tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80463963259966464262024-02-06T18:18:56.176-08:00To Tell of His GRACEJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.comBlogger325125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-63288746903201358772017-12-21T16:21:00.001-08:002017-12-21T16:22:40.474-08:00Christmas - it IS the most wonderful time of the year....even if it doesn't feel like it at times! It's the most wonderful time of the year.....in SO many ways! But for our little ones from hard backgrounds its just honestly not. At times they struggle in deep and profound ways and I can't even begin to understand the layers of pain within their hearts ~ but we see their pain manifest in hard ways over the holidays. Grief and loss, it all comes up this time of year. This particular year we have the added element of bringing home a new child just weeks before Christmas.<br />
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Besides Jesus, we all can say he's hands down our FAVORITE Christmas present ever!!! He's adjusting way better than I could have ever imagined (thanks to the help of an extra chromosome ;) ) and his joy just brims over ~ which helps our other 3 littles that have are having a tougher time this season. His sweetness and gentleness seems to calm them as they sit and play with him :)<br />
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Every year as they struggle at this time I try to figure it out ~ do they miss birth parents (which some never knew and others barely remember)? Is it the general feeling of loss they know they've experienced? Is it the early childhood trauma? But the truth is THEY don't even know. Adoption pain is so visceral. So hard to pinpoint.<br />
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So this year we're just choosing to roll with it as best we can - no trying to figure it out....no trying to fix it. We are expecting them to have harder moments than usual, we are expecting the meltdowns over seemingly nothing and the fits out of nowhere. We can't change their backgrounds, we can't change their pain......but we can choose to lower our expectations and roll with it better! It doesn't make it any easier or any more fun - but it sets us up to win as a family and sets them up for an opportunity to possibly heal another layer of pain.<br />
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Expecting Christmas to be all FUN and our kids to be so THANKFUL and life to be a big PARTY this time of year is unrealistic for all of us! I think of Mary and Joseph ~ that very first Christmas. It was HARD. They were lonely and couldn't even find a decent space to birth the King of the world. Yet our society continues to try and make Christmas something it never was meant to be. So many people struggle this time of year. Let's let them! <i>We need to give each other space to hurt and miss and grieve and deal with the pain of this world</i>.<br />
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<i><b>Then we need to REJOICE that ONE CAME to REDEEM and RESTORE and MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!!!</b></i><br />
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As parents of adopted kids that have hurt that comes out in ugly ways at times THE TRUTH of JESUS and His healing power are all we can point them to! We do lots of practical things to like trying to keep things simple and calm, taking lots of deep breaths, sensory play time and extra cuddles, lots of talking and empathy. But in the end, Jesus alone can heal those deep places of pain. His Peace alone can calm them. His redeeming grace is all that matters in the end.....which is why we celebrate Christmas in the first place!<br />
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So for that reason alone, this IS the most wonderful time of the year! A time to slow down and focus in on the reason for our JOY - joy that is beyond circumstances. Joy that comes because HE CAME! He came near, He took our guilt and shame and sin and made us new in HIM. We always have reason to rejoice!!!<br />
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(pics by @jillianchristinephoto)<br />
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-40229854540054833862017-11-30T18:47:00.001-08:002017-11-30T18:47:47.150-08:00Kaylee Grace ~ China Heritage Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So many emotions leading up to this trip! Many times when change is ahead our girl struggles more than normal. Going to China was a big deal for our girl! She went back and forth deciding if she even wanted to come with us. Kaylee is one of the most emotionally mature people I know. So much trauma early on, so much to process through the years and by the grace of God, He has healed her in deep places. We hoped coming back to China would replace some of her hard memories with good memories - learning about the history of her birth country, having fun as a family, and of course getting to experience the moment we got Kai.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moment we first saw Kai ~ she was the first one in the room and she ran outside to get us to hurry, excitedly telling us she saw him waiting for us on the couch! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is with Daddy in Guangzhou</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">All in all, I know Jesus had a plan for her coming and this trip will lead to deeper healing in her sweet life. But there were some hard days for her - I'm sure all the smells brought back memories, even if it was just at a cellular level. She regressed back to some old behaviors we haven't seen in a long time ~ and we were able to teach her in a whole new way how to battle with praise! She knows Jesus rescued her, she knows He healed her, and she's learning that He is the only One who can sustain her and keep her in His perfect peace :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We learned all about the Pu'er tea trees in Kunming and got to make our own tea (poor little Kai, this was the day he was admitted to the hospital as he just kept feeling worse)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Lake in Kunming</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring China with Sissy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of Canton Tower - highest tower in China and 2nd highest in the world :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the Chen Ancestral Hall.....last time she was here she was in the baby carrier the whole time :)<br /><br /></td></tr>
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She is SO ready to get home! She misses Kaleb so much ~ those two haven't been apart since Kaleb and Khloe came home in August and they are both missing each other (face-timing every day) :) <div>
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The best part of her time here was meeting Callie ~ a sweet, new friend from Georgia who was adopted 3 years ago from China as well. These two had the best time together ~ we will have keep them in touch for sure. The Ficken's family was in our travel group from the beginning and we had the best time with them! </div>
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It was such a great experience for all of us to learn more about Kaylee and Kai's birth country. We lived in Haiti for 4 months, so we were able to not only learn about Kaleb and Khloe's birth country but actually experience it. This being our 2nd time in China, we feel like we got to experience the culture much more than the first time and learn more about the rich history of China. So thankful for our time here and we are all so thankful to be going home today! </div>
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So thankful for these two old-steadies ;) They helped make China FUN for Kaylee!<br /><div>
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-24998548786827599882017-11-26T23:09:00.001-08:002017-11-26T23:09:30.669-08:00To CHINA for Kai ~ 2017Four and a half years ago we were here bringing home Kaylee Grace.....and now she's here with us enjoying learning more about her birth country. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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She had a lot of mixed emotions leading up to this trip and the whole first week we were here, but she's really enjoying it now that we are in her province!</div>
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We really had no idea what to expect with Kai. We asked so many questions on all his updates and got pretty vague answers, so we came with no expectations other than to meet him where he was in his place of need and love him with Jesus' love as best we could. We were told he really didn't eat and that he only said two words (Mama and Baba). I was already planning on connecting with Kaylee Grace's feeding therapist when we got home to begin to get him eating. We left for the civil affairs office Monday, feeling unsure of what was ahead. All we knew was that we had seen Jesus move mountains before and we were about to see Him do it again!</div>
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We got up to the civil affairs room and walked in and he was already there - just hanging out on the couch all by himself! We got down on his level, brought out some toys to grab his attention and fell in love immediately! What a sweet spirit this kid has! We could tell right away he was sick. He had a rash and cold-like symptoms. None-the-less he came right into my lap, let us feed him and didn't even look back when we left. </div>
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We went back to the hotel and he continued to feel worse. We'd see little bits of his personality here and there but poor guy! He just felt awful!! </div>
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We ended taking him to the hospital at his orphanage (he was in foster care up until the last 3 days before we got him....they took him back to the orphanage to help him transition away from the foster family- so hard!) He had to have IV antibiotics for 3 days - he had scarlet fever :( Bless his heart, he was SUCH a trooper! We are so thankful that his orphanage treated him rather than us having to spend the week in the local hospital. They treated us so well.....they fed us great meals, kept our room nice and warm and took great care of our little man! </div>
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We left his province with 3 rounds of IV antibiotics in his little body and some oral meds for us while we are in Guangzhou. He feels SO much better and it has been so fun to see his adorable little personality come out more and more. He is the cuddliest, sweetest, most gentle little love-bug ever! Super chill all day long! We are having so much fun with him. </div>
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He eats absolutely everything.....so feeding therapy is now off our list ~ yay! He sleeps like a champ! He rolls with everything.....SO full of JOY all day long. Everything is a game to him ;)</div>
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We were trying to teach him the sign for "more" - we kept signing it and saying "more" over and over. Finally he just looked at us and said "MORE!" out-loud and so enthusiastically! We were all laughing so hard - he didn't even use the sign he just went straight to the word, lol. Now he does both the sign and says "more". He says mama, dada, love you and more. He tries to copy anything we tell him to say and seems to understand most of what we want him to do :)</div>
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He for sure tries to be stubborn here and there but for the most part we just tell Kaylee to do what we are asking and he will copy her......he loves her!!! He loves us all but we can tell he has a special affection for his China sister ;)</div>
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We cannot wait to get him home to meet Kolson, Kaleb and Khloe (wow, Khloe and Kai are going to have some crazy-fun times with their similar fun-loving personalities). We have 4 more days here so we are soaking up this time with him and loving every minute of it! </div>
