Amy's Blog Giveaway

Amy from Ethiopia or Bust is having her first blog giveaway in order to raise money for the adoption of her second child from Ethiopia. I have only recently been following her blog and I was so excited to see that she is giving away this beautiful necklace which was made by Tracy, (visit JunkPosse jewelry).

Tracy also just created this brand new necklace.

Its the Ethiopian Angel Wing necklace. ($80 value)

Artistic Tracy noticed that the country of Ethiopia is shaped like a wing... so she created this cute necklace!

To enter, please visit Amy's blog yourself and add this giveaway to your blog or facebook, or both and then leave her a comment. And while you are there, take the time to read about their story and their first adoption of their son Silas!

Jeff is back from Israel

My wonderful husband has been in Israel for almost two weeks on a tour with Joel Rosenberg and The Joshua Fund. He had the most amazing time there and I have asked him if he would do a post about his trip and what the Lord is doing in Israel...... exciting things!!! I cannot wait to learn more myself!

We are so pleased to have him home safe and sound. God was so gracious while he was gone and no one was sick and all went fairly well with running the home and schooling the children. I also had some really sweet times with the Lord myself. It was much too quiet without him around and I realise how he is truly my best friend and I am so lost without him.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder!!

Isaac the Poet

The Wind

As the buttercups dance with the morning breeze,

As the wind rustles through the tall trees,

I sit in the grass and watch the winds game

If a tree falls over, we'll know who to blame!

The wind is mischievous with his powerful blow,

He blows in the rain, he blows in the snow,

But sometimes the wind gets carried away,

Blowing away newspapers day after day.

But the wind can be fun, he is my best friend,

And we play together for hours on end.

Where Did We Come From?

We did not come from monkeys as some people like to think,

Neither did we come from one simple little blink.

In fact we came from something big and would probably weigh a tonne,

We came from God in Heaven, who sent His only Son.

So if you were ever wondering who we came from and why,

Then you should read the Bible and why Jesus had to die.

He took away our sin and threw it in the bin,

So we could live forever in eternal life with Him!

I am so pleased with Isaac's poems!! He has been inspired by the three poems by Robert Louis Stevenson which we have now memorised;

The Moon

My Shadow

A Good Play

Tomorrow in home school, we will begin Autumn Fires!!

Our Backwards, Upside-Down Dinner!

Last month we had one of our family theme dinners..... backwards and upside-down dinner! I was inspired many months ago from the book "A Mother's Heart" by Jean Fleming . She gives ideas for theme meals to do with your family for a special and fun time together. Since our children LOVE to dress up in costume and act out skits and plays, these meals and times together are a highlight for them. I plan the meal ahead of time and then the day before post the invitation which builds such an excitement for the rest of the day. I have the weird ability to write backwards, much to my children fascination, so I decided to use this talent as an announcement.

We turned the chairs around and set the table as backwards as we could. It was so difficult to eat our dinner and we all ended up turning the chairs around half way through our meal!!

Dinner was served and we had upside-down pizza with the dough crust on the top, followed by upside-down pineapple cake.... so delicious but very messy!!! Everyone wore their clothes inside out and back to front..... talk about uncomfortable! We had to try and speak backwards and we could only say each other's name back to front. I hate to admit what my name is backwards and I sincerely hope that this is not a reflection upon my personality...... IMOAN!!!!!

By the way, wearing one's apron back to front felt like I was strangling myself throughout the dinner and I have to admit that we were all very relieved to change back to normal!!

The children did a wonderful job of bringing a scripture to dinner which they had written back to front.

Lydia seemed somewhat confused by the whole event. especially because we moved her highchair to another part of the table. All in all, we certainly had a laugh and we look forward to another themed dinner in the near future.

