18 hours ago
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Big Orange Pumpkin Farm - Celina, TX
Here we are at the pumpkin patch in Celina, TX... where we go every year, but it is getting crazy busy! They have some super fun things for kids and the boys love it... especially the animals and picking out their pumpkin! Now for the disclaimer... not sure why this is, but Brooks is making very silly faces every time I say smile so this is what we get! He has fun and it makes for funny pictures!! :) But I LOVE that handsome one of him looking off in the distance like a little model! And Brayden LOVES hats, so this little "mechanic" outfit with the cap was just up his alley!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Heard Museum - McKinney, TX
Mimi with the boys at the entrance... they are SO excited... can't you tell!!??:)
Brooks and his "mean wolf" face - Love it!
Brooks (above) and Brayden (below) panning for gold!
They LOVED being paleontologists and digging for dinosaur bones!
Do you see the cute caterpillar? This is in the butterfly exhibit.
Mommy gets some quick snuggles.
Now some fun on the nature trails!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Brayden's 2yr. Barnyard Birthday Bash!
Brayden had a great time at his Barnyard Birthday party! Here he is being told he has to wait to open his presents! Bummer...
Thank you to Betty Crocker and internet for assisting in my very first cake attempt!I am a fan of super easy. :)
Party menu: "From the Farmer's Garden" (veggies), "Hay" stack (shoe string fries), and "Piggies in a Blanket" (wienies in croussants)
The real deal... Farmer Brayden and his beloved lollipop
Pretty ladies... Nana and Tiffany Batchelor (my cousin)
Brooks in character!
Mimi, cousin Marley, Aunt Kelley, and cousin David
Crazy cousin David finally got to bob for apples... and boy, did he ever!
Brooks did it too!
Me and Brooks with my dad's brother, Uncle Guy, Tiffany and niece Lillian
Yeah! Birthday cake time!
Yummy... I think he is eyeing the cake for more!
Sweet cousin Marley and Duck on upside down :)
Lillian in the hay... what a precious girl!
This is Brayden after I asked him to lay down for me. Hee hee...
Daddy, the videographer
On your mark, get set, GO! Running and jumping to the hay pile...
Cowboy Brooks
Cowgirl Lillian
Farmer Brooks... love this one.
Why Ethiopia?
We have some friends in TN, Pat and Amy Hood, who also adopted from Ethiopia recently. A while back, she put this on her blog. We had a feeling we were going to go to Ethiopia anyway, considering it is one of the dark and "unreached" areas of the world, but this is all the more reason. It hurts my heart to know these things, and it makes me want to bring our little girl home as quick at possible!
Here are you some points to ponder, just in case you might be asking yourself why Ethiopia?
One in ten children die before their first birthday
One in six children die before their fifth birthday
44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old
60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
The median age in Ethiopia is 18 years
1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)
720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone
Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa
In the 90s the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%)
Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)
Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school.
Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002.
Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.
In 1993, after 30 long years of war, Eritrea broke from Ethiopia and became an independent nation leaving Ethiopia landlocked without any major seafaring ports.
Ethiopia has approx. 4.3 million orphans and the country is twice the size of Texas.
Here are you some points to ponder, just in case you might be asking yourself why Ethiopia?
One in ten children die before their first birthday
One in six children die before their fifth birthday
44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old
60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
The median age in Ethiopia is 18 years
1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)
720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone
Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa
In the 90s the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%)
Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)
Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school.
Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002.
Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.
In 1993, after 30 long years of war, Eritrea broke from Ethiopia and became an independent nation leaving Ethiopia landlocked without any major seafaring ports.
Ethiopia has approx. 4.3 million orphans and the country is twice the size of Texas.
Decision Made!
As many of you know, we have been praying about adopting for a very long time. We have known, and have been convicted, that the Lord clearly states in His Word to care for the fatherless, widows and strangers of this world. We just didn't know what exactly this meant for our family, but we knew we needed to do something. Kent and I have always been open to adoption, whether we had problems conceiving or not... it didn't matter. It is beautiful, and we have always thought this. The way God orchestrates His sovereign plan in bringing parents THEIR child, biologically or from all the way around the world, is absolutely incredible and moving beyond words. I have been ready for months now, but it wasn't God's perfect timing, b/c Kent wasn't there yet. I had a strong feeling God would bring Kent to this place, but I was really having to trust Him and wait on His timing for us. It obviously wasn't right yet... until Saturday night, Aug. 15.
On this Saturday evening, Brooks, for the first time, spoke his own prayer... out loud... without direction... without repeating, at the dinner table. It went something like this, "God, thank you for this food. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy, and help those without mommies and daddies in this world." Tear... seriously, it was SO sweet! We hadn't been talking about this much, although we had in the past. We know God put it in his heart and mind! Anyway, that night, Kent was praying during his quiet time that God would show him clearly in His Word. Kent says that he got through his time with God in the Word, and there was nothing new. He was disappointed and asked God again. Then he felt God was revealing to him..."I have already shown you in my Word. Tonight, I showed you through your son." Then he knew it was time to move forward and pursue our little girl!
Believe it or not, he didn't tell me that night. The next evening, he was going through some books on his book shelf, looking through some of what he had underlined in years past and he came upon a book called, The Potter's Freedom. (Side note: We thought in the past, if we did adopt, we would do so internationally b/c of our heart and passion for missions, the Great Commission, the extremely poor, and the dark areas of the world.) He then noticed something underlined, nothing of note, but his eyes gravitated to the top of the page and it referred to "Ethiopians". We know God is sovereign. We know he knows our child by name. He knew God was leading him to that page to confirm our thoughts toward adopting an Ethiopian child. He still didn't tell me that night! Three nights later came the BIG REVEAL (Wednesday, Aug. 19)! He was in the living room, with every light in the room on, looking at the video camera. When I asked what he was doing, he just said he was just messing with it. Then he asked me to proofread a letter he had written to our supporters that was on the ottoman. I was confused b/c we had just sent our newsletter a few days before. He said he forgot something and to read it! So I did. And I knew almost right away. The first line was this scripture:
James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."
