, building a not-for-profit, loving the unlovable, homeschooling, public schooling, anger, success, failure, joy and sorrow together.

We've built our families together, spilled our guts, said the things you can't say out loud. When I met Amy I had one bio daughter and was bringing Zoe home. When I met Amy she had 4 bio children and 1 adopted child. We were both excited and terrified about the things God was calling us to do.

Here's Amy's family today!

Amy was amazing when I met her. Amy blows me out of the water today. She is not super woman. She's just a fragile human who loves Jesus in a way I've seldom seen. She gets frustrated, hurt, insecure and then she takes it to Jesus. She challenges me to be more, love more, give more, be content, treasure things that God treasures.

Amy and her beautiful family are about to go on their biggest adventure yet. They have sold their precious little home in the Texas country and they are moving to GUATEMALA!!

Several years ago Amy and I got to go on a mission trip to Guatemala together. We talked and dreamed together about her deep hope that one day...maybe when they retired... they could move to Guatemala and be missionaries. Looks like God's timeline was a little sooner.

They are selling their things, packing up, ready to go. They are just waiting for God to send the money in which we are ALL CONFIDENT He will. HE knows who is supposed to be a part of Team Block.

They need 147 people to commit to sponsoring them for $25 a month.

They will be loving on 100s of orphans, organizing sponsorships, hosting mission trips.... You couldn't pay me NOT to be a part of this amazing story. I'm IN! I'm inviting you to join me.

Would you consider sponsoring them? Would you consider helping us spread the word?? Facebook...blogs...twitter... YES PLEASE! SHARE! SHARE! SHARE!! :-) Just 147 people at $25 a month and this amazing family is off to be Jesus hands and feet in Guatemala. Trust me, you couldn't possibly ask for a better family to be goers. Let's be the senders.

Click here to set up your monthly sponsorship.

BTW... I WILL be going to visit my sweet Amy in Guatemala and I hope YOU might just come join me. HUGS! Angel

What is friendship?

2011-02-01T15:45:00.005-06:00

Today is my birthday and I am turning 34! Wow... hard to believe. I don't dread getting older. I have loved the journey. For some reason this birthday has me thinking about one of the best gifts I have- friendship. Maybe it's all of the precious birthday wishes and people expressing a little more than they do on an average day.

There was a time I don't think I knew much about being a friend. I knew about hanging out. I knew about looking good. I valued liking the same stuff. I liked playing. I knew very little about friendship. I know I have a long way to go but I wanted to write down some of what I have learned, in many cases, the hard way.

Friendship is important... no vital to our growth. Jesus deeply valued friendship. He had best friends... people He poured out his heart to... people He lived life with each day... friends who betrayed Him... friends who stood by Him all the way.

Friendship will bring great joy and great pain. Opening ourselves up to humans in a deep way will lead to some of the most amazing moments of our lives. It will also lead to some of the most painful moments of our lives. We can not shrink from the pain without hiding from the joy.

John 15:13 (The Message)

^11-15"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.

A friend will point you toward Jesus. A really good friend will know how to let you vent and fume before they do this! ;-) They will let you just RANT and RAVE and they won't correct you. They'll tell you how sorry they are. They'll understand how you feel and then ever so gently they will point you toward truth, kindness, sacrifice, forgiveness, loyalty, love, and gentleness. A good friend would never point you toward hate, revenge, lust, lying, slander, or selfishness. The best kind of friend will even just cry with you.

Job 2:11–13

Job’s Three Friends

11 When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

A friend doesn't tell you what you want to hear. A friend tells you what you NEED to hear. If it weren't for friends who have pointed out my ugliness over and over throughout the years I just don't know where I'd be today. I feel so thankful for this that I could cry. Accountability is not something I longed for but it is truly something God gifted to me. I had no idea what a gift it was. This kind of friend loves YOU more than they love trying to keep your friendship. They will do the thing that helps you even if it means they will lose you.

