Exciting News!

We just got word that a judge has officially deemed Brielle to be legally free for adoption! The adoption process might still take 3-4+ months, but we are so thankful to be to this point!   We would be so grateful for your prayers for a smooth and speedy adoption process!  And also, for protection on a couple potential bumps in the road! A specific prayer request would be for the state to accept the private home study we completed last year for an international adoption.  If this one meets all their requirements, this could definitely speed up the process!  (And would save us from going through the "scrutiny" of another home study. ;-)   Thanks so much! 

A Couple Weeks Gone By!



"I will exalt you,  my God and King,

and praise your name forever and ever.

I will praise you every day;

yes, I will praise you forever.

Great is the Lord!  He is most worthy of praise!

No one can measure his greatness.

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts,

let them proclaim your power."

Psalm 145:1-4

 

Valerie, and her helper, Benjamin ;-),

have been working hard getting the garden planted.

Now God is growing it! ;-)

 

 Victoria and Caroline drove over to Moro, Oregon last weekend

to help their friend, Leslie, show some of her goats.

They also took a few of their own to show as well.

(The two goats pictured below belong to Leslie.)  

Valerie babysat for some friend's older four kiddos for a few days recently.

She brought them over yesterday to play . . .

 and ride the horse.

These two sure enjoyed one another!

 They were sooooo sweet together!

And the boys really enjoyed some good "boy" time!

 Gathering around for a story!  

 

Us girls had a very fun visit and sleepover last week with Lydia

while Richie was away at a training for a couple days.

We watched a movie, ate pie and ice-cream, and stayed up late talking!  ;-)

Then, the next night, the boys had their turn. 

They also watched a movie and ate . . . a lot!

Thanks, Lydia, for your sweet hospitality!

We had a great time!!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We'd be so grateful for your prayers for our beloved Pastor Dean.

He hasn't been feeling well for a long time now. 

We love him so much,

and are sooooo grateful for the blessing of his ministry to God's people and beyond.

He is such an awesome, Godly man and leader,

and is usually full of energy.

It has been challenging for him to not have his full strength and stamina.

And it makes us sad to see him not feeling well.

 

 

 Ted has been busy preparing a sermon to fill in for Pastor Dean this Sunday.

His message is titled "Fatherhood by Faith,"

based on Joshua 24:14-15.

.

 Thank you so much for praying with us,

that Pastor Dean will be back to full health soon,

and that God's truth and Ted's message
will bring strong hope and encouragement to our brothers at SVCC,

and touch their minds and hearts in a way that will impact even future generations!

 

 We've been enjoying hearing Caroline practice a new arrangement of

"Holy, Holy, Holy!!"

(So sorry for the bad video quality!  It is so much better "live!!")

 

 

 

Very Special Day!

I always say that every day is Mother's Day,

as I wake up each day lovin' the life God has given me as a mom to many treasures.

It is truly my dream come true!

God has blessed beyond measure,

and I couldn't be more thankful for each day that I get to enjoy being a mom! : -)

 

There is truly "no greater joy" than to see my children walking with the Lord

and serving Him and others.  

And to know that each of them are happy;

living a joyful, peaceful, hope-filled, abundant life in Christ!  

That is my greatest delight!!

I praise the Lord for the work He is doing in and through them.

To God be the glory!

 

Our family's normal 1st Sunday worship time was switched this month with another team for various reasons.
With the Lord's help and blessing, they were able to play and sing "Crown Him (Majesty)" by Chris Tomlin.
They also played one of my favorites,
"My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness" by the Getty's.
 What a perfect start to this Mother's Day!

(Notice the future Bowes musician on the steps? ;-)
 

Every Sunday Kyle sits in the back attending to any computer needs the Pastor may have.

When we got home from church,
I *begged* the family for an updated family photo!
I was even hoping to get Richie and Lydia in there,
but had to concede to snapping this one early in the day before their afternoon arrival,
as everyone wanted to change into their "play" clothes! ; -)
Thanks to Aunt Kelley for taking the photo!!!!

I also really wanted to get a picture of Benjamin and Brielle in their "Easter" clothes,
since Easter came and went so fast, I didn't have a chance to get one!
But boy, is it hard to get these two to sit still for a picture!
And I can't wait for the day when we can show Brielle's cuteness in its entirety!!

I always enjoy taking a family stroll down to Swofford Pond!
And it was such a gorgeous day to do so!
Loved every minute of it!

Our neighbor greeted us with . . .
"I think you need MORE kids!"
We agreed!!! 
 

