Bloggy friends visit

We had the pleasure of meeting the nicest family today the Heflin family was in town and stopped by for a couple hours.  Heigeles, you missed a whole lot of cuteness.
Oh my goodness, Addy is even cuter in person than she is on her blog (didn't really think that was possible).  Unfortunately, at dinner Alayna wasn't feeling herself so didn't really get to play with Addy but, Aidan was THRILLED with Jake and Cooper for playmates~ In fact, after they left Aidan said, "Mom don't you wish they lived with us?" 
I knew I was in trouble though when Addy walked over and got up in Jason's lap.  I think that British accent lured her in. =)

 Alayna is questioning why this new girl is making eyes at HER daddy.  LOL

Scott, Cammie, Cooper, Jake and Addy thanks for spending time with us.    We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude is the art of painting an adversity into a lovely picture.

~Kak Sri

~The provision of Jason's job and that he starts his new position on Monday.

~Our wonderful surprise IPad delivery this week. Here she is enjoying an ABC video with dad.

~Aidan continues to soar at school in all his academics!

~Alayna decided this week that walking isn't too bad. Still won't classify her as a walker but, she is definitely up and taking more steps each day.

~Alayna finally kicked the weird tummy bug she had for 5 days last week and we were able to resume life as usual!

We have so many things to be thankful for and continue to be grateful to God for his gentle hand of protection on our family.

What are you thankful for this week?

Our Monday was a bad country song...

You know the type of song I am talking about. My wife ran away, my dog died, my life stinks, blah, blah, blah. If I could play guitar I am sure I could write a song that would play forever in some run down honky tonk. Ok everyone would have to be really inebriated but, it would still play.

Well none of those things really happened but, I can tell you that after a contact dilemma for me, the bus breaking down stranding Aidan outside in the frigid morning, Jason returning home because he forgot his snow boots for work then calling 30 minutes later to say that his job was in jeopardy (oh trust me still having a job #1 on my thankful list this week!).

Let me tell you I thought we were living in a bad country song.


Until (and thankfully there is always that UNTIL), our Speech therapist showed up at the door with a present for Alayna. (Sorry no pictures). Alayna carefully unwrapped the beautiful gold package and stared at a brand new IPad! Of course, she wasn't excited until later when we got it out and showed her a few abc videos.


Our ST and OT had written a grant to get an IPad donated for Alayna. I was speechless and quickly melted into a pool of tears.

I can't express my gratitude to these two ladies who took it upon themselves to bless us beyond measure with something we no way could afford but, will be such a great learning tool for Alayna.

I have to share that as Jason was worried sick about his job he went into a place and looked up and read a poster that said, "Hey this is God, don't stress or worry I am going to take care of you, just leave it all to me."

So that is what we do, we trust God in the big and in the small and we are grateful for it all.

As Third Day sings,

You came and whispered love to me
You gave me strength to carry on
The Sun is Shining
There is hope for me again
A new day's dawning.
The Sun is Shining...

I have told you all this so you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But, take heart because I have overcome the world. Jn 16:33

*If you have an IPad and know any great apps for Alayna please leave us a comment and let us know.

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude helps you grow and expand;

gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and

into the lives of all those around you.

~Eileen Caddy

~Jason bid a new route this week, which is 2 minutes from our house and he got it! Starting next week he will be so much closer to home! Can't wait for warmer weather to go meet daddy for lunch dates!

~Another play day with Aidan - SNOW DAY!!!!


~Nobody else in the house caught Alayna's little stomach bug that she had earlier in the week. Thankfully it was quick and didn't bother her too much.

~I am starting to see more preschool type learning from Alayna. For example, she has sight read the word "dog" several times in different formats with no pictures just the word (Go Dog Go is one of her favorite books right now), she is adding in the number 5 & 10 when we are counting, is starting to recognize colors and is adding in more words on finger play songs and letters in the abc song. I am thankful for her continued steady progress in learning (now if we could only get her up walking ALL the time!)

~Aidan continues to soar in piano. He finished the first book in his piano class this week. He continues to amaze me with his natural musical talent. He sat down and learned the last blues song just by listening to the CD (I can't even play it yet).

Hope you are having a great week, what are you thankful for?

Storming heaven for Olga

You probably remember the sweet face of Olga. For those of you who didn't catch my post on her last month, she is an orphan in Eastern Europe with down syndrome.

Last month she was blessed with a family that felt the call to adopt her. Our bloggy friends raised nearly $13,000 for her adoption fund.

Unfortunately, the family had to back out of the adoption leaving Olga, who just turned 5 to possibly be sent to an institution for life. Yes, you read that correctly institutionalized! In Eastern Europe, at 4 or 5 years of age orphans are moved from a baby house to an institution forever forgotten by their society.

