2008 Wrap-Up

There are only a few days left in what has been our busiest year ever. I like to think that we have fallen into a routine now and that we have sailed into smoother waters...with four children in the home, it is unlikely we will not be hitting high surf every now and then...but...we have our life jacket and He will get us through it all.

December is nearly over and I wanted to catch up on all that has happened...Ruthie and Rusty got their first report cards of the year...Ruthie made straight A's, principle's list, and Rusty made straight E's, except for art, which, uh, it's art???? I emailed the teacher to find out what all went into this grade...art is subjective, right? She assured me that he is well behaved and hard working and that he earned that V! Ok, well, what do you have to do to earn an E? Whatever, we'll take it. Both of the kids are working in the highest reading groups and participating in what is called super star math...I'm a proud mama!

I went to EPCOT to sing in the Disney Candle Light processional and earned two free tickets to any park. In 2009, Disney is giving every FL resident a free ticket to any park on the their birthday so, we will use those and take each of the kids to the park of their choice for free on their birthday, and for two of them, one of us will also get in free. I'm looking forward to this as something different and a good way for each child to have a full day of being the center of attention!

Adam and I had our TENTH anniversary. We didn't celebrate it yet but the plans are in the works. On the eve of this decade of devotion, I rolled over in bed and heard a loud popping noise in my neck and could not turn my head for 24 hours...we did manage to one thing on the big day...Santa...now I know why there are so many June brides. There is absolutely nothing going on in June.

Ellie met Santa for the first time ever and he scared her! Not really but she cried...until he pulled out the candy canes and then she vaulted herself straight into his arms. She sat on his lap for a good five minutes, clutching her candy cane and investigating his face. As to the other three, I fear some of the magic has been lost as none of them wanted to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted because, "he is not the real Santa." Huh?

Ruthie sang in both our Christmas Cantata and our Christmas Eve services at church and she had a small solo which brought tears to many eyes. With her moving onto the competition squad in gymnastics, this may be the last year she is able to commit to individual parts in shows like this since require additional practices that will conflict with her gym time...one of those things we really had to think about but believe that in time, we will know which path to take...for now, she is loving gymnastics and really doing well.

Ellie had her first Christmas and was completely adorable opening her gifts...her favorite was probably the new little tricycle...it has been in the middle of the floor since she got it and every time she gets on it or walks past it, she announces, "mommy, that's my bike!" Other favorites include her dolly which she has named Allie and the sunglasses that were in her stocking. The other three made out like bandits on the DS games but otherwise, Christmas did not get out of hand with too much "stuff" this year and I confess that although I always experience that little let down right after the last gift is opened, it was nice this year to not have piles of "stuff" to find places for.

We initiated a birth search for Ellie's birth family. We know their names, have their address and a lot of other information adoptive families from Russia don't always get. So, it will be easy for the searcher to find them but we don't know if they will cooperate. We hope to gain information about the area she is from but especially pictures, maybe a letter and possibly a video of her birth family including her biological sister. All of this to be held for her until the time she is mature enough or begins to ask questions about them. The searcher said that almost always, the families are relieved to know that the children have a home and to see pictures of the child and want the child to have something from them. We sent pictures of her with us as well as a letter thanking the family for the gift of Ellie. I had to refer to her in the letter as Vika and that was a little strange. Writing the letter brought forth a lot of emotions that I will save for a later post...

So, what's left? We have initiated the BIG after Christmas clean out and that will take weeks...we have New Year's Eve with our friends and then...2009...another year...the year of the 1/2 marathon...10 weeks to go!

Happy New Year! Go Light Your World! Love, The Jergers

Nine Is Fine...

She's nine! I wanted to do this post a week or so ago but December in the Jerger home is a mad rush from one event to another. We have Ruthie's birthday, our anniversary, and of course, Christmas! Although her birthday fell on a Monday, we waited until the following Friday to have her party. She really wanted to have both a slumber party and go putt-putt golfing. Since the last slumber party, with about 12 girls, I have wised up...so, Ruthie invited her three closest friends and we started the night at The Olive Garden. I wish I had recorded some of their conversation during dinner. They were both little girls and yet big at the same time. As they sat and did all the activities on their kid's menu, they talked about boys in a completely serious and yet, child-like way...drinking from cups with lids, they had very serious conversations about the differences between their schools, the activities they each participate in and even told jokes.

From dinner, we went to putt-putt golf. The girls had a blast...it was cold and we were all bundled up...there were many re-do's and some debate over what was fair and what was just plain cheating...Laura got the good sport award because she was abysmally bad but loving every minute of it! After Putt-putt, we went for ice cream and the girls ran into one of the boys from their class...uuugh! I mean, really! We got back to the house around 10:30, opened gifts, and then settled in for a few movies. Finally, we finished off the night around 2:30 AM...I remember this being so much fun when I was little girl but now, these late nights just make me a little nauseous.

