11 Years of Wedded Bliss!

Our wedding day 11 years ago! I had to take a picture of picture as there were no digital cameras back then ;)






And then today.......well this summer, its not too often we get our picture taken together:)

I am so very blessed to be married to my favorite person in the whole world! I remember never being nervous on or leading up to our wedding day, I had no doubts because I knew that Howard was always meant to be my husband! We had a very quick courtship, met in February, engaged in June, pregnant in August and married in November! My parents really wanted us to wait at least a year to get married.....that was before I got "knocked up" Then there tune changed pretty quickly:) My Mom planned pretty much my whole wedding and it was lovely, I couldn't have planned a more perfect wedding myself! Thanks Mom! However more importantly our marriage has been a joyful one, we have always supported one another and knew when things were tough, that the valley we were in,was just a season and we would soon see brighter days! We have done so much growing together and even accepted the Lord and were baptized together! I was only 19 when we were married, and I thank God everyday that He gave me Howard. Most 19 year olds who get married and have kids that young don't have such wonderful stories! So I am thankful and I joke with my friends that, I love my husband and I even LIKE him too:)
Happy Anniversary Honey! Here's to another 50 years!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

~1 Cor. 13:13

A great cookbook for busy families.

Hmmmm....... we have been busy, doing what? I'm not really sure. Just the regular stuff kids to school, kids club, play dates, etc, etc, etc. Nothing really exciting, just regular life. Nathan and Josh had report cards and parent teacher interviews both our boys are doing well and have wonderful teachers. Riley is still loving preschool. Howard will be working away from home starting next Tuesday for 10 days and then will be home for4 days, neither one of us are very happy about that situation as it may last upwards of 6 months! So I have been praying that God will provide Howard with a different opportunity where he can still be fulfilled and challenged and paid well but be home every night and on weekends. We are thankful he has work that he loves and pays well, however we both acknowledge him living away is not healthy for our young family. I trust that God will provide us with what our family needs, and I will work at being content in all things:)





On a lighter note one of my dear friends T and I got together for a cooking marathon. I found this awesome cookbook called "Fix, Freeze, Feast" the whole theory is cook in bulk and freeze the meals, so they will be ready for busy weeknights. So my friend and I each chose 2 recipes and doubled them and we both walked away with 12 meals!! All made from scratch not a thing was from a can! We made beef fajitas, bourbon bbq chicken breasts, honey glazed chicken, and salisbury meatballs. The bonus was we got to hang out for the day and cook & visit! My friend T has some pictures of us with our treasured meals, I will have to get her to email me a pict and I will post it! I must admit we were quite proud of ourselves:) And the meals are delicious.





I have to admit I have been a little discouraged with the adoption progress. We haven't had much news lately, as they have been really busy at the foster home. I know that the bumbo chair made it to Beijing and is waiting for Keith to pick it up. I am so thankful for the family who brought it over for Addie. Also the orthopedic surgeon took a look at Addison and she looks really good no sign of hip issues or scoliosis, which is great! She will start an IV treatment called Pamidronate soon, this medication will help strengthen her bones and take away alot of the bone pain she has. Our eldest son Nathan has been on this medication since he was 3 mos old and it has changed his quality of life significantly, we were told by specialists that he would never sit up, walk or run. All of which Nate is able to do thanks in part to this medication Pamidronate. So needless to say we are quite excited to hear Addie will be receiving this med while in China! Now that I read this we have much to be thankful for! I just find that I have been "missing" her! Is that even possible? I don't even know her! I find it discouraging to think we are missing out on seeing her sit up for the first time and rollover etc. I guess that is my own selfishness. I just want to be able to hold her and hug her, and be there for her first treatment to comfort her when the nurses have to stick her with an IV needle. I love her and to think that we don't have an official referral yet is frustrating! Our agency says it looks good, 98% she will be ours, but in the back of my mind I still think theres a 2% chance things could go the other way. What this tells me is I need to put my trust in God and stop trying to take control of these circumstances! I need to learn patience, have more Faith, and trust that His ways are perfect!





Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31








So as you can see nothing major this week thus far. I am certainly in need of some quiet time and prayer to get my thoughts back on track! I am looking forward to the next few days! Tomorrow night we have a women's banquet and fashion show at our church, its always a fun bring a friend event! The kids are all having sleepovers! And Howard's and my 11th anniversary is on Saturday! Hard to believe its been 11 years already, it seems like it was just yesterday! Although when I looked at our wedding pictures the other day I couldn't get over how young we were! I'm hoping to make a nice dinner and celebrate with some friends and the kids. Looks like we have a fun weekend in store! Hope the rest of your week is fabulous!

Olympic Torch and Great Days Off!

