AND BOY DID IT SNOW..

CHRISTMAS MORNING
NOAH FEEDING THE HORSES




MY SWEET SNOW ANGELS

Did you get any snow?? We got LOTS and the babies had a great time playing in it. Christmas was great. We went to lots of parties, stayed up way to late, ate way too much and had lots of candy!!! I knew we'd better get back to a routine when the night after Christmas, Laurel woke up in the night and got on her hands and knees (she was still asleep) and started telling Dora who is on her wall that it was "Her Turn". That same night, Noah would wake up and say part of his Bible verse over and over " And they wrapped the baby in cloths and laid him in a manger!". Too funny. They keep us laughing they do.

I guess it's time to make those darn New Year's resolutions but I haven't the time right now to think about them. I'll let you know what they are when I know what they are! :)

Once again, it was so nice to see family & friends that we don't get the treat to see a lot over Christmas. Thanks to you all for everything and all the memories made this year!

Tis' the Season....

MIKE'S GRADUATION DAY FROM COLLEGE.... FINALLY!! YEAH!

NOAH & MR. BETTS HARVESTING SOYBEANS

WAITING FOR THE PARADE TO BEGIN

Shew! It's been a bit busy around these parts. We've been to Christmas parade's, an amazing Christmas train ride at the Denton Farm Park, and Mike's Graduation from College! Lots of family went with us an saw him graduate. We are so proud of him. Not many people can be an awesome husband, a great Daddy to 2 kids, hold down a full time job and a part time job in the summer, lead a Bible Study and go to school.... Oh and part of his studies were completed while in Ukraine adopting Laurel for 6 weeks. Thank you Lord! Anyway, tis the season for business and parties and such but don't forget to slow down for the simple things. Sing some songs with some family or friends, memorize Luke 2, the Christmas Story, seek out someone less fortunate and help them (you won't have to look far). These are things that Christmas time was meant for. Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

All I Want For Christmas is a Mommy & Daddy?? Will YOU Help??

I know this post may make some uncomfortable. I understand that putting a face on suffering is painful and hard to watch. I get all of that, believe me. BUT, I am begging here. This little girl's name is Michelle. She is in Laurel's orphanage and we were able to observe her several times. She is NOT very low functioning. She is amazing in spite of her disabilities. Let me tell you what we observed...

We were going into the orphanage one day to have our visit with Laurel. A caregiver came out holding both of "Michelle's" hands up over her head. She was walking.... Not impressed yet? She is mostly blind and has CP. This little girl was then expected to climb about 30 concrete steps while the caregiver squeaked a toy I guess that helped her count. She was then taken to a picnic table, in the HOT sun and sat there, with no toys, the entire time while the other children played around her. By the time she got to the top of the stairs her tights were around her ankles. No one bothered to pull them up. She sat there quietly for about an hour.

So what do we do with this? I have no idea honestly. You'll never know the hours in prayer I've gone around and around wondering if there was a way to make her mine. It just can't happen now. It was so much easier to deal with this orphan crisis before I saw the faces. Before I had one in my own home and saw what ramifications to children aren't rocked, don't get enough food, don't get medical attention or much attention at all for that matter. And don't get me wrong, I am not being down on Ukraine. Laurel's orphanage was very clean and she was very well cared for. She loved her caregivers and they seemed to care for her but their job is overwhelming. Too many children and too few workers and money.
I am begging this Christmas for your prayers for little Michelle. I would love to see her get out of this orphanage and into a home. Her time is short. She is 4 and between 4-5 these children are transferred to institutions and are likely bedridden for life. If you don't believe me, google Institution in these countries. They usually do not live very long. Michelle needs medical attention, she needs love, she needs a MOMMY & DADDY. Please help make this her last Christmas without one. *** If you are unable to adopt that is ok. Please consider making a donation to her grant fund. It all goes to a family that would committ to adopt her. I'd bet you if she had a full grant ($24,000) then a family would come forward*** Here is her info on www.reecesrainbow.org (other angels girls 0-5)

