Helpers

These kids are amazing helpers. They pitch right in and do their best to clean, pickup, and help with whatever we are doing. Mari'An saw me cleaning the kitchen and wanted to help. She ended up wiping all the tables, chairs and counters off. Then she found the broom to sweep the floor. She followed me around wanting more to do. She washed the windows and mirrors and then I called it quits for her. Luke was great at shoe duty and folding towels. Amelia wanted to play but did great at cleaning up the toys. Nadia liked to make a mess. :) Josh, Kayleb and J'Dyn did their normal chores. THey are so good at helping.
Then on Sunday, they were HUGE helpers. Operation Christmas Child started up this weekend. All of the kids except for Nadia, pitched right in to create boxes and the older ones helped hand them out to people. What a blessing it is to teach them how to serve at 4, 5,6 ,7,8,9... YEH!! They can do so much more than what we give them credit for.
Now it is Monday and the weekend is no more. WOW did it go by fast! Homeschooling is going very well. I redid the schedule so that I school all the work on Monday, catch up on Tuesday for things I missed Monday, and then Wed and Thurs are light for me while the kids work independently. Friday is test day. I can do this while watching the new 4. So far this is working out great.
There are some days I think, "WHAT AM I THINKING! Why am I doing all this?" Then the Lord reminds me thru various ways that He has called our family to this. We need to be at home so that we can teach them about Jesus first and foremost and then allow the kids to be kids. I know that I would REALLY miss my kiddos if they were gone all the time. We are able to have lots of fun together-- hiking to find the biggest leaves, searching for pine cones, planting acorns, watching their eyes light up at the first sight something new (that I showed them or taught them). These are precious moments that I do not want anyone other than ME and Dan to experience. This is not the life for everyone, but I am glad that the Lord opened our eyes and hearts to it. The positives far outweigh the negatives.
The new 4 are saying more English words everyday. We are thankful for that. Luke is still relying on his sister for help. We need to work on that.
Joshua and Kayleb are doing great with the changes. They still want more! AHH- not right now.
J'Dyn is having a hard time controlling her "mother" qualities. I try to tell her that she is not going to make friends with her new sis's if she bosses... hmm hmm... I mean tells them what to do all the time. They do not listen to her but she still tries. We are working on this too. :) It is hard to be the big sister at 40 pounds soaking wet.
This has been a good week and we are thankful for that. A friend came up to me this weekend at church and has offered to come over to love on our new kiddos for me. LOVE THAT!!! We will see if our schedules can match up. What a blessing that would be for me! The Lord will provide.
We are dedicating the kids this weekend at first service. WE are SOOO excited to give them to the Lord, promising to raise them to know HIM. This weekend Mari'An was talking about her mommy and her orphanage mommy. She said her mommy wears the head wrap as she is a Muslim and her Orphanage mommy did not wear a head wrap because she loved Jesus. We asked her if she learned about Jesus and she said YES! Another answered prayer. In the middle of a country filled with M, our kiddos end up in a Believing orphanage. Only a God thing. He is so good.
November is Adoption month. Our prayer continues to be that if there is someone out there touched by our kiddso journey, that they would step up, pray, pray some more, and walk out in faith. The Lord will give you a child that will be a blessing like you never imagined.
Sorry, we are pretty passionate about adoption. It is wonderful!
Have a great day!