this girl...

So this girl woke up today with a "stomach ache" and loose bowels...per her.

 I said okay, well your getting old enough to decide if this is sick enough to stay home. 
She himmed and haughed a few seconds...
and then said yeah, i probably should stay home so i don't get my friends sick.

So we do our normal whirl wind drop kids off at school...tell teacher em won't be in class...get any school work that she had to get done today.
take Kevin to parent visit...
come home...

I get Em started on school.
2 minutes into it...
Em:
"mom can I go jump on the trampoline?  I think i need a break."
Me: "um no."

5 minutes later....
Em:
"mom can i go play with my bunny?"
Me: starting to think i've been taken a little advantage of.."um no."

5 minutes later....
Em:
"mom...can i watch tv?
Me: "em no...if your sick you can't do those things...you gotta just sit and rest...and if you aren't sick then maybe you should have went to school.
 Em: okay.

I proceed to mopping the floors...and i'm talking to jesus...and then quietly He says to me..."maybe she just is feeling like she needs more time with you..especially with all the craziness of kevin and how much he requires of you."

Me:"Em....come over here and sit with me"
Em:
okay...runs right over, puts her arms around me and holds on tight...
Me: i'm thanking God for his beautiful wisdom of what she needed...cause my flesh had no idea...we sat and read the bible together while we snuggled...
Man i'm thankful i'm not doing this parenting thing alone...Obviously i have a great husband along my side...but god's infinite widsom is so beautiful..and perfect.


And then i read this...i just had to put it on my chalk board...a great reminder.
James 3:17-18
 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Hows your day?

XOXO!
Gina

family photos...and a little on fostering.

i told our photographer that she had her work cut out for her.
we recently added a new child to our home...
We try not to do things for atleast a month when we add a child to our home.
For multiple reasons...
to give the child a chance to adjust...
to give them a chance to get through the honeymoon stage...
to give us a chance to, well for lack of a better word, bond.
Most foster children like to go to anyone at anytime for anything they need or want.
[which is opposite of what your bio children will do which is come to their parents first.]
in their minds..if they don't like the answer they get from their foster mom or dad just wait cause our environment could change...by maybe just going to church...
or going to the store...
Fosters look for these times...they depend on them...
its there way of not having to deal with their new parents...not having to bond to them...and not letting them attach themselves to them...
so they don't have to have their hearts broken again...if and when they are moved around again.
Its there way of building up walls...and getting what they desire.
and I get that.. i really do.  but its my job as a mom to change that.
to show them they can trust us.  to show them we love them.  to push past the attachment issues and hug them even when they may seem standoffish.
I have seen this in every placement we have had.
Its so hard.
Hard on the foster.
Hard on the foster parents.
Hard on the bio kids.
its just hard.
But if you can get through this initial stage it...some only takes a month...some takes up to 6...it just depends on the child...but if you can get through this the rest of there time[which could be their entire childhood] in your house will be more normal.

so with that in mind...our photographer had her work cut out...but she did a beautiful job.

Our family photos include our new placement because well that is our family at this time.  yes we have some without..but we left that up to the photographer. i have a feeling if we did our family photos now the pics with "K" in them would be even more precious...you would see more of an attachment which he does have with us now..but that is the beauty of pictures..while situations change around you...that pictures doesn't change...it was our "now".

hope you guys have an amazing weekend...

Euchre totals will be up soon.
Totally overwhelmed by our friends response to give.

with a thankful heart.
Gina

[victory] is His!

[victory]

I'm praising Him for victory.

This week has been a week of...

victory in attitudes 

from the littlest.

victory in being able to choose joy

from the littlest .

victory in sweet affection 

from the littlest.

victory in tender words...

mama-bear i love you.

from the littlest.

victory in parent visits.

Our agency is helping.

victory for ezra's baseball team.

they won the championship!

[it was a long season.]

victory in seeing God's hand in this life.

I'm praising the one who has brought this victory.

Love to you all.

Gina

just having a little fun....