!laugh a for yourselves this try also will you that hope I

"They who have turned the world upside down have come here too"

Acts 17:6

Remembering a Year Ago

It is difficult to know what to say in regards to what happened a year ago today; when we walked into the Civil Affairs Office in Nanchang and met Lu Ai for the first time. So much has been said already. So much does not need to be said in order to protect her. So today I feel it is better to say very little about what happened because most of you already know the story. God has healed us so much over the last year, but it still hurts and always will. We knew when we made the decision that we would bear the scars for the rest of our lives. I am beginning to understand why God allowed this all to happen to our family. There have been so many issues in our hearts which He has needed to deal with. We are only just realising that God is more concerned with who we are than the great things we do for Him and the motives in which we do them. Some questions are now being answered but there will always be many which will remain unanswered and which are best left alone. We are now in a place to thank Him for the unexpected journey we have traveled and for our broken hearts which made room for more of a revelation of Him.

"So, sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony of wondering protest. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe. Some day you are to blaze in the diadem of the King of Kings. As you lie in his hand now He knows just how to deal with you. Not a blow will be permitted to fall upon your shrinking soul but that the love of God permits it, and works out from its depths of blessing and spiritual enrichment unseen, and unthought of by you."

Streams In the Desert (Vol.2)

It is always our prayer that Lu Ai will be adopted. I know that many insist that she will always have a black mark against her! But I say that God is able to erase that black mark and make a way for her. Right after we returned from China, her situation was brought to the attention of Director Lu in an email sent from a friend of ours who is an acquaintance of his. We believe that God will bring her a family should that be His will. To claim that this could never happen, reduces God's power and puts all the emphasis on our own efforts to accomplish this desire.

On this day last year, there was so much rejoicing for the wonderful families we had travelled with to China, who were united with their children. Although we grieved, we also received God's grace to be able to rejoice with the others and share in their excitement and blessing. I will be eternally grateful for their friendship, love and prayers at that time. If any of our travel group are reading this, please know that we are celebrating with you! Blessings to you, Hudson, Emma, Lydia, Audrey, Katie, Lily Kate , Lilly and Abigail, (just to name a few) as you celebrate being home with your Mummy and Daddy for a year!!

Nature Walks ~ God's Wonderful Creation

" And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord."

Acts 22:16

"I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me"

John 14:6

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork"

Psalm 19:1

"I will open rivers in desolate heights,

And fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

And the dry land springs of water."

Isaiah 40:18

"Do not remove the ancient landmark which your fathers have set"

Proverbs 22:28

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full"

John 15:11

"Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"

Hebrews 12:1

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross"

Hebrews 12:2

"Lift up your eyes on high,

And see who has created these things"

Isaiah 40:26

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them"

Ephesians 2:10

"As a father pities his children,

So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust"

Psalm 103: 13-14

"I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father"

2 John 4

"Show me Your ways, O LORD;

Teach me your paths"

Psalm 25:4

"The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;

The world and all its fullness, You have founded them"

Psalm 89:11

"For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us"

Psalm 103:11-12

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living"

Psalm 27;13

Isaac's 11th Birthday!!!

And this years theme cake was Sonic the Hedgehog!!! Whatever will it be next! This will now be the second cake I have made in the last four days and we are beginning to feel ready to burst!!!

Anyone for a slice?

Eleven years ago I gave birth to my first born son in a hospital in Rockledge, Florida at 8.25 in the morning. During his birth there were complications and he was not breathing when he was born. I just remember seeing his little feet before the Doctors whisked him away to ICU for the first 24 hours of his life. Several hours later that day, I was wheeled into see him for the first time...... oh what joy and overwhelming peace as I looked at his little sweet face, with wires in his nose and mouth as his lungs were drained from the fluids on his lungs. The following day, he was finally brought into my room and placed in my arms. A mother really cannot describe the joy she feels when her first child, (whether biological or adopted) is placed into her arms for the first time. Isaac opened his eyes and looked at me and it was as if he knew who I was! I had been longing to hold my son for many months and now I could cherish that beautiful moment! And my first instinct, built within every mother, was to kiss his little face, hands and feet and stare at him in amazement and wonder why anyone would continue to not believe in an intelligent Creator..................GOD!!! How in the world could this little boy have "just happened" to be formed in such an intricate and complex little body all by its self?

