Have you ever

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8.. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (from the beach)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19.Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Been to Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

The Madman Of Mekelle: Story of Passionate Man Who Built An Orphanage In Ethiopia

Nathan and Sarah picture

This picture was taken the day Nathan left for bootcamp. We have heard from him and he is doing well.

Johnny Cash-Thanksgiving Prayer

Don't Breathe

For an even funnier version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbd-2lhYMqw

Salute to the Underwire Bra

Before I Eat-Just to make you laugh

Addis has been holding out on me!

AddIS KNOWS HOW TO CORNROW!!!! Yes, I'm screaming!!! She's been here for seven months and NEVER let on that she knows how to do this. Oh.My.Lanta. I'm just as pleased as punch. She's doing their hair right now and they aren't even crying.

Joe's team-2nd place

Joe had his play-off game on Saturday. His team won ALL their games this season, something like 12 of them, until Saturday. They lost by one point which brought them into 2nd place. How does this happen? big sigh. Just how it goes.........life lessons learned, but a 1st place ribbon would have certainly felt better than a 2nd place one.

Joel's 8th bday

Friday Joel turned eight and we had a party for him in the afternoon. There were nine extra boys plus the sister of one of the boys here. Fifteen kids total. We had two giant pizzas, five liters of soda, a pinata, a movie, a pan of popcorn that we passed out in cups, cups of candy, cake and ice cream. It went splendidly! Unfortunatley the pictures are on a disposable camera that I need to have developed.

Happy Birthday, Joel!

8 Things

I've been tagged by Marcia at antkint.

8 TV shows I watch:
1. The Biggest Loser
2. Dog, The Bounty Hunter (I LOVE Beth!)
3. John & Kate Plus 8
4. Little People, Big World
5. Lost
6. American Idol
7. Seinfeld
8. Waltons

8 of My Favorite Restaurants:
1. Black Angus
2. La Pinata
3. P.F. Changs
4. Olive Garden
5. Marechiaro's
6. In & Out
7. Boll Weevil
8. Cheesecake Factory

8 Things that happened Yesterday
1. I went to Class Day.
2. We finished reading Charlotte's Web in our first class.
3. Went out to dinner with Steve.
4. I sewed.
5. I returned phone calls.
6. I snuggled with my kids.
7. I talked with other homeschooling moms.
8. Changed poopy diapers. Yuck

8 Things I am looking forward to
1. My children not fighting.
2. My young children getting a little older.
3. Heaven
4. Summer-school's out
5. No more bottles.
6. No more poopy diapers.
7. The day Abi can fix her own hair.
8. My house being clean for one day by the cleaning fairy. :)

8 things on my wishlist:
1. Anna to potty train.
2. Adah to potty train.
3. My boys to stop fighting and antagonizing people.
4. Food for all children.
5. Healthy parents for all children.
6. Literacy for all.
7. Throw bottles away.
8. chocolate

8 Things I love:
1. Jesus
2. Steve
3. my children
4. friends
5. creation
6. food
7. my bed & pillows
8. extended family

8 things I can't stand:
1. Incompetent people
2. Bickering
3. People who are always late
4. Poopy diapers
5. Disorganization by others
6. Disrectful kids
7. People who think they're something
8. Opulence (it makes me think where the money could REALLY be used-um-hungry kids)

8 People I am tagging:
1. Rachel
2. Caren
3. Dawn
4. Stephanie
5. Tanya
6. Kelli
7. Ruth
8.

New links on the side

I cleaned up my "favorites" area and put them on my blog. If you have any favorite homeschooling links, family resources, adoption or ministry rescource links, please let me know by leaving a comment.

Thanks!

Updates

Saturday Steve and James went to Tijuana with Spectrum Ministries. www.spectrumministries.com They set up showers on a dirt lot allowing children who have no running water to bathe and get a clean set of clothing. James helped Shawna with games and Steve helped direct the chaos. After serving the children for hours, many, many tacos later and hours at the border they made it home about 7:30 that night, tired and dirty. The sand was blowing and made it into their eyes and hair. Nothing a good shower didn't take care of.

Monday my brother called to say he made it home from Afghanistan. Yeah!!!! He's in the Air Force and was over there serving our country, that's you and me, people! We owe him and many others a great deal of thanks. He and his family have made great sacrifices. I was thumbing through a catalog today and there is a t-shirt that says, "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave."

