The Week Ahead...

"Every good gift and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

James 1:17

We had a short but sweet trip to Franklin, TN for the "Together for Adoption" conference this past weekend. It was our first time away together (my first overnight time away from the kids) since becoming a family of six. Despite the 6 hour drive each way, it was a restful time for us. We enjoyed being with "family" at the conference, including a double date night to dinner with Rick & Denise Morton on friday. We gained valuable insights and connections as we continue to strategize the various facets of orphan care across the globe. Stay tuned for snippets in the days ahead. Meanwhile, our kids had a good time with dear friends who provided the opportunity for this retreat. We were both eager to return for big hugs and the words, "I missed you!"

Sunday was a worshipful day at church as we celebrated a "New Life" service. How precious it was to hear the video testimony of our daughter's classmate and friend, Olivia. She shared of her coming to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior... and then shared about ways she is putting her faith into action... one of which was, "helping Angela learn English". Precious. Angela smiled a big smile at her sweet friend's words.

The kids, who LOVE projects and house work, helped me prepare the house for a family visit this week...

James mopped the kitchen floor...

Jana helped straighten up her room...

Victoria making her bed...

Here, Angela is pointing to her birthday. She is so excited... AND there is no school on that day. Fall break fell at the perfect time for her. :) We had told the girls we would take them to get their ears pierced when they were doing well with their English. Angela has been a shining star in the family at learning English. We plan to take her to get her ears pierced as part of her birthday celebration. She is, needless to say, counting down the days!

Please pray for time together off and on with family this week. I hope to post pictures with perhaps more specificity, but the extremely brief version is: pray for my cousin, Jena, as she says "goodbye" again to her husband, Sam, before he deploys to Iraq. She, along with her parents (my aunt & uncle) and her infant son, have driven in from Virginia for a brief visit. May their four days together be a time of sweet fellowship, encouragement and peace. Thanks!