Fall Fun

A few weeks ago, we went to Hocking Hills and spent a great "Fall" day together. Hiking around outside is definately our family's favorite activity.

Here's a few pics.

A Greater Capacity

Promo for "3 by 3 by 3" Documentary from David Watson on Vimeo.

One of the blogs and families that have always inspired and encouraged me is the Weimer family. They had 3 bio kids that look amazingly like our kids and then while we were going through the process of adopting, they came home with a sibling set of 3. Then shortly after we got home, they went back for 3 more! Yes- you've got that right- They went from 3 to 6 to 9 kids! They messed up their birth order both times. She posted on her blog these words recently...

"Every day I receive emails from potential adoptive parents and post-adoptive families asking for advice, support, feedback, direction, and information regarding adoption. It thrills us to be able to point people in the right direction, advise families in the process, and pray for those who are preparing to live out James 1:27. This is the ministry God has given to us, and we are stoked. Our vision is to serve as full-time adoption advocates, and we are making real steps in that direction. Soon we will be operating through our We Have Room web site, which will act as a resource for those stepping into the adoption world, those who are just getting their feet wet, and those who are swimming in the post-adoption sea, sometimes raging and sometimes of glee. We feel honored to be able to be used even in just a small way and to let others know, "Hey, we've been there."

One email that I receive a few times every week sounds a little something like this: "Heidi and Kirk, Your story has been very encouraging to us, as we also feel led to adopt older kids or a sibling group, but I am just very scared of what it might do to our family, how it will affect our current kids, and what kind of short- and long-term implications it might have. Can you tell me how your biological kids adjusted to being knocked out of their birth order? How did your oldest feel about no longer being the oldest? I'm afraid I'm going to be taking away from them something that is legitimately theirs and I'm scared of what that will do to their emotions/personality/self-worth/security/what-have-you. I'm afraid they will feel ripped off."

To each and every person reading this post who knows the concrete conviction of being called to care for the older orphans yet also bears the weight of the accompanying thoughts of fear, I want you to know this...Please hear me loud and clear, as we have now SIX times over displaced our "original" kids' birth order:

You are NOT taking anything AWAY from your birth children. Instead, what you are doing is imparting to them something eternal: You are expanding their capacity to love. Think about that for a minute before you read anything else. How do you plan to teach your child to love others unconditionally and in total compassion without giving them the opportunity to do so? I'm telling you now, You CAN'T.

My biological children have a greater capacity of love in their hearts than I could ever impart to them by just giving them a safe Christianity, by maintaining their status quo, by simply modeling "godliness" as parents (as if that's the end-all be-all for a Christian family). My kids...all of them...have lived out self-sacrifice and understand (because they live it!) that laying down one's life does not steal anything from us. That is the lie of the devil, who would have us believe that sacrifice is not worth it; that there is nothing for us in return; that God doesn't really mean what He says when He said to His followers that "anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. [Because] Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:38-39).

Do you really believe that? That whoever LOSES his life for Jesus's sake, for Jesus the Orphan's sake, will actually FIND it? Ask yourself honestly. Because you might answer YES prematurely. I have no doubt that you might believe it for yourself, but do you really believe it for your children, too? That if they "lose" their "place" in the family that Jesus will instead impart to them LIFE? REAL life???

What is birth order anyway but just a sequence of how your child came to you? Let's not make an idol of that sequence. Because that's what it becomes...an IDOL. Something standing in the way of you taking up the Cross to follow Him, to BE JESUS in this world. Let's not place a value on birth order that God did not intend to be there.

Consider the older orphan. Consider the sibling groups. Consider the ones who are not often considered.

And whatever you do on your adoption journey, PLEASE I beg you, do NOT steal from your children the opportunity for their love capacity to be expandedDo not deny them the true gift of learning early in life that "My life is not my own."

When your feisty and spunky 7-year-old biological daughter, who is now the middle child of 9 after being knocked down to #5 from #2, pleads "Please, Mommy, Please!!! I want another sister my age!!! Can we PLEASE adopt again?!!," your heart will beat out of your chest, not just because you can envision another child saved, but because you know that your daughter will NEVER EVER live a limited, safe Christianity. She won't even know what that means. In fact, she won't even have the capacity do so.

And all because you didn't limit her, either. You didn't limit God.

Give your children the gift of the greater capacity to love. Let it ripple out into the future. Let it change the world."

They are making a documentary and here is the promo. You will be amazed. They are everyday people just like you and me.

