The Brookster

For TWO WEEKS we were blessed to have my niece Brooke with us from Tennessee. She is 12, just like our oldest, and such a GREAT kid! We had quite a few adventures in the days she was with us. We drug her to VBS (she was even a part of our music program in front of our whole church!), the library, Pops and the Round Barn in Arcadia, the Aquarium and the OKC Zoo! She was a HUGE help with the younger kids AND she can make grilled cheese sandwiches, fold some clothes, and vacuum (not that I had her do a lot of that, but why not?). The second week she was with us GaGa joined us for the fun - WOO HOO!

By the way, did you know that two 12 year olds scream and yell a lot?

ALICE!

I don't normally advertise on here.  Not that I'm against it, some people make a little money off their blogs.  I just haven't gone that route yet.  BUT, this is ALICE (the little banner to the right of my blog) and it means free shipping on groceries, they automatically keep track of coupons, your order is shipped within 3-4 days via UPS, and when you click my little banner over there you get a $10 sign-up bonus!  AND if you sign other people up then you get 3% of their order for a year!  Go check out ALICE!!

The ZOO - WHEW!!!

Four families all somewhere in the adoption process met today at the zoo for some good ole hot fun. There were 16 kids in all present - we had two stow-a-away friends to add to the group, and 8 adults that trapsed ALL over that zoo and saw just a few animals (one family had to leave early and they aren't in this picture). Apparently the animals are pretty smart and stay shaded or under water during the hot days - what a novel idea! Three of the four families are waiting to bring four more children home from China. The last time we were together, in 2006, there were only three adopted children present. Since then two more have been brought home, one more born (to us), and when all is said and done there will be a grand total of TEN children born originally in China to forever live in the hearts AND homes of their forever families here in the US (unless God has other plans and decides to add to it :)! I so wish we could get together more often so our children would get to know each other better. I know my children are so impacted by being around families who have adopted - it completely changed Conner's mind the first time we were together, now, to him, it's just a part of our life.

It is hard to explain, but we have a connection and a bond that really has no words. We speak a different language sometimes. We rejoice in referrals and pieces of paperwork. We also comfort each other when the wait seems unbearable for our children to come home. We are PRAYER WARRIORS more than anything. I know these moms will commit to pray for my adopted daughter and I would do the same for them, no question. Seeing their families gives me hope. International adoption is a miracle that involves God, of course, but also paperwork, and people in different parts of the world moving together in accordance to God's timing all fitting this giant puzzle together to bring a child home. A child, that, once you see him or her you know without question that that is YOUR child just as if they were born to you. It is amazing to see this all unfold! GOD IS AMAZING.

The ZOO - WHEW!! Boy was it FUN!

Lunch time! Come and get it!

What sweet little girls!

It was really hot at the zoo, thank goodness for misters!

What is this? Is that a map? Couldn't be . . . And how many guys are looking at that map? This is proof, girls that men do read maps!

The ZOO - WHEW!! Merry-Go-Round

You think they picked the pandas on purpose?

This little one wasn't too excited to be on here at first, but she warmed up after a few spins!

Carlie and Mommy on the gorilla!

Such sweet girls! Look at those faces - how precious!

A Little Pep Talk

IMG_3603, originally uploaded by lmcmurphy2000.

I've been feeling a little blah, and disappointed about the whole adoption thing. Sometimes the wait gets to me and I think this adoption will never happen, that something will get in the way of it.  I need a pep talk!  I need to pump myself up a bit! Here goes:

For faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 1:1

guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:5

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
Psalm 33:20

For in You, O LORD, I hope;You will hear, O Lord my God.
Psalm 38:15

Why am I so sad?
Why am I so upset?
I should put my hope in God
and keep praising him,
my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:4-6

God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life.
Psalm 62:5

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4

Crocodile Dock - VBS!!!

This week was Vacation Bible School and it was so much fun! VBS is one of my most favorite weeks of the year. I got to help my friend J. with music - we have been together for many years and always have so much fun. She can carry a tune, and I try. The last night of VBS is our big family fun night where the kids sing some of the songs they have learned then we go outside for big party - food, water slide, Safari Joe, Jolly Trolly (snow cones), a train ride, and everyone just having a good time. All five of the kids (our four and my niece) were in the show and everyone sang their little hearts out. E wore his skeleton glove, not sure why, it just happened to be the toy of the day. Everyday he would say, "Mom I just wuv BBS. And I weally wuv Miss Janet." It was his first year to participate, his teacher was my Aunt and my cousins - what a great way to start 'BBS!' It was E.'s first year and Conner's last (we got one more out of him:)!

