Remedy to Lack of Pics....

My husband with superpowers fixed my blogging problem, so now I can post without difficulty!  Look forward to more posts again :)

Friends!

Our little friend Noah came to visit yesterday while his mommy and daddy moved all their stuff to a new apartment! As you can see, Noah got LOTS of kisses.....

...and lots of attention!

I think he likes Lily :)

Sprinkler Fun

Lily Flower

...with some of our first flowers from the garden!

 

Yikes....Catch up!

Blogging is getting a bit more challenging these days!  Between our slow internet and a busy girl, I have less time to be here on the site.  Have no fear, I am not quitting!  I just have a lot to catch you up on :)

One...AMBER.

Praise the Lord that we were not dismissed from Amber's case!  Thank you all for praying.  Our lawyer met with the judge and social workers a week ago.  The adoption trial, and hopefully end of all this, is set for June 23rd.

Two....WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING?

Playing outside with "Garden Colors"...that is what Lily calls sidewalk chalk!

We visited "Falls of the Ohio" after all the rain to see the rapids...

Nice face, Lily:)

We have been in the garden, to the farmer's market, to Huber's to pick strawberries...we voted for our friend who was running for senate...

and have been all over Louisville!  

We have also enjoyed play dates with friends...

Here is Lily at the park for a play date.  The sprinklers were on...Yay!

Picnic lunch. 

Fun, fun , fun!

Lily also went to her first "Princess" birthday party!  She got to wear her pretty princess dress from Auntie Lory!  

As I said, we've been busy!  Now I am off to weed the jungle that I call my garden.  Hopefully in a couple hours it will look like a garden again!

Pray for baby Haddon......

.....he is staying an extra night in the hospital because 

of jaundice. Karlyn is able to stay with him.  

Pray they can come home tomorrow.

Cute post of....

Levia & Haddon Here

Welcome, Haddon Allyn Anderson!

Lily would like to welcome her new cousin!  He was born today and weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz...at 3 weeks early!  We love you already, little guy!

Happy 'Gotcha' Day, Lily!

This is the very first pic that we have of Lily in our home.  We traveled down on Mother's Day two years ago, then adopted Lily the very next day!  We started home right after our court appearance...we were so anxious to get Lily home after what had happened with Amber.  She was so quiet all the way home..just kept looking around with those big brown eyes.  We walked in the door at 2 a.m. and snapped this pic :) Home sweet home...
I did not get much sleep that first week....not because of her, I just watched her while she slept...awed that God had given me such a gift so soon after losing Amber...it was ache and healing all at once...

We love our Lily Grace, pure and undeserved gift..

A Happy Mother's Day Weekend

 ...We started out at Bass Pro Shop on Saturday evening and had fun looking around.  Lily found a children's tent and chair to '"relax in"...

....then on Saturday night Lily handed me a present to wear to church on Sunday morning.  New dress, earrings to match and new sandals!  Good job shopping, daddy!  We had a picnic at the park right after church...

(Notice the new dress and shoes!)

We came home, took a long nap, then Weyland built a fire (it was chilly today) and we roasted marshmallows for s'mores!  Lily was not to into the s'mores, but she loved the "mellows"

I feel very blessed on this Mother's day!

Happy Mother's Day

About three years ago, my mom wrote this letter for me for my baby shower. I often refer back to it, especially on Mother's Day. It helps to remind me how precious these days are with Lily, and how I need to always make the most of every moment. Mother's Day used to be such a painful day for me, and I ache for those who desire to have children and have not been given that blessing yet. For those of you who are waiting to be moms, and are moms already, may this encourage you to be good M.O.T.H.E.R.S. ......

Dear Katie,
I was asked to write a special letter to you and so many thoughts flooded my mind. I wanted to specifically write something that would help you as you will soon begin mothering your own children. You have nurtured and mothered other children...but now you will have an awesome responsibility of raising children given to you through the hand of God. This letter seemed a bit overwhelming since there are so many things I could say. Because of that, I prayed God would give me some thoughts that might be helpful just for you. Many of these things will be familiar, especially the passages of scripture I jotted down to support these thoughts. I love you and wish I could be physically there with you...I will be praying for you so see God's unfailing faithfulness. Remember, don't be anxious....God is always at work, even when we don't see the progress ourselves.

I am going to use the word "MOTHER" to provide some reflections as you ponder what each letter represents.

M: Mission
As moms, our mission is to point our children to Christ in everything. We want them to see Christ, to love Christ, and to joy in Christ. We teach this through everyday experiences....even in their disobedience to reveal their need of a Saviour. We have no greater purpose. And we have no greater joy than to know our children walk in the truth (1 John). In Acts 3, Peter and John were standing by the cripple...the crippled man asked for silver and gold. But Peter replied, "Silver and gold I don't have....but such as I give thee...in the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk." we are to give Christ...that is the greatest need...and that is what we have been given. The scriptures to support these thoughts are Psalm 40, Psalm 41, Psalm 119:103, Psalm 32, Psalm 34

O: Overcome & Open
I'm thinking of overcoming the lies of the world that would turn us from treasuring Christ. How can you as a mom show that Christ is your greatest treasure? That He alone satisfies?
"O" is also for Open. Have an open home. Psalm 46:1 says that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Your children will be blessed as you open your home as a refuge for others to be encouraged. Let them sit with you and hear you counsel others to trust Christ. Scriptures to support these thoughts are Psalm 119:104-105, Psalm 11:113-118, 2 Peter 5:6-10, Proverbs 4:23