Proverbs 27:6 (NIV) “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

To be a friend I must be willing to dive deep. I can't stay in the shallow end of the pool. Those who stay in the shallow end with me are called "acquaintances." I can love them but they are not truly friends. When I was younger I was famous for knowing everything about everyone and rarely ever opening up myself. I made the mistake of thinking this was strength. I didn't want to burden people or be demanding. Fortunately, I had some good friends who sat me down and told me the things I didn't want to hear so I could grow and change.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 (NIV)⁵ It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools.

I must be authentic to have true, deep friendship. Friendship isn't about being perfect and pretty. Friendship is very often quite the opposite. It's often built in the trenches of life as we get real and stand together in our pain. Pretending we are ok, or strong, or anything we are not just puts us in that trench alone. How can anyone truly be our friend when we haven't ever let them know who we are? When we become real then we aren't alone. We can grow and change and help each other.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

9 Two are better than one,

because they have a good return for their work:

10 If one falls down,

his friend can help him up.

But pity the man who falls

and has no one to help him up!

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Friendship takes time. It's not something you can fast forward or rush. It's often formed or proven when we least expect it. It's a gift not a right. The gift of true, Godly friendship is one we should plead for from our heavenly Father. When it is given we should protect it with our whole hearts. We should fight for it knowing that it will make us more than we thought we could be. Never underestimate the value of friendship.

Hugs, Angel

One Day-One Lunch

2011-01-31T15:25:00.005-06:00

The adorable blond chick in this pic is Addisyn. Her mom, Amy, is one of my best friends IN THE WORLD! I adore Amy and I adore her precious Addisyn.

One of the things I love about Addisyn is that she doesn't discount the value of doing something "small" to make a difference. She has a better grasp on this than most adults, probably including me.

I think a lot of us "grown ups" get caught up in feeling like if we can't give "enough" then what's the point?? We think our little nothing can't make a difference.... Let's see what Jesus says about that in Luke.

Luke 21 ^1-4Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate. Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies. He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—

she gave her all!"

You see, God doesn't NEED us or our MONEY! Then why should we give at all??? BECAUSE!! He is giving us the opportunity to GIVE OUR ALL to HIM! He is giving us the opportunity to take a small part in His work. He is giving us the chance to hand over everything we are to HIM.

Like a toddler trailing behind his Daddy while he works... we are not there because Daddy HAS to have us there to do his work. This is our Daddy giving US the chance to learn and grow and BE WITH HIM!

The point is not how much we give. The point is to give EVERYTHING to God... anything less is saying there is a price on what our savior is worth to us. Only giving everything gives Him justice. Let's all give HIM everything we have. The rich people in this parable could not please Christ because while they gave much more monetarily they held back.. they didn't dig deep out of their deep and broken love for their Savior. Sometimes that digging deep looks big and sometimes it looks like giving our 2 pennies...

What I love about Addisyn is that she desperately wants to give HER ALL to Jesus. Check out this letter from Addi and tell me she doesn't bring joy to the heart of her Father.

Ever since traveling to Africa last March I haven't been able to get the children left behind out of my head. I wanted to do something- anything-I could to help them. But when you are 15 years old what you can do is limited- or is it? I decided to start with what I knew I could do- give the little I had.

So, I began to donate my lunch money. Instead of eating a school lunch, I brought a small bowl of the soup like what was given to the children at the feeding program we visited. I knew it wasn't much- but it made me feel close to them and it made me feel like I was making a difference- if only a small one. After awhile a friend of mine decided to join me in my efforts and she gave her lunch money too- which got me to thinking.

What if others joined in too- even just one day?

What if the body of Christ came together one day for one lunch and gave what we would have spent that day on our lunch away?

It only cost $3.00 to feed a child at the Adami Tulu preschool for ONE MONTH. Can you imagine what a big difference we could make by just giving away one days lunch?

On February 3rd in celebration of 100 days in a row of eating soup for lunch and donating my lunch money- I am writing to ask you if you would be willing to help?

I know all of you already do so much by adopting, giving, serving and praying for the least of these and I am so thankful for your example. But I would be so grateful if you would help me get the word out about the One Day- One Lunch project by posting about it on your blogs and/or Facebook.