Soccer- a little late

I never got soccer pics on here for Ayden, Bryce and Kaleb. They got to play on the same team again this year. They are fun to watch. Bryce LOVES soccer and puts everything into it. Kaleb is naturally really good. Ayden is great when she's not socializing and playing with her hair. They all have a blast.

Quick Get-a-way

Last week, Kurt and I got a fun little "get-a-way". Kurt's group at work was getting a national award. It was R&D 100 (Research and Development). His group was able to manipulate the properties of soy to use as a filler in plastic. (this is the description for "dummies" like me) Only 100 awards were given in the US and this was one of them. It was very cool. Many of the awards were advances using renewable resources and new medical technology. One of the coolest was the artificial retina. It has exciting potential.
It was a great hotel and we rented a fun little 2-door car. The only downside was that the only full day we were there, it was cold and rainy. Besides that, it was a fun little trip.

147 million orphans

I think yesterday went really well. It was our first time to do somethinglike that and it was the most I've ever spoken in front of people. I had all my notes ready but then I hardly used them. I felt like the first service went really well but I felt a little more scatter brained the second service. The kids did great with their part and it seemed like people responded well. I hope some seeds were planted and that it will encourage our church to do more for orphans and others in need.

I also wanted to share that I ordered the necklaces from 147millionorphans.com. I LOVE it! It is my favorite thing I own right now. It is very long so I wrap it 4 times. It is beautiful and I get tons of comments on it so I get to share the story.
Each one bought feeds a child for 1 week! They are $22.95 and would make great meaningful christmas presents.

http://147millionorphans.com/more-stuff/ugandan-magazine-beads

Orphan Sunday

It is almost midnight and I am finishing up with preparing for what i am going to share at church tomorrow. It is our first ever Orphan Sunday and we've got big plans. We've got 11 kids who are going to be sharing all the stats and scriptures about orphans with our congregation. We are doing a special slide presentation (not the video below) that is pretty heavy but reality. I am going to share what God has led on my heart. This is a pretty big thing for me since I am not a public speaker and it makes me VERY nervous. I am trying so hard right now not to let myself panic. I do believe that God wants me to share so please pray that I will have peace and not anxiety and that God will speak through me. I'd also really like to get some sleep tonight :)

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

and the Student of the Month is...

KALEB. His first month in kindergarten and the little guy is student of the month. They are making it a very big deal this year and had the parents there when they presented the kids. It was a bit emotional (even for me:) to think about how far he has come (literally). He is such a good, smart, sweet, fun boy and he would probably be living on the streets if God had not led us to adopt him last year. I wasn't able to get a picture yesterday but I'll put up a random picture of him.

We're all in this Together

Candy, candy, everywhere

I love Trick or Treating in our neighborhood. It's always fun and we have lots of kids all out-and-about. Here's our beauties...
Pirate and Karate Kid

Our Indian Princess

Cat Woman

Our Fashion Model

Our little fairy

A Great Weekend

Since the kids had Thursday and Friday off from school, we had planned on going camping for a little mini vacation. With everyone getting the flu Tuesday and Wednesday, we had to change plans. Thankfully, the flus didn't last long and all 6 kids had it by Wednesday so we were able to do day trips to enjoy the weekend. Friday we went to Olentangy Caverns. The kids loved it and it was their first cave experience. Then we went to the $1 theatre in the afternoon.
Saturday, we went to COSI (kids science museum). Thanks to Kurt's parents, we had a pass this year so I've been able to take the kids several times but Kurt has never been. It was really fun and we enjoyed another day. Today we headed to Hocking Hills. We stopped on our way at a Pumpkin Farm. It was all you can carry for $20. so we loaded Kurt up. Then we headed to Tar Hollow, Ash Cave and Rockhouse. It was a very fun and full day. I have pictures from each day except today. I'll post today's later.

7 Down... I'm the only one left

Yesterday morning, the school called to let me know that Ayden had a fever and I needed to come get her. By the time Bryce came home, he had a fever. Addisyn coughed all night and sometime during the night, we realized Brooklynn was fevered. Kurt was miserable with a head cold (i think flu but he won't admit it)so he stayed home with the 4 sick kids and I worked and we sent 2 off to school. Just a couple of hours ago, the last 2 got their fevers. So, if you are counting, that's 7 sickies (5 with fevers) in our house. I am the only one not sick. The kids don't have school the next 2 days so we were planning on going camping for a few days. I guess that's not happening. SO sad... :(