Our hearts are definitely on God's call for each of us to care about orphans. We ask you to lift this sweet girl up in prayer that her forever family comes forward and rescues her immediately.

Please share with your blog friends, facebook friends, work friends, prayerful friends, anyone who will listen. And Pray, Pray, Pray!!!

It is not the will of your Father that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Proverbs 31:8 & 9

Thankful Thursday

Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.

~Eileen Caddy

~God is moving each of our hearts closer together and focusing them on His perfect plan for our family and we are beginning to see and understand it clearly.

~Thankful for our prayer warrior friends who continue to interceed on our behalf!

~Snow day fun - Aidan was out of school on Monday and Tuesday and we had a blast playing in the snow and hanging out at home. Doesn't get much better than playing with your kids in the snow then coming in to warm up with hot cocoa and marshmallows.

He even wore his PJ's backwards Tuesday night just in case it would bring him luck on no school again!

~Outstanding 2nd quarter report card for Aidan!

~Children from Reece's Rainbow continue to be paired with their forever families! Yeah for Olga & Kareen.

~Those pesky 2 year molars are finally coming through (after working on them for months) I feared she might chew her thumbs off!

~Toddler fun with opposites - Alayna is having big fun learning opposites, her favorite ones are quiet and noisy, must get a video to show you!

We hope your week is going amazingly well. Please share a thankful from your week.

SNOW DAY!!!

Aidan was thrilled to get our first snow of the season and woke up to a SNOW DAY!!!! He couldn't wait to get the snow gear on and make his way outside.

Alayna was rather unimpressed with the length of time it took me to get her stuffed into her snow gear. She literally stood up, balanced for 30 seconds and fell over! She had a tiny cut on her lip where one of her teeth hit it but, after a few seconds she was fine.

She reminded me of Randy (Ralphie's little brother) on a Christmas Story..."I can't get up, I can't get up" & "I can't put my arms down".

Thankfully, she was much happier when we actually made it outside to play.

She and Aidan made snow angels, tasted the snow (it wasn't yellow I checked), and then he pulled her all around the yard in the sled.

Her biggest giggles were when I put the camera down and pulled them both on the sled together. I think she was just laughing at my huffing and puffing dragging over 80 pounds of kids around the yard.

We are supposed to get more snow tonight so who knows maybe we will wake up and repeat this tomorrow!

And now we interrupt your normal scheduled snow day report with a bit of cuteness ...

(Daddy picked out Alayna's outfit for church yesterday, even the baby legs to match)! Yeah Daddy!

Thankful Thursday

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings - Unknown Author

Happy 2011, here are a few thankfuls!

~Orphans no more - 30+ kids from Reece's Rainbow were added to the "my family found me" category over the Christmas holidays, our friends, Jenny & Cameron received their travel date, March 7th to fly to Ethiopia for court to finalize their adoption of their sweet JoLeigh, and our friends at church are adding two new boys to their family this week via foster care. Please continue to pray for the orphans of this world (especially our little Elizabeth who we added to our prayers this week).

~Our dear friends, the Bartelts gave their kids Christmas money to donate to the needy. Their kids each chose 2 kids on RR to donate to. Talk about an eye watering moment when a cherubic little 6 year old tells you how he used his money to save an orphan! God love him & this family! Their 9 year old daughter has already raised enough money via the Global orphan project to build an orphanage in Haiti. They also took the information about RR and shared it at their Christmas family gathering. They rock!

~A few extra days of Christmas break - Most kids went back to school on Monday but, Aidan's district didn't start until Wednesday. We have had a great time together this break. The giggles have been nonstop. Aidan decided on his last day home he was going to dress up as a knight and protect the princess! Very cute.

~Operation underpants continues to be a success - We braved a couple play dates and church in big girls and the princess did not disappoint!

~Jason is back on his normal route which means he is home to have dinner with the family!


Please share a blessing or two from your week...

Be a prayer warrior

My friend, Stephanie over at Daily Smiles urged us to step up for orphans this year. Thanks for the gentle nudge Steph!

Now that the holidays are over let's not forget all these sweet children who are still waiting for their forever families.

Being a prayer warrior doesn't cost you a thing. Simply hop over to Reece's Rainbow and email Laurie. She will provide you a sweet little one to pray for daily until they get their forever family.

We are blessed to intercede for Elizabeth and can't wait for her to find her forever family. Just in the past month with the Angel Tree project 30 children from Reece's Rainbow have found their forever families (including our sweet Maria who we have prayed for this past year)!

Please consider praying for these children and this ministry on a daily basis.

Learn to do good, seek justice, help the oppressed, defend the cause of the orphans, fight for the rights of widows.

Isaiah 1:17