Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my neighbors, Chris and Aimee. Chris is so handy and they are always willing to help me out with things. I don't know what I would do without them. Yesterday Chris was able to push out the dent in my van. Hooray!!! Tomorrow Aimee is going to take care of my dog for me. This is just some of the ways that they have helped us out. I truly believe that God has placed them in my life! I only hope that they know how blessed we feel to have them as neighbors and friends.

I am also thankful for my friend Jamie, who despite his battles and busy life right now has been helping us out with Rachel's car. What a blessing for Rachel to have men such as him in her life to be a father figure to her in the absence of her own father.

One of Those Days

Today was one of those days when I felt "blah" all day. I woke up wishing I could just have one day of no responsibilities - no laundry, no housework, no meals to make, no bills to pay, no groceries to buy - you get the picture. Then, this afternoon, my van was making a sound like driving through gravel when I was taking supper to Rachel at work. After a few minutes, it stopped. But I was curious. So, when I got to the nursing home, I got out to look in front under the car. Well, I did find something, but not what I think was making the sound. I found that someone had hit my van. It must have happened yesterday. I had gone to the doctor with Levi and then to Walmart to pick up a few things before heading home. How frustrating that the person that did it didn't leave a note or anything for me. That certainly would have been the polite thing to do. I can't believe I didn't see it yesterday. But then I don't usually check out the front of my van when I get out because I am busy with getting Mr. Levi out.





Speaking of Mr. Levi. We were at the doctor for his one year checkup yesterday and he is now 31 inches tall and weighs 19.2 pounds. He is in the 90th percentile for his height but only the 10th percentile for weight. But that is up from the 5th percentile when we first got home. He also had 4 shots. The poor boy is going to think that every time we go to the doctor he gets shots. Pretty soon that should change, I hope.

Enjoying Summer

Levi was standing at the patio doors "telling" the men how to grill the meat at our 4th of July picnic yesterday. I think he really wanted to be out there with them doing the "man" thing.

Levi and mom in our patriotic t-shirts.

Rachel and her friend Julie at the fireworks. Levi and I stayed home this year.

Rachel and her two friends Aubri and Paige at church this morning.

Rachel and Levi in Morgan's pool.


Morgan and Rachel had fun jumping into the pool in different poses.

Unlike yesterday, today was a beautiful sunny day. We enjoyed going to church this morning as a family. Late this afternoon we got to go to a neighbor friend's house to swim in their big pool. Levi got to ride in the car floatie. He really seemed to enjoy it. I know that Rachel and Morgan enjoyed themselves. I thank God for this wonderful day!

Happy 4th of July

Today we celebrate our independence as a country and all the freedoms associated with it. Tomorrow we celebrate our dependence on Christ and the true freedom that comes only from a relationship with Him as Savior and Lord. I am thankful today to be an American but even more thankful to be a Christ-follower. Today I pledge allegiance to the flag but also to the Lamb who was slain so that I might be completely free of the sin that tries to ensnare me.

Wisconsin Trip Days 3 and 4

On Sunday we joined my parents at their outdoor church service and picnic. It was a beautiful day to be outside, a little chilly in the shade but not too hot in the sun. We had a little tiime before the service began and Levi had fallen asleep on the way to church, so we ran to get some gas and drinks beforehand so that Levi would continue sleeping. As we got back in the car from paying, he woke up with a silly grin on his face. My nephew Jadin was sitting next to him and he said "Jadin". During the church service, as we were sitting in the back, he said it again. He really likes Jadin.







After the picnic we hung out at mom and dad's house for awhile as Levi took his afternnon nap. Grandpa taught Rachel how to play golf on the wii. She did pretty good for the first time.

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Grandma and Levi played a little after he got up from his nap. Then, it was time to get in the car to head up north to see some friends. Levi did really well in the car, despite not sleeping. He even started nodding his head "yes". He is no longer a "no" man only.

We really enjoyed our short time with our friends. Of course it was too short.




We also got to meet Stephanie, whose blog I follow. She is in the process of adopting Mercy, a little girl from Ghana. We had a wonderful visit. I have always thought how amazing it is that adoption brings together not only children and their forever families but also people who may not ever have met before. There is a bond and a connection that is built because of the common highs and lows associated with adoption. I would like to ask that you pray for Stephanie and her beautiful family as they are waiting on a court date so that they can finally go and get their beautiful little girl. For those of you who have gone through the process, you know how difficult the time of waiting can be. There is hope that they could get a court date this week. That's what I am praying for them but also for strength and patience and peace as they wait on God's timing.



It was a nice weekend. We were all pretty well tired out. At least one of us got some sleep on the way home!

Wisconsin Trip Day 2

Today one of my cousins came over with her little guy who was born 2 days after Levi. Levi quickly found Ben's sippy cup, which is exactly like his, and wouldn't let it go. Both boys are really good at sticking out their lower lips when they are upset. At one point, we had both of them with their lower lips out at the same time. It was funny! Of course, they didn't really play together but rather side by side.




Rachel and Levi had this little game they would play. She would come up to the screen house door on the outside and pound on it and then put her face to it and then he would do the same. It was so cute! Boy does this boy love his sister!

We took Levi to ShopKo to get his birthday present from grandpa and grandma. He got a cozy coupe. While we were waiting for grandma to check out, he started playing peek-a-boo with me. I would say, "Where's Levi?" and he would cover his eyes. And then take them away and I would say, "There he is!" I'm definitely going to have to get this on video.

Yesterday was my parent's 45th wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary mom and dad and congratulations! In this day and age, that is quite an accomplishment. We went out to eat as a family at a Chinese restaurant. Then we came back and had had ice cream birthday cake for Levi's birthday/mom and dad's anniversary. We sang to him again and he stood amazed once again.

First Big Trip

On Thursday night after Rachel was finished with work, we got in the car to travel to Wisconsin to visit family and friends. It was our first big car ride since coming home from the airport in Chicago. I thought that this would be a good time to leave because 7:30 is his bedtime and so I figured he would fall asleep and it would be a pleasant trip. Well, let's just say that my children have at least one thing in common. When Rachel was little, she was not a car sleeper. I used to envy the people whose children would fall asleep alsmost the minute they got in the car and sleep the entire time. That was not Rachel and it is not Levi either. For about the first 45 minutes, until I moved into the back seat, he screamed. After that he jabbered and played until 10:15 when he finally fell asleep. That is almost 3 hours past his bedtime. Then he woke up when we got into mom and dad's driveway and was up for about another hour.

Yesterday we spent the day hanging out and meeting people in the area that have prayed for or supported our adoption. The weather was beautiful and so the kids (Rachel, Levi and my nephew Jadin) spent some time in the pool after Levi got up from his nap. They really had a good time playing on the big blow-up toy and making waves. Levi is definitely not afraid of the water.


He loves his cousin Jadin.

Rachel and Jadin hanging out

We put him in his floater when grandpa got it blown up but he didn't like it as well as just standing up in the pool himself. While he was in here Jadin was making waves in the pool.


Rachel is blowing bubbles in the water and trying to get Levi to do the same.






Rachel blew bubbles and Levi chased after them. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the bubbles. He would go over and study them where they lay in the grass. Thankfully he didn't try to put any in his mouth.


Rachel, Levi and Jadin



Mom's neighbor let us play with their little yard playset. Levi loved it! All in all it was a good day!