While we were waiting for Em to finish her swim class... [she rocked it btw!]
K and I had some fun with my camera... and yes we were making funny faces...hence my eyes!LOL!

and because I have a tendency to do this to make kids laugh...I know lord help these kids! LOL.

He's meshing well with our family.  Praise God.  

Working on potty training.  Learning to love. Learning to trust. Learning to hug.Learning to say please and thank you. learning to pray.  Praise God.

XOXO!
Gina

Ezra...His name does mean helper right?

This child was a total surprise to our family. 

HE has been nothing but a joy...

today he is off his game. nope not livin up to his name today.

To start the day he broke a glass in the sink.

Not a big deal to me, they were super cheap glasses...little did I know this was the pattern for the day.

We headed out to the store because I fried my blow dryer in Ethiopia.

Whatev.

Got in the car and saw I only had 9 miles til empty...normally I'd own it, yep I did it...however this was NOT the case.  Nope, not me this time...

headed straight to the gas station...asked which boy wants to pump.

yep thats how I do. 

if there old enough to put gas in the mower and mow the lawn, there old enough to pamper their mama at the pump. ;)

Ez volunteered.

I said use the cheap stuff.

[you know i'm cheap.]

I look back and gasped as he just put almost 3 gallons of the most expensive!

[my heart was yelling! my mouth not so much yet...sadly]

I told him to stop it and take it out and I'd redo it for the cheap stuff.

Well he was having a hard time listening because he pulled it out while it was still going...

squirted gas all over him.

[this is where I started yelling!] I apologized later.

Well no store for us...headed home.

Told him to put the laundry in the dryer and get his clothes into the washer...

Um..yah, HE broke the dryer.

He put sopping wet clothes into a dryer that still hadn't been completely drained of water yet...

broke the drum.

I take my much needed shower, and i put my hair in that wonky curling trick updo, and pray that it drys before we have to leave tonight for his game...

kinda not banking on it since I have crazy thick hair...You'd think 5 hours would do the trick...nope, not for this mop!

i hope no one stops by unannounced or they will see she-Ra! Ha.

Oh and when I apologized to ez..he got this cute smile on his face and said I forgive you mom..and hugged me.  

Yep. I love him!

So whats your day like?

XOXO!

Gina

New York round two!

So yesterday we landed in new york after 11 hours of flight time.  Seriously that flight seemed longer this time than the first..almost two weeks ago.  I think next time I'd request two night time flights rather than any day time long flights.

We got into new york, and after 11 hours you'd think the airport would be ready for us...the flight staff would be ready for us to "get out".  However we got to our gate and we all stood grabbed our carry ons and then stood there in a line for 20 minutes before they opened the cabin door to release us to the "real world" again.LOL...

Rushed down to get our luggage...after passing through immigration...and we waited for almost a good hour for our luggage.  Then walked around the carousel to look for our missing luggage...and someone was kind enough to take it off the belt and set it on the ground.  boy I wish we would have taken that walk around the carousel sooner...cause for some reason when we get down past immigration and to get the luggage my stomach starts to hurt.
We get into our reserved ride to head to our hotel in new york.  So interesting how many people were striking up conversation with us...asking if we lived in new york....why we had so much luggage.  It was neat to be able to share with them what we did and where we went.  We get to our hotel and we order pizza to be delivered...because while we had the energy on the trip going to explore new york, on the trip coming we lacked that energy with a passion...or maybe we lacked that too!LOL.
While waiting for our pizza to be delivered...we looked over because the kids were super quiet... sure enough they were asleep!  poor things had been up for over 24 hours by this point...i however took a few naps on the flight...trust me no one would want to be around me without a little sleep!  and that ain't no joke!  Pizza came, we ate..and we were all asleep by 7:40!
Tony and i paid dearly for that fall asleep so early....1:30 i looked at the clock... 2:00 looked again..2:30 looked again...3 was like oh my gosh I have to get up!  During those hours of laying there awake...i got  the opportunity to pray for the kids at the orphanage and for our friends running it...and the song ran through my heart "the cost."