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All I can say is that we came here feeling so unsure of what the Lord had ahead of us. In many ways it felt like we had no margin at all......and the thought of adding a 7th child (with down syndrome, which we admit we really didn't know much about) was sometimes overwhelming. Now that we have him it just feels like Jesus gave us the most lavish gift! I can't explain how blessed we feel to be entrusted with this child......I'm telling you, if anyone is considering adoption pray about down syndrome adoption! You have no idea what a crazy, lavish blessing it will be for your whole family!!!</div>
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Thank you all for praying and loving our family in so many different ways! </div>
Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-80685556772729065872017-11-04T21:48:00.004-07:002017-11-04T21:48:58.312-07:00Happy 17th Birthday Sis!!!We love you!!!<br />
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Keep laying down your life and finding True Life in Jesus!<br />
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Thank you for your peaceful, steady ways that keep us all in line :) I love seeing Jesus grow you deeper in Him.....He alone is worthy!!!<br />
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7 years ago and today :) Beautiful inside and out...love you, Babe!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-89494788972341228122017-09-11T22:49:00.002-07:002017-09-11T22:49:42.782-07:00Kaleb Jasse is 7!!!September 8, 2017<br />
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It's hard to believe this is Kaleb's 2nd birthday home! He had just come home last year.....so I'm not so sure what he understood or thought about birthdays. But this year he was ready! He knew what he wanted for his birthday breakfast, his birthday dinner and his gift :)<br />
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Kaleb it is a joy to celebrate you!! You bring a sweet calm to our family and we are so thankful for YOU!! Thank you for always wanting to help and for looking out for each one of us. Jesus delights in your kind spirit! Keep drawing near to Him. I love how you desire to know Him and His Ways! He is all we ever need :)))<br />
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Birthday dinner in Hawaii :) </div>
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Chosen Yogurt for his birthday dessert :)<br />
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A new bike and the game Trouble<br />
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Cupcakes from Ben and Alese<br />
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Which everyone enjoyed!<br />
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Happy Birthday, Kaleb! Let the light of Jesus shine in you all of your days!!! We love you!!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-2914644344305713342017-09-11T22:38:00.001-07:002017-09-11T22:38:13.285-07:00Hawaii ~ 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Four and a half years ago we went to Hawaii as a family of FIVE. A couple weeks ago we went with all 8 of us ~ LOTS of life has happened in the last 4 1/2 years! About 4 months after our first Hawaii vacation we traveled to China and brought home our Kaylee Grace. We had no idea what was ahead of us. Jesus drew her out of darkness and into HIS glorious LIGHT!! We walked though trauma and grief we never could have imagined alongside her sweet little soul. Jesus did a deep and powerful work in and through her life. We still marvel everyday at the ways He has healed her. </div>
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Without Kaylee Grace our hearts never would have been broken in the ways His heart breaks for the orphan. We gave up our rights to our lives and the plans we had. His Ways are so much higher! Then He blessed us with Kaleb and Khloe :) As we were in the thick of Kaylee's healing He invited us on this wonderful journey of being their parents. In the earthly realm it looked as if there was no way we could handle more. But with God all things are possible and He made our lives so much MORE beautiful with them!!</div>
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He has taught us that our lives are not our own though Kaylee's adoption and difficult transition. He has taught us that we must LEARN to be content in any and every situation.....we can't just pray for contentment. We must be put in difficult circumstances in order to learn contentment. Living in Haiti was our season of learning to be content. Learning to rely on Him alone. One of our most difficult and beautiful seasons as a family ~ we say all the time how thankful we are that He invited us to live there for a while as Kaleb and Khloe transitioned into our family! We will never be the same</div>
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Through it all we have grown so much with Jesus. When we have to give up all control He is gracious to do that- to make us more like Him and show us His ways are better. I thank Him everyday for the ways He invites us to see His glory! What if we had been too scared to say yes to His invitations of adoption? Or living overseas? Our lives would be so empty. And we wouldn't have half the fun we do with these littles! Sure there has been sacrifice - which is beautiful in itself - so we wanted to get away somewhere where we could pour into each other and have sweet time away before we enter a new season with Kai. Truthfully we have no idea what his needs will be. Jesus does and that's all I need to know. But we don't know what's ahead so this pause, this breath together as a family was a precious gift. </div>
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We pretty much lived on the lazy river!<br />
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BFF's<br />
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Even got a date night in ;) 19 years ago we were in Hawaii for our honeymoon!!!<br />
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Kolson was always up for a swim with the littles whether in the ocean or pools<br />
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Glamimng it up for the beach ;)<br />
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The kiddie area was a favorite!<br />
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Family dinner celebrating Kaleb's birthday (early) :)<br />
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HAWAII 2017</div>
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-40129726511619635992017-07-31T10:07:00.000-07:002017-07-31T10:07:21.017-07:00Kaylee Grace is 7!!!July 25, 2017<br />
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Happy Birthday, sweet Kaylee!<br />
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We say it all the time, but WOW! We stand in awe of Jesus when we see you!!! He continues to miraculously heal your precious life and make you whole in Him. The plans He has for you are beyond what any of us can imagine. Keep turning deep into Him and His marvelous love!!!<br />
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So fun to celebrate you.......donuts for breakfast, swimming, Skywalk as a family, then pizza and games where you won the Ultimate Jackpot of tickets :))))) </div>
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Keep shinning Jesus, girl!!! We love you :))))</div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-70873751561776706582017-07-10T11:33:00.001-07:002017-07-10T11:33:17.653-07:00Happy Birthday, Kols!! (13!!!)JULY 7, 2017<br />
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It's official! We now have 3 teenagers in the home :)))<br />
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Kols, you are such a joy! You have the most caring, thoughtful heart.....always thinking of others! We know Jesus is shaping you into a godly, young man that will follow Him wherever! Keep growing strong in Him!!<br />
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We love you and we are so thankful for the fun, carefree, creative spirit you have been given that brings joy to our days :))))</div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-16201129791332705152017-06-26T19:22:00.000-07:002017-06-26T19:22:37.341-07:00Happy 15th Keeg!!!June 11, 2017<br />
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HOW can it be that Keegan is 15??!!! Last year we celebrated in Haiti and now we're all kinda wishing we could do that again! Not cause it was easy or fun......but because of the holy ground we were on. We knew without a doubt Jesus had us there for that season...and we were stretched and pruned. But we experienced Him in ways far deeper than ever before. Hard to believe it has been a year!<br />
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(last year in Haiti)<br />
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Keeg, you bring so much laughter to our days......like all day long...every day :))) We love you! More than anything it is a joy to watch you grow in Christ's ways. He is strong in you and He is calling you to a set apart life.....follow Him with all you've got!<br />
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We love you!!! You make life fun for your siblings and you always take care of the littles :)<br />
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Keep pressing on in Jesus towards the goal for the prize which Christ has called you heavenward! (Phil 3:14)</div>
<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-73976863814647193522017-06-05T21:11:00.001-07:002017-06-05T21:11:28.555-07:00SUMMER ~ And Why We HomeschoolWe love summer for so many reasons but mostly we love the slow pace it brings.<br />
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Everyone here is officially finished with school for the year...yay!!! However, we haven't really told the littles they're done, lol! It helps them so much to keep life structured and predictable ~ so we are keeping our same routine....including "school".<br />
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We will keep our same routine for the littles ~<br />
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Breakfast<br />
Bible Time<br />
Play Outside/Bigs clean up breakfast<br />
School & snack time<br />
Play outside<br />
Lunch<br />
Nap/Quiet room-time<br />
Free play (which in summer will be in the pool!)<br />
Dinner<br />
Showers<br />
Bed<br />
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But school will be much more relaxed and easy, fun activities....mostly review ;)<br />
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The boys have some sports camps & activities and Kennady will be working a lot this summer so their days will be full but here at home we are going to keep things as simple as possible.<br />
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We have found ROUTINE & PREDICTABILITY to be so very important in all 3 of the littles emotional well-being. When we veer off of our normal schedule and a simple routine of time spent mostly at home, we are quickly met with 3 "off" kiddos! And they all react & cope in different ways. Kaylee goes back to having a very difficult time self-regulating & managing her emotions, Khloe gets wild & acts as if she's driven by a motor, and Kaleb holds it all together so well to where we think he's not affected at all and then suddenly its as if everything crashes in all at once & he falls apart over they tiniest little thing. SO....simple routine it is for us!! Thankfully all 3 littles do well with the big kids having friends here hanging out so that's often how our big kids spend their free time :)<br />
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Also, with Kai coming home in Fall, the big kids are going to get a jump start on some of their classes by doing summer school. One of the many blessings we have found with homeschooling is the flexibility of WHEN we do school.....and for us heading to China & bringing home a new brother this will work well!<br />
