Being Thankful - More Miracles

Happy Thanksgiving!

1) My brother-in-law Dave had surgery today to remove a spot in his lung that looked suspicious. Back in July he had this surgery scheduled, went in, and when they tried to locate the spot via u/s, they could not find it anywhere! And today again the spots on his lungs they went in to get were gone! They found a tiny speck instead and decided to go ahead and remove the whole upper lobe of his lung anyway. We are excited to hear how the pathology report comes back in a few days! We are praying for a remarkable recovery! God is sooo good and amazing! He never ceases to amaze me!



2) A new friend, Nicole, gave birth to 3 very beautiful baby girls last week! She made it to over 34 wks! We are so grateful they are all healthy and I can't wait to meet them!



3) Did you know that we've been married for 17+ years! That is truly amazing especially with all that we've been thru on this journey called life. I can't thank God enough for this incredible man to walk this journey with, to grow old with, to spend eternity with! I am still amazed at what I'm leaning about him, his depth, his dreams. It's so fun to see him with our kids, big and little. He looks at the IM&Ms daily and says " they're so cute, they're so beautiful....it's not even right"! He has an amazing way with our older ones....I'm so glad!! Not sure what I ever did to deserve him, but so glad He chose Jon to be my husband!


4) I don't have to cook anything this year! We are going to the Oregon Coast where our sweet friends have put us up in a condo for a night! We are very excited to see them, but I secretly might be more excited that La Safeway is cooking the whole meal for me! Whooooohoooooo!

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Being Thankful - The Blind Side

"Adoption means love, Mommy."

That wraps it up in a nutshell. Those words were spoken by a 4 year old, Christopher when we were writing out invitations to his brother Luke's adoption.

And my heart is swelling with emotions tonight after a date night with my honey to watch our now favorite movie of all time...... The Blind Side. Jon and I both had a very hard time keeping from all out bawling during this one. It hit so close to home. Or actually some parts did hit our home.

There are many parallels in this movie. I don't know how many of them I should share with you. One, because many of you haven't seen this incredible movie. Two, it was a HUGE reminder of where our 3 older miracles could be today, if God had not plucked these 3 from where they were and into our home.

I cannot tell you how much our Luke has touched our lives and those around him. And I LOVE the fact that he is 1/2 black. I'm PROUD of that fact! I LOVE it! From his black curly hair down to his big "man"sized feet. His physique is one to behold. Even as a little boy this kid looked "built". And this summer walking behind him to the river, my sister and I, were amazed at what a great looking "man" he is turning into. I WILL be fighting the girls off with a stick or gun. We call him the "rock" because he is solid and always has been. He is a true joy and a very sweet soul. And because of all of that, this movie was very personal.

We could see him, as the only black kid, in a white world (for the most part). We could see him when the test scores were so low that teachers were doubting his amazing mind. We could see him in his quiet, sweet -loving ways. We could see all of them in the scene with Sandra and the birthmom. We could see all of them succeeding! We could see all of them overcoming!

We came home tonight and grabbed our 3 big kids and loved on them. Told them how much we love them. They'll NEVER know the extent of what miracles they truly are!

I am so grateful tonight to have the honor of being called "Mama"!

Being Thankful - Laughter

Ok, so last night we're sitting down at the table for roast beef & mashed potatoes, Luke's fave, and this is the conversation that transpired.....

Luke: Dad, do you like mashed potatoes or roast beef better or Mom's lips?

Dad: After cleaning up the food that just flew out of his mouth, correctly answered...Mom's lips

Luke: Then you could have her lips for dessert then.

Mom: After cleaning up the food that just flew out of my mouth...I'm thinking..What???? Where in the world did this come from??? Little does he know what we have planned later.....haha

Being Thankful - Miracles

Everything is POSSIBLE for him who believes." Mark 9:23

Today I am so thankful that my God is STILL a God of Miracles! He is the same God that performed so many miracles when He was here on earth. He's the same....the same! Don't put him in a box, friends! Expect miracles! Ask him....

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them- the Lord, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:5-6

First miracle this week: My new friend Jen has been blessed with an older daughter, 6 amazing adopted kiddos, and saw the beating of her new baby's heart yesterday morning! This new baby is another miracle thru Embryo Adoption and they are soooooo very excited to add another precious child to their big family! What a miraculous gift and plan for another snowflake baby!

Second miracle this week: My niece and her hubby found out yesterday that they are adding a boy to their family next spring! Little Westin will be a big brother! How fun! Thank you God for a healthy pregnancy and for blessing our family! Isaac will be happy to have another boy cousin to play with!

