Tomorrow on the 29th, I will celebrate my 20th anniversary ... Hard to believe that when I was 14 years old I met my husband and now we are celebrating our 20th !!!!  I have known Scott more than 1/2 my life ... I could say a lot about him as a friend, father and husband, but it all boils down to the fact that I still get giddy on our date nights !!!  I am so excited about tomorrow for so many reasons ... 20 years is such a milestone, I feel like our family is complete, I feel like so many bright days are still ahead of us, and I just simply love my husband ...

 I am thankful to the Lord for being the center of our life because it hasn't always been that way ... We have had some pretty tough roller coaster rides and amazingly sun days in our 20 years ... It is all those moments that make us who we are as a couple and I am proud to be Scott's wife ... We have watched each other grow up, change, and find our way together as a family ... The one thing that brings me so much peace and comfort is the fact that no matter the emotion or situation of the moment, day, or year I know Scott and I are in the same corner ... He is my ROCK here on earth ...

I pray the next 20 brings us even more joy and service to the LORD ... I pray that my children can have a marriage like the one we try to model in front of them ... There is never a desire for perfection, but a spirit of giving, compassion, and love ... I pray we can honor the Lord by serving one another and also serving others ...

I can still remember our first kiss !!! Happy 20th Anniversary Scott !!! YOU ARE STILL THE ONE !

I have just decided that I wish I had an angel that would follow me around and take video and pictures of my super cute, annoying, loud, hilarious, rotten, adorable, cranky, and joyful bunch of children ... I may be the worst photographer ever ... My camera always seems to be dead or the charging cord lost or some other annoying thing that makes taking pictures a chore ... (like my hands are full of kids, so how am I suppose to take pictures)

My kids really do the cutest things and I would give just about anything if I was better at it ... I REALLY DON'T LIKE taking the time to download, sort, and generally do what it take to get pictures and video from one place to another ... (that was just a vent) ... lol

Christmas was fun and relaxing ... Daisy said, "OH MY GOOOOODNESS" about 30 times ... Her smile was so cute and we all had fun watching Joseph and Daisy open presents and realize that it was just for them ... Now I will say after the EVENT was over the MINE, NO MINE, GIVE IT BACK, DON'T TOUCH and THAT IS NOT YOURS started and it became quite clear we would have to begin the "SHARING" sermons again very soon ... lol ...

I want to say thank you for all the prayers you have sent our way in 2010 and I promise to post a picture of MAGGIE'S CUTE ROUND HEAD very soon ... AND I am going to do my best to video JOSEPH on the 7th when he gets his hearing aids ... CAN'T WAIT ... My precious precious loving child will get an explosion of sound on that day !!!!  I HAVE TO BRAG ON HIM FOR A BIT ... He is just the most loving and affectionate child I have ever met ... I get no less than 50 kisses a day along w/ about a 100 hugs ... He makes being a mother easy ... I do get so frustrated that we can't communicate effectively because it breaks my heart to see him sad, because he can't go or do something he wants ... I want so bad to explain to him why he can't go somewhere, or when I will be back or where Daddy is or when it will be his turn to take a bath, get a toy, or when it is time to eat ... The look on his face is so unbearablely sad that it breaks my heart daily ... I look forward to the day when he can understand ... HE IS ONE SUPER COOL LITTLE BOY ...  If you remember the symbol I gave him was my STRENGTH !!! and that was right on target ... NOW, as for Daisy I may be re-thinking her symbol - PEACE ... lol ... This is one spirited little girl that doesn't really exude calmness ... lol ... So I am in prayer w/ the FATHER for her symbol ... Jeremiah is my HEART, Elijah is my JOY, Emily is my LIGHT, Maggie is my HOPE, Joseph is my STRENGTH, and Daisy is my ??????  Just like the Lord to keep me on my toes ...

I pray you all had a joyous holiday !!!! I look forward to so many things in the NEW YEAR ... This will be the first year in about 6 years that I am NOT working on an adoption ... lol .... HOW WEIRD WILL THAT BE ...

