If Only....

Eight percent...only 8% of the world's population adopted one child...1 child.........THERE WOULD BE NO MORE ORPHANS!!!!

Did You Know.......

......that out of over 147 million orphans in the world, only 1 percent are adopted?

Family

Halloween was very short-lived this year...we didn't carve pumpkins until Halloween day, we trick-or-treated, and went to a party that night. The boys had a good time and it was filled with family, which is always good.

Kim couldn't go out with us, so we came to her...all ten children and their parents!! Even grandpa and grandma went which is highly unusual!! Fun Fun!! We did miss our Jacob, but thankfully we will get to see him every summer and during the holidays as Casey (my oldest brother) and his family are moving to Rapid City.

Lukey holding his youngest cousin, Mkenzie.

Cousins.....love it!

Kim had some very concerned nieces and nephews, so she did some teaching. :0)

My Sissy

Today is dedicated to my sister, Kim. Today my sister had surgery to remove her cancerous thyroid and also had three of her four para-thyroids removed. Yesterday my sister had cancer....today it's gone, and it has been said that thyroid cancer is the "good cancer" because it is pretty easily detectable and removed. I say it's still cancer. Cancer is cancer, and none of it is "good".

I am writing because my sister and I haven't always been on the same page. In fact, for most of our lives we've been in completely different books. She thinks I'm a freak who breastfeeds too long and goes to quacks for doctors, and I think she can be overly-honest and extremely loud. We have the same genetics, but our personalities are so different that you'd never know it.

Yesterday my sister had cancer and today it's gone... and I get to write about how much I love her and how sad I am for the times that we've missed out on because we haven't been able to come to a middle ground. This isn't the first day that I've felt good about our relationship, but it's the day that I surrender my feelings because I realize how much we have taken each other for granted. She may not see it this way, cause I've always been "hypersensitive" (her words), but she doesn't get to write it either. Ha!
I'm so happy that she is well and that we have so many more years to be sisters.....not everyone gets to say that.
Yesterday my sister had cancer.....today it's gone, and I
thank you, God, for my sister.
.

FALL

Well, the leaves are falling, but we never had our fall season. It got really cold and it just never warmed up again...straight from summer to winter. The busy-ness started with the school/soccer season and as it hasn't stopped. Usually this happens about Halloween and goes straight downhill from there, but with the early chills came the premature craziness. Here is an example...our day yesterday (Saturday):
7:00--get up and ready for the day
8:00--make salad for church brunch
9:00-- chores and packing for entire day
10:15--prayer service at church
10:30--brunch for possible new pastor
11:30--Dic's church board interview with poss. new pastor
12:00--Luke's last soccer game
1:00--Zach's last soccer game
1:30--Luke's soccer pizza party
2:30--Zach's soccer party
2:45--home to get costumes on and faces painted
3:00--Uncle Clay picked up kids to take them to a Halloween/Birthday party
3:00--Devotional service at church with poss. new pastor
3:30--social at church
4:00--pick kids up at party
5:30--niece's Birthday party
7:45--headed to mom's to have her take care of boys for a couple of hours :0)
8:00--change of direction....heading home....with kids still dressed and painted from party and no dinner!
(We were planning to attend our good friends' 40th Anniversary party, but decided we couldn't handle one more thing.)

Soooooo....today we are resting.....after rising at 6:00 to be ready for worship practice at 8:00am for church at 10:00. Okay, NOW we're resting. :0) Now that soccer is over I am vowing to myself that we will have moments of rest through the winter. I don't do chaos very well and tend to want to pull my nice warm covers over my head and sleep instead. Dic and I think that we lead a pretty calm, simple life, but it has been pointed out that we follow this routine fairly often. So I may have to work harder at saying No when necessary. This is something I have to remind myself of every once-in-a-while. Tomorrow is going to be a good day, but I do have some things that are weighing on my heart and I would appreciate any prayers this week. My sister was given the news that she has thyroid cancer and is going in for surgery on Friday to have it removed. She has assured me that everything is/will be alright and she has felt peace about most of it. Also, my friend's son fell on his school steps and fractured a vertebrae which has really thrown her for a loop and, of course, put him in a lot of pain.. Her husband is deployed and she is doing what she and her partner usually take on together. I want to be a strong friend and sister and mom and aunt and daughter and wife and just need a little help right now. Thank you for your prayers during this Winter-ish Fall week. May God Bless my family and friends.

Where's my Faith?

