Blueberry Fun!

I love tradition! Blueberry picking is a favorite summer tradition. We meet our friends there every year and pick and eat and play. The farm that we visit plays classical music over a loud speaker while you pick to your hearts content. I love it! I have heard that the neighbors don't, but I'm only there for an hour.

As our kids have grown it has become even more fun. They are also better berry pickers than they used to be. I can't wait to bring our little ones along next year.

Now all that is left to do is decide how best to consume these precious berries.

Sweet Momma

Brand New Life!

We came home from vacation last Sunday and left town again on Monday. Before we left I checked on our Momma bird and her eggs, they were still eggs. On Wednesday we came back into town and this is what I saw. They are less than two days old. So precious.

I thought the Momma bird was protective of her eggs before, that was nothing. She was joined by the Daddy bird and they were dive-bombing me as I tried to take these pictures. I think God puts that Mother-love in all Mommies.

Sweet Momma

Home from vacation

With Lewis and Clark, Seaside, OR

Flying our kite

I love to go on vacation and spend all that uninterrupted time with family. But I also love coming home.

We had a great time together. Our little Sweet Pea is recovering from her skim boarding accident quite nicely. Thank you for your prayers.

Here are a few pictures of our week.

Sweet Momma

Change of Plans...

A few posts ago I shared that the Ethiopian Courts would remain open all summer. We found out today that it is not the case. They will be closed from August 21 through the first week of October. This is not as long as they are usually closed for the rainy season, but it will not allow us to travel in September or October. I guess God could surprise us with a court date before August 21st, but we are not expecting that. A more likely scenario is a court date some time in October and travel in November.

As I stated in the last post, I believe God is everywhere at all times. He is with our sweet little boy and girl. He is with those who are caring for them. He is with the Ethiopian Courts as they evaluate our paperwork. His timing is perfect.

I wish I could get on a plane this minute and bring them home. It is hard to wait. But two weeks ago I didn't even know their names and faces. It's so wonderful to have this information. Soon, very soon, they will be here!

We can't wait to see how this all unfolds.
Sweet Momma

Is God Really Everywhere?

My answer is...absolutely!!!

We are on vacation at the beach. I love it here! I love standing all by myself on the sand and looking out at the vast sea and sky. I can't help but be overwhelmed by how big God is in that moment. I feel so small and insignificant, and yet I am not. God delights over me and showers blessings on little insignificant me on a daily basis.

Yesterday was our first full day here. My little Sweet Pea had an accident while playing at the beach. We talked to phone nurses twice during the day. Around 10pm we found that she really needed to be seen by a doctor.

She was afraid and tired and hurting. Stand-Up Dad and I prayed with her before we left for the ER. I kept trying to remind her that even though she was scared, God was with her, He loves her and will protect her. One of her biggest concerns was that she wouldn't know the doctors at the hospital. So we prayed that all the people we met would be kind to her and that God would give them wisdom.

We got to the ER and God answered our prayers. There are very nice people at Seaside Providence Hospital. After an IV and x-rays the doctors decided that her issues were beyond what they could do and wanted to send us to the Children's Hospital in Portland. They wanted a Pediatric Surgeon to look at her tonight. Really???

So at 12:30am this morning we drove 80 miles through the mountains to Portland(Just Sweet Pea and I). More prayer for safe travel and God's hand on all the deer and elk along the road.

We arrived after 2am. More prayer for kind and wise doctors and God's hand on it all. Again God showed his goodness and protection. We met many wonderful doctors and nurses at the hospital in Portland. My Sweet Pea was amazing. God had definitely given her His peace. She did so well. Her fear was now gone and she was trusting in the big God who made the sea and the sky.

At 4am after she had been seen once again by another doctor, she looked at me and said, "Mom, it is so great that God is here with me and I don't have to be afraid." I completely agree, sweet heart.

Around 9am she had a "procedure" that showed the doctors that she is going to be just fine, just as we had prayed they would. Thank you God!

Now the time is 10:30am and I have had no sleep in the last 24 hours, and I have to drive 80 miles back over the mountains. Coffee and more prayer. All the way home Sweet Pea spoke of God's goodness. I reminded her that God says that in this life we will have trouble, but He will use that trouble to grow us and He will be with us through it.

We made it home safe. Thanks again God! This was not the way I anticipated spending our vacation. But through this tiring ordeal my daughter has seen God as a really big, loving, and present God.

Just like the same God who made that amazing sea and sky.

My prayer today is for healing for Sweet Pea, rest and a very uneventful remainder of our vacation.

James 1:2-4
"Consider it a great joy, my brothers, (and sisters) whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
Sweet Momma

Camp Fort Nisqually

Sweet Pea braiding leather

Pumpkin loved his first year at camp.

Here is Elsie after completing the Trapper's Race.

They came in 2nd!

M&M, holding the prize she chose after the Trapper's Race.

Waiting to sign on with the Hudson Bay Company

Here are just a few pictures of the kids at history camp this summer. They all had a fabulous time living in the year 1855.

Our family is off to a week at the beach in Oregon. We are all looking forward to rest, relaxation and tons of fun. This vacation will be great as we anticipate meeting our new little brother and sister. But next year will be better, when they are here to enjoy it with us.

Sweet Momma

Camping In!

This week Elsie and M&M were at History Camp. It is a day camp that is spent at Ft. Nisqually in Tacoma. The camp is amazing. Our kids get a chance to see what life was like in 1855. They wear costumes and learn to do things like carry water, throw hatchets and start a fire with flint and steel. One of the best parts of the camp is when the campers are allowed to spend the night at the fort on Thursday night. They sleep outside under the stars. So much fun!

Sweet Pea and Pumpkin went to History Camp earlier this summer. At their age they are not allowed to spend the night at the fort. They got it in their heads that they wanted to have a camp out too. But they didn't want to camp outside. A pup tent in the living room was the answer.

Maybe now that their big sisters are back home after camp they will be willing to move out to the back yard.