Tada

Our slightly lopsided tree :)

Christmas Ornament

I recently ordered a Christmas ornament from this great blog..http://jenkinsethiopiaadoption.blogspot.com/ And I just got it in and had to share. It's so cute! And great quality made.

Thank You Jenkins Family!

Christmas time!

I cannot believe that Christmas time is almost here! This past weekend we went to a Christmas tree farm to choose and cut our tree. This was the first time we have ever done this. But we thought it would be fun for the kids. Well let me tell you it was some kind of cold out there!! The wind was whipping so it was more miserable then fun. :) We looked all over for a pretty tree that wasn't huge and that wasn't one of the "high priced" ones. We found a row that looked pretty and by then we were so cold we just picked one real quick without really surveying every inch of the thing.. Well we got it home and stuck it in the base...somehow it got screwed into the base kinda crooked..we cut the bag thingy off of the tree and...That thing is huge! Its so much bigger then it looked outside! And its kind of crooked and fatter on one side then the other :) Kinda looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss movie. But It's out tree. And we love it. In all its cockeyed fluffiness.

Overcoming Obstacles

1 John 4:4  You, dear children, are from God and have OVERCOME them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Sometimes we can get so discouraged in our daily life. Things like finances, relationships, just life in general can be so trying sometimes. And it can make you feel like your not overcoming, but failing.

I want so bad to live a life pleasing to Him. It's not for people But I also do want people to look at my life and see Him in the things we do. I want to be a witness. That's why it's so frustrating when I do thing to glorify him, and hope that these things will be a witness to others..and then instead people see these things in a completely different light. Like adoption for example. I want to do it to reach out to a child who needs a family, and love. To show some child Jesus. To obey his word. No child should be without someone. I want to do it because I know God is putting this calling on our life (even though it seems to be taking awhile, I know He has perfect timing). Yet when I talk about it people don't see it as good but make comments like "Why?"
"That's a lot of money! Just have your own!" Or think that we are doing it to try and be cool!
And if you mention that you may do it internationally that stirs up even more trouble!
They don't see it as a family wanting to do something for God. Instead they see it as wasting money, or taking on too much. It's frustrating!!
Same thing with homeschooling.
Our landlord was over not long ago and with me right there he asked my husband..
"How much longer until these kids can go to school?"
"because as soon as they can, I'd make my wife go get a job!"
I was kinda ticked but just said "Well I'm actually homeschooling"
He looked shocked and started saying how crazy that is, that its not healthy to stay home like that all the time and that he would go crazy...I didn't say anything but it really kinda hurt that people take something I'm so proud of and something I'm making a sacrifice for and instead act like the job is the most important thing and the kids should be put last.

But then I was thinking..there's going to be things like this no matter where we go in  life. The enemy tries to put obstacles in front of us to try and get us off our path to try and distract us..to cause problems.. But  You, dear children, are from God and have OVERCOME them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Awesome video helping the least of these...and a picture:)

I saw this on a blog I follow and just had to re-post. A man helping the least of these.This man is amazing!!! click on this link to watch the  video..I wasn't sure how to actually post the video on here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MkxtkmXmvU&feature=player_embedded

And also going to end with a picture of my daughter enjoying the weather today.:)

Homeschooling update

I haven't updated recently about how our home school is going..We love it. I am so glad that we chose to do this. Alex is doing great and is so proud of all he has learned. We use an accredited academy that we send some of his papers in to. They check to make sure he is doing well and then send them back. Well yesterday the first pack came back in the mail. The wrote Good Job! Well done! on his papers, and he is so proud of them:0 We went to my moms last night and he had to bring along the papers and show them off to everyone. It was so cute. It makes me feel so good to know that he is learning and enjoying staying home. We are trying to think of different little field trips in the area to give the kids "hands on" learning. They love getting out so we will have to come up with some creative ideas:) I'm so thankful for my kids and for the opportunity to home school them. I have thought now and then how much more money we would have if I worked, but God has provided all our needs with just Eric working. And I'm trusting that he will continue to do so. Well I need to get off of here and eat a Halloween cookie with my kids :) But a quick picture..

my kids making lunch for me A.k.a HOME EC :)

Day at the orchard

Today ended up being a beautiful day! So we took the kids to the orchard.

They had a ball picking apples...

Nothing like hanging out in an orchard..74 degree weather. Simply beautiful.