EXCITED

I put the above flier out Monday....  Response....

FULL!!!  I'm so excited about these sessions.  And because you know I CANNOT keep a good secret.  LOOK what I have got to take pictures with!!

BUNNIES!  We are also getting chicks!  CANNOT WAIT!!  This is going to be so fun!

Know More Orphan Conference

Jason and I were able to go to the kNOw More Orphans Conference, Saturday.  As you know I love to cheer for and support those who are adopting.  I think adoption is the most beautiful thing.  It is the gospel lived out. 

Jason and I are not at a place of adopting.  We have a bad habit of jumping the gun.  And we definitely feel like this is not the time.

I know you think "REALLY Y'ALL?!?"  4 kids is already A LOT to most of the people we come in contact with, but this weekend it was reinforced to us that it is a command to take care of the widows and orphans in their distress.  We do not feel called to actually adopt right now but what we do feel called to is supporting those who are adopting, praying for those who are adopting, pointing others to adopting, supporting foster and adoption ministries, I know Jason wants to use his position as pastor to support orphan care. 

I can't help but wonder what the Lord is planting in our hearts.  Noah wants to adopt and has for a long time.  Now he says he wants to adopt a 9 year old boy so he will have someone to play with, so his motives are somewhat wrong but he's a kid.  I love that about him.  He has said several times I want to adopt when I grow up.  So, I know it's more than he wants someone to play with.  LOVE HIS HEART!!  But last month I did a fundraiser to bring Gia home and two of the people were adoption families.  And their kids melted my heart!  Laine's big kids even melted my heart - the way they have taught their big kids the meaning of adoption is just beautiful - she would like for me to add - THEY ARE NOT PERFECT ... but they are beautiful!  And then Elizabeth and Hannah were so sweet.  I later read Elizabeth's blog and was so encouraged by her testimony of God's faithfulness in her life.  So as I was touched by these families it felt like a seed was planted. 

Then the Know More Orphans conference (another seed planted).  But they were so good to stress that not everyone is called to adoption and should adopt.  And there is a way to adopt for the wrong reasons.  The right reason to adopt - to spread the gospel.  That was great insight to me.  Yes, the Lord uses infertility and other "needs" to launch in the adoption process but to learn that you are spreading the gospel is more important than adopting to fill a void in your life or to overcome guilt in your life (and by guilt I mean feeling pressured to adopt for "spiritual" reasons - not sure that makes sense).  But adoption or no adoption...all are commanded to take care of the orphan and widow.
Another seed seemed to be planted.  Maybe not to adopt but to somehow get involved. 

And this week our Women's group at church is starting a study in James.  We'll see what comes of that... ha!

Not to mention this summer Jason will be going to the Dominican Republic to do work with (un)adopted and our friends Jason and Michelle Little.  Working with orphans! 

So to me it's pretty clear the Lord is saying something! 

BACK TO THE CONFERENCE...

One thing at the conference that was the most beautiful thing we experienced was HIS LITTLE FEET.  Love this ministry.  It's a choir ministry to orphans but they leave their home for 10 months and go "on tour" - It is really something to hear children sing praises to God.  It's almost like you know why God likes it so much.  It was really the most moving and beautiful sound EVER!  They all had accents (10 kids were from Haiti and 4 were from Honduras) and the joy on their face was indescribable.  Check out their website and if you buy one of their CD's I promise you will be blessed beyond measure.  I really want them to come out to RMLBC. 

GREAT way to spend the weekend!!  GREAT!!  Check out this website...

RMLBC Craft Night

RMLBC is going to have a craft fair Oct. 6 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS - you are not gonna want to miss it.  And some of you I want to get a table and sell  your stuff at the fair.  But, we have scheduled crafts the church will be selling to raise money to pay off the gym.  We needed some seed money so Friday night we got together and made some Easter wreaths to sell.  We were supposed to make them and sell them.  I made two and I bought one for my door and then Erin bought the other.  So I didn't get very far in selling.  But that's the way I like it. 

