Please pray!

Hey friends! My Dad was admitted last night to the hospital with an unknown source of infection. He had high fever, generalized malaise and was talking out of his head a bit. They have ruled out all of the yucky things: meningitis, feared flu bugs, pneumonias, even blood clots. There seems to be some emerging cellulitis in his leg that the doctors are treating aggressively. He is responding nicely to the antibiotics. But the redness in his leg continues to increase. So... you praying warriors, get to it!

Dang.

Today is my 31st birthday and we've had a great day! More on that later. Just thought how cool it is that last year this time we didn't know this little munchkin would be joining the circus! Dang God's cool.

Nice ink, Man!

I thought he might be a little young to start with the ink... Micah came home from camp today with some nice tats on his forearm: a little free expression at the age of 4. I decided not to get outraged at the idea of my sweet little son having tattoos at such a young age. There could be worse things, right?

Looks a little like this dude he hung out with last weekend! I think Richard made an impression!

I really do love two men.

I really do love two men. Now, before you think you need to call Smitty and give him a heads up, read on.

My Daddy is one of the wisest, silliest, kindest... men I have ever come to know. He is the best tickle monster and story teller ever! He makes some mean homemade biscuits! He loves molasses and sweet tea. I am thankful to say that I have gotten to share my dad through the years. He has served as a pastor to a church as long as I can remember. While sometimes this has been painful, I know that the Lord has used him mightily in the lives of those he shepherds. He has spent many times with people who are just embarking on the adventure of marriage or the excitement of the birth of a child. He has been present as so many pass into their eternal life with Jesus. What a privilege to share in the beginnings and the endings of life with so many. You see, while he is serving in this way, those around him experience Jesus in a real and very palpable way. We should all aspire to this type of success, that people want you around for these momentous occasions! They know when they experienced the love of God. I have learned so much about what it means to love people from my Dad. He has taught me so much about loving others gracefully, listening to others in need and being true to who the Lord has made me to be. Now as I parent my own children, I am reminded so frequently of the ways he and Mom allowed me to explore who I am and who the Lord is, always showing mercy. I am grateful that our relationship has continued to grow. Smitty and I look to my parents for guidance often times, knowing that they seek the Lord's counsel as well. Our kids LOVE their Papa! Again, there is something about him that they experience as different. I think it is how well he loves. Our first son is named for my Dad really. Micah 6:8 has been the verse that my Dad has always encouraged me with. So, thanks Dad! You are truly a gift! Happy Father's Day! Thanks for gently leading me through life!

And of course, my favorite! Smitty is fun, charming, witty, loyal, wise and humble. Smitty is certainly a man of God. He has, from the time that I met him, sought the Lord's face before making any decisions. He seeks Scripture before anything or anyone else to hear what the Lord would have him do... even about our dating and marriage! (ask him about "the retreat" sometime!) He continues to do this in regard to how we parent our children as well. I am so thankful that Smitty loves the Lord and has experienced grace, so that we can pass it on to our children. He loves unconditionally. He gives and gives and gives. He takes very seriously the charge for him to be lead me and our family spiritually. He does it with such grace, it's amazing. I appreciate so much about Smitty's character. I believe it is a reflection of the love of God in him as well. He loves so well also. He loves with a self-less love. As we struggle some days with our 3 children, we are reminded of Jesus' self-less love for us. Smitty is quick to point us back to our Father and how we can imitate Him. Our kids love their Daddy. He is the best wrestler, piggy backer, pancake maker, tickler, mountain biker/trailer puller, budget maker (ahem.... I mean "cash flow plan" for you Dave Ramsey fans), fixer, guitar player, iPod shuffler, soccer player, pitcher for our family! I love you Smitty. I could not have picked a better daddy for our children. You truly are a gift! Happy Father's Day! Thank you for walking through life with me!

In Review

This week we are:

• trying very hard to listen to our new teachers at preschool camp... which Micah has done "perfectly" according to Ms. Ingram. Yay Micah!

• trying VERY hard NOT to poop on the princess. How many times have I made this recommendation to Elizabeth. She is doing a great job of not pee-peeing on the princess... panties. Yay Elizabeth!