I can't wait to see what the LORD does w/ 147 Million Orphans ... ENJOY YOUR DAY SWEET FRIENDS !!!!

OH AND PLEASE KEEP SENDING US YOUR 147 PICTURES ... We love to see you wearing our gear on the mission field, on your adoption journey, or just hanging out at home !!!  twomoms13kids@gmail.com

Suzanne and I have been flooded w/ emails (on all 3 of our email accounts) and on facebook about Katie's blog going private .... I just wanted to let you know it is just for some re-vamping / communication stuff and that she is NOT posting anything over the holidays ... It will go back to normal after the holidays, so no worries and no password needed  ... THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN ...

HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Will post some new pictures of Maggie's amazing head soon ... Can't wait for you to see how well she is doing !!!  Off to make pancakes !!! I love holiday break BREAKFASTS !!! No where to go in a hurry and no thinking of calories !!!

I don't know about you, but I have to have a perspective check every day ... It is easy to go about my busy day of life w/ the kids, house work, 147 emails/meetings, ball games, dinner, and homework ... I try to all day long to be THANKFUL for everything ... When I feel my fuse getting short, I remind myself of the things I have here that make my life so EASY ... oven, fridge, car, running water, bed, and of course the list could go on and on ... This is not new to most of us ... We realize that we have MORE than 90% of the world, but we CHOOSE on most days not to CAMP OUT IN THE THANKFULNESS CAMP ... We allow SATAN and our flesh to keep us complacent with our worries, our trying to make more $$$, with the KEEPING UP W/ THE JONES, with the fear of not being prepared for the future, and so many other things ... I have to close my eyes and take myself back to China, Uganda, or to our cook out w/ the homeless and just sit for a moment with the LORD ... I have to remember the faces etched in my mind and the conditions I walked through daily while staying with Katie in Uganda ... I need to remember the stigma placed on the little girls in China that will not make it out of the orphanage ... I need to remember the eyes on the face of the homeless man ... My remembering is never to FEEL sorry for or pity these people, but it is to cause me to be thankful for their impact on my life and to ACT on behalf them (my brothers and sisters) everywhere that are hurting and hungry ...

None of this is NEW, but I thought you like me could use a little reminding of our daily blessings and our privilege (not just duty or responsibility) BUT PRIVILEGE to help and love on our FAMILY around the world ...

Isaiah 58. This chapter has great perspective  "Is this not the fast I have chosen; To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free. And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry? And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, "Here am I." (this was sent to me in a comment ... SO TRUE ... thanks sister) 




147millionorphans.com 

I appreciate all the concern ... hee hee ... I know I look tired in the video blog ... I was trying to be transparent and show you some real life ... Honestly, I am tired, but oh SO JOYFUL ...

Joseph and Daisy each get up about twice a night ...  I think it just to check and see if I am here, so the sleeping not so great, but I am kind of used to it ... AND MY SWEET HEALTHY FRIENDS KEEP TELLING ME TO DRINK MORE WATER and my skin will look better and brighter (oh WHY didn't God make DIET COKE healthy)... I laugh at most everything these days cause there are a lot of things I would like to do for myself, but each day it is just about MAKING it through the day and getting it all done ... I am good and as long as I can run or get on the elliptical 4 days a week then I will at least be SANE ... I may look tired and older than my OH SO YOUNG 40 YRS, but at least I know it ... ha ha ha !!!

Going to see SANTA tomorrow  ... Joseph, Daisy, and Maggie are so excited !!!

TALK TO YA SOON !!  ...

It is this time of year when I reflect at all the amazing people God has placed in my life ... I would be honored if you would give me an update on your life or introduce yourself if you are new to my blog ... Share a prayer request or update me on your adoption journey ... I have run out of time to check blogs these days, and really miss peaking into your life ...

Thanks friends ! You bless me !

This is a great segment and our friends Keil and Carolyn did an amazing job sharing their hearts for HIV orphans ... We are proud to lock arms w/ them at 147 Million Orphans and help change the lives of children ... Josie Love Mayernick - we adore you and you have opened our eyes to so much !!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7108307n&utm 
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