Tiger Lili...

So we were zipping through the grocery store this afternoon when Lili pipes up out of nowhere with, "Mamma, what makes YOU such a GREAT teacher?" I wasn't quite sure what the emphasis meant at first so I said, "Well, I don't know...do you think I am a great teacher?" She let out with a resounding "NO!!!" (Okay...now I know what the emphasis meant!!)

"Well, Lili...why do you think that?"

"Because you are a MEAN teacher!"

"What??? I'm not a mean teacher Lili! I do make you do things you don't

want to do sometimes, but that's not being mean."
"Why do you think I'm mean?"

"Cause...you make me do mean stuff...like go to the bathroom!!!!"

Gotta love my little Wombat!!!!

"...I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love..." Philemon 1:8-9

In HIS Mighty Grip

I have no greater joy...

There are so many things I wish and pray for my children. As their mother, and keeper of their little hearts and minds...that list seems to grow daily.

I pray that they will always look out for each other...

I pray that they will be leaders...not just survive the world, but change it!

I pray that they would grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ...

I pray that they would go boldly into the world armed with all that God has for them...


I pray that they would find beauty in all of God's creation ...


I pray that they God would bless them with perseverance and purpose in all they do ...

I pray that they would be blessed with Godly friendships throughout their lives...

...that they would develop a self esteem that is rooted ONLY is the realization that they are God's Workmanship and are created in the image of Him.

I pray that they would always choose faithfulness over successfulness...

I pray that they grow to be women of moral integrity...full of grace, mercy, forgiveness, love & faithfulness with freedom from the trappings of theft, lying, greed, drugs and sexual impurity...



I pray that they would always be able to see the good in people..

...and that they would always remember to have fun...

..that they would be good learners with a desire to grow in God's grace and wisdom...

...always find time to smile...

...and be patient as they wait for the best things from God...

I pray that they will always WAIT for the best that God has!!

...and that they would know the best when God puts it before them!!

...that they would savor the sweet moments that God showers us with daily...

...that God would help them to always have the proper respect for everyone and that they would understand the fine line between "being in the world but not of it"!...

...and that they would dive in head first when they know it is right!

that they would always try...

...and try...

...and keep trying...

...and try again...

...because even if they fail...there is good to be had in the trying!!!

I pray that God will bless them with big dreams and passions...

That they would be content in all things...

even if they have to hold their arms up all day...

and keep holding them up ...

I pray that when they experience pain and suffering in their lives, they would work hard to remove the "rocks in their shoes" and turn to God for refuge, strength and restoration...

That they would be both active and annointed in sharing their faith with all who will listen...

and that they would lead prayer-filled lives...because communication is everything...

...that God will use them in mighty ways...let them swing HIGH Lord!!!

...that they would love justice and act justly!!

...that they would always show mercy and have a compassionate heart...

...that their sleep would be peaceful and restorative...

...even if it is face first in a plate of pizza!!

"I have NO GREATER JOY than to know that my children are
walking in the truth."

3 John:4

In HIS Mighty Grip

Numbering our days oh Lord...

Struggles abound for sure. Life is crazy...not at all like we planned. Frustrations creep in...fear starts to take over parts of rooms. I wonder what is coming next...for us...for all of us. I pray..."Come quickly Lord Jesus" ...part of me wants him to come right now...a small part, not so much.

I look at my husband and my beautiful girls. I am so thankful that God gave all three of them to me. I look back at where we have been and what we have come through together as a family...to BE a family. God was in it all. God was right in the middle of it all. He still is...all of it!

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom...Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." PS 90:12,14

Oh my beautiful children! I still get comments occasionally from people telling me how their lives have been blessed by our adoptions. My girls know that they were chosen...that they are special...that God did a mighty thing in their lives. They know that miracles happened for us to be together. They are as grateful as David and I are. I know that their understanding of it all will change as they grow, but my girls have an amazing ability to understand big concepts long before they understand the details of those concepts. I believe that God gave them that ability and that he has mighty things planned for both of them

Recently Lili was putting her change into their "gratitude jar" It is an old butter tub that they decorated and put any change they get into. The plan is to fill it and then send the money to Show Hope to help other families bring their children home through the miracle of adoption. The girls are very faithful in saying what they are thankful for before they drop any coin in the tub. Lili started putting money in and said her usual stuff...I'm thankful for my toys, my Mom, my Dad, my sister, etc...then she stopped and I heard her say, "Im thankful that I'm not an orphan anymore because You gave me my Mommy and a Daddy" Whoa!!! Talk about a flood of tears...and a level of understanding far beyond her 3 years!!

I pray that they both always know how amazing the miracles were that brought us together. I don't know the circumstances that caused them to be abandoned, but I know that before the foundation of the earth, these little girls were planned to be my daughters.

Abba...teach us to number our days...to make each one count ! Show us the joy in all the little miracles you work. Show us YOU in all we do. Show us YOU in all YOU do!! Give us wisdom as parents, as spouses, and as friends. And give wisdom to our children that they may highly regard and recognize your love for them each and every day that we have left on this earth!!!!

Lili came in and got up on the water bottle and said, "Ride'em waterbottle!!!" Um...okay

Then she reached down, patted the waterbottle and said, "Good water bottle...good boy!" um...okay.

Okay...if I had a Mac truck I could drive it in between those precious little toes!!! I just love her little feet...

Yep...those were Lili's toesies!!

Then we have Monkey foot...our 5 year old!! I swear she could write, and wash the dishes with those toesies if she had to!! What a crazy little monkey~

Yep...that would be the owner of Monkey feet...Miss Alyson!

Playing at the park with Daddy Man~

Geeeeeze...you would never know it was Autum around here...look at the sweat that child is pouring out. The humidity has been unbearable this year!!

Aly plotting their trip through the trails at Vaill Point Park

Come on Dad...it's this way!!!!

What is that hiding in yonder tree?

Yep...you guessed it...a CRAB??????

A lovely view of the intracoastal waterway from the dock. What an amazingly beautiful day it was!

What is that hanging over David's head in that tree? Look...

There it is again..what is it???

Yep...that would be a Banana Spider that was about 3-4 inches long !!!! AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH Okay...I never said I was a nature girl...NEVER!!

Okay...I LOVE this picture of the girls...so peaceful and serene

Chinese Moon Festival time...here we are putting the "mooncakes" into the oven. I don't have a mooncake mold, so I opted for the easier version of shortbread cookies with Strawberry jam in the middle. The girls helped me make them and they were SOOOOOO YUMMY!!!!

A beautiful Moon...what a shame it was so unbelievably hot outside and the bugs were celebrating too...I think they were celebrating the fact that WE were outside and were providing them with FRESH MEAT for their dinner!!!!

I made the girls put on leggings and long sleeved shirts to keep the bites to a minimum. They still had fun!!

What a cool picture...

Hot apple cider and moon cakes...Yum Yum!!

"Aly...I love you!"

Lili practicing her back walkovers. She would do this for hours if we let her!!

Aly was trying to figure out what to do with her toes while she was reading. A common problem I hear! She thought and thought and finally decided that they would make GREAT book holders!!

Yep...works great!!!

"...Surely the Lord is in this place..." Gen 28:16

Good night all!!!

In HIS Mighty Grip~