[one of the boys i was praying for last night while I should have been sleeping!]

[me and my boy on one of our flights home...after our nice long hot shower in new york.]

WE got up at 5 am and took showers...oh how wonderful they felt.  we are spoiled americans I tell you!    to shower without worrying about lizards being hidden in the shower...and not having to worry about the walk to the shower and the baboon that graced us with his presence more than I cared for..... don't get me wrong...i'm not complaining... i wouldn't have changed our experience for the world...but it was a little culture shock.  There were other "hotels" in awassa we could have stayed at...but I really felt convicted by even thinking of going to a "nicer" hotel while we are going to this land to see the people and the community and the way they live and then for us to go to a 4-5 star hotel each night....i don't know just seemed wrong to me.

And while i hate camping more than anything...I think I did pretty good...all things considered.
So this morning..we headed on two planes to get back to Michigan.  Had to run to the grocery store for bread and milk to get us through til tomorrow...and i had thoughts of just a few days ago the "market" we were shopping at...and the hunt to just find cream to make butter.  These memories will be with us for a life time....To GOD I am thankful for that and HIM be the glory.

and a beautiful pic just to show you how amazing the lord is!

[my boys on the top of the mountain that they climbed early in the am while the princess' slept.]

XOXO!
Gina

Monday in awassa, Ethiopia

I can not believe that as of tomorrow we have one day left here in awassa.  Time has flown by.  We have seen the lord in many ways this trip.  We have met many people.  Ethiopians, Americans, Canadians, Swedish, Germans, and the list goes on...I think my favorite part about this country is that this country is warm...even though at times your not exactly sure what is being said, there is still usually a smile on each others faces while trying to understand. I know I as an American can get caught up in my day to day routine and just put my head down and continue to grind through my day without even having to be social to anyone...that is not the case here. Today is the first day we went out on our own into town.  Kinda scared about it for the first couple of days...but after the first couple of days I was ready.   We went and got coffee....oh yum!  Let me just say we went to time cafe and got a double coffee, large 2 ltr bottle of water, and 4 glass bottle sodas and we paid $4.00!  I'm so gonna miss this!  We then ran across the street for our new friend Ellen...she needed some bread to make the kids in the children's home some radish sandwiches....I just so happened to make some butter [a VERY hot commodity here] and all she needed was the butter, bread and radishes which they grew in the garden at the children's home....after we got our bread we headed back to the house and then went and saw the kids again for the 3rd time that day.  Those kids are just so precious!  Each one has captured a place in my heart.   There's [4] that have especially captured my heart....one is a 10 year old girl named marta...her sweet spirit has won my heart...em really enjoyed playing with her today so much...holding hands, playing soccer together....while we were inside em and the girls were outside playing and I could hear all of there belly laughs which was so great to hear! The next one who has also captured my heart is lantou.... She is so precious! I could just listen to her talk for days...she is so sweet and loves Jesus! Soon I will post a video of her love for Jesus... The next one is amanu...this little boy is usually a sad boy, who doesn't smile much, but has been so smiley since we've seen him...he is the little boy that had malaria pretty severe and almost died...he is I believe only 2...oh how I love to see his face light up when we come in the gates...and he just loves to sit on my lap and wear my sunglasses and bracelets.... And then there is mieret...she is beautiful and sweet and just turned one year old...and of course she keeps with my theory of the cuter they are the fiestier they are...she loves to play hard to get.... I could go on about each child there....but I won't this time.... On Sunday tony got to teach at the children's home...that was cool...a little put on the spot, but a blessing for sure.... Tonight was our first walk home hearing the hippos!  That was sweet! Tomorrow [tuesday] on the agenda is lunch with our friends..Rachel and argaw and Ellen [which I'm sure they must be sick of us by now, but wont admit it!]...and then were off to our "house" where there offering kids sports and our kids and the kids from the children's home will get to play around a bit...I'm sure they will love that.   Seriously I can't believe our time here is almost up...everyone one and just about every experience is going to be missed very much! Love, Gina

You can help us help the people of Ethiopia!