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We just finished our 2nd year of homeschool and we are settling in to this being our new normal for now. Last year was the first year the Lord pressed homeschool on our hearts and NOW we know why since we ended up moving to Haiti in April! As we prayed about it and saw all the fruit that came from just one year of having everyone home, we decided to do another year. The time that we get to spend reading, studying and learning about God's Word & His marvelous love is the greatest blessing of all. AND the time we get as a family to try and LIVE out what we learn is priceless! Whether it be here in our home loving littles that are still so broken OR serving in whatever way Christ asks us to. Being available to GO and DO what Jesus tells us in His Word to do has been huge for us. When the bigs were in school all day, then after-school activities and sports, we just didn't have the time to say YES to who or what or where Jesus was asking us to. We were too busy! So often people say, "you must be so busy with 6 kids and the needs of your littles" and I am being so honest when I tell you that we are LESS busy than when we had 3 kids!!! Homeschool has slowed our pace of life considerably and now we get to ENJOY life together and enjoy growing in our relationship with Jesus!<br />
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One fear I had before we brought everyone home was if they would have enough time socializing. First of all, I have learned that socializing means SO much more than connecting with just your peers and people your exact same age. Our kids have grown socially as they have had more time spent with people of all ages whether though serving or neighbors or having more time with grandparents. And they still have plenty of time with their friends and peers through sports and activities ~ win-win!<br />
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Homeschooling in our area is rare ~ so it really took a step of faith and us making sure that we were certain we heard from God. He is so faithful.....calling each of us to our own walk and journey. Each of our walks looking different from one another's. But at the center of it all is our loving Heavenly Father who longs to have an intimate relationship with each one of us. As Christians, the Bible is our guide.....but it won't tell us each and every specific answer. So we listen to His still, small voice in our hearts telling us, <i>"This is the way! Walk in it!"</i> (Is. 31:21) I'm thankful He guides each and every step....He gives wisdom lavishly when we ask (James 1:5-8) so long as we do not doubt and waver once He reveals His Way for us. So we trust Him and His call......I know there is one way through this life on earth and it's HIS WAY ~ beautifully different for each one of us, yet so the same as He is the center of it all!<br />
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-4486605406167411002017-05-01T21:22:00.000-07:002017-05-01T21:22:05.228-07:00One Year of Forever!!!What a JOY this last year with these two has been! We've laughed more than we ever thought imaginable :))) They have had a really beautiful transition overall ~ lots to learn and lots to grow through together as a family but God is faithful!<br />
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I told someone the other day how very scared we were a little over a year ago before we moved to Haiti. Kaylee Grace was still struggling so much throughout the day. I remember telling the Lord, "there's no way we can add more with how much she requires of me all day!" But we kept trusting and we kept moving forward in faith.......and we are SO thankful we did! Having not just one more but TWO more adopted siblings has brought such healing to Kaylee's life. We marvel that what we thought would tip us over the edge is what Jesus used to make our lives more manageable and peaceful!<br />
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Khloe's silliness, sassiness and joy makes us laugh all day long. Kaleb's sweet, calming presence has been the most precious blessing. Only the Lord can bring such glory out of what we fear the most! We are SO thankful they are home and that Jesus called us to be their forever!!<br />
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We had fun celebrating their special day! Kaleb chose Pieology for lunch and Khloe chose donuts for a donut party :)<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-60941392461473655392017-04-24T22:56:00.001-07:002017-04-24T22:56:13.649-07:00Fearfully Obeying....P.A.One thing we know for sure at this point in our journey as Christ followers ~ our lives are not our own!!! And we are SO very thankful for that!!! HIS WAYS ARE ABOVE ALL and we have seen that time and time again as we have stepped out of our comfort zones and into the comfort of His loving arms.<br />
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About a year and a half ago I had a dream. A very real-seeming, vivid dream where I woke up and knew in my spirit that God had spoken to me. I was in a room in China and being walked towards a woman with a baby boy in her arms. He was all bundled up in almost like a snow suit and all I could really see was his sweet & adorable face. As I got closer I knew instinctively in my dream that this was our child. I began to walk at a faster pace towards him, ready to scoop him into my arms. The woman waved her hand at me saying, "not yet, not yet" and I woke up.<br />
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I had an overwhelming feeling that God had just showed me that we had a baby boy in China! I told Brodie and we just kind-of laughed it off......after all, we were in the THICK of praying through one of the biggest decisions (apart from adoption) that our family has ever made ~ moving to Haiti for the remainder of Kaleb and Khloe's adoption.<br />
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We moved on and continued to seek God's face regarding His will if we should move to Haiti. Ultimately, He made it very clear that He was in fact inviting us to experience His glory by surrendering our fears and desires and following Him to Haiti....which is exactly what we did a year ago. It was one of the scariest and hardest things our family has done but WOW did we experience His glory! We had Jesus alone to cling to and what a beautiful time in our lives it was. I look back now and can feel the sacredness of that season. We are so thankful that He invited us on that journey and humbled that He gave us courage to say YES!<br />
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We entered into a season of integrating Kaleb and Khloe into our family....teaching them what family is and learning yet again to lay down our lives and let Jesus' love flow thorough us to bring healing and wholeness to their precious hearts. Our new normal began to develop and I honestly didn't even really remember having that dream. Until.......<br />
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A few months ago I had another dream.....and I'm really not a big "dream" person. In fact, I rarely remember my dreams at all. I believe that Jesus desires to speak to each one of us. Especially those of us who call Him Lord and have become His children (John 1:12). He speaks in many different ways; sometimes He speaks through other believers, sometimes through His Spirit living inside of us, and He also speaks through His Holy Word. I have friends who often feel the Lord speaks to them through dreams and I can think of many times in the Bible where the Lord speaks to people through dreams - the main one that stands out to me is Joseph, when God shows him that he is to take Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt to flee from Herod (Matthew 2:13). So although I usually don't have vivid dreams like this I had now had 2 where I felt God was revealing something important to me.<br />
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This 2nd dream (which was about a year after my first dream) had the very same little boy in it. He looked about a year older but I knew it was the same little guy and I had the exact same feeling in my gut ~ that this was our child. This time I was holding him over my shoulder. I remember that he had a diaper on, and he was FILLED with joy! He threw his dead back laughing and I saw his face - the same boy - and there was something distinct about his right eye. In my dream I kept telling him to look at me with both of his eyes because his right eye seemed to wander a bit.<br />
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I woke up....this time I knew God had just showed me our son. I told Brodie. Again he was sure it was just a dream and that there was no way we'd be starting another adoption so soon after moving back home with Kaleb and Khloe :) So I assumed that I was just to pray for this boy and if he was ours that God would reveal it at the proper time.<br />
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Just a few nights later I was laying the 3 littles down for bed and out of no where felt a strong nudge to look at Lifeline Children's waiting list ~ I ignored this prompting at first but kept feeling it so I finally logged on. I scrolled past dozens of adorable faces until I saw one that literally took my breath away! I saw the EXACT face (down to the snow jacket he was wearing!) from my 1st dream!!! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I clicked on his sweet little face to read about him......his special need??? Down syndrome.<br />
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What??!! Lord, there's no way! We are SO unqualified for that, Lord! Plus, we just got home 8 months ago, we are still bonding and adjusting, we still have days where we're totally over our heads! Jesus, You know we can't handle that!!<br />
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I felt His response so clearly in my spirit ~ "You're right, you <i>can't</i> handle a child with Down syndrome. You can't even handle what I've already entrusted to you. It is<b><i> I </i></b>who works in you to will and act according to My good purpose. Apart from Me you can do nothing. But with Me, ALL things are possible. "<br />
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I knew then and there that He was asking us to love this child and be his forever family ~ He was <i>inviting</i> us to love this child as He loves him. He perfectly knit him in his birth mother's womb for a glorious purpose. For His Glory!<br />
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I mentioned it to Brodie......he said he was 10,000% no. Jesus kept pressing this child on my heart. I asked Him WHY I was feeling this child was ours when Brodie was adamantly sure he wasn't. I felt in my heart as if God said, "I can change his 10,000% no to a confident yes in a moment ~ just trust Me." Both of our other adoptions the Lord spoke clearly to Brodie FIRST ~ that was so much easier for me to follow his lead and just trust that Jesus was leading us. Now it was me who heard the Lord first and I found myself doubting everything the Lord was speaking to my heart.<br />
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I asked Brodie if we could just request his file to find out more about him. He was fine with that so we did. I opened the file with updated pictures.....in the updated pictures I saw the exact little face I saw in my 2nd dream where his right eye drooped a little ~ again, I couldn't believe it! I felt like I already knew this little boy since the Lord had showed me his face as a baby in my 1st dream and then a year later He showed me what he looks like now in my 2nd dream! <br />
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Brodie knew the Lord was clearly doing something by giving me those dreams. He knows that more than anything I ONLY want what Jesus wants and he trusts me to hear from Him. We decided to take a few weeks to fast and earnestly pray & seek God's face. We decided we wouldn't talk about it at all together and only seek God's will. This was something we needed to hear His Voice clearly on and be completely unified in.<br />
