Carter's Birthday!!!

Today Carter turned 9 years old!! These past 9 years have gone by so quickly. I can completely picture myself in the hospital nine years ago today with my big 9lb 13oz baby boy!!! Looking at him now you would never guess that he was a big baby! He has trouble keeping his pants up because he's so stinkin thin.

I wanted to take a minute to talk about my first born son. He's totally awesome and I love him so much. He is one my best friends. His heart is what amazes me most. Carter has such a generous and compassionate heart. One of my most favorite memories of Carter (and I have a million) is traveling to Ethiopia with him. Riding around Addis Ababa and seeing his face as he handed out food to the hungry people on the streets. Carter said on that trip, "God told me to feed the poor".

This boy is awesome. As much as I don't want to see him grow up, I am so excited to watch him grow into the man that God has created him to be.

Happy Birthday Carter!! Dad and Mom love you so much!

Happy Halloween!

The kids had a lot of fun celebrating Halloween. This was Ezra and Jackson's first Halloween ever!! They hadn't even heard of it before coming home. They are big fans!!!!

Black Spiderman


Ninja Turtle


Superwoman - but also a frog


Ezra - Ninja and Carter was a football superhero


Ezra and Jackson's very first trick-or-treating house!

Durant is very excited about his candy


Jackson kept saying, I love Halloween!!

Here's a little something just for fun!!!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

First Snow!

The boys were really excited to see their first snow ever!! They had fun feeling it and putting it on their faces. They are really looking forward to building snowmen and throwing snowballs.








Jackson was so excited about his new boots! He's never had boots before and it was like Christmas for him to be able to wear them to school!!

Things are going well here. Last week the kids had a couple days of off school. It was fun to have them all home for 4 days straight!! We took them all to the Mall of America. This was Ezra and Jackson's first time there. They really liked it! Especially the rides!!

Durant driving his big truck - this also happens to be what he wants to do when he's a grown up!

Ana playing with some Legos with Daddy

Ezra and Carter on the bumper cars!!

Jackson was the lead truck driver!

Legoland was a hit!

Jackson and Durant both love to match. Here they are in matching shirts and pj bottoms.

Ezra has spent the last three weeks being a crossing guard. He really likes it!

Back again!

I'm back from another trip to Ethiopia. The trip went really well. I saw some really tough things and also some really awesome things!!

I will be updating in the near future about my time in Ethiopia. Thank you so much for all the prayers and support during this trip. It was tough to leave my family especially with the Ana's health and the boys being home less than two months. Obedience is costly, but there is no place I'd rather be then right where my Father wants me.

Alezar - my Ethiopian brother

Things are continuing to go pretty smoothly around here! Matt and I are still exhausted at the end of the day, but can now manage to stay up until 10pm!!! Progress!!!

All 5 of the kids are doing well in school and really enjoying it. It's so great to have them excited to go each day. We had conferences for the three older boys today. Matt and I are so blessed to have such wonderful children. All three of the teachers, plus the ELL teacher were all so pleased to have our kids in their classrooms. Two of the three teachers even said they "love" having our son in their class. I left feeling so blessed and happy and reminded that this is all God. I can take none of the credit for these boys.

This past weekend we went downtown to the International Fall Festival. We had a fun time and we totally fit it.... now when does that ever happen?!?!

Oh and another thing.... I leave for Ethiopia on Thursday! Crazy to think I'm going there again. I will be checking on the orphanages plus looking into some new projects and opportunities for the future. I'll keep you posted! If you think of me this week and next please pray for:

• safety and good health for me while gone
• safety and good health for my family at home
• Matt and the kids as this is the first time I've been gone while having 5 kids!
• Ana's health, we've had a tough last couple of weeks trying to get seizures under control
  
• my eyes to see and my ears to hear what God has for me on this trip
  

Thank you so much for all of your support!!!