Purple Cucumbers for Dinner

My sweet 5 year old picky-eater, Brock, asked me this morning, "What is that purple cucumber on the counter, Mommy?" I told him it was an eggplant, that I was making eggplant parmesan for dinner tonight. He quickly informed me, "I'm not going to be hungry for dinner tonight!" My boys always keep me laughing!!

Have a great Monday, everyone, and enjoy every minute of this beautiful day God has given us!!

My Little Angels

The "sneak peek" of our photo shoot with MaryAlice is now up...be still my heart!! Oh, I love my sweet little angel babies, and I love how MaryAlice captured them in this moment of time...moments I can treasure forever because of her wonderful photography:)! Check out our sneak peek by following the link below:

http://www.maryaliceduncanphotography.com/everybodys-baby-sneak-peek/

Oh, and P.S. Keep the simplifying Christmas ideas flowing...I've gotten lots of great ideas, and I'd love more. I've had several requests to share them all...seems lots of folks love the idea of simplifying! In a few days, I'm planning to compile them all to share! It helps me so much to know others are simplifying too; I'm SO excited about this upcoming holiday season, and I'm determined for it to be full of joy, giving, family time, sharing and celebrating the birth of our precious Lord! That's right, Satan...don't even think you're gonna steal (John 10:10--The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.) the true meaning this year by tempting this family to get wrapped up in the stress, rushing around, spending, etc!! NOT happening!! This Christmas is gonna be the best yet=)!!

I Need YOUR Ideas!!

Hey, friends!! Okay, this post isn't really about these pics, but I just had to add a few of my precious smiling boys from Brock's pre-K pumpkin day (I didn't catch Ansley that day)! Oh, their smiles light up my days, and I pray their faces bring joy to others and are a reflection and overflow of the joy they have in their hearts! I love this line from Point of Grace's song "All the World"~~I want the world to see how wonderful You are upon my face.

So, on to what I need your help on...REALLY, I neeeeeed and want all your ideas and input! Please comment, email, facebook me or WHATEVER to share your great tips, that I KNOW you have!! So, I am not a naturally organized, structured, streamlined person. I have become much more that way over the years...by necessity with children and a family to manage. I feel God has led me to certain books, people, etc. that have influenced my thinking and helped me to grow in these areas...I mentioned us SIMPLIFYING in an earlier post...we are tossing around ideas to help us simplify in many areas. One of these is the HOLIDAYS!!

The past few years, I have been encouraged by a group of ladies who purposed to get their Christmas shopping finished (along with cards, decorating, etc) by December 1 in order to enjoy the true meaning of the season. I haven't done it every year, but when I have, it has been so nice! However, I still feel we have overdone it in many ways and fallen into the trap of an over-commercialized Christmas! Don't get me wrong, I am a gift giver by nature, so I love to give lots of gifts and love to try to find things people will really enjoy. The reality of the needs of this world have just become so real to me over the last year, that I am trying to figure out ways to streamline, while making sure everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

I am determined to purchase as many gifts as I can from people trying to raise money for their adoptions and for things that will support a cause, rather than doling it out to Amazon, Target and Wal-Mart...I'm sure these stores will still get their fair share of my Christmas budget! I am looking into places our family can serve; I think that will bring so much meaning for our kids and us. The main thing I'd love ideas on is simplifying for the KIDS! I feel like each year, I set out to do this, and I end up buying lots of little stuff so they'll have tons of presents to open. Most of it doesn't get used or played with. I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this:)!! I heard of one family in which each child gets 3 gifts---because the wise men brought three gifts! I love this idea; I guess I'm just wondering if I can stick to it! I know it's up to Ben and me to set the tone! I'm just needing some moral support here...if you have done anything like this, please let me know how it's turned out. I'd LOVE your thoughts!!

I Caught It!! =)

NATE'S SMILE!! I FINALLY CAUGHT IT IN A PIC!!

Remember me telling you about that wide smile that spreads across Nate's face and makes it just light up? Well, now you've seen it too...I just love it!! The past few days he's been so much more alert...and soooooo smiley! Oh, it just fills my heart with joy to see Nate thriving and happy...and to see the joy my older three have when we're all together! And, when he smiles he really works those big, expressive eyes. So so cute! I just think it's so neat how little things show how God just meant this sweet boy for our family. My other three all have big, expressive eyes too. What a neat blessing to have that little connection! And, my older three all have my light eyes, but Nate has dark Hershey kiss eyes, just like Ben, which I love so much! I have SO been wanting to catch his sweet smile in a picture, but he just doesn't seem to want to smile at me with a camera in front of my face! So, I held the camera to the side of my face with him in the frame then acted goofy while trying not to shake the camera...and, I got it!!! Yay...as you can tell, this has made my day...hope his little smile makes you smile too!!

