Does God Still Love America?

I have been reading through the book of Psalms during my quiet time in the morning.  So much wisdom in the Psalms.

I am a little bit of a news junkie.  I love to watch cable news at night and read political blogs.  I have been so unhappy with the way our country has been going over the last several years.  Not just the first year of the Obama administration, but several years before that.  To much big goverment, to much stomping on the Constitution.  Every person who calls themselves a Christian and loves this country should be very concered.

I came across this verse this morning.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord"

Our country has been very blessed.  Will we continue to be? 

Many of us "normal folks" want the same things for this country.  I'm talking Democarats, Republicans and Independts alike.  Their seems to be some problems with all of our elected officials understanding this.

The corruption in Washington is disgusting.  When it is questioned our politicians answer "Well, that is the way it has always been."

Really?

What ever happened to honor, integrity, truthfullness, love of country, or my personal favortie, protecting the rights and priveledges afforded Americans by our wonderful Constitution.

How many politicians do you think have actually read the constitution?  Have you?

I think our politicians could learn so much from us mommy bloggers.  How to live on a budget, care about others, and do our best to honor our country and our God. 

We need to turn our country back to it's roots.  Back to God honoring policy.  That is the only way our country can truly be saved.

"Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.  Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.  Psalm 34

Wouldn't it be nice if our elected officials at least tried to live by those words? How different would our country be?  What can we do about it?

The Fire Station

Our homeschool group took a field trip to a really cool fire station a few weeks ago.  It was very large and had a helicpoter pad in the back.  The kids loved the tour and seeing how everything worked.  Levi was a little confused.  He kept calling the trucks the "big cars".  Too cute!

Garrett (in blue jacket) was very interested in what the helicopter pilots had to say.  I think this was their favorite part.

Unfortunately, our tour was cut short when the fire fighters had to leave on a call.  However, the kids had fun climbing the tree's out front.  My kids seem to be on quite the tree climbing kick right now.

Amelia was happy to watch them climb, however, she was not happy during the tour.  She wanted out of that stroller and made her wishes known to all of us.

After the fire station we all met up at a park for a picnic lunch.  The kids buried Paige in the sand and when she came back up she had lost her shoes in the hole.  She didn't tell me this until it was time to leave.  We dug and dug but never found the shoes.  Some people who stayed after us dug even longer.  No shoes.  Very stange.  Some day someone will find a cute pair of sponge bob crocks burried in the sand and wonder about how they got their:)

Amelia loved being out in the sunshine and hanging out on the blanket with the big girls.  She also had fun playing with my keys, which entertained her for a very long time while I got to talk with some of the other mom's. 

It was so nice to have some other mom's to chat with and I feel so blessed to have this great support group.

Just as we were getting ready to leave Levi had a fit because he had gotten some sand in his eyes.  I kept telling him not to throw the sand or it would get into his eyes.  Well, he didn't listen, and it did.  One thing about Levi is that he can put on quite a show.  You would of thought the kid was dying.  I rinsed out his eyes and tried to calm him for about 5 minutes.  He was crying so hard their is no way their was any sand left in his eyes.  Finally, I just walked away and told him it was time to go.  He miraculously got better and his eyes no longer hurt.  I really think this kid could have a future in acting:)  I love him dearly, but he really can be the drama king if he gets even the smallest scrape.  Any other adoptive mom's or dad's out there see this in their kids????

Over all it was a great day with friends and family.  Even with the drama at the end.

Trees and Ducks and Horse's

Our home school group has park days at a beautiful park in a nearby town once every few weeks.  All the kids love going and Levi especially loves looking at the horses that the nearby homes have in their back yards.  The first time we went he hopped into one of the yards and insisted that he wanted to ride on the horse.  It took quite a while for me to explain to him that he couldn't just jump onto someone else's horse.

I told him that we would take him some where he could ride a horse, it was something he seemed to really want to do, and told me he had never done before.  A few weekends ago we headed out to a local park that had horses and he got his wish.  As you can see from his big smile he thought it was pretty great.  His horse trotted really fast. 

 

When it was Paige's turn she made sure to tell the lady in charge that she wanted her horse to go slow.  They all kept laughing at her.  She was very serious during her ride but said she liked it. 

Enjoying a snow cone together after their rides.

The whole family came (except the teens who went paintballing with friends) and we had lunch.  They had a special that day.  One dollar hot dogs.  Can't beat that.  Amelia was trying to get Garrett's, I guess I wasn't cutting hers up fast enough.

Then we fed the ducks some stale bread we had brought.

The kids, old and young, always love to do this.

Amelia kept stealing Garrett's hat off his head.  He loves her so much and she loves him too.  This little girl is such a joy, always happy and smiling.  Well, except when we tell he no.  Then she acts like a normal one year old:)

The kids climbed tree's and played on the playgrounds.

Garrett brought his Guitar and played music for me while I fed Amelia her bottle.  He is getting really good and seems to be enjoying learning a new instrument.