Third miracle this week ( and it's ONLY Tuesday) is that our sweet friend, Amanda 10, came thru surgery fine yesterday. And the second part of this is my request to my friends to pray for a miracle for Amanda to be completely healed from Juvenille Rheumatoid Arthritis that has devastated her knees already. The good news of surgery was that they were able to place metal plates in her knees as they are turning inward. But her growth plate on one knee is almost gone and one knee was completely shattered and there is exposed bone now in the knee that needs to be touched by God to heal correctly! Amanda is one of the SWEETEST little girls you'd ever meet (so is her mommy) and we love them so much this hurts our hearts to see her immobile. She will now be off of that knee for 3+months...so hard for a girl her age, but she has an amazing attitude! So we will call on the God of Jacob, the God of Israel, the God of Amanda and ask for complete amazing healing for her body!

Thanks for praying!

Being Thankful - The Best Noise

whoosh...whoosh...whoosh...whoosh - heartbeat
crying
breathing
grunts
coos
"dada"
"hi"
"mama"
"ge-do" gentle
"mmmmm" cow
"toot" train
"tis" Chris
"UhOh"
"nana"
"peees Mama" - Makena
"baOOOON" balloon - Isaac
"ahhhhh" while hugging - Kayla
pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter
screaming
laughter
giggles
babbling
"Why?"
"Why?"
"In a little bit-it, Mommy?" - Ashley
"I Awna Awtch a OObie." - Luke
"Adoption means love, Mom." -Chris
"But why not?"
"You don't love me!"
"But why not?"
"I want daddy!"
"But why not?
"You're the best mom!"
"You're my hero."
"That's not fair!"
"I know!"
"I already know!"
"I know!"
"I know!"

"Love you, mom."

Thanks to Helene over at I'm living proof God has a sense of humor! love your work and your inspiration this AM.

Being Thankful - God's Word/ 2 New Trip Moms

I'm going to try to write as many times this month as I can about what I'm thankful for.

I'm thankful for the Word of God. God is doing some awesome things thru another incredible Bible Study. When I found out it was another Beth Moore bible study I thought, "Ummm, OK. She's pretty wordy and talks very fast." Then I heard it was titled "Believing in God". I thought that sounded a little uninteresting since of course I believe in God and have faith in Him. Boy was I wrong. I am so thrilled to be able to go to our church weekly, have fellowship with other women, have wonderful ladies in the nursery who love watching our IM&Ms, and just soak up the Word of God. I feel like I've been gone sooo long in a desert and didn't realize how thirsty I really am to be in God's presence! It's truly amazing. This study is stretching my heart and mind. I definetly know what in my life I trust God with, but there's some hidden things that I have a harder time with. And boy, can God use Beth Moore to pull it out of you! Her studies are available online for those of us who can't get out. Our last study was called "Annointed" by Beth Moore, Kay Arthur, & Priscilla (?) (don't know her last name), but it was AWESOME! God really has been transforming our home since then and I don't want Him to stop!

I'm also so Thankful for the safe arrival of a new set of triplets (GBB) to our support group. Jennifer had her babies at 31 wks and they are doing great. They were tiny at 2.14, 2.10, & 2.07oz. But Mommy is very petite. They join her 7yr old big sister & 4 year old twin brothers! We're so grateful! Congratulations, Jen!

I'm Thankful that I was able to go see Nicole today (another expecting mom in our group) at her home, walking around, being a great mommy to her little girls at 33.3 wks along! Praise God she hasn't had any bedrest and no complications. She has an amazing story and I'll ask her if I can pass along her blog later! These GGG trips will be #7,8,&9 for their family. And this is her second triplet pregnancy! Yep, that's like 800 million to one chance! The last triplet pregnancy the twins didn't make it early on, but her darling daughter made it to full term! Nicole is a beautiful Mommy and is so happy about her new adventure! We're praying and excited for their safe arrival!

God is good and there is so much to be thankful for!

6 Pumpkins in Our Patch

We were blessed with a gorgeous Fall day and had a blast spending the morning with Nana and all of our kiddos at the Pumpkin Patch.

Makena - 13mo

Isaac - 13mo

Kayla - 13mo

Luke & Isaac

Not sure about touching the pumpkins

Girls Sitting Pretty

Our youngest Pumpkin

Having a "meltdown"

All Better

Loading up our treasures to take home and carve.