*****PLEASE PASS THIS POST ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!*****

Michelle (6)
Girl, Born September 8, 2006
SIGNIFICANT RISK, PLEASE ADOPT ME SOON!!
This precious little girl is mostly blind. She has obvious cataracts and strabismus. Her medical records indicate that she is blind with optic atrophy. She has tetraparesis (limb weakness), and this is caused by diagnosed CP. A family who visited with her recently tells us she is quite low functioning right now, but goodness, how she would blossom in al oving family who could really help her overcome her lack of vision!
Michelle will be transferred to a mental institution and will likely remain bedridden for life if she is not adopted. Hope someone will consider being her “forever family”!
I have $58.5 in my grant fund towards the cost

Photo Shoot

Thing 1 & Thing 2

Awwww......

Yes, They really do love each other!

Miss Priss

Natural Posers

Yes, Yes I realize it has been quite a while for an update. I really do have good excuses though if anyone is interested. I have been sick with a horrible cold that has gone on for about 2 weeks. It completely saps your energy and I felt like a robot. Round 2 of my antibiotics has finally helped and I'm back to the land of the living.

It's that time of year for Christmas Cards so I decided the family needed to go for a photo shoot on the farm. I took my tripod and camera and off to the woods we went. Here are some of the ones that I like the best.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. We were sick until Thursday but managed to have a very nice Turkey Day. On Friday, I went to stay with my 92 yr. old Great-Aunt to help with her care a bit. I was gone until Sunday night and Mike had Noah & Laurel both bring me bouquets of flowers when I came in. We then celebrated with ice cream! I have the best family!

Yep, It's definately Fall......

Mike & his first buck of the year (Noah was pretty excited too)

Mike & his first cayote ever!!! NO, it's not a dog! :)

Miss Priss, multitasking...walking her dog & baby while in high heels. The Ukrainians would

be proud! :)

My sweet babies a bit under the weather watching movies together

Laurel loves gathering the eggs in the morning

With these cool nights and mornings comes the realization that it is definately fall and headed quickly towards winter. I love the fall. I love the crisp mornings, football season (believe it or not), hot drinks and the changing of the leaves. Now, if I asked Mike what he liked about fall he would have a completely different list.... well football would be on it but at the top of the list would be HUNTING!! Yes, hunting season is in full swing around here and we now have some deer meat in our freezer. I also have a beaver in my freezer but that is a completely different story!!!!! Mike has even taken Noah out hunting a few times. However, Noah isn't too keen on sitting still and quite for 2 hours so he probably won't go back for a while. As you can see from the pictures above, Mike's done a good job on his own though. He shot the cayote tonight (Friday) on John's farm. They have a large pack of them roaming about and that isn't too safe for the calves. There is nothing quite so eerie as hearing a pack of cayotes howling just miles from the city limits.

That seems to be it for now. I'll leave you with a funny Noahism that he told me on the way to our small group Wednesday night. Here is how it went....

Mommy: "Noah, what song would you like to sing at group tonight"

Noah: "Hmmm.... let me think. I know, "The King is Exhausted"

Mommy: "The King is Exhausted"????

Noah: Yes Mommy, You know... (singing now) "He is Exhausted, the King is Exhausted, on the Highway"

For those of you who still can't recognize the tune the real song is HE IS EXALTED,THE KING IS EXHALTED ON HIGH. Thank goodness the King doesn't really get exhausted because I sure do.

Kids make ya laugh :)

Parties & Dress Up

FUN IN THE MOONBOUNCE

Jacob & Noah with his new gun

What a great looking crew! (and everyone wasn't even in this!)

