A beautiful day to hike in Alabama!

Don't they look happy!

My little girl loves to be outside and I love that.

Me and my best running buddies!

The boys, still having a great time.

We decided to go hike today and work off our Thanksgiving meal, it was so beautiful!!

Toddlers and cleaning!!!

This morning I am cleaning away in the kitchen and working so hard.  At the same time, Ezra is pouring dog food in the dryer on clean clothes and Marya is tracking in red Alabama mud on the clean floor.  I often ask myself what is the point to cleaning.  As you clean one thing they mess up another.  I know we must teach our kids to clean up also and Marya loves to work hard so that is fun but the teaching takes a lot of time and spanks.  Cleaning a home with children is an endless job.  Only by God's grace can we do it with a smile on our face.  Although I find it healthy to go outside and scream every once in a while!!!

Cleaning house with kids at home is like shoveling snow in a blizzard!

Dossier!!!

I just received news that our dossier arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday morning.  I am beyond excited to hear that. After Jake and I finished all the paperwork it then has to go to three different places to get authenticated, before it goes to Ethiopia.   WE have had many set backs but God has carried us the entire way.  We now wait for our referrals.  It may be a very long wait or not so long.  Once again this is a great lesson in patience.  Marya, keeps saying we have to go get the kids now!!!  They don't have any mommy or daddy.  I love that she is excited about this.  I get so excited I want to start talking about names but I don't want to get ahead of ourselves.  You never know what will happen with international adoption.  Please pray for us.  WE are one step closer to holding our children in our arms.

Emily's wedding

I was in Lincoln NE this last weekend for Emily Gunn's wedding.  It was a wonderful time.  I spent Thurs and Friday night with Emily and we stayed up very late like little school girls talking until we fell asleep.  It was a beautiful weekend and I am so thankful that Emily asked me to be a part of it.  I cannot wait to talk to her when she gets home from her 10 day honeymoon cruise.  I also got to see a lot of NE folks and that was so fun.  There is never enough time though.  I was lost without Jake and the kids.  The morning of the wedding Emily and I went for a jog and that will forever be a great memory.  I am just thrilled for her, she has waited a long time to become a wife.  May God Bless them.

Falling Leaves

  I love fall and it is finally cooling off down here and I am so excited about it.  As I sat outside with the kids today I was thinking about our time here.  We have now lived here for 1 year and two months.  I could go on and on about what God has taught me but I can simplify it to a great lesson in faith.  He has allowed me to see how weak my faith is and it has been very disappointing to me and very sad.  My heart breaks over my sin and I am so tired of myself.  I am so thankful that God is faithful when I am not.  

  Some of you may be thinking, how long will they stay.  Well we may stay our whole lives, but we do not feel called away yet.  We know for sure we will stay until we bring our children home from Africa, which may be a long time from now.  We both miss the great state of Nebraska often but this place has also become home to us.  When and if we ever move my heart will break to leave our friends here.  I am so thankful that our hope is not in an earthly place or people.  My friends, please pray for me.

I made the muffins

I dreamt of Jess's muffins last night.  I woke up this morning and made them and they are wonderful.  Marya helped me make them.  We love to cook together.  I bet the muffins would be great with spiced tea but it is too hot here for tea.  I long for cold weather.  Jess, thank you for the recipe I love them!!!!!!!

Puppy

Tired from his long trip from Michigon

Hanging out with big daddy

Shyhlah and Kota bear meet for the first time

Marya holding her new baby after his first bath

Well we got a new puppy this weekend and we are in love with him. He is also a Siberian Indian Dog like Shylah. Which means he is part Siberian Husky and Native American Indian Dog. We love this breed for many reasons. They shed very little, they are big, they are hypoallergenic, they have no doggy smell, they have dry mouths, are great with children and other animals, very smart and loving. His name is Dakota and we call him Kota Bear. He looks like a little bear cub. Dakota and Shylah both mean friend. Marya and Ezra both like to go to their bedroom with the dogs and just hang out. My kids need no other toys, just their dogs. They are playing outside with them right now. He follows Ezra everywhere. He is inside most of the time and has not had an accident yet.