I cannot contain my excitement that I'm feeling right now. I have been walking around the last week feeling like our plan...my plan, was getting further away. Things were not looking hopeful and I still knew that we would someday adopt, but didn't know when. I just finished telling some friends today that it didn't look like it was going to happen anytime soon. And I was soo confused about whether God was telling me to back down and chill out, or have faith in Him and keep on persevering no matter how hard. I started re-reading my assignment from our small group at church and the book is called Manna. Manna is learning to trust God for our daily provisions. Everything in these few chapters kept saying "trust Me and I will Bless you". I kept reading about how we don't need the "stuff" in our lives....we just need God. I take this personally because I really do like shopping, BUT how many "things" do I need? I should be following the advice I give my children and just feel blessed and grateful for what I have. Soo many times we idol the blessings....the material items....rather than the Blesser. It doesn't mean that we have to live in poverty, but we need to be happy with what He has already given us. We are not living on Manna if we always want more, and we are constantly chasing after the things we think will make us happy; the bigger house, the nicer car, the toys. And then we don't feel at peace. We are always real elated when something turns out right and we praise God (or we should) in these times, but when God provides for us today will we wake up in the morning knowing that He will continue these blessings every day no matter what? So my point being.... that even though we may live paycheck-to-paycheck and money may not come as easily to us as it does to some, that we ARE doing God's work when we take a child who has nothing and give them a family who loves and cherishes them. God wants this and so we must trust Him when He tells us to keep going, though it may not be easy...financially or otherwise. We have all we need and we will find a way to make this happen with God leading the parade. It is He who is the light that we follow...He brought us to this point...so we need to have a little Faith and know that this is the right thing to do. He WILL Bless us and we should not think we have to take it all on ourselves. We are NOT alone on this journey.

Today I read some more, took a nap, and woke up feeling drawn to agency-shopping again. I had kinda given up on the idea that this could ever be a reality. But with some conversations and some FAITH (yeh!!) I have given this back to my God. I also received a comment from a person I don't know (I hardly ever receive comments!) that made me feel at peace. So thank you for all of you who are quietly supporting us. Thank you for your prayers and little reminders that our God has a plan for our family. I am again jumping for joy to get this party started!! And please feel free to share your thoughts anytime as your comments are always very much loved appreciated.

God gave me Grace today.
Kendra

Just One

God has our little girl all picked out for us. She is beautiful inside and out and loves the Lord with all her might. She has the smile of a princess and a heart that spills love. We will wait to meet her when He says it's time. He has chosen her for us.....one little girl....just one.

TRUST

If God really wants us to bring a little girl into our home, He will help us find a way. I am laying it down and have total faith the He will provide in whatever way we need. I have faith that He wants us to do this even though it won't be easy and the hurdles are going up already.
I have faith.

And this is why I want to adopt--enjoy your read

I am adding this:
those of you who know me know that I follow (stalk) the most amazing-loving girl who pours her heart out to soo many in need every day....in Africa especially.
This is HER Story......

He is teaching me to stop for ONE. And it is hard and it is ugly. Because every time I stop for that ONE sick child, that ONE hungry old man, that ONE new baby girl, my mind races with the statistics of how many more there are that I am not touching, not feeding, not saving. God whispers every time though that this ONE is enough. That this ONE is feeling His love and that is eternal. ETERNAL. I think of sweet baby Happy who died at 4 months after we did all that we could. I didn't understand how God had led me to feel so attached to that little girl if His plan was to take her all along. I think of Michael who is back at home with his step mom, healthy now, but more than likely still mistreated. God knows that as a single woman I cannot legally adopt a little boy, how could my heart be so knit to his. I think tonight of Gloria who's brain was so damaged from her high fever she may always be in a vegetable like state. God in His infinite wisdom KNEW that if I had been there a few days sooner, this could have been prevented. But then I think of 14 little girls who have a home and food and a Mommy and know Jesus. I think of 600 Karamajong children, modern day lepers in Uganda, singing about God's love for them and leaving with their bellies full. I think of 400 sponsored children who sometimes show up on Saturday in new clothes because now that Amazima is providing them with all their basic needs (food, education, medical care) their parents can afford to buy them a NEW DRESS. I see thousands of deep brown eyes and feel thousands of little brown hands and I know that even on the hardest day, stopping is worth it. A life changed is worth it, even if only ONE. God's love made known is worth it, even if only to ONE. I will not save them all. But I will keep trying. I will say Yes. I will stop for that ONE no matter how hopeless. Jesus, give us the stregth to say yes to whoever you put in our paths today.

In case you were wondering.....