• trying to sleep through the night! Yep! Baby David is sleeping until 6 am! Woohoo!

• trying to spend more of our down time reading, which Smitty and I are both doing well! He is reading Surprised by Joy by C.S.Lewis, and I am reading something a little lighter, a novel, Second Chance by Jane Green.

• trying to have yummy, creative meals at home. Last night, we ate breakfast for supper, or as Smitty calls it, "brupper." Yumm-o! We had my mom's breakfast casserole recipe, hash browns, and watermelon.

So, all in all, a good week! Come back for more later!

Party weekend

We started the weekend with a bang! We had our friend Isabel over to play Friday! It was great to have another little girl for Elizabeth to play with. They played babies ALL morning! Micah had them convinced to play in the bounce house by the afternoon though!

Wouldn't you know it, I forgot my camera at my sweet niece's first birthday party! If my head were only attached... I did get there with the gift, the bathing suits, towels, sunscreen... you get the idea. Anyhow, to see Haley's party pics see facebook! Lisa loaded like 150 pics or something! Here is a pic of the birthday girl before her birthday!

Then, Saturday night we had some new and dear friends over to celebrate their adoptions. My parents even kept the kids so we could have uninterrupted conversations! We have friends, the Goldbergs, that are considered "Paper Pregnant" now! They have completed all of their paperwork and are waiting for a birthmother to choose their family. We met them through our first adoptions together from Guatemala. Some other friends, the Walthers, are just embarking on the adoption of their first child (children). We met this couple through Smitty traveling to India for work a couple of years ago. It is so sweet to hear the hearts as these dear ones prepare for the child the Lord has intended for their family. The others of us at the party either had adopted or wish to in the future! An entire evening devoted to talking about adoption... what a good time! It was fun to encourage and spur one another on in our journeys. I had gotten each of the families in process a gift for their baby hope chest (just like if you were pregnant). I firmly believe that it is important to allow yourself to begin including the image of a child in your mind. This not only helps you realize the hope of adoption, but also helps those around you begin accepting this child as yours... lots more I can say about that, but that will be for another post! (again... not sure if it was the wine, or bewildered without children, but no pictures of this event! what was i thinking?)

We also went to Isabel's birthday party! What fun! The party was at our local gymnastics gym. The kids had a BALL! I think Elizabeth may have a future in gymnastics. She was not afraid of any of the stations and ran right over to the rings. Micah and Elizabeth were both sad when it was time for cake!

And THEN we went to celebrate Gretchen's second birthday! Hard to believe this little angel is already 2! Elizabeth drove a bulldozer in full Elizabeth attire: beads, pocketbook and high heels. Micah learned to ride Everett's bike without training wheels! My baby boy is growing up too fast! He was on cloud nine! We had to pull him back to Earth when it was time for cake here too!

What a fun weekend! The kids started back at NPPS for a summer camp this week! They are having a blast with their new friends and teachers learning about Dinosaurs!

3 Months Old!

David is three months old now. Where has the time gone? He is truly a sweet baby. He loves his big brother and big sister, just practically cackling when they come near.

He is getting stronger each day, holding his head up, trying to sit up and trying to roll over.

He is not a huge fan of tummy time, but instead of fuss, he just goes to sleep there! Oh well. I only let him stay on his belly if I am right with him to watch every breath!

He is sleeping about 6 hour stretches at night (woohoo!) Too bad that starts around 9pm, so we are still getting up between 3 and 4am. But he is totally worth it. He is such a sweetie in the middle of the night, as if to say, "I know I am waking you up to eat... but I am really grateful for it!"

In his three little months, David has already gone to the park, the zoo, the pool, the mountains, and many, many parties! We have been on the birthday party circuit (more of those pics to come!) David is more than impressed... notice the picture! He is weighing in at 11 pounds 6.6 ounces today! Little whopper, my boy is!

This is his first toes in the grass.... Ahem... weeds, experience. We're so thankful for David and his precious little spirit. He is a joy to have around and pretty easy going. We continue to give thanks for his new life!