Busy busy

It's been a busy few weeks around here! My kindergartner and first grader had their concerts last week and it was SO fun. The theme was "Sing Yourself Silly" so the kids got to wear silly, mismatched clothes, which they loved!



And Tate can never be left out...



Someone lost one tooth on Friday



And the next one on Saturday...



The Tooth Fairy was busy! But thankfully she didn't fall asleep on the job like the last time Charlie lost a tooth. ;)










Somebody else got lots of loves from her auntie and cousins at Morgan's 5th birthday party! The cousins had a ball together and the big boys enjoyed the sleepover.






And I just love sleeping kiddo pictures because it happens so infrequently. :)

Please continue to pray for our sweet niece Morgan. She's back in the hospital and needs her antibiotics to start working. Tate, Mia and I are heading over there tomorrow morning for a quick visit...hopefully the kids will bring a smile to Miss M! Thank you, friends.

Long lost relatives?

The girl's got some HAIR!! Happy Thursday, friends!

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Adoption everywhere!

There is so much happening in our little adoption world right now. It is SO cool to see how God works, and how many amazing people and families that have been brought into our lives just because of adoption. Please pray with me for some very special families:

Tiffany & Dave--waiting to get their approval to bring their daughter Miriam home from Ethiopia. Tiffany will be leaving soon!

Katie & TJ--In China right now picking up their sweet little girl Cora. She is precious. Please pray for safe travels for the rest of their trip and that their 3 children at home are doing well and adjust to their new little sister when she comes home!

Mark & Beth--Just arrived in Ethiopia for their second trip and will be bringing their sweet little boy home within the week. This has been an unbelievably long process for them and they have been so faithful to God's call for them to adopt. So excited!

And there are more and more and more stories like these three. Thankful for how God works to bring children home to their families.

Just sharing...

There's definitely a reason I don't blog much anymore. Just trying to live my life instead of writing or posting photos about my life. :) I feel like we have settled into our "new normal" of life with 5 kids. It's a great normal and it's a BUSY normal. And sometimes an exhausting normal, especially when Buck travels. I don't know if other wives of traveling husbands experience this but my children are different when Daddy's out of town. Behavior-wise, sleep-wise, most-everything-wise...they are different. Daddy brings a much-needed dynamic to our daily routine and we all miss him when he's gone! Just for Buck...because he thought you all would get a laugh out of it...here is the exact wording of the text I sent him at 6:29 AM.

"Your children are crazy. Talked me into staying up until 9, Tate up at 11 "wanting Daddy", then asked to change his pajamas, then needed water, Mia up at 1:30, 3:30, 6, scooted out of the swaddling blanket and bonked her head on the headboard {she joined me in bed at some point}. You can get that vasectomy any time. Thank God I have to work today!"
Buck's response? "WOW". Thanks for the sympathy, honey. :)

I know you all have those moments too, and knowing that I'm not alone helps tremendously. The week can only get better from here!

Morgan Claire

Oh what a crazy week it's been. Not only just regular "life" but my friend and co-worker had a baby 2 weeks ago so I am working a few extra days to help with her maternity leave. There's a reason I don't work much anymore...my life definitely gets in the way! :) There was a lot happening last week. A fun school program for Zoe on Friday, Max getting prepped for Odyssey of the Mind state finals on Saturday and baseball starting. But most important...this little girl and our family got the shock of their lives...our niece Morgan Claire...

Sweet Morgan Claire, who is 4 years old and an absolute delight to all of us (and the world!) was diagnosed with leukemia after just a short time of very vague symptoms. She and her family began the battle on Friday, after a long day of waiting for a diagnosis on Thursday. She had a port surgically placed and then got her first dose of chemo intrathecally (in her spinal fluid) during the surgery. She has had high fevers, so is staying in the hospital on antibiotics to make sure any infection that was lingering is gone. We had a roller coaster few days but man oh man, is this girl a FIGHTER! When she would cry and fuss about taking her medicine, I thought to myself "Atta girl, Morgan. Keep fighting it!" Her spunk and sass (and crazy humor--she is the FUNNIEST 4-year-old I know!!) is going win this fight. I feel it in my bones!

Here is the little turkey looking at me like "Um, no. You are annoying me with your pictures, lady." One of my friends told me that Morgan looks like me when I was little. True dat. Curly hair and all.

Morgan and family's home for the next week or so. Pray that they can go HOME!

My sister Melissa and her baby girl.

On Sunday the kids were begging to go see Morgan. Here she is with 2 of her cousins (she and Zoe are like peas and carrots). Morgan was the perfect little hostess. Showed them the playroom and took a tour of UIHC in some cool kid cars. There may or may not have been some racing.

Mama Morgan

So, as you can guess, I'm asking for prayers for this sweet girl. She's got a lot to give this world...she needs to be healed so she can show all of us what is in store for her! I was reminded of our children's sermon a couple of weeks ago. The story was from John 9, when Jesus healed the man who had been blind from birth. And the Pharisees asked if he was blind because of his own sin or because of the sin of his parents...and Jesus replied he is blind so God's power can be shown through him. And then He healed him. Why Morgan? Why their/our family? Why? Because Morgan will be healed and God's power will be revealed in an even mightier way.

"Because of the Lord's great love for us, we are not consumed. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank you, friends, Laura