I am feeling the need to write ONLY because I know my Auntie Lynn reads and wants the status on our fam.
This past week was on the crazy side and I hafta say it was the first time in a really long time that I felt stress! Not just the overwhelming feeling of too much to do, but pure stress. Seems so insignificant now, but I was having a rummage sale at my sister's over the weekend and if you've ever had one yourself you'll know why I felt the need to hurl myself out my car window a few times. But it's done and gone and we made some money ta boot!
I also began the process of searching for an agency for our adoption and all of the facts and figures were beginning to twist around my brain like a blood-sucking leech. In the midst of it all I was given a generous offer for financial assistance and I felt the need to jump and try to figure that all out right away too. While the mounds and mounds of rummage junk was piling up in my dining room needing to me marked and moved, I was worried again about the details of bringing a little girl home. And really nothing got accomplished and still hasn't. That's how I roll.....give me more than I can handle and I shut right down. The boys did get to to and from school and to their soccer games, which is totally amazing and I am trying to undo the mounds of accumulating clothes, toys, etc that may have gotten a little neglected over the week. I may even make dinner tonight!
Feel Peace

God is telling us, "YES"....it's time

"The reward for considering the helpless is not just the end result, but the pain, the heart pain, that accompanies it. It is cleansing to hurt when God Himself hurts; it is a good thing."

Adopting...time to cross the line....

I have been wanting to post about this, but we haven't really been at a point where I thought I could state it as fact. We are beginning the adoption process. We are at that last point where we may have one more line to cross before it's official. I can't stop thinking about it....I can't stop reading about it....I can't stop talking about it. So many emotions involved and I am excited, but scared to death. Our friends waited so very long for their little girl in Ethiopia, one family I follow just found out that their little girl has tested for HIV and cannot be taken from the country of Uganda with such a medical condition, and then there is the money.....OH YES, the freaking money!!!! So this is what I've been faced with when I tell people we want to adopt from Africa: Why wouldn't you adopt from the U.S.? We have needy children here! Or if you can't give your own children the luxuries, why would you bring more into your family? And then there's this....Oprah and the U.S. take care of the people of Africa...they'll be fine.

If you see your comment in here...well, sorry...you've hit a nerve. Here is my answer for the four-hundreth, fifty-sixth time!!!! It is our choice to take a child from poverty and bring her into our home as one of our own. When God said care for the needy did he say only those who live in your city? Your state? Your country? No, he said to care for the helpless. We are all God's children. Can Oprah take care of all 147 million orphans? I think not. And they won't be fine....they are dying every day because of conditions that can be prevented (a whole other subject). And yes it IS sooo expensive!!! Is that right? Nope! But who would have to pay for that if we didn't go for it anyway? Those sweet babies! We DO live pay check- to- paycheck, but we have descent cars, a nice house (we think), and we have each other. Our kids are not neglected, they have the necessities, and they don't go without on too many things. So if I have to teach piano to them instead of getting them lessons....so be it! If instead of them getting riding lessons we try to figure it ourselves....so be it! They are loved and we do our best. I don't know how we'll do the money part. it's the one BIG thing that is holding us back, even though we are told that the bills don't all come at once. We are not accustomed to debt and we really don't want to start now. But God is pulling us in this direction and if we wait for the money to come we could be passing up an opportunity for our whole family. We don't want this after our own kids are grown and gone...we all want this experience now. The boys have been praying for this for months! I think I may have gotten a sign yesterday when I stumbled upon this blog. This was the first thing that popped out at me:

"He didn't put us here so we could have big houses, drive nice cars, have fancy clothes, and care about materialistic things. He put us here to love the orphaned and widowed, and love those around us. If just 8% of those who profess to be believers FOLLOWED what God wants us to do and adopted an orphan OR cared for a child in need, there would be no more orphans. That's 147 MILLION children without homes and love that would be given a family, and people to love them. "I'm too old"...Better an old mom than NO MOM right? :) and "It's too expensive" isn't an excuse because God will provide. I have seen him provide for the Oatsvalls, who started out without ANY money in their adoption fund and are now waiting to travel to go get their TWO children."

I decided this must be it....

God is telling me it's time. Time to cross that line.

Scared to death, but excited as ever.

Cole's 11th Birthday

Cole's Birthday is always close to Labor Day weekend.....and he loves to camp...and hunt

(see hunter dude).

So we compromised on the glorious cake and made cupcakes....with a hunting theme
(lots of deer and elk and such on them)!

Notice the sweet deer droppings
(sweet only because they're buttercream:0))

These are some of the friends that either camped with us or drove to celebrate with Cole--can't beat a good party!
Happy 11th year of your life, me boy!!
Your MaMa loves you!

