Christmas Letter

Just when you thought this was over. . . .

I never did start a new blog site. Just wasn't quite sure what to do, and that stopped me from doing anything.

I wanted to share our Christmas letter and picture. The kids are all doing great . . . .

"Thankful"

Despite the topsy-turvy life we’ve found ourselves in this past year, we have so many reasons to be profoundly thankful.

I’m thankful for our church. I’m thankful for the friends we have there, for the children’s ministry, for the youth ministry, for the dance program, for the choir programs. I’m thankful for the support they gave us during the adoption of our children. I’m thankful for the people who show up to serve, and serve so graciously and so selflessly. I’m thankful that people at church led two of our sons to Christ. I’m thankful that two of our daughters couldn’t wait to be baptized this fall.

I’m thankful for my children. I’m thankful for their energy. I’m thankful for the challenges they provide me because it draws me closer to God. I’m thankful that the new kids are learning English rapidly and doing well in school. I’m thankful that they have become true brothers and sisters. I’m thankful that the “chains” brought on by their past life are falling off them, slowly but surely. I’m thankful I get to homeschool two of my kids. I’m thankful all seven kids are growing in stature, in ability, in wisdom, in understanding, and in grace, and in shoe sizes ;). I’m thankful for the season of Christmas when we can shower them with love and with gifts, because four of them have never had that. And mainly, I’m thankful that they all know Jesus, because He knows better how to raise them than I do.

I’m thankful for Don’s mother Dorothy. I’m thankful that she raised a wonderful son. I’m thankful that she accepted our newly adopted children as her own. I’m thankful for her example of training and disciplining children. And mostly, I’m thankful that when she died this fall she went to be with Jesus to spend a long, long wonderful eternity in heaven.

I’m thankful for my husband. I’m thankful for his creativity in solving complex problems (because there are plenty). I’m thankful that he works so hard both at work and at home. I’m thankful that he shows us in many ways how much he loves us. I’m thankful that when he turns 40 on December 20th, he can say that he’s spent his time well. I’m thankful that his heart is so big that he HAD to go on a rescue mission for four orphaned children. I’m thankful that he is my best friend.

I’m thankful for friends and family. I’m thankful that one of my brothers and his wife (and soon to be child) live in the area and for the support they’ve given us. I’m thankful for grandparents, and that my kids will have many happy memories with their grandparents. I’m thankful for Ellie bringing peace to our house this summer as she nannied for us, and for Sara coming after school to help us now. I’m thankful for the many single women who graciously gave their time to help us when we desperately needed help. I’m thankful for our neighbors who are brought a girl over from Moldova to live with them, and for the unique way we can support each other’s families. I’m thankful for the heartache family can bring, because some people don’t have a family and wish they did. I’m awed and thankful for the many acquaintances and strangers who supported us during this adoption – treating us as family. I’m especially thankful that God has given us friends here in the Nashville area who love us as if we were their family.

I’m thankful for schools. I’m thankful that all of our kids have teachers who like them and go the extra mile for them. I’m thankful for the ESL program in the public schools and that they can ride the bus! I’m thankful that the school the kids have been attending for years went out of their way to accommodate us homeschooling two kids, because they certainly didn’t have to do that. I’m profoundly thankful for Rosetta Stone language learning software. I’m thankful that even though the kids have had some real heartaches with situations related to school and sports, the kids have now seen us model how to pray your way through difficult situations and the emotions that come with it.

I’m thankful for the common and uncommon blessings. I’m thankful that our tiger lilies and rose bushes bloom for six months a year. I’m thankful for bright red autumn leaves and multi-colored mums. I’m thankful for beautiful sunsets. I’m thankful for a temperate climate and the rain that finally came our way. I’m thankful that we have a warm house so we can stay out of the rain. I’m thankful for warm beds and peaceful sleep. I’m thankful for turkey and that all our kids would eat it. I’m thankful that we are not in debt. I’m thankful for the company Don works for and for the free vacations and free dinners we often get to experience. I’m thankful for our good health. I’m thankful that the US has not been attacked by terrorists in six years. I’m thankful that there are people willing to leave their families and put their lives on the line in Iraq. I’m thankful that I could go on for four pages about the things I’m thankful for.

And most importantly, I’m thankful to Jesus. Without whom I would have little to be thankful for, and No One to give thanks to. Thank you for forgiveness, for grace, for mercy, for peace. Thank you for leading and orchestrating our lives. Thank you for handling the many problems that are bigger than my ability to handle. Thank you for including me in Your plan. Thank you for showing up to heal and rescue those who are broken around me. Thank you for giving me a front row seat to watch some of your miracles unfold. What a privilege. Thank you for being my refuge and a strong tower to run and hide in.

And thank you (baby) Jesus for coming to earth so that we don’t have to find you on our own. Thank you for coming to find us. Thank you for Christmas.

Blessings to you and your family,

Mary

quick update

We've seen some bonding between almost all the kids now - they even will all 7 fight like siblings. Isn't that great!?!! Yes, they all play and interact like siblings both good and bad.

We have two who started reading chapter books. I think they even understand most of it. Still a lot of work to do with pronunciation, reading, and just being fluid. But considering that they didn't know a lick of English in January, I think that's remarkable.

As far as all the other kids, they seem to take turns having their good days and bad days. They can tie me in knots, but then again they get over the issues at hand very quickly now.

