Spring Break

I know it has been a while since I last posted. For very good reason......life got very busy. I have come to realize this is our new normal. So instead of complaining, I'll enjoy my kids a little more. That may mean I blog a little less. 

We had a really sweet Easter. It was Mariah's first. We try to make Easter special to the kids. We always emphasize that we are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. This ultimate sacrifice is what gives us the gift of eternal life if only we humble ourselves enough to accept this gift. Our older four children are all saved. We are praying that Mariah one day will understand and accept this gift as well.

We gave the kids the day off school for Good Friday. We just enjoyed the day and did a little cleaning and grocery shopping. Note to self, "Never grocery shop on Good Friday!" I was preparing for the next day. 

Saturday before Easter we colored Easter eggs............

Held an Easter egg hunt for the kids............

.......Mariah not too sure.

I then finished preparing our Easter dinner. Yes, a day early. Sunday's are too crazy busy for us to try and squeeze in an Easter meal before heading back to the church service in the evening.

Sunday included Easter Sunday Service then home to hunt for their baskets. We don't get much for the kids for Easter but it is fun to have a little chocolate and hunt for those baskets. We are running out of hiding places but we hid them pretty well. The kids know there is no Easter Bunny but it is fun to hide the baskets.

M's was behind the curtain. She didn't know what to do. It took a little coaxing.

Here she took Ben's sunglasses and was being silly.

The Sunday evening service was really nice. Our choir had a cantata and part way through, the music quit. The choir seamlessly continued the rest of the song. Even through a tough key change. It really was beautiful!

This past Tuesday an adoption friend made her way here to visit from North Carolina. She and her sweet little girl came and spent a few days with our family. Here is Beth's sweet daughter. She was adopted two months after Mariah.

This little one melted our hearts. Check out one of my older boys with her.

She also was a special needs girl. Let me tell you what a shame it is that she waited in an orphanage for 6 years waiting for a family. Be still my heart! She does not walk and has her own tiny wheelchair and walker. I love this child! She also told her mom that she was not leaving. Do you think all of this attention (like what is pictured above) had anything at all to do with her statement?

I have to share that I overheard her speaking with her Daddy on the phone. He was ending the conversation and he made a special point to stop and get her attention. He proceeded to tell her that she was special. Without missing a beat she denied that and said, "No! Baba's special!" Baba is Chinese for Daddy. What a blessed family to have her and I know Jim and Beth are a blessing to her. This is the face of adoption. There are real children waiting for a family.

Here are two of those children whose lives are forever changed.

We were a little surprised to see the girls playing together. This was the first time. Another suspicion we had was confirmed. Mariah is a bully. We have some work to do. I think it is survival from orphanage life. It is pretty safe to say that she will not be bullied herself. Like I said, we have some work to do.

Beth packed up and left on Saturday around lunchtime. We had such a sweet time together. She was an easy house guest! Beth was so sweet. We stayed up late each night talking. 

Please keep her sweet daughter in prayer as she will be having hip surgery in June. It is a difficult surgery and she will be in a spica cast following surgery.  

Proverbs 17:17    A friend loveth at all times.......