College Overnight Adventure

From Aunt Jo Jo's Perspective:

Growing up I remember going to visit Jennifer at Lincoln was one of my favorite "big girl" things to do! So I was super excited about being able to provide that same experience for the girls. It was almost hard to believe that they were already old enough to come and visit, I remember talking to Jennifer when I first started college about the girls getting to come visit me when they were old enough. And now they are such big girls who were great guests!! We colored, had an easter egg hunt (at least 5 times), watched a Tangled, played hide and seek (again at least 10 times), and did many more fun activities! Probably one of my favorite moments of the weekend was at about 11:00 at night when we just finished watching Tangled. All through the movie, Faith kept asking is it almost over, and I couldn't figure out why because I knew she LOVED the movie.... And as soon as the movie was over she hopped up off my lap and started walking to my room... I asked her where she was going and she said "JoJo it is time for bed!" Who would have thought the three year old would have had to been the grown up? But with that I would say our action packed night was a great one and left the girls tired and ready for their very first JoJo sleep over. However I must say even after a late night, they were up plenty early for this college girl! So I did what any great aunt would do... let them watch a movie until I actually could get myself out of bed. Then we enjoyed making breakfast with Jakey! Faith got to make her very own coffee cake with me, while Grace got to draw her own pancakes with Jake. (thats right personalized breakfast meals... they couldn't agree, and what's an aunt to do but let them both get their way!) We had a great weekend together! I hope that the girls will look back on this memory and cherish it as much as I do the sleepovers I had with my sister.

I'm thankful Josie wrote this for me, I think it makes it so much more special for the girls to read someday. They had an absolute blast!

Make Up Artist?

As a mama you always wonder what your kiddos will be when they grow up...

I think we can safely mark make-up artist off Faith's list.

Special Delivery

Aren't they gorgeous? If only they came delivered this way, then I wouldn't have so many stretch marks!

"Spring" Play Group

We are continuing to enjoy our play group. We are always doing fun stuff, but I haven't been great at snapping pictures as of late. Probably because Titus is now walking and trying to get into every activity we do!

We recently did a "Spring" themed day. Here the kids are making flower pics using their fingerprints and craft materials.

We brought our sand table and filled it full of dirt! I know it sounds messy...and it was. But, the kids LOVED it. At the end we used the potting soil to plant our own seeds in cups.
Did, I mention Titus is into everything? Well, it is worth mentioning again. E-V-E-R-Y thing!
I buried "treasures" for the kids to dig for in the dirt.

Our Daddy is the Best...

daddy in the whole world because he took us to a mother/daughter fancy birthday party when mom was sick. He painted our nails, made hair bows, and was THE ONLY GUY THERE. Not even the birthday girl's daddy was in attendance.

First Sleepover

Back in January our girls had their first official sleep over at the Whetstone's house while Jeremy and I went to the Discover adoption seminar. It was the first time they had spent the night at someone's house other than their grandparents. So, we had been wanting to return the favor. We have had "sleep overs" before with Sadie, Kinnick, Macey, & Hannah but their moms came too. So, this was our first official sleep over with just kids. Grace & Faith were very excited and put on make-up to get ready. Grace also picked out a "boy" shirt with a basketball on it in honor of boys coming over. (This sounds very much like they were trying to impress, but it was all very innocent.)

They were excited to put on their pjs and watch a movie with popcorn.

Here Logan and Titus toddled down to the girls' room to drag books off the shelf while the older kids were playing in the back yard.
Titus & Logan went to bed great. The older kids had a bit of a harder time, but overall I'm sure there will be LOTS of much later nights at future slumber parties! The Whetstones are dear friends and I am enjoying watching the kids' friendships develop.

Signs of Spring

Spring is officially here and we have changed out our seasonal "artwork" from snowmen to flowers. This one was super easy. Each of the kids made the number of flowers as there age. That worked well since I only had to coax Titus into painting one flower.

Here is the finished product. Faith got to do 3 1/2 flowers. The girls enjoyed adding their names with scrap booking stickers from Nana.

The temperatures have been up, down, and all around but we have been enjoying the days that FEEL like Spring.

