This Little Thing

 I heard a song on the radio less than a week ago and fell in love with what words I could hear through the static on the radio as well as the sound of the song itself.  Irish.  It sounded Irish to me.  I told MG about it on our way home from having lunch today, saying how I wish I could hear it again or knew the words to look it up.  The song that was on the radio ended and then.....the new song began!  God. is. so. cOoL!!!!  (cool sounds flippant....honestly, I am in awe that even in this little thing, He answered).  

wow.  This song.....it makes me want to get up a dance for joy.  To give cheerfully, to serve gratefully, to charge forward into the dark places within us all with laughter and giddiness, reflecting, living, offering and trailing freedom and life.  If this song could have a color (or two), it would be green....and gold.  Green:  for growth and newness, re-birth, rejuvenation....Gold: purity, richness, warmth, royalty,  LIGHT!  


It is a marvelous song!  (Lyrics are written below)





Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we're made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You're our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This Earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom's power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope 
On Earth

Deep and Wide

Almost a year. 

Some moments have flown and we look at this date 

shining bright on the calendar 

and wonder how it could be here already?  

For many  (if not most) days, it has been difficult 
to put one foot in front of the other.

The breathing has been tough,

the desire for another hug,

another tickle~fest,

another baseball game,

another fishing trip

another….

another….

another….

is,

at its best~

suffocating.

This ache!

It. 
is. 
large.

And the wound?

Carved deep. 

But praise be to the Father of good things,

The giver of hope, comfort, peace and healing….

LOVE

goes deeper

and

w  i  d  e  r. 

Because of His mercy

we know that to go on, as difficult as it is,

is the most honoring thing we can do,

deliberately pursuing gratefulness and delight in the remembering

As agonizing as it is to feel this emptiness,

and  longing bends us double with its pain

Remembering the beauty, the laughter, and the joy

Is oxygen to the heart,

and bittersweet. 

So.

The fireworks go off tonight

and while we remember and are thankful of those who gave their lives for our freedom…

we also remember

and are thankful for…

a little boy.

*we ask you to please remember to pray for this family.  Your prayers have helped them through this year, and they will need even more to help them through these next days.  We have not forgotten the prayers you poured out to our Father at this time last year, and we thank you!

Adding and Subtracting

Since springtime, we have had two sweet additions to our family.  

The addition is temporary, and we do not know the duration.    

~~~~~~~

Yet,

for a little while we were sad for ourselves,
having to say quick goodbyes.
Even so,
we held on to a great hope
 that these little additions were adding to another family's joy.   

And, 
add they did.
~~
Now,
Summer is upon us and with the brighter days
more sunshine pours into our home
with the occasional thunderstorms that often accompany
summertime heat.
Adding to that brightness
(and occasional storms)
are the same "littles" who are back with us
for that unknown temporary time period.

We are learning more and more what it means to take everything
"one day at a time",
learning more and more to trust in God for the
best things for His children.
Do we question?
yes.
Do we wonder?
yes.
Does He answer us with peace?
Patiently
and
beyond our understanding!
There has been adding and subtracting and adding again.
Pain, hope, sadness and joy
ebb and flow
in this sphere that is foster care.

We ride this ride holding on to a Father who knows all the hills and levels,
and he holds us with a steady and strong grip,
ever faithful to
His promises,

ever faithful
to His children.

Career Day

D-D had a Career Fair at school a couple of weeks ago.  

She set up her table for the fair...

...with gifts to hand out to those who stopped by to see her.
D-D wants to be a missionary when she grows up.

Her choice of career made my heart sing.
Listening to God's leading is a marvelous thing, and

we hope that wherever she goes, it will be because God led her there.

She is convinced and determined

her journey will take her to 

China.

Whether her choice of career will change as she grows into maturity or not, we hope that whatever she does,

God will be glorified and His kingdom will

be increased.

Outside of her choice, I can think of no greater occupation other than being a 

servant of God, whatever career one works.

Career Day from Garrett Marks on Vimeo.

Gentle Friendship

Usually on trash day, I have the kiddoes bring the trashcan up from the road when we get home from school. But, since it is predicted to rain today, Z-boy and I decided to get the can and bring it up early.  I do not know why, but 3/4 of my kids find such fun in bringing up the trashcan!  Z-boy is one of that 3/4.  Before we got to the driveway, we met a new little friend.

Z was enchanted.  He sat outside watching this little friend for about 30 minutes.

And he did what he could to assure it he meant no harm

Knock, knock, knock  Come out sweet turtle!

Maybe if I get a little closer, it will peek out at me:

Finally the turtle walks off, confident that little Z means no harm and just finds sweet pleasure in its little life.

Growing Into Beauty

Here is MG....one in a photo taken when she was 2 years old, another photo captured just 2 summers ago, and the final one is of her taken just 2 days ago.

October 2002
~~~