Stopping to visit the neighbor's horses.



Daddy trying to keep up! ;-)
(Actually, he stopped to visit with the neighbor, while we kept strolling. )

Such a pretty walk by the "pond."



Skipping stones!

 Resting by the pond.

 Then, at 4:30 we were blessed to have Aunt Kelley, Cassidy, Richie, Lydia, Rich and Janet over for a potluck BBQ!!  We had quite the feast and a very enjoyable visit outside in the beauty of the day!  

I originally hoped for some strawberry shortcake for dessert,
but the store we went to in town on Saturday was out of strawberries!
So we stopped in Mossyrock on the way home from church and got a few strawberries to throw in a rhubarb pie!
Yum!

 

  We sure enjoy spending time with Aunt Kelley and Cassidy!

Kelley always makes us laugh!

Here, I think she was recalling the *trauma* of her kick-ball days in grade school! ;-)

Soooo glad they are close by!

 Here, she is taking time to smell the . . . marshmallows! : -)
She's an awesome mom!  (Sister and aunt too!)

I couldn't be a more blessed mom-in-law! 

I REALLY like this guy!!! 

Actually, to know him is to LOVE him! 

 

After the BBQ a baseball game broke out!

Father to father! : -)

We are soooo blessed having Rich and Janet in our lives,
and to be able to have such fun times together!
We all love them so much!  
 



What a fun ending to a super great day!!!





Good News!

Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a distant land.

Proverbs 25:25

Our family is rejoicing over some good news we have received recently! 

The biggest news is in the form of a brief email from the foreign ;-) land of Seattle!!

Brielle's caseworker just emailed today and said that he has scheduled an

"adoption staffing" conference call for the 28th!

Not sure exactly what all this means (if she is legally free now or will be soon?)

but atlas, it is very encouraging to hear that the process is indeed progressing! 

Thank you for all your prayers!

 

Then, Valerie heard the most awesome news yesterday . . . .
after nearly 6 years of wearing braces and of late, leaving many appointments in tears ;-( . . .

her orthodontist said those long-awaited words . . ."We will de-band on your next appointment!"

Woo hoo!!!   What a day of celebration that will be!!!

 

And then lastly,

some good news from my colonoscopy today!

The surgeon found 3 small polyps that he removed!

So we're thankful they were caught early, and Lord willing, should not be a problem!

"But as for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteousness,

of your salvation all day long,

though I know not its measure.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord;

I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone."

Psalm 71:14-16

 

 

A Season for Everything!

I'm trying real hard to encourage our family that the rain and mud really only lasts for a season . . .

 EVEN in Western Washington!

 The sun will come out again,

and the ground will dry out!!  It does can happen!

In all our ten years of living here,
I don't think we've seen anything quite like this though!!! 
Saturday was the second day of Timmy's tournament.  It had been postponed from last Sunday to this Saturday, due to rain.
So, I guess they were determined to play no matter what the conditions!
It rained ALL day, for all 3 of his games, and this picture was taken at around 7pm!!

 

They lost their final game,
but they were happy to take 2nd in the tournament!
I love Timmy's big smile as he receives his medal, and shakes the coach's hand!



The camaraderie among the team's families sitting out all day in the rain has been great!
It's been nice to get acquainted with some other Mossryrock families!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 This weekend was also the annual Spring Youth Fair!

The kids have loved this event for years!

They enjoy showing animals (they started with sheep),

and creating lots of fun projects to turn in for judging and for prizes! 

Benjamin decided that this event called for his "cowboy" attire. 

He accessorized his outfit all by himself!

Not sure if he is guarding or hunting his sisters' goats! ;-)

 

 Looks like Victoria and Dandi are having a little chat before the show begins!

First show on Saturday is for "showmanship."

The kids are judged on three things;

how well they prepared the goat for showing,

how well they show the goat,

and how much they know about their breed of goat. 

 

I included this picture because of Valerie's smiling face in the background. ;-)
I think she thought I might be taking a picture of Brielle lovin' on he little boy that was sitting next to her!

 They are always glad to have that part of the show over with!!!

 The following pictures are from Sunday,

when the goats themselves were getting judged.

 

 Benjamin has taking a liking to this goat (or maybe the other way around ;-),

and he is interested in learning how to show them now.

Maybe he will be Victoria and Caroline's up-and-coming showman?

 Timmy and Joe always enjoy the tractor pulls.

They sure have strong, country-boy legs for the competition!!! 

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven . . ."

Ecclesiastes 3:1