Baptisms and a Birthday

Many of you have asked about the adoption and how things are going...what is the status, etc. Well, we are still waiting on word from Ch*na. So, while I can't bring any news as to our new little one(s)...I just have to say that we are "doing the next thing". I am going a little crazy with not knowing anything, so the Lord is teaching me about just getting up and doing what He has for me that day. On the adoption front that means finishing our homestudy this week (YAH!!) and sending it off to immigration.

On the homefront, that means the boys' baptisms. Both boys have been asking for a while about being baptized. Since we attend a Presbyterian church, it looked like we were going to be doing this "on our own" :-) In my mind, I wanted to make sure it was a weekend when everyone could be in town, and everyone could be a part of it. But, I think ideally, not realistically, and that wasn't able to happen. So, we had a small, intimate gathering with some family and a few close friends planned somewhat at the last minute. The boys gave their testimonies and were baptized by their Paw-paw. It was a sweet time of fellowship and praise of what the Lord has done in the boys' lives and is continuing to do. We missed the family that wasn't here...who live out of town...my Grandmother was admitted to the ICU in Memphis last week for internal bleeding, and so that has been a little stressful, but overall, it was a time of praise to our Heavenly Father. My Aunt Jan did come in town to visit, and we helped her celebrate her "50th" :-) birthday.

Aun Jan and her cake

Drew reading his testimony ("Jesus means everything to me. Whatever He wants me to do, I will do, wherever He wants me to go, I will go. I believe He died for my sins, was buried and rose again.")

Luke after being baptized. His testimony was "Jesus means more to me than anything I have. I am glad that He died for my sins. I am glad that He died for everybody."

Daddy praying with the boys after the baptism.

The Beauty of Homeschooling...

Science projects in the summer! I love the no-pressure days of summer, when we can focus on science and history and read-alouds. Most of the time, the kids don't even view it as school. :-)

The Little Girls making power-bouncy balls...

The finished product :-)


Drew decided to try his hand at making crystals (Emily looks scared)...

If you are wondering what Luke focused on...his creation is growing in the boys' bathroom (relax, it is a controlled experiment....although, I am sure there are other things up there growing that aren't part of this experiment). He is hatching some sort of pre-historic creature (according to the box.). I will believe it when I see it...

Sweet Emily bought a nice, quiet sewing project. She has only lost the needle 45,000 times. :-)

Rainy Day Play...

Ah, the differences between boys and girls...the boys decided to ride scooters and the flying turtle down our driveway as fast as possible in the rain.

Fortunately, there were no accidents...near misses, but no accidents.

The girls decided to "wash their hair" in the water coming out of the drain.


All Clean!

Before I remove the "Chip-In" Button...

I wanted to ask everyone to keep praying for Jonathan. He is one of the little ones that we were raising money for. His picture is earlier on the blog...he is still struggling and is currently in ICU. Please keep this little guy in your prayers!

Praise the Lord!

Check it out - over $4,000 has been raised for the little ones at New Day who need surgery! Thank you guys for donating and praying for these little ones! You can check out all of the little ones in need of surgeries or whose surgeries have been covered at http://www.newdaycreations.com/foster/help/mdc.htm . Amazing work is done there, folks!

Happy 4th of July!

For Daddy, this is a science....

For Abby, she wasn't quite so sure...


The girls decided they liked the ones that made little noise and stayed on the ground.

I have to agree with the girls. Anytime we hear Daddy say, "Well, kids, I'm not so sure what this one does." That is when we decide to take cover behind the bushes.

Jonathan's surgery

Little Jonathan was able to have his heart surgery - praise the Lord! Please keep this little guy in your prayers, though. It was a 3 and a half hour surgery, and the doctors are concerned about the healing of his heart and lungs. As his body fights for strength, let's pray that the Giver of all strength and life would heal this little guy!