How I love Isaac so very much and how we are so thankful for ALL the things about him!! And just for you Isaac, here are 11 things we love about you........

1. Your warm smile

2. Your ability to make us all laugh

3. Your sensitivity

4. Your imagination

5. Your cuddles

6. Your passion for life

7. Your amazing stories, songs and poems you write

8. Your ability to tell good jokes

9. Your leadership qualities

10. Your cooking skills

11. Your love for your family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Lydia's Dedication

My Mum is visiting with us at the moment, so we decided to dedicate Lydia to the Lord while we had a family member in town to share the special occasion with! Lydia wore a dress which my Mum made for her grand daughters to wear on their special days. I was so pleased that she was still small enough to fit into it! What a sweet blessing to give her back to the Lord today, especially because it was exactly five months ago on this day when this little bundle was placed into our arms, screaming! How truly thankful we are for God's little gift to us. Today she seemed somewhat pensive at the front with her Daddy, Mummy, brothers, sister and Granny. However, she did keep trying to speak into the microphone. I wonder what she wanted to say?

My dear Mother helped me with the cake last night. We cannot take any credit for the beautiful decorations which were in fact made by my sister almost six years ago, when Eliana was dedicated to God. We were living near DC at the time and my sister travelled up from Florida with these beautiful cake decorations she had made from sugar paste icing! (Anyone living in the Orlando area who needs a great cake decorator should seriously consider her!!!) I am amazed that they have lasted so long..... not because they go bad after awhile but because we have moved house four times since then! It was so precious to use them again but we did need to change the hair colour of the baby!

This is Lydia at our friends wedding yesterday looking as beautiful as ever!

David and Andrea. Andrea is the lady who made a beautiful quilt I posted some time back!

An absolutely beautiful day and Lydia enjoyed every moment!

GO APE!!!

Isaac will be 11 years old next week and we celebrated his Birthday early at a place called Grizedale Forest where there is an amazing rope course through the trees known as GO APE!! You must check out the site for yourself to see more of the course. There are many other places in England where there are GO APE courses. In some areas of this course, they were 50-60 feet high in the trees. Isaac's friend from York went with him and they had such a blast! Even though they are looking very serious in the picture above, they had the best time ever and would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone who loves adventure and an adrenalin rush! Since the boys were under 18 years, they needed an adult to accompany them and Jeff was more than willing to go. There was absolutely no way I was going to subject myself to so much 'fun'...... I stayed firmly on the ground with the other children and my friend Andrea (James' Mum) and her daughter Maya.

James being a clown the whole time!

Isaac looking somewhat worried at first but he became confident soon enough!

Doesn't it look like he might just fall off the edge?

Just hanging around!

You can see how high they were at times in this picture!

As you can see, I am somewhat concerned by the zip wire that Isaac is about to attempt!

And this is some video footage of Isaac riding the longest zip wire on the course..... it went on and on and on.....

The course lasted for three hours but we only saw them as they completed it at the end. There are some lovely walks at Grizedale Forest and a cafe and play area for younger children. So we made the most of our time there and kept the other children entertained, although I think Caleb and Maya would have liked to have joined the others for GO APE. Age requirement is 10 years of age and there is also a height requirement. Having seen how high they climb, I was pleased to see the age restriction in place!

Next week Granny will be here to celebrate his actual Birthday with us and we shall, of course, have cake.... this sounds more like my cup of tea!!!

Lisa met Izabella Today!

I just checked their travel blog and saw the pictures!! Oh she is such a little cutie and looks like she is a Daddy's girl!

Lisa has been such a faithful friend and precious sister in Christ. She has been an encouragement to me this last year and it is now such a blessing to watch her become a Mother for the first time! What a wonderful one she will be!

Congratulations to Dan and Lisa! Izabella is so beautiful!