What We've Been Up To!

The fog of sleep deprivation is lifting as Brielle sleeps through the night now!  Woo hoo!  The outfit in the photo was given to us at the baby shower by a sweet sister in the Lord.  It says "I'm Kind of a BIG Deal . . .Just ask Mommy and Daddy!"  And yes, she IS a big deal around here.  We're all still thoroughly enjoying her adorableness!  (It is so hard for us not to be able to share her cuteness here!)  She is loved on by all. . . all day long!!! We continually praise the Lord for such an incredible blessing! 

 

Benjamin is still as cute and active as ever.  He is talking up a storm, and though we still can't understand a lot of what he says, it doesn't seem to slow him down.   : -)  

 

Joe is enjoying building things.  He even drew up a plan on paper recently for what he wanted to create!  : -)  He will probably be entering something into the Spring Youth Fair this week!  He is one happy little boy! 

 

Timmy has been so excited about his baseball season.  He has had practice just about every day for the last six weeks, rain or shine!  So as Kyle reported on his blog, Timmy thoroughly enjoyed his first game last week, which was a "make-up" game from one of the first two that were cancelled due to weather!  It is always fun watching his excitement! 

 

Valerie is super excited about having contacts for the first time ever!  Now, if only she could get her braces off!  :-)  She can't wait for that day!   She is continuing to keep very busy with her dog business.  With her last Australian Shepherd litter she learned soooo much  . . . about people. She had some very challenging situations, and we're so proud of her for how she has handled it all!   She is also quick to help with any babysitting needs!  :-)

 

Victoria is also getting contacts soon, so she is excited about that as well!  Her prescription is much more challenging to put into contact lenses, so hers will take a little longer to order.  She and Caroline enjoyed showing goats for some of the best boer goat breeders in the area last weekend.  They get paid $5.00 every time they step into the show ring, and with the quality of the goats they were showing, they did very well!  (And the breeders are very blessed to have their help!  The girls are highly sought after!)   Victoria and Caroline are in the process of selling their own goat kids, and so far, they have two going to Idaho and one going to Texas!  And for future kids, they have folks on their waiting list from Idaho, Kansas, Colorado and California!  They're looking forward to showing a couple of their own goats this weekend at the local Spring Youth Fair, and other's goats at a couple more big shows this summer.   The picture below is of Victoria with award winning "Paint Ball" who is being lovingly given to them by Leslie (owner standing next to her).

 

Caroline recently played her "Pirates of the Caribbean" song for a talent show in the nearby "big" city, and did very well!   She dressed up as a "pirate", even wearing an eye patch, and did a brief, funny little drama to begin the piece.  (Pictures coming soon!) It was very entertaining, and though it stretched her comfort zone, she did awesome!   She also did an amazing job with playing another song for a recent honors recital!  She says that performing is starting to get a lot easier, and even enjoyable!  We sure are blessed to hear her play every day! 

 

Kyle is keeping super busy these days with working everyday for some friends that manage a youth camp nearby.  He is enjoying the change of work, and feeling like he has a "real" job!  He is still trying to fit in his schoolwork, writing, odd jobs for others, and trap shooting when he can!  He is learning a lot about managing his time!  There have been times when we've teased about needing a clone or two to accompish all that he'd like to!  And with the challenges the quads are experiencing with juggling one car, he has mentioned the possibility of buying his first car! 

 

Lydia and Richie are just as delightful as ever. I am still so in awe of God's goodness in bringing them together. They are so perfect for each other!  I love watching how much they enjoy sharing the wonderful life God has given them . . .together.   And all the good things He is doing in and through them!  They give sooo much to JOY to us and to all who know them!

 

Today, Ted and I are in Seattle to give another set of fingerprints for our international adoption process. These are required by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, thus the drive to Seattle to give them at their Homeland Security office here. Our adoption agency said that we could continue the process and be put on the wait list as soon as all the paperwork is in. Then, if our time comes up for a referral and we are still in the process of adopting Brielle, then we can be put on hold at the top of the list until we're ready. 

 

The homeschool convention was awesome, as always!!  We heard there were over 3,000 people in attendance!  Families come from Canada, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon.  We all enjoyed it very much, and were greatly encouraged.  It is so wonderful to all gather together, not only to learn and be refreshed concerning God's word and homeschooling, but to sing praises collectively to our Lord and Saviour is just so awesome!!!   We were glad to be able to try out our "rig" there for our upcoming 3 week trip.  Ted says it's about 45 feet long with the truck/camper pulling the borrowed trailer.  We'll be quite a sight! 

 

So now we switch gears as we all prepare for this once-in-a-lifetime trip!!  Stay tuned to see if we survive this "EPIC" (family joke) adventure!  : -) 

 

 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:17