Samantha was the leader of the tree climbing brigade.  This park has lots of great tree's for climbing.

A girl and her Daddy.  This lovely lady is such a help to her mama and I don't think I could do it without her.  I don't say thank you to her enough.  She watches Amelia for me when I do school with the little kids in the morning without complaining.  She did the dishes last night without me asking and made a cake for her family.  She is a good student, very dedicated, and such a source of pride and joy for her Dad and I.  We love you so much Samantha and can't believe you will turn 14 in less than a month!  Where did the time go?

College

Some people have questioned our adoption and asked if we felt guilty that we spent all that money adopting two kids, money that could be used for college for our biological children.

Now, they didn't say it just like that.  It was vieled in a little more sweetness.  However, that is what they meant. 

This really hits home to me as our first child is going off to college in a few months.  We received his financial aide package in the mail and it was dismal.  Seems we are rich.  I feel rich in blessings, not so much in dollars.  Though I know compared to most of the world we truly are rich.

I have been praying about this a lot.  I know God has a plan for Zach and his life.  What it is, none of us is sure of.  Something I have come to understand though, is that if God has a plan no lack of funds is going to stop that plan from happening.  Ask any adoptive parent if they thought they would be able to pay for their adoption?  Most would say no.  None of us has that kind of money just laying around.  However, it does happen. 

My friend Erica posted a link to this amazing mom's perspective on the subject.  Go read it, you won't be sorry.

Two Months Home Today!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Best Friends!

With a new baby in the house the dogs have decided it is best to stick together.  Amelia has discovered that pulling tails is quite a lot of fun.  Poor doggies.  They are really good sports about it but I think they like to stay off the ground where she can easily get at them:)

Happy Spring!!

This beautiful little girl took four steps yesterday.  We are pretty sure she will be running by the end of the week.

Levi and Paige made these cute hats to celebrate the beginning of spring.  They wore them all day and had such fun.

I have so much to tell you all.  I need to make some time to blog.  Basically life is good.  We are doing great!

Ramblings

Our Little League opening day carnival was cancelled this weekend due to rain.  As a result I was forced to eat all the sugar cookies I made for the cake walk. 

Baseball season gets into full gear with games and all this week.  I am not sure I am ready yet.  Wasn't it just Christmas?

Today the kids and I discussed what fun foods would should make for St. Patricks day a week from Wednesday.  The kids want to have green mashed potato's.  Is that legal?

We are going on a field trip to the fire station on Tuesday so tomorrow we are making a mini book all about firefighters and thier cool red truck.  I found lots of good idea's at Enchanted Learning.  I find the $20.00 they charge a year in fee's is well worth the cost. 

I'm reading Kevin Leman's book "Adolescence Isn't Terminal" for the second or thrid time right now.  I need a little help with the three hormonally charged people living in our home right now.  You think someone could have warned me how hard having three teens at once would be?

I have read my Bible for 10 days in a row.  This is something I had gotten into the habbit of doing each morning over the past year but had fallen away since getting home from Ethiopia.  We are now back on a schedule and I feel so much better. 

Now if I could only get the laundry under control:(

Home Schooling Humor

Paige:  "Mom, I can't do school anymore today.  My brain is hurting".

Levi: "Mom, you'r hurting Paige's brain.  Not nice."

I asked if their brains were OK to go outside and ride bikes for a while?  They seemed to think that might do the trick:)

Hope

When we first decided to adopt a child from Ethiopia the children and I did a unit study on Africa.  We studied the contintent, its people, religions, lakes and rivers, drew maps and made flags.  We had fun and learned a lot.

One thing I also had our teenagers do was read the book 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa.  Truly, how could we study the Africa of today without discussing and learning about how this awful disease has changed this continent.  The woman who writes the book is very different from me.  From the way she writes I am sure our politics are at odds with each other.  However, that does not matter.  Her book is compelling, tragic, heart wrenching and beautiful all at the same time.  Some may judge me for letting my teenagers read this book because it does not sugar coat this crisis.  If you really want to learn why AIDS is such a big problem in Africa I urge you to read this book.  The beginning is bogged down with the politics that ultimately fueled the quick spread of AIDS through Africa.  I could have honestly lived without that.  However, the faces of the people and their stories will be with me forever. 

Another book I recently read is called The Hospital By The River.  It is written by Catherine Hamlin and is the story of the Fistula Hospital she and her husband started in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia many years ago.  You may have seen the documentary about their work.  It is truly amazing what they have acomplished and the book is full of stories of God's faithful provisions for this couple and their patients.  For those of you who may not know a fistula is a hole that a woman can get in her bladder or rectum from protracted labor.  Because Ethiopian women do not have access to medical care, many labor for days before they deliver their babies dead.  Due to the practice of girls being married much to young and then birthing their first children before their bodies are able, many get a fistula after labor.  The stench from the urine that escapes from their body is repulsive to her husband and family.  Their husbands leave them and society abandons them.  Their stories are horrible and yet their is hope due to the work that the Hamlins have done at their hospital.