You can say it any way you want or if it's easier we have attached a post you are welcome to use if you prefer. You may also just link it to our families blog if that is easier for you where we will be posting about it on January 30th at http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/ . Let's get the word out and remind people that these children exist. Surely each of us can experience the hunger pains these kids experience daily for just one day- one lunch.

All donations are to be sent to Lifesong for Orphans and will go to the Adami Tulu Preschool in Ziway, Ethiopia.

If you are willing to help spread the word please let me know. Thank you so much for all you do!

Walking in faith~ Addisyn

TO GIVE Donations can be given online at: http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/donation.html- please indicate
it’s to go to the Adami Tulu Preschool.

Or mail checks to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744
Indicate for the Adami Tulu Preschool

WHO'S IN??? Anyone wanna join Addi? This girl gets it! What if we all gave everything even if that was only a little bit. What would that look like? I'M IN FOR SURE! If you love the idea please help Addi spread the word. Tweet, blog, Facebook, give... Hugs, Angel

Afraid

2011-01-21T12:26:00.004-06:00

I share this story with Zoe's permission. I always ask my older girls before I share their personal situations. Zoe told me she wants parents of older adoptive children to know that many of their children might feel like this inside.

You see our sweet Zoe, who came to us at almost 8, has scars we can't see. She's been home more than 4 years now and many of those injuries are healing but there are still "phantom pains." Our Zoe struggles deeply with fear for very good reasons.

About 20 minutes ago my daughter Zoe and I were having a conversation that is actually pretty normal in our house.

She was bumming, "I have no music to listen to today." I asked. "What about your Ipod Touch?" She said, "There's no music on there." I replied, "OH NO! Bring it here. We can sync it up. What about your Pandora app?" Zoe said, "Well, I don't have the password to start it."

I said, "ZOE!! Are you telling me all this time you've had no music because you were afraid to ask me for a password?."

Zoe, "Nooooo.... Yeah."

I put in the password while telling her, " Zoe, you've got to trust me. I love you. I'm NOT going to get mad at you for asking me for help."

It took me like 20 seconds to set up her Pandora app and she got all excited and immediately picked her favorite Vanessa Hudgens channel. Up popped the first song and she immediately handed it to me. "See mom. Listen to this. This IS me.. It's my song."

I had never heard this song. or really listened to the words I suppose. As I did it brought tears to my eyes. It was indeed about my Zoe. I pray that one day this song means nothing but memories to her. For now it is her story in some ways. I am amazed that she knows herself well enough now to recognize her heart within the lyrics. I see that as a huge step in her healing.

Our adoptive children all handle fear differently and react in different ways. HOWEVER, on some level almost all of them feel this deep inside. We can ignore it because it hurts us to know it or because we are afraid ourselves. It doesn't mean it's not there. It doesn't make it vanish.

I encourage adoptive mommies, daddies, grandparents or friends to listen to this song and take it as a gift from Zoe. This is a look into the heart of an adopted child whose sharing her soul with you so you can love someone a little better today.

Afraid-Vanessa Hudgens

Just when it's getting good
I slowly start to freeze
Just when it's feeling real I put my heart to sleep
It's the memory I can see
Then this fear comes over me
Understand that I don't mean
To push you away from me

[Chorus]
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me

You got a way of easing me out of myself
I can't stay but I can't leave, I am my worst enemy
Please understand that its not you it's what I do
Just when I'm about to run I realize what I've become

[Chorus]
[From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/v/vanessa-hudgens-lyrics/afraid-lyrics.html]
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me

Now I wonder what you think of me
Don't know why I break so easily
All my fears are armed surrounding me
I can't get no sleep
I keep runnin' in circles around you
Are you the trap I wanna fall into??

[Chorus]
Why am I so afraid to crash down and lose my heart again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me
Why am I so afraid to break down and lose my mind again
I don't know, I can't see, what's come over me

Hugs, Angel and Zoe

What will they remember?

2010-12-18T21:25:00.003-06:00

Hot chocolate, Daddy reading out loud by the fire, talking about the history and birth of Jesus...