June 2011

~~~

April 2013

~~~

Easy and Delicious!

I found a recipe through pinterest that was super, duper easy.  Pork chops, Ranch Dressing mix, and Cream of Mushroom Soup.  Crock pot on low for 8 hours.  Simple, simple, simple. 

But a bit bland for my taste.

So, I spiced things up a tad and added a few other quick ingredients.  I have found that the combination of ingredients works well with a pot roast, country style ribs, or chicken (though I tend to not add veggies to my crock-pot when cooking the chicken).  

What you need:

Country Style Ribs (3 +/- pounds)

Potatoes

Carrots

1 pkg SPICY Ranch Dressing Mix

1 pkg Onion Soup Mix

1-2 cans Cr of Mushroom Soup

Cavendar's Seasoning

salt

pepper

Garlic salt

Crock Pot

 You can probably see that I already started filling the crock-pot before I decided to take photos.  I took the lazy gal's way of doing this and decided not to peal the red potatoes.  Or use carrots I needed to peal.  I like when all I have to do is wash and scatter the ingredients....especially if I am in a hurry to get it done.  

Place some potatoes and carrots in the bottom of the crock-pot   Sprinkle with a  little bit of the Spicy Ranch and Onion Soup Mixes, and the other seasonings.  Spread some of the Cr. of Mushroom Soup over top.  

~~~

Now, place the meat in the crock pot, sprinkling a little bit of the seasonings on top of this:

~~~~~

Next, place a few more carrots and potatoes on top of the meat (I did cut some of these potatoes in half so the lid would fit on well).  Sprinkle the rest of the Spicy Ranch and Onion Soup mixes over the top, adding other seasonings you may desire, and then spread the rest of the Cream of Mushroom soup (I did use 2 cans for this dinner).  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours:

I wish I had photos of the finished meal, but I forgot to get the camera and the food is now all gone!  

**For our family, the Spicy Ranch dressing is not hot spicy, just flavorful spicy.

President's Day

A few years ago, MG was privileged of dressing as a 1st lady to represent one of the Presidents of the United States.  This year was E's year.

~The beginning of the President song~

meet George Washington

Father of our country:

 I love these of E holding the American Flag.  I worked pretty hard to get only 13 full stars showing.  We are not counting the edges of other stars that are peeking into the photo!  ;)  

 Below, E walks down to the stage to the anthem

"Hail To The Chief"

Standing with other Presidents and First Ladies:

E is telling some of the older students all about "himself":

 E and MG

This photo makes me giggle.  George Washington using an IPad:

My Favorite Fun fact is the last one.  What is yours, "Sweet Lips"?

Happy Lovey Dovey Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

I found a tutorial for making hearts like these from the blog:

Big 'A' Little 'A'

So I gathered scrapbooking paper, cardstock, a teensy hole punch, a couple of crochet hooks

and some Micro-Spun yarn and went to work.

viola!

Valentine cards for the kids' teachers.  

MG got to dress up for her Valentine's Day.

Her class  had a 1950s party.

MG won the Hula-Hoop contest!

MG and her friends at the Valentine's Sock Hop:

a "Snippet"

These videos crack me up.  The adults who act them out do a superb job of lip-syncing to what the children have said.  Their facial expressions are fantastic!  The video below reminds me of when E was Kindergarten age and I was helping him with his mathwork (here)