. . . a glimpse into my heart.

I love Doro Wat ! We made this Ethiopia dish last night and have a bunch of left overs which was fabulous. I truly love this food! I love Yoga ! I have really gotten into it. I go to the activity center on Thursday nights for yoga and it's so relaxing and it really works my muscles. It's so much more fun then any aerobic workout. :-) I love hugs and kisses from my little men! Oh, it just melts my heart. Gabriel likes to sit in my lap and he gives lots of hugs. Liam, the other day said that I am so beautiful and it made me smile! I just love their love!!! I love the fall ! The trees are changing colors and the air gets crisp. Our tiny little tree out front is turning yellow. Beautiful! I love date nights with Dave! We put money aside each month for dates. it's guilt free and wonderful to be together with out distraction. This Saturday Lord willing, we are going to dinner and a movie. I love scrap-booking ! Putting my boys' pictures on paper and decorating and journalin...

Just thought it was time for an update. Liam is 4 months shy of 4 years old. I can't believe he's so close to kindergarten. He's a smart kid and knows a lot but I haven't done the best job teaching him things on a regular basis so that he can retain it. He can write his name but it's not in a neat row of letters and not always in the correct order.He recognizes most letters and can say his ABCs. But this is stuff he's been able to do for a long time. That's why mama needs to get her act together and start teaching him more. He loves to sing. . .usually the request is "Fly me to the Moon". The kids got good taste in music. He will sing it with me and he really gets into it. He obsessed with sea creatures right now. . .mostly the whale due to the movie Free Willy, which he could watch over and over if we allowed it. He loves dolphins, fish, squid, seals, you name it. We took him to the aquarium while we were in Seattle in Aug. and he was in heaven. I...

So, I have been doing some working out the past couple days and I am sore today. It's a good sore but sore nonetheless. It got me thinking about the discipline of spending time with God. If you've been out of the habit chances are you aren't eating healthy and getting little if any exercise at all. When we don't spend time with God for awhile we get used to the feeling much like when we habitually eat junk. But once you spend a couple days straight with your Savior there's a couple different things that happen. First, you get sore. . .I mean, the sin in your life becomes evident. You see things a lot more clearly. Second, since you see things more clearly and are spending that time with God you have a desire to change things for the better, like wanting to eat healthier to compliment the new exercise routine. Thirdly, you feel so much better! Even though your heart might get "sore" from the conviction that might kick in you are happier and more fulfilled. ...

Dave and I have read this book and now our small group is doing it together with the video series. The first chapter talks about prayer. It's challenged me this week to pray in a different way and with a new mind set. He talks about the God of the Universe sitting on the throne and us coming to him in prayer so casually. In our small group we split guys and girls for prayer time and had a good minute of silence to imagine GOD. It was tough for a lot of us. So my distracting thoughts running through my head. It took a lot to truly focus. I realized that although I feel like I pray a lot throughout my day that I never take the time to REALLY think about who I am talking to. If it was that tough to focus on Him before a prayer then I know I NEED to do it more. So, this is my new focus and goal is to take my praying more seriously and to spend more time really thinking about God and worshiping him in my prayer time.

So a couple months ago, for the first time since I married Dave almost 7 years ago, I started to think about whether or not I should go back to school. It was a fleating thought and I dismissed it fairly quickly. However, one evening we had a couple friends over and we were talking and jobs and education came up. I brought up how I had thought about going back. Well, I had never told Dave about that so at this point he was very surprized. Again, it was merely a comment. I told them, including Dave, that I just didn't feel like it would happen with two kids and one on the way and that I wasn't even sure what I would go for. Well, since then it keeps coming back to my mind. I just haven't been able to completely put the idea away. I'm in Oregon right now visiting a college friend who's a nurse. We've been talking a lot about it and she's really been an encouragement to me. I've truly appreciated her thoughts on the topic. I called Dave and told him that I...

I think I actually "forgot" I had a blog for a while. Weird. I thought I should update since I have a lot going on and on my mind and life is good and worth sharing the details. :-) We just got home from a 10 day vacation to Seattle. It was a great trip. Tiring but refreshing all at the same time. Got to see Matt, Mandy & Leta, Robbie & Sarah, Nic & Melissa, Grandma Ginny, Aunts Sally & Debby, Great Aunt Barb, Dave's Dad & Step mom, Dave's mom & step dad. Did I forget anyone? We went to Dave's high school reunion which was slightly weird and a little awkward but Dave enjoyed seeing old buddies and showing off his family. We got to go to the zoo and the aquarium which was a lot of fun for the boys. Flying was tough with Gabriel but we got through it. Next time we fly with him he should be a lot older and more obedient and understanding. We got home from Seattle with an ich to rearrange our funiture. We moved the computer desk and book shelf ...

