Tonight our family had the priviledge of seeing the African Children's Choir in concert. They were amazing! I thought I would bawl through the whole thing. The first few minutes were touch and go :) ...but their energy and joy were contagious! If you get a chance to see them....GO!
Our little Josie's friend Zoe Rose (lives about 2 hrs from us) now has her little sister Grace with her! Their family got the call Friday that she was in a plane coming to Chicago. They've had quite an emotional wait getting her.
I'm going to try to post pictures of our son Carsen with their son Isaac. They are the same age and we couldn't believe how much they look (and act alike :)
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
A Glimpse of the Future
Last Saturday night we went to the 2nd annual Liberian picnic in Cedar Rapids. It was fun seeing families we already knew and others that we just met. I wish I would have gotten a picture....there was a whole mess of kids! (20+ adopted Liberian kiddos and all their siblings)
It was bittersweet that our kids weren't there...but it gave us a hope in hearing all the stories how God literally worked miracles bringing all these kids to Christian homes in the US. It will be amazing to see the work God is doing in these kids' lives!
I met an adult Liberian that tried showing me the Liberian snap handshake (about 10x!) I'm a sloooow learner.
Donna (from Acres of Hope) this morning who said that our finalization should be done anyday now. That when she was in Liberia a few weeks ago our files were in the Liberian courts. Hearing that has me hoping and praying we'll get another call from Donna this week....then onto the next stages of waiting for passports and visas.
We did get a new pictures of Gbonko (Josie) today. She looks really silly and happy....much different from the other sad-eyed pictures we have of her.
On the "farming side" our hay is getting soaked. Dave cut this weekend and it's been raining all day today. Not a good thing. Thankfully we don't rely on hay to pay the bills! I even got a call Sunday afternoon from the "farmer" that he had run out of gas down in the neighbor's field....so off I went to the rescue with a full container of gas. (who says I'm not a farmer's wife?! :)
Teresa
It was bittersweet that our kids weren't there...but it gave us a hope in hearing all the stories how God literally worked miracles bringing all these kids to Christian homes in the US. It will be amazing to see the work God is doing in these kids' lives!
I met an adult Liberian that tried showing me the Liberian snap handshake (about 10x!) I'm a sloooow learner.
Donna (from Acres of Hope) this morning who said that our finalization should be done anyday now. That when she was in Liberia a few weeks ago our files were in the Liberian courts. Hearing that has me hoping and praying we'll get another call from Donna this week....then onto the next stages of waiting for passports and visas.
We did get a new pictures of Gbonko (Josie) today. She looks really silly and happy....much different from the other sad-eyed pictures we have of her.
On the "farming side" our hay is getting soaked. Dave cut this weekend and it's been raining all day today. Not a good thing. Thankfully we don't rely on hay to pay the bills! I even got a call Sunday afternoon from the "farmer" that he had run out of gas down in the neighbor's field....so off I went to the rescue with a full container of gas. (who says I'm not a farmer's wife?! :)
Teresa
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The "Attack"
Today is the day I "should" have started school. But...I don't even have all the kids' math books ordered yet. (I did get closer and actually looked at the website and called our homeschool assistance program so they can order the Teacher's books/cd) I'm more stuck on "how do I get our daily life organized" right now. Isn't that just like Satan to attack something so seemingly simple and basic? There have been fights/attitudes/disobedience....and we haven't even started "real" school yet.
Last night we heard an amazing speaker, Norm Wakefield from Elijah Minstries (www.spiritofelijah.org) We left encouraged....to encounter God...to turn our hearts towards our children....to fight the good fight.
Today I feel pierced to the core and defeated. This is just too important of a battle to give in to though. So I will not listen to the lie of "how in the world do you think you can handle MORE children??" Instead I will believe God's truth that the work He started in me He WILL COMPLETE....that in my weakness, HE is strong.
A simple song we've been listening to today by the Weissman family says "Commit, trust, delight and rest." (the "Fret Not song") A simple message. The power is in the Holy Spirit....I will do more asking...and more believing...and more resting.
God...please make tomorrow better than today! And give me YOUR wisdom.
Last night we heard an amazing speaker, Norm Wakefield from Elijah Minstries (www.spiritofelijah.org) We left encouraged....to encounter God...to turn our hearts towards our children....to fight the good fight.
Today I feel pierced to the core and defeated. This is just too important of a battle to give in to though. So I will not listen to the lie of "how in the world do you think you can handle MORE children??" Instead I will believe God's truth that the work He started in me He WILL COMPLETE....that in my weakness, HE is strong.
A simple song we've been listening to today by the Weissman family says "Commit, trust, delight and rest." (the "Fret Not song") A simple message. The power is in the Holy Spirit....I will do more asking...and more believing...and more resting.
God...please make tomorrow better than today! And give me YOUR wisdom.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Bread Making 101
OK. After several years I am trying this again. I have the grinder...and the big ol' mixer (how homeschoolish is that?) Setting up this blog maybe gave me courage...plus a friend had borrowed it and all 6 of her loaves turned out PERFECT! :)
So after 18 c. of flour....during the "sponge" phase....I realize this whole batch is a flop....a 20# flop. I killed the yeast with water that was too hot. I truly wanted to scream and throw the whole thing out in the yard. My mind is racing for other options as all five kids are watching me. Okay. Playdough time! They all started making their own "unleavened" rolls, crackers (they weren't too bad) and pita bread. Nothing really tasted great...they added ALOT of garlic salt for some reason. So most of it went to the chickens and horses. The horses LOVED the crackers!
After realizing my mistake I had to try again or thought it might be another 3 yrs. So I just made 1/2 batch this time. I must say they turned out fair...not perfect, not beautiful but edible. So I will be trying this again. (or my girls will) They really really want to make bread and sell it. So this can be their deal. I've shown them "how not to do it now"!
Enjoy this BEAUTIFUL Labor Day weekend. We're heading off to cattle farm near Kalona to hear Norm Wakefield speak. Really. Not sure how this is going to work. Several other families we know are going...there will be a potluck, singing and a hayrack ride. The big question: what to wear??? Jean skirt? (I'm really just kidding here) I do homeschool too!
So after 18 c. of flour....during the "sponge" phase....I realize this whole batch is a flop....a 20# flop. I killed the yeast with water that was too hot. I truly wanted to scream and throw the whole thing out in the yard. My mind is racing for other options as all five kids are watching me. Okay. Playdough time! They all started making their own "unleavened" rolls, crackers (they weren't too bad) and pita bread. Nothing really tasted great...they added ALOT of garlic salt for some reason. So most of it went to the chickens and horses. The horses LOVED the crackers!
After realizing my mistake I had to try again or thought it might be another 3 yrs. So I just made 1/2 batch this time. I must say they turned out fair...not perfect, not beautiful but edible. So I will be trying this again. (or my girls will) They really really want to make bread and sell it. So this can be their deal. I've shown them "how not to do it now"!
Enjoy this BEAUTIFUL Labor Day weekend. We're heading off to cattle farm near Kalona to hear Norm Wakefield speak. Really. Not sure how this is going to work. Several other families we know are going...there will be a potluck, singing and a hayrack ride. The big question: what to wear??? Jean skirt? (I'm really just kidding here) I do homeschool too!
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