These last 2 days have been so wonderful. The Olympic torch came through our community, and the boys school decided to walk down to see it. Nathan's teacher and I were not too sure how the trails would be for Nate's wheelchair, as we just had snow before Halloween. So Howard and I decided we would take him ourselves. His aid offered to come with us to help out, which was awesome as she had Nate, I had Josh and Howard had Riley.I even got a little emotional when the torch went by!!! Not quite sure why.... but, whatever!
Also yesterday Nathan went to a birthday party it was a pool party and sleepover. Not a big deal, however we have never met the parents before, and we have a rule that no play dates, sleepovers, etc. unless we have met the parents. We did however decide to let Nathan go for the evening and picked him up at 9PM. I don't usually get anxious when he is on a "play date" however I usually know the parents quite well. So needless to say every time the phone rang last night I was a little jumpy. His right leg has been bugging him since he had a fall last weekend, and he has had a hard time walking since then.(Nate has brittle bone disease for those of you wondering why I am being neurotic:)) I don't believe its a fracture, but with him you never know! Josh and Riley both had friends over for the evening and we had a Chinese food feast and a "fancy"dessert! My kids think the cream puffs from Costco are super fancy!?! It was a fun evening for all of us and everyone was safe.Phew!!!
This morning was one of those awesome lazy, read the newspaper, build Lego, make a second pot of coffee mornings. We finally got on with our day around 10:30!!! We collectively agreed that today would be a great day to hang our outdoor Christmas lights. Yes I know some of you are thinking its way too early! However in our neck of the woods it could be -30 next week with 3 feet of snow!!! (I just looked at forecast and its suppose to get really warm next week! DOH!) Anyhoo they are done! Yay! We also made the yummiest ribs ever and a batch of cookies, even the kids rooms got cleaned! WooHoo! We all had fun actually, I think because we all worked together. Howard still has 2 days off. Tomorrow we will be off to church in the morning and who knows what in the afternoon? Monday I believe Howard has plans to go Moose hunting as his tag opened last weekend, and then he will be back to 10 more days of work, and I will start counting down until his next 4 days off:)
On the adoption front we haven't heard anything from China or our adoption agency. So we are sitting and waiting. I know the foster home was a buzz as they had a group doing a short term mission with them. Also the orthopedic surgeon from Shriners hospital in Chicago was with them. So I suspect they are very busy. I believe the birthday package we had sent for Addie was arriving with this group! I can't wait to hear if the outfits were the right size and if she liked the toys! I am also very curious to hear what the Doctor had to say about Addison's condition. Its funny I feel like I miss her.....yet I have never even met her! As much as I feel impatient and want things to speed up, I still know that God's timing is perfect! And trust his plan for our lives.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." ~Isaiah 30:21~

Howard hanging the Christmas lights!



Josh and Nathan with the Olympic Torch! (lighting wasn't so great for the picture)


The Flame running past us!

Finally I missed days 5 & 6 of what I am Thankful for! I think I may update once a week on my Thanks as its hard to get time everday of the week to blog it!

Day5 Thanks~ I am so very thankful for the wonderful children I have been blessed with! I pray everyday that I will be the Mother they need me to be. I never dreamed I would have three children let alone be adopting our 4th from China! I can't even put it into words what an honor it is to be my kids Mom!

Day6 Thanks~ I am thankful that I am able to stay at home with my children. I know there are many Mom's out there that HAVE to work, and would give their left arm to be at home with there kids. When Howard and I started out as a young couple I never dreamed we would have the luxury of having a parent home fulltime......yet here we are! I treat being a stay at home mom as a huge gift for me and my kids!

Thanks & Giving Day 4

Today I am so very Thankful for my church! Our whole immediate family has accepted Christ because this church was in our community! My family has a hope for heaven because this church was a Light! We just started a 6 week study called "Fearless" by Max Lucado, I am looking forward to hearing how lives will be changed throughout the study!

Days 1,2 and 3 of Thanks & Giving

I thought I would post here the things I was thankful for and will posting on the Threads of Faithfulness blog. You are welcome to join in just follow the link on the post just prior to this one.

Day1- My husband as he is my bestfriend, a wonderful father, that loves us all and provides for us!

Day 2- My best girlfriends whom I had lunch with! They are such a support and I am so blessed to have them in my life Thank Karolyn, Jodi, Karmen, Jodica & Kathleen! What an amazing small group we have:)

Day 3- I am thankful for my health, that I am able to serve others!

Now hopefully I will be able to keep up with this daily;)

Threads Of Faithfulness: 30 Days of Thanks and Giving is underway! ***UPDATED DAILY!!!

Hi all! One of the ladies whose blog I follow is doing 30 days of Thanks and Giving. What she is doing is everyday posting a quick note of 1 thing she is thankful for and one thing she has done for others! You can join in and add to the post at the end of the month she will blog a big post of Thanks and Giving! Just click on the link below and it will bring it to her site. Have an awesome day!

Threads Of Faithfulness: 30 Days of Thanks and Giving is underway! ***UPDATED DAILY!!!

Halloween Week In A Nutshell.

What a week! We were quite busy around here with some of us getting over the flu and Halloween festivities, we were on the go! Nathan and Josh seem to be improving from their bouts with the flu. Riley had her first Halloween party at preschool, boy has our girl come out of her shell! She is now making friends and had a blast! What a relief to see her doing so well. Both of the boys had parties on Friday at school, they both insisted on bringing pumpkin triffle so the pictures I added are them making the triffle. Howard is busy working his 10 days on, so we don't see much of him, however Friday will be here soon enough and then he will be off for 4 days! Hurray! I have been quite busy as I am now overseeing our small group ministry at church, I am really excited and have dove in head first as today was the first day of a huge campaign and study, we have started church wide called "Fearless" based on Max Lucado's new book with the same title. I am really passionate about the people of our church getting connected in small groups. Also what this study could do for the people of our church and community!

Saturday was a great day the kids and I hung out at home and got ready for trick or treating. We had some dear friends of ours come over for nachos and finger foods and then the Dad's took the kids out trick or treating! Yay for Dad's! The kids had fun and hauled in the candy, and I think we adults also had fun visiting, and "sorting"through the candy bags :)

On the adoption front not alot to report, which is very frustrating! Addison is doing well, she will be seeing an orthopedic surgeon from the Chicago Shriners Hospital next week. He is in Bejing doing some training with the doctors out there. Her foster Dad Keith hopes to hear from the orphanage director next week, so they can take her in for her adoption physical. That would be great news and quicker than Howard and I expected. We were able to find a lovely family travelling early in November that was willing to carry Addie's Bumbo chair out to her in Bejing, we are so very greatful to them!

Well that was our week in a nutshell. Hope you all have a wonderful week this week!