A Life Around the Box

It is a funny thing when you think about God sometimes and the plans He comes up with.  Take for instance the fact that he created a boy.  Who liked order, and things that made sense.  A boy with a plan mapped out that was logical and added up. A boy who actually kind of liked life inside the box, because, well, that was pretty normal.

And then God created a girl.  And gave her a mind that rolled 24 hours a day.  He allowed that mind to go in so many different directions, amazingly never really on a straight path.   A girl with a bit of a rebellious spirit who was always pushing it just as far as she could.  A girl who dreamed and wondered and questioned and was never settled.  A girl who refused to live in a box because there was SO much more to life than that stinken box!

Here is where it gets funny. God put that boy, and the girl, together!  But guess what?  GOD, is amazing! And He knew that the boy needed the girl to push him outside the box once in awhile.  And that girl needed the boy to keep her grounded. 

And they lived Happily Ever After! Sometimes in the box, sometimes out, but always trying to listen to God and follow where He wanted them to be.Happy Birthday to my amazing husband, so thankful that God made him mine!

Weekend Re-Cap

Trying so hard to keep up with one blog a day! Not that anyone probably cares, but I said I would do it so I will...

Attended my first "book club" last night.  So fun! We read the book Fresh Wind Fresh Fire by Jim Cymabla.  GREAT, great read and so inspiring.  Wonderful group of ladies.  So sweet.  My friend Christy opened her home and made a delicious dinner.  She asked Makenna to come and serve/clean up.  Then asked all the ladies in attendance to donate to our China trip.  Makenna LOVED serving and made a good amount of $.  I enjoyed getting together with a new group that I do not normally hang out with.  I look forward to next time around.  We are going to read Beth Moore's So Long Insecurity.

No pictures, but we had fun tonight Roller Skating.  We rented a near by rink and did a fundraiser for our trip.  GREAT time of fellowship with friends.  So thankful for the support we have received  from our family and friends as we work towards our goal.  Nice to make money tonight, but really nice just to visit with friends while the kids were having fun!

Open House tomorrow (Sunday)  House is still for sale.  And causing me some stress.  Not even the "when are we moving".  It is the "THE HOUSE IS SHOWING WE HAVE TO CLEAN".  Which is no easy feat with 5 children.  And a whol lot of living going on around here. Pray for me if you will. That I can be patient.  And that we will know we are doing the right thing. 

Teaching tomorrow on communication.  Did you know that a mans brain takes SEVEN hours longer to process information that a woman's? No surprise if you think about it.  And a very good thing to remember next time you speak to your hubby!

Sage has a gymnastics competition tomorrow.  Of course she does, Because that adds more chaos to an already crazy weekend!

Not to mention, Mark has a birthday!  Sad when you barely have time to celebrate your birthday! But we are going out of town for his birthday later this month, so I guess he gets an extra long celebration!

11:30PM but I made it!! ;-)

An Interview with Malaine-8 years old

 Q: What is your name/nicknames 
Malaine/Lainey


 Q: What do you like about your age?
I have nothing.

Q: Why do you like to be a girl in this family?
Because there are more girls than boys.

Q:What do you like/not like about being the middle child?
Well I like being the middle because I get to do the older kids stuff and I get to do little kids stuff too.  But I don't like is about how .. I have nothing.  (meaning she has no answer)

Q: Do you wish you had a another brother? 
I wish that I had a baby brother, yea.


Q: What was your favorite vacation?  
Disney World


Q: What is your favorite bible story?  
The time Jesus was born. 

Q: Why do you love Jesus?
Because He is our God and He is the one who can do everything.

 Q:  What is something your mom always says to you?
GO TO YOUR ROOM!  (which is so funny because this child barely gets in trouble!)

Q:  What makes your mom happy?
When you do something she wants you to do.

Q:  What makes your mom sad?
When you do something she does not want you to do.

Q: What does your mom dream about? 
Adopting a child.

Q: How does your mom serve others? 
By giving them stuff.  She supports them.

 Q:  How does your mom make you laugh?
When I am sad she makes me laugh.

Q:  How old is your mom?
35

Q:  How tall is your mom?
I don't know, how tall are you mom?

Q:  What is her favorite thing to do?
Be on the computer.

 Q:  What does your mom do when you’re not around?
 Computer or clean


Q: What is your mom good at? 
Driving

Q:  What does your mom do for a job?
Watch the kids.

Q:  What is your mom’s favorite food?
Chinese

 Q:  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
The mom from Rugrats



Q:  What do you and your mom do together?
We have special days together.  We shop together.  And school. 

Q:  How are you and your mom the same?
We look the same. 


Q:  How are you and your mom different?
Our hair is different.

