Awesome Post~

This post was written by Amy at Building The Blocks .... I just loved it and felt like I could have written it myself..... I decided to copy and paste because I want you to read it :) Sometimes we don't always click the link.... but I do encourage you to check her blog and begin to feel her heart to serve :)



Stop limiting God

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have had people say to me “Oh I always wanted to adopt but we can’t because________ and then they fill in the blank. Typically that blank includes them feeling like they do not have enough time or money. Can I just tell you that I understand? I understand fearing the lack of money and lack of time. As I have said in the past- we are not rich and of course with seven- soon to be eight children- are days are full. However, what I have discovered is that while on paper it doesn’t make sense that we can ‘have’ as much as we have and get as much done as we do- the only thing I can say is- it is God’s will and He can and will provide.



Following God’s will for your life is no simple task. It takes effort. It takes time- time with God and time reading His word. We have to make a conscious effort to align our priorities with God’s priorities and examine them often. It takes a willingness to forgo our plans and follow His. It means staying in constant relationship with God- seeking Him for the answers. It means running to God- instead of google.



In the past, as each child entered our family- whether through birth or adoption, inevitably we would always say ‘this one is the last one'.



We laugh at ourselves now.



Laugh that we tried to limit God.



No more.


No more telling God when ‘we’ are done. Now the ball is in His court. Our lives are completely His to do with as He wishes. No more holding back. No more restriction. We threw out the excuses, let go of the fears and the what ifs. We are trying our hardest to live in complete willingness and obedience- always remaining open to what or who He brings our way.




Having said that, I do believe that God wants us to act in a responsible manner. We have to use the good judgment he gave us when it comes to how we spend our time and our resources. We have to continuously examine our lives- again aligning our priorities up with Gods. We have to be responsible- to God. Not responsible to our bank account and our lifestyles that we cling to so tightly.




For us, and I believe for many as well, it comes down to being painfully honest. Most of the time what it really it boils down to is our laziness or unwillingness to make changes. Our unwillingness to let go of a few of life’s luxuries- that we cling to out of selfishness. Not an easy pill to swallow I know, but that is a part of that self examining we need to do. I am not saying this is always the case- but perhaps something that needs to be carefully examined in our lives.




Sometimes, often times, following God’s plans for your life including makes changes, giving up, sacrificing. Perhaps God is asking you to examine your life- how much time are you wasting watching TV or sitting on the computer? I know that each time Todd and I open our homes to a new child we have to sit down and really take a long, hard look at our lives and reevaluate the way we are living. Where are we spending our time and our resources and are those things important to God? Sometimes we have to give things up that we like to do in our spare time- to have more time to spent with our children. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices, like giving up having our nails done, eating out or a game of golf. Because after all, one day we will all stand in front of God and He will ask us what we did with Him- what we did with the cross. God knows that you and I know there are 147 million orphans in this world. And honestly, I’m kind of embarrassed that we often put our comfort before them. We turn our backs and go on with our lives- the lives God gave us- and do nothing. We don’t want to give up our cable TV, the 45+ shirts hanging in our closet (and we still have ‘nothing to wear’) our iphones, our golf game, fishing or hunting equipment, our 2nd automobile, eating out, or anything else really. We want to have it all and then some.We complain we are 'broke' and stressed out. And I wonder if perhaps God is trying to teach us something?





Because one thing I can promise you is that one day when we stand in front of God and He asks us what we did with the cross- He will not be impressed with our iphone or that our nails looked good.






Perhaps it boils down to us needing to let go of our constantly trying to impress or prove ourselves to everyone else. Maybe we need to quit worrying what others will think and just live the life that God created us for. After all, it’s our life-and we get to choose what we are going to do with the cross. The decision is ours and we are the ones who will be held accountable for it. Who are we trying to please? God or man?





Or maybe it’s about fears? Fear that it might cost you something? Fears that the child God gives you won’t be perfect? Can I ask you something? Are you perfect?






Or maybe it’s fear that it might be hard? Honestly though, do any of us have so much control over our lives that nothing but good will ever happen to us? Has life ever been completely easy?






So whatever it is you decide to do with the cross- whether it be go on a mission trip, foster children, volunteer at a homeless shelter, adopt, teach Sunday school or whatever- go ahead and do it for Him. Stop limiting God. Drop your plans. Loose yourself for Him. Because you may just find that when you finally loose yourself -you may truly discover who you really are.






My prayer for each of us this Thanksgiving is that we clearly see each and every one of our blessings. Then as we reflect on those blessings, we thank God for them- and then hand them right back to Him. All of them- especially the ones you are most thankful for. Then, sit back and watch. Sit back and be amazed at how when you are fully and completely offer your life to Him- you will have more to be thankful for than ever before.


*** If you were touched/moved by this post and your heart has been stirred... leave me a comment and visit the link at the top to visit her blog :)

The Tree is Up~

The kids couldn't wait to get the tree decorated.... they all wanted to have a turn cutting the string off the tree and watch it expand! We always wait a day to let the tree adjust and drop it's branches a little before we decorate it :) We worked on it Saturday....... I always feel the need to clean before we decorate for Christmas...but the mess if more after the tree is up... why do I create more work for myself cleaning twice in the same day?


I started putting the lights on the tree and then realized how much I dislike that job and decided to save for my husband :)

Does anyone enjoy putting lights on a tree??