Jigsaw puzzles, giggling at our favorite movies....

Snuggling on the couch watching the Christmas lights twinkle...

These are some of the things that mean the most. They are the things my babies usually come back to as the things they love.

Why? Is it really the activities that mean so much? I don't think so. It's the way those things feel. It feels slow and safe and warm. It feels like family. It feels quiet and calm and comfortable. It feels like love.

The truth is my kids probably won't remember what they got for Christmas or even exactly what they did.

What they will ALWAYS remember is how it FELT... How I made them feel.

That's why I won't spend all my time running around having a crazy busy Christmas. Yeah, we'll do the fun shopping and running around but a good chunk of my time will be spent looking at those twinkly Christmas lights curled up with my babies.

Most of the time the moments that feel like love don't happen while we're running. Most of them happen in the slow motion moments when we stop and take time to cuddle, and read and breathe together.

This Christmas I wish you many slow cuddly moments with those you love.

Hugs, Angel :-)

The whole picture

2010-12-14T23:18:00.001-06:00

Here is the thing. I think we need to learn these two things and learn them well....

Soak in every ounce of joy God sends your way.

Embrace every ounce of pain God allows.

So many times I think it's way too easy to swing one way or the other. I think I have done both.

For a good chunk of my existence I was running from pain like a bat out of H-E-double hockey sticks. I used to proclaim loud and proud that I was ALLERGIC to pain. My goal in life was pretty much not to feel pain. I was missing half the picture...

Running from pain is so dangerous. As we numb ourselves out from feeling the inevitable pain we numb ourselves out from feeling everything that means anything. It's when we turn around and embrace the waves of pain that everything changes.

I now see it all differently. In God's equation pain isn't something to be avoided. It's an amazing way to grow. Pain shows us who we really are and helps us become much more than we thought we could be.

Then there's the joy. For many years I was running after joy. I was pursuing it as my idol. It was everything. The truth about joy is it just doesn't work that way. Real joy can only be a gift. When we run after it suddenly it's illusive. It can't be won... Only received. Anything we run after is a temporary fix, a high, and leaves us running for more.

Honestly I think when we start embracing pain, stop running, that we start receiving deeper joy. The two go hand in hand.

AND when that joy comes we must recognize and embrace it! I see too many people who learn the importance of the struggle only to turn around and forget the importance of the joy.

We should not run after comfort... Nor should we run away from it. When our Father hands us a gift He doesn't receive glory or joy from our misplaced guilt or sense of duty.

If God brings me prosperity, comfort and joy I pray I will embrace it! I pray I will share it to bring others prosperity, comfort and joy as well.

If God brings me pain I pray I will throw open my arms and hold it close for the way it will grow and change me.

Joy and pain.... Hold them close. That's all I'm sayin.

Hugs, Angel :-)

Depraved Indifference

2010-12-03T17:11:00.001-06:00

This is a powerful and beautiful message. It's most likely the best way you could spend the next 8 minutes of your life. Understanding THIS gospel might even change all the minutes after that. Angel

Click here to view on youtube

Compromise

2010-12-02T18:00:00.002-06:00

Kaitlyn Elise was making me a nervous wreck rolling blading all over the house. So naturally I told her, "KK, if you're gonna roller blade in the house at least put on your helmet so I don't have to take you to the ER." Compromise. The beauty of happy parenting.

Hugs, Angel :-)

It doesn't just happen.

2010-12-01T21:22:00.003-06:00

It hear it a lot... People look at our family and say, "I wish I could....." (fill in the blank)

Adopt a child, stay home with my children, go on a mission trip, homeschool..

I'm not saying that any of these things are for everyone. I don't believe that. It's just that it truly hurts my heart to hear people just dismiss a dream God has placed in their heart while looking at me as if I have some special code I cracked.

What I'd like to say is, "You can. Do it. It doesn't just happen."

I'm not some super woman who was magically given all the abilities, luck, skills and money to do these things.