Happy Birthday Noah, Laurel & Szaffi

Little Miss Priss..... I mean Red Riding Hood

Well, you could say we had a whirlwind weekend! We had a Triple Birthday Party & Harvest Party on Saturday. It was a beautiful weekend for it and the kids had a blast. Nana & Poppy once again supplied the Moonbounce and we had a Hayride thanks to Grandaddy. Also included in the fun was Musical Haybales, Pumpkin Decorating and of course lots of food. Thank you to everyone who made this fun day possible. Lots of memories were made. Then Sunday, the kids went Trick or Treating dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and Geronimo. It was Laurel's 2nd year TrickorTreating but the first time she actually enjoyed it. Give that girl candy and she's game for anything. Noah had a blast and didn't even get scared until a horrible looking ghost came to Nana's door for candy. That was it. It was over. Why do you have to be scary to have fun??? I'm pretty sure Noah will be in therapy the rest of his life! Anyway I think it can be summed up by saying "A good time was had by all"..... I hope! :)

Noah Michael Turns 4

Noah and his new owl suit from the thrift store

A racecar track from Dadat & The Logging Station from

Nana & Poppy. Just look at that smile :)

Happy 4th Birthday to my sweet boy Noah. My first born. The one who makes us laugh. My tender hearted boy who loves to pray for others. My son who was born with a song in his heart and sings it constantly. We love you Noah Michael. You are so precious to us and we are so proud of the little boy you already are.

BECAUSE HE LIVES.....

It has been a while since I've posted on the blog. I apologize but it has been a bit of a tough week. This week, on the same day, I heard that my Aunt who has been battling terminal breast cancer, found out that her cancer has spread to her bones & that our worship leader, Mr. Carson had some type of seizure that was related to his brain cancer and has lost some function (you can read his journey under "friends" on the sidebar). CANCER. A word that I have come to despise. I'll be honest. I've asked God "why" a million times. It is no coincidence that our church theme this year is "Perservering to the End in 2010...... with JOY". Cancer isn't very joyful. It's painful and hard to watch some of my heroes struggle with their bodies. However, I'd like to share how the Lord blessed me through these two wonderful people. Saturday I was able to spend an afternoon with my Aunt. She has always had a vibrant, funny personality and that hasn't changed. She is able to laugh about some of the things her cancer is doing to her body. She is amazing.

Sunday, I had to watch our worship leader make the very hard decision that he just couldn't play the piano that day. The seizure had robbed him of a majority of his vision and it was just too much. I will be honest. It was one of the hardest things I've ever watched. His body wanted to play but it just couldn't. I was so upset. "Why God!!" He has always used this amazing gift to worship you!!" Why take it from him?""

Well, let me tell you what the Lord showed me......... While we were singing, I was able to watch this man worship. While we were singing, the Lord showed me a different way he was going to have him worship.. With his hands raised to heaven. Mr. Carson had never been able to lift his hands in our worship service before because he had always been worshiping with his hands by playing the piano. God didn't TAKE anything from him. He just changed it up a bit. That man of God who has been through so much in just 6 short months STILL singing praises to our God with his hands raised is not a picture I will ever forget.

I'll leave you with a song that has been my comfort in times such as these.....

Because He lives,I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, all fear is gone.

Because I know, who holds the future.

And life is worth the living, just because He lives!

LAUREL TURNS 3!!

We celebrated in the morning with cupcakes with her preschool therapy class. Then they all got to go outside and see the really cool firetrucks!

She definately felt like a princess!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SWEET GIRL!! LAUREL TURNED 3 TODAY. We started out the morning going to her FINAL Developmental Therapy that she has in a preschool once a week. They were so nice to let me bring in cupcakes for all the kids. After the cupcakes, the firetruck showed up for all the kids to look at. Noah was in heaven! That evening we had Grandparents over for cake and icecream. Laurel felt and looked like a princess. She got her first Barbie (from her therapist), a doll house, a new Max & Ruby movie, a stuffed horse, puzzles and a Dorothy from Wizard of Oz outfit (she LOVES that movie). She had a great night but had no nap and it eventually wore on her. She was a wreck by 8pm and we had to quickly stuff her in the bed with her new toys! I can't believe my baby girl is getting so tall. Her 3 year checkup and shots are on Thursday so I'll be able to see how much she has actully grown in a year.

On another happy note..... If you remember my post about Yulia from ReecesRainbow.org who needed a home then I have great news. Sweet Yulia has a home. In just 5 days, an advocate for her raised $20,000 and prayed for a family for her. Well, God answered YES and her family is working very hard to get her quickly due to her health conditions. You can follow the journey under my "friends" -- Hailee & Harper's blog.