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The last week of our fasting and praying (that makes us sound super spiritual but really we are just super <i>desperate</i> to only do what Jesus wants and doing some type of fast always helps us seek Him in a deeper way) Brodie and Kennady went to Haiti and Brodie had more time alone with Jesus then he's had in a long time. The Lord very clearly opened his heart and within a week or so of him being home we knew it was the Lord's will to move forward in bringing this sweet boy home!<br />
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I love how Brodie processed this all ~ he trusted and knew that Jesus had revealed His will through these two dreams. As he withdrew from his normal, daily routine and had no distractions he knew in his heart that this was God's will.....but as he says, he needed to grieve. He needed to grieve what his plans & dreams were for us in our future. We don't know what our future will look like but we do know that it will be very different now. I admire how he processed and even mourned giving up his dreams and desires for our future. As he says, we don't have to be "excited" right away about what God calls us to...we just have to obey and trust Him to work it all out.<br />
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<b>So here we are, qualified only by the Spirit of Jesus living in us, at peace only because Jesus Himself is our Peace, obeying only because Jesus works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose and hopeful only because the God of all hope fills us with joy and peace as we trust in Him!!</b><br />
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Apart from Jesus we can do nothing....but with Him ALL things are possible!!<br />
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So without further ado we would like to introduce the newest Johanson.........<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kai James Johanson</span></div>
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We submitted our paperwork last week and already have Pre-Approval!!! We will keep you updated as things progress along :)))<br />
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-32476268640507854782017-03-23T22:41:00.001-07:002017-03-23T22:42:20.519-07:00FOUR Years of Forever ~ Kaylee Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What a JOY to celebrate FOUR years of watching the Lord miraculously heal this sweet girl! </div>
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Kaylee Grace, Jesus chose you & Redeemed your life for His Glory ~ we have seen His Power & might as He has done such a beautiful work in ALL of us. Always remember that He will never allow pain without a purpose and He will use everything to draw us deeper in Him. We love you and are so thankful for your life and the gift of spending forever with you :)))</div>
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Keep shinning Jesus!!!</div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-14352113775562994802017-03-23T22:41:00.000-07:002017-03-23T22:41:06.667-07:00Kennady is Driving!!!Such a sweet & responsible girl! LOVE watching her grow into who Jesus has made her to be but oh how I wish time would just freeze sometimes.....this is one of those seasons I wish could last a while longer! She's barely had her license 2 weeks and already we see less of her!<br />
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Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-86933586614425281002017-03-23T22:40:00.003-07:002017-03-23T22:40:56.774-07:00February 2017Off to Haiti again for these two...<br />
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Kennady was in our friends Nathan & Daphny's wedding....what an awesome experience!!!</div>
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The boys and littles and I celebrated Valentine's Day here while they were there :)</div>
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Lots of LOVE around here ;)</div>
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We had Kaleb & Khloe's dedication at church where we committed their lives for Jesus' glory before our church family ~ what a joy to have such a gracious, loving God to trust our children to. He loves them more than we ever could! </div>
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We celebrated with family after</div>
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The Littles and the Nana's :)))</div>
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Keeg & Kols taught Kaleb and Kaylee to ride two-wheelers! </div>
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Best big brothers in the whole world! </div>
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And we celebrated Nana's 70th birthday with a girls beach weekend! My mom is the most loving, sacrificial person I know. ALL kids love her....she's a magnet to kids of all ages. Her patience and gentleness draws them in and makes them feel safe and loved. We are all so blessed by her constant love & care and thankful for her 70 years on earth and many more to come! </div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-59658960593990924402017-03-23T22:02:00.001-07:002017-03-23T22:42:47.633-07:00Khloe's 4th Birthday!!!Happy Birthday, Khloe Girl! Her 1st birthday home so we celebrated with her dream day.....<br />
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Started off with a donut date with Sissy :)))</div>
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Next up.....cupcake making!</div>
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And sweet cousins to share in the fun :))))</div>
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Then presents.......a baby doll was her wish!</div>
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A fun family party at Build A Bear and pizza at BJ's</div>
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Dory for Khloe, an elf bear for Kaleb and a horse for Kaylee ;)</div>
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A fun birthday for sure! Thank You, Jesus that she is HOME this year with a forever family to celebrate her.....she soaked in every minute of having her own very special day! </div>
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<br />Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-23779694163974751342017-01-24T14:42:00.001-08:002017-01-24T16:33:55.051-08:00Off To A Great Start ~ 2017<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We started off our semester with a trip to John's Incredible........a reward trip!!!</span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwER9hOl7Bq2P4g5g8eyCQq3sb3bRUElGBHo-SrDFEFBxwrnhjvqqXVZorXb_3ZmyurhXMT2zSxHD5krZCVuEtbJqonsLxQpit_YBEHAxU8M-U4o5UlEaadh7DCm9cc533zVV1kXpfZO32/s640/blogger-image-212825429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwER9hOl7Bq2P4g5g8eyCQq3sb3bRUElGBHo-SrDFEFBxwrnhjvqqXVZorXb_3ZmyurhXMT2zSxHD5krZCVuEtbJqonsLxQpit_YBEHAxU8M-U4o5UlEaadh7DCm9cc533zVV1kXpfZO32/s640/blogger-image-212825429.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">For two kiddos who learned ALL their letters & sounds & can write them too :)</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDudSdnVm58Z34t0j8v_c9bjcU0s_rJaN9BlY9JhaVkdfUGuVBmordDgH5tZVufkLzQdtFeCQZvC0NncPLAwPl6Iug-WFmuKmYSw1Q-W5EUdXYrOi2_Be5jlCboUeis8YkNOkhvmivWOKA/s640/blogger-image-1414472960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDudSdnVm58Z34t0j8v_c9bjcU0s_rJaN9BlY9JhaVkdfUGuVBmordDgH5tZVufkLzQdtFeCQZvC0NncPLAwPl6Iug-WFmuKmYSw1Q-W5EUdXYrOi2_Be5jlCboUeis8YkNOkhvmivWOKA/s640/blogger-image-1414472960.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">So proud of how hard they have worked!! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kHjMyi3BvtvFGROvgT15NJvP3o9iDq9UHVfCuGsKdk1EHqWRX6cdPfsqQSJty8c1YcK5Z5A7O2SIF2qM5UHY441v1xRC3YOL3aXN8LYPi2y_0hOjqQYCUZJ2t8j-X_POKdROXfboWCuZ/s640/blogger-image-851421118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9kHjMyi3BvtvFGROvgT15NJvP3o9iDq9UHVfCuGsKdk1EHqWRX6cdPfsqQSJty8c1YcK5Z5A7O2SIF2qM5UHY441v1xRC3YOL3aXN8LYPi2y_0hOjqQYCUZJ2t8j-X_POKdROXfboWCuZ/s640/blogger-image-851421118.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">The boys headed up to the cabin for a snow day- Best dad in the whole world!!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We've been hunkering down and reading - a lot :)</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCntSUXFsZKSATHfGLpNu9PCf-Av4j6QTOGGFNl83naUcykIR8Ul-4KZ_7rX5MgSfyUg1w-ckCt2Yj6TD1iGk68ANzh1WaIOFoQVZDeVJ2ku95WwsB9lfQjiz7nSkH-Wh04A2nfwbN4RbO/s640/blogger-image-1345504312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCntSUXFsZKSATHfGLpNu9PCf-Av4j6QTOGGFNl83naUcykIR8Ul-4KZ_7rX5MgSfyUg1w-ckCt2Yj6TD1iGk68ANzh1WaIOFoQVZDeVJ2ku95WwsB9lfQjiz7nSkH-Wh04A2nfwbN4RbO/s640/blogger-image-1345504312.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I love how much these kids love to read!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I am reading Pippi Longstocking to the littles - so fun! The bigs & I are reading Rees Howells Intercessor right now....life changing! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSDufuJ69GZWKHutKSYzFB_XNjwgzVD3p9wNfUXZKO_kAA_BjTBaa0yNiRra_vNRaO9vlSV1RDoi7TiauK6p__rmT2s-pX612d8VVgn8q3N5Jdhe-lz2N2j__Zo6ti-40xYs-VQv2Cek2/s640/blogger-image-2136056756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSDufuJ69GZWKHutKSYzFB_XNjwgzVD3p9wNfUXZKO_kAA_BjTBaa0yNiRra_vNRaO9vlSV1RDoi7TiauK6p__rmT2s-pX612d8VVgn8q3N5Jdhe-lz2N2j__Zo6ti-40xYs-VQv2Cek2/s640/blogger-image-2136056756.jpg"></a></div>Thank You, Jesus for a new year :). May we love You more, love Your Word more, love others as You love & grow deeper in You every day! </div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-58251186945741187832016-12-28T17:43:00.001-08:002017-01-08T20:45:35.983-08:00A Look Back at 2016.....What an amazing year 2016 was for our family!!! <div><br></div><div>We started the year off with a sweet update of Kaleb and Khloe in Haiti ~ each and every update was precious to us :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPX9s4smHplwtqE4zdw5PJ_84Tk4qjaDasjb8laRY0POSmZAZVnaPXylQbvlgBkiCPnLRTpeKNRCxFzuJQfJnXGlbS-belJzsSE0QNleKHWNW1laZtL-QUr8whC_bCAGnyiY5lZkBwZaf/s640/blogger-image-537545798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPX9s4smHplwtqE4zdw5PJ_84Tk4qjaDasjb8laRY0POSmZAZVnaPXylQbvlgBkiCPnLRTpeKNRCxFzuJQfJnXGlbS-belJzsSE0QNleKHWNW1laZtL-QUr8whC_bCAGnyiY5lZkBwZaf/s640/blogger-image-537545798.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">About the end of January our church did a 21 day fast and towards the end Brodie and I clearly heard the Lord inviting us to move to Haiti.....we had no idea how long we'd be there, where we would live or what to expect but we knew His Hand was the One opening the door so we said yes. We began to plan and prepare. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We enjoyed winter & Kolson had a fun basketball season</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r_ASHm5xjH7d9jLlpL2zbN9zJdlaVR-g8I8TWU17I_rSLtpH2jivRwBPVfr6ZVBuCxlkQmI7PqVRx9OSWhEf3zEp7uQBN41w71-SDvo3gLCxS3JHrO52bngTcLoCl9a0V-YePPT8MJMR/s640/blogger-image--1626378250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r_ASHm5xjH7d9jLlpL2zbN9zJdlaVR-g8I8TWU17I_rSLtpH2jivRwBPVfr6ZVBuCxlkQmI7PqVRx9OSWhEf3zEp7uQBN41w71-SDvo3gLCxS3JHrO52bngTcLoCl9a0V-YePPT8MJMR/s640/blogger-image--1626378250.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div>In March Kennady headed to Haiti with New Harvest on a missions trip & got to see Kaleb and Khloe & let them know in a few short weeks we'd all be there and with them FOREVER :)))</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHmYcgt9R4Y82KEy_kDR6vdKPuajwePUsExTVNoiffMYhnNZfSUdENQMuvzoeV4VcdD1_h5xF-qA31hFvbFdlqL-MYVrBP6f6LenqhRoW_x3Th2Ju1dQJArZHw7zGa_g0yECfNusW0ngp/s640/blogger-image-1257638392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHmYcgt9R4Y82KEy_kDR6vdKPuajwePUsExTVNoiffMYhnNZfSUdENQMuvzoeV4VcdD1_h5xF-qA31hFvbFdlqL-MYVrBP6f6LenqhRoW_x3Th2Ju1dQJArZHw7zGa_g0yECfNusW0ngp/s640/blogger-image-1257638392.