I think sometimes it's easy to look at the picture of someone's life and think it looks pretty and neat and easy and wish we had it... But it didn't just happen.

Here are a few of the remarks I sometimes hear.

I wish I could adopt a child but...

YOU CAN!

For me that one started for me as a teenager. I had that wish and dream at 15. Having that dream come true even involved making sure I dated guys who were open to this. :-) It took 15 years for us to bring home our first adopted child. It was a long road and lots of sacrifice. It involved making sure we had enough income. It involved buying a cheaper house than most of our friends. It involved buying really old and basic cars all so we could afford the adoption fees to come.

Even after we brought our first adopted child home it was no picnic. It involved being yelled at and hurt sometimes. It meant not taking it personally no matter what. It meant that when I accidentally took it personally I ended up in a ball on the ground weeping.

Then our second adoption- It meant adopting a child who was special needs and was supposed to need at least one surgery for cleft palate. It meant my 10 yr anniversary was spent on a pick up trip with my momma instead of in Greece with my hubby. It meant a toddler who at 2 could not walk well, run, eat well, talk..

Third adoption-Meant adopting a lil boy with a lot of papers that said he has lots of scary problems. It meant deciding at the drop of a hat to stop everything for an adoption we had no idea was about to happen. It involved canceling a vacation and stopping life to love this little wonder.

And it's all WORTH IT!! I wouldn't trade it for the world. See that's the thing. We worked our tushies off for this thing called adoption. So you see... You CAN do it.

I wish I could stay at home with my children but...

YOU CAN!

Again this took YEARS to accomplish. Even before kids we lived only off of Russ' income. We went to MBA school 2 months after KK was born and lived off of school loans so that Russ could make more money after graduation.

Again... Bought cheaper house, super cheap cars, all our clothes come from Marshalls, yada yada yada...

SO.. YOU CAN DO IT! It may take time and effort and sacrifice but it is SO WORTH IT!

I wish I could go on a mission trip but..

YOU CAN!

Scared? Yeah. So was I. Ask my hubby. Before the trip when I went to Africa I spent the night before bawling my eyes out cause I was just nervous. I also spent 24 hours in Africa on a toilet while simultaneously barfing into a sink while there was no running water. Look, I'm just getting honest here. Turned out to be a life changing trip.

Ya know what??? SO WORTH IT and YES you can do it.

I wish I could homeschool but...

YOU CAN!

Are you kidding me???? I was terrified to homeschool. I cried for 2 SOLID weeks- completely petrified of the prospect. I am not brilliant or crafty or terribly creative.

It came down to this... We were bringing home a traumatized, sensitive, sweet and easily injured almost 8 year old who had never had a minute of education or a healthy bonding experience. Sigh...

I was terrified. I looked into private school but there is that whole thing about it's really expensive and we spend lots of money on adoptions and me being a stay at home mom. :-)

So for me that meant- Homeschool was it. Now I can't imagine it any other way. I am so grateful that our situation pushed me to do it. I LOVE IT!

SO YES! You can do it!!!

It might be messy. It might even LOOK impossible. So many of these dreams seemed so unreachable 15-20 years ago.

You may have various obstacles in your way that I never had to face. We all walk our own journey.

Here's the thing. God didn't ever promise us that the things He called us to do would be simple or pretty. Sometimes people's lives may look like post cards but I know from experience... They NEVER are.

If God has placed a dream in your heart GO FOR IT! Maybe it will take 15 years. Maybe it will scare the tar out of you. Maybe it will stretch you and make you cry.

GOOD!!

That's the best kind of dream. It's the kind that draws you closer to God and makes you more than you are capable of being. DO IT! Start your journey...

It doesn't just happen.

Hugs, Angel :-)

Truth Pandemic

2010-12-01T11:35:00.002-06:00

Today is world AIDS day. Several years ago I started educating myself of the TRUTH about HIV and AIDS and I was SHOCKED at the lack of education on the subject. HIV is highly misunderstood and therefore the victims of this disease live in unnecessary fear and shame. WE CAN STOP THAT by educating ourselves!!! Would you start by watching this short video and sharing it? Let's change things in a small way today. Hugs, Angel

Click here to view online.

