Happy 12th E!

our firstborn, E, turned 12 today. she is becoming quite the special woman and her father and I are so proud of her.

in our home we celebrate Birthday Week instead of having a big party. each day of the week, we do something fun or special.

her day started with a breakfast treat daddy brought home from work.

E chose to see Raiders of the Lost Ark for her birthday. she had to be 12 to see it and she would not wait until she was 12 and 1 day, so daddy took today off from work and S and E stayed home to watch the movie. B and E went farming with me(they weren't as happy with their end of the deal, but oreos and tea with raw honey sweetened the slight a bit).

E has a favorite saying. in response to most everything she says, "awkward!" i happened to find a tee shirt that has a turtle on its back and awkward printed above it. E also has a real turtle for a pet, so the shirt was made for her. she also received a bunch of books she had requested. 

she picked Chinese for her birthday dinner, so we splurged and got take out. it was nice eating as a family. that only happens about twice a month as daddy works so much. we laughed and teased and stuffed ourselves silly. 

the other thing that made it a special day was making a cake with me. usually the kids come up with crazy cake themes, but this year she asked for an ice cream cake. i guess i could handle that...at least it requires no baking. (most people know i can't bake to save my life)

uhhh, working with ice cream  is harder! try icing a melting mess in the middle of june. all the border stars just slid right off as well as the sides of the icing. my freezer was a mess. at least it is a cake she will never forget.

HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR DAUGHTER. SHE IS AN AMAZING GIRL WHO AIMS TO PLEASE BOTH YOU AND HER PARENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE TWELVE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THIS SPECIAL SOUL. WE PRAY THAT WE WILL HAVE MANY YEARS TO COME TO LOVE HER. PLEASE SHIELD HER FROM ALL EVIL AND BLESS HER WITH A SERVANT'S HEART SO THAT SHE MAY BE DRAWN EVER CLOSER TO YOU AS SHE GROWS. WE ASK THIS THROUGH THE MERCY OF YOUR SON, JESUS. AMEN.  

we've been busy

much has happened this past week. we've had breakdowns and breakthroughs. all of us. we continue to grow and bond in spite of our hectic schedules.


our 13 year old, S, started using English finally. there has been ten weeks of just loving each other. we can't communicate well, but we can snuggle and do our kissy rituals.

she demands several times a day that i kiss her neck up and down a few times ending with a great big loud(but dry) zubber. the more it resembles an obnoxious and loud foof, the more joyful it makes her. she then says "my turn" in mandarin and proceeds to give my cheek a dozen or two tiny kisses followed by a big wet zubber. i never have any make-up left on my right cheek by lunchtime.

if i fail to oblige her '"mama" while pointing to her neck' command she whines loudly, "mamaaaaaaa" and stomps her foot.  if i fail to make adequate fart sounds, i also get the "mamaaaaaaa" foot stomp. i usually am game for our noisy love, but it is really embarrassing in public. i do it gladly because she feels loved by it, but i secretly hope she grows out of it by 18. sorry fellow churchgoers...not so sorry rude old lady at store.   

our 10 year old, B, now has all her teeth fixed. she had over a dozen cavities-some of them had eaten very large holes in her teeth. our dentist was so skilled, he did not even admit her to the hospital to have them done, but did the work in his office using only Novocain for pain. he completed the restorations in just three visits. the Lord blessed us enormously with this dentist. we are very thankful.

B is also is teaching herself to read. i was going to wait to teach her until she was speaking more. i wanted her brain to concentrate on learning the language first. but nope, this kid is a go getter. home for ten weeks and knows how to count American money and reading.

our biological children are continuing to adjust. they are amazing and loving. we try to do as many fun things as possible to smooth their upended lives. 

