Family update!

This is going to be a hodge podge of things I have needed to post, but other things keep getting in the way! (ie: Silent auction!:)

#1. Brooks started Kindergarten last month! What!? I know. We can't believe our first baby is in big boy school. We have prayed and prayed over this... that God would prepare him for this transition, bring him a peace about school, give him a love for school so he desires to go, and for him to be a quiet leader (like we know he can be) and not a follower. We have also prayed for us to have peace with our decision to place him here. We have been praying a LONG time for his Kinder teacher, that she would be a Christ follower and He would shine in her teaching and discipline, that she would LOVE children and be sensitive to each and every child's needs, that she would know how to treat and love each child to where they feel special.
SO, this is a lot to pray for just starting Kindergarten, but guess what!? GOD can do it, and HE DID! :) We praise him every day lately for how He has shown us that he cares about us in the little things. What a treat to not have to worry about our quiet sensitive Brooks while he is away from us for 7 hours... too long! He is doing great, loves his teacher, is excited about learning, and has actually been honored at school!
Thank you Lord for all you have done!

This is a pic of him getting to sit on the "Couch of Honor" with our prinicipal at the football game!



These are a few of his first day of Kindergarten!




#2. Brayden started PRE-SCHOOL or Mother's Day Out!! I even got teary-eyed for this one! We also prayed for his teachers and friends in his class, that he would love it and learn lots! He is doing well, but of course he much rather play with Mommy all day long! ;) Thank you Jesus he isn't putting up a fight when he gets to go!!
He has a small class, which we love, and he seems to really enjoy it. Thank you LORD!
Here are a few of his first day...






#3. Sad news... our sweet lab, Mo-Mo, passed away last month. :( He was 12 yrs. old, and he had a long, spoiled, wonderful life. We think he died of something call "gastric dilatation". Poor buddy was uncomfortable his last few hours of his life, but thankfully he was with us and it wasn't a long, drawn-out ordeal. Also, we have never wanted to make that decision of having to "put him down" and we didn't have to do that. We miss him daily and know there will NEVER be another dog like him.





#4. Speaking of dogs, Momma couldn't hold out very long... we got a puppy! MAX is his name and he is now 15 weeks old! The boys LOVE playing with him and wear him out! We definitely have to watch them closely and remind them that he is a living being! ;)
What we have seen... Max in the swivel chair going in circles on a "ride", his crate being shaken by the "tornado", Max in the dirty clothes hamper being carried to the laundry room (glad I caught this;), Max being pulled by his tail & one leg, and also being drug around holding on with his teeth to his chew toy (I think he enjoys this one until he slams into the wall!)! Oh, Lord protect this little dog! Here he is...






#5. We are now fundraising for our adoption through a Silent Online Auction!! We have had 4 items and have raised over $500! Thank you Jesus! We are blessed to have friends that love us and want to see us raise this money to bring our daughter to her forever home. This fundraising effort is to raise the funds for our travel expenses. We have to have 4 round trip tickets to Ethiopia and back, and 1 one-way ticket for her. :) This is going to cost anywhere from $8,000 - $10,000, depending on time of travel! Whew! We know God is going to provide one way or another, but we pray He uses this auction to start!! Please check back here on the blog or Facebook for some up-n-coming items... there are some more really good ones! If you would like to make a bid, please comment or send me an email stating your bid and what you are bidding on. (heytams at gmail.com) We need more bidders for sure! Thank you!
*Please pray...
...For the Lord's provision and blessings on our auction and future fundraising efforts!!
...For our little girl's health and safety, for God to bring her home faster than we could ever imagine, for God to bring her peace and comfort in her circumstances, sor someone to provide her needs daily and love on her while we can't, her mother/father - for them to seek and find HIM in this process and a peace with their decision.
...For the transition post-adoption - that it will be smoother/easier than expected, for bonding to take place quickly with the boys, Mommy and Daddy.

Thank you for checking up on us and thank you for your prayers!