The Hospital By The River also has wonderful stories of Ethiopia's history in it which many of you may enjoy.

Next I am going to read To Small To Ignore.  I have been impressed by the work Compassion International has done around the world and I have read a little about their director.  His story of growing up as a missionary kid in Africa and being sent off to boarding school where he was beaten with the other children is truly heart breaking.  Yet, even through that abuse, he did not abandon his faith and today serves the needy children of this world.  Remarkable!

I guess you can see a theme here.  There is so much need, yet so many people are trying to help.  Their is hope.  Hope.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.   Psalm 31:24

Why Can't Everything Just Be Free?

Levi loves babies.  All kinds of babies.  I loved babies when I was young.  I think that my mom finally had to take them away when she thought I was to old for them.  I was so hoping to have daughters who loved babies too.  No such luck.  They preferred to color and play dress  up.

Well, I finally have my baby loving child.  His name is Levi.  He loves to play with the barbies and dolls.  He dresses them.  Feeds them.  Burps them.  Takes them everywhere.

Today we were going to the store and he put a baby carrier on and put his doll in it to carry around the store.  One of the older boys commented that it was a good thing he was home schooled or he would surely get beaten up on the school yard for his baby wearing ways.  How sad is that?

I am glad he is home schooled too.  He can be who he wants to be.

Well, he really wanted a boy baby and all of ours were girls.  He had gotten a Toys R Us gift certificate from a friend so I took him to this giant toy land today to pick one out.  Talk about being over stimulated by all the choices!  Not sure this was the best move on my part.

He did not understand why he could not have everything he wanted.  I explained to him that he had $25.00 to spend.  He understands how to count and we discussed the prices so I knew he understood me.  He did not like this and started whinning about how he wanted three babies.  I ended up putting everything back and telling him we were not going to get anything unless his whining stopped.  I also told he he should be thankful he had $25.00 to spend.  I think someone tells these kids that when they get to America they can have whatever they want.  He has said something like this to me but I wasn't sure that was exactly it, however, now I am pretty sure.

Anyway, I went to another part of the store to look at something with Paige.  A few minutes later he said he was sorry and could he please get a baby.  He really is such a good boy.  We went back and I helped him figure out what he could buy with his money.  What is up with there not being any boy doll clothes at toys r us?  I asked the manager and he said he couldn't keep them in stock, they were just to popular.  Do you think that's a hint that you should buys more???  I'm just sayin.

He ended up getting a doll (which was actually a girl but he insisted was a boy), a bottle and a car seat.  I ended up going over to the baby clothes area and getting him a premie boy outfit for the doll which he was so excited about.  I think that was actually a better deal than buying it in the toy area.  I will have to remember this.

So, I finally have a baby doll loving child and I couldn't be happier.

What did Paige get with her gift certificate?  The new barbie that comes with the doggies that poop and pee after you feed them.  She could care less about the Barbie, but the peeing pups are right up her alley.  Levi was happy to take the doll off her hands:)

The Heat Wave

While the rest of you were most likely shoveling snow we had a little heat wave her in the west.  I had been telling the kids they could go swimming once it warmed up.  Well, it warmed up, so I had to be true to my word.

It was to cold to go into the big pool but Levi, Amelia and Paige enjoyed the spa.  Zach and Samantha just watched.  The water was still pretty darn cold.

Both Paige and Levi took their little doggies in the pool with them.  They were in their valentine treat bag from mommy and daddy and they have had so much fun taking them everywhere together.

Amelia was happy to just stick her toes in while Samantha held her hands.  She had a great time crawling all over the cement and putting every twig she could find into her mouth.  She is such a sweet girl.

Zach only swims when it is really hot outside (over 90), he is so much like his Dad in that way.  So, he took this opportunity to work on his swing in the afternoon sunshine.  All of his baseball games have been rained out over the past two weeks.  I think he is going through major withdrawls.

Last Saturday I got a call from the gym Zach works out at.  It seems there was a mishap (I am not allowed to tell you what happened, to embarassing for this teenager:) and he ended up with a gash on his forehead.  Luckilly, the fire department works out at the same gym and they butterflied his injury.  They wouldn't let him drive home and delivered him straight to my doorstep.  One of the other guys drove his car home.  I took him to the urgent care where they were very impressed with the job the firemen did.  What should have taken about 10 stitches only took four because they had butterflied it so nicely right after the accident.

As a mom you never want a call from anyone saying things like Hole in head, fire department, can't drive, need to come now.  That is basically what the lady on the other end of the phone was saying.  I think all the blood kind of freaked her out.

We are very thankful he is fine.  I think the people at the urgent care know us by name now, we have been there so much lately.  I guess it's to be expected when you have a house full of active children.

I wouldn't have it any other way!!!