The Challenge

Lorraine, from All Are Precious in His Sight has

challenged us to read our Bibles in honor of her

daughter who went to heaven this past year

because of her heart.



I need to be in the Word.

There are so many reasons.

I've done it before, a few times.

I found out I have so much more to learn.

Reading the Bible teaches me how to yearn for God.

The hunger for a relationship with You and Your SON is never satisfied.



God has been working.

On my heart.

To pray for his heart.

On the other side of the world.



Which direction is your heart pointing,

at the start of the New Year?

One of my favorite photos that Lindsey took in Africa.

She was 18.

Now she is 21.

And going back again.

To seek and save the lost.

Introducing

TREY BENJAMIN PETERSON

Adopted December 22, 2010

Lots of friends and family joined us at the court house. I don't think many people usually show up for adoptions as we kind of overwhelmed the court house staff, generally getting in the way and being jovial. Not too many people smile at the court house...

We invited Trey's (and Micah's and R's) birthmom to the adoption. I guess you can call this an open adoption although nothing is official. It seemed like the right thing to do. I wanted her to see how loved all of her children are, to meet our friends who have held, adored, and nurtured her children while supporting our family.

Lots of smiles!

She came early to the house to help get everyone ready.
SO GRATEFUL!
Thank you Lia.

Trey couldn't get adopted without one of his best friends!

Our number one supporter and official baby holder.
His arms are always ready!!!
Thanks, Dave.

The men hanging out waiting.
We were scheduled for 9:30 but court was backed up.
Several people couldn't get there until 10:00,
and they made it just in time.R was very accommodating and let everyone hold her.

Antics on the stairs.

Trey went up to get his present from the judge.
After I cried.
It has been a long journey.
I LOVE the clock showing the time.

My brother and nephew joined the family picture.
I was so grateful that they came.
Thanks, Marc and Carlson.

Here are most of the wonderful people who
drove an hour to see me cry.
Everyone who was supposed to be here, was!
God was in the details.

I wanted a picture with
the social worker and the Guardian-Ad-Litem.
He wasn't having it for a good reason.
Long story, but I hope someday he will understand
that they were truly on his side all along.

After each adoption we have relocated to
a local restaurant to celebrate over breakfast.
This was our fourth post-adoption party.
The staff recognize us now!

Strafford Farms Restaurant

The boys hunkered down in their own corner.
While we waited for food, there was drawing..
and eating butter...
and ordering of things one might not
get if they were sitting next to Mom...and what you find when other people have the camera.
Girlfriends.

After the big celebration, we headed home.
Micah was beat.

The baby was out like a light.And then there was the energizer bunny...Once we got home, we tried to stage a few photos.
No one was in the mood.

Our eighth child and new son.
We love you, Trey Benjamin Peterson.

Getting Ready

Today was all about getting ready for the big "A" day.

5 Haircuts
Babies bathed
Clothes laid out
Baby bag packed
Diaper bag ready
Shoes by the door
Directions e-mailed
Restaurant reserved
Extra help in the am
Transportation arranged

We have pumped and primed Trey until he doesn't know whether he is coming or going. He knows something big is happening but seeing as nothing will change except his official name, he is a bit at odds about the whole thing. Honestly, we never told him much about his old name so he is rather oblivious. He does know that he is now home forever. He knows that Dad and Mom will love him and take care of him always. He knows that no one can make him leave until he is ready.

We had no idea on March 17, 2008 that our life would change for the better. Trey arrived at 8 months old, sweet as can be. He was a good baby and thankfully slept through the night. He army crawled at that age and has always been very affectionate.

I have known for a long time that Trey would be adopted after the paper chase and court wrangling that went on for a year. Now on the eve of his adoption, I feel excited and nervous. Since this is our fifth adoption, you would think we would be used to it. No way.

It is ginormous.
It is forever.
A HUGE responsibility.
An even BIGGER gift.

Becoming a parent, even for the eighth time is almost indescribable.
It has been a long pregnancy.
God has truly honored us.

We are blessed to be his family,
because it was written in His book.

A Different Kind of Christmas

To say we have a lot going on in our family is an understatement.

I never knew that my vessel could be filled to overflowing and emptied.

At the same time.

An adoption and a reunification, gain and loss.

It is hard, this giving, the leaving, a forever promise.

But the emotions have me thinking about what I need Christmas to be about.

