Gobena Coffee helps feed children...

Tess putting labels on the coffee that we just got in...She really loves to help and knows that the money goes to help kids that are still in ethiopia and need food...
The sticker says "147 million orphans. You just fed 1 for a month." It's that simple.

I know, I know...give it a rest...but I can't because every bag sold feeds a child for a month! How simple is that!! It makes a great gift if you don't drink coffee. Add it too any gift and know you are really making a difference. I am not set up to distribute but go to their website and order it...it gets shipped to your door!! www.gobena.org

Thanksgiving @ the ranch

Mom and Tess quading...
Our Ranch...
The boys fishing in the backyard...

Cameron and Tess at our favorite diner in Oakley...
Bailey and Tess quading...

What a nice peaceful week we had at the ranch for Thanksgiving. We missed Christine since she went to spend Thanksgiing with my parents in FLorida, but Bennett's friend Bailey came with us. It was really cold (in the 20's) which made it fun and really felt like we kicked off the holiday season (since in California it was 75 degrees). The boys went pheasant hunting and snowboarding and the girls went shopping and out to lunch...just as it should be!! We had fun quading, taking long walks and going to the movies. Tess can't wait to ski in December when we come back. So peace, love and happy start to the holiday season!!

The Blind Side

WOW...just got home from this movie and was so inspired! I love to see beautiful examples of how opening your heart just a little can make such a huge impact on someone else. I have been struggling with whether 5 kids is really a good idea and then God just keeps putting these clear examples of why it is a great idea to continue to reach out and help others. I am doing the Beth Moore bible study on the book of Ester and that is also really giving me solid examples of how to be brave and make choices that will impact others in positive ways...keep the inspiration coming Lord...I'm going to need it!

A busy week at school...

Jeff with the kids at "DONUTS WITH DAD"...

Tess showing her 100% on her spelling test...AGAIN!!
The kids had fun picking new books to read for Thanksgiving vacation at the book fair
They both got home and sat right down and started reading their new books...too cute!

I'm burried in paperwork but all is moving along nicely with our 2nd adoption. Just had our first meeting with the social worker to get a new homestudy going...

Adoption #2

We have officially opened our new adoption. Our new little daughter has been removed from the waiting child list and is now in our file...WOW. This happened rather quickly and I'm spinning a bit thinking about what the next few months will require. The good news is we found out that our dossier in Addis Ababa is still valid and we do not need to create a new one....this is huge!! We do need a new home study and I-171H. Our first appointment with our social worker is this Wed. so we will find out exactly what we need to re-do. I know we will need new medicals, new fingerprinting and I'm guessing new police clearance. We will be required to complete some hours of training AGAIN including some new training that has been added since Tess's adoption (2 hours of pool safety I heard)...I have been told we are technically a "fast track adoption" becuase of our circumstances but I do not know what that means in terms of time...I guess I'll know more wed...

NO CAVITIES!!

Tess and Cameron get side by side cleanings!!
Tess loves the dentist because she gets to pick a toy at the end...


JUST LOOK AT THOSE PEARLY WHITES!!!

Dental appointments are a breeze now that we have Tess's teeth up to speed!! She is a diligent brusher (better than her brother!) They both love the dentist because he has a cool video game room. We always go 15-20 minutes early so they can play video games...NO CAVITIES!! Good job kids!!

blogs for a cause

Meet Nikki...

She is a young college student who does great blog design in order to raise $ to fund her mission trips to Haiti, Dominican Republic and Ethiopia. Thats what I call someone who is listening to God's calling :) She is exactly the type of person they want to encourage in the book I talked about DO HARD THINGS. Her blog is worth following even if you don't have a blog to decorate...but look for ours to be newly improved soon...Thanks to Nikki...

www.madebynikki.blogspot.com

THE ADOPTION FILE IS BACK!! I brought out our adoption file today as we are opening a new adoption. Yes, that is right, we are bringing home a little sister for Tess (and Cameron,Bennett and Christine). When God lights a passion in your heart he really sets things in motion!! We are under a confidentiality agreement regarding our new daughter but I can tell you she is 6 1/2 years old.

SO what does this all mean...

for now it means LOTS of paperwork. I have been told that very little can be re-used. All new documents must be notarized and gathered and basically we are starting from scratch...to those of you who have done this...YIKES...you know what this means!! Head down, nose to grindstone paperwork! We are looking at about 4 months of paper pushing before our dossier goes to Ethiopia. Then we are told about 6 months from then...so just after the summer...we're going back to Ethiopia to get another sweet little girl!!

Keep those prayers coming to keep her safe!!

JOY

What a sweet and powerful message Pastor Rick Warren had today about JOY. It really encouraged us to focus on Joy... "living a life of GOODNESS AND PEACE AND JOY" (Rom.14:17 NLT) It's right in the bible. It's what God wants for us. One particular section spoke really strongly to me...he said "when you know what the right thing to do is and you don't do it, IT ROBS YOU OF YOUR JOY"

well, funny he should have said that...I have been praying hard about adopting again and really feel it is the right thing to do and the journey we have been put on...so this morning I made a call to our agency CWA...I'll keep you posted.

Thank goodness for ichat

Tess and Cameron ichat-ing with Christine at SMU...



We miss Christine but at least there is ichat. The kids love to see her and chat online. It makes it easier being so far apart. We talk everyday but nothing like seeing that beautiful, fun, silly face full of enthusiasm...We miss you neener, but at least we can ichat til you get home...

Gobena Coffee helps feed children...

The children being fed through donations made by Gobena Coffee...
Bless the hands of these beautiful women who help feed all those hungry children!!

I've been telling you about Gobena Coffee...well here is an update about a feeding program they are helping to fund in Ziway Ethiopia...That's why I keep bugging everyone to give coffee this holiday season to everyone they know!!! It's the gift that keeps giving!!! It really hits home when we can see the good work that comes from it!!!

Charity;Water

THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who has donated to our well-building efforts. We have raised almost $4,000 towards our goal of $5,000!! It was such a great idea to do for our birthdays this year!! Everyone really joined in and it just makes me feel so happy that we are all doing something to help others that are struggling!! So, THANK YOU, THANK YOU !!

And for anyone who still wants to help us reach our goal of funding a well...

http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/profile?

member_id=4764

Gobena Coffee

Tess selling coffee to help the other sweet children that are still in Ethiopia...

Just an idea...the holidays will be here before you know it...we have decided to give all our customers Gobena coffee for a holiday gift this year...You can add chocolate sprinkles/cinnamon/vanilla shakers and cellophane wrap it. It makes such a nice gift for teachers and friends too...AND here's the best part...you will be helping orphans in Ethiopia!!

www.gobena.org

go to their site and read about this great young family and the beautiful ministry they have started to help orphans all over the world...

see, I told you SMALL IS THE NEW BIG!! Just start small and it is just amazing where your efforts will take you and how much impact your idea can have in helping others...AMEN!!

Ethiopian runner wins NY Marathon!!

I can't wait to tell Tess that Departu Tulu, a 37 year old Ethiopian woman, won the New York Marathon yesterday!! Tess will love to hear it and will have about 300 questions regarding the story!! I'm going to read up on Departu so I can answer all of Tess's questions!!

Mom's clown costume from 1967

Before the hair and makeup...
Tess, the clown...
Big brother Bennett, who went as a construction worker to his halloween party later, with Tess
Dad and his little clown
Cameron the scary jester...he was all about ghouls and horror masks this year. This one was the least offensive... :)
Trick or treating has really slowed down in our neighborhood. We did not get many kids this year and Tess and Cameron were home pretty early and said it was fairly quiet out on the street...Happy Halloween 2009