Slideshow I made(see below for important instructions)

Be sure to PAUSE the player on the bottom right hand and turn up your speakers to hear the music with the slideshow

I never get over the surprises

God just blows my socks off!  So here is the low down on the money(not exact specifics, but an idea).  Mike, Carter, and I had thought Carter and I would be heading to Nicarauga in June.  We had a jar on the kitchen counter marked Mission Trip Savings.  We would put loose change, money we got back from something, Abby contributed half her allowance, Mike put a bit of his Christmas money--you get the picture, little bits here and there.  We'd started this 2months ago and as of yesterday had 220.00 in it.  This morning, I looked in my "secret stash" that I've always tried to keep for upcoming expenses that I knew would be really hard to pay for.  I was preparing for Hudson's finalization in court for his adoption in late March, early April(about 800.00).  In my stash was 225.00.  I had a bit extra in a special savings and got that out this morning.  To the exact amount, I deposited cash in our checking account this morning to cover the check I wrote yesterday for Haiti fees(lodging, food, insurance and such).  Seriously, you cant make this stuff up people!!!!!!!!!!!  I love it.  So, out of our family budget, this trip will only cost me the souvenirs I buy and a few airport meals.  NUTS!  Mike and I have been reading a biography on Hudson Taylor the great missionary to China.  He firmly believed that God would supply all his needs.  He never asked for money or went into debt.  It wasn't easy, he didn't live in luxury by any means, but he was always taken care of.  I hope to become like that.

Oh, if you'd like to see where I'll be, go to  http://www.gvcm.org/

Sometimes I'm just floored!

You guys will NOT believe this.  Literally, God dropped a 1/3 priced short term mission trip in my lap.  Basically, we've been praying and starting a little savings for a mission trip. We just figured I'd be going back to Nicarauga since I loved it there. But, some friends of ours lead teams to Haiti several times a year. This morning I found out that someone on their team backed out and I got a spot with a free flight!!!!!!! So, in about 3 hours, we made the decision to jump in. I fly out this Friday night.  CRAZY I know, but you all know I'm a bit wild anyway.


Get this, I'll be on a medical team that does burn clinics during the day, we are distributing 3000 Christmas shoeboxes AND we are staying in an orphanage and helping with the 100 children there and distributing bags of rice. The team leader told me that the village children who don't live in the orphanage try to get in there because it is the safe place where children actually eat.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and we will see everything from starving children, burn victims with no medical care to voodoo temples. Could this fit me any better??? I don't think so.

Mike and I ran up to Goodwill and I bought 4 long flowing skirts(a cultural thing there for women to wear skirts) and cheap cotton shirts.  I don't think I'll be taking many pics showing much of me in them ;)

So, Please please pray for Mike and the kids while I'm gone. My nerves are shot, but I'm super excited and so is MIke.
This has been quite a year.  The Lord has rocked our view of "normal" and shown us His mighty power!  We have learned that our timing is just that---ours.  He has a perfect timing that we just need to go with.  I'm humbled, in awe, and pumped up to see how the God of the universe is involved in all the details of our lives.  May I work hard, not complain, be flexible, love the people openly, and basically be Jesus with skin on.  I can always work more at my job and accumulate more money and stuff---but this, this trip is the chance of a lifetime and will most certainly affect the way I look at the world from here on out!!!!

Some battles you must win

Two year olds are something, aren't they?  Adorable, curious, sweet, kissable, funny, and STUBBORN!  Right before leaving Korea, Hudson's foster mother told us to be careful because Seong Cheol is curious and obstinate.  She was right on.  Tonight Hudson and I had an epic battle of wills.  I was taken back 13 years to when I read The Strong Willed Child by Dr. Dobson for Carter.  For the 896th time I told Hudson "We don't drive toy cars on table, cars go on the floor, say Yes Mam."  Now, I know there are some of you thinking I'm a super meanie for insisting on this cherub saying Yes Mam when he has only been here and hearing English for almost 4 months.  The thing is, he copies everything we say and I totally knew he understood.  He dug in.  You could see it in his eyes.  No way was he going to say yes mam.  So, being the peaceful and patient woman I am, I dug in too.  I placed his face to the wall about 2 feet from where I was standing and said "Say yes mam and you can come over here."  He shook his head and tears squirted out of his eyes.  This went on for about 10minutes.  Then, I went to get Dillon in the bath tub and left Hudson at the wall.  About every 3minutes or so, I'd come back and tell Hudson so say yes mam and he could leave the wall.  Wailing and gnashing of teeth!  Now I know how much Hudson loves bathtime so I enticed him by saying "Do you want to take a bath with Dillon?"  To which he piped up "Bath!"  I told him to say yes mam and he could take a bath--WAIL!  Again and again with Hudson saying "Bath!" but refusing to dare say yes mam.  Mike got out the video camera to record our war of wits.  Wouldn't you know it, as soon as he started recording, Hudson says "yeah, man".  There ya have it.  He said it!  So, I put  him in the bath and he was great the rest of the night.  In fact, it was a miracle.  He laid down, after bottle and snuggles, and went to sleep without the usual drama of flopping, snorting, getting up 5 times, kicking and such.  He peacefully went to sleep.  I'd like to think it was because of my supreme parenting, but more realistically, he was just worn out ;)

White Christmas!!!

I don't think I've ever been able to really say this--we had a White Christmas!!  I mean a blizzard came on Thursday complete with horrible ice.  Friday was beautiful, sunny and soft fluffy snow.  We had a snowball fight with the cousins, Aunt Shana and Uncle Craig.  Papa got in on the fun and here I am with a snowball inside my sweater that he threw at me!

Well, let me be the first to say "Hooray Christmas is over"!!  To be completely blunt, I'm not a huge Christmas afficionado.  Today, we clean out toys to make room for the new ones the kids got.   We clean and organize my torn up house and take a big load to Goodwill.  I love getting ready for the new year. 

Yes, he really is that CUTE!

So, here is Hudson, age 2 wearing mismatched PJ's and his sister's headband.  I'm sorry folks, you may think your little boy is cute, but this one takes the cake ;)  Hudson has been home 3.5months and is amazing us everyday.  He is happy, plays with little cars all day saying "Beep Beep", he is affectionate, smart, funny.  Mike and Hudson have a game where Mike makes a funny face and Hudson copies it.  Hudson is a little parrot and copies everything we say.  Today he had a big doctor appt for our post placement(complete with 3 vials of blood, a TB test and 3 shots).  In 3 months he has grown 3/4 inch and gained a pound.  We feel like we won the kid jackpot.  Frequently, we get the patronizing old saying "You guys are doing something so great for those kids."  HA!  Wrong--WE are the ones blessed.  Adopting children is not a hardship or call to suffer, it is an honor. 

Isaiah 1:17 (New International Version)

  learn to do right!

Seek justice,

encourage the oppressed.

Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

Advent Conspiracy Promo Video

You need to scroll down to my music player and pause the music to hear the video. This is what I'm saying people, this is why I don't like Christmas very much. 450 billion dollars spent on blow up santas riding Harleys as yard decorations and such while children are dying from diarrhea becauase their water is contaminated! What if we all spent less and gave to people that really need a sweet gift??? Let's try it!