Thanksgiving with the Germanns!

Our best friends, Dan and Sherri Germann, joined us for Thanksgiving dinner! Sherri's family is in Texas and Dan's is all over, so we had dinner together. It was so much fun! Dan and Sherri are the kind of friends you don't have to entertain... we can lay around on the couch, not talk, take naps... whatever! They are also the same wonderful friends who introduced us to adoption. I almost said they're the ones who convinced us to adopt, but I truly believe God did that! Only He could change our hearts to welcome one more. And boy are we ever glad He did! But Dan and Sherri were prayer warriors I tell you! The interceded on our behalf for many months! When they begin to doubt their reason for being in Trenton, I remind them of Jia!

Anyway, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We went around the table and shared the many things we have to be thankful for this year and it was so nice to hear!

Here's all of us around the table, well the men hadn't sit down yet! I felt so entirely blessed to have a full table of family and friends!

This is me and Sherri!

Dan and Melaine carving the turkey!

Jack and Dan... Dan will come by and say "I needed some Jack time."

Their daughter Heather has been blessed with such an AMAZING voice! We asked her to sing for us and after she began, Jory darted to his room coming back like this! He got their Rock Band guitar and started playing for her! It was so cute!

My little ROCKER!

Be Thankful

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my Uncle Wesley and Aunt Jeri's. Then we had our friends over for supper. That will be another post!

I have so much to be Thankful for... Here's an email I got that puts things in perspective!
THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING. BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME.

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR. FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

Toby Mac!

Last year I went with some girlfriends from church to ROCK THE LIGHT. RTL is held at Starlight Theater in KCMO. It was so awesome! The night we went, Toby Mac was there. I had heard a couple of his songs, but wasn't really familiar with him. Well, let me tell you... that was the best concert ever!!!! He is THE BEST! I was just stunned. The entire time, I kept thinking to myself, Jacen should be here, Jacen would love this! I promised myselt that when Toby Mac came back to our area I would take Jacen.
Well, fast forward more than a year later... I find out he's coming back to KC. You know how it is, when you begin to doubt that something was actually as good as you remember... that's what I did. I looked up tickets and thought it's so close to Christmas, we really can't afford to buy tickets, was it really all that great? So I decided against it.
On the way to school one day, our local Christian station was giving away tickets. The trivia question was "Who buried Moses?". I called, but was the 2nd caller... Ean said 'try again tomorrow'. I will never forget that day because when I dropped Jory off at school he called me a 'loser' when he shut the door. Oh and he had been planning it all the way there. He even waited until he was out and shutting the door so I couldn't respond. Not that I could with my mouth agape anyway!
So the next morning, they were giving away tickets and all you had to do was be the 3rd caller. I WAS! I won 2 tickets to TM! I was dissapointed the rest of the family couldn't go, but I was taking Jacen!
Well, the concert was at Municipal Auditorium and I had a really hard time getting there. Once we were there and began to walk to the concert, we were turned around and going in the wrong direction. It was already dark, we were in unfamiliar territory, we ran across a guy asking for money, someone hollared from a hot dog stand and Jacen and I were ready to turn and run! But we made it...then when we went into the auditorium, we were ready to turn and run again! It's just to huge and unfamiliar. I've gotten to know Kemper Area like the back of my hand. I've taken the youth group to so many events there, it's so comfortable. MA was nothing like Kemper. We got there during Family Force 5 and they totally stink. Not my thing at all. I was still debating getting the heck out of there and going home. Then Relient K came on and they were better. Jacen knows some of their songs, so he relaxed a bit, but still could've left. All the while, I was questioning myself, was it worth it? Is Toby Mac as cool as I remember? The answer is YES!
After Toby Mac came on, we finally relaxed and didn't worry about getting out of there, to our car and getting home. He ROCKED! I love all of his songs. And it was a Winter Wonderslam Tour, so at the end, all the bands came out and there was snow, and they rode bikes and threw candy canes! Oh and Toby Mac actually dove into the crowd! It was just so awesome! I told Jacen we were definately coming again! I won't forget how awesome it was ever again!
We had a no trouble getting to our car, but getting to I35 proved a little difficult due to road construction. But the awesome concert outweighed all the negative things by far!
So, since Jacen and I were having a 'date' I asked Jack to snap a picture of us. Of course Jory had to have one too! Enjoy!

Rare Sight!

Something you don't see everyday!

Family Visit

This weekend, my cousin Amy and her 3 kids, and my cousin John with his wife and 2 children came up for a visit. Growing up, Amy's family from Overland Park KS would come up and spend weekends with us in the country. We were always together and swore our kids would grow up close as well. That did happen for a few years! They would come up and stay with us at Thanksgiving... we'd go stay at their house and hit the city. But things change and people get busy. It's been at least a couple of years since I've seen Amy and her kids.

So I was so excited when she said she was coming up! Also, a bit nervous as to how the kids would get along. They hardly knew eachother. Well, my worrying was in vain! It was like we'd all never been apart!
Jeff and John came up Friday night and Jory really hit it off with Jeff. They played I Spy together and Jeff was so good and patient with Jory. You can tell by the way Jory's standing he was trying to lean in closer to Jeff! He adored him!

