Benefit Auction for Orphans

Going to be in Central Illinois tomorrow night!?!!

Friday, Nov. 5 at Five Points in Washington
hosted by Loving Shepherd Ministries
http://loving-shepherd.org/

Dinner & lots & lots of great stuff to benefit orphans!!!!

34% of CHRISTIAN FAMILIES consider adoption

1 % of Christian families actually do.

When is the last time you thought about "orphans"?

When is the last time you prayed for them?

Orphans are on God's heart. Are they on yours?

Sunday is "Orphan Sunday"...let's be reminded.

Prayer link:

http://www.orphansunday.org/images/stories/files/resources/Orphan%20Sunday%20Prayer.pdf

Redeeming Halloween

Luigi, Mario & Ellyana Butterfly

Since in my lifetime I have ran the full-range of feelings & actions toward this holiday...I heard a radio program on Friday about "Redeeming Halloween"...and I guess that is what most accurately describes our feelings & actions toward it in the past few years.

Step #1 pray for weeks prior to the time

Step #2 be a "Room Mom" planning the parties for both boys' classrooms

Step #3 be at school all day to see what the boys are seeing to talk about it later (our school may be one of the last schools still doing all out celebrations for the holiday, I won't be sad if some of it disappears)

Zach & Ellyana got to enjoy BJ's party,

Ellyana got treated to a babysitter during Zach's party so she could get a nap

This is my favorite picture of the weekend, 4 little Mario's in Zach's class of 15 kids

Step #4 take the kids to a local church for their HUGE very well-done All Saints Party...to be the fun party in very good taste that the kids always look forward to every year

Zach got to see his dear preschool friend, who happened to be Princess Peach

(its who the boys wanted Ellyana to be since they were Super Mario Bros...

Grandma found the beautiful Butterfly that looks just like Ellyana)

Step #5 invite our closest neighbors for a fajita dinner prior to Trick or Treat, the kids looked so forward to helping & getting ready for them to come (we've been wanting to have them in for a long time...just seemed like a good day to do it)

Step #6 enjoy our neighborhood for the evening...the young kids on the street with their parents, and lots of elderly people in their homes that love to see the kids, their costumes & how they have grown...I can't tell you how many people said they were "waiting" for us to get there...some with little "gifts" prepared for the kids & way too much candy...it is really a "neighborhood night"

The neighbor's 100 lb. pumpkin was the biggest the neighborhood had seen

too much "loot"

Step #7 enjoy some candy & try to get your kids to go to sleep ;)

Ellyana grabbed the boys' costumes & crawled into BJ's bed..

no, she wasn't about to go to sleep

So everything ended well, I'm sure we could have done more to Redeem the weekend and you probably have tons of better ideas, but this seemed exhausting enough. Next year, I told Brian it may just be easier to take a "mini-vacation" and skip the whole thing. We'll see,

but hopefully we were able to bring a blessing to those around us & make some fun family memories in the process.

Ellyana's Butterfly headband

Our 3 little, very precious pumpkins

Happy Redeemed Halloween!!!!!

What is happening to our family!!?!!

I thought my blood ran "Orange & Blue" & Brian's heart beat for the Boilers...but as the kids headed off to school on Friday...I realized something has happened! Living here, you are EITHER a Michigan or Michigan State fan...and with the big game on Saturday...you HAVE to pick a side! And when the pay check comes from one of the schools...let's just say we'll be loyal there...even if they lost the big game! Just know these kinda things can happen when you are "unequally yoked" (as far as college loyalities are concerned ;)
I do have to admit the "Maize & Blue" is growing on me...maybe it is just because the kids look so cute in it , and its just as cute as can be to hear Ellyana say "Go Meechigon"!

Fall fun!

Last hurrah of the summer, the guys went camping with the group from church...they set up the tent in our backyard...just so Ellyana & I could see what it was like...very cool!
Zach started PM Kindergarten, he is ABSOLUTELY loving it! He's as happy as can be, he's only got 16 kids in his class...11 boys...the weekend was too long...he couldn't wait to get back to school on Monday!

Here he is waiting to go in the first day...tough day for mommy "letting go"...so much rejoicing now to see him so happy where God has him!Ellyana LOVES to talk on the phone, "Gam-ma?" She talks & listens for a little bit & then starts pushing all the buttons.
Street hockey with soccer shin guards, ski goggles & a mower & doll car?Ellyana was happy to get to be in the "haircut chair" on the night of the guys' haircuts...it was a sad day for me to snip out a couple of "knots"...all the website advice, multiple hair products, and the satin pillowcase did not prevent them...we'll keep trying!

At our local "Victorian Festival" (a very scaled down version of the Pumpkin Festival with lots of people wandering around in long dresses & wide hats & guys in knickers)...BJ did awesome again at free throws...even beating out his dad

The kids trying their 1st cotton candy...while waiting for the parade...I would say the cotton candy got "mixed reviews"

& sharing the "loot" after the parade

OK, this was last year to this year at the orchard...boy, have times changed! Lots more excitement with Sister Bear running around!

Apples to eat

Goats to feed

Hay bales to jump with Daddy
And speaking of Daddy, is that him or a Superhero...side-walking/ side crawling to push the Princess on a trike through a tire!?! It was amazing to watch!

And if you were standing here right now, she would probably yell "BYE-BYE" at the top of her lungs and maybe blow you a kiss!

The last time of summer break...

An over-due post, but things have been busy ENJOYing our last time of summer break. We had a wonderful trip to Illinois to visit family & be with LOTS of friends that we do not get to connect with very often. It was a priviledge to be with each one!!! We got in a trip to see my sister's family's new home & some time back on campus. The campus is much the same, the friends are gone (thankfully the friendships remain:) & some of the great food is still there to enjoy...

Cousins learning the joys of Jarlings.

Getting to be with girlfriends (we missed you Jode!)

Both girls have been home 1 year, seem so similar & are suriving just fine in their families of brothers! http://janellrink.blogspot.com/

Getting to spend time with my uncle & grandma & the kids with fun cousin time (sorry, the pics started dropping off here)....

Brian told a few of the older girls at our friends event that Ellyana doesn't have any sisters, so they could show her "girl" stuff...she made her "debut" in this beautiful princess dress...she does love to wear around her plastic high heels my sister gave her & bang things with her "wand"...but I don't think she has been in a full princess dress before!

Our friend made these cute headbands for her...
http://mouseymom.blogspot.com

We feel so very blessed for each HIGH quality friend God has blest our lives with & we love it that our kids love to be together too!

After we got home, we had the VERY special honor of hosting Dr. Parkhe & his son, Amit. It really was such a JOY to be together!!! We packed a lot in those days of being together, this trip is the 1st time we have seen each other in about 8 years...so happy they could meet our kids!

BJ really enjoyed the traditional Indian food

Zach & Ellyana decided to stick with chicken nuggets.
And this week has been a wonderful week of doing whatever...the beach, the pool, bowling, bike riding, playing outside...soaking in the last few days of summer, it feels too soon to be over. I'm sure I would be still saying that in 6 months...I love having my kids home & not being on a tight schedule...with both boys headed to school in the fall...I'm very sentimental...we had "meet the teacher" night last night...it is peaceful & good & we are so thankful for how God has done abundantly more than we can ask or imagine...to HIM we give all the glory & we trust HIM for this next school year!