In addition to her turning nine, we got the awesome news that she is being moved up to level 4 in gymnastics...this means that, assuming she hangs tough in workouts, she will be competing come fall and we will be on the road to meets! Her work out schedule has increased to 9 hours/week making for some tough decisions regarding other activities she is involved in. This is so exciting not only because of being on the competition team but because she had an uphill battle getting there this year. Ruthie was moving along so quickly and then earlier in the year, while back flipping into the pool, she hit her head and needed stitches. The accident put doubt and fear into her head and she had to work very hard to overcome it and get her round-off back handspring. I think seeing her go through that and push herself is what makes me the most proud.

So, nine years...I keep looking at her trying to remember all the little things...funny words, mannerisms, all the things that make her who she is and try as I might, I can't recall everything. It makes me want to turn back time...call for my own little re-do and just be able to rock her in my arms until she falls asleep a few more times before she goes away to college...in all this busy-ness, the time I want to hold onto the most seems to slip through my fingertips and my need to get it all imprinted in my memory increases as I see her face losing all the baby fat and her legs lengthening in to those of a young lady. This year, her ninth, my prayer is that I am the example the Lord called me to be when he gifted me with such a beautiful, talented child. I pray that when she grows into a woman, she will look back and remember me as a Godly, loving, obediant and compassionate wife and mother. And I pray that the Lord will help be that woman.

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:14

Mind Over Body

Just a quick update on my running...mostly for me...to keep me motivated. This is hard. As I said, I am following a training plan and it starts 10 weeks out from the race. Well, we are not yet 10 weeks out...this Sunday will be 12 weeks. So, I have tried to adapt the plan each week to challenge myself. I am up to running 8 miles on my long run each week. My training plan for the next two weeks looks like this:

Sun: rest

Mon: 3 miles

Tues: rest

Wed: 5 miles

Thurs: 3 miles

Fri: rest

Sat: 8 miles

Actually, even though I do it VERY slowly, the 8 mile run isn't too bad...it is the 3 mile run after a day of rest that I loathe. Compounding the mileage that I have to get in is the fact that I have 4 kid's schedules to work around and often find myself having to run at night when I am most tired. So, I found this quote and in the middle of a run, I whisper to myself, "you are not tired." And sometimes, my self listens...

"Now if you are going to win in any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-George S. Patton, US Army General and 1912 Olympian

Sounds about right, right?

Dark Brown

Another sign I am getting older...I had been getting one, maybe two grey hairs a year just in the front...and then a few weeks ago, Adam found a really long one mixed into the back of my hair...he plucked it out in the middle of our ABF...I'm not sure who noticed but it got me to thinkin' about murder. Just last week, I was parting my hair like I do on the rare days that I decide to style it and low and behold, there were about 3 greys right there in the middle of my head...I plucked them in the privacy of my own bathroom. Then a few days later, I am again parting my hair and right there is brand new growth...devastating! So, I decide I would rather not go bald and make a trip to the drug store for my first box of Clairol...you'd think if I am finally going to join the ranks of hair coloring women I could get some cool sounding color like "Mahogany bark." No, the color that matches my hair is called, "Dark Brown." So, now, I am old AND boring.

I really wish I could have found time to update before now...Today is Ruthie's birthday...She's 9...NINE! I am going to do a post in her honor after her little party this weekend...In the meantime...Last week, We started the week with tubes. Flip did really great but woke up a little sad which was a first for him...The doc said that the fluid in his ears was the consistency of taffy and that we should notice a huge difference in his hearing, again. The hole I was previously worried about was completely closed over and had healed nicely. They see no signs of scar tissue so we will get regular hearing tests until we decide the "permanent" tubes can come out. He has said a few times since then that things were too loud and hurting his ears so it seems his hearing is much improved like after the tonsils came out and it will take him some time to get used to life on a normal volume.

Ruthie with Peder the Llama.

Over the weekend, we had two extra munchkins in the house. Jenna and Jason came to stay so their parents could get a nice weekend away and we had a nice time with the kids. On Saturday, we went to the Zoo...a first for Ellie...and she was so excited about all the animals but her favorite part, I think, was petting the sting rays...I'm pretty sure she would have stayed there as long as Adam would have held her up.


Yesterday, after church, we got the outside of the house decorated, the tree up and painted our yearly ornaments for the tree. Ellie was fascinated with the tree...she kept touching the branches. I said to her, "what is that?" and she said, "flower." We told her about the tree and showed her the ornaments, which she kept taking off:0)

My kids all have their own ornaments that they put on the tree every year and I was glad I had bought a set in Russia and collected few for Ellie over the past few years so that she had her own little set to put on the tree. (all on the same branch, I might add)Although, I think she enjoyed playing in the trees storage bag more.

Buckle Your Seat Belts...

It's a long ONE!

First I have to talk about the conclusion of fall sports... Rusty finished up his flag football season and got a little metal...it wasn't the dream season, kind of more the Bad News Bears version but he had a great time and that is what matters. Flip also finished up his T-ball season...if you are a Baseball mom, you know what I mean when I say FINALLY! He got a little trophy that he was so excited about. I have to mention this because as the third child, I have noticed that he has grown up (in some ways) faster than the older two. (Not so much in other ways:0) He has for a long time now been asking when it was going to be his turn to play something. He has watched Ruthie and Rusty at numerous activities and always been there for the trophy ceremony...longingly waiting for his very own trophy...and finally:

I think the grin says it all...What a cutie! So, on the Friday before Thanksgiving