First Day of School

This first morning of school went rather well with all three boys completing chores and morning rituals at top-notch speed. I'm not so sure this has ever been done! :0) Cole is now in fifth grade with two of the best teachers you could ever imagine, (You should hear some of their stories about shark-bites and going to the moon--yes my kids believe them all). Zachary is in the third grade with one of the teachers he had last year (she is so sweet and patient and we LOVE her) , and he has a new teacher we will surely adore equally. You all know Luke's story, but one crucial tid-bit for his first day is that he chose to lay his mohawk down... to make a good impression, I suppose. :0)

This photo was right before he said, "Goodbye, Mommy!!", and I asked. "Don't you want me to come in for awhile?"(we have ALWAYS done this with the other boys). He answered with a big "Nah" that made my heart strings go weak. We walked in with him as the teacher explained some of the hallway rules. She then proceeded to encourage the kids to wave goodbye to their mommies and daddies. This is where the flood-gates opened. I don't think the tears have ever come soo easily without much thought. My sweet husband comforted his bawling wife as I entered my first day without one of my babies by my side.

At last!! I finally stopped driving endlessly and greeted my sweet boy--he missed me....I'm sure of it. :0) I may have picked up some chocolate to comfort us both. Dic and I, traditionally, take the boys out to lunch their first day of Kindergarten (Olive Garden was Luke's choice).

And a treat for the big boys too to celebrate the new school year. I'm excited for a routine, but will miss those fun summer days of wearing our jammies 'til whenever we like. Luke only goes one day this week for small groups, and then he returns again next Tuesday. You don't suppose I'll have to go through the same all over?!

Can I Homeschool you some more???

I know he's big enough.......

I know he's wise enough......

I know he's sweet enough.......

But here it is the night before my baby goes to school for the first time and I'm having a difficult time letting go. I know he will have a blast and I know he is in a safe, loving place. Is it about him? Or is it about me? Maybe I'm afraid to let go of this chapter in my life. I have, very fortunately, been home with my boys every day of their lives and I wouldn't have it any other way. It has been the most precious gift I could have ever asked for. And, now, even though Luke will only be gone for 2 hours and 55 minutes, it will be so different. I know he is looking forward to this new journey and I am excited for him. Each of my boys have told people that they "homeschool", when they are asked if they go to preschool. And I say "yes you are". They are the brightest, sweetest kiddos I know! :0) So even though I don't have a camera (because I dropped mine), and I'm not really sure if I want this little man to leave me yet, I will wake up cheerful and happy on his first day of school.....my last day of "homeschooling". I really am sad. Being big enough and wise enough and sweet enough doesn't take away the little pangs I'm feeling as a momma.

Making Memories

We took a week off early August and went to Denver. It was a much needed vacation from all of our business at home. We got to visit the Aquarium, Water World, Botanic Gardens, and our very first IMAX movie, "Africa Meets the Ocean". These are our sweet memories to keep forever, but we have enough to share...
ENJOY!!

Chiolis meets Africa

Time has come and gone and now I am trying to catch up and post about some really great things that have happened in the last couple of weeks. We had the awesome opportunity to host the Matsiko Choir from Uganda for a few days and it was a truly beautiful experience. The day before they came we were notified that we didn't have enough host families and we were saddened that we were going to miss out. But God laid it all in our hands and I got on the phone and homes for all 25 kiddos were found. There was some reluctancy with busy schedules and conflicts, but I know I can say that all who participated wouldn't have given it up for anything.

We had the honor of being with three sweet girls, who in the few short days taught us soo much about their culture, but also opened our hearts and eyes to the beauty they possess and their positive look on life despite their circumstances of the past. We were told right away that none of the children are up for adoption....that they came from places without hope, but they have hope now.....that they get to go to school...that they WILL go on to the university....that they will become teachers and doctors and mechanics and lawyers. They look only to the future.
They're amazing!!

The first night the girls insisted on cooking for us--they made flatbread "Chipate"and we cooked chicken on the grill as well as beans and rice. They weren't real excited about our American food, although one likes pizza and the other two french fries. :0)

This morning we had three more friends come to hang out before choir practice--Dic and I decided we could have hosted all of them--they are all soo precious.

They had never seen an apple tree before and even though the apples were not ripe they "dug in". They said they have lots of mangos and plantenes, but no apples. We went through 2 huge bags during their 3-day stay! :0)

They performed at Mount Rushmore and it was a sight to see/hear. With smiles on their faces they danced their little hearts out. What an emotional experience--one little girl shared her life story that spoke for all of them. My tears were flowing.

This is our youngest, Belinda. Is she cute or what???

