Trusting God in All Things!

We have had quite the crazy week here. I am beginning to think this is the common theme in our lives! That's okay. We would be bored out of our minds otherwise. 

The week started with church on Sunday morning. Then I had the privilege of being invited to a JJ Heller concert at a local church on Sunday afternoon. It was such a sweet time. Becca and I went and had a terrific time. My sweet friend, Heather, and her daughter met us there and we spent the afternoon listening to some of the sweetest music. 

Another sweet friend opened the concert with her group The Janes. Here is s short sample of one of their songs.

This particular song is a lullaby that JJ and her husband, Dave, wrote. It was absolutely beautiful!!!

Monday was speech therapy with Mariah. 

Tuesday was a doctor appointment with Kyle to get his allergy shot. I usually do those at home but the first shot from a new prescription has to be done in the doctor's office. 

Wednesday morning was the speech testing for Mariah at our Board of Education to see if she qualifies for speech when she turns three. We have no official word on her results but the SLP told me she cannot imagine her not qualifying. Evidently her receptive speech is excellent yet her expressive speech is pretty minimal. Then I went to the grocery store! We had church again on Wednesday evening, so dinner was super rushed. 

Thursday was low key. I consider it successful if the kids are fed, medicated, and school completed! Notice no housework was mentioned. 

Friday was Jeremy's day off and I babysat a little guy for a friend in the morning. Jeremy took the van for an oil change. 

We went furniture shopping during nap time. I have learned something about myself as I age. No salesman is able to talk me into something if I have experience that tells me better. We are looking for a kitchen table that will seat all 8 of us. He desperately tried to sell us a table with all kind of grooves in the wooden top and upholstered chairs. I told him first of all it would be hard to clean mashed potatoes out of those grooves. Secondly, I HATED the fabric used on the chairs and I didn't want fabric at all! He tried to tell me that we could use our vacuum attachments to clean the table top (YUCK!!) and the seats could continually be recovered! HELLO!!!!!! I have six kids! I have no time to re-upholster 8 chairs. He obviously does not do the cleaning at his house. I did not let him even get the words out of his mouth! 

This is the set we are leaning towards. Not my absolute favorite but it is okay. This is at a different store.

We are also looking for a new bedroom set for our girls! Again, nothing there struck our fancy. This set is at the same store as the dining set we are leaning towards. I really like this set.

Friday evening we took the kids to the local elementary school to play and for our older kids to run.

She just enjoyed playing.

The kids enjoyed playing with her.

Even on the tire swing.

Especially on the rock wall.

Such a great Daddy!

They all enjoyed themselves.

Evidently Ben disappeared while I took photos. He is the one running!

She even made a new friend, Macie.

This is pretty much how she slept all night! She was tired.

We have arranged for a private Spanish tutor to come and teach the kids Spanish each Saturday morning. Yes, school on Saturday. She was here for 1 1/2 hours and the kids ended up loving it.

I went grocery shopping and spent the majority of my Saturday working on shopping and reorganizing my kitchen. Kroger had Campbell's Soups on sale this past week, I usually buy store brand! Here is my  crowded pantry that I joking say most would call a stockpile.

Top shelf is snacks, chips, crackers, and most paper products.

Second shelf is baking supplies on left and pasta/rice on right.

Third shelf is soups on left and tomato products on right.

Fourth shelf is canned beans, drink mixes, and  a few canned fruits (pineapple, pears, peaches, mandarin oranges).

The floor holds our bottled water on the right and onions and potatoes on the left. As well as paper towels.

Larger families require large food budgets. Even on vacation at the beach we ate out once. It was lunch and we will never do that again. Our menu at the beach was this.....nothing spectacular!

*Stuffed shells (Becca and I made at home and took to the beach to bake)
*Sloppy Joes, french fries, and veggies
*Baked chicken marinated with rice and veggies
*Rigatoni with garlic bread
*Pizza (frozen pizza we bought at Walmart there)
*French Toast (yes, breakfast for supper)

There is much concern over government processes the past few weeks. If the US government shuts down that certainly affects international adoptions. The US Consulate will likely not issue Visas for our kids to come home from China. Also, the immigration approvals may not take place. From what I have read, it seems like if you paid for a service, they will proceed as normal. It was not entirely clear what would shut down and which program would remain in operation. Please pray that Congress can come to an agreement and approve a budget.

Today is day 44 of our wait for our first immigration approval. We are so close. Then our paperwork goes over to China for their approval (LOA). Then a few more smaller approvals after that. This mama is a wreck but it is not in my control. God knows best and it is all in His timing. I need to tell myself that quite often.

Our hearts are aching to have Selah here. She needs a family to love her as she has never felt before. She needs to know and be introduced to the Savior! How sweet will it be for us to watch our two China girls accept Christ as their personal Savior!!!!  

It is entirely possible to love someone you have never met. We have now done this twice. It really is a beautiful thing. 


Habakkuk 2:3 (NKJV)
For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.