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT76Q15TomjDVmLOdLC19P84VScHxnyC8rH5lDUc0jNfC_-pW6ZMEzBpCeEhcZB7CAHmfFncomST1Rzs_RAzq1DcuUBFfxiq4U_f2IxSeB9kdw_Gomyo1ckp7Hkmwvonn37YLUltzRls1f/s640/blogger-image--1847367872.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT76Q15TomjDVmLOdLC19P84VScHxnyC8rH5lDUc0jNfC_-pW6ZMEzBpCeEhcZB7CAHmfFncomST1Rzs_RAzq1DcuUBFfxiq4U_f2IxSeB9kdw_Gomyo1ckp7Hkmwvonn37YLUltzRls1f/s640/blogger-image--1847367872.jpg"></a></div><div><br></div>Keegan had a blast at Breakaway Camp</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-Ozy3WexX0HVkoWdjEEwj_4AWrsUDjZhNEKJ-ssEa8YCD_9PMtoFRYZqv-AsUom7ljpVkiGEZGSzSMZl1_b7n2wlP5nQfmi5jOL-koV_3iLzUkvG9weyPmlqldAP1ntm9mCC2nxcEMk_/s640/blogger-image--1161914266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-Ozy3WexX0HVkoWdjEEwj_4AWrsUDjZhNEKJ-ssEa8YCD_9PMtoFRYZqv-AsUom7ljpVkiGEZGSzSMZl1_b7n2wlP5nQfmi5jOL-koV_3iLzUkvG9weyPmlqldAP1ntm9mCC2nxcEMk_/s640/blogger-image--1161914266.jpg"></a></div> </div><div>In April Kennady got her braces off :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKx2j2c5RKOcGWsiAu2VOzRKTOYRfBB7HMhU_m-2MQqgpIVC1VPmEdfWwqCW3m43XYcT3yaGxGimQ8D-lAfMPavQoIU9WSa0XDhP03hvCac9E2ky4JrLPeoBt6H5UBW6q1lV5dTUDlqDR/s640/blogger-image--1679233377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKx2j2c5RKOcGWsiAu2VOzRKTOYRfBB7HMhU_m-2MQqgpIVC1VPmEdfWwqCW3m43XYcT3yaGxGimQ8D-lAfMPavQoIU9WSa0XDhP03hvCac9E2ky4JrLPeoBt6H5UBW6q1lV5dTUDlqDR/s640/blogger-image--1679233377.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And we enjoyed celebrating Easter with family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKmm5qS8lkMUbNaMWEZLHw_0DywI-MlVvMbE_Ez5s9YXvsv6HnDkno1vATFq4aKWHxqjUwRgVdW_4LtVaAblxoQk2io-TZj-j8N41tNwdeEPoV0Al53sqH1Qd8HBgMU6NmdeRn0IW4-Q3/s640/blogger-image-1550697029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKmm5qS8lkMUbNaMWEZLHw_0DywI-MlVvMbE_Ez5s9YXvsv6HnDkno1vATFq4aKWHxqjUwRgVdW_4LtVaAblxoQk2io-TZj-j8N41tNwdeEPoV0Al53sqH1Qd8HBgMU6NmdeRn0IW4-Q3/s640/blogger-image-1550697029.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We had a few going away parties before moving to Haiti</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQqgg-hBo1qKnXzDfvzIZ9i_w2V5sjAbGE1COgd3aFeQew88Qw1D5cqqEBrjOLY72IayPP2aDhXj7CCjTujKGLhTEUrh3mD5rQBkWib2BuchKcp5DEvexZtJbR_GADikjJFtlxpRxwjh/s640/blogger-image-1912334411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJQqgg-hBo1qKnXzDfvzIZ9i_w2V5sjAbGE1COgd3aFeQew88Qw1D5cqqEBrjOLY72IayPP2aDhXj7CCjTujKGLhTEUrh3mD5rQBkWib2BuchKcp5DEvexZtJbR_GADikjJFtlxpRxwjh/s640/blogger-image-1912334411.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPhScuqct98e-WwiUYo11Zcc9wZXky4fmKE_HiwnzAIcvD1jTy3bT40w0RJGJ3Pwx49DqGWxu9y5HttCv4-jJEGaMX8qr6qK8xx2n9eS7yv64UJHa_9Cc2RImLkZVlsIYkMkoqsfKcEYD/s640/blogger-image-1977037541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPhScuqct98e-WwiUYo11Zcc9wZXky4fmKE_HiwnzAIcvD1jTy3bT40w0RJGJ3Pwx49DqGWxu9y5HttCv4-jJEGaMX8qr6qK8xx2n9eS7yv64UJHa_9Cc2RImLkZVlsIYkMkoqsfKcEYD/s640/blogger-image-1977037541.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHggLP9OVII6JELdxqRFUE4HfkjK-HPgcITLchS8oYGXkiFVtdr8W_8wob7oU2CwRFL4XTzqhp5J4I0glYymaxYX9rpD_zH9HF2JSoR4UUGfQCtYXojXCv2uALbSWJFCizyNeZgGszT23u/s640/blogger-image-1168718821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHggLP9OVII6JELdxqRFUE4HfkjK-HPgcITLchS8oYGXkiFVtdr8W_8wob7oU2CwRFL4XTzqhp5J4I0glYymaxYX9rpD_zH9HF2JSoR4UUGfQCtYXojXCv2uALbSWJFCizyNeZgGszT23u/s640/blogger-image-1168718821.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1TqrM1QlWOOyk-Ooo5bXoQtZ-sb2obTx8bxfV1ivbOVBlSj1QpieX8QqIHfr6jbV-fb4hsdKtETUjPfcIM1u4Gi7lrck18ztTktQoqZ2KIDz6EwInVfSGCr2iuFVB3isz_pCskSJTKPs/s640/blogger-image-1909150975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1TqrM1QlWOOyk-Ooo5bXoQtZ-sb2obTx8bxfV1ivbOVBlSj1QpieX8QqIHfr6jbV-fb4hsdKtETUjPfcIM1u4Gi7lrck18ztTktQoqZ2KIDz6EwInVfSGCr2iuFVB3isz_pCskSJTKPs/s640/blogger-image-1909150975.jpg"></a></div>And off we went!! Not knowing much other than Jesus is Faithful and He is all we need!! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpCEkWqrC6ulBZmFZN0dwQx6utF6WHfTJapj01eq2Zsiv4nKkAmS2bN9XkBofiDFC9BHQ0wvDXA7N0GgzdJfSmz7JhmvqZ-_j_8V4A9O2aQXgKwpRR5rnxu5Zi0idVrwwBeFe0KTLd6Kj/s640/blogger-image--779655801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpCEkWqrC6ulBZmFZN0dwQx6utF6WHfTJapj01eq2Zsiv4nKkAmS2bN9XkBofiDFC9BHQ0wvDXA7N0GgzdJfSmz7JhmvqZ-_j_8V4A9O2aQXgKwpRR5rnxu5Zi0idVrwwBeFe0KTLd6Kj/s640/blogger-image--779655801.jpg"></a></div>Us girls went first with our sweet friend, Alese who helped us get situated that first week :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq30MV0nY5ZcqfmP_DR8r_XMEIyf4J0MKPxejGG7FabhYys-eyGR3fN6WulFRMeeD2DJadMI3sml1yTlxi53SqbBWp0XNC04WIAqkUsPtVT1nf3tkHo_5RZFx71aW_fC9VPQbCZ05QGahl/s640/blogger-image--1389830247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq30MV0nY5ZcqfmP_DR8r_XMEIyf4J0MKPxejGG7FabhYys-eyGR3fN6WulFRMeeD2DJadMI3sml1yTlxi53SqbBWp0XNC04WIAqkUsPtVT1nf3tkHo_5RZFx71aW_fC9VPQbCZ05QGahl/s640/blogger-image--1389830247.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And just like that we entered into forever with our two newest kiddos! We are incredibly grateful for the Lord's invitation to see His Love and His Glory as He alone was our life and refuge as we navigated life in a foreign country. So many challenges that He alone could help us overcome and for that we praise Him ~ we will never be the same! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHj0okeGBf41oOyEiHOr1qO0DXlIKnmpuquTPNbFhteoKO_LI88bfa2cXTlh133Q20iIJwCCnG1EbsdZHZwJK65-82k5_vtcQJQOQIeCgLsaw9Q-TZHiRonbcJplGRNVQBj9JB2UMoa15/s640/blogger-image--1843761849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHj0okeGBf41oOyEiHOr1qO0DXlIKnmpuquTPNbFhteoKO_LI88bfa2cXTlh133Q20iIJwCCnG1EbsdZHZwJK65-82k5_vtcQJQOQIeCgLsaw9Q-TZHiRonbcJplGRNVQBj9JB2UMoa15/s640/blogger-image--1843761849.jpg"></a></div>What a gift to have our boys arrive a week after us on my 40th birthday! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpmcx1x6OtuoifzhQMKxiuodYZXGe3EjgkZiYDr0lxyJ0KPmA5STbFRx4U1RVS3bN4dBWsUv8um_tSCyBYt3X1Mhp1oc6LJmpC4z2CCDWZ2ydwXlh98UfYkZJCIHDgzFe2hmceNV8m0NG/s640/blogger-image--1062044745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpmcx1x6OtuoifzhQMKxiuodYZXGe3EjgkZiYDr0lxyJ0KPmA5STbFRx4U1RVS3bN4dBWsUv8um_tSCyBYt3X1Mhp1oc6LJmpC4z2CCDWZ2ydwXlh98UfYkZJCIHDgzFe2hmceNV8m0NG/s640/blogger-image--1062044745.jpg"></a></div>All together at last :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Together we learned to do life in Haiti where everything is pretty much completely opposite of life in America. It was SO good for us to have only Jesus, each other, and our Costco canned chicken (a special treat we packed plenty of from home to go along with our beans and rice!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG_mtxAVdWtQ4XNUDfX1yl3V34adFBKSJ1BP_reEbUc8BJjSP15CBySK5OoUhV5r6L6vdyCR9EE41kgLdF2GdRryb0PWJumpuR796qZZfcYyPTW-ekLQvuSWDF-jAK7MtwJJ1AT1mIY9-/s640/blogger-image--43668666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVG_mtxAVdWtQ4XNUDfX1yl3V34adFBKSJ1BP_reEbUc8BJjSP15CBySK5OoUhV5r6L6vdyCR9EE41kgLdF2GdRryb0PWJumpuR796qZZfcYyPTW-ekLQvuSWDF-jAK7MtwJJ1AT1mIY9-/s640/blogger-image--43668666.jpg"></a></div>Oh.....and our soccer ball we brought from home which was a favorite with our security guard and his friend :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCJGUC6aO8Qc3Hwnjb_lKvpHRdE0UjlbDDgeFV1MKf04wqwDVUFfKMcVxo07y02Wfx6FH6gqakABU-3bjFRO5c1k3at36GYR3Sz3mdkEeOCVf1-4e04EOaskYsGpDx3TF8WTrfGEUBzzW/s640/blogger-image--437631084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCJGUC6aO8Qc3Hwnjb_lKvpHRdE0UjlbDDgeFV1MKf04wqwDVUFfKMcVxo07y02Wfx6FH6gqakABU-3bjFRO5c1k3at36GYR3Sz3mdkEeOCVf1-4e04EOaskYsGpDx3TF8WTrfGEUBzzW/s640/blogger-image--437631084.jpg"></a></div>Days there were looooooong but oh so sweet for bonding time as a family :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfyhTi3rwekgi4yisYHQMzipsAj_d6I87VHpWlqRzNGcXPDKBmyx-s9WgQ7Rh8t3dLrXp1tyIeFXFbYeQ58VIXOSsWpDGddOIEaP30wkoqEyngzOwfvk2C4pZ4VxCFGlSbFU7MfVoWpaP/s640/blogger-image--373232652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfyhTi3rwekgi4yisYHQMzipsAj_d6I87VHpWlqRzNGcXPDKBmyx-s9WgQ7Rh8t3dLrXp1tyIeFXFbYeQ58VIXOSsWpDGddOIEaP30wkoqEyngzOwfvk2C4pZ4VxCFGlSbFU7MfVoWpaP/s640/blogger-image--373232652.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphTAQaKzcMOcZYMac5wDn64BO39_BYdLumD0OqUIlGMY400VrUabuGeRMD-nXMsqPAEbZiL_XwS-Zml2VSE4JcNbgLBfXqua9KfBxEHUlAGjLZKcaswGSnCYcTxekRUniZJ6bqFnrtGtc/s640/blogger-image--176432863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphTAQaKzcMOcZYMac5wDn64BO39_BYdLumD0OqUIlGMY400VrUabuGeRMD-nXMsqPAEbZiL_XwS-Zml2VSE4JcNbgLBfXqua9KfBxEHUlAGjLZKcaswGSnCYcTxekRUniZJ6bqFnrtGtc/s640/blogger-image--176432863.jpg"></a></div>We learned a lot about joy in the simple things from our neighbors who had literally nothing but Jesus and joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmU7gQkisKNi9UJVhjLlm8kHxLjFxcQunpQCDJYTCJ7A9fXfEaSH2MQW4y52jNOrsCCgAHPxlteaFO1p7CntFIO_bDbZzxmFtXkIPcxKqtDOQEX0YfNAsgaIQW5vIeZqHJUKPWeYnbo0r/s640/blogger-image-1143358919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmU7gQkisKNi9UJVhjLlm8kHxLjFxcQunpQCDJYTCJ7A9fXfEaSH2MQW4y52jNOrsCCgAHPxlteaFO1p7CntFIO_bDbZzxmFtXkIPcxKqtDOQEX0YfNAsgaIQW5vIeZqHJUKPWeYnbo0r/s640/blogger-image-1143358919.jpg"></a></div>We enjoyed time with dear friends </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGlwCc0hDAvBGDQqdGn9IiAfSwWpGM_PWLDg72En-SeaWk9DsdQ-Rwd2LBu54TfYhQc7f8XfI4v9LpqaxwnobI201QPwsDgiesB3gIxltfS-kLzJDBTqZQqN8A47Cj6GuwHsjLGQUDbcz/s640/blogger-image--723805159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGlwCc0hDAvBGDQqdGn9IiAfSwWpGM_PWLDg72En-SeaWk9DsdQ-Rwd2LBu54TfYhQc7f8XfI4v9LpqaxwnobI201QPwsDgiesB3gIxltfS-kLzJDBTqZQqN8A47Cj6GuwHsjLGQUDbcz/s640/blogger-image--723805159.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUAQIVDinBwL4QG9-sjPLuz1d6SI39Yy64u0Hr-ucWP-vo0BCyyiNHrG4zWg6imtMvpwny35QAbfqV3r-N7B7OvQGf7rKFG3tzbsSkRJVQRFlpYukMXKlT35_08L1PSDdulDxtXCLaWj_/s640/blogger-image--344088514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUAQIVDinBwL4QG9-sjPLuz1d6SI39Yy64u0Hr-ucWP-vo0BCyyiNHrG4zWg6imtMvpwny35QAbfqV3r-N7B7OvQGf7rKFG3tzbsSkRJVQRFlpYukMXKlT35_08L1PSDdulDxtXCLaWj_/s640/blogger-image--344088514.jpg"></a></div>Royal Decameron was so good to us when we needed a breather (and consistent electricity and warm water!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwEmKSd9h9vpmdL89pUMLixyjF3Da9ygDb8OY2ok9cHtdWZ9VwOonfuO-_x9z0Yq0x0GO-rUbvbKjJ9hoNcHrNCzgj_bVvRu5w0D2gdNO3XGnXA709Druy4EKOz9mtkRRuXkemT1nD-a_/s640/blogger-image-1547681308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwEmKSd9h9vpmdL89pUMLixyjF3Da9ygDb8OY2ok9cHtdWZ9VwOonfuO-_x9z0Yq0x0GO-rUbvbKjJ9hoNcHrNCzgj_bVvRu5w0D2gdNO3XGnXA709Druy4EKOz9mtkRRuXkemT1nD-a_/s640/blogger-image-1547681308.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaCl7YYnAcYYxsUYH19ItOGYkIrUm1Xs77n9EfYPEg4gpCLJ_3P0c6CmXO5W1NiXOqukbeHzIAswBDf9aW1R5BJO3CH0LAutmymiem5KITSGJuyldhsGJGcekT324ZllYYEif8atplz95/s640/blogger-image-1719156754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtaCl7YYnAcYYxsUYH19ItOGYkIrUm1Xs77n9EfYPEg4gpCLJ_3P0c6CmXO5W1NiXOqukbeHzIAswBDf9aW1R5BJO3CH0LAutmymiem5KITSGJuyldhsGJGcekT324ZllYYEif8atplz95/s640/blogger-image-1719156754.jpg"></a></div>Such a blessing!