Can you say I'm behind?

Please forgive me for not blogging.  So much is happening in our life, that it is a whirlwind!  When can I find the time?   It's not the first time I've been behind and I'm sure it will not be the last.  However, my hopes at that I'll begin writing again - maybe Reid will even post here as well!

The Lord is stretching me, growing me, and revealing things in my own heart that I would prefer not to see.  Ugh!  More dross to burn away!  Learning to trust more, speak less, and follow wherever the Lord leads.

Godwin is speaking in complete sentences and sharing more of his thoughts.  He's growing fast adding weight and height.  :-)  He still loves to be held close.  For this, I am grateful!  He's loves cars and trucks.  I can't imagine life without his sweet presence in our family!  What a JOY he is!

Braden, at seven years old, is now practically wearing the same size shoe as his mom.  This is why I can never find my flip-flops.  When I become anxious, he speaks truth by telling me, "Trust God, Mom!"

Weston is enjoying his first year at Rivers Edge Christian Academy.  He is making friends and spending lots of time on his school work.  Right now, he is teaching Godwin how to hook a train up to his truck and run it around our den.  Beep!  Beep!  Oh, the joy of boys!

Franklin's heart has enlarged for the world.  He often mentions children in Ghana - wondering how they are doing.  As I type this, he is drilling holes for the pull-up bar to be installed below our new deck.  (Many, many friends helped finish the deck!  It is done!  It is beautiful!)

Mason shows his love frequently to his brothers by tending to them before his own needs.  As I watch him, I realize I still have so much to learn.  He's written a new song for Feeding the Orphans.  His song is the cry of the orphans and his own response to it.  Mmmm...mmm...mm...  For me, his song is a tear jerker.  Such truth from a 14 year old heart!  "I will follow you no matter the cost..."  Yes, I will.

Reid and I are both on a new journey of trust.  We have big plans on the horizon for our family.  When God calls you, you go.  When God leads you, you follow.  When God stretches you, you s-t-r-e-t-c-h.  This is where we find ourselves.

We have so much to share, but my mind is unable to articulate well right now.  We are so grateful to the Lord we serve for the opportunity He offers to be part of His work here on earth.  What a privilege and honor.  He chooses human vessels to do his work.  We (and you) are his hands and feet.

We would covet your prayers for our family.  Thank you friends!

The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

 “I will make you into a great nation, 

   and I will bless you; 

I will make your name great, 

   and you will be a blessing.

Genesis 12:1-2

P.S.  Please keep checking back.  We hope to be posting updates more often.  :-)  Grateful to you all!

Baseball Braden

A few of my favorite pics from one of the last games. Like his brothers, Braden loves baseball!

Braden's team was undefeated this season.  They won the Championship, coming home with a large trophy.  Go Twins!  Way to go!

Baseball Franklin

Franklin loves the game and I love watching him.  God is good!

A Dollar A Day?

Today I had the great privilege to spend the day with Amanda Walton.  Reid and I met Amanda last year while taking the Perspectives course on World missions.   Soon after the course ended she sold everything and moved to Kenya to live in an orphanage for a year.  Today she shared with us.  Her experiences, her heart growth, her advice, her joy, and her life calling today - now that she is back home.  Amanda's maturity surpasses most people I know though she is much younger.  She truly follows the Lord's leading and glorifies him in it. 

While Amanda was living in Kenya, she spent one week living on one dollar per day.  Yes, one dollar per day.  Because I will do injustice to her journey if I try to explain it, I'll share the video she made.  It's very thought provoking and challenging.  I wanted to live differently after watching it.

A Dollar A Day Challenge


This morning Reid preached on Matthew 15.  One thing he said struck me.  There are many other religions doing good things - feeding the poor, caring for orphans and widows, drilling wells, etc...  So if we, as Christians, are doing these "good things" but not in the name of Jesus then it is all in vain.  In vain.  May the works of our hands proclaim his name to the nations.  May His love shine through in all that is done.  May people come to know Christ through the love they have been shown as they have heard the gospel of Christ.

One organization that we know of  is striving to do all in the name of Christ.  FEEDING THE ORPHANS  Check it out if you would like to help.  There are so many ways to give others the love of Christ in the name of Christ. 

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
   but their hearts are far from me.  

They worship me in vain;
   their teachings are merely human rules.’” 

Matthew 15:8-9

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.  Proverbs 29:7

The Traditional Easter Pictures

Now most of our family photos in the house look incomplete because most of them were taken before Godwin was with us.  We are trying to fill the frames with photos of our complete family now!  Here are a few taken on Sunday!  Oh, we praise God for His goodness to us!

 

By the way, our friends, the O'Learys with Feeding the Orphans, challenged us to wear adoption shirts on Easter.  Why spend the money on new clothes when that money could be used to help orphans?  Isn't the day of Jesus' resurrection about his adoption of us anyway?  Oh, we loved the simplicity of it.  It is so true!  We donned our t-shirts along with many families in our church.  Love it!  

 

 

Our complete family - including Mathiang! 

 

Jumpity Jump

Just four weeks ago, Godwin stepped onto the trampoline at my parent's house and couldn't even lift his feet.  Now he's jumping, jumping, and jumping.  It's beautiful to see him bounce!

 

 

 

 

Do you think he's happy or what?

Destroying the Deck - Phase 2

 

Now our old deck sits completely in our backyard.  I know the neighbors love it....

 

I have signs posted and a huge table blocking the doorway to be sure we don't go out the door!   It's frightening!

 

Of course, I had to include one pitcure of our adorable Godwin in his new sunglasses!

 

Yes, this is our backyard!  Anyone want to come for a deck-raising party??

Destroying the Deck

 

For those of you who know Omar, you know he's a big boy.  Actually, for a 13 year old, he's a HUGE boy.  Omar spends many weekends with us, and a last weekend he stayed here.  On Saturday afternoon, he was walking down our back steps and...went through one...  After going through the one rotten board, he toppled down taking out four more steps!  It was frightening, but he was fine.  Thankfully!

Within two days, Reid had taken off the steps.  Nearly all were rotten.  With a three year old now, it's a bit dangerous to have a deck without steps attached.  Soooo....when Reid examined the deck in its entirety he realized that it wouldn't be long before the entire thing came crashing down.   Much of it was dilapidated. 

Reid came up with a plan to build a new deck and gave the boys a very fun job - taking down the back deck!  Every boy in our neighborhood has come to help with the job!

 

 

The boys have a plan for a fantastic fort in the woods to be constructed out of the wooden boards.  Airsoft games are around the corner this summer for sure!  Even Godwin Derrick helped - whenever he wasn't being carried by one of his brothers!   

 

Baseball Begins!

 

It's that timeof year again.  Back to the ball field to watch Franklin and Braden swing the bat.  Perhaps it's because Reid played, but I love to watch our kids play America's favorite past-time. 

 

Godwin Derrick doesn't quite understand where to place the mitts!  So cute!  He loves going to the baseball field where he can run and play.  He's making lots of friends quickly!

 

Franklin is playing pitcher and first-base this year.  Not to brag, but God has gifted him as an athlete.  He always knows what to do and how to do it.  :-)

 

Spring has HATCHED!

We enjoyed an evening with our friends, Chad and Stephanie Bowling, who are also adopting two children from Ghana.  The boys were captivated by their baby chicks and ducklings!  Quack-quack!  I love Spring!