Speaking of serving our country, Sarah's boyfriend, Nathan, left Monday night for Air Force bootcamp. We heard yesterday that he arrived in San Antonio last night. He made his final call to her before turning in his cell phone. He'll be in boot camp for eight weeks and then he's off to Florida for six months to attend airplane mechanic training. She's hoping to take a trip to Uncle Steve's since he lives near the training school Nathan will be going to.

Yesterday we hit Disneyland one last time before our annual passes expire. They expire today so we couldn't resist riding the rides one last time. Yesterday was perfect in every way. The weather was wonderful, the attendance at the park was minimal (read-we could push a double stroller around without running into people) and the little girls did great. Unfortunately my camera cards were full so I didn't get pictures with my camera. I know Sarah took some, but the babies aren't on any of them. Oh well. Their Christmas decorations were up and Christmas music was in the air, quite festive in my opinion. We were even able to ride Finding Nemo which was quite a feat since the lines are ALWAYS at least a half-hour long. Yesterday there was maybe a ten-minute wait.

Today we recuperate. I didn't schedule school so we could relax. We have Awana tonight and that's it for now!

The Mom-Remember her?

Let's visit with her again. :-)

My Celebrity Baby Name

Your Celebrity Baby Name Is...

Sonora Honey

What's" Your Celebrity Baby Name?

I should be blonde? Really?

Your Hair Should Be Blonde

You are outgoing, light hearted, and a ton of fun. You don't take life too seriously, and you do your best to charm everyone you meet. You are very energetic. People tend to underestimate you, but you can get a lot done. You do tend to be a bit sensitive. If someone has a bad opinion of you, it truly hurts. You are cunning and clever. You are smart, but you aren't “book smart” or academic. Some people may think you're superficial, but they're not seeing the whole picture.

What Color Hair Should You Have?

Joe

Last night Joe went to a freshman football game to watch his friend play. Just after I dropped him off and he was walking in the coach, who is also a police officer, looked at Joe and said, "You're not serious, are you? Why are you wearing that shirt?" Joe looks down at his shirt and asks, "What's wrong with my shirt?" Coach/policeman-"You're serious? You don't know what that means? What school do you go to?" Joe replies, "I'm homeschooled." Picture this coach/cop now, "Ai yi yi" he says. "You really don't know what it means?" He told Joe it had was a symbol for pot and that if he wanted to see the game he needed to turn his shirt inside out. So he did.



When we picked him up later he still the shirt on inside out and we asked him to show us the symbol. "Ummmm........it looks like a cherry to me," I say. You gotta be kiddin' this is what they made you turn your shirt inside out for? Wow!



So today at a soccer game I talk to a fellow parent who is also a highway patrol man (with my son :0 ) ) and he didn't know what I was talking about. Then Joe came over and gave us all the missing clue. Apparently down the side in small letters on his shirt are the words, Seedless. That is a brand of clothing that glorifies pot use. So he threw away his shirt last night since he doesn't need to find anymore trouble with it. This is a picture of a shirt that was like it, but not exactly his shirt.

Oh. Where did he get his shirt? Someone gave it to him not knowing what it was, it was given to him and he didn't want it.

Looking at this would you think anything of it?

Memories of Ethiopia

Monday night I went to our women's fellowship at church Steve and stayed home with the children. After sending the boys and the babies to bed he had Addis & Abi stay up with him and they talked about Ethiopia. They remember that between the three sisters they had to share one injera. They remember that grandma used to carry sticks on her back and they would carry them in the front. They remember where they slept in their house of one room, and which wall they slept against. We took them to the Red Sea restaurant the next day so they could feel somewhat at home again. The owners loved up on them and spoke to them in Amharic. Unfortunately Abi Mulu couldn't understand some of what they were saying and it was sad. Sad that she is losing her first language and we can't help her any more than we are to retain it. Sad that they had to leave their family and their home in the first place. Sad that their mother died when they were young. Sad their family structure fractured due to death and poverty. Sad that sometimes life isn't fair. Sad. Devastating. Wrong. But! We have a heavenly father who places the poor, the hungry, the orphan into families. Thank you, Lord, that you provided for us and we are able to help their father love them, nuture them, shelter them, feed them, and bring them up for you. For this we are eternally grateful.

Cloistered Home Schoolers

Great reading here if you have the time. Good things to chew on.