 A and B feeding the peacock at our co-op farm

 E and friend S playing at the graduation party

we were blessed with the privilege of having our dear friend, F's, graduation party on our property

 his gifts included a gag cake made by moi, but commissioned by his wife, and a case of root beer from friends

party games included copious water balloons 

 i think her favorite buddy, F, got B with a water balloon

one day we made tie dye shirts using shirts auntie S gave all four girls

we also spent several days working on and at the church tag sale we held to raise money to fund new language translation of the Bible into an audio recording to be played on a broadcasting device. E sold her homemade clay bears. she sold 11 items and donated all the proceeds to the charity.

 she does all sorts of bears, but likes to make Bible story bears like Moses found in a basket and the burning bush, Adam and Eve, the Crucifixion

 Peter and Jesus walk on water, loaves and fishes, and Mary

the bio-kids went to work with daddy one day while B and S had dentist appointments. they each showed me what they had been learning while there. pro-golf is in neither of their futures, but they gave it their best shot.

so although we had a super busy week, we managed to slip some fun into most days. i love my family. God is generous in His gifts.

THANK YOU LORD.

country style

summer snuck up on us and delivered a few hot and humid days.

daddy took pity on the wilted children by putting up a slip-n-slide while i cooked dinner on the charcoal grill.

only, because we live in the country now, he did it up in a fitting fashion...

B

S

notice he continues it with camo tarp...downhill...about 40 feet

A

that wasn't enough for daddy. sure it was fun watching the children trying to figure out the correct rhythm to propel themselves down the entire length. but, he always has something better in mind...

introducing  slip-n-slide 2.0 ...

daddy pulls the rope, the children go flying ((disclaimer-no children were injured making these films))

S

 B   1, 2, 3 GO!

 E takes a turn while the rest watch take-off

awed by her speed

 

 laughing at the dismount

think this was enough "fun" for daddy? you wouldn't say "yes" if you knew him. of course not! did you notice the swingset in the background of the pictures?

next, he rigged the hose up to the top of the slide. at the bottom of the slide, he positioned the slip-n-slide and tarps.

i ruined the fun saved the kids by calling them inside to eat dinner.

one thing i can say for this household - it is always lively!

baby makes 11

i am an auntie again. my sister delivered her eleventh child this afternoon...

                              introducing adelaide hope

may 29, 2012 8 lbs 6 oz

mom and baby are doing well. thank you to all those that were praying.

THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE GIFT OF NEW LIFE. THANK YOU FOR DELIVERING THIS CHILD SAFELY AND KEEPING HER MOTHER WELL. WE LIFT HER UP TO YOU AND ASK THAT YOU TOUCH HER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND CALL HER TO LIVE A LIFE DEDICATED TO YOU. WE SHOUT FOR JOY AT THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AMEN.

farming and frogs

we belong to a local community garden/farm where put in 5 hours of labor a week during the growing season for a share of veggies and fruits. it is a little little slice of heaven. the place and the people are a valued community for our family. we are blessed to have it as a part of our lives.

this week we had an extra work day where many people come to farm together. there were about 18 of us. around noon we broke for a wonderful pot luck farm lunch...yummy!

the children disappeared soon after. they were so done helping with transplanting. near the end of our 4 hour shift, they brought me a bucket containing many, many, many frogs. i did not care to get close enough to count them. they were jumping out of the bucket and every which way. total frog mayhem.

 B

 obviously E took the t-shirt saying to heart(it says dry is not an option)

 S

 A

heehee

while making dinner, i pointed out to B the dark bananas sitting on the counter. she made a drumming motion and asked, "mush bananas?" when i nodded, she did a banana mash dance spinning in circles and leaping about. not sure which she likes more...mashing the bananas for me or eating the banana nut muffins for breakfast.

anyone who knows me, knows my shameful secret.

i am no baker. i can cook, but baking is usually disastrous. the one thing i can pull off is a decent banana bread-then again who can't?

it has become a tradition(well if you can make a tradition in 7 weeks) for B and me to bake muffins at least once a week. maybe when they grow up they will have fond childhood memories of quick bread, if they can't have memories of freshly baked cookies.

here is what is so funny...

i set B up to mash the bananas and set S up beating two eggs...

then...

the phone rang...

10 minutes later S came in looking for me.

i went back in and there they were still working away. B had beaten the nanners clear out of the bowl and all over the floor. i told them they could stop now to their great relief.