Liam and Gabriel both had birthday money left over and it's been months since their birthdays. I thought about the Disney movie club where you get so many for dirt cheap and then purchase a few at regular price as a member, then you cancle as soon as you fulfill it. However, Liam has only sat in our living room through one full length film, Kung Fu Panda. He's pretty happy playing and keeping himself busy with things other then the TV. So, why would a mother encourage more TV time? I decided BOOKS was the way to go. I signed up for "Children's Book of the Month Club". You get to choose 6 movie for a total of $2 (.33 each). Then you have 4 more at regular price in two years. They had a deal though that if you purchased two more right then you could have them for $5 each instead of full price. One of my $5 ones was a set of two books in a series that were priced at $32 normally. So, I got a total of9 books for $11.90 plus shipping. I have two more books to buy now a...

So, a few years ago Dave and I wrote out a list of long term goals. A couple aren't goals anymore so I won't add them. But out of the rest we have actually accomplished a few. It's exciting to find this list and be able to check a few off. Here's the list: [x] Build a house [x] Get a masters degree [x] Get Life insurance [ ] Get health insurance for the whole family (I am the only one currently not covered) [ ] Growing savings (it's growing but all of it is for the adoption) [ ] College fund (we're close to starting this) [ ] 3 more kids (after Liam) (we're working on the 2nd of the "3 more". We may not get to the 3rd though. We might be done at 3 total.) [x] Going what we love [ ] Regular family vacations (This will be a few years from now. We're not talking about visiting family in Seattle, we're talking about Dinsey World and things like that) [ ] Go on a Cruise (our dream was for our 10 year anniversary but we're only 3.5 year...

Dave and I spent 5 days in Seattle and just got back about a week ago. It was the first time we went to Seattle without our kids and I pray we never have to go without them again. We left them home because we were going for a funeral and it would be too difficult to have kids around and have to explain all the tears to our little 3 year old. Dave's step sister Katie died on May 29th. She was only 27 and left behind a 9 year old boy, DeVon. It was the sadest thing we've ever had to do but we're thankful we were able to be there for the rest of Dave's family and to say goodbye to a sister. Here's a few pictures of Dave's family. Dave with his mom Susan and Biological sister Karin Dave and His dad Paul Dave and I __________________________________________________ Less then 24 hours after getting home from Seattle we left to go camping with our friends Brad, Kristin and their little girl, Cora. Everyone thought we were a little crazy to go after such a emotional tri...

Sometimes I don't understand why God lets us have free will. I wish he just made all of us love him and made all of us do good. I know this wasn't the way the world was supposed to be. God didn't want robots and therefore sin entered the world. So, bad things happen. I know no human is "innocent" but it's so sad when people hurt and they didn't bring it upon themselves. There's a little boy, about 9 years old, who lost his mom last week. She took her life and left him. He has grand parents and some other relatives but his dad isn't in the picture and no one knows where he'll end up. Why him? Up to this point in his life things have never been easy but it was the only life he knew. Now the last thing he had for stability is gone: his mom. My heart breaks. I know God is a Father to the Fatherless. My prayer is that Devon will meet Jesus as his savior. I pray that he will be able to find true joy in this dark world.

This past week Dave took one night and went camping with God. He had a good time and got a lot of prayer and reading in. I think it was just what he needed. He's got a lot going on in his head these days. In June we're going camping with some friends. Three couples and 4 kids, ought to be fun! Last time we went camping Liam was 1.5 and the night was terrible. This is little liam in the summer of 2007: I think he'll sleep great this time around and enjoy it more now that he's a big boy. We're leaving Gabriel with some family. I love that boy but he's a lot of work sometimes and I can't imagine enjoying myself if we took him with. I am thrilled about this camping trip and can't wait! In July Dave's taking some high school students on an inner city missions trip to Seattle. I can't go. It'll be a 9 day trip and they're driving so taking the kids would be too much work and pointless cause I would be caring for them and not helping with the hi...

There it is. It hurt but it was fast. It stills stings a bit but not too bad. I am just hoping I can make it smoothly through the next 2 months of healing. What do ya think? Dave loves it!

Yesterday a 15 year old girl from our church gave her heart to Christ in our living room! Praise the LORD! It was an amazing experience to witness a heart softened to God. She wants HIM! She doesn't feel like she knows God and is confused about a lot of things - but she is seeking and she found HIM! I am thankful for the oportunity to be a part of her life and to be with her when it happened. Please pray for my young friend if you think of it. She is going to need a lot of God's strength and the power of the Spirit to conquer pain in her heart, regrets and to grow in Christ.