My family and I have our plane tickets! EEEKKK!! So nerve racking!  God is doing amazing things already.

We have a layover in Egypt which we have booked a tour for the kids to see the pyramids.  It will be so neat to read to them the scriptures while looking at them to understand that they were built in biblical times.  I'm also thankful we found something to do while we wait for our 11 hour connecting flight.  Hopefully this little outing will give them enough energy to get back on the plane for the next jont.  Ethiopia! 

So we asked the beautiful family that runs the orphanage if they are in need of anything for the kids there, or the families that are being sponsored by people just like you.  And she did give us a list...Would you pray about helping us stuff our suitcases to the max for these beautiful people?

Needs for the orphanage:

Shoes for girls sizes 10-11 all the way up to 3-4's.

Boys and girls clothing mainly for older kids...preteen, teenagers to young adults and pretty much anything in between....but if you feel God laying a specific size that is not listed here on your on heart...listen to Him, He will have a plan for it!

The orphanage gets a lot of infant clothing donated...so that's why that's not being requested.

Samaritans purse shoe box items...small toys, tooth brushes, small books, coloring stuff....all that you would put in one of those shoe boxes...


Our Needs:
We still could use monetary [$$] donations for our trip....this is costing every bit of the initial we felt God calling us to save.. $10,000.00 plus more...So if God is laying it on your heart...There is a donate button on this blog, or contact me for our mailing address.  We still have many expenses to pay for...Lodging at multiple locations for just over two weeks, transportation,  food for 5 people for two weeks, Tony taking two weeks completely unpaid, immunizations $1,000.00!  We had not idea!  and others...

oh and i still am selling headbands to raise money for this trip...like this... completely customizable [you pick your colors]...just email me if you want to buy one...$25.00 per headband for woman or a lot smaller for you daughter for $15.00.  :)

FEED [1] Orphan Money... Also still accepting donations....items still available for purchase.  contact us if you need more information.

Prayer!  please pray for us.   pray for our time there.  pray for our hearts to be opened.  pray for safety.  pray for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to anyone and everyone we come in contact with.

Pray for health for our family.  Specifically Emma has to get a lot of shots, and her little body doesn't hand shots well.  But as a friend said today...God's got this!  Amen, he does...but we covet your prayers.

Pray for wisdom and discernment and filling of the holy spirit with our entire family.

Okay, I gotta go run sweet Emme to the doctor now, cause she is sick, again....

XOXO!  
WE really do love you guys!
Gina
P.S our travel dates are June 3rd-June 15th.  :)
  

The Lord gives...and the Lord takes away...Still I will bless him!

Many of you... friends and family have traveled this short road with baby boy in tow of our family for the last 2.5 months...

 
Man how you can love someone so fierce in that short amount of time.  I know this is the Lords plan.  To love him somthing fierce.  My heart at times wonders why?  Why we have learned to love so much, so crazy and then to take it away...Part of me says its prep for Africa...part of me says its part of him teaching us to truely love with no strings attached...and part of me says its what he has wanted all along...do you think you could look after the orphans and widows like it says in james 1:27 without LOVE?  After "looking after" baby boy for just the short time we did...I know its just NOT possible.  Not for me anyway.  Not for my Sugar Dumplin either.  Nor for my kids...
The Lord constantly amazes me with his word.  It seems to really minister to me right where I am at.  This week in a bible study at home with a friend... Its right where I'm at.  Having faith in God.  Not man.  Having faith when we pray...not doubting Gods promises!...

James 1:5-6 says
If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
  [see that doubting thing...thats where I really struggle!]