Crafting is so fun to me.  My friend Sue told me - you can always tell which one Page did.  My "art" is always filled with so much drama.  The last wreath project we did I used SO MUCH material I was stealing from others - but in my opinion (mine was the best) - not the best to save money with but the best looking...IN MY OPINION.  This week we did the Easter wreaths and everyone else's was so neat and proper and mine was a little CHARISMATIC!!  Just a little.  But again.  IT SOLD!  So, no one can complain and once again, in my personal opinion.   IT'S THE BEST! 

Take a look!

Fun Pics at a Party

Our friend Baby Will turned one and he had a train party.  Isaac loves trains.  It was such a cute party.  Brittany did a great job decorating and entertaining not to mention FEEDING us!  We had a blast.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILL!!!

I just thought these pictures of Mary were the cutest things!! 

My Sweet Aunt Ruth

My sweet Aunt Ruth passed away, Saturday Feb. 25th.  She never was able to recover from a slight heart attack.  She was 84 years old.  I LOVE this lady!  In my eyes, the way I always saw her, she was the life of the party.  Always smiling and laughing (loud - I think it runs in the family).  She had the most handsome husband (my Uncle Robert) who passed away 18 years to the day that she did.  I remember going to visit her after he died and she was always so sad.  She missed him even years after he was gone.  She absolutely loved that man.  The way I hope to love, respect, and take care of Jason. 

There were 5 kids in her family.  She was the oldest girl (my grandmother is 4 years younger then her).  Her sisters said she was the pretty one.  She drove her parents crazy chasing boys.  But then she found Uncle Robert.  She is an extremely happy person can laugh at all times but she could also get real fired up.  She's not against protecting her family.  She was the glue that held her family together.  I love how her side of the family is so close.  Cousins are like siblings and she was the momma hen - for generations!  What a legacy.

My favorite story of her was when my cousin Rob (who was WILD at the time) was living with her and he had marijuana plant (in a pot) and she kept it alive for him!!  She thought it was a beautiful plant - he was thankful.  Never told her.  She's just that funny!! 

She brings a smile to my face!  She reminds me of my mom and I see a little of myself in her (personality wise).  I desire to take care of my family like she did, to love my husband like she did, to share the gospel like she did in life and words.  She is a great lady.  I'm thankful she knew the Lord and we will meet again.  I'm thankful she is worshiping her savior JESUS facetoface and united again with the ones she loved so dearly.

Her funeral service was so good.  The preacher did a great job preaching the word and encouraging us who are without her.  He taught on 1 Corn. the LOVE passage.  And how Ruth in heaven now, her love is complete.  She is experiencing LOVE to the fullest without earthly flaws ...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

RMLBC Women's Retreat

"Sprout" to the Lord...

This is Talula the Tater.  She gave her testimony about how the Lord brought her out of her deep dark hole, put her through the fire, and when he saw his reflection brought her out, and buttered her up with sour cream and other luxuries for HIS purpose.  It was a long shot but they didn't give us much to work with.  LOVE ME SOME Talula

I just spent the weekend with some pretty amazing women. As you already know (if you read this blog long enough) I love our church. And I already knew some pretty amazing people went there but now I KNOW some pretty amazing people go there!

A group of 24 women (ages 24-82) went to camp Sumatunga for a "retreat."  I have never gone on a women's retreat with our church and I'm ashamed to say but I've never been to a women's bible study at our church either.  These women...Becky and Sandra for sure (not sure who else was in the planning) put together this retreat in about a month maybe a month and a half.  They did an amazing job.  The Lord really used their efforts to teach and encourage all of us.

We learned about "Taters" - all kinds of taters.  Here are a few...

Some people are always looking to cause problems by asking others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold, to sour or too sweet. They are called "Agie Taters"  Acts 5:39  

Some people will say they will help, but somehow just never get around to actually doing the promised help. They are called "Hesi Taters" Heb. 3:13

Some people are very bossy and like to tell others what to do.  They are called "Dick Taters" Mark 10:43

Some people never do anything to help, but are gifted at finding fault with the way others do the work. They are called "Comment Taters" Matt 7:5

Some People never seem motivated to participate, but are just content to watch while others do the work. They are called "Spec Taters".  1 Cor. 12:20-27

Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they are not they are called "Emma Taters"


Then there are those who love others and do what they say they will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing and lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives of others. They are called "Sweet Taters"  Gal. 5:20-23

We played lots of games, we stayed up late and talked, we got to hear everyone's life story (which may have been one of my favorite things), we crafted and made rag wreaths, we laughed a lot, we ate a lot, we had a fashion show (unforgettable),  we did skits, we sang together, we prayed for each other, we BONDED for sure.  It was a very great weekend.  The Lord was so nice to us all.  We all loved it so much we are making it an annual thing.