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw78EvhPWy_AwAhFwmZeizjSwAEuYJGEMH8IW32He544gKFli9YXwkeVqlgFeYteSDIUiVDoNp78Lp-bFoQ3iKOjaq851qv6QwAdLG0c9zNI8kQ4f0oQf4c_2LSwJRTdMSPsWBkljCViE/s640/blogger-image--1772017413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw78EvhPWy_AwAhFwmZeizjSwAEuYJGEMH8IW32He544gKFli9YXwkeVqlgFeYteSDIUiVDoNp78Lp-bFoQ3iKOjaq851qv6QwAdLG0c9zNI8kQ4f0oQf4c_2LSwJRTdMSPsWBkljCViE/s640/blogger-image--1772017413.jpg"></a></div>We also loved to visit the Baptist Mission for burgers and French fries any chance we got ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D7H5Rph9FRCAcdQvooOZsIl4v7-1wqmUdxrtk3QkMPsJMsNukxO5j4lfZnWJ3ya0Wf4gRycKIyg5UmD9HZgAcDJpd0AaID-QO1LdnOYhvJMrnrvhOxww3BXuMOMKCrrgVKC1Q5F2lQwF/s640/blogger-image-1350184080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3D7H5Rph9FRCAcdQvooOZsIl4v7-1wqmUdxrtk3QkMPsJMsNukxO5j4lfZnWJ3ya0Wf4gRycKIyg5UmD9HZgAcDJpd0AaID-QO1LdnOYhvJMrnrvhOxww3BXuMOMKCrrgVKC1Q5F2lQwF/s640/blogger-image-1350184080.jpg"></a></div>Keeg celebrated his 14th Birthday there :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP73bHEm5mOjnkvYqWPXz_pUcQut1zbCoMN5f11SCkVRjS0GqnJZfvstsmM0W74Hk0lJu7Wlfl_5xF21aFoSizxGyyOhK8Lq4IteAZOYFMWLA-_CXAJWK7E4UdAVe4kUgln7GF-Qa8R7X/s640/blogger-image-1342053485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP73bHEm5mOjnkvYqWPXz_pUcQut1zbCoMN5f11SCkVRjS0GqnJZfvstsmM0W74Hk0lJu7Wlfl_5xF21aFoSizxGyyOhK8Lq4IteAZOYFMWLA-_CXAJWK7E4UdAVe4kUgln7GF-Qa8R7X/s640/blogger-image-1342053485.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And we will never forget Kaylee's accident and how Jesus healed her head and kept her from infection when we had no medical care.......nothing but Jesus and some super glue ;) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb_YyMpBvwEDHleoNOCRMmYlzwYsgJlbvVFHu38fm95Gj_T2SYm_PsolRbxGc1dQSOE4ALe8Z59NuIjjaUhuOIRxihfijHP6LhlrBBkHWPU8mBly31xCCIhZmKFT6Bh5isuXoag9i2uKW/s640/blogger-image--1666973616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb_YyMpBvwEDHleoNOCRMmYlzwYsgJlbvVFHu38fm95Gj_T2SYm_PsolRbxGc1dQSOE4ALe8Z59NuIjjaUhuOIRxihfijHP6LhlrBBkHWPU8mBly31xCCIhZmKFT6Bh5isuXoag9i2uKW/s640/blogger-image--1666973616.jpg"></a></div>Just like that we were sending the boys and Kaylee home </div><span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Such a bitter-sweet day!!! It was so hard to see them go.......we had begged the Lord to let us all leave at the same time but still Kaleb and Khloe's papers weren't done and Brodie had already missed nearly 3 months of work. Plus with the risk of staff infection with Kaylee's head being open for so long we needed to get her back to the states. She had also had Dengue fever while we were there & lost 4 lbs.....we knew it was time for her to get home. We had no idea how long we'd be there without them but we had no other choice than to trust Jesus to cover it all. Kaylee had never been apart from me for more than a week (my last visit to Haiti) so we knew it would stretch her but she was determined to be strong. She's the bravest human I know for so many reasons and let me tell you, when she determines to do something you can consider it done. Once she set her mind to going home without me I knew she'd press through the hard and make it through ~ and sure enough she did! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87oi4zynNSrBqs-SYLrAm63cNsD-Oo0wL8zSlWC972TYLVBHHB6Q7qI2phCaz849P9Ty6uo7tyVtlMmLVzsjNvITYtpPLsDmczMoAWDAkGuZLN33V1jS-chkrwzo-hXGEH2oisDJ0_PkZ/s640/blogger-image-609906604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87oi4zynNSrBqs-SYLrAm63cNsD-Oo0wL8zSlWC972TYLVBHHB6Q7qI2phCaz849P9Ty6uo7tyVtlMmLVzsjNvITYtpPLsDmczMoAWDAkGuZLN33V1jS-chkrwzo-hXGEH2oisDJ0_PkZ/s640/blogger-image-609906604.jpg"></a></div></span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Kolson got home just in time to celebrate his 12th birthday! I was so happy for him to be home- it was his birthday wish :). These boys were SUCH troopers those 3 months! These big kids are my HEREOS and forever will be! </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXE8G9-wNjA70faeoLUHWnF5_HvHIUAxHSyWfCe-5crV0XK9E4Px1puhL0GYNQYQsp1GhF71BElDRRpx94SZFGYKkBdBaCThntqkXAbqCaeSL2LSMohvF91UuPOxQBEgO97MrJDuHRZaI/s640/blogger-image-474743825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXE8G9-wNjA70faeoLUHWnF5_HvHIUAxHSyWfCe-5crV0XK9E4Px1puhL0GYNQYQsp1GhF71BElDRRpx94SZFGYKkBdBaCThntqkXAbqCaeSL2LSMohvF91UuPOxQBEgO97MrJDuHRZaI/s640/blogger-image-474743825.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKB2nOAVLzKIwFlwR2b61yIrLuF2Roe-E8ZP67ExrMEmvEL7JH8EgvoyBwy-7T5hyAM1gd127CnlHYS7CKwGkKNqIfL_vlKPha3msod3os9PDiyNzZN5Gp1DfjjPubdFK3j4RQbi0zgdn/s640/blogger-image-958832130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKB2nOAVLzKIwFlwR2b61yIrLuF2Roe-E8ZP67ExrMEmvEL7JH8EgvoyBwy-7T5hyAM1gd127CnlHYS7CKwGkKNqIfL_vlKPha3msod3os9PDiyNzZN5Gp1DfjjPubdFK3j4RQbi0zgdn/s640/blogger-image-958832130.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">We were apart almost a full month and though it was hard we felt Jesus' strength in us every second. Kennady and I had some very sweet time together living in Haiti that we will never forget and I will always cherish those sweet days navigating life there together :). I'm so proud of her and so thankful that we got to live in Haiti with her before she moves there one day after high school ~ if it is the Lord's Will her hearts desire is to spend a year or so loving the precious people of Haiti with Jesus' love. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3CE8a6SbKzsPKj52ZN2r8UuMpqQWG2A5uE3K8bT5idBWsH0rhM7DDfMZiEblZ8S3rBAcp2FOaPGfkzLK0_L-HgaZWtF8vSJ5-LNJIAQmTyX5c6m5iUXTPid-ONloD9ysTT7tbgQILfpS/s640/blogger-image-1703412409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3CE8a6SbKzsPKj52ZN2r8UuMpqQWG2A5uE3K8bT5idBWsH0rhM7DDfMZiEblZ8S3rBAcp2FOaPGfkzLK0_L-HgaZWtF8vSJ5-LNJIAQmTyX5c6m5iUXTPid-ONloD9ysTT7tbgQILfpS/s640/blogger-image-1703412409.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Kaylee celebrated her 6th birthday with Daddy & the boys, Nana & Papa & cousins :). I missed it by 5 days but made sure to smother her with her 6 birthday kisses as soon as I saw her in the airport! </div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pJJ2S9dvHCr8H6pX1SSlMKPiUg7vFPRPe3PVq415XAxNwIDe1VcstbjYlBWej9PTg9cLbvvcCzTaZLqpHS9_5zn3WSC6JJnHCTdwszFZbP_7uTpMaAgSYZSyBce2uUtuK3MkI4w-XfY0/s640/blogger-image-2003330845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pJJ2S9dvHCr8H6pX1SSlMKPiUg7vFPRPe3PVq415XAxNwIDe1VcstbjYlBWej9PTg9cLbvvcCzTaZLqpHS9_5zn3WSC6JJnHCTdwszFZbP_7uTpMaAgSYZSyBce2uUtuK3MkI4w-XfY0/s640/blogger-image-2003330845.jpg"></a></div></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Finally the call came.......VISAS! Time to go HOME! What PURE JOY to be home all together!!! Again, bitter-sweet.......hard to leave so many we love but beyond grateful to Jesus for taking us home. </div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQMjokk0yZcJsU4kFjsNxycDLeB40xGA7A_LnV9Y6q73oyUIqOfr5YAu9LCS7DuZSVcPUk50cK0_Vj6Kih2rRK7Nwo1qkQMclCnvdygmTOu5v4OGveOn48Em_QPeOTtKubBzwtG9wvBCC/s640/blogger-image--1039305478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQMjokk0yZcJsU4kFjsNxycDLeB40xGA7A_LnV9Y6q73oyUIqOfr5YAu9LCS7DuZSVcPUk50cK0_Vj6Kih2rRK7Nwo1qkQMclCnvdygmTOu5v4OGveOn48Em_QPeOTtKubBzwtG9wvBCC/s640/blogger-image--1039305478.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">A beautiful transition home and then if was time for school! It has been a treasured gift to homeschool again this year......so good for our family with adjusting to unique needs! It allows us to be present with our bigs and most importantly have the time to disciple them ~ we simply wouldn't have time to pour Christ's Word into them if they were at school & sports practice all day. A true blessing!</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETxx1VRKVEwYyHPZ-W7OY4i-quaAgEZZRScteSFjeJ_WuVTyzuq8jGvvt0URYc-_ETHzKVA0JJngIQAiGz-byQiYteF9dfOxnq7Di0uYZU4R9-avDPuImqz1ynkDjTATOD8LchB-EaiF_/s640/blogger-image--1237504517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETxx1VRKVEwYyHPZ-W7OY4i-quaAgEZZRScteSFjeJ_WuVTyzuq8jGvvt0URYc-_ETHzKVA0JJngIQAiGz-byQiYteF9dfOxnq7Di0uYZU4R9-avDPuImqz1ynkDjTATOD8LchB-EaiF_/s640/blogger-image--1237504517.jpg"></a></div><br><div><br></div><div>Kennady~ Sophomore</div><div>Keegan~ 8th grade</div><div>Kolson~ 6th grade </div><div>Kaylee & Kaleb~ Kinder</div><div>Khloe has learned so well how to hang with Kaylee & Kaleb during class time and either color quietly or play. She is a little sponge learning right along with them! </div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGoKzU-w-qUkWVt6oU3z8GzZ1bwl2n_p_8GktJQdCNevDzfk6TK4IH66gLdPxRh66NM6CIUOmqau3TCZmPU1GJrTaifg7IVqXS_MGnl4h1y2a8TTgmPSAFDUriAJuhyphenhyphenDI-1C5MCig0Tqx/s640/blogger-image--762982483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZGoKzU-w-qUkWVt6oU3z8GzZ1bwl2n_p_8GktJQdCNevDzfk6TK4IH66gLdPxRh66NM6CIUOmqau3TCZmPU1GJrTaifg7IVqXS_MGnl4h1y2a8TTgmPSAFDUriAJuhyphenhyphenDI-1C5MCig0Tqx/s640/blogger-image--762982483.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Kaleb was HOME just in time to celebrate his 6th birthday ~ he chose a pate' dinner and we celebrated with family :) </div><div><br></div><div>First Halloween ~ the LOVED all the candy ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo2g5hNiId-WKAPx0ympwJT3L5rQrZj-htfDjI0mOtUeD_zdaSVWs9SKd2XeNk236YtWGIprIjgviqMtnPalImIV1eharfH_cm_Of8pHd33M8zCjVg-aHB5QRFtpQpycp7_A-f9VenzRM/s640/blogger-image--856850678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo2g5hNiId-WKAPx0ympwJT3L5rQrZj-htfDjI0mOtUeD_zdaSVWs9SKd2XeNk236YtWGIprIjgviqMtnPalImIV1eharfH_cm_Of8pHd33M8zCjVg-aHB5QRFtpQpycp7_A-f9VenzRM/s640/blogger-image--856850678.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gHsOj-pCoUbhvZhvoP1VDsTGKYfSQhAVWXrT68pwRpe4moWC2VsaVwqAR-Z3N1YYVzWl6obEG_D0p2wEEf501UDOCxXlRaizw7Kfx77p9hhRVDnO4WPHvIU_fOkhXAhL3nBSZy0KMfzK/s640/blogger-image--958690447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gHsOj-pCoUbhvZhvoP1VDsTGKYfSQhAVWXrT68pwRpe4moWC2VsaVwqAR-Z3N1YYVzWl6obEG_D0p2wEEf501UDOCxXlRaizw7Kfx77p9hhRVDnO4WPHvIU_fOkhXAhL3nBSZy0KMfzK/s640/blogger-image--958690447.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Sissy's sweet 16 ~ hiking Yosemite and a sweet & simple dinner with friends :) </div></div><br></div><div>A beautiful thanksgiving with family </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzitPijUhCudg54C0H_N44S4df-QeCvW4K0LKAeeO3OhjoLd-Djf4ynTy1yPMpp_E_RKMhlWLrRt-zZVNwGZIXq1glImjVDMi2mBLF55Ssp2odSKSqV1YeBgZVJWhXkXV3LK4uHe_mFzbx/s640/blogger-image-1951864479.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzitPijUhCudg54C0H_N44S4df-QeCvW4K0LKAeeO3OhjoLd-Djf4ynTy1yPMpp_E_RKMhlWLrRt-zZVNwGZIXq1glImjVDMi2mBLF55Ssp2odSKSqV1YeBgZVJWhXkXV3LK4uHe_mFzbx/s640/blogger-image-1951864479.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>First Christmas! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WO2lsHC7KrMc7-O8JemQjreyqv1IUkD1NQckHSNSHbQCZp8-MTTcawQcrYkONMcREbhJRiZYrm2BmpkkvxPkyZmSSlybIJTIiAexsyJcnNhSeeKk-piL8CeXTzwxC7Fjc2SrZIRRWjph/s640/blogger-image-192892524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WO2lsHC7KrMc7-O8JemQjreyqv1IUkD1NQckHSNSHbQCZp8-MTTcawQcrYkONMcREbhJRiZYrm2BmpkkvxPkyZmSSlybIJTIiAexsyJcnNhSeeKk-piL8CeXTzwxC7Fjc2SrZIRRWjph/s640/blogger-image-192892524.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Thank You Jesus for all of Your mighty blessings in 2016........we lay our lives down and surrender 2017 to You! </div></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-81411500006503720452016-11-04T19:40:00.001-07:002016-11-04T21:51:44.300-07:00Happy Sweet Sixteen, Sissy!!!We love you, Sis! You're a true joy to have as a daughter and sister :). Jesus radiates through you & His joy overflows from you to all around you! So thankful to watch the Lord's Will unfold in your life as you surrender to His Ways. Loved spending the day with you doing lunch & shopping :)<div><br></div><div>You chose to celebrate a couple weeks ago hiking in Yosemite with friends</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoy3s0TRJGyyGaJ6FGUbVzzcf9ul8-gbsasyn-O7rLrXMWYwxRXUOawKLDKyVkIPkDD2tp2Rk0U9gqoSSyLPxsJamDxB9OU_EiFduz4etC4ZG-mud1qASrDx8tJednKFcBzwTQ35kca0i/s640/blogger-image-1130748052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoy3s0TRJGyyGaJ6FGUbVzzcf9ul8-gbsasyn-O7rLrXMWYwxRXUOawKLDKyVkIPkDD2tp2Rk0U9gqoSSyLPxsJamDxB9OU_EiFduz4etC4ZG-mud1qASrDx8tJednKFcBzwTQ35kca0i/s640/blogger-image-1130748052.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdALJumzxj-QEnYtAiknCsnwkw95AfABzy14iMKLApZEFBJyxv5OsSdfExH6DjuMsFT0s3VHojWqdm688pRP29V5BPsPa7TbMn3oRWmHufS2ZrgW5DlRRPy4aJBmttrzFQFf8zPqRAqAM/s640/blogger-image--1652058630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdALJumzxj-QEnYtAiknCsnwkw95AfABzy14iMKLApZEFBJyxv5OsSdfExH6DjuMsFT0s3VHojWqdm688pRP29V5BPsPa7TbMn3oRWmHufS2ZrgW5DlRRPy4aJBmttrzFQFf8zPqRAqAM/s640/blogger-image--1652058630.