I was inspired by this post from Ann Voskamp on her blog: Holy Experience.

She said,"When we give to Christ in the hungry, He satisfies our own hunger pangs."

I want my kids to know Christ in the giving.

I want to know Christ in the hungry.

We bought gifts for those that have need.


Sunday night we went to a nearby town to see a living Nativity.
So simple yet profound. It was cold outside, but a warm glow was in my heart watching the Christmas story played out before my eyes. It didn't matter that the baby was plastic, or that the shepherds were small. It was humble and real.
After some hot chocolate and cookies followed by a Christmas message, we detoured on our way home to do a little caroling at a friend's house. They have a BIG tree. The girls were singing The Twelve Meals that Grandma Made At Christmas: 5 layered cake, 4 black eyed peas, 3 meat-a-balls, 2 scoops of rice, and a gi-ant brocc-o-li tree. Truly entertaining.
Ann Voskamp also wrote about what to do when all the gifts are for Him. There won't be any gifts under our tree this year, at least not the usual kind. Nothing for ourselves, only for others. I have been thinking about those 147 million orphans, Haiti, Africa, what we need and what we want.

Everyone seems to be on board.

I know there has been more time to focus on what is most important.

Our activities have drawn us closer to the One who knows our hearts,

to what Christmas is all about.

Plenty To Do But Not What We Did

I had SO MUCH to do today. Pay bills, mountains of laundry, an empty refrigerator requiring a shopping list and a store run, a bathroom to paint (procrastinated on that for about 3 months), never mind getting a tree and doing something about Christmas.

INSTEAD of looking in and focusing on the "what we need to get done around here", we looked out and I can honestly say my empty soul was filled to the brim.

We loaded the "bus" and headed up the road.

First stop, drop Jerrod off at his job. His first job. So proud.
He was not inclined to humor his blogging mother. Someday, he'll be sorry.
Did I say we loaded up the van with bunnies?
Next stop was the nursing home with two of our rabbits.
This sweet lady thought she would be keeping this cute bunny.
They loved stroking the rabbits. This is our bunny Hop. His ears were straight up and at attention.
All I could think of was oreo cookie every time I looked at this rabbit.
The kids carried the rabbits around to visit the residents.
We went in most of the rooms. There were 2 or 3 groups of kids so some people got multiple visits.
Cora got to borrow this fluffy bunny. She was in love with him.
Trey wanted to climb in the cage. He is having asthma today but I am still glad he went and got to brighten a few people's day.
They couldn't get enough of touching the soft silky bunnies.
The boys got to play with the bunnies too. This is big for Micah, he is not a small animal fan.
See what I mean?
The residents were so sweet.
Our 4-H rabbit club posing with Doris. She is 101 years old. 7 kids and 7 bunnies with a couple of sidekicks.
She was an amazing lady. She loved up on Trey and Micah. Reminded her of her own two boys. One had died in the same nursing home. I guess that happens when you are 101. She was amazing. Did I already say that?
Erik enjoyed sharing Tula. In her other life, she only lives in a cage.
Sharing.
Near the end the kids put all seven bunnies on the table.
Us moms suggested keeping the males and females apart, bunnies that is.
Meanwhile, Bob was at a friend's house helping to put a floor down.
Bob is a good friend and a man with a big heart for helping others. Never mind that this FRIEND has helped us out tremendously on many occasions.
After the nursing home, we went to Stuff-Mart and bought our gifts for the Tag tree at church. We had taken 6 tags and enjoyed picking out clothes and toys for kids that do not have as much as we do. Micah and Trey didn't fully grasp the concept when we would not let them play with the tractor and preschool toys but the seed of giving was planted.

No tree yet, so the kids decided to surprise Dad and go get one from the neighborhood. My only rule? Ask the landowner, please!

Off they go. Guess the cat did not want to be left out.
Sizing them up and choosing the right one.
Cutting.
Trey's turn on the saw.
Micah lends a hand.
A pose. I LOVE Erik's boredness with the photographer who was Erika on the tree cutting excursion.
Paul Bunyan....our manly man.
Our little man.
I'm thinking this is taller than the house.
Paring down.
Our tree has three tiers, top, middle, and bottom.
Most everyone agrees that this is our best tree ever.
We got busy with homemade ornaments.
Water balloons, string, and glue.
The finished product. It actually worked.
Our beautiful heartfelt tree.
A day of giving yet we received so much more.

SO MUCH MORE.