Blessed

 *I am loving ALL these pictures with words on them!

We have been busy. Friends are calling and texting asking where have we been and that they miss us (thanks friends!) My family often gets irritated because i do not pick up my cell phone in the middle of the day because I do not have time to talk. My running partners are sad... and well, so are my running shoes! I feel like we are neglecting everyone and that soon we will have NO friends left!! But I am here to tell you that my days are filled with Love...and laundry, cooking, cleaning, soccer, volleyball games, football games, school pick ups and schedules and homework and the list goes on. But my days are also filled with...sweet hugs and kisses, afternoons with my 16 yr old talking about girls and school over a vanilla coke and toasted meat and cheese sandwiches, picking up a darling little girl from school every afternoon and loving the way she runs into my arms, evenings spent in our living room playing games and singing songs and talking about Jesus, bedtime prayers of my 5 yr old asking Jesus to keep everyone Mommy loves at Korah safe, and for ALL of the hungry children over the world to get a meal, beautiful nights spent at a soccer field watching my two oldest shine, together time with my special husband in the office every evening after everyone else is sleeping, and the list goes on. I am SO blessed right now! I am taking this moment now to tell you that my heart is full...full of love for my Jesus that gets me through every day of this Motherhood journey I am on...I wouldn't change a thing...not one thing...I am in love with life.

Officially a soccer Mom!

 As weary and tired and exhausted I get from being a Mother....the joys and the happy times sure do outweigh the bad! This is something new for our family this year! SPORTS! We have schedules and times and games and practices we have to make! And most of the time these practice are right over supper time! So that means supper in the crockpot around 8pm when we get home. BUT there is nothing funner then watching my two oldest LOVE soccer! It is bringing them much joy and so of course it makes me happy also!

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 Gracie ready for her first game!

 Carter all ready for practice!

 Gracie scored THREE goals! That is all the goals the team made! She is an athlete at heart!

Love my boys! Love this season in my life! Hectic..but I wouldn't have it any other way!

He's on his way!!!

FYI...Gustavo is on his way! He just sent me a text awhile back! He left around 12:15 our time. He will be arriving, Lord willing, at 3pm tomorrow. LONG journey for this sweet boy. So thankful he has another exchange student with him until Chicago!
The thing about having connections all over the world is...my heart...its in so many places! I cannot wait until he gets here! We are ready to love him and welcome him to our family!

28 YEARS!

 Happy Birthday to the best Daddy in the WORLD! Seriously...the b.e.s.t. Daddy ever! He comes home from work..tired, dirty and exhausted. But he never turns down a chance to lay on the floor and play cars or read books when asked. My children are lucky! SO the kids wanted to get a gift for Daddy since he is so special and after much thinking they wanted to each pick out a gift for him!

 Brysen's was by far the best ;) A plastic rake for the sandbox...nice! He was PLEASED to give it to his Daddy! I had the best time watching the kids wrap their presents...sweet little hands doing their best to make the package look nice.

 the finished packages

 MUCH laughter! Brysen loudly declared each gift before it was opened...seriously life is so much fun with kids!

Happy Birthday to my best friend! There is really no other words to say how much I love him! God gave me such a special husband. I am lucky! Happy Birthday Hun Bun! :)

 Gustavo has his ticket to come to America! His dream for so long is finally coming true for him. And although he is so nervous about this adventure...he is acting very brave! His plane gets into Dayton at 3pm on Saturday. What is it going to be like to hug this sweet boy and welcome him into our family. I hope we can be a blessing to him!

Monday I will take him into the highschool to meet with the counselor~and we will get him all enrolled and on his way to a good year! The soccer coach is eagerly waiting his arrival! So prayers please for my family in the next couple weeks of adjustment!

He's from Brazil

 WELL....;)...some of you know that we stopped the foster classes because we were not feeling it. Our hearts were not into it. We understand that America has a huge need for foster parents...but we also understand that if you are not "feeling" and do not have peace about it...its probably not the right choice. I know God has amazing plans for my family and maybe someday fostering will be part of it..but not now...so without further adieu I introduce you to....my new son for the year....GUSTAVO! We are thrilled that he is joining our family for the school year! We have been skyping him the last several nights. We are already in love with him and his family. Gustavo is sixteen years old and he is from Ampere Brazil. He has one brother and one little sister!

 Here he is with his English teacher and his wife, and several friends

 His little sister Rubia! I wish she was coming to!!!

 This is one of the sights near his house!

We painted the spare bedroom and got it all ready for him! Lord willing he will be arriving on Tuesday just in time for school to start on Wednesday. He will be going to Milton-Union along with Gracie. Since this is sorta last minute he doesn't have his ticket quite yet...so prayers for all the paperwork to go through so he can start school on Wed. Here are some fun facts about Gustavo...
*He loves to run
*He loves to lift weights
*He loves pizza and pasta
*He is from a catholic background
*He is very close to his family
*He wants to play as many sports as he can :)
SO....if you haven't heard from me lately...this is why...we seem to be crazy busy around here...but I wouldn't have it any other way...God is so good!

Day at the fair

 *HELLO my POOR long lost blog...oh HOW I have missed you! You were such a great outlet for me! Now if I can figure you out I will enjoy you so much more!!!

Yesterday we went to the fair! But these pictures are out of order SO actually the first thing we did was visit a dear friend Marlene BUT I will tell you that when I get down to the picture. So I was saying....yesterday was "kids day" at the fair!

 *fun rides

 *adorable little booths

 *met a friend there so Carter got to take a ride with him

 *cooling off with some icecream

 *Love these fat pigs!

 *ladybug bracelet from the balloon man

 *Mr. balloon man is so cool!

 *I am in love with these little stands...they make me want to take TONS of pictures!

Ok and now for sweet Marlene! She had not seen Gracie yet so this was a good time to stop bye. She is very dear
NOW if I can figure this blog out again I will start blogging again! YAY y'all know you missed my opinionated words! :)))