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/index.php?id=86&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=482

http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles/child-training/teens/article-display/archive////patriarchal-dysfunctional-families-part-2/?tx_ttnews%5BbackPID%5D=86

I have been and am a fan of Vision Forum and No Greater Joy. I think you have to balance all things out and not get too exteme one way or the other. We do know people who isolate and do not allow their children around others for fear of corruption. It's too bad that they don't join a local fellowship of believers. It's almost as though they're too holy for God Himself. After being in Ethiopia I can tell you they count it a blessing to be around other believers and could not FATHOM not allowing themselves or their children to enjoy church or each other. They count on each other to help raise their children. Hopefully you're not an isolationist. It's easy to get drawn into it. You become so wise in your own eyes that other people just aren't smart enough. Oh the pride...........

I could not imagine what Mike is talking about in the second article. My two oldest sons are 25 & 23, married with careers. Yep, I worked myself out of a job. My third son is going to college full time, just got done with his soccer season and his previous employer just called him to ask him if he would like to come back to work. He's a good employee who actually works. When you train them within a big family they'll gladly go do someone else's bidding for money. And then there is my daughter. She is seventeen and most likely will be married sometime in 2009-2010. I encourage her and will not hold her back. If she is sure he is the one, then who am I to tell her that she cannot live her life? One of the reasons we adopted the babies from Ethiopia when we did was that I knew we only had a short window of time when Sarah would be able to help. She was sixteen and I knew with her help I could raise two babies at a time while I was in my late 40's. When she marries they will be at least 3 1/2 and 3.

My children are God's. I gladly look forward to working myself out of a job and going to Ethiopia to minister with my husband and any grown or almost grown children that want to go.

Bringing Joshua and Julianna Home

There is a precious family from our Christian Ethiopian Adoption Webboard that leave in just weeks to pick up their precious children. They're still short on money if any of you feel led to donate to them, please let me know and I can get you in contact with them. He is a pastor and lives on a pastor's salary. Also in the video is the Awassa orphange nursery where Anna Mihret is from. ENJOY the show!

Wedding

Saturday we were blessed to be able to attend and participate in the wedding of two good friends, Nicole & Garrett. We as adults watched Nicole grow up, while Sarah as a young girl learned femininity from Nicole when she spent the night at her house. Nicole is Hanna's sister who is and has been Sarah's best friend since day one of life. Literally. Sarah was a bride's maid and Joel was the ring bearer. James handed out wedding programs and Joe kept an eye on Zack, Nicole's little brother (11) who has CP, in case he got loud and needed to be wheeled out of the service. He did splendidly and never made a peep. It was a blessing for all. I did have to take Anna & Adah out because Adah was scared by Julie who was taking pictures from the balcony. She didn't like seeing the lens pop up here and there.

The pictures are backwards-the wedding pics are at the bottom and the reception pics are at the top. Just wanted to keep you on your toes.

Jared & Miranda
Jake
Jared, Abi & Miranda
Miranda & Baby Boaz
Abi Mulu & Joel
Adah sneaking into the candy basket-Busted!
Addis
Steve
Sarah & Baby Zach
James
Britt-Hanna & Nicole's sister
Joe
John
Sarah & Hanna Sarah Joel-I finally got him to smile.
Anna
Nathan & Sarah-He goes into the Air Force next week. He is Mike & Shenna's nephew. (for you far-away Mapleview people :) ) Aren't they a beautiful couple?
The Reynold's family-Hi Jen! You looked beautiful!
Part of the Motley Crew
Me & Adah
Us girls
Our daughters Joel
Joel with the groomsmen
Sarah walking in
Michael & Debbie
Mike & Nicole hugging & crying Nicole & Mike (his Achilles Tendon snapped in half-thus the scooter.)

Self Time

For the past few months I have been taking off one afternoon a week and going out all by myself. After tweny-five years of mothering I'm finally at a point where I can do that. I like to go to Ross, Michael's, JoAnns or Target and if I'm lucky I hit all four. :) Steve meets me mid-afternoon and we get a bite to eat and then finish up any errands we have.

Fall Festival Pics

Adah & Anna-Yes, she posed like this on her own. She is quite the ham.
Love you sissy!
Mihret
Our beautiful Ethiopian daughters
Addie & Abi
Addis
Mulu James
Joel as a Star Wars Clone
Mommy & Mihret
John as a Cars driver
Derartu and her cute backside Garrett & Joe (don't judge me!) as an Emo punk
Baby Trig, Sarah Palin (Hanna), John McCain (Garrett C), Hilary Clinton (Sarah)
Steve & Anna Vikki & Jared Steve & Jared