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>And today we had some fun visits from sweet friends, too :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2yYRN43HBbkPWQ-YiYWEvvbNkowzRWBU1Z96zIVc9YuDmNpxBbTvpLZFfAK8bE3nFFuXAFh8d9ceOls9VOjShuR_24-rKdzBqazizuJJyzRqH6sa3TTXqe3zqGocf7EpjlALtzKg_Xan/s640/blogger-image-698042123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2yYRN43HBbkPWQ-YiYWEvvbNkowzRWBU1Z96zIVc9YuDmNpxBbTvpLZFfAK8bE3nFFuXAFh8d9ceOls9VOjShuR_24-rKdzBqazizuJJyzRqH6sa3TTXqe3zqGocf7EpjlALtzKg_Xan/s640/blogger-image-698042123.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Emma drove here on her own~ so crazy! </div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tAr-jce53tJh1Pj7RBMW0EOxkAyCriLdsANCYHRnCVzXEyjuSX7284KqFDx-_kXMkFeq5Swm374m2O9RoKwWjQTM5CV6qwKurIwMuWS8axo8qzk4S5pBSrq_PIPKHdxuV2z8WZ3AOsjt/s640/blogger-image-1820218391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tAr-jce53tJh1Pj7RBMW0EOxkAyCriLdsANCYHRnCVzXEyjuSX7284KqFDx-_kXMkFeq5Swm374m2O9RoKwWjQTM5CV6qwKurIwMuWS8axo8qzk4S5pBSrq_PIPKHdxuV2z8WZ3AOsjt/s640/blogger-image-1820218391.jpg"></a></div>Ben & Alese came from the Bay Area!! <br><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oB7LdUX5_pU-TQR39rMOY0nG5hASS23gEZDIqPxeTKDbycoSddCHHkO8NaadrymR71hHPlIU-zL55W5uWHneTIyXVPVYDh7QvEDiY-YDoHlH86DD9EB7d74wzdastGaYj6u4RUNtby7m/s640/blogger-image-1147535813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oB7LdUX5_pU-TQR39rMOY0nG5hASS23gEZDIqPxeTKDbycoSddCHHkO8NaadrymR71hHPlIU-zL55W5uWHneTIyXVPVYDh7QvEDiY-YDoHlH86DD9EB7d74wzdastGaYj6u4RUNtby7m/s640/blogger-image-1147535813.jpg"></a></div>And a family Chosen Yogurt date to end our awesome day ;)</div></div><div><br></div><div>We love you, girl!! </div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-37849150356760023262016-10-15T13:34:00.001-07:002016-10-15T13:37:12.503-07:00TWO months home :)))It's hard to believe we have been home almost 2 months!!! Overall Kaleb and Khloe are transitioning so well! I truly believe that is mostly due to #1 the fact that they came from such a loving environment and #2 because we lived in their birth country for 3 1/2 months with them ~ so they've been in our arms for nearly 6 months!! <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ibTdgtgKJDs3am49uD5u7HmILBmoJDFnV03nG9RXPhbNwKV9G1w5q430MtBxEHB-_VTdAQwIYOj8_nM_La0YXLK8QOiZSusWqDYXDsJr4rBykzEXDaG4up5fQFFhzfG1rjz2ubRm9gAA/s640/blogger-image--504470075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ibTdgtgKJDs3am49uD5u7HmILBmoJDFnV03nG9RXPhbNwKV9G1w5q430MtBxEHB-_VTdAQwIYOj8_nM_La0YXLK8QOiZSusWqDYXDsJr4rBykzEXDaG4up5fQFFhzfG1rjz2ubRm9gAA/s640/blogger-image--504470075.jpg"></a></div>We keep things pretty routine around here......breakfast, Bible time, school, outside play, lunch, nap, snack, more outside play, dinner, baths and bed :)</div><div>When we stick to this simple routine things go SO WELL! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6hJx8CWhjRbGkGH0VPCk3mF7_uPZ8X5BawJtXqacODF-tlG3U1YaiXqSJ21NwYc5rwQQBZ6eTbxxTOjUx68uxNw41O-kPbn-eKJVHBGj_hTDgkGRH118iSn2LAR4qtkEoKBc90pgYgS/s640/blogger-image-1848657409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrM6hJx8CWhjRbGkGH0VPCk3mF7_uPZ8X5BawJtXqacODF-tlG3U1YaiXqSJ21NwYc5rwQQBZ6eTbxxTOjUx68uxNw41O-kPbn-eKJVHBGj_hTDgkGRH118iSn2LAR4qtkEoKBc90pgYgS/s640/blogger-image-1848657409.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We've enjoyed LOTS of awesome time outside and we will keep that up as weather permits ~they play so well together and they LOVE exploring and riding bikes outside :)</div><br></div><div>Adoption experts teach HIGH STRUCTURE, HIGH NURTURE. This is our game plan for bonding and attaching right now :) </div><div><br></div><div>Schooling at home is SUCH a blessing and I'm loving every minute of it. The big kids are all doing so well and the time we get together as a family and in God's Word is priceless! These are memories we will treasure forever :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_TVFAjXXSOqdmdn2PYrMc52VfjJ2vBwprCMeaHV5xoj65yW0PnL0F9_mkSmMDNmwkYV40K6ztH7dxc9bqe_BmPVjsiGhKXs5vamhQd70OlVBoOIa9UZd6-K5lFV9E84t4A11u7tQD43t/s640/blogger-image--1939592132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_TVFAjXXSOqdmdn2PYrMc52VfjJ2vBwprCMeaHV5xoj65yW0PnL0F9_mkSmMDNmwkYV40K6ztH7dxc9bqe_BmPVjsiGhKXs5vamhQd70OlVBoOIa9UZd6-K5lFV9E84t4A11u7tQD43t/s640/blogger-image--1939592132.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGB-4ldTEqtqJWofgUzk-8WqI7ZO0LRqhfV6d7hIQQpUwO575-tYMiI7FNOpYIog8wkHbqp2uZULhjJ2vhGxS3ti3u_lPg1to502STPtm5QlJgm36gDs24kxmCVX6SquLOCKvjqOtm8mT/s640/blogger-image--536537228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGB-4ldTEqtqJWofgUzk-8WqI7ZO0LRqhfV6d7hIQQpUwO575-tYMiI7FNOpYIog8wkHbqp2uZULhjJ2vhGxS3ti3u_lPg1to502STPtm5QlJgm36gDs24kxmCVX6SquLOCKvjqOtm8mT/s640/blogger-image--536537228.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzLzUCNHbgELVGdt7ur6K6fvjUJls2jt5rI7K9LTPTMuxR8omZ5hpqk17BxMRQNt8-boZHEOWDeew-WgEUMiYw0MomICBxD7GnT9zVbkO-Yht4APDut662O8K4gqjgpAcRRLW5SxmsvRO/s640/blogger-image--524672234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDzLzUCNHbgELVGdt7ur6K6fvjUJls2jt5rI7K9LTPTMuxR8omZ5hpqk17BxMRQNt8-boZHEOWDeew-WgEUMiYw0MomICBxD7GnT9zVbkO-Yht4APDut662O8K4gqjgpAcRRLW5SxmsvRO/s640/blogger-image--524672234.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGB-4ldTEqtqJWofgUzk-8WqI7ZO0LRqhfV6d7hIQQpUwO575-tYMiI7FNOpYIog8wkHbqp2uZULhjJ2vhGxS3ti3u_lPg1to502STPtm5QlJgm36gDs24kxmCVX6SquLOCKvjqOtm8mT/s640/blogger-image--536537228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNxIVKsn7IYk-czClf3znXFzFBbWyjkb4mFJmUnFSs6N8mzKZ3vQz_M7-AUyfPhI7Fem4eVtuNvMl8R3-FxgEdq9xUQmS7DcfrU86wgqkqoh3wj9n6j2dJfILsMhtrrPXhKSnEq_Kks2x/s640/blogger-image--1557484192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNxIVKsn7IYk-czClf3znXFzFBbWyjkb4mFJmUnFSs6N8mzKZ3vQz_M7-AUyfPhI7Fem4eVtuNvMl8R3-FxgEdq9xUQmS7DcfrU86wgqkqoh3wj9n6j2dJfILsMhtrrPXhKSnEq_Kks2x/s640/blogger-image--1557484192.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div><br></div><div>The littles are doing really well. Kaylee and Kaleb are doing Kindergarten curriculum and they do so well during school time. Khloe sits in with us every once and a while and then plays on her own at other times. She has come such a long way and is doing a great job of keeping quiet at school time :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xYic8LsCkuiLqyZFYC-d8ImWvMB6fmx3-9g-p6NGWw0F4XLhFYT-ydryoH3mlIQidxSB2mBbHjkU5Vd0EXwPTEwl7yKIH-dIYYebzk4uHtik4CNzhjMR3rjR7apXA322gkmixPHv8uXP/s640/blogger-image--1695429550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xYic8LsCkuiLqyZFYC-d8ImWvMB6fmx3-9g-p6NGWw0F4XLhFYT-ydryoH3mlIQidxSB2mBbHjkU5Vd0EXwPTEwl7yKIH-dIYYebzk4uHtik4CNzhjMR3rjR7apXA322gkmixPHv8uXP/s640/blogger-image--1695429550.jpg"></a></div></div> </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brodie and I even got to enjoy a weekend away at the beach for some time to refuel and refresh!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQci684yaQEa36JBqMgiCf-zBxdlJ5vdRXEZrsGAmPsshyphenhyphenrDAWDlS5aYR_phm3juBMHFn5l6TR6WkSho1wnRAkDYaw4MM-2KmkTqWjXPCNJW_9MAQIews3tBkIIBBQNU-5wkb62sfcXCVZ/s640/blogger-image--14980311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQci684yaQEa36JBqMgiCf-zBxdlJ5vdRXEZrsGAmPsshyphenhyphenrDAWDlS5aYR_phm3juBMHFn5l6TR6WkSho1wnRAkDYaw4MM-2KmkTqWjXPCNJW_9MAQIews3tBkIIBBQNU-5wkb62sfcXCVZ/s640/blogger-image--14980311.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>All glory to Jesus for His amazing gifts!!!</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-7677352454972873632016-09-27T19:51:00.001-07:002016-09-27T19:51:04.340-07:00Disneyland 2016Brodie had a work luncheon that he wanted our whole family to go to so some of his clients who have waited years to meet Kaylee, Kaleb and Khloe could finally meet them and it was 5 minutes from Disneyland........so........<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0etNHk1gqJDmq7VrRobtDiTycvZnk0SVWdZKvKyCCV9UBaFX2WeIHH23ZPJEh3z0l82gaI3KjguxQx15ag2_mKnjgVC53GzNeU1gKIifk20HjB2h_DWBTe0B9SAkhpbYyc4MgqSVcvwvZ/s640/blogger-image-1754572365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0etNHk1gqJDmq7VrRobtDiTycvZnk0SVWdZKvKyCCV9UBaFX2WeIHH23ZPJEh3z0l82gaI3KjguxQx15ag2_mKnjgVC53GzNeU1gKIifk20HjB2h_DWBTe0B9SAkhpbYyc4MgqSVcvwvZ/s640/blogger-image-1754572365.jpg"></a></div>We went and had the BEST time! The littles all did amazing and all of us big people loved California Adventure and especially the new Cars Land :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFaF-u-apqIBvg7Es25_HXNWY_Go2j0EYAYv7wzscjAOXTyKzfJ9PpY9vdEuK5v7Yk_r-RIGpcSRitlr5pvdv300qQx5ZjxI6P0chBqWCCwzutXYPb4RQqu_qIRaA8kqm0jJdBrrxvR-7/s640/blogger-image--646900819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFaF-u-apqIBvg7Es25_HXNWY_Go2j0EYAYv7wzscjAOXTyKzfJ9PpY9vdEuK5v7Yk_r-RIGpcSRitlr5pvdv300qQx5ZjxI6P0chBqWCCwzutXYPb4RQqu_qIRaA8kqm0jJdBrrxvR-7/s640/blogger-image--646900819.jpg"></a></div>Aunt Abbie doesn't live far so she stopped by to visit us and meet Kaleb and Khloe :)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxZX8M4v6slr-L4EOOQ6lbIopaTE7bZ7MG2PuUmae7BlS2X9Ry6_8IBTVvPy9WWYggZcMYImno_nAqBOVhutfktKXFU4cgQapklVFrKVODEe7aiJV8IgXnjRVKw341iDIoierE4lMgxj/s640/blogger-image-1634971778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXxZX8M4v6slr-L4EOOQ6lbIopaTE7bZ7MG2PuUmae7BlS2X9Ry6_8IBTVvPy9WWYggZcMYImno_nAqBOVhutfktKXFU4cgQapklVFrKVODEe7aiJV8IgXnjRVKw341iDIoierE4lMgxj/s640/blogger-image-1634971778.jpg"></a></div>Disneyland was packed and really too busy for us but California Adventure was just right for all of us </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELZ_APa7eRMqRhgS61RcBujaldAdPyXjDsSSTNvWbBFykpDliwfdZWE128uxuVoYM_edoxhPpG10JmO0KrKc-o_WYMRpy46sYlTQWP3U4DKCrItp4O0o_T-VVfVJ6n3F8TMJD2dYQt1df/s640/blogger-image-1379096508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELZ_APa7eRMqRhgS61RcBujaldAdPyXjDsSSTNvWbBFykpDliwfdZWE128uxuVoYM_edoxhPpG10JmO0KrKc-o_WYMRpy46sYlTQWP3U4DKCrItp4O0o_T-VVfVJ6n3F8TMJD2dYQt1df/s640/blogger-image-1379096508.jpg"></a></div>These two even got to meet one of their faves!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XRXcRcZajL2malPvDtYsjISuxfeZ_gCSFmkLUaJGjZjfWnvK3-CFqFb9gV9dErYAbyfV5yucYeMEQ3-ZU_JLboSEYtaa9G1nB3yF0nIzEDEmu0X8Tc8ZZSz6O6Gw7wtdGX0eGqL7Lb81/s640/blogger-image--973426741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XRXcRcZajL2malPvDtYsjISuxfeZ_gCSFmkLUaJGjZjfWnvK3-CFqFb9gV9dErYAbyfV5yucYeMEQ3-ZU_JLboSEYtaa9G1nB3yF0nIzEDEmu0X8Tc8ZZSz6O6Gw7wtdGX0eGqL7Lb81/s640/blogger-image--973426741.jpg"></a></div>And then we went a few miles down to the beach to see our friends the Luginbills who came down south for the weekend........the littles had a BLAST at the beach ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZfCMPR1lp046cJEsgNj3jVjVvnH41FR5Mp-fRyOz5UppkduZjqw4e-tvzi0O9q54L2XbTczzivzWsj7Fnz_dVtHqnZw1Y9GunQJfJvnD-SWaHlyMh4rwpYKLX8RnD56KpgNbMZuyICQm/s640/blogger-image--1158923152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZfCMPR1lp046cJEsgNj3jVjVvnH41FR5Mp-fRyOz5UppkduZjqw4e-tvzi0O9q54L2XbTczzivzWsj7Fnz_dVtHqnZw1Y9GunQJfJvnD-SWaHlyMh4rwpYKLX8RnD56KpgNbMZuyICQm/s640/blogger-image--1158923152.jpg"></a></div>And of course our bigs loved having some beach time too ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8xvx4sBnWPTpLmXR8brHoKlsMCcNHOSjfTx5aam3K4BNnG3_SSdJm1P4M0s3crno6Zb2K2O0IZpqSWsA4pm4oVBFoJcNzAvCuZ30o0Y-fzPz2JOy2f3MMCZkzT20ri1IZWzYf2DXEvN_/s640/blogger-image--837518125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8xvx4sBnWPTpLmXR8brHoKlsMCcNHOSjfTx5aam3K4BNnG3_SSdJm1P4M0s3crno6Zb2K2O0IZpqSWsA4pm4oVBFoJcNzAvCuZ30o0Y-fzPz2JOy2f3MMCZkzT20ri1IZWzYf2DXEvN_/s640/blogger-image--837518125.jpg"></a></div>So much fun!