So, my step mother-in-law sent me some money for Mother's Day to "pamper" myself. Well, I still have a gift card from Dave from last year to get a manicure. I also have another massage coming cause Dave paid full price last year and family are supposed to get half price. So, I didn't know how mush more pampering I would need. SOOOO. . . .Dave and I have been talking about getting my nose pierced. I had a hard time justifying the expense with all the adoption expenses we've had. But now that I have this money. . .so, what do you think? The starter jewelry is small and cute. Then there are a bunch of very small gems and things you can change to once you heal. I think I'm gonna do it.

Yesterday we had a graduation in the morning and the boys stayed with babysitter #1. After the graduation we took them from babysitter #1 onto babysitter #2 and headed to church for a wedding. After the wedding and 30 minutes at the reception we moved onto the graduation BBQ. We then picked up the boys and headed to our friend's birthday party. After an hour there and a few melt downs we headed home. Gabriel went straight to bed and after a snack Liam actually asked if he could go to bed. It's Sunday morning now and the boys are I skipped church. I thought after a long dey yesterday that the boys would sleep great. Around 1am I woke to the sound of Liam crying. He must have had a bad dream but then he was crying over his stuffed up nose. I layed with him for a bit but then he asked to come to bed with me. Once Liam finally fell back to sleep I was able to which was a LONG while later. Then it was Gabriel's turn. He woke crying and coughing. Dave gave him some juice and he w...

Mother's day came and went. This year was different for me. This was my second Mother's Day with two kiddos but it was also my first with a 3rd on the way. The thought of my little one being in Ethiopia (in womb or already born)without me is tough. My heart longs for my baby. I pray that they're being looked after well and that they are healthy. We pray every night with Liam and our baby is the #1 request. I can't wait till we meet this little one that God CHOSE for US! Last week we sent off the last part of paperwork and now our hands are empty with nothing more to do. We wait. We wait on the agency, then we wait on the Ethiopian government, then we wait for court dates to be set, then we wait for our travel date to arrive, then we wait to get to the orphanage and meet this little life! Most importantly, I must remember that we wait on GOD because he alone knows what is next. His timing is so important. Lord, teach me to wait in patience and prayer!

So we got a Wii. It's been a lot of fun. My favorite thing? We got the Wii Fit and I LOVE it! It's so good for both Dave and I cause we enjoy it but it's a good workout with a lot of options and variety. I hope to keep up with it and eventually get the tummy flab a bit more toned up. I'm close to pre-pregnancy weight and in all honesty I am fine with being a little over what I was in the summer of '07. But I just want to be stronger, toned and just get rid of a little flab.

Doesn't Gabriel look huge in this picture?! Liam is practicing his Warrior pose in Yoga (watching mommy and daddy). A boy and his dog!

My baby turned 1 year old last week. I thought I should share some pictures. . . The afternoon before his party (which was the Friday before his actual birthday) we cut his hair for the first time. It was kind of getting out of control. We had my family and a few friends over the celebrate with us. Liam, of course, was a big help with opening gifts. Gabriel wasn't intimidated by the bear cake at all, unlike Liam at his first birthday party. G-man dug right in and LOVED the icing. He kept leaning in to bite the bears face. It was so funny!! Eventually my dad gave Gabriel a butter knife but he wasn't interested. Liam, however, wanted it and decided to start cutting some pieces. He sliced the heck out of that foot. Dave's grandma mailed Gabriel a quilt for his birthday. I LOVE it!! Once G moves into Liam's room we're going to hang it on their wall. It's the Brown Bear book! Dave's mom sent some money for Gabriel and this is what we ordered: Little Tikes Deluxe ...

I feel like this picture sums up the last couple of weeks for us: We've all been sick. Fevers, coughs, sore throats. . .you name it. This is the first day the boys started getting sick. You can tell Liam has a temperature because he's so red in the cheeks. Here's a couple pre-sickness pictures. Liam got a big box in the mail from Dave's mom. This is one of his favorite toys, his Little People airplane. Gabriel enjoyed the box the toys came in. :-) In the last few days things have been way better. We're all better (expect some coughs). The weather is much nicer outside and we all have a new motivation. We planted a bunch of veggies and herbs yesterday. Want to get a head start so we can transplant into the garden as soon as the ground outside is ready. I've been enjoying Gabriel in a new way since he's been over being sick. I had some tough days with him but he's so full of joy again. He had a bath during Liam's nap and I got some sweet pictures. This...