Every year we spend a week at our favorite vacation destination. It's a magical place, beautiful beyond words, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and best of all, it's close to home. We've been vacationing there for the last 10 years. It's our children's favorite place to visit. They would choose it over Disneyland or Disneyworld...no joking. They love it that much! They even talk about bringing their own kids there when they grow up. It warms my heart to know that our time spent there is cherished by not only Andy and I, but our children as well. Whether we were hiking or biking, Sophie spent most of her time sleeping. That's what clean mountain air will do to you.
This is Jake's first year in 4-H and I needed to get a picture of him with his sheep for the cover of his project book. I scoped out the area for the perfect spot, which was definitely not in the barn or the pasture. Our wildflowers had recently started to bloom and would make a nice backdrop for the picture. Or so I thought. After 30 minutes of pulling, pushing, dragging, chasing and pleading we finally were able to get one decent shot. What is not captured in the pictures is how dirty and sweaty we were at the end of the photo shoot or all the pretty wildflowers that darn sheep ate. A seemingly sweet sheep can sure turn a small task into a major ordeal.
When we were done I thanked Jake for being such a good sport. His reply, "No mom, thank you. I'm definitely not taking that sheep to the fair. She's too uncooperative." "What?! You mean we have to do this again with another sheep?" I gasped. "Yep mom," he stated with a big grin.
What Makes a Dad God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it ... Dad Author Unknown
To our amazing daddy and all the wonderful daddies out there HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!
Yesterday, Jake exclaimed "Mom, I think Sophie's the cutest little girl in the world! Her eyes are so dark that when I look in them I can't see myself. I get lost." Yep, me too Jake. Me too!! Her beautiful brown eyes that will someday break hearts, have captured ours FOREVER.
We just returned from a fun-filled four days on the Oregon Coast. The kids had a delightful time building sand castles, playing in the freezing water, catching hermit crabs, and lounging in the hot tub. Most of all, they enjoyed just hanging out with their cousins. 9 kids + 8 adults = Summertime Fun!!!
Join us on our journey of faith, hope and love as we travel half-way around the world to our daughter in China. This is the story of our wait, our homecoming and our growing family. A love story written by God's very own hands.