 Q:  How do you know your mom loves you?
Because when you feel bad she cheers you up, and she loves me just the way I am. Because she is my mom.  Because she gives me lots of hugs and kisses.


Q:  What does your mom like most about your dad?
Whispering, what do you like most about him?  That he works for you?


Q:  Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
Chick Filet

Q: If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
A mom.

Q: If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Freeze Time (funny, that was also Sawyers!)

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
I like Chicago.  Wait no China! I always wanted to go there. 

Q: If you could build anything, what would you like to build?
A mansion oh and a american girl doll house.

Q: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you want?
Parrot

Q: If you could look like someone else, who would it be?
you (mom) Awww..

Q: If you had plenty of money, what would you buy?
First a computer, then my own huge trampoline

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in school?
My Fathers World (history and bible) 

Q: Have you ever sneaked a peek at presents that were hidden from you?
No

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
Watch a movie.   American Girls or Dollhouse

Q: What is your favorite vegetable?
None but my favorite fruit is everything except pears.

Q: What is your favorite season of the year?
I like Fall Why? It is not to hot or cold and you get to jump in leaves.

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse? (Same as Sawyers, we have been talking about this in school this week)
Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall be in want He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads be beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

An Interview with Sawyer-10 years old

 Saw this on a friends blog and thought it would be fun to hear my children answer.  I did not edit anything out!  I wish I could have added the giggles I got while asking Sawyer these questions, he is so funny!

Q: What is your name/nicknames 
Sawyer, SawSaw, Soy Sauce


 Q: What do you like about your age? 
 You get a good sunday school teacher.  (yeah for Mr Dave!)

Q: Why do you like to be a boy in this family?
Cause I don't have to be a girl.

Q: Do you wish you had a brother? 
 Hmmm, sometimes I do, sometimes i don't. Kind of.


Q: What was your favorite vacation?  
Mall of America, Don't get mad but Disney World was so crazy and the mall is fun.  (Not sure why he thinks I would be mad! DW IS crazy!)

Q: What is your favorite bible story?  
The Story of David, King David.  And Moses, I like him. 

Q: Why do you love Jesus?
Because, umm, He made me and loves me and is our ruler and he is awesome.

Q:  What is something your mom always says to you?

Good job Buddy!

Q:  What makes your mom happy?
When I don't do bad stuff.  When I am not in the room, giggle giggle.

Q:  What makes your mom sad?
When I don’t listen.  And orphans.

Q: What does your mom dream about? 
Orphans

Q: How does your mom serve others? 
She helps at church alot.

Q:  How does your mom make you laugh?
When she is sarcastic.

Q:  How old is your mom?
37 (WRONG, 35)

Q:  How tall is your mom?
medium

Q:  What is her favorite thing to do?
FACEBOOK!

Q:  What does your mom do when you’re not around?
 Facebook and clean


Q: What is your mom good at? Organizing

Q:  What does your mom do for a job?
 Housewife

Q:  What is your mom’s favorite food?
Umm  OH oh oh Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough cupcakes

Q:  If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Mrs Puff from Spongebob  (I am a bit scared to even know who this is!)


Q:  What do you and your mom do together?
We watch movies. 

Q:  How are you and your mom the same?
We look alike, that is what people tell me at least.


Q:  How are you and your mom different?
I am a boy and she is a girl.

Q:  How do you know your mom loves you?
A very good question, ummm cause she cleans every day and she hugs me and kisses me and tell me she loves me oh and she forgives me no matter what i do, even when I should be grounded, she lets me out of it.



Q:  What does your mom like most about your dad?
 That he loves her.

Q:  Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
The coffee house to get a chocolate chai. 

Q: If you could have any job in the world, what would you do?
Video Game Designer

Q: If you could be a superhero, what would your superpower be?
Freeze Time

Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?
I want to go to China but I could not live off their food.

Q: If you could build anything, what would you like to build?
A money machine that is not illegal.

Q: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you want?
Puppy

Q: If you could look like someone else, who would it be?
Daniel Radcliffe AKA Harry Potter hehehehehe

Q: If you had plenty of money, what would you buy?
My own laptop

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in school?
Lunch, Bible.

Q: Have you ever sneaked a peek at presents that were hidden from you?
No but I have tried.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you are alone?
Read or legos

Q: What is your favorite vegetable?
Corn

Q: What is your favorite season of the year?
Fall

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse?
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.  

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely  goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

My Growing China Team!

If you have not had a chance, I have a blog set up for our China trip.  Please take a peek over at
Team Chenzhou.  And don't miss my posts below, my goal is to blog this month every day.  Trying to get better and thought if I can do it every day, maybe it will get me back in the habit!

Anyone have some money to donate?