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIrslTiN82x51iYaoUtYWBU-EkJn1xukoYujbWOcD2R0jPeKiK0LCKN3Z8X_jo6m9GRgTOMRMPwLxQFSLHs4vL_zggDcApKDIhmEKX99ZVLggEFMdlv6BDUeOTjE-ZtHwKTjErljmxrTm/s640/blogger-image-1474388124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIrslTiN82x51iYaoUtYWBU-EkJn1xukoYujbWOcD2R0jPeKiK0LCKN3Z8X_jo6m9GRgTOMRMPwLxQFSLHs4vL_zggDcApKDIhmEKX99ZVLggEFMdlv6BDUeOTjE-ZtHwKTjErljmxrTm/s640/blogger-image-1474388124.jpg"></a></div>A great week and a great few days off school ;). Love this season of schooling at home and how much sweet time we get like this as a family ~ thank You, Jesus! </div><div><br></div><div>This morning we visited an amazing church called Mariners and loved worshiping with another church family :) </div><div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-26804435996434389232016-09-15T06:56:00.001-07:002016-09-15T06:56:37.340-07:00Happy Birthday Kaleb Jasse!September 8, 2016<div><br></div><div>Last week we celebrated Kaleb's 6th birthday and his FIRST birthday home! Kaleb is such a sweet and caring boy and he's doing really well at home.....and he loved our little family birthday party we had! </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD2ECmOwmHif_6imWeikIR9dGlRXIMtZKyGi9fKfDwaOz9KANW4ZBR7yiUdUuVnW6QGz_wfHtxsc4znTf-Rt_8NuwMODaOjBKNPKZPfcEccQUv3844r9hSe9oAD8r7vFjI04wSGhSCGX-/s640/blogger-image-1580599723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglD2ECmOwmHif_6imWeikIR9dGlRXIMtZKyGi9fKfDwaOz9KANW4ZBR7yiUdUuVnW6QGz_wfHtxsc4znTf-Rt_8NuwMODaOjBKNPKZPfcEccQUv3844r9hSe9oAD8r7vFjI04wSGhSCGX-/s640/blogger-image-1580599723.jpg"></a></div></div><div>He wanted pattes for dinner (I made calzones- which he thought were amazing pattes!) and we had a special donut treat for breakfast :)))</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyFVmj2n_jPZK3Avdac6M-mMvMaYk3Ehyphenhyphen0tpD3BTWhwYXPOMHXS8KHRghEGAkSqByI_kp_O1Fs3qi9NFKMuK4t15vYiI-OoaJABcrXbDvxjF7p1l0ET1WQniv9uE0xiU5IJQwgqixY1QV/s640/blogger-image-664487132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyFVmj2n_jPZK3Avdac6M-mMvMaYk3Ehyphenhyphen0tpD3BTWhwYXPOMHXS8KHRghEGAkSqByI_kp_O1Fs3qi9NFKMuK4t15vYiI-OoaJABcrXbDvxjF7p1l0ET1WQniv9uE0xiU5IJQwgqixY1QV/s640/blogger-image-664487132.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">During school time we did cooking class and made his birthday cupcakes :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZf3KT_eKxX0bG2u3gSmqU6BJCLwdq4VKnE29Z6h1PA9zc_TxWWIMa3BDSRM7IOdzXbqCQ1nNbyvOtzV8qNOQRDVLUwzRxm5DJfCqYbvKmdMvVKvMt7EG9Yf6kVclL281rco4ghfCeCun/s640/blogger-image-1804615106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZf3KT_eKxX0bG2u3gSmqU6BJCLwdq4VKnE29Z6h1PA9zc_TxWWIMa3BDSRM7IOdzXbqCQ1nNbyvOtzV8qNOQRDVLUwzRxm5DJfCqYbvKmdMvVKvMt7EG9Yf6kVclL281rco4ghfCeCun/s640/blogger-image-1804615106.jpg"></a></div>Kaleb we love you and we had fun celebrating your special day!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He and Kaylee have become the best of friends and their very favorite thing to do is ride bikes :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13YtcBeacHKVBx1cj8J_dvpKRkCIvrqqQ_n3xZJZcT74pIA0GICKFrnuABdafX-Gnh8d_Yb-pYDIHPjLzZfVdwlQXkbx8hZ5khEsjDBA9q1hhvAhv3nVdqSaRJcFw1OSeriVHZ7mQfe4q/s640/blogger-image-473085707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13YtcBeacHKVBx1cj8J_dvpKRkCIvrqqQ_n3xZJZcT74pIA0GICKFrnuABdafX-Gnh8d_Yb-pYDIHPjLzZfVdwlQXkbx8hZ5khEsjDBA9q1hhvAhv3nVdqSaRJcFw1OSeriVHZ7mQfe4q/s640/blogger-image-473085707.jpg"></a></div>They could ride all day :)))))</div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-49734718586801819952016-08-20T20:38:00.001-07:002016-09-27T19:50:16.946-07:00These Two.........I'm amazed at how well Kaleb and Khloe are settling in. The tell us often how much they LOVE being home :)))<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhe09WWmAx1ZOHwBrumu0nfGOLgiE8AtKAuBbhfOFbPFjcC0MzBtBW41qug7QIuhB-NxVmEHB_Xc_NcYlrSNws3nNT5ED2Hnx5dRjcThXPtkqAab3IDe3he-fhk7upzE_Qk5rG0cfrFaJ/s640/blogger-image-2123603911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdhe09WWmAx1ZOHwBrumu0nfGOLgiE8AtKAuBbhfOFbPFjcC0MzBtBW41qug7QIuhB-NxVmEHB_Xc_NcYlrSNws3nNT5ED2Hnx5dRjcThXPtkqAab3IDe3he-fhk7upzE_Qk5rG0cfrFaJ/s640/blogger-image-2123603911.jpg"></a></div>Their transition has been very smooth so far ~ they keep us laughing and Kaylee will tell you how much fun it is having them home forever!!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBA4ouNJulZukkNCWSrWyg3ozxyYV7m6xL4dHJBNIZYQuFNKxD8KgBBcrXJ73PqOBoxL73GGXqT7ROipcgHhiKiiN-wNIqh5Nqe4QLrkO431X74zJrcBujUA-T9099b_cpBE2IWxLHk6o/s640/blogger-image--907436815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBA4ouNJulZukkNCWSrWyg3ozxyYV7m6xL4dHJBNIZYQuFNKxD8KgBBcrXJ73PqOBoxL73GGXqT7ROipcgHhiKiiN-wNIqh5Nqe4QLrkO431X74zJrcBujUA-T9099b_cpBE2IWxLHk6o/s640/blogger-image--907436815.jpg"></a></div>Their favorite thing to do is play outside ~ no matter how hot it is! Kaleb loves riding his bike and Khloe loves being pushed in the stroller ;). And they both LOVE to swim :). Keegan and Kolson are always coming up with fun and creative things to do (like above) so that makes playing outside even more interesting ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c26_cr2_gjZ6W6VOnDC_EWaUekMQ4h4DHXdt_gMf-mhsynrsqxGrN3pm7EaQAWLGj42MjWI-79rpe4ieaQObGNizyWETprJIOrTNQa6K7p0cbXsV0U4oWN1lTC7QB3ewfgvzTJc2W508/s640/blogger-image-1471257622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5c26_cr2_gjZ6W6VOnDC_EWaUekMQ4h4DHXdt_gMf-mhsynrsqxGrN3pm7EaQAWLGj42MjWI-79rpe4ieaQObGNizyWETprJIOrTNQa6K7p0cbXsV0U4oWN1lTC7QB3ewfgvzTJc2W508/s640/blogger-image-1471257622.jpg"></a></div>This is how they nap ~ all 3 of them in the girls room ;). Praising Jesus that they all play so well together!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-60971175809606447812016-08-07T21:41:00.001-07:002016-08-07T21:41:02.011-07:00HOME and Loving It!!!It's SO good to be home! These two are adjusting so well. Our time living in their birth country was a huge step in bonding and attaching ~ we had 3 1/2 months of uninterrupted time together and what a difference it made!!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0YXkG8yQVskeb_xoozTGBnAXsLjD_aLj23O4nEkIE5ePOy_nRdxZjggaWsMk9QoMR2yWkIQCv_FYJRQNTUS-Ot3is9Y4duZeMYxV008sPfxGi_afCMjxBxwW5byTWAh0dClpxSt7bKtk/s640/blogger-image--1905624025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO0YXkG8yQVskeb_xoozTGBnAXsLjD_aLj23O4nEkIE5ePOy_nRdxZjggaWsMk9QoMR2yWkIQCv_FYJRQNTUS-Ot3is9Y4duZeMYxV008sPfxGi_afCMjxBxwW5byTWAh0dClpxSt7bKtk/s640/blogger-image--1905624025.jpg"></a></div>The 3 littles play SO well together!!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjCLk0uUS06U5eUvD300bFNkj-rpEUcp_3d3S9lBhdw8FPY72lIjiDVfJjH-B-zkho2oTCvAhyps0rr6B2PcDgoVg_PzQf22Ka2zSLfRhkGV-fi-W17QtWHaK0RN5LmfOuc-6rWtgfoMm/s640/blogger-image-579538522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjCLk0uUS06U5eUvD300bFNkj-rpEUcp_3d3S9lBhdw8FPY72lIjiDVfJjH-B-zkho2oTCvAhyps0rr6B2PcDgoVg_PzQf22Ka2zSLfRhkGV-fi-W17QtWHaK0RN5LmfOuc-6rWtgfoMm/s640/blogger-image-579538522.jpg"></a></div>They missed each other the last few weeks as we were apart </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzOSjDIaJcnI2fA4Z-rQX-Uoiz2_Yj8GMvMR_W4-Tb2RTDyPj8rekMiUZylSyd9ztoNxCF1vNxn6ifbB7wUptSKgKepeHi1eMR9KF1tEWWBGatoIYlvIi5yg0kLrHNH1cdpT73cznLJI/s640/blogger-image--620506449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzOSjDIaJcnI2fA4Z-rQX-Uoiz2_Yj8GMvMR_W4-Tb2RTDyPj8rekMiUZylSyd9ztoNxCF1vNxn6ifbB7wUptSKgKepeHi1eMR9KF1tEWWBGatoIYlvIi5yg0kLrHNH1cdpT73cznLJI/s640/blogger-image--620506449.jpg"></a></div>Welcome Home, Kaleb and Khloe!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gcsESxPZXXvASDDuC_NNNAgGdbdQf-h-eXAJvl33yWFnK6_hRdCDfIl-OJ0BhrLu5-l4rk4j15x-QSsDLjPE3m5jCevPNz2wrkidEq1NeprPm6t06CZnbiUwqZ1qw4YRfrM5ab3rt9FY/s640/blogger-image--589699828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gcsESxPZXXvASDDuC_NNNAgGdbdQf-h-eXAJvl33yWFnK6_hRdCDfIl-OJ0BhrLu5-l4rk4j15x-QSsDLjPE3m5jCevPNz2wrkidEq1NeprPm6t06CZnbiUwqZ1qw4YRfrM5ab3rt9FY/s640/blogger-image--589699828.jpg"></a></div>Kaylee is an amazing big sister ~ showing them the ropes around here ;)</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMS9jTY7dFbNQCCfjSlPBxySsUm8fUHQ5jGFLcY94vL2E3mFXwrdFYxG1StYEpYLjI1c9OaUGxbiWji-RIsjYK9cfE8SWwcMpoagiA5php5v-2Tf9vTfRloC5dgvNBYDvt3FmbTqGP1pw/s640/blogger-image-964733641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMS9jTY7dFbNQCCfjSlPBxySsUm8fUHQ5jGFLcY94vL2E3mFXwrdFYxG1StYEpYLjI1c9OaUGxbiWji-RIsjYK9cfE8SWwcMpoagiA5php5v-2Tf9vTfRloC5dgvNBYDvt3FmbTqGP1pw/s640/blogger-image-964733641.jpg"></a></div>And as usual these big kids are AMAZING!! Jumping in to help, being fun playmates and having some fun of their own once the kids are down ;)</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8046396325996646426.post-63600136045729891422016-07-24T08:51:00.001-07:002016-07-25T20:55:45.952-07:00Kaylee Grace is 6!!!!Happy Birthday, sweet girl!!!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G9wf1BM27Xb1PhOvQRXpTxFv61ABNU1wmOTwespklgxFfKOZmWlPRNxYFVnKDipmu2ttGCsXzE1Uv8RGsx8YV7XVjVNc-49bKl0weKw8mScr5bUbM8nqiWw4dQUFP51kMdhbRMpDlyKi/s640/blogger-image--557308681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G9wf1BM27Xb1PhOvQRXpTxFv61ABNU1wmOTwespklgxFfKOZmWlPRNxYFVnKDipmu2ttGCsXzE1Uv8RGsx8YV7XVjVNc-49bKl0weKw8mScr5bUbM8nqiWw4dQUFP51kMdhbRMpDlyKi/s640/blogger-image--557308681.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Kaylee, you astound us everyday & remind us what a BIG God we serve! He can do WAY more than we could ever ask or imagine & I'm so thankful that He has allowed us the privilege of being your Forever Family!!! It's been a little over 3 years since you came home & our lives will never be the same. We fought hard for love & trust......and by Jesus' Grace we overcame! It is a joy to watch you grow in the Lord :)))</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSfTFDFFOjgJDWaX4NW2csv-r9WrqavVN2TLOCKo0I6wjL_YvNQ5V8RabPWYHoYBD3slSQwlVJQ6nmn3NI7D4sAYjEaIe3Z-Omwa7whfwy8FX-sbHN0gZVyWIsj0UJCtGgKGCGtkomdUb/s640/blogger-image--751605675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSfTFDFFOjgJDWaX4NW2csv-r9WrqavVN2TLOCKo0I6wjL_YvNQ5V8RabPWYHoYBD3slSQwlVJQ6nmn3NI7D4sAYjEaIe3Z-Omwa7whfwy8FX-sbHN0gZVyWIsj0UJCtGgKGCGtkomdUb/s640/blogger-image--751605675.jpg"></a></div>Mommy face timed you to give you your 6 birthday kisses & it made you sad :( Kay, you're the bravest girl I know!!! Keep being brave ~ I'll be there in a few days! I love you and thank you for sacrificing for your little brother & sister!!</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You have grown up so much even in these last few months since Kaleb & Khloe joined our family. You are an amazing big sister and a sweet, joyful daughter. Your giggles get us all laughing! You are so smart and super ready to start kindergarten this school year :). You are starting to eat on your own a little bit ~ I think this will be the year you conquer this! (you've had to work so hard over the years to overcome and we are so proud of you trusting us enough to push you & help you learn to eat on your own- I know you can do it!!!) You are THE MOST determined person I've ever met ;). Once you set your mind to something it WILL get done - no doubt about it!! Whether it's surviving these last few weeks without mom, learning your letters and sounds, being brave and calm and still for us to glue your head back together ~ you name it....once you decide we can consider it done ;). Your joy is contagious, your eyes smile with your whole body, Jesus' joy is your strength!!! You are so mature for your age, sometimes we feel like we have another teenager in the house ;). You are wise beyond your years....you want to follow Jesus with everything that's in you and we can't wait to celebrate another year with our sweet girl :))). We love you!!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE13wEhSK22Iux9-vK0IiH7v9XFSfyQHuAGjlwnyUofVmPdQm-1IYZVf_J879shWIR3Bn7AR-qRwN42Ab79XGwjB6QAQd3JkMIKQuXJoM47pXsWeIoxydMKRqvNfLjp2ygt27r_wq7DMo/s640/blogger-image--251182430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE13wEhSK22Iux9-vK0IiH7v9XFSfyQHuAGjlwnyUofVmPdQm-1IYZVf_J879shWIR3Bn7AR-qRwN42Ab79XGwjB6QAQd3JkMIKQuXJoM47pXsWeIoxydMKRqvNfLjp2ygt27r_wq7DMo/s640/blogger-image--251182430.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><br></div></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09377014319254938916noreply@blogger.com0