My rag wreath!  I love it...  This is one of my favorite projects.

The winning skit.  "Going to Sumatonga!"

Becky and the other leaders made us all journal covers...

Mine journal = love!

Becky "facilitatering" us.

Sandra teaching us about TATERS!

Fashion Show!!  This is Sue with her beaded hand bag, pillbox hat, penny loafers, and dinner dress.

Sandra in her bathing suit, sun glasses and ball cap.



Edna had bell bottoms a turtle neck, and a head band.



Sherry in her ball gown, lizard purse

MOST HILARIOUS... Becky in her power suit (which is double breasted) and her brief case.

So.Much.Fun!! Thank you LORD for RMLBC.  I especially thank you for the women I just spent the weekend with, you made some pretty amazing people and have written their stories so beautifully.  Thank you for being so active in our lives.  You are amazing God!

Say it ain't SO!

When this baby woke up today he looked like this! 

It was just yesterday that he was a baby, right?  How can time truly fly so fast?  I love when he was a baby - holding him, feeding him, snuggling him, watching him play, making him laugh because he is the ticklest baby ever!  I love that stage.  I love him in that stage.   I cherish him as a baby would give anything to have a couple of those days back.  To hold him, smell him, cuddle him, just me and him.  Dollar Family party of 3 - just a couple of those days!  

BUT, believe it or not...I love him now too!  And I love our big ole' family.  When we brought him home I remember thinking... who else is gonna be in this family?  I wonder how many brothers or sisters he's gonna have? I wonder who he's gonna look like?  I wonder who he will act like?  I wonder ... I wonder... I wonder...  Well, now I know a little bit more - maybe too much - JUST KIDDING!!!

I love that by just asking he will tell me how his day was, what he's thinking about, what scares him, what makes him happy, what he wants.  I love that he loves God - and seeks to please him.  I love when he comes around just to say he loves me and when he gets filled with so much love it explodes with a GIANT hug (he's tiny but he's also strong and can squeeze TIGHT!), I love when he kisses me (which isn't all the time anymore so it's a gift when he does), I love to watch him with his friends, I love when he tells me I'm the coolest mom (again isn't often but those words ring in my head when I think I'm failing).  He is such an encourager to me and I also watch him encourage his friends.  I love that he is a good friend.  He has his Daddy's heart!  I love that he is still a family man (give or take Anna on some days - ha).  I love that he loves his siblings especially how he treats the babies.  He gives them so much, plays with them and loves on them.  They both adore him.  As for Anna - he tries sometimes.  But again, I've said time and time again he loves Anna and he shows it when she's not around.  They love to annoy each other - both of them. 

Today we are going to celebrate another friends Birthday at church and I was feeling really horrible for not being around on his birthday (which Jason is taking him to Target - that's all he wants for his birthday - TARGET and CASH) - so they are celebrating.  But I was still bummed.  And I was telling Noah about it and he said, "Mom, I'm just 10 - it's ok!  I'm fine!" - We will celebrate soon with family but 10 years ago today he stopped my world.  He changed me!  He started molding me into a "mother" - I want to celebrate!!  Noah, WE MADE IT TEN YEARS!  To me that's huge.  I ache to think in 10 more years he will be a MAN!  But there will be perks to that too!!  Oh, how I treasure this time with him as a kid.

Noah at 10:

He weighs 67 pounds

He loves being outside: to Skateboard or Ripstick with his friends

He loves being outside

He loves CANDY

He loves cereal - could eat it every meal

He loves beyblades

FISH

Baseball

When he's inside the loves to build with legos and play a computer game Mind Craft

He loves to shop at Target

I love him...
Don't blink, don't blink, don't blink!!