Jacen and Emily are only 2 weeks apart in age! They were so funny together. The discovered they had much in common, including F's in Social Studies! Amy and I are so proud! Really, they were so cute together!

This is Lauren. Isn't she gorgeous? When Lauren was a baby, I knew if I ever had a little girl I wanted the dark hair and eyes! No blue eyed blond for me! My parents had kittens that were 5 weeks old and they were the hit of the day! We hadn't seen them yet either and each family became attached to one! Lauren fell in love with this one! They decided to take her home and she is now Lucy, or Lola or something like that! This is the day we got Ming also!

Lauren carried the cat around in her front pocket all day. I think even if Amy hadn't agreed to taking the cat, they would've found her in Lauren's pocket about 1/2 way home!

This is John, his wife Paula and their new daughter Avery. Paula and Avery both adored this cat, but John gave a firm 'no'. He's allergic! They had been home a couple of week before he called and asked if he could come up and get the cat! It seems Avery was enjoying Aunt Amy's cat so much he could no longer refuse! We see who runs that house!

This is my mom and Avery. Avery is such a doll! It was fun to play with a little one again!

Jory was facinated with Avery and didn't get too far from her!

This is Amy and I! We had so much fun growing up together and at times were such little brats! We once hit our other little cousin over the head with a garden hoe and didn't even feel sorry for it! Yes, it was an accident. The time we shoved her down the stairs wasn't though. She always wanted to play with us. How terrible we were!

Jacen and Man Work!

Tonight I wanted some curtain rods hung and Jack was busy in the garage. Ugh... dilemma! I really want to put up my valances, but I really hate to bother Jack.

I decided I could do it myself, (absolutely I can, but isn't that why I have a husband?!) and Jacen wondered in asking what I was up to. He informed me he was a 'man' and could do 'man work'! I had to get my camera out! He did such a fine job! My curtains are straight and he was so proud of himself. He's going to make some girl a fine husband some day!

Apples and Birthdays!

My Brother just turned 40! Happy Birthday Uncle Hobbie!

Ever since Jory was little, he's called my brother (Rob) Uncle Hobbie! Uncle Hobbie also drives a Hobbie Truck (that's semi for those of you who don't speak Hobbie)! Jory spent a lot of time at my mom and dad's before he started preschool. When Rob had his Kidney transplant, the two became quite close. Rob never comes around without a toy in his toolbox! He and Jory always have to go out to his truck and check the toolbox! One time we stopped by unexpectedly and you should've heard the conversation as Rob tried to explain to Jory that there was no toy in the toolbox this time! He ended up giving him money! Can you say spoiled!

I couldn't ask for a better brother.

Rob's apple tree was extremely plentiful this year also! He gave apples away to everyone! My mom picked up many bags of apples and one day we canned apple pie filling from Grandma Mona's recipe. We slice apples thin, baked and make chips from them, we made cinnamon apples, apple cake, numerous apple pies and I don't remember what else! They were such good apples too! I can't wait until next year! Send me all your apple recipes!

A New Day in America

This post was on Proverbs 31 blog... it's an awesome site you should definately check out!

This is the day for new things in America.
Some of us rejoice with the coming new and some of us fell asleep last night weeping for what that new may mean for this country. Either way, it is the reality.
And I refuse for that reality to stifle my sense of possibility.
Now is the time for Christians to live the message of Christ. Maybe, more than ever before, we will be invited outside our comfort zones where living what we believe won't be easy. And dare I say, that may be the best thing that has happened to Christians in a very long time.
It's one thing to hold fast to traditional principles, but a completely different thing to act whole-heartedly upon them.
It's easy to say abortion is wrong, but hard to walk beside and support that woman who chooses life.
It's easy to think we should help the poor, but hard to write that check from our own bank accounts to do so.
It's easy to point out wrongs in other people, but hard to examine the many places we ourselves fall so short.
It's easy to point out problems, but hard to sacrifice our time to be part of the solution.
But, that's exactly what being a Christian is supposed to propel us to do. With grace and gentleness and humble spirits, we are to be more than a band of people labeled as conservatives. We are to actively be Christ's hands and feet in this world.
Jesus never called us to the comfortable life. He called us follow him through whatever life hands us.
Jesus never waited for the circumstances of the times to line up in his favor. He called us to follow him and be light in the darkness.
Jesus never bad mouthed the leaders of the day or demanded they change their policies. He called us to follow him and live out the truth through our right choices.
And in following Jesus, an air of excited expectancy will be breathed fresh in our souls.
In Obama's speech last night he said, "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."
Now is the time to be representatives of truth to all those around us. May we Christians be seen not as those who continue to strain against the unity of our country, but as followers of Jesus, those who help create it.
Now is the time... today is the day... to follow Jesus like never before.

A Prayer For Our Country

This is a prayer for our country from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer:

Almightly God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage; We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favour and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honourable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord and confusion; from pride and arrogancy, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into our united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulnesss, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.