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