T: Teach, Trust, Thankfulness
Mothers actually become the learners....but teach your trust on God at ALL times...and work hard at communicating thankfulness to God and to them. (Psalm 25, 121, 124; Matthew 6) Where your treasure is...and God's care in meeting all our needs. And, of course, teaching them to bow before the Lordship of Christ over everything in our lives. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 23)

H: Heart, Home, Haven
You have done an excellent job in making your home a haven. When the heart of your home is in it's proper place, it stays a haven. Keep the world out of your home....keep Christ as the center. And outwardly be loving as a husband & wife...it makes your kids feel secure and content. (Psalm 46:1; 1 Peter 3:8-18; Psalm 127:1)

E: Eternal significance
Mothering reaps eternal fruit. This can be hard to keep in mind on a bad day, when you feel like you are not appreciated. Or when everyday battles are still every day! Remember the verses about sowing to the spirit and sowing bountifully, 1 Corinthians 9:6-12. Read it daily. God gave me a thought of driving along a countryside and seeing fields of corn that are tightly planted , right to the edge of the road. I'd say. "This farmer is a very hard worker." If I were to drive vast field with three stalks of corn, I would say, "This farmer has wasted his land, he may not yield anything." So it is with what we put our hand to do, especially in parenting. SOW bountifully...and trust God to give you grace, strength, and eternal fruit. (Psalm 119:89-91; Psalm 113; Ecclesiastes 3)

R: Reward, Respect
This goes back to reaping what we sow. Proverbs 31:28 talks about children rising up and calling their mother blessed. Ephesians 4:13-32 says to put away bad speaking and to be kind, tenderhearted to one another. When our Children come to Christ, we are fellow heirs of Promise...the same power at work in us, Christ, is at work in them.

S: Serve, Strength
I didn't want to leave these out since our strength comes from the Lord. We are weak, but His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9 & Lamentations 3:21-26) We have hope because His faithfulness is new every morning...and WE NEED His faithfulness because we are not perfect. Draw on His promise that "Faithful is He who called you, who also WILL DO IT." 1 Thessalonians 5

Now these are not part of M.O.T.H.E.R.S. letters. But they are vital to live each day as a mother.....

Prayer, Purpose, Perseverance, and Patience (In that order)
Prayer is the foundation. We plead with God to build our home or we labour in vain.

Purpose is trusting in God's plans and conforming us have joy in His good purposes. (Eccl. 3, A time and a purpose for everything...Everything beautiful in HIS time...God doing the work that we may fear Him)

Persevering through trials...God is sovereign...God IS acting....God is FOR US and not against us.

And lastly, Patience. We never attain this...although is has it's perfect work...producing HOPE. Hope in what? God at work. God's faithfulness. Us delighting in our Heavenly Father who models His patience with us, daily.

With a full heart for you,
Love,
Mom (Mother)
_______________________________________________

Thanks mom for these words that often encourage me and strengthen me to trust in God's work over my own.  I hope these words encourage you again in  your own mothering once again.  I Love you more and more....

As we wait.....

Psalm 25

1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are want only treacherous.

4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths.

5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long.

6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

8 Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9 He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble his way.

10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,

for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11 For your name's sake, O Lord,

pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12 Who is the man who fears the Lord?

Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13 His soul shall abide in well-being,

and his offspring shall inherit the land.

14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,

and he makes known to them his covenant.

15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

bring me out of my distresses.

18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,

and forgive all my sins.

19 Consider how many are my foes,

and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I wait for you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,

out of all his troubles.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Many of you have been so giving to us this past year as we pursue adopting Amber.  You have read or listened to our roller coaster ride for over two years now.  I want to thank you and ask you to continue praying.  We do not know what the outcome will be, but we ask for God's grace in our decision making.  We have little news from last weekend...our lawyer still needs to meet before the judge for a final word.  Please pray for wisdom for him.  We ache for all this to be over, it has been a long, emotionally exhausting rode for all of us.    We ache for Amber, even though she knows nothing of all this, she is still a foster child and needs a forever family, whomever that may be.  We need the Lord to work for us...please pray that the end would be very near....

Impromptu "Hike"

We decided last minute yesterday afternoon to take a picnic McDonald's dinner to Bernheim Forest State Park!  It was a perfect day!  We were excited to get out of the city a little to see some sky and forest....

 Enjoying Chicken Nuggets & Fries

The View

Listening to all the different bird calls...we counted 5, she said there were 10!  Maybe her hearing is better:)

My love & I

Our beautiful gift

On our way to get ready to hike....

Sox, tennis, hat, bug spray.....potty stop...ready...

Our little hiker checking out the trails!

We're off!

Running along...she ran almost the whole 1.2 miles :)...with lots of stops for pics & flowers & turtle sightings!

Looking for turtles...

...and counting them...

..daddy's girl.

Me & My favorite girl!

Listening to a Bullfrog....She thought someone had passed gas:-)

a flower for you

"I love you, daddy"

Taking a rest

Feeling the "pretty tree"

WHAT A FUN DAY!