The kids LOVE to sort through the ornaments and tell their stories on when they remember picking it out or making it. Caroline was excited that she had more this year... it is always hard when you haven't always been in the family..... I remember Michael and Sasha feeling bad that they didn't have as many as Emily and Lane and now after 4 years they have many to put on the tree :)

I lost control of the tree years ago... and I am okay with that. I love to watch the kids get excited hunting for the perfect place for their special ornaments. I think they do a good job with them... we actually had to leave a lot in the box this year because our tree is smaller than the one's in the past. Sasha hung all of hers in the same area and several on one branch ..... it made the tree have a big gap in the side ..... we fixed it and have only lost one ornament to falling off because it was on the end of a branch :)

Michael and Lane set out the Nativity.... final touches to the tree being done!

Just needs some presents..... Oh... to find the time ! I have a list and I am checking twice :)

Sunday Snapshot: Sasha

~Sasha Grace 8 years old~

Sasha is a sweet little girl... she almost always has a smile on her face!

She is a very helpful child and the one I always want to take with me when I need to get something done. She helps me daily without complaining and really enjoys helping :)

Sasha loves our dog "Lily" and can always be found playing, feeding, or giving her treats or fresh water to her. Sometimes she can love Lily a little too much .... but Lily is such a great dog and is so kind.


What a beautiful child.... inside and out. We are so grateful that God has entrusted us to raise her. We have been blessed through the gift of adoption and often think what her life and our life would be like without her. She is growing into a very special little girl!

Sasha loves to play games.... and LOVES to dress up in "dress up" clothes. Everyday you can find her walking around dressed as someone else and having in depth conversations to herself. She loves music and loves to sing...... daily you will hear music blaring out of her room and she will be singing in front of the mirror.

Sasha is also very silly....she make me laugh everyday! I just had to get a shot of her with one of her many silly faces~

I love this picture.... it really does reflect Sasha's personality! She is such a treasure!

Happy Thanksgiving~

Every Thanksgiving we drive to the mountains to cut our CHRISTmas tree down. The kids love this day and talk about a lot the weeks prior. We started off with some pumpkin muffins and hot chocolate for breakfast and then loaded up the car with snacks for the day and headed out! It is about a 2 hour drive to the tree farm but the time passes quickly because of the game they all play. The kids earn a quarter for every tree they spot on a car or truck.... the first one to call it gets the point!! They love this game and it is a fun way to earn money to buy gifts for their siblings and pass the time. The big winner this year.... Emily with 12 quarters :)


The favorite things to do at the farm are ride the horses and get hot chocolate after we find our tree! Emily didn't ride this year.... I am sure she would if it was a horse in an open field :)

Sasha rode 4 times!!

Caroline rode 3 times!! The guys at the horse farm just adore her..... they asked her where she was from.. meaning what city( currently) of course she looked at them strange and said "China silly". Funny~

Michael... really liked riding the horse... I think that he wished that he could ride in an open field too!

Lane rode a few times and would get on himself and go~

Relaxing in the sleigh~

On the tractor ride out to the trees!

Dad and mom~

We found our tree!Daddy tags the tree.... before it is cut down~

There it goes.... Now it is time for hot chocolate!

Now it is time to head home to start the "big meal".... we are ready to eat!!!

With help from Emily the meal was on the table in an hour..... ham, turkey, stuffing, pineapple casserole, sweet potato casserole, corn, mashed potatoes, rolls, apple pie and pumpkin pie!! Yummo~

Lane set the table.... he chose the tablecloth and the china.. glasses.... and put a special touch on everyone's plates :) He was so proud of himself!

All the girls have napkin swans and the boys have cups with their fork inside:) Lane is so creative! We had a great day and have a lot to be thankful for!!

Carmel.....Costumes......Candy

The kids had a great day filled with loads of fun!! After lunch we had Carmel apples for those who didn't have braces ..... sorry Emily :( This was Carolines first Carmel apple.... last year she didn't want to try one.... she still couldn't eat it all! Our church had a Fall Festival with tons of games and moon bounces..... the kids always have fun. This year we didn't want to spend much money on costumes, so we tried to use what we had. I always like homemade costumes compared to store bought ones :)

This is the casualty of eating Carmel apples..... a lost tooth! This was one of Lane's molars~

Here are the costumes.... Caroline was a "Chinese Girl" how original.. I know but she really wanted to dress up and LOVED it!

Lane was his favorite TV host.... Adam Savage from Mythbusters!! I think he really looked like him :)

The back of the shirt was Lane's idea..... he thought it really needed some danger~

Sasha was a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do..... Emily let her "borrow " her belt!

Michael doesn't like to dress up.... he liked the idea of a sports shirt that he thought looked like a costume. ( he already had it)

Emily on the other hand LOVES to dress up!! This year she decided to go as a nerd.... even with the toilet paper hanging out of her skirt and the "kick me " sign on her back..... Sasha let her borrow her Hello Kitty backpack for her candy :)

The whole gang!!!

Waiting for the hayride at the festival!

Now the fun part.......CANDY!!! The kids LOVE to sort and trade their candy........ I let them eat a one or two pieces a day :) I eat all the Tootsie Rolls!

***disclaimer..... I did take a picture of Emily but something happened and it didn't work :(

A Fun Day With The Pigs!

We had so much fun with our friends as we were on the hunt for some "pigs". In Lexington, NC they have pigs out in front of many of the stores and it is really fun to see how they are decorated! The Welcome Center gives you a map and tells you what stores will stamp your map... the kids and adults had a good time.... it does take some time and still hard to see all the pigs. The kids turned in their stamped map for a poster of the past years pigs. It was a fun activity !

All About Me~

We went on a field trip to the hospital education center. It was really interesting..... we learned all about our bodies... lungs, heart, brain and digestive system which was the most interesting for the kids. Lane was one of the volunteers to act as the stomach and he mashed up some food and they followed it through the digestive system all the way to the "potty"........ the kids just laughed but Lane held it together and was so great with the demonstration! It was a very visual thing for the kids and I sure they will remember it!