The pace of life is extraordinary. I feel like a full-time event planner because I have to plan so many details in one day. A lot of that centers around who's driving who to where.

One of the functional problems from going from 3 kids to 7 kids (3 being teens, or almost) is that you really need the 17 year old to be driving and the 14 year old to be babysitting while I take one to an appointment, etc. The fact that we don't have that scenario is what makes the logistics pretty much impossible for one person to handle. That's the reason we got a nanny, besides with needing help with reading. I've told friends, I'd rather be in debt than insane.

Of course, God's providing for that need also.

I can feel the prayers for protection. One of our almost 9-year old sons went to see cousins this week. He ended up coming home early because 2 of the cousins were vomiting. The day after he left, all 5 kids were vomiting, but our son was fine. My brother told me to chalk that one up on the miracle board. Thank God. We can all do w/o vomit here.

Also, today, I picked a tick out of our 6 year old's hair. Don't know why I was looking in her hair - I think I just have lice-phobia now, but I got that bugger before he embedded in her scalp. That's just God's provision of protection to us.

Of course, I have put racing stripes on the sides of both vans now. I told my husband it was a fashion statement - make them look like zebras. He wasn't impressed. Go figure. I haven't put a racing stripe in the side of a vehicle for at least 15 years of so. Got both of the vans decorated within about 4 days. Not bad. It's set off quite a string of jokes at our house. I told the big guy not to do that when he starts driving. He said, "Mom, you crrrazy. I not girl."

Okay, whatever.

We're going on a trip this week. Love prayers over all those details. It's the fist long-distance trip we've taken the kids on, and it won't be the last this summer, so we're hoping all goes fine with the van ride, etc.

Blessings,

Mary

Thank you for your support

I did want to add one thing to my last post. We have been beyond blessed with having people we don't know take a real interest in this adoption. You all have been an answer to prayer that I didn't even know I should pray. We have had strangers help us financially, and we've had strangers praying for us constantly. You are not the reason that I'm discontinuing this blog. You're the reason that I kept blogging. The reason that I'm discontinuing blogging is because we had a heckler (which I've hid the comments, so I won't go into that.). I just don't have the energy nor the time to deal with that, and it made me realize that there are so many aspects of the internet that I don't have control over that I can't have it public anymore. If I can think of a good way to post and make the kids more anonymous, I'll do it.

I know God wanted me to blog, because this is His story and not ours. Only God could make an international adoption happen in 4 1/2 months, then somehow cover the extra $120,000 in expenses we had in one year (much of that was from a lightening strike and not the adoption, but it's all happened in under a year). We recently had a friend send us a large donation with a note attached that he was sorry it was late. What he doesn't realize is that the money he sent this month is exactly what we are lacking this month. And that has happened every month for the past two years in one way or another. We haven't had people sending us checks for two years, but we've always had exactly what we've needed (and not much more).

That's probably a part of this story I haven't told. Two years ago this month we bought a much bigger house because we felt like God told us to do it. The thing that didn't make sense to us at the time is that we couldn't really afford it. We don't tend to make stupid financial decisions, so it was very out of character for us. But every time we prayed about it, God would not just "crack" a door, but throw it wide open. So, we bought the house and I can name 3 other major things that God has done through the purchase of this house, but the fourth and biggest thing is that we have room for the 4 children that God had planned for us to take in. In addition to that our next door neighbors, who have 6 children living with them, will have a girl from Moldova living with them for the next several years. So, we each will have 7 at home, and many of the ages/sexes of the kids line up perfectly. (Of course, that's probably just a strange coincidence, and nothing to do with God). Or so some think.

We'll have fun around here. How many others folks do you know that can have their own block party with just two houses??!?!? Hee hee. I used to comment on how calm they looked for having so many kids, and now here I am.

One of my first thoughts when we had moved into this house is that it was a great house for teenagers (That was LOOONNGG before we would have considered having teenagers.) The next thought I had was a shock of fear at what God might call us to since He gave us this house. Yeah, the fear was realized. But, it's still part of His plan.

We still need the prayer covering that we had from this blog.

To some degree, we've all made amazing progress. I'm really astounded at the kids' English improvements. In other regards, we still have a really long road with certain behavior issues with certain children. Bonding seems to be progressing well also, but the "love tanks" have been empty for so long, that they seem to run dry in about a day. At least for one in particular, and all of them to some degree.

I need to go. . . Still love your prayers. So, so, so appreciate your support.

Mary

Hello ya'll

I'll post more tomorrow to sum up this blog. I'd really love to show you all the pictures of the kids now compared to when they came, or of them in January. It's absolutely unbelievable the changes in their appearance. It's like they've come to life.

The kids are all doing well - everyone one of them. The decision to hire help was definitely the right decision. Their progress with English has been remarkable. We really don't need to call a translator anymore about any issues. Reading will be the main goal this summer, and they are all wanting to read.

Don and I are doing well. We'll stay tired for a good long while, but that's normal. We've just realized that we can't do 7 kids w/o extra help- like full-time help. Not with what the needs are right now, and not if we want to see lots of improvement with reading.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. It's been absolutely unbelievable to see how God has provided for our family in every conceivable way through this. It is a testimony to the power of prayer. . .in more ways than any of us will ever know.

Mary

School over and summer begins - soon