My gut tells me...

2010-11-29T17:27:00.001-06:00

..to SLOW DOWN! As much as I want to just have life skip along as usual it just never does. Kai is amazing and his adjustment has been the most any parent could hope for... BUT it's still an adjustment.

It's still just learning how to do life with FOUR!

I am finding my kids need a little more right now. Nobody is super jealous. Nobody is melting down. They just need extra hugs, extra cuddles, extra everything.

Not to mention that we have had more sickness floating around this house than we have in YEARS! It has really knocked us out.

I know this is just a season but for some reason it's hard for me to accept doing this. Why is that??

To be really honest- I HATE disappointing people. I hate it. It's so hard for me to say no to things I love doing and to things that I even consider important.

Especially in this season I had planned a lot of things I loved with all my capacity cause I had no clue I would have a new little guy so quickly.

As my wise Daddy once told me, "Angel, there are things you want and there are things you want more. You just have to always remember which is which."

How true that is. I want to go to parties and science classes and field trips and bible studies and family trips. Usually I adore those things and thrive on them. I think they are important! I want to do them.

BUT there is something I want more. I want to slow down enough to hear God's voice. I want to be a gentle and kind wife. I want to help heal the hearts of the children I have brought into my family. I want my children to feel deeply loved and valued. I want to be healthy as a person. I want to be real and not pretend I can do it all. I can't.

So here goes. Time to put first things first..

We canceled a trip to Disney for Christmas knowing we need to slow down. It'll be time to go again soon enough.

I'm gonna love my husband and snuggle my babies. I'm gonna keep some schooling going and try to keep us all healthy. Everything else is gonna have to be optional for awhile.

You know what? Instead of fighting it I really just want to embrace it! I want to soak in every second of the cuddling and slow pace knowing that in mere moments they will be grown.

That is if I have the honor of watching them grow. We never know how many moments we have left with one another. I've got to keep 1st things 1st. I never want to look back and regret the time I spent...

Ahhh.. I'm gonna go cuddle with a munchkin now.

Hugs, Angel :-)

In the interest of full disclosure..

2010-11-18T13:40:00.002-06:00

...this is what my house looked like for the first week after Kai moved in to live with us.

My house is not always clean. My laundry is rarely done. I don't always handle things well. My voice isn't always sweet.

I'm not super woman. I'm not even close. Life isn't perfect or Beaver Cleaver. It is MESSY and wild and wonderful. I just thought you should know.

Hugs, Angel :-)

What about AFRICA???

2010-11-12T16:50:00.013-06:00

OH BOY was that a question I was asking myself a couple of weeks ago...

WHAT ABOUT AFRICA???

As you read in my previous post the selfish yuppie part of me wanted to stop at 3 kids, buy a vacation home and start getting more pedicures.... Oh and a few massages. ;-)

Ok. Let's be honest. I always knew that part would never win. It couldn't win. But still that part was there..

Now here we are- I have started this adoption to Africa and God has given me this little wonder of a boy dropped into my life and WHAT ABOUT AFRICA???

At first I started to rationalize a bit. I mean here's how it happened... God told us to start the home study process on July 4th. I flew through my paperwork like a bat on fire. You people witnessed the insanity. Suddenly once the US stuff was done it was like I COULD NOT make myself do anything else!! I would literally pick up the phone to call the agency to check on something and would feel like God was telling me, "HANG UP THE PHONE AND WAIT!"

Since I was suddenly slow as Christmas I didn't push and therefore none of my Africa paperwork was done. Which was a really good thing. If we had the Africa side done we would have been matched with an identified child and they would have started trying to get that child paperwork ready. Then things would have gotten complicated in trying to bring home Kai. God's timing is amazing.

As it turned out we received our completed home study the DAY Kai's adoption agency agreed that we should be the ones to adopt him. THAT DAY!!! Not only that... We were approved for the EXACT age, gender, EVERYTHING.

It's ridiculous. Sooooo...I started to rationalize. Maybe it wasn't about Africa at all. Maybe this was it instead.