Anita (12), Sherome(12), and Belinda(8).
America and Africa coming together!

Our car-ride home was a blast! I think exhaustion was beginning to set in for all of us, but the girls joined in with stories and giggles. On the way home we stopped at McDonalds for french fries, Little Caesar's for Belinda's pizza (she ate all but two pieces herself--and those we made her keep for lunch the next day), and some fried chicken. We went by my sister's to see some relatives and the girls were asked to sing for everyone......they danced and sang a whole song from their program----sooo awesome! I felt pride, even though they don't "belong" to me!

Anita and Cole having some quiet time our last morning together.

~~~OUR FAMILY~~~

Cole and Anita became very close in a short time. She wrote him a letter that said he is the best brother she could ever ask for. He has a little hole in his heart and says he is saving his money so he can go to Africa. We are hoping to keep in touch with the girls.

All of our children--they so fit our family. They will be missed, but we will continue to think about them, pray for them, and support them. We offered to take this all on again next year and want them to stay longer so we can raise some money for their cause. Most of these kids will not be returning, but there will be a whole other group to love on. We can't wait!! God brought them for a reason.
My eyes are open.

quiet days reserved.......

Life is so fragile and these are the times to embrace....peace and tranquility. More to come in the week ahead--we have the incredible chance to host a few children from Uganda who are coming here to sing on tour. We are blessed and it makes me wonder.....oh, it makes me wonder....is God trying to tell me something? I think of it daily with theses opportunities He is giving. I will keep my eyes and ears open.

Togetherness

We had a really great weekend with LOTS of friends and FUN!!!
We met up with some friends from high school--they were having their 20th year reunion and invited us to the festivities.

gett'n a little crazy!!
A little singing & playing
(Nathan & I sang together way back when)

Me & Amy--it's been sooo long since we got to hang out!
Jamie & Niki, Brian & Dar, Me & Dic


We spent the rest of the weekend at the Hills Alive Festival and even got to watch our friends play in their band (forgot my camera-dang!)
Luke & buddy Wilam
Everyone!!
It had been a sweet, but long day (see hair).
Holly & Jon
Big Jon & Mimi

Cole & Zach found the perfect spot to jam out!

randomness with a downward swirl

Feeling like there's soo much I still wanna do and the summer is almost over. I can't seem to keep a handle on the house and laundry, just so I can get to the pool and park and Reptile Gardens with the kids. We haven't taken any big bike rides yet or even hiked any trails. And lots of friends that we have promised time with and haven't gotten there. Okay, so that's Miss Negativity talking.

• Positive Notes

Our yard is beginning to look oh-so-fabulous, but still much more to do AND we took off after church yesterday to go to the Angustora Lake with some friends. Now THAT was fun--thanks Tanya & Kyle! :0) We also had my little nephew, Jace, for the day last Friday and my sis came over with Shayna to play in the pool. I'm soo grateful for that (even with screaming, tired kids).

I am trying to get just a little more caught up with the laundry and then a possible trip to the pool with some other friends today. We'll see......I told my mom today that if one more person calls and asks us to do something for them I think my head will spin! Not my normal reaction when my peeps need help...usually I'm offering, but I'm overwhelmed again...so is Dic. He was asked to coach Zach's baseball team in a tournament this coming weekend. He said he would do it, but couldn't commit to having practices. After much decision-making Zach and a few of the other boys went to play with another team. And they have had practice several days in a row. I know Dic is feeling torn because he feels like he should help, but he also put in his couple of months as coach and dropped everything in the meantime. He can't be leaving work early anymore, especially during his busy time and it would be nice if he could just come home at night and enjoy his family (how could you not LOVE being with US). Plus he has a church board meeting and an out-of-towner this week on top of eveything else. Anyway, those games are scheduled from Tuesday to Saturday...and this is also the weekend for Hills Alive, which we love love love. So how do we fit it all in in.......with a happy face....with a happy heart? In the meantime we are looking for an open day to get sod for the chicken coop so we can take lots of chickens off of our friends' hands. Not looking good. My mom needs me to come mow her lawn......not really feel'n like it. My MIL wants me to come babysit the dead donkey until Bear Country gets here (a whole different story!)......don't have the stomach for it. And my favs. girlfriend wants us to do the pool today, which my boys would love!!! OKAY--so I know it will all be here when get back---that's my problem!! It's always here...there's always soo much to do and never enough time. Guess I'll take the first step and get my butt out the door to get the poor, hungry dog some food and the real skinny lizards some crickets. And I'll take that run tomorrow......tomorrow I'll get my exercise regime started. Ha!!