The Great Camping Expedition!!!

Our castle and our tent

The BRAVE Campers (Carlie slept in the house with me and GaGa)

Lyndal reading the directions and Conner helping

Diggy is ready for those scarey stories!

The great wood gatherers!

We've been wanting to camp for a while now, but you know "the facilities" are not always up to my standards ("Mr. Frederickson? Do you dig a hole before or after? Nevermind! It's before!" from UP). So, we had a WONDERFUL idea! Let's set up the tent and camp at GaGa's house! She has a large yard with a level place for a tent. She has a creek which equals lots of birds chirping, crickets cricketing, lightening bugs, wood for burning, and just the right touch of slightly scarey noises (we heard coyotes!). AND the best backdrop of all was the CASTLE that PaPa built with a waterfall and everything! It was a perfect night for building a fire, making s'mores, and falling asleep under the stars. The three older kids and Lyndal fell asleep and I tip-toed up to the house to sleep in a nice bed - tee hee! I'm no dummy.

WEEEEEE!!!!!

Just changing up the blog a little bit, trying to make it more cheery. I feel like I have been down in the dumps a little bit and I don't want to be! So, here's to a brighter, cheerier life! RING PHONE RING!!!

Ugh.

It's been a busy summer so far.  We are in the middle of Vacation Bible School at church.  It is an evening Bible school for two and a half hours.  I love VBS!  It is one of the best things the church does all year and I look so forward to it.  I am helping my friend J. with music.  She's the musically inclined one and I am the humorous side kick.  It does mean some late nights this week and baths in the middle of the day instead of before bed.  Mornings are lazy.  My niece is also here.  She's so much fun and such a great kid!  Bless her heart, she's been smack dab in the middle of the 5th and 6th graders at VBS!  I think she's doing OK, she seems to be having fun and getting to know a few kids.

As far as Avery goes, well, there's not much as far as Avery goes.  We are still waiting.  "Waiting" is a word I have begun to really not like.  Sometimes we are waiting and I forget we are waiting.  Or Avery has become 'the wait.'  Waiting is our fifth child.  Maybe I should get 'the wait' a car seat in the van.  I could buckle up all my adoption paperwork.    

Our immigration paperwork expires for the third time in September.  This means we have to refile, redo, refingerprint, REPAY.  It is so frustrating that there are orphans waiting, that there is paperwork in the way, that there are families willing.  I KNOW that God is in control.  I KNOW that His timing is perfect.  I KNOW that when this is all over and we have Avery with us that there will not be any doubt that this whole wait was perfect and so very worth it.  I DO NOT DOUBT THAT!  I just get frustrated.

In the mean time we are going to enjoy our lazy, busy summer.  Gymnastics, little day trips here and there, library, a little home/summer school (and the crowd goes wild for that one!!), church, a short mission trip for Conner, the park, family, ice cream, and whatever strikes us as fun for that day.  Maybe we'll get a really important, life changing phone call during one of those days.  Oh, how I can't wait for that call.

Contentedness

Do you ever hear a Bible verse or phrase or a word more than once and think, "OK, I am listening now."  The first time I heard it was in church yesterday when pastor had us turn to Phil. 4:11-13 which says:  

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The second time was in a devotional book I read before I went to bed that talked about how true contentment was a gift from God.

It made me stop and ask myself if I really was content.  I know I am content with my family, the 'things' we have, the home we live in, all the 'stuff' (we could definitely get rid of some of the 'stuff').  So, in what areas am I NOT content?  I know that if Avery were home I would be content (that's a big one).  I know that if my house were cleaner and more organized I would be content.  If I could lose about 15-20 pounds I would be content.  If I had better self-control in my eating and exercising I would be content.  If I didn't have frequent headaches I would be content.  That's a lot that's keeping me from being content, isn't it?  Just thinking about it makes me stressed and even more discontent!

But, the last verse in that passage says that "I can do everything through HIM who gives me strength."  My help and hope comes from HIM the maker of heaven and earth!  God I want the gift of contentment!  So, here's to learning to be content in Him, laying it all at his feet everyday.  So, that I can go on and be who He wants me to be, so that I can enjoy my family, I can chill, I can give it all to Him!