Or maybe it was both and that scared the tar outta me. I started doing the math on how many small children I would have and whether we could travel easily and how much Disney tickets would cost. I KNOW! I KNOW! I'm pathetic but that's just the facts people. I didn't promise you pretty. I promised reality. These children require sacrifice and sometimes I'm selfish and ugly. There it is. So all my calculations and I figured out there is a reason why people have 2.5 children. It's easier and less expensive. Hee hee... :-)

But ya know what I remembered then? I remembered how when we decided to get prego it happened WAY quicker than we expected really. I mean we wanted it to happen badly but it happened like RIGHT AWAY and I thought AM I READY FOR THIS??? We were about to move off to Michigan for Russ to go to MBA school. I was staying home with Kaitlyn so that meant... Well, it meant we were crazy. We heard about it too- how crazy it was. Still, something in my gut said this was RIGHT and I would never change it. Never, never, never would I give up my KK. Oh the joy she brings me. I'm so thankful.

Then came Zoe. We had JUST gotten out of MBA school when we started her adoption. We didn't have the money. We didn't have any experience. We were adopting out of birth order. We were adopting an older child. I had this moment where I thought WHAT AM I DOING??? Cause this was crazy and breaking all the rules. It didn't make any logical sense. We could HAVE as many beautiful blonde bio babies as we wanted so what was I DOING??? Still I KNEW she was ours... I KNEW God had given me this Krysta Zoe. So we fell in love knowing we were crazy. Oh she's so amazing. Thank you Lord for my Zoe girl. She is more than I deserve.

Soon we came to Kaiya. One minute we were thinking MAYBE domestic -meet with a crisis pregnancy center and ooch forward. Next thing I know we are running around getting paperwork for a special needs toddler. What was I thinking??? This was REALLY crazy. She'd been in an orphanage for 2 years with 36 kids and like 3 care takers. She had a cleft lip and palate. We had JUST gotten our savings back up from the 1st adoption. Was I NUTS??? Clearly yes. The minute I saw her sweet face I knew she was mine. So off we flew to China a mere seven months later and OH THANK YOU LORD!! Kaiya Rain Zhen drives me batty sometimes and makes me smile every single day!!!! Oh how I adore her. She's my spicy China baby and I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Finally we come to Kai Justice. Well, I mean REALLY!!! This is a disruption situation. This little one has a stack of papers that diagnose him with a lot of scary words. If you google the scary words in the scary paperwork then you can't sleep at night. So am I THAT crazy?? My heart told me this is my son not a diagnosis. So yes... I am. Now here is this little man who is like the puzzle piece we never knew was missing. He FITS here!!! I am completely in love with my little Korean wonder.
So that brings us to Africa.... We have four kids... We're happy and comfortable and have great kids. Why would we want to DO THIS??? Because... My son is there... And I think I've finally accepted that I love this kinda crazy. This is the kinda crazy that makes a person step out of a boat and walk on water JUST cause Jesus said to do it. I'm so grateful that God held my hand so I wouldn't sink under the waves from the doubts about whether all this insanity could REALLY be HIM!

I'm good now. I don't expect it to be easy or pretty. It never is. In between all the field trips and photo sessions are melt downs, explosive diapers, temper tantrums, dirty clothes, sleepless nights and growth I never knew I could experience. These miracles God has sent me have changed EVERYTHING. I am changed and thankful. I am so joyful. I am so grateful. I am so ready. No doubt...no sinking this time.

It turns out that Kaitlyn Elise wasn't too early or too expensive! Turns out she is my amazing little diva who brings me unspeakable joy.

It turns out Krysta Zoe isn't a scary older child adoption. She is the most compassionate and loving person I know.

It turns out Kaiya Rain Zhen isn't a special needs toddler permanently scarred by institutional life. It turns out she's the brave and hilarious and capable of just about anything.

It turns out Kai Justice Easton isn't a stack of scary diagnosis. It turns out he's a dream come true.

So I say....

Africa???

Yeah... bring it on.