8 minutes of inspiring, eternal perspective

Very worth your time to watch...

Eric Ludy - Depraved Indifference

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWHJ6-YhSYQ

Lots of pictures...

Here's Ellyana on her Birthday...with a little family celebration at Chuck-E-Cheese

She played games with Dad, had tons of fun running around, eating pizza & playing...but in very typical 2 year old fashion...was not about to "share" this ride with this mouse

We had some International Students for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner...its was nice to be together & the meal turned out fine...they had never had one...so it was low-pressure on how all the food would turn out

One of our yearly favorites...our towns Lighted Holiday Parade...fun to share with friends...it was ChIlLy this year! Finally, got to connect with some other local Adoptive Families at the huge playland...no chance to get the kids all together for a photo...but all of our 3 kiddos had a blast...it was nice to be with families that are the same as us in so many ways
Our school district hosted "Kids Against Hunger" night...we enjoyed a soup dinner & soup packaging for local & international families that are without food. We got to taste the total nutrition packed soup also...not too bad...but it does make you thankful for what we have!

BJ & Brian won BJ's age bracket at our towns "Turkey Shoot" (not much competition)...but fun...these guys LOVE basketball...and BJ won a frozen turkey for his prize
BJ's class "Friendship Feast"..Turkey lunch in 2nd grade

Zach's been working all month to get ready for his Kindergarten Pow-Wow...he did great in the program...and the whole thing was very cute & fun
Enjoying some time with cousins over Thanksgiving

And Grandma got the "Ellyana" cake (it looks just like her style ;), super delicious too!And here she is again...the Birthday Girl...she loves it! Though when asked how old she is...she says "18"...a comment made in passing by Grandma months ago when she was acting grown up..."how old do you think you are...18?"...well, it stuck in her head & that is what she always answers!

Zach got to see his 2nd cousin who is from Guatemala also...they are super close in age!

Getting to celebrate today with friends from church...Happy Birthday, JESUS!!!!
Decorating cookies

With the 1st snow, 1st day of December ...and today kicks off the "Advent Season"...may our hearts be open each day to the Savior & His love!

Blessings to you this December!!!!

tutu fun to be "2"

Our hearts could not be more full of thankfulness for this
amazing, precious girl God has placed in our lives!
She brings so much JoY to those around her!
Sometimes she acts like she is a teenager & sometimes just still a baby
...it is the fun of being "2"!

Our version of prayer of 1 Samuel 1:27 & 28

We prayed for this child,

and the Lord has granted us what we asked of Him.
So now we give her to the Lord.
For her whole life she will be given over to the Lord.
And we worship the Lord here.

God has blest us beyond measure with Ellyana as our wonderful gift &

now we pray that He will bless her beyond measure as she grows up to
love & serve Him all of her days!

We love you so very, very, very much... Precious One!
Happy 2nd Birthday!!!!

*beautiful photos compliments of my sister-in-law,
as you can see we actually had "fun" taking the pictures :)

Guess who only has 1 more day of being "1"!?!!

Great Idea for Winter...without messing the hair

Crocheted Ear Warmer for Winter!

Made by Joy... see her photobucket...
http://s1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee398/hartlaj/Crocheted%20Creations/?track=share_email _album_view_click

contact her at drh@mtco.com

We just got this today...the flower is interchangeable with a cute button, so we got a red flower too to match her red coat!

A nice, warm, cute option & so much better than pulling on and off a hat to try to keep the frizzies away!!! Joy has darling hats too, very fun & very nicely made!

Over 140 million orphans MINUS 2

In conclusion of the mini-blog series on "Orphan Sunday"...

On this "Orphan Sunday", we stand humbled, devastated and touched by the number of children in need of families at this moment.

And we stand humbled, amazed & forever grateful that 2 that have found a family within our home!

To God be the glory great things HE has done & we are praying like crazy that HE will continue move hearts to pray, do and give more for children around the world!

Check out great video & resources... http://www.orphansunday.org/

Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.

What it takes to be adopted

Can you imagine prospective parents saying, "We'd like to adopt Johnny, but first we want to know a few things. Does he have a house to live in? Does he have money for tuition? Does he have a ride to school every morning and clothes to wear every day? Can he prepare his own meals and mend his own clothes?"
No agency would stand for such talk. Its representative would lift her hand and say, "Wait a minute. You don't understand. You don't adopt Johnny because of what he has; you adopt him because of what he needs. He needs a home."
The same is true with God. He doesn't adopt us because of what we have. He doesn't give us His name because of our wit or wallet or good attitude...

Adoption is something we receive, NOT something we earn.

-Max Lucado

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3 :17

Let's continue to prepare our hearts for this Sunday, Orphan Sunday