Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so thankful for so much! I really love this time of year because it causes me to slow down and think about what I am truly thankful for. My relationship with God, my husband, family, friends, and so much more! We will be spending a few days with my in-laws, and we are looking forward to a great time! Have a very blessed holiday!

He's Home!

It has been such a busy, crazy, chaotic week! We met the baby on Wednesday, and brought him home on Friday. He is such a wonderful baby, and I feel so blessed that God would have him be my son.
The other kids were so excited to see him, that when we got home they were almost unable to contain themselves. It is fun to watch the kids welcome him so quickly and completely into our home and family. Elise had to give him his first bottle, and the little ones keep asking to hold him. We will be working to set boundaries for the babies safety and sanity! Tonight Aidan picked the place on the couch next to where the baby was sleeping. It was sweet to see him talk to the baby and give him a pacifier when he started fussing. I am so happy there hasn't been any jealousy, so far, only total excitement!
Soon, I will post some pictures and write more about how God is continuing to amaze me! Now, however, I am tired and will be headed to bed for some sleep(at least until bottle time)!

Hopewalks and Serna Village!

We had such a great weekend! On Saturday we walked for the second annual HOPEWALKS: A Promise to the Children of the Epidemic (our second year, too!). It was a walk to raise funds for organizations working to share Jesus and meet the needs of children and families affected by the AIDS, poverty and child slavery. It is really awesome to participate in something that will bless kids on the other side of the planet. It is also cool to be able to do it as a family! It isn't always easy to find places to serve with the kids, especially when their ages are spread out like ours. Aidan, our oldest son, isn't in the picture because he was serving as a volunteer at the event! We went to church that night still wearing our shirts, and a friend commented that we were dressed alike. I think it is the one day a year that all six of us dress alike. How FUN!!

On Sunday afternoon, we went as a family to Serna Village to participate in the outreach with the kids and families. It was the second time in one weekend that we were able to serve together as a family! I don't think there is much better than working alongside your kids and husband to bring Jesus to those who don't know Him yet! We had a great time. I worked in the kitchen and served lunch, while Brian played games with the kids and youth. Our kids simply joined in with the kids from the village, and Elise is building friendships with some girls her own age. This week a performer came and sang, danced and did magic tricks for the families. It was a really fun show! Everything he did related back to Jesus in some way, so , it was fun and meaningful at the same time.

I continue to be amazed by the kids at Serna Village. They really do have my heart. It was nice to see some familiar faces, and continue to build relationships with them. I know it takes some time, but please pray that God will bless all the volunteers with the ability to grow friendships quickly. Pray also for the boldness I need to speak up when the opportunity presents itself, both at Serna Village and in my everyday life with friends and neighbors.


I found this informational video about Serna Village. It was done by the local newspaper. It gives a little glimpse into what the transitional housing facility is about.

Serna Village information video: http://www.sacbee.com/995/story/533823.html

Transitional Housing Outreach!

So, a couple of Sundays ago, I find myself at church alone. (This is HUGE, given I tend to be shy in large groups!) It was ministry fair weekend, which means all the various ministies available at church have a table so people can get to know them and find a place to connect or serve. During the worship time I was thinking about how I would love to find a place to serve where all my passions can come under one roof, so to speak. Just then the name of a local transitional housing facility in our area came to mind. I knew our church partnered with them in some way, but I was not really sure how. So, after the service I went looking to see if they had a ministry table, and of course, they did. God is so good, and speaks so clear sometimes!! As I approached the table the woman who introduced herself to me was wearing a "Ask me about Serna Village" T-shirt. We talked and she explained the monthly outreach, and I knew it was a God Thing that I had come to church (even though Brian couldn't) and not missed the ministry fair!

Once a month, a small group of people go to Serna Village to build relationships with and serve the residents in the name of Jesus. This happens as a meal is shared, and friendships are made. Games and crafts are done with the kids while the adults do other activities. It is an awesome opportunity to serve people who need to hear how much God loves them!! The people who live at Serna Village are transitioning out of homeless and/or drug and alcohol addiction. Many of the kids have been in foster care, and are now in reunification with their birth parents. In case you aren't sure what to think of this, IT IS AWESOME!! This is a crucial time in the lives of these families and, as the body of Christ, we need to step up, love them, serve them, support them and point them to Jesus!