And what ministered to my heart in my footnotes...
[It , wisdom,  begins with genuine reverence for God and a steadfast confidence that God controls all circumstances, guiding them to His good purposes]

I reminded the kids last night as they were sad...and crying because they love him so...that We are just a vessel...but God is the one who is actually looking over Senny.  Its not in us to be able to care for him the way we have been...But Jesus who works through us to accomplish his will for Senny...And then I asked them..."now do you think that God is going to take His hand off of Senny's life, just because He is changing homes?"  Thankfully they sincerely understood...And dried the tears up...and was able to fall asleep without any problems.  

back to our study....David's decision not only affects him...It affected the whole town.  I've really been pondering this lately...because Tony and my decision to take Seneca and really any child doesn't just affect us...It the kids, My parents, his parents, grandparents and friends...After much thought and prayer...I believe its What God has for our family...My kids are learning to love selflessly[as am I !]...they get nothing in return...except for maybe a smile or two from a baby they've never known before......but they for sure get the opportunity to LOVE unconditionally.  and for that I'm grateful to the Lord for. 

Friends and family...I'm sorry if this is hard on you as it is on us...But I know God is birthing in us something He desires. 

You all have blown me away with your love and support...every Facebook or text saying your praying for us makes me cry all over again...because the Lord is so good in great friends that LOVE.
Your generosity in letting us borrow so much baby stuff the week we brought him home still overwhelms me. 
The fighting over who he loves more...is such a blessing to me to hear and see...its as if the Lord has breathed fresh air into our hearts with your love.  Thanks friends and family...
And as I posted in my pics on Facebook...I hope to do it again really soon [please Lord!]

And to end with my prayer for my little man....
Lord nothing has changed...As we did almost a month ago, we leave Senny's life in your hands...knowing you created him...you love him something fierce more than me...I'm amazed by that thought...Thank you for letting us have him for the time you did...thank you for letting us love him...thank you for teaching us to love him even while he was angry and detoxing...thank you that you have brought him through most of that...Lord thank you for the opportunity to be used by you! We pray protection, and honor and praise on Sennny's life...we ask for your loving kindness to always be extended to him...protect his mind and heart from being anywhere but right next to you...the safest place to be Lord....We ask Lord if it be your will to bring him back to us permanently...we ask your will be done only Lord! You Lord gave and you Lord have taken away...blessed be your name Lord.
Amen.

XOXO!
Gina

Where the sweat stops the tears begin...

This morning i was running/walking/running/walking on the treadmill.  I'm not a runner.  Never have been.  So wish I was and always had been.  This is my first year of trying to learn to run and run correctly.  The best description of running for me is like a toddler who just learned to walk that really wants something bad and trys to run...there feet go every which direction and there knees start to buckle maybe even bow in a little...yep that's me.  sad I know...but i'm working on it.  learning to not be so lead-footed when running...man that's hard too!
Anyway enough about that...I was working out this morning..while little bubba took a nap...and i was just pouring with sweat.  I mean I'm just gross.  and i'm almost done...my 30 minutes was about up, and this song came on "how he loves us" by John Mark Mcmillan and i was walking for my cool down and just singing to HIM...and the Lord, not through just this but through the course of my bible study this morning and my constant praying for little bubba and GODS will for him and our family...through getting our passports done...putting feet to our faith because of his faithfulness and LOVE in our lives...spoke to my heart....which is what I was asking for today[earlier in my study with him] litterally it just broke me down to a complete sob.  I couldn't sing anymore verbally but my heart was still singing as loud as it possibly could to the one who loves me!  Loves me enough to give me a husband who loves him...who loves me enough to give me my beautiful sweet and sometimes fiesty kids, and who love him....who loves me so much to give me bubba [and how much he has taught us through this]....and who loves me enough that I can trust in and walk next to and who reminds me just when I need to be reminded yet totally sideswiped by his LOVE for me!
I hope your day is totally blessed!
XOXO!
Gina

oh baby...