 Because if you do, I would be jumping on the next plane to China to scoop up this little guy!  Well, after I convinced my husband that we COULD do this again. And after I completed all that stinken paperwork.  And after I picked up our family off the floor from the shock. (who is shocked by us at this point?!) Just those small minor details that stand in my way!

   
So if you don't have any money you want to share with ME, how about heading to China yourself? Evan is waiting for his mommy and daddy and it is going to kill me till I know he has that!! He just turned 1.  He has a repaired (for now) heart condition, and a lazy eye, that as you can see is being worked on.  

There are so many children out there, I could post 20 a day and still never show you all the beautiful faces that wait.  You can read more about sweet "Evan"  here at the Love without Boundaries blog.  I hope that his face makes you smile, as much as it does me.  And I hope it makes your heart hurt for those who wait.  May we never forget that there are those who are out there, who need us.

Take my Dreams!

I was able to attend Revolve with Makenna recently. An amazing event for teen girls.  It was all about dreams, having dreams, what are our dreams.  Once home Makenna and I were talking about her dreams.  And I was sharing MY dreams.  I have a whole bunch of them!  She says "Mom, this was for teenagers, you don't get a dream!"  WELL!!!!

While there we heard Britt Nicole sing, and I just love this song.  If you turn your music up you will hear it on my play list. 

And it had me thinking.....Is it ok to have dreams?   Is it ok NOT to have dreams?   I struggle with this at times.  I, as you probably know, am a dreamer.  My mind is always moving in a million directions.  I always have a plan, a new idea, I am restless.  Am I restless because I am unsatisfied?  Am I searching because I do not have peace in the Lord?  Do I not have true contentment?  

I don't think that is it. Maybe I am wrong.  But I have to believe that the Lord has created me.  

Crazy dreams and all.  

Which means, maybe they are not so crazy after all.  

Maybe, I dream in exactly the way He wants me to. 

Maybe He has a plan for me, that I can't understand. 

Maybe He keeps me restless so I will figure it out.

I accuse Mark often of being a dream crusher.  He does not appreciate that.

But in reality, he is just not a dreamer.  And my ideas 

DO.

NOT.

 MAKE.

SENSE. 

Or involve more money than we have. 

Or would take more patience than we have.

Or simply go against everything that is comfortable.

He thinks of himself more as a realist. Who keeps me grounded. 

Not that I can argue with that. I know I need him. 

But I also need to dream.  And ponder. And wonder.   


My prayer is that the Lord would help me figure out what to do with all these thoughts and dreams.  That I could be settled in the truth and peace of knowing His will for my life. 
For my families life. 


My prayer is that He would take my dreams, and that He would use me, in whatever way He wants.

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do


I wanna feed the hungry children
And reach across the farthest land
And tell the broken there is healing
And mercy in the Father's hands


Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Nothing I cannot do


My hands my feet
My everything
My life, my love
Lord, use me


I wanna set the world on fire
I wanna set the world on fire, yeah


Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I cannot do
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
There's nothing I can't do
Nothing I can't do


I'm gonna set the world on fire
Set the world on fire

Life

• I stink at blogging.  
• I have blogs to post, I just need to finish them. 
• I lost the cord for my camera, and have been waiting on the new one to come in for weeks.
• Which is no excuse, I could post the blogs and add the pictures later.  
• Or even go out of order. 
• Life is hectic. 
• Our house is still for sale. 
• And has barely shown. 
• Though it seems to show at the most crazy times.
• Not sure there is ever a not crazy time at our house.
• The house we want to buy is getting ready to go up for sale. 
• Which makes us wonder if it is a sign. 
• A sign for what? Well, that could go in many ways. 
• Mark has been traveling to much for work.
• But he has a job. 
• I had some not fun virus while he was gone, migraines for days. 
• Which I have now passed on to Sawyer. 
• So thankful for Makenna, who is able to run this house when I was down. 
• Working on our China trip for this summer.
• Meaning working on raising the funds. Besides planning a trip. 
• Took Makenna to Revolve, GREAT time and more details about it.  I hope. 
• If I ever get back to blogging again. 
• I am teaching the young married girls at church.  Biblical Womanhood. 
• I think I am learning more than I am teaching.
• And being very convicted about what roles a Christian wife plays in marriage. 
• Have taken up "couponing".  
• I have a coupon binder that weighs almost as much as a child. 
• It is a TON of work. 
• But I am saving a ton of money. 
• It is almost like a game, what deals can I get this week?
• My brother is still in China.  
• He is doing well. 
• VERY well! ;-) 
• The little girls have not been in trouble at school in a very long time.  
• That is a shocker. 
• Mavery has actually been doing alot better lately.  
• By saying this the rest of my week is probably going to stink.  
• This month we will celebrate Chinese New Year.  
• And Marks birthday. 
• His request? A weekend away with me! 
• I have been studying about the Sabbath.  And what it means. 
• Among many things. 
• God is stirring something in me. 
• My prayer has been that He would make me uncomfortable. 
• I think I should instead pray, please just email me.  
• With directions for whatever I am supposed to be doing. 
• I am taking Bod for God at our church. 
• I am pretty sure I have gained rather than lost weight.  
• But I do like the class.  And agree with the ideas.  
• I have actually lost 10 pounds, but need to get more serious. 
• Makenna is working her tail off to earn money for our trip.  
• I am so proud of her. 
• I can't wait to be back in China, holding me some babies!
• I have had an ache for the orphans lately that won't go away. 
• And have a hard time understanding why more people don't share that. 
• Did you know that getting rid of orphans is the ONE thing in this world we COULD change?
• If more would just step up and adopt. 
• I sometimes wonder why God could not have just made me think about easy things.
• Easy?  What is easy?
• Well, it might have been a random blog, but it is a blog!

