A simple shoe can make a difference.

A few nites ago I spent a great evening with some special ladies and their daughters and cut out shoe pieces to send to Sole Hope.  An organization who helps provide shoe pieces to organizations in Uganda and Kenya.  Places in Eastern Africa who deal with a parasite called sand fleas.  They lay their eggs in peoples feet and cause enormous damage.  What is the cure?  Shoes and clean water.    Can you believe that some kids aged 5, 6, 7 have never, ever had a pair of shoes?  Never.  I look at all the shoes that my 6 kiddos have and cannot believe how blessed we are.   I do not think blessed is an accurate word for it but that's the best  I can come up with.

Here is a video that spurred this organization on,

and here is the Sole Hope video.  I love that not only did we cut out pieces for 53 children to have shoes but we enabled a women, most likely a widow to make shoes for her community.  She is learning a skill, earning an income, and providing life saving shoes for her community, the children that run in her streets.  Just awesome!!

A great nite serving and learning that we are blessed beyond anything that words could express.

Thanks ladies for a fun evening and helping to provide shoes for 53 children.

17 years seems so old

It amazes me when we celebrate birthdays how some numbers seem so much older that others.  Erik turned 17 on September 12th.  I kept commenting how old that seemed.  He of course did not feel older.  Maybe it is because I feel older.  Just ordered my glasses the other day!  Oh and the hair coloring has to be done more frequently.

What a joy it has been to watch Erik grow.  He is a witty young man who has a knock out smile and amazes me at his knowledge.  Math questions when Mike is not around go straight to Erik.  Need to know some geography, go ask Erik.  Need some AV help or sound and light expertise,  go to Erik!  Such a talented and bright young guy who melts my heart every time he plays and loves on his younger brothers.  He adores them and they adore him, as evident by their special birthday bags they made for his special day!  Pictures below.  He was such a great sport and opened every piece of paper.

 Happy 17th Birthday Erik!

A treasure

Happy Birthday sweet Megan.  You have taught me so much in your short 15 years.  So thankful for your sweet presence, kindness, patience, and joy in the simple things.  You have taught me and reminded me not to worry about the small stuff and to take things day by day.  I treasure you and the gift you are to this family.

Love you Meganator!!

E-Man

Look at that handsome dude!  Such a loving young man.  He adores his little brothers.  I often find him wrestling or putting one of them on his shoulders so they can have a better view or be able to keep up with the crew.  He often can tell when they just need to get their wiggles out and will take them off to the side to run, play ball, or be silly.

On saturday of graduation I got to secretly see(Just happened to be in the right place at the right time) a big brother moment.  8 years ago we went on a Missions trip to Mexico and built a house for a family who days before had lost the bus they were living in to an explosion.  They lost their 2 year old daughter and the rest of the family suffered many burns and they lost everything.  It was our first missions trip as a family and it was an experience that we will never forget.  Erik saved a piece of that melted bus and made a necklace out of it as a gift for Sean on graduation day.  As they hugged and had a special moment I was glad to be off in the distance to see it.  So thoughtful and wonderful to see.  And yes I cried.  Crying right now as I remember the moment.

 Thankful for their relationship as it has grown and deepened this last year.  They still fight and argue but love each other deeply.

So excited for Erik this summer.  Lots going on.  2 weeks in a camper leadership training program. Then off to Africa for 2 weeks and lots of training for his favorite sport, cross country.

Love you E-man!!  :)

Second Summer

As I recover from Graduation and all the end of the year busyness I realize that this is our second summer with our sweet boys.  Boy have they grown.  Not only in height and weight but in every other way.  Their language, personality, independence, and most of all their security in their family and home.  

They often sing the song from their coming home video, This is Home.  I smile and tear up every time they sing it  because this is their home.  They are no longer orphans.  They are where they are supposed to be and we could not be more grateful for their presence in our family.  We are so blessed to have them and they have taught us all so much. 

Looking forward to the summer ahead and grateful for the adventures we have already had this June.  Many frogs to be caught, fires at the pit, rides in the kayak with their amazing big brother Erik, and sweet times with their new college freshman brother who will be leaving soon.  

Graduation

Graduation...no rush.

Israel and his first frog of the summer.

Dawit and his huge frog.

The hunt for the biggest frog ever.

Meeting Champ at their first baseball game.

Israel running the bases after the game.

Dawit passing second base.

Learning to paddle with his amazing bro!

Showing off their big muscles.

Happy Summer!!

Kitchen window revelation.

Saturday morning I was washing dishes, prepping food for a big party and reflecting on what the day held.  I realized that my first born was stepping across the stage to receive a piece of paper that signified so much more than just finishing his classes in high school.  It was more than just making those all important grades to get into his college or walking the halls of his school.  It meant more than all the proms, girls, missed curfews, and cross county meets.

It was significant to me because the words that my mother spoke to me the day before my wedding rang in my ears.  "My job Stephanie was to train you to leave me".  Sean is leaving.  His first steps into the life that God has for him.  We trained him to love God, be self confident, love people, be thoughtful of others, pursue, finish well, respect others, have integrity in all that you do, open the door for the ladies, listen to his elders, give his seat to someone who needs it, have mercy on others, grace, the importance of family, and after you work hard, play hard and enjoy life and all the blessings that God gives. 

It was not easy.  Sean is a strong willed person who had to test it all.  The tantrums were amazing.  The fits in the car were deafening.  The testing was painful, but the fruit of it all walked across that stage on Saturday morning to receive his piece of paper to say he had done it.  We had done it.

The end of August he flies across the States to start a new adventure on his own.  With all he has had learned and grafted from us he will do well.  And believe me I will be at my kitchen window not only reflecting but praying for my son.  Praying daily for his safety, his daily walk with God, his relationships, his classes, and that he will continue to be a blessing to others, and that strong willed trait will be used for God's glory!

As my dear hubby reminded me as we drove to the graduation, hey we have 5 more graduations to go!!  I think I will just deal with one at a time.  That is all this emotional Mama can handle right now...until I was reminded I have twins!!  I have 14 years to prep for that one.

Congratulations Sean!  We so love you and are so excited for you and your travels ahead.   Cali here comes Sean!!

That all important piece of paper.

The graduate and all the sibs.

With his Aunt Amy

With his Grandpa James

His biggest fans and coaches.

The James Gang.

Brothers!

Time to celebrate!

Another Teenager?

Katie Lady turned 13!!  Four teenagers in one house!!  Happy 13 Katie.  She can finally be part of Face Book.  At 6am she was all signed up and had 98 friends by 3:00pm. 

She had quite the day.  Last day of school, annual physical(yes bad mom scheduled it on her bday), tetanus shot, dinner out with family, which included having to sit on a saddle while we all yelled, Yehaw!  Then off to an end of the year party and then home for cake and candles with her family. 

We love you Katie.  Such a spunky, creative, loving, fun girl, who loves people, cares deeply, and has a very quiet competitive side to her.  Don't mess with her in the final 200 meters of any race.  She will crush you!!! 

Her latest baking project-carrot cake cup cakes.

Love you Katie!!!