I decided to take Elise with me the first time, since Brian and Aidan needed to be elsewhere. We showed up not really knowing what to expect, but ready to serve wherever the need was. We ended up working with the kids on crafts. It was such a great time! The kids are just great, and it was nice to be able to share with them while working on creative projects. Elise was so much help, and had a great attitude the whole time, even picking up garbage and cleaning up afterwards. We plan to go back and continue to serve as a family.

Now, as I pray, I have specific faces and names to lift up. One girl in particular broke my heart, not only for her, but for her mother. As we were making picture frames she told me one of the frames she was painting was for her mom to put a picture of her kids that have been adopted. She told me she her mom had a couple of kids younger than herself that were adopted. I told her that her mom would love it, and it would be very special to her. Even though I wanted too, I didn't cry!! I have two kids adopted out of the foster care system here locally. I really have a passion for these families. I know the best place for these kids is with their birth families, if they are able to pull themselves together and adequately parent their kids. My heart is with these mothers, and I want to support them and pray for them and their kids as they are reuniting and taking on the responsibility of parenting. I also understand from the adoptive parent side that kids are the biggest blessings in your life, whether born to you biologically or adopted. I pray for the birth families of my children regularly. I know God wants them as His own children. I hope someone will see beyond their "stuff" and love them to Jesus.

I know that the time spent at Serna Village is well spent. It is time spent loving families and kids and parents in Jesus' name. I can't wait to go back!

Camille's Adoption Day!!

Today is Camille's Adoption Day!! In our family we celebrate the anniversary of each child's legal adoption as a family day. We are so blessed to have each of the kids, and Adoption Day reminds myself and them that God is good and has put us together as a family. Each of us being vitally important to the whole, with a special emphasis on the one whose adoption we are celebrating. It is like the anniversary of our wedding, we are remembering one of the most important days in our lives!!



So, here is Camille! She is two and a half, very articulate and full of spunk. When I think about adoption, I tend to think about what it means to me personally as a mom and parent. However, today while the kids were eating popsicles and swimming, I was thinking about adoption as it relates to siblings. One thing that I am confident of is that if God is calling you to something, He is calling your whole family if you are married and have kids. I knew I wanted to love, adore, play with and parent more kids. I also knew that adoption was the path God was calling us as parents to walk down. As we prayed about the decision to adopt, we (Brian and I) were convinced that if we were meant to be parents again, then Aidan, Elise and Isaac were meant to be siblings again. As I look at Camille, it is hard to imagine our life without her. I am so thankful for her, that God found us to be the right family for her and that her birth mother made the hard choice to carry her to term. She is an amazing little girl and our whole family, each of us as individuals, are better for having her in our lives.
In these pictures, she is laughing and playing with Isaac. I am amazed by how perfectly they tend to compliment each other. Isaac and Camille are only 15 months apart in age and tend to be inseparable like twins. God knew that Camille was the perfect little sister for Isaac when he placed her in our family. I am just so thankful that God has not only my best interests but also those of my kids at heart. I am in complete awe of how much He loves us, and how His ways are perfect. Camille is an ideal example of His love!

Potty Training Camille!!

This has been the first week of school for the older kids, which means it is quieter around our house. I always miss the kids when they head back to school! As the new year starts, I am praying about my role in the home and as a mom. God has really laid it on my heart to focus my time and energy on my kids and my home. This isn't to say I haven't been doing this, I just feel led to proceed with more prayer and purpose.

So, with my focus at home, I am purposefully spending less time away! This has allowed me to do something I have been putting off for a while now, potty training Camille. She has been more than ready and the slower pace of our days have created the perfect time to get this done. So here she is, proudly going on the potty. We took this picture because she went poo poo in the toilet for the first time right then! What a big girl!!!

God is so good to me. I cannot imagine spending my life on anything more important that raising our family. I am thankful that God has allowed me this privilege. I am also grateful that He has caused me to slow down and really focus on and enjoy this time of my life!