I'm still here!

Whew! This month has flown by and the way that it has been going I am glad that it is almost over.

I thought I would recap our crazy month :).... just some of it.

In no particular order:

1. Remember how I kept saying our sweet Caleb was suffering with hives and not so other nice things (i.e. nasty poop) Well we finally found out why. I would have put money on it that he had parasites. It is very common for the kids from orphanages to have them, but when all his blood work  and samples came back great, I was kind of shocked. Then I realized that he didn't have any issues until he came home. As soon as he came home we took him off formula and put him on cows milk. That is when everything started. So we immediately put him on soy and then took him right back off of it. (I didn't realize how bad soy was) then we put him on almond milk and goats milk and cut all cheeses and yogurt and he has been perfect! No more waking up at night ( I wonder if it was hurting his tummy :(...) His poop is normal! and we have not seen any hives. I am thankful!!

2. Hubby and I went to the Police Banquet and stayed over night. Let me repeat that, we had a whole night to ourselves with NO children. It was nice :) and before you judge me, well okay go ahead, Caleb was great. My mom stayed at our house and he was fine and knows grandma. Also he does know that we are his parents. We dressed up and danced the night away. I heart dancing!!!!!

love him!!

3. Speaking of my amazing hubby. We have been doing a lot of this lately.

Well, not always with wine. but it's not just a bible study. Last night was incredible. We stayed up all night talking about how we can learn from some things that have been thrown at us, how we can better serve the King with our marriage and family, how we can truly hold each other accountable by putting Jesus above each others happiness. (Meaning, if I am sinning, he will not take my side just to make me happy, he will let me know.) We cried a lot... okay I cried a lot.. It was a very intense, beautiful, spirit led, sweet precious time that we spent together last night. I do feel bad that he only had about 3 hours of sleep, but it was just amazing. I say it all the time, but I mean it. I am truly blessed to have a man that Loves Jesus more then me.

4. Do you ever have those moments where God just  moves you to tears with His goodness?? I had one today. As I was driving around running errands. I saw in my mirror my 3 year old daughter lifting up her hands every time the verse " I will lift my hands in worship" came on and she was singing at the top of her lungs. It really moved me in such a huge way that I quickly snapped a pic.

5. My new obsession!!!!!!! No really, it's super duper yummy!

My friend had posted this link to another friends wall last week. She tried it and said it was the best. Then all of a sudden I have been seeing tons of recipes for spinach smoothies. I knew I had to try it and I am hooked. So are the kids. No really, you can not taste the spinach at all.  I was not convinced that I would be full from it, but I actually am. I had this for lunch and I don't want anything else. You seriously MUST TRY IT... do it now... now, like right this second. And then let me know what you thought :)
Here is where I found this recipe, but there are tons out there.  http://iowagirleats.com/2012/01/04/my-top-secret-diet-weapon/      Also check out my friends blog HERE


Thanks for sticking with me friends. I promise to blog more. There has been so much that the Lord has put on my heart I am praying for time to sit down and write.

Hope you are having a blessed day!!!

Jumping in!

It's that time again! It's time to start getting back on schedule and jumping in to our school work. Don't get me wrong, pretty much since we have been back from Ethiopia my kids still did math and reading. ( I told you I was not going to take a break on math) , but now it is time to get off my lazy behind and get back on our schedule.

The last couple of weeks have been rough, this week being the worse. Our sweet Caleb has been having nightmares, (trauma/adoption related nightmares) almost every night, which means instead of sleeping he screams and has panic attacks. The only thing that seems to calm him is being in my arms... sounds so sweet doesn't it?? Not when you are exhausted! We have been praying over him and the Lord has been gracious to give me sleep just when it seems like I can't go on anymore.

On top of all that fun we have been from doctor, to doctor, to doctor, to... your getting my point. I don't think people tell you how much you will need to go to the docs. It has been nuts! He has hives and we can't seem to figure out the source. We FINALLY were able to get his blood drawn today. I will spare you the details on how many times we have tried and we finally were able to turn everything in that we needed. Whew!

As my days seem to slip away and my weariness grows, I have been spending a lot of time in prayer. In all honesty it's the only thing that has gotten me through this crazy life of mine. As I have been seeking the Lord on how to really serve Him in my home schooling, He keeps gently whispering the verse that He clearly spoke to me in the beginning of our home school journey. " You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as front lets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Duet. 11:18-19
I can teach the most amazing things, I can be organized to a T , I can be the coolest mom around and my kids could speak many different languages and take apart computers and put them back together,  but if I am not teaching them about the Lord all day everyday, then nothing else matters. If I am not using those teachable moments to draw their hearts to Him, then nothing matters. If I am not showing them by my actions that starting our days off praising the Lord for His goodness, then nothing else matters..... I fall so short in this area. I always seem to make everything about me, even teaching my babies.


One thing I am ALWAYS saying when they whine about doing school work ( oh, you mean your kids never do that? Mine don't either)  Is Colossians 3:23. Reminding them that their not working for me or for them selves but for the Lord. In obedience to Him, this is what He is asking you to do.... Yes, even school work and you are to work hard, with all your heart for the Lord. He never said perfect, He just said honor Him in your heart even when working..... I need to take my own advice.

Another thing I am always repeating to my kiddos is " You can't be obedient, no matter how hard you try , you can not obey , because we are sinful, BUT you can pray and ask Jesus to help you and He will. "..... I need to take my own advice.

I can be crafty.....:)

I made this plaque to hang above the kids school work as not only a reminder to them, but for me as well.
Praying that we will walk in obedience to our King, even in the small things and that we would set our minds on things above and not here on this earth. That we would work, serve, breathe whole Heartily knowing that we are serving Jesus and not man. Knowing that our value, our treasure, our existence lies in Him. Praying for wisdom and patience in dealing with all that lies ahead. Praying that the words I use (especially when I am at my breaking point) would be words for building up and not tearing down. Praying that the Lord will use even my mess ups to draw theirs hearts (and mine) to Him.