I could barely read the rest through the tears! I knew he wouldn't write to everyone until he knew this is what we decided to do!! I WAS SO EXCITED!! I can't even begin to describe the feeling - other than it was like I was finding out I was about to have another baby... pure delight, joy, excitement! I couldn't wait to tell EVERYONE I knew! I told Kent I had been waiting on this day for SO LONG! Oh, and by the way, he was recording me reading this letter the whole time! That is why he had all the lights on in the room! So I called both our moms and did the first step in the process online the next day.
Everything else... length of trip to bring child home, one trip only, our passion for the lost and oppressed, and so many other details... are in place perfectly b/c that is where He has our little girl. And He has put it in our hearts (Ethiopia) for a reason, and has made it known. Right now, our hearts are with a little girl, between the age of 1-2 years. Who knows what God has in store? But we trust Him... and we know He will lead us to her.
Please, please pray for us in this amazing journey. I know there will be surprises, good and bad days, and lots of waiting. Also, please pray for our little girl and her birth mother... their safety and provision, the birth mother's health and choices, and that she will seek Father and find Him in her circumstances. Thank you for sharing in our joy and in this journey! We can't wait!
On this Saturday evening, Brooks, for the first time, spoke his own prayer... out loud... without direction... without repeating, at the dinner table. It went something like this, "God, thank you for this food. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy, and help those without mommies and daddies in this world." Tear... seriously, it was SO sweet! We hadn't been talking about this much, although we had in the past. We know God put it in his heart and mind! Anyway, that night, Kent was praying during his quiet time that God would show him clearly in His Word. Kent says that he got through his time with God in the Word, and there was nothing new. He was disappointed and asked God again. Then he felt God was revealing to him..."I have already shown you in my Word. Tonight, I showed you through your son." Then he knew it was time to move forward and pursue our little girl!
Believe it or not, he didn't tell me that night. The next evening, he was going through some books on his book shelf, looking through some of what he had underlined in years past and he came upon a book called, The Potter's Freedom. (Side note: We thought in the past, if we did adopt, we would do so internationally b/c of our heart and passion for missions, the Great Commission, the extremely poor, and the dark areas of the world.) He then noticed something underlined, nothing of note, but his eyes gravitated to the top of the page and it referred to "Ethiopians". We know God is sovereign. We know he knows our child by name. He knew God was leading him to that page to confirm our thoughts toward adopting an Ethiopian child. He still didn't tell me that night! Three nights later came the BIG REVEAL (Wednesday, Aug. 19)! He was in the living room, with every light in the room on, looking at the video camera. When I asked what he was doing, he just said he was just messing with it. Then he asked me to proofread a letter he had written to our supporters that was on the ottoman. I was confused b/c we had just sent our newsletter a few days before. He said he forgot something and to read it! So I did. And I knew almost right away. The first line was this scripture:
James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."
I could barely read the rest through the tears! I knew he wouldn't write to everyone until he knew this is what we decided to do!! I WAS SO EXCITED!! I can't even begin to describe the feeling - other than it was like I was finding out I was about to have another baby... pure delight, joy, excitement! I couldn't wait to tell EVERYONE I knew! I told Kent I had been waiting on this day for SO LONG! Oh, and by the way, he was recording me reading this letter the whole time! That is why he had all the lights on in the room! So I called both our moms and did the first step in the process online the next day.
Everything else... length of trip to bring child home, one trip only, our passion for the lost and oppressed, and so many other details... are in place perfectly b/c that is where He has our little girl. And He has put it in our hearts (Ethiopia) for a reason, and has made it known. Right now, our hearts are with a little girl, between the age of 1-2 years. Who knows what God has in store? But we trust Him... and we know He will lead us to her.
Please, please pray for us in this amazing journey. I know there will be surprises, good and bad days, and lots of waiting. Also, please pray for our little girl and her birth mother... their safety and provision, the birth mother's health and choices, and that she will seek Father and find Him in her circumstances. Thank you for sharing in our joy and in this journey! We can't wait!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Playing in the Rain... pure happiness!
Mommy is standing in the garage while the boys are playing in the rain!!!!(LOVE that face of his!)
"Really Mommy??? Are u sure??? I am SO excited!" exclaims Brooks. :)
Running in circles couldn't BE more fun!!!!!!
Brayden lovin' life!
Brooks with pure joy says, "Mommy, I am so happy you let us play in the rain! Can we do this again sometime soon!?" ... Cutie pie.Friday, June 12, 2009
Brayden's First Break
Here is poor Brayden and his broken wrist. Of all the falls, and he has had MANY, a silly stumble while trying to take his shorts off by himself (standing up though) leads to a "buckled fracture" in his wrist!! I thought I should record this momentous occasion and share it with you too. He is alright with it now, but when he REALLY wants to run, use both hands to hold food and a drink, or play with 2 things at the same time... he gets really ticked. :( Poor thing... and yes, Momma has cried over this.
"Lord, as you know, he isn't even 2 yet. I pray this isn't foreshadowing of things to come! Please protect our little, independent adventurer! - Amen" :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