B walked around the kitchen massaging her shoulder while i finished mixing everything together. S kept rubbing her fingers.

wonder if eating their banana  nut "meringue" muffins will be a traumatic experience tomorrow or if they have even figured out that is usually not how it is done? 

well, if they turn out especially good, i am changing the recipe to hand beat eggs and mash bananas for 10-12 minutes each. 

warning to future yous...do not accept my offer to bake for or with you...EVER. consider yourselves fair warned.

sisters

when i think of the word sister, the first thing that comes to my mind is my own sister, L. it was just the two of us girls growing up. i was the little "ramona" type sister that drove her crazy. i copied everything she did. i followed her everywhere.  i loved her so much that i wanted to be her. she never enjoyed being my idol, but she is my big sis and i can't help it. she is STILL one that i model myself after.

now she has a BIG family. really... it is big. baby number 11 is on its way-any day now.

i try to visit her at least once every year or two. i have always loved being near her big family. the children are all good kids that help each other and you can actually take them places without getting us thrown out or banned. in stores, they follow along after her like a bunch of ducklings.

when i get home from a visit, my house is quiet. too quiet. i miss the mayhem and chaos of her big family. because it isn't bad chaos. it is loving. enviable. God inspired.

i never thought we would have a big family. just the two girls. just like my sister and i.

then God surprised me by giving us two more. i wasn't scared of having a "medium" sized family. i have had some practice with my nieces and nephews. i can cook and clean up after a dozen children. i can put eight to bed all by myself. i definitely can do laundry for an army. plus, if she can do it...so can i(not as gracefully or with as much dignity-but still i can at least survive) and if i have moments of terror, she can walk me through it, because having 10 children, she has seen and done it all(mostly-no one has stolen her car yet or set fire to a sibling).

i have teased her that i am going to catch up with her. one day my family will be as big as hers. probably not-that is why i say "tease." i am not dumb enough to challenge her. we always were competitive...that would be dangerous-for both of us!

she has been my inspiration as a mother, Godly wife, friend, partner in crime, home school parent, and Christian woman. she has been my advice, sounding board, conscious, teacher, and debating opponent. she has known me longer than any other person besides my parents...and she STILL speaks to me! did i list patient as one of her attributes? 

she is the first person i call to tell exciting news to.

she is the person who can hurt me most with just one critical word.

she is the person i wished lived next door.

it is because of her that i gave my first child a sister of her own. and then i gave them two more sisters to fight with love.

my life wouldn't be as rich or joyful without my beautiful sister.

so today i would like to acknowledge her birthday and say THANK YOU for being my sister, L! you are one of the first blessings God ever gave to me.

ABBA, THANK YOU FOR GIVING US FAMILY. MY FAMILY IS A BLESSING TO ME AND I THANK YOU FOR THEM. I PRAY THAT IT IS YOUR WILL THAT MY SISTER AND I HAVE MANY MORE YEARS TOGETHER. WE HAVE FOUGHT AND BEEN HURTFUL TO EACH OTHER AT TIMES. I AM SORRY THAT I HAVE NOT ALWAYS LOVED HER AS MYSELF. I APPRECIATE THE GRACES YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US, SO THAT WE MAY FORGIVE EACH OTHER AND BE A SOURCE OF LOVE AND SUPPORT TO ONE ANOTHER. I AM THANKFUL THAT WE CAN GROW IN FAITH AND FAMILY TOGETHER. THANK YOU FOR CREATING IN HER A HEART THAT PUTS YOU FIRST. SHE LOVES YOU LORD, AND WITNESSES IT THROUGH EVERYDAY EXAMPLE AND TEACHING OF HER CHILDREN. I LIFT HER UP IN PRAYER TODAY AND ASK THAT YOU KEEP HER AND HER FAMILY SAFE. I ASK THAT YOU RESTORE HER HUSBAND TO HER FULL TIME. I ASK THAT YOU GIVE HER HEALING AND STRENGTH AFTER THE NEWEST BABY IS BORN. I BOLDLY ASK YOU ALL THESE THINGS THROUGH CHRIST. AMEN.