A great video from an adoptive dad answering three questions that men might have when considering whether to adopt or not:
1. Could I love my adopted child as much as I love my biological children?
2. How am I going to afford to adopt and to expand our family?
3. Is this something I can do well?
A worthy watch!
April 28, 2011
April 26, 2011
Enjoying the outdoors
Our kids love to be on the front porch. There's usually plenty of traffic to watch (even though I didn't catch any in this picture) and it's big enough to run around and play to their hearts' content!
The back yard is even better! We're so thankful for a fenced yard where they can play and enjoy the fresh air. Little man is especially interested in lawn mowers lately, as you can tell. And he can say the word too, clear as day.
Hope you've been able to sneak out between showers and enjoy the great outdoors too!
Hope you've been able to sneak out between showers and enjoy the great outdoors too!
April 14, 2011
At the Park
The kids LOVE the swings. The other day I took them to the seminary bookstore and they were watching a Veggie Tales video while I browsed through some kids books. I heard them start saying "whee, whee," so I turned to see what they were watching. Sure enough, there were some vegetables sitting on swings. Not even swinging, just sitting on swings. That's all they needed to make the association. Such smart little cookies! Now all I have to say is that we're going to the park and they both start saying "whee!" They know exactly what I'm talking about.
April 10, 2011
Scripture to Song Adoption Fundraiser
Friends of ours from college let us know about a family that's adopting from Uganda, and it's been a real joy to follow their story. I know you'll love them and their heart for Jesus.
They're also doing one of the coolest fund raisers I've ever heard of. They travel as a team leading others in worship music, and they're using their talents to help raise money to bring their daughter home. Starting about a month ago, they've been releasing a new song each week of Lent that you can download for a donation of $.99 (or more if you'd like). They're kids songs, but they're super cool. And they're Scripture put to music! If you know me, you know how much I love Scripture put to music.
So guys, this is win win. You get to own super cool Scripture put to song and help an awesome Christian family bring their daughter home from Uganda. So what are you waiting for?? Go download some music!
They're also doing one of the coolest fund raisers I've ever heard of. They travel as a team leading others in worship music, and they're using their talents to help raise money to bring their daughter home. Starting about a month ago, they've been releasing a new song each week of Lent that you can download for a donation of $.99 (or more if you'd like). They're kids songs, but they're super cool. And they're Scripture put to music! If you know me, you know how much I love Scripture put to music.
So guys, this is win win. You get to own super cool Scripture put to song and help an awesome Christian family bring their daughter home from Uganda. So what are you waiting for?? Go download some music!
April 8, 2011
Fun in the Sun
We love to be outside now that the weather is getting nicer. Here are some silly shots of our kids enjoying the fresh air...
The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout...
Down came the rain and washed the spider out!
Looking for rabbits (they say "rabbits...where are you?")
Little man posing for a photo shoot
Both of our cutie pies. What delightful kids!
April 5, 2011
Sleepy Night Night
We usually don't use baby talk with our kids. But at bedtime sweet hubby starting telling them it was time for "sleepy night night," and it's stuck. I try to remember to at least call it "night night" instead. Somehow that seems a little better.
When we were weaning the kids off of their nighttime bottles, we figured that was a good time to start a bedtime routine with them. We've got great friends that we respect a lot, and we've modeled what we do after what they suggested for this age. We change the kids into their pj's and overnight diapers, then we all sit on the couch together and read a chapter or two out of the Big Picture Storybook Bible. The kids are so good to sit still and listen, and they really like to look at the pictures. Our March family photo is of us reading together one night. They love the Bible, and we hope their love for it will keep on increasing as they get older!
Then we say the Lord's prayer together. The kids chime in on "amen!" We sing a hymn as we walk them back to their bedroom (hubby is so great to try to relate it to what we read), and then give kisses and hugs as we lay them down for the night.
Sleepy night night to you and yours too!
When we were weaning the kids off of their nighttime bottles, we figured that was a good time to start a bedtime routine with them. We've got great friends that we respect a lot, and we've modeled what we do after what they suggested for this age. We change the kids into their pj's and overnight diapers, then we all sit on the couch together and read a chapter or two out of the Big Picture Storybook Bible. The kids are so good to sit still and listen, and they really like to look at the pictures. Our March family photo is of us reading together one night. They love the Bible, and we hope their love for it will keep on increasing as they get older!
Then we say the Lord's prayer together. The kids chime in on "amen!" We sing a hymn as we walk them back to their bedroom (hubby is so great to try to relate it to what we read), and then give kisses and hugs as we lay them down for the night.
Sleepy night night to you and yours too!
April 3, 2011
Are They Twins?
I enjoy reading Flitterbugs {the blog} because their family has a brown baby boy and girl just like we do! A recent post of hers inspired me to share a little about our experience when I venture out with the kiddos.
I should start out by saying that we're met with joy just about everywhere we go. It's funny -- I guess before I had kids I never thought about how anonymous shopping typically is. Because I'm not anonymous when I go shopping anymore. I've become much more accustomed to strangers starting conversations with me and accounting for the extra time this will add to errands (as if the unloading and loading of strollers, bags and children didn't already add time!). The funny thing is that we're not just noticeable. I get comments like "they're getting so big!" or "he's talking a lot more now"... from people I don't even recognize!!!
