Family Fun

The guys on my side of the family recently had their annual fishing/golf trip together. While they were doing that, the women of our family had their annual "Watch All the Kids Event!" My sister was up from Cali with her kids and my sister-in-law came over for a few days from Seattle with her girls to hang with all of us. We had some great days at the beach, fountain park, and just playing with cousins. I love to see them all together and now we get to add 2 more to the group!!

After the guys were done with their part, we lovingly ditched handed off our children and headed into Seattle for a spa treatment! Very nice! We also got to shop around for the day and eat at two fabulous places: Shuckers and The Purple Cafe. In between our very important agenda, we just had to take a break at Von's Martini House for a blueberry lemon drop! Yum! What a great memory and time we had together -thanks Mom and Dad for making it happen!!

We ended our time together the next day with our H. Family Fantasy Football Draft! Very fun. Go Lady Wildcats!!! (that is my team and no, I am not as exuberant as I sound right now).

Cyber Shower!

I have to tell you that I am at a cyber shower right now!! My cyber friends from AAI have thrown me a shower to celebrate our referral. I am so blessed to have this group to go through all the ups and downs and ins and outs of adopting from Ghana. Jennine is throwing it and she is just hilarious! She told everyone to bring recipes to share and assured us that we wouldn't gain any weight from it since there wouldn't be any real food! She also asked anyone to shares stories of our two little ones if they have already met them and people are giving advice on what to bring to Ghana and what not to bring. I asked if there was hot water so I could make some espresso. Well?........it is important to me!! I think the three biggest things that were mentioned to bring was toilet paper, a watch (I don't own one anymore now that I carry my phone everywhere), and some sort of cereal or granola bars. Well, I better get back to the shower in case there are still some people I need to mingle with....

5+1=6...BUT 5+2=7!!!!

Yep! It is official. The Jag's have a referral for a little boy.....and he has an adorable sister! We are so thrilled here and can't wait to meet our new children. Ahh! We are going to be a family of 7!!! I was trying to make our family number even, but this is how we roll! We still have a few months in the process until we can bring them home, but we wanted to let you know about our new additions as soon as we could. Our little guy is 2.5 yrs. old and as cute as can be. He has got the cutest little smile and by the look in his eyes, will be able to keep up with his big brother and sisters. Our little girl is 3.5 yrs. and just has the most beautiful eyes! Ughh- I just want to squeeze them both!

I just wanted to let you know how blessed we feel to be bringing these children into our home. Thanks SO much for all your prayers and thoughts during the last year while we have been awaiting a referral. As soon as we can post pictures, we will. But until our case goes to court in Ghana, I can't post it on the blog. (If you want me to send you a picture- this proud mom will eagerly do that)!

(Sorry I didn't call everyone today, but we wanted to share as soon as we could and didn't have enough hours in the day to call anyone except immediate family)

We love you and would appreciate your continued prayers!!!

July- Part IV

Is there really a Part IV? Yep!

The 4th round of people to come and stay with us in July was my cousin, Jamie, and her 4 kids. They came out for my Grandma Gwen's 9oth birthday celebration. The family rented out the Farm Kitchen and we used the Guest House there as our meeting point for meals, bocce ball, Wii, wine tastings, breakfast, and dinner at the end of the reunion. Most of my cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings were there. It was so fun to see all the younger generation playing together as the older cousins used to! We missed my Uncle Scott and his family, but since he had to undergo more treatments for his cancer, they weren't able to make the trip up. You can read more about how he is doing by keeping up with him on his blog. He is an amazing man and we pray that he is healed soon!

Happy 90th birthday Grandma!

July- Part III

(new sweater she brought me from Hot Mama)

When I was 15, I went to work for the summer at Covenant Harbor Bible Camp in Lake Geneva, WI. I had been going there as a child for a week of summer camp and family camp almost every year since I was 8. It was such a special place for me; I could hardly wait to work there! That summer, and the ones following it, I met some of the best friends I will have for the rest of my life! I am so thankful for how God shaped me those summers by giving me such amazing relationships. My friend Megan, is one of the very special people that God brought me that 1st summer. We lived together in a little bungalow (upper compounds) with Sara, Kristina, Julie, and Amy- and we really bonded(Lenore and Heather came later). Megan and I only lived a half hour away from each other during the school year, so many weekends we got together in high school and college. It was so nice to have each other to hold one another accountable when it seemed nearly impossible in high school. We can look back now and laugh at boys we used to like, clothes we used to wear, and the way we used to make drive-by's(both at home, Lake Geneva, and in the McDonalds drive throughs)!


Last month, Megan and her son came out to visit us for a few days. I felt so honored to have them come since we are both so busy with life and our our families now. (Not to mention her amazing company that she and her husband started a few years ago (http://www.shopmama.com/). I had such a good time reconnecting and just hanging out! We haven't had but more than a meal together in the last 10 years, so it meant the world to me. It was also so special to watch our children play together. We missed her wonderful husband and daughter, but I was so thrilled to see us, almost 20 years later, with our families hanging out and living life together. Thanks for coming Megan!

