our dozen beautiful feet

This year, we did something new.  We made gingerbread houses for the first time.  I mean, real, full blown, candy laden, frosting covered gingerbread houses.  It was quite an adventure!  I wasn't sure how stiff the dough needed to be, so my first few walls got a little warped in the transfer to the pan.  They wouldn't hold together.  But, I figured it out, and we were able to put together some pretty decent looking houses!  I'm thankful the Marriott Hotel came to town earlier this year, because they have an awesome candy bar.  Expensive, but awesome, and worth it for a special treat like today. : ) They were beautifully expressive to us! : ) She put a penguin gummy in the window.  Hilarious! And, here's just a few pictures of our house this Christmas! Christmas Tree in the corner... Our countdown to Christmas and Ethiopia chain! Christmas table setting

God prompted me on Sunday night after writing about Yusuf to just do a little research and SEE if there were any options for him.  Several hours later, I had found three hospitals in India who perform infant liver transplants AND have social aid programs.  I have contacted all three, and one of them has been very prompt and professional, and the ball is rolling.... Yusuf's medical records have been forwarded to them, they've asked for a current blood test, which the family is doing as I write.  Once they have the results, the head surgeon in Delhi has asked to see them in person.  We're hoping to get them there by the first of next week. God has even provided a friend of ours in Delhi to accompany them to the hospital to meet the doctor. Please, please pray: -That Yusuf will be a candidate for transplant -That one of his parents will be a match to donate part of their liver to him -That God will miraculous provide the means for this transplant to happen (whe...

Please join us in praying for this little boy.  He's 7 months old.  His name is Yusuf.  He is the son of a friend of ours.  His father is a tailor and does not have enough income to meet Yusuf's medical needs... Yusuf has a failing liver.  Two months after he was born and he was still jaundiced, his parents took him to a doctor.  The doctor did some tests and determined his liver was not functioning.  They did some kind of surgery (paid for by donations from people in the families community) that attempted to re-direct or re-route something in his liver. I don't quite understand it all.   It apparently has not worked.  The doctors said it could take several months to see if the surgery would begin working.  Yusuf's stools are still white.  His eyes are very yellow.  The palms of his hands are even yellow.  He has been running a fever for over a month.  The doctors say the only thing left to do is a l...

One of my favorite things about our adoption process so far is our family having been thrust into a new community of other adopting parents.  Walking this road with others has been encouraging, challenging, and such a blessing to me.  I've made several good friends over the past months that I've never even met, but feel such a deep connection with, because of a shared heart for the poor and neglected throughout the world.  My friend Missy, who is adopting two small babies, has decided adopting is not enough.  More must be done.  She has committed to finding sponsor families for an entire school full of children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  And that wasn't enough.  Now she's taken on another school.  She recruited help from us, asking ten blogging friends to find families for ten kids each.  That's 100 kids with families investing in them, loving on them, visiting them if you want!  We will be visiting this school, loving on these kids whi...

This Christmas season I've been seeing a lot of people talking about giving more than we're receiving. Giving more to people outside our families than within our families.  Giving to make a difference in people's live, to help to improve situations for people in hardship, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I love seeing this kind of heart for giving growing more and more in the church and body of Christ in America. I have often been told by folks that they WANT to give and are able to, but aren't sure which organizations are trustworthy, which ones make a difference, who does what, etc.  So here is a list of organizations that we as a family would recommend you look into if you're in this category of wanting to give, but not sure where to start! - World Vision : An organization that does a bit of everything.  Medical needs. Education.  Rescuing women from exploitation. Child sponsorship. Disaster Relief. Advocacy.  Meeting basic needs with water.  View...

Well, we're not behind, because we'll finish our first two units before Christmas.  But, we're behind where I wanted to be at this point.  I'm just glad that I think we can get through before Christmas! I got sick the week of Thanksgiving, so we didn't really get any school done that week.  So this week was Week 15.  It was a fun one! We studied the Israelites occupation of the Promised Land, Canaanite peoples, the battle of Jericho, Joshua's leadership of the Israelites, Rahab, and Caleb.  We also studied the geography and topography of Canaan to learn how different and refreshing it was from the 40 years in the dessert as punishment for their disobedience to the Lord. Tuesday, we made an armored breastplate like Joshua and the Israelite army might have worn.   Then Friday, we re-created the battle of Jericho.  We started by building the city and the wall.  Then we pretended to be the Israelite army and march around seven time...

I've been looking forward to Levi's birthday for months.  Last year, when he turned one, we were all sick.  For several weeks after his birthday people were sick.  So we actually never got around to celebrating his birthday! I've felt guilty for an entire year! : )  So I wanted to do it up right this year. We got up this morning and I quickly got cupcakes in the oven before we loose power at 9.  Then we made pancakes for breakfast. While the power was out, we opened Levi's presents and played! We thankfully got power back early at 10:30 this morning, so I was able to make the frosting and get the cupcakes put together in these cute Mater cup cakes before lunch. Then we had tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch, followed by CAKE! The afternoon was spent watching a movie and playing outside, and a little bit of Wii mixed in there too.  Tacos for dinner, and more cake.  He's one happy two year old today. : ) Can...