This past Sunday we had baby boy dedicated to the Lord.  This is something the Lord layed strong on our hearts.  Especially if he is to leave our family to go with his family.  I wanted his life to be dedicated to Him...
I wasn't prepared to be so emotional.  But as the pastor spoke before hand that we wanted to dedicate him before he went to his grandma...i started to feel emotional.  I was like...whoa.  slow your role...as my man prayed over this baby boy and then the pastor...the tears were fierce.  i did my best to hold them in.  This little man is so special in so many ways...not only is he sweet even if he does like to throw some crying fests my way...and my love for him is strong...like my own babies...but he has helped answered many questions in my heart.  Could we ever adopt?  Could we love another child as our own?  Could we fulfill the calling God has placed on our family and still go to Africa this summer[another calling on our lives].  All with the answer of yes. 
So as we gave his life over to the Lord asking God's hand on him always...we still continue to pray YOUR will be done Lord in this situation. 
I'm sure many are wondering what if it doesn't work out with grandma?  They will call us first.  And yes we will take him back.  Is it a guarantee that he is going to be with Grandma?  Not yet...we can not get a hold of our DHS worker...to find out if the home study was approved or not. 
I asked my husband...honey what was the point of having this sweet little guy only a month?  His answer "

⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” Matthew 10:42


Not that we do this for a reward..but it blesses the Lord.  That is why.  
So thankful for his Biblical answer!


Today as I took baby boy to see his mom...I was early and praying for the visit...the Lord lead me to this scripture.. 
 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:18-20 NKJV)



I was so thankful for this.  The Lord new exactly what I needed today.  Took him to see His mom...got there a little early.  As she walked in she was already irritated.  I was not surprised..but said good morning and showed her her baby boy.  She asked for our case worker and then walked away with him.


As I headed out to the car, i passed by the room...and the mom with her newly done hair and nails was picking at her nails instead of paying attention to her baby boy.  I couldn't believe it.  I left in tears.  I called my husband and in tears said I don't understand.  He asked me what is wrong.  I told him, i don't understand how someone who hasn't seen her baby in 4 days could not be bothered with him.  I don't understand how he has to leave our car and go into some other situation that is unknown when we love him so much.  I don't understand why she is his mother?  My husband comforted me...with gracious words...I hate calling him in tears.  I hate crying.  i cried out to the lord and said once again...Lord your will be done.  
Please family.  pray with me.  pray that something changes with this situation if its God's will.  pray that this moms heart is softened.  pray that she learns how to love.  pray for me.  
I'm thankful for where the lord has taken me and softened me towards this mother...but still so difficult sometimes to understand.


The Lord after the visit opened up opportunity to share with a case worker why we do this.  Why we love these babies even if we have to give them back. to love them something fierce even when mom hates.  That its only by the grace of god none of us have traveled down the same path this mom has...by His grace we are saved.  [so thankful for that!]

So here's to another week with baby boy and my awesome kids and amazing husband...thank you Lord! 
Have  a blessed day friends!
xoxo
Gina

a tradition, two trees, three happy kids, and a partridge in a pear tree!

Tradition.....

 Every year we stop and get coffee and hot chocolate on our way to the same tree farm for as long as we've lived in Genesee county... really its a guy with a vision who has turned his back yard into a tree farm. Sweet family.... I pray the lord blesses them for there kindness to others... They actually said merry Christmas! Can you believe it....okay pick yourself up off the floor...I was as shocked as you.

They tied our trees to our roof... Yes. I said trees...as in two.... I was shooting for three but the mister put his foot down....maybe next year! God has truly blessed us with a nice size house so a few years back I came up with a pretty brilliant idea to get two trees....one for the living room and one for the family room, to my shock my sweet mister said sure! I know sweet right?! And a little bit crazy?! So this last Saturday our tradition continued we headed out the Saturday after thanksgiving and cut down our trees.... Came home and put on some Christmas music and started getting the trees decorated and the rest of the house.

 Dark approached soon and the kids ran outside to see the lights...they loved it....I loved it! 

Next up on our tradition is to go to braunners... The biggest Christmas store in Michigan and let everyone pick out a new ornament....

Oh and cant forget that on the traditions list is more coffee and hot cocoa and driving around looking at Christmas lights...

What about you???? Got any traditions to share?

Merry Christmas friends!

Gina