China Trip to Chenzhou

I just wanted to share that I have been working on a blog for our trip this summer to work at the Chenzhou Orphanage, in Hunan China.  Still working on getting a team together.  Please click HERE to read all about it!  And yes, the picture is the day we met our Sage, from Chenzhou. 

Christmas Eve

 I love this girl, isn't she just adorable?  Her personality matches this smile perfectly! And I think pink is her color!

 Our little man, we miss him! Luke has gone with his mama, we sure enjoyed him!

 Before Church, we had some cranky little girls. 

 He was not cranky, just not sure he wanted his picture taken!

 Cousins! And they even coordinate.  We sure missed the Garris family.  ;-(  The snowy weather kept them home this year.

 Happy!

 Oops some closed eyes.

 Missing my brother, who is still in China.  Though we were able to spend much of the evening together through skype! And yes despite the snowstorm outside my girls refuse to wear socks or jackets!

 The Geist Family

 Mommy & son!

 3 brothers

 Yep, we acted out the nativity again.  It was quite comical, we made the adults join in the fun. I need to see if anyone video'd, it is a good laugh!

 Happy Birthday to Jesus!

 Right Left Game, love seeing who knows their right from left!

It was a wonderful evening of being together.  We were thrilled to have a white Christmas, though we did have a fun time in our big van trying to get to church!  But we made it and while it gets a bit crazy in service with the kids, we are thankful to celebrate our Saviors birth together. 

Cousin Christms Fun

 We had lots of fun celebrating Christmas with cousins Jaylyn, Adley and Leighton.  My kids were thrilled to party somewhere besides our house! ;-)  Amy is a brave woman to invite us over for sure! The kids talked for days about all the work Amy did planning out games and crafts for us. 

 Present Time! And as you can see, between us we have SEVEN girls and then Sawyer.  He loves that. His attempts to talk TJ into adopting a 10 year old boy have not worked out.  Yet.

The girls are holding TuTu bags Amy found, aren't they cute?  We love them and the girls carry them everywhere.  Thanks Amy & girls for a fun day out of the house!

Family Christmas Dinner

 Every holiday we still try to do a "special dinner" with just Mark, myself and the kids.   I did not realize how much the dinners actually mean to the kids till we missed the Thanksgiving dinner.  We do have dinner together every night, but these dinners involve sparkling grape juice, candles, the real china, real mashed potatoes, etc..  They were so upset that we did not have Thanksgiving, we made it up in early December!  We had steak for our Christmas dinner, compliments of Mark's work, yum! After dinner we read the Christmas story and each child puts a piece in the nativity.

 Then it is on to the gifts.  We let the kids draw a name of a sibling and it was so much fun this year.  Each year the budget has become smaller,  this year we set it at $5.  I so enjoy taking them on s special shopping date to choose their gift.  The thought they put into it, you can just see their minds working. They are very secretive about who they bought for, and can't wait to surprise their sibling on this night!

 Mavery pulled Sage, and I saved her shopping day till the day of.  Good thing.  She walked in from the store and said "Sage I got your gift and it is a secret!" Sage was pretty excited about Rapunzel.

 Sawyer giving to Mavery.

 Anyone who has seen Sawyer opens a gift, can imagine when I say that Mavery opens just like him! The screaming and yelling and SO excited!

 I think Sawyer did a good job, don't you?

 Makenna & Malaine drew each other, which they found pretty funny!

 Oh my she looks old to me here, wow!

 Sage was thrilled to pull "her buddy", and she took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to pick out his gift at the store!

 She thought this walking light up eyes, growling dinosaur looked like it came from Harry Potter !

 Last but not least, Makenna gets her gift. 

 Good job Malaine!

 Happy Siblings!

I do treasure these times when we can just slow down, relax and enjoy each other.  We are already thinking ahead to Valentines Day Dinner!