As we headed into summer things seemed sad and empty as we looked ahead (we had planned on 2 trips to Ethiopia this summer and bringing home Symonne), Satan seized the opportunity to bring in doubts and discouragement. Thank you for your prayers and mostly thank you to our faithful God! One of my prayers to the Lord was "surprise us with JOY"...and He did!
It was been a busy and wonderful summer! The healing the Lord has brought these past few months has been more than we could have imagined and we are so very thankful!
Above is...Mommy & Ellyana one last hurrah before the end of the school...next year she is a big preschooler!
Zach's 1st grade last field day & his AMAZING teacher!
BJ's end-of-the-year class party at the skating rink. 1st time on skates...he does not give up!
Our principal's retirement party...sad to see him go! Trusting the Lord with the future!
I was going to try to wait to till the end of the summer to get Ellyana's hair trimmed but it was so "ratty" I decided to take her in at the beginning. This stylist washed it, blew it out straight, trimmed it and put two precious braids in the front and then braided the back. She was so kind saying her daughter's hair was just like Ellyana's. It was a fun experience for her to get all that done. At the end of the hour Ellyana was ready to go but so very proud of her hair! The little braids in the front have lasted for over 1 1/2 months. So worth it for summer fun (bike helmet, swim cap...)! The budget version of the salon was wonderful!
Zach played a little too hard at a friend's birthday party...a trip to the ER said it was just a sprain...thankfully!
Once we took out the french braids in the back of her hair it was a loose curl...so pretty!
The kids and I headed to a huge Ethiopian camp-out (Brian worked that weekend so we decided to check it out on our own). It was an amazing experience to see probably close to 100 Ethiopian adopted kids running around and all of their families. The kids & I did not camp but it was fun to go in the evening and meet families (these kids above live near us).
Self-portrait...Brian & I headed out for our 15th anniversary trip!
So fun at the grocery store on Sunday morning to hear Christian praise music playing.
Enjoying the fresh fish!
Beautiful beach, wonderful time to be together!
Back to the Midwest...lots of fun with family!
Zach was amazing "skiing"!
So great to get to catch-up with an old friend!
Ellyana picked her napping spot!
Always a joy to see these women!
Special time with Grandpa & Grandma.
Came home to the massive limb down in our backyard...some others may have called a tree service...not us!
Our actual 15th anniversary, celebrated at a friend's wedding! So thankful for the Lord that brought us together!
VBS week-the hottest one of the summer! Lots of fun & lots of great learning for the kids.
I do the outdoor activities...the more serious stuff happens inside.
Thankful for the focus on the Armor of God...great truths to keep building on!
Thankfully the kids had their swimsuits on for the VBS picnic, there was a crazy pop-up thunderstorm...fun in that & then off to the splash pad!
Zach had a great season of baseball. He like playing 1st base the best...but the gear is pretty cool for being catcher!
BJ at a Lego Robotics camp...he has enjoyed his time with this!
Good time visiting with my whole family a few weeks ago.
Celebrating everyone's birthdays!
One of the birthday boys in his new Minecraft t-shirt.
A fun find!
Amazing CAT museum!
Bowling is a BIG hit with the family!
These girls are growing up...can't believe they are 4 1/2 now! Precious!
Fun of summer at home...you never know what you will see...the police giving Mario a ticket!
Pretty special to get to connect with a local adoptive family with Guatemalan and Ethiopian adoptive kids...really fun time together!
High-school friend...happy we could meet up again!
Enjoying Orange Leaf for our 1st time.
Special to be at the Gateway sale and the little line-up of kiddos from Ethiopia...very neat!
Finishing up summer reading and swimming lessons.
Our neighbors just moved...we will really miss them...awesome Christian adoptive family...they have been a blessing to all of us!
And then we were off to Florida for a little over a week...it was such an wonderful time...more to come later but we have so much to be thankful for and most of all for all the amazing times that we have enJOYed this summer!!!!