Fall... hiking and apple picking

I try not to complain about the weather but I am So tired of it raining. I feel like all I have done this winter (ok- that's funny... I meant to write fall) is sit through cold, rainy soccer games. Soccer games are fun- watching in the rain= not fun. So anyway, last weekend, we tried to take advantage of some time with it not raining. We went hiking and had the best time. I truly think our family is the happiest when out on a hike.
The next day, we tried to go apple picking after church. I put the kids in fall clothes so we could get great pictures but by the time we got there, the orchard was closed and it was cold and overcast. They had bags of apples out for sale with the "honor system" so we bought a bag and took pics in front of an apple tree. Since it was pretty cold- everyone seemed just as happy.

the road less traveled

There is a blog that I follow that I got connected with through Katie's blog. It is a story of a family that is adopting a little girl from Uganda and has many difficult things to deal with through the process. She wrote something that I wanted to share. Here are Stephanie's words,

"Adoption is the road less traveled and there is a reason for that. IT is a TRAGEDY. For domestic adoption, there is a birthmother that is leaving a child behind...HEART WRENCHING. For International adoption, (typically) a child has been abandoned, and his/her heart KNOWS that and LONGS for a mommy and daddy. IT IS NOT EASY and prepare for your heart to BREAK several times along the road. If you want to feel the Lord's presence more than ever, see the face of Jesus in a child, and experience the HEARTBEAT of Christ TAKE the road less traveled. I've done it three times and will be FOREVER changed."

Read more of her story at Joining the Journey.

This stinks...

This is a marathon weekend and we had a birthday sleepover for Ayden last night and tonight is Bryce's. Three kids have soccer games at 10 and we were supposed to get together with friends we haven't see in 15 yrs this afternoon. Well- wouldn't you know- I am sick. I have been having problems all week and finally went to the Dr yesterday after I spiked a fever and was having problems breathing. Well- I have the flu and a bacterial infection. I am banished to my room for the birthday parties and we are obviously not getting together with friends today. Kurt is getting ready to take all the kids to the soccer game and I am home. No fun! At least Kurt is the best husband and dad EVER and is taking care of everything and everyone himself (including a birthday party for 8 little girls).

Calamari anyone?

Today we took Bryce out for lunch for his birthday (which is tomorrow). It's our new tradition this year of just Kurt and I taking the birthday kid out to lunch on a date. Bryce chose Japanese Steak House (I know... expensive taste). Kurt and I were thrilled because we love it also but rarely go because it is just too expensive for our family. Bryce was so excited and he wanted to try something new so he ordered calamari and loved it. He's our little seafood boy (just like his dad). Next week, we'll take Ayden out- her restaurant pick is Subway (too funny!) Twins are so fun!

SCORE!

Addisyn scored her first goal in soccer tonight! She was so excited. She started out the season so timid and she's made so much progress. The team has been wonderful with her and helped her so much. She is still trying to understand rules and positions but she has come so far. After their win on Sat, they made a pyramid and she had no idea what was going on, she just climbed up when someone told her to. Another first...

Letter from Ethiopia

As many of you may remember, we wrote letters and sent pictures to the orphanage in Soddo last spring hoping that Addisyn's mom would get them. We just received a letter back from her yesterday. It was beautiful and perfect. She thanked us and told Addisyn not to worry about her- that God was taking care of her and that she was so happy that God was taking care of Addisyn and her American family. As Addisyn read it, she just kept saying "my mom is live". It was an incredible relief to her. She is filled with emotions because she is so happy to hear from her but it brings back floods of memories and she really misses her. She talked last night alot about the last times she saw her mom and saying goodbye. I can't even imagine what that was like for either of them. Her mom truly loved her- her only hope for her future and life was in America.
Today she is very happy and can't wait to share her letter with teachers and friends. The letter was an incredible blessing.

Scrapbooking again

This weekend, I pulled out my scrapbooking stuff, made a mess in the LR, and spent the entire weekend scrapping. It has been way too long! I used to keep up, but this year, I've only done it once in the last 9 months. I let the kids do pretty much whatever they wanted in the rest of the house as long as they let me work in the LR. It was so fun and I got about 40 pages done! I think that's pretty amazing (if I can say so myself). I am still "in the mood" so on days I am not cleaning houses, I am trying to get a little done during the day. Now if I could just afford to get all the pictures developed that I took over the last year...

busy, busy, busy

Not posting much right now because we are so busy. We drive Addisyn back and forth to Cypress 3x a day, we have 4 kids in soccer and 1 in gymnastics and piano, I am working cleaning houses, and I am homeschooling in between it all. It's going well. I will post soccer pics as soon as I take some. I wanted to tonight but it was raining. I'll get to it ASAP.

Visit Orphans

Freed to Visit Orphans from Together for Adoption on Vimeo.