pumpkin carving....

What a beautiful October day we had!! We were able to spend our afternoon outside...raking, mowing one last time & carving our pumpkins!! The kids always look forward to digging out the slimy goop!!! While the kiddos & Dad were busy carving, I roasted our seeds!! What a yummy snack before laying our heads down for the night!!!     xo

I want to be a trader.

This evening at church, while the kids were enjoying their Wednesday night activities, The adults had our time....visiting, learning, sharing, & we also watched a few short video clips.....and this one was excellent!!!!( please take the 2 minutes to watch!!) Thanks Pastor Jared for sharing this!! It now looks like I won't be getting much sleep...my brain is "on." 

p.s. mute blog music on bottom left side of blog before playing.

paint post gone sad.

nothing a little paint can't fix!!!! Our main floor bathroom was one of the only rooms in our home that I hadn't painted!! So, with a can of extra paint & a bit of black spray paint for my mirror & light fixtures...I have a new & improved bathroom!!! This bathroom was painted brown with brown ceilings too!! The bead board was tan & the fixtures were gold!! I love how just a bit of paint & time can make things come alive & new!!

 I am aware that this post has NOTHING to do with our Adoption...so, for that I am sorry!! But, it does have to do with Nesting!! Don't we as women like to have our nest's in order?? Well, my nest is coming together...& it makes this momma happy:) Don't get me wrong..it's far from perfect & tidy...but I do hope my nest provides love, comfort, food, warmth to those who enter & reside here!!
 The definition of NEST:
1: The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young.
2: A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort.
3: To put into a nest; to form a nest for.
 

                                  These definitions make me smile:) Us as mommas do have ideas in our minds as to how we want our nest's to look & feel....we usually don't want a tangled mess...instead, a warm, safe, cozy residence for rearing our little ones....But, while I'm typing this, I can't help but think of all the momma's in our world who want & dream of these same things for their children...it breaks my heart...because they too, want a warm, safe place for their kids....but unfortunately, this is what some nests look like.......( I took this picture while we were in Ethiopia last summer...I have it hanging on a picture board in our home...it reminds me & all of us not to take things, our home, our bed etc....for granted. And each time I walk by this photo it reminds me to pray for her & her child lying next to her, snug up against her chest, tucked under her arm.)
     oops, my post about paint ended up bringing me to tears. makes me re-think my next paint project.
                                                                  xo
                 

randomness...but good.

 A while back, I had taken a few pix of our youngest...so, last Sunday am...the kids were lookin pretty sweet, so had to snap a few pix on our way out!! And, well, I couldn't post just 3 of the kiddos pix...I had to include our little man again!! Besides, who doesn't want to see that sweet smile again?!

This will probably end up being a random post but had to share a couple cute things...
 The other day while we were driving...Kate said..."Nana's house is the best place on earth!!"....From the back seat, Ageze said..."No, Kate...Ethiopia is the best place on earth!!!!" Too cute not to share!

 In adoption related news..... We are just waiting on our I-171H to come back...then our stuff should be on it's way to Ethiopia, Then we wait for our court date!! Exciting stuff!! We received about 10 pix of our sweet girl last evening....Wow!! She makes me smile!! The gal who sent them commented on how happy & beautiful she is! Her smile is contagious:) So thankful for the pictures we get!! Wishing I could hop on a plane & be with her!

     Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!       xo

tHe FaRm....& fundraiser!!!

recently, my parents bought a bit of land/farm/hunting property:) Up until we made our first trip out to this serene sounding place...I was telling my family..."I could totally live on the farm, have some chickens, cows, horses...etc" Well, that 1 1/2 drive cured me!! I still love the idea of farm life...but with 5 kids, probably not the most realistic dream I've ever had!!! Wish it were a bit closer to town!!! We all had a fun Saturday out there playing & exploring, though!! We look forward to many more days spent out there with our family!! had to post a few pics of my cowgirl & comboys!!!
                                                                       xo


p.s.   Please don't forget about our puzzle piece fundraiser...any amount donated is deeply appreciated...for every $10.00 you donate your name will go on the back of the piece, so we are able to look back & see who helped in bringing our precious girl home!!! All you have to do is click on our "donate" button under the Africa puzzle!!    Thank you so very much!! I trust & believe this puzzle will be full of names:)   xo