Defend.Rescue.Deliver.

Defend.Rescue.Deliver.

Psalm 82:3-4 Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

These are the words and picture that crossed the screen at the front of the room at the Pregnancy Support Center banquet last night--a room filled with nearly 500 people who love and support life. PSC is where my heart for adoption began, so this year's banquet was a full circle night for me. When I think of the unborn children we have lost, and when I see the faces and look into the eyes of the millions of fatherless in this world, I see and think of destiny. God created each and every life and has a purpose and plan for them; he created in them skills, talents and contributions for this world. What better way to spend our time than promoting life and searching for ways to help give life to others who may not have it. As believers, we have been given the greatest gift of abundant life...given it to be able to give it away and share it with those who need it desperately, as we once did.

I pray we are filled with life today...filled to the brim, so that we can share that precious gift with someone who needs it...maybe it's a neighbor, a friend, a child in need. Look around, it won't take long to find someone who is in need of love...Have a great day...enjoy every minute of this day we've been given:)~~

Divine Grace Primary School~Uganda

A four year old during worship time at Divine Grace

My friends Laurie (along with her daughter Hannah and husband Phil) and Tracy just returned from a trip to Uganda to visit Divine Grace Primary School. They have been working tirelessly to establish a relationship with our school and Divine Grace as sister schools. Words are unnecessary for these photos. Laurie used her beautiful gift and talent of photography to create a photo diary of their trip that left me in tears and full of joy for what God is doing in that sweet school! Follow the attached link to see these beautiful faces, and please lift up the students and staff of Divine Grace in your prayers.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37401&id=1387838520&l=0896034a69

Fun Times with My Oldest and Youngest :)

As I started posting pics, I realized I only had pics of Ansley, her friends and Nate. The boys must've been steering clear of all the girls that have been around the last few days:) No, really, I just wasn't being "equitable" in my photo taking I'm sure because they were definitely around! I just love all of my kids' friends, and I love that they seem to enjoy coming to our house! All of these girls are a joy to have around...so fun and sweet and such good friends to my girl! Ansley and Hannah post 70's makeovers
Too cute! Too bad I missed a photo-op after their "blind" makeovers!! Scary!

After finding out school was canceled Monday, the neighborhood girls hatched a plan for an impromptu sleepover! Oh, and a little love from Nate. These girls will make the BEST babysitters one day soon!

Lizzie holding Nate for the first time

Cups for 6 of the 7 kids...should've put Nate's bottle in the pic! Ben made fun of me for taking this pic, but I couldn't resist. Ansley's poor friends always acquire nicknames at our house. I'm sure they think we're such dorks! And, I'm sure they don't use the word "dorks" anymore!

Four sweet friends

Piled up on two air mattresses pushed together. Yep, that's a Christmas tree still up in the corner of the bonus room! Not decorated, but nonetheless still out! lol:)

Very hard to get these girls to "act normal"...actually, this is normal for tween girls I guess! They said they didn't even care if I posted their goofiness on the blog;) So fun...at least Lizzie smiled cute!

Enjoying their Monday morning pancakes and hot chocolate (Sorry Margaret and Katie...sent them home after a good sugary breakfast:) Audrey left a little early, so she took her pancakes with her as a pancake sandwich.

Nate at 7 weeks...ohhhh, I love those curls so much! OH, and Nate has slept through the night every night for the past week! Thank you, God!! We'll see if it lasts. I thought Ansley slept through the night early at 8 weeks...my older boys didn't until about 3 mos...but, little Mr. Overachiever may have her beat:)

And, those big brown eyes! And sweet little lips...this boy just melts his mommy's heart just like his two big brothers! He is staying awake for longer periods of time and has even given a few gorgeous smiles...I haven't been lucky enough to catch one on camera yet! His smile is wide and lights up his whole face. I can't wait for you to see it!

He loves to pedal his feet and move his arms alot when he's awake...he's very squirmy. I bet I'm gonna have my hands full when he gets mobile:). Ben said "touchdown!" when he saw this pic--of course!

I hope you're having a great week...I feel like we're living in Seattle with all the rain the past few weeks! Thank goodness I have all this "sunshine" inside my house to make up for the lack of it outside:)! Enjoy every minute of this day we've been given!

Love~~