One day Jeremy went into work late (10 am!!) because he was working late. We got doughnuts and then went to the park to ride bikes. Here Grace is riding her sister's bike. She REALLY needs a bigger bike!
We have gotten out the hammock- the girls' favorite thing to do with their daddy.
Titus LOVES going outside & getting dirty.

He is really enjoying this car. He can't make it go forwards but he loves to pretend to drive.

We have enjoyed a few picnics at the park with friends. On this windy day the wind did all the blowing for us when we played with bubbles.
Faith ridding Grace's old bike (because it is even smaller than her bike). These pants she is wearing already have a hole in them from an adventure in our backyard, so I'm glad they were handed down!
I LOVE Spring.

Little Pink Princess "Bible"

This is the devotional book we are using for our breakfast devotion time. Faith calls it her little pink "Bible." A while back we were reading from Numbers 9:15-23.

On the day the Holy Tent was set up, a cloud covered it. (The Holy Tent was also called the Tent of the Agreement.) From dusk until dawn the cloud above the Tent looked like fire. The cloud stayed above the Tent. At night it looked like fire. when the cloud moved from its place over the Tent, the Israelites moved. Wherever the cloud stopped, the Israelites camped. So the Israelites moved at the Lord's command. While the cloud stayed over the Tent, they stayed in place. Sometimes the cloud stayed over the Tent for a long time. The Israelites obeyed the Lord and did not move. Sometimes the cloud was over it only a few days. At the Lord's command they moved. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from dusk until dawn. When the cloud lifted the next morning, the people moved. When the cloud lifted, day or night, the people moved. The cloud might stay over the Tent for two days, a month or a year. As long as it stayed, the people would camp. But when the cloud lifted, they moved. At the Lord's command the people camped. And at his command they moved. They obeyed the Lord's order that he commanded through Moses.

This passage caught my attention and resonated with my heart.

I felt like these words were cut and pasted out of our current life circumstances...

The cloud might stay over the Tent for two days, a month or a year. As long as it stayed, the people would camp. But when the cloud lifted, they moved. At the Lord's command the people camped. And at his command they moved.

Now granted we don't live in a tent. No, we live in a very nice super comfy American home. But, as we have been seeking the Lord's vision and purpose for our family we have been living in a sort of "we might be moving" limbo land for almost a year and a half. And to be honest, it is the best of times and the worst of times all wrapped into one. On the one hand God has immeasurably blessed and redeemed "Hannibal" as we have waited. I have also come to learn that the "permanence" we often assume/rely on in our lives is a false sense of security. But, it can also be challenging. We find ourselves saying, "But what if we're moving..." when trying to make financial decisions, as we prepare for Grace going to kindergarten, as we grow deeper relationships with new friends and attempt to prepare for an adoption. So often we come to a place where we think it would be SO much easier to make a decision if we knew where this path would end up...

Boy, do I wish we had a pillar of cloud & fire over our house. (Wouldn't that be cool?)

Yet each time we wait God has always given just enough grace & wisdom for us to know the next step (maybe I should say baby step). He's been faithful to give clear direction even when that has been in the form of a no. No, we didn't end up getting an interview. No, that position is no longer available we just offered it to someone yesterday...No, you aren't eligible to begin the adoption process this year you will need to wait. And so we wait, and pray, and seek and sometimes try to convince God he really needs to have this all worked out by the fall when Grace will start kindergarten. (I'm not sure he is near as worried about this fact as I am :)

Looking back at the Scripture I see the following:

1. Sometimes the Israelites stayed (for 2 days, a month, years)

2. Sometimes the Israelites moved. (after only a few days)

3. The people were ready. (day or night they moved)

4. They were directed by the Lord's command and they obeyed.

Well I've got one and two down. And I think I'm the closest to three I've been in my whole life. But, four well I think I will be working on that one my whole life. Total obedience is hard. I know the Israelites knew that! But, I also know its a worthy goal. I'm still working on figuring out the difference between when God is planting you and when He is preparing you. (And I'm still willing to install the pillar thing if God is interested...)