The number one question I get is "are they twins?" I can count on hearing it at least once if we're in a public place. Sometimes I wonder if it's because the older the kids get, the less they look like twins. What do you think?
If you've followed our story you know they're not twins. Sweet girl is about 2 1/2 weeks older than her brother. So when we first brought them home and I got the twin question, if I didn't have time for a longer conversation once in a while I'd say "no, she's about two weeks older than he is," and just leave it at that. That is, until someone at Target asked me "well, how did you manage that?" I was kind of at a loss for words! It still surprises me when adoption just isn't on someone's radar at all.
A cashier at Family Dollar once commented on what a beautiful color the babies' skin is (I agree!) and she asked me what their dad's race was. I didn't have the heart to tell her he's a redhead.
At the park one day, a young mom asked me if I was babysitting. I told her no, that these were my kids and asked if she was babysitting the young girl with her (even though the little girl looked a whole lot like her).
I've had older ladies in Kroger tear up after talking with us. One had to walk away because she was a little overcome with emotion. An elderly man in the Walmart parking lot once gave me a dollar for each child.
These kinds of conversations are pretty comical to me now, while the kids are too young to know what people are talking about. In fact, at this point I think they sort of like the attention, or at least they're used to it. But sometimes I wonder how our responses will change as the kids get older. Time will tell, and I'm trusting the Lord to give us wisdom!
I should start out by saying that we're met with joy just about everywhere we go. It's funny -- I guess before I had kids I never thought about how anonymous shopping typically is. Because I'm not anonymous when I go shopping anymore. I've become much more accustomed to strangers starting conversations with me and accounting for the extra time this will add to errands (as if the unloading and loading of strollers, bags and children didn't already add time!). The funny thing is that we're not just noticeable. I get comments like "they're getting so big!" or "he's talking a lot more now"... from people I don't even recognize!!!
The number one question I get is "are they twins?" I can count on hearing it at least once if we're in a public place. Sometimes I wonder if it's because the older the kids get, the less they look like twins. What do you think?
If you've followed our story you know they're not twins. Sweet girl is about 2 1/2 weeks older than her brother. So when we first brought them home and I got the twin question, if I didn't have time for a longer conversation once in a while I'd say "no, she's about two weeks older than he is," and just leave it at that. That is, until someone at Target asked me "well, how did you manage that?" I was kind of at a loss for words! It still surprises me when adoption just isn't on someone's radar at all.
A cashier at Family Dollar once commented on what a beautiful color the babies' skin is (I agree!) and she asked me what their dad's race was. I didn't have the heart to tell her he's a redhead.
At the park one day, a young mom asked me if I was babysitting. I told her no, that these were my kids and asked if she was babysitting the young girl with her (even though the little girl looked a whole lot like her).
I've had older ladies in Kroger tear up after talking with us. One had to walk away because she was a little overcome with emotion. An elderly man in the Walmart parking lot once gave me a dollar for each child.
These kinds of conversations are pretty comical to me now, while the kids are too young to know what people are talking about. In fact, at this point I think they sort of like the attention, or at least they're used to it. But sometimes I wonder how our responses will change as the kids get older. Time will tell, and I'm trusting the Lord to give us wisdom!
April 1, 2011
I Will Not Leave You As Orphans
My mom gave me this beautiful necklace for my birthday. She won it by making a donation to an orphanage in Ethiopia when I blogged about a couple of weeks ago! You can click on the picture if you'd like to see the etsy shop it comes from and order one for yourself (or ask for it for your birthday...).
I LOVE it! The verse comes from John 14:18. It's a beautiful passage where Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when He would not physically be with them any more. His promise to return was fulfilled when He rose from the dead. In Matthew 28:20, after His resurrection, He says to His people, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." He has not left us to battle in this world alone. Jesus, God Himself, is WITH us.
As He made those precious promises to His followers, isn't it so dear that He spoke to us as children by saying that He wouldn't leave us as orphans? I've seen orphans. Our kids used to be orphans. It's a sad and a difficult life. But God has promised not to leave His people fatherless! He has come to redeem and to rescue, to make us His own.
What amazing promises we have in Christ! And what a joy that as we adopt children into our family, we can be a picture of that!
I LOVE it! The verse comes from John 14:18. It's a beautiful passage where Jesus was preparing His disciples for the time when He would not physically be with them any more. His promise to return was fulfilled when He rose from the dead. In Matthew 28:20, after His resurrection, He says to His people, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." He has not left us to battle in this world alone. Jesus, God Himself, is WITH us.
As He made those precious promises to His followers, isn't it so dear that He spoke to us as children by saying that He wouldn't leave us as orphans? I've seen orphans. Our kids used to be orphans. It's a sad and a difficult life. But God has promised not to leave His people fatherless! He has come to redeem and to rescue, to make us His own.
What amazing promises we have in Christ! And what a joy that as we adopt children into our family, we can be a picture of that!
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