First Day of School 2012

Since school has been in session now ALMOST a month, I figured I will try to catch up.  3 are attending school at school this year. And doing well! Pictures of school at home to come... 

School Years Eve 2012

Better late than never? Celebrated the night before school starting with dinner and fondue! 

Flower Girls!

Sage & Mavery were asked to be in a cousins wedding this summer! It was pretty exciting because it was OUR flower girl from our wedding! 

They did such a great job and had so much fun! So thankful that Casey asked them to be a part of her special day! 

Summer 2012 Recap

Summer is officially over, school is back in session and I am about 3 months behind on my blog. Here is a recap of what we have done since vacation in May! 

 Had some sweet visitors back with us! 

 Celebrated EIGHTEEN years of marriage at our favorite place. 

 The Melting Pot! 

 So sad I don't have photos to share of Vacation Bible School. I helped out in the planning and this is just one picture I have of my moms really cool decorations! We ended our week with a Praise A Palooza and it was such a hit. 

 We bought our first car "Dave Ramsey style". That would mean cash in case you wonder. We still have the vans. This is the "we have to have a vehicle the almost drivers ed student can drive". Gulp! 

 Mark, Makenna, Sawyer & Malaine went on the Family Mission trip with our church.  They spent a week serving in Chicago, which they loved. Sage, Mavery and I had a blast playing! We spent a day at Raging Rivers, very fun! 

 We met one of my team mates Annie, who we treated to a St Louis summer tradition! Annie went on our China team and moved here to the area! 

 Makenna went to Super Summer with the youth. She loves it and we love that she makes this a priority every year.

Sawyer and Malaine attended Childrens Camp. They were there while I was in China, which worked out well. Malaines first year and she LOVED it. Babysitting training was her favorite, imagine that!

We also did lots of swimming, weekend at the lake, girls first time to the drive in.  Makenna attended Color Guard Camp & band Camp. We survived the heat, the craziness and had fun. Sad to see it go! 

Wedding photos to come! 

Happy Gotcha Sage-SIX years!

I really wanted to catch up on our summer, first day of school which included HIGH SCHOOL for Makenna! And many other things. As if this week has not been emotional enough for me,  today we are celebrating a special day.

6 years ago we met our 3rd daughter, our 4th child. I wish I could wrap up into words what happened that day. I wish everyone could experience what it is like to travel to the other side of the world and meet a child that is yours just as much as if you had given birth. I wish everyone could understand that there is no clearer picture of Gods love for us than having a child placed into your arms that HE chose.

I am still in awe of her. Not only did we gain a daughter when we met her, our lives were completely changed. 

 Our hearts broke for the orphan and we knew we were called to DO something about it. Because of Sage, we returned for Mavery. 

We decided that we needed to do more than adopt, we needed to fight for those left behind. AND for those caring for the orphans. So God opened doors and gave us a chance travel to China to give of ourselves at her orphanage. 

We gained a deeper understanding of God's heart than ever before. His love for ME made so much more sense. His ADOPTION of ME made so much more sense. My love for Him grew. And it grows. 

I can't even imagine if we had said no. Because we almost did. We almost missed HER, and this life we live. Thankful for 6 years with our Spicy girl. Thankful that she calls me mommy. So, so thankful. 

It's not about Me

I hope you have joined me as I journeyed to China and back over at Team Chenzhou.

But since I am home and this is home base, I am coming back.

Though I hope to use that blog to keep you up to date on what is going on with Chenzhou.

I pray that there is MUCH going on this year.

Because yes, I AM home.

But part of my heart is always in China.

There is MUCH to be done for those who wait there. And since I can’t always be there, I WILL be their voice here.

The line that has gone through my head while in China and since back over and over is this.

It’s not about me.

GREAT things happened while we were there.

Not because of me.

Money is being raised for kids to go to school.

Not because of me.

New beds were purchased for the kids, stainless instead of the wood that is probably full of lead that they chewed on.

Not because of me.

The staff opened up, welcomed us in, cried as hard if not harder when we left.

Not because of me.

We are looking into raising funds to give babies lifesaving surgeries.

Not because of me.

Really, I left Chenzhou this year SO encouraged and excited.

And if I am not careful I could try to take credit.

But it is not about me.

I am simply the voice, willing to be used. 

Just a girl who loves Jesus, and is called to fight for the orphan.

A VERY imperfect girl who has SO many faults it is ridiculous.

But saved by a loving God who forgives the faults and covers me in His grace.

He allows me to be a wife, a mother and also a friend of the sweet people of Chenzhou.

He is the one throwing doors WIDE open.

And I can’t wait till someday when I can tell my friends there, it is not about me.

Someday I will get to introduce them to Him.

Because it really is ALL about God. 

Sawyer turns TWELVE