Bring Me Hope

Allie participated in a bike-a-thon this morning along with quite a few kids from our church.  They were raising money for Bring Me Hope, an organization who sends Chinese orphans to camp to hear about Jesus.  Our church sent a team last year to China, and my friend Mommy Lion spent two weeks at their camp ministering to orphans, so I was able to hear about it first hand.  Our church is sending another team this year, and the kids raised money to  sponsor orphans to attend the camp.  

Poor thing...her bike was broken, so she rode Mary's bike which was much too small!

Allie buddied up with a friend.  I don't think they would have ridden as far without each other!  Thanks E:)  They rode 10.5 miles! 


If you are interested in supporting this ministry, please email me at meredith@gohogs.net to donate.  She collected pledges/lap and donations before today, but we don't have to turn it in until April 15th, so she would love to raise more money!

Really?

Today will be stamped in my head forever.  We received the news that our boy's exit permit was submitted today.  I received an email after lunch, and the hubs was sleeping (working nights).  I could not wake him, so I left a note.

Is it REALLY happening?  YES IT IS!!!

I was filled with emotion.  It's been such a long wait for this day.  God's timing is absolutely perfect, and we've known that all along, but it doesn't make waiting any easier.

We are not sure of details, but he should be home in 8-10 weeks.  Please be praying!!! 

AGGGGHHH!!!  I've never been so happy to have a reason to buy diapers again!

(if you can't read bottom of the mirror it says "EP DAY 3/29")

No tears here

Mary has cried almost weekly before dance.  I think for her, doing any after school activity was a bust because adjusting to school 5 days a week was hard enough.  When she gets in the car and realizes it's a dance day, the tears start to flow!

Today was picture day.  She may not like the class, but she loves the outfit!  

I snapped this before we headed out, and she looks way too grown up. BOO!

Dream

Mary is the kid in our nest who has vivid dreams and sometimes nightmares in her sleep.  Usually they occur when she's very tired, and so her kindergarten year, they've been more common.


This morning, she reported this.


Mary:  "Mommy, I had the BEST dream last night."


Me:  (she's not the type to use sensational sentences or anything all inclusive.) "The BEST dream? Wow Mary, I've never heard you say that.  Tell me what it was about.


Mary:  "Well, in the beginning it was very sad.  Something happened to you and daddy, and I am not sure what, but you were not in our family anymore."


Me:  "Ummm...OK. This sounds more like a bad dream."


Mary:  "No, Mommy, this super kind lady adopted us and she was so, so sweet.  We lived with her for the whole time we were kids and she was our new mommy."


Me:  "Oh. Well, I if getting new parents is your best dream, then I don't really know what to say."


HOW STRANGE!  I know dreams don't mean anything, but it bothers me that she said this was her BEST dream.  I will have to investigate more about this "kind lady."  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry!!

Weekend in review

Getting back into the swing of things this week has not been easy for the kids.  Garrett does not understand why bath time occurs when it is day time.  Sorry dude!  

Makes us all ready for summer!!!

We ended spring break with a visit from Katie, Bunny, and Zach.  Katie spoke at my sister's MOPS group on Monday, and she did an incredible job sharing their journey the last 2.5 years.  I looked at her and said, "I don't know how you do this."  To which she replied with a smile, "me either."  The Lord has given her a voice not only to encourage other families who have suffered great loss, but also to encourage us all to put our hope in the Lord and nothing else.

Zach was as animated as ever.  Unfortunately, I didn't take many pics, and the ones I did take, he looked LESS than thrilled.  

He looks more like a prisoner more than a super hero.

Poor Z...the humiliation brought on by the girls.  Where was Garrett during all this?

Those are four of the most fake smiles I've ever seen!  Poor G has had eye problems from all the pollen.  He's been swollen for a week!

Thanks for joining us Bunny!  We are that much closer to getting a hamster..Allie says thanks:)  

My roller coaster gene...

The first time I rode a roller coaster was on our honeymoon.   You could call me big chicken risk averse.  It appears that I have passed my irrational amusement park fear on to all three kids.  We were hoping Garrett would prove us wrong...

....yeah I don't think so.

He ended up riding the most benign of little kid roller coasters.  (I could have pulled him faster in a little red wagon.)  Mary was sitting behind him, and she said, "Mom, he's so scared!"  Oh well.  Maybe Chubby will break the trend!

The fair was just a little one set up in the mall parking lot here in town, but the kids LOVED it.  So long Spring Break.  We loved you!

What could it be??

any guesses?