July- Part II

July and August(almost) have come and gone and I can't believe that I didn't ever update my blog since Justus's birthday. We had so much fun having our close friends and family visit during the month, that I just didn't make this a priority. I am sorry for those of you that check regularly(all three of you!), that I have been a bit of a bore. Oh well!

To recap, we got to have my wonderful friend, Jenn, and her adorable three boys come and visit for a few days. Jenn is such a special friend to me that I made after the first year of living here. Unfortunately, she moved away last year, so we haven't been able to share in the day to day life as much as I was hoping. I am just so appreciative though for her and how God has used her in my life-what a blessing she has been in my life and how fun to be able to re-connect!

Our dear friends, Mike & Becky, and their kiddos also came to visit us for a few days in July. We had so much fun with them going to the beach, walking around Seattle, hitting a Mariners game(6 of us even got haircuts there-for real!!), tea for the girls, and golf and fishing for the boys! What an amazing time we had; we felt so special that they took a family vacation out here just to hang with us. Our kids are all around the same age and our "Ella's" are only two days apart! The kids got along beautifully-they are truly much more like family to us. We have shared so much of our lives together already as we went to college together, Daron worked at camp with them, double dates, we were in each other's weddings, and the kids have grown up seeing each other at least once a year even though we live apart. I am very thankful for such great friends!!

Our little boy is 9!

Happy 9th Birthday Justus!!!

Justus had his birthday this last week and he turned 9! I can't believe that I am a mother of a nine yr. old. Justus is the best! I am so proud of this guy. He has the biggest heart that is always concerned about others. Justus loves his sports; he always has. I remember when he was almost two when he would throw a ball up in the air with one hand and hit the bat with the other. Justus's other favorite pastime is fishing with his Dad and Grandpa. He asks everyday if he can go fishing. He is actually pretty good at this too. This summer he has just loved putting the crab pots down in the marina to see how many he can catch. Not only has he caught crab, but he caught a dogfish the other day. Another name for dogfish is SHARK! Yep, he put his little fishing rod in the marina and said he got something. When it got closer to the top, we realized he caught a 2ft. dogfish! Unbelievable! The day before, we were at a picnic and he walked up to us to show us the garter snack he caught. He is all boy! I am so thankful for his smile, his heart, and who God has made him to be. Happy Birthday Justus!

Tell Two

Back when Daron and I were dating, we talked about how someday we would like to adopt. At the time we were thinking domestically, but then over the years our heartstrings were pulled by all of the orphans that were affected by HIV over in Africa. Since then, we have talked and prayed about adopting an orphan that was affected by HIV, but living without it. When we started getting into the adoption process last year, I was, and still am, so ignorant and uneducated on how far medication has come for those with HIV. I didn't realize that those with HIV could go on to live a "normal" life without ever even developing AIDS. I didn't even know you could adopt an HIV+ child, but I was wrong. It is amazing how far the medical world has come.



Through the blogging and adoption world, I have learned a lot about this much more manageable disease, than I ever realized. One blogger has encouraged everyone who reads her blog to "Tell Two" people about HIV. Please read Erin's blog. She is the HIV coordinator for AAI and an amazing mom to 11 kids! Another great blog to educate ourselves on HIV is From HIV to Home. I hope you can take a few minutes to read and help erase some of the stigma that has been attached to HIV in the past and make it a memory!

Patience

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”
- Psalm 40:1

This is the verse that the children of our church are being encouraged to memorize this week. Over the summer, they are challenged to memorize one verse and recite it to their parents, Pastor Daron, or their house church. After the kids have memorized 4, they are invited to an ice cream party. Then, after 10, they get to go to Chuck E. Cheese together! Can you tell the kids picked out the reward system? It has been really fun hearing the different kids call Daron or come up to him and recite the verses. The first week, a 4yr. old was the first one to do it(Go Alyssa!) Mary, my mother-in-law, gets our email updates in MN and has also been memorizing the verses. She calls every week and leaves the verse on the answering machine. She said she wants to go to Chuck E. Cheese! LOL! Knowing her, she really will plan a trip to come out then; not one to miss a party!

This verse has meant alot to me as well. As you know, we have been "waiting patiently" for God's timing to show itself to us in regards to our adoption. There are many thoughts that go through my head with this, but mostly I daily remind myself not to worry. Because....if I am worrying, I am not waiting patiently. God has His timing worked out for us just perfectly and I can't manipulate it; or at least not without causing more damage. I know that God hears my cries. I know that in my heart and my head. Some days though, I need to proclaim this as my theme song/Psalm to get me through the day.

Scenic Beach

Here is a photo from our church picnic at Scenic Beach State Park. This was taken by one of our local newspapers, The Kitsap Sun, and my friend Linda sent it to me. Isn't it gorgeous there? Linda and Greta are standing on the rocks to the left, along with others from Alive.

This is one of the reasons I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest!