Chicago, Cousins, Cake=Our Spring Break

Brian's conference in Chicago at the beginning of Spring Break for the kids was a grand way to get it started. The above picture was at Navy Pier's amazing indoor garden on the top floor. The boys loved getting to show Brian Shedd Aquarium that we had been to in August.I tried to spark a little more "baby doll" interest with Ellyana at the the American Girl Doll store...precious Addy doll. Cheesecake Factory for an early dinner...it was fun & delicious to be back.The kids were thrilled to get to stay at my brother & his wife's amazing place in Chicago and Brian & I got to enjoy some late night Deep Dish Chicago Pizza while catching up them..I had been missing Chicago style pizza...it did not let me down...it was so delicious!!!

We went into Rainforest Cafe & the kids got to look around...but they were not open for lunch till later...so we went across the street to Portillo's. Do you see the common theme to Chicago?...lots of fun & lots of amazing food!!!We headed to my parents & really enjoyed my Grandma's 85th birthday party! Wonderful to see aunts, uncles, cousins & many great-aunts & uncles...so special to be with everyone!!!Lots of fun with the cousins...My sister & I were able to visit my other sister for a "birthday breakfast" which was special because they are awaiting baby #2 any moment. And we also had a fun little birthday party for all the rest of us that have April birthdays.
We came home for a few days & the kids got to just play & play here. Its one of my favorite things in the world for our boys to have time to play forever together...the best of friends...what a joy they are to have home! Zach & his cousin have their birthdays this week. 1 day apart these 2 are great buddies!Getting in another Easter egg hunt...3 total for this year...lots of fun for all the kids!

Poor Zach we had highly suspected was allergic to cats. Let's just say..he is!

And always something exciting with visiting the farm, 7 baby bunnies discovered, all the kids got a chance to hold them...here's our 3 kiddos each with a bunny!

So this Spring Break came to an end with an amazing amount of memories with family!

We were so very thankful for our time & the blessing each one is in our lives!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Resurrection Cookies, Coloring Eggs, Resurrection Eggs, Easter Music and Egg Hunts...

it reminds us of ONE thing...He is RISEN!!!

The POWER of the Empty Tomb & our Resurrected Lord,

He can LIVE today in your heart & mine!

The best news of ALL time..."He is NOT here, for HE has RISEN!"

Dream Morning

I have been super excited for yesterday morning! Wonderful friends from church came together with friends from away for an awesome morning focused on "Orphans". Amy did an incredible job presenting "God's Heart for Orphans" and our Biblical responsibility to pray & act!

It was so fun to meet her girls in person. http://jonandamyg.blogspot.com/

Amber and her family are just beginning the adoption process http://connectthedots-amber.blogspot.com/ Check out the new Ordinary Hero t-shirt, super cute & very comfy...the kids one with the red collar so darling!

Ellyana and her sweet friend also from Ethiopia

And we were oh, so happy to have Kristy & Charis here for a couple of nights...it was so awesome to get to catch up with Kristy and so fun to see our kids together. The girls really enjoyed being together! Kristy is the one who put together the awesome "Taste of Heaven" Lifesong Cookbook...http://kccommunicationwiththeoutsideworld.blogspot.com/

And here's our crew ready to "head out" for the morning!

Nothin' better than fun friends and a time with a great focus! May your heart be filled with Jesus & your week be blessed!

Thankfulness

Christian hands never clasp

and He doesn't give gifts for gain

because a gift can never stop being a gift-

it is always meant to be given.

taken from book

"one thousand gifts"

by ann voskamp

Havin' some fun

The Sunday School Easter Program was Sunday night...great way to be reminded of God's Love going into this season. Lots of time being spent with Consumer Reports & such trying to figure out what to do about our camera that is barely working...need to return the next one we tried... Was able to go with BJ on his 1st school bus ride to a Jiffy Factory field trip...it was nice place with nice people...makes you want to buy a Jiffy mixWe've had some wonderful weekends with visits from grandparents...didn't take good pictures...so this is it...having fun with the helicopter...the boys got to see both sets of Grandparents this weekend as they went on a 24 hour road trip with my parents...lots of fun, they are growing up too quick! We finally got to connect with some local Ethiopian adoptive families. It was a nice time & delicious to get Ethiopian food again. Ellyana ate soooo much and had so much fun with the kiddos!

She played well with the little ones & tried acting just like the big ones. They all seemed to be good natured, beautiful children!

And here she is in her Ethiopian dress one last time...it is sooo tight...took 2 of us to get her in & out of it...she just kept saying she was "stuck" (and she pretty much was ;)

And we might not have a good working camera in the house, but thankfully we have a "future" superhero...especially when the camera dates everything 2013!

We are anything but Irish...

We did enjoy some corned beef & cabbage (at least most of us did ;) We are enjoying the awesome warm weather...and we would like to wish you a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Good news re: Ethiopian adoptions...things are not settled but it sounds like there are good measures being put in place for the children of Ethiopia...to GOD be the glory, great things HE has done! If you have prayed, signed the petition, shared with a friend...or prayed some more! A very big "thank you"! Continued prayers would be in order, but for where things have come in just one week...we celebrate!

Update on Ethiopian Adoption Situation

Very well-written letters are attached...

They are very worth your time to read.

They are worth passing on to friends and family to understand the situation better. And to PRAY with fervency and urgency. This remains very serious.

http://www.jointcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Jane-Aronson-Letter-to-Pres-Clinton-March-2011.pdf

http://www.jointcouncil.org/ethiopia-washington-times-article-by-andrea-poe/

God is big, but He asks us to pray!