This and That

Many of you have requested to see a picture of the wonderful man that God has brought into my life. So, tonight, after he finished making supper for us so that I could get going on my schoolwork, I convinced him to let me take a picture of him.

Yesterday we spent the day shopping with Rachel and her friend Julie. We had a great time! The weather was absolutely beautiful - not too hot and not too cold. Levi was with my friend Sue and her family so we could really focus on some time with the girls. I got some new clothes for the upcoming cooler temperatures, which is always a plus as I often go into the dressing room with about 10 things and come out with nothing because the clothes look cute on the hanger but not on me.

It has been awhile since I have posted anything about what is happening in our family. It has been a crazy couple of weeks.

The first week of August I helped with VBS at our church. I have helped with it every year since we started doing our own (we used to do the town-wide VBS) except for the year that I went to Mexico City on a mission trip. It was definitely a little more challenging this year with Levi to think about.

That week I also started seeing someone special from my church. It started with him bringing over sweet corn and us talking for 4 hours and took off from there. We have actually known each other for at least 7 years but he was away from the area for 1-1/2 years. He just returned to the area the week before we started seeing each other. His name is Bret and I have been so spoiled since he came into my life. He enjoys my children and loves to help take care of all of us. He went with me when Levi had his procedure just 3 days after we started seeing each other and then to every appointment since then. He helped me a ton to get ready to start the school year, cutting out laminated things and hanging things from the ceiling to name a few. Without him and Rachel, I would not have been ready to start this school year. He opens car doors for me and treats me like a princess.

The week after VBS, besides Levi's procedure, I had to try to get in and get my classroom ready. This years was an especially challenging year because of the roof fire at the beginning of the summer and all the other complications that arose because of the roofing.

The Friday before school started, Levi's 14 month birthday on the 14th, we had our last post placement visit. It is hard to believe that Levi has been a part of our family for almost 6 months. September 2nd it will be officially 6 months. Where did that time go? I was talking to Bret and another friend yesterday and sharing that it has been 7 years since my husband Brent passed away and that in this 7th year, God has brought great things into my life - Levi and him. In the Old Testament it talks about the 7th year being the year of Jubilee. For me, that has certainly been the case. I am amazed at how God has completely restored everything that the enemy tried to steal from me plus given me so much more than I ever dreamed of. Our God is AWESOME!!

Before I close this post, I would like to ask for prayer for a young woman from my church. Her daughter is in my second grade class this year. Her husband had just recently gotten a new job in Waterloo, IA and they were making plans to move there as soon as they had worked things out with her ex-husband in regards to her oldest daughter. Yesterday her husband had a heart attack in Waterloo and passed away. He was only in his 30's. I know that she must be devastated right now. My heart aches so much for her because I know what she is feeling.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today I want to say a special Happy Birthday to my Mom. I am thankful to God for my parents who raised me to be the person I am today. They gave me a solid moral foundation to build my life upon and many opportunities to discover my gifts and talents. They have loved and supported me through many difficult times in my life. I will always be thankful/grateful to my mom for encouraging me to go to Campus Life, where I met Jesus Christ as my Savior. Asking Him to come and live in my heart and guide my life has been the greatest decision I ever made. I love you, Mom!!


"Because He delights in me, He saved me" (Psalm 18:19). Isn't this an amazing thought? God saved me not because of my beauty or my good works or my good attitude but because He delights in me. I am so thankful that it is not based on any of the others because when any of those go, as they all will, then my salvation would be lost.

"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem? Face it, friend. He's crazy about you." (From A Gentle Thunder by Max Lucado) This day as you witness one of the many miracles that God sends our way each day, like a sunrise or a flower or a smile from someone special in your life, I hope you will remember how much God loves you and choose this day to live completely sold out to Him.

Hey all you blog followers, it's me Rachel <3
It's time for my monthly imput and since mom hasn't posted in awhile, I figure that I'd better :]
So here's the update-
1.) School is coming!!!!!! Ahhhhh! That's probably why mom hasn't posted recently, because she's been too busy trying to get everything set up in her room and ready for school to start. Frankly, I wish I could press the pause button on life right about now because I SOOOOOOOOO do not want to start the craziness of school again. Also, this year's going to be a toughie. Here's the lowdown on my schedule---
-A DAY-
1. Honors U.S. History
2. Honors English 3
3. Biology and C Lunch
4. Robed Choir
-B DAY-
1. Human Behavior
2. Spanish 3
3. P.E. and C Lunch
4. Pre-Calc.
(we have block scheduling in case you were confused)

So yeah, as you can see, it's going to be difficult this year in the classes department. And that's just first semester. I have to take trigonometry AS WELL AS pre-calc. second semester. Just kill me now! ;)
Ok, so maybe I'm making more of this than I should. But please, if you're praying, say a prayer of wisdom and patience for me!

2.) This week's been pretty crazy, especially with Levi having had his surgery on Monday, which is, by the way, going pretty well. He is recovering ok. However, he does have a slight ear infection and some respiratory problems he's dealing with right now, but he went the doctor today and got some medicine for it so hopefully he'll be feeling better soon.

3.) I had a birthday party for one of my friends from school (Gwenyth)on Wednesday and decided to post some pictures from that. Every year we redo a Disney movie and her mom tapes us. The first two years I wasn't at her party because we weren't as good as friends then but they did "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". Last year we did "Peter Pan" and this year we did "The Little Mermaid". It's super fun and I look forward to her party every year!





This is just a random one (not from the party) but I like it so I decided to put it on here. TeeHee, the wind is making my hair stick up. :]

Here's Amber, me, and Gwenyth (the birthday girl) peacing it in our jammies


Here are some of our costumes. We use all of Gwenyth's old dance costumes and dress up clothes. Pretty soon we're going to have to find something else though because some of her costumes are getting a bit too small. Gwenyth was Ariel, (this is her land costume) I was Mrs. Triton and Princess Erica, (instead of Prince Eric) Sydney was Sebastiania and Janessa, and Amber was Flounder


We're super cute! Ambs, Me, Gwen, and Dakota getting ready for bed

Procedure

This morning Levi had a little procedure done at the hospital on an outpatient basis. He was a real trooper for the most part. At times it was so hard on me as I tried to console him but to no avail. I just had to wonder what was going through his little mind. I am so thankful that he is young enough that this whole thing will be erased from his memory. Isn't God good?!

I'm thankful for all of my friends and family that prayed for him today and are continuing to pray. I am hoping that tomorrow will see him more like his old self.

The Face in the Mirror

Today Levi found my hair pick and started "combing" his hair with it. It must have looked enough like the comb that he knew what to do because we always stand in front of the mirror when we're doing it. Well, then he got right in front of my full length mirror so he could see what he was doing and he leaned into the mirror and kissed himself. It was the cutest thing! I'm going to have to get my camera upstairs and get a picture of it the next time he does it.

Vacation - Days 4 and 5

I realized the other day that I had yet to post about the last two days of our vacation. It was really difficult to say good-bye to our new friends. In just the short time we got to spend with them, we have come to love and appreciate them very much. We're hoping that someday soon they'll be able to travel here and visit us so that we can offer them the same kind of generous hospitality that they showed us.


Ariana, Natasha and Rachel

Rachel, Avi Joy and Natasha

The kiddos in their jammies

Of course, most of Thursday was spent traveling again. We traveled as far as St. Louis and stopped at the zoo to break up the trip and then on to Springfield to see the Lincoln exhibits (on Friday). Levi really enjoyed seeing all of the animals, as did the girls. They had some animals that I don't think I have seen before, but don't ask me to remember what their names are because I have already forgotten them.

Levi really liked the monkeys

with the big turtles

not a real snake!

in a tunnel

They had a nice little butterfly exhibit where the butterflies are flying free around you as you walk through. This is a Blue Morpho butterfly.

On Friday we went to see Lincoln's home/neighborhood, his tomb, and the State capitol. We were going to go to the Lincoln museum and Presidential library as well but were pretty tired out and decided not to spend the money when we weren't as up to it. We'll have to go back. I'm glad we left when we did as we got home before a big thunderstorm hit. Wouldn't have wanted to be driving in that!


Rachel and Ariana in front of the outhouse behind Lincoln's home

in front of Lincoln's home. They did a lot of remodeling to this house from the time they bought it until they moved to the White House

Lincoln's campaign wagon

the bust of Lincoln in front of the tomb

A-Maize-ing Illinois

the Governor's office with the bullet proof glass added in the 1950's

inside the Capitol building

by the Lincoln statue in front of the Capitol

5 Months as a Family of Three

It's official!! All the paperwork has been signed and Levi is offically my son!


My silly boy! He sure has come a long way!!

Today we have officially been a family of three for 5 months. On March 2nd, 2009, Binh Thanh Nguyen (Levi Elijah Binh Senior) offically became a member of the Senior family as the local official, the orphanage director and I signed the legal documents necessary for him to become my son. It was a glorious day and one that I know I will never forget. I was trying to think what it compares to in the birth of a biological child and I couldn't really think of anything except the feeling you get when you finally get to take your child home from the hospital knowing that now you won't have the nurses and doctors looking over you and your child 24-7. But I'm not sure that it even compares with that. I just know that I am so blessed to have been given the opportunity by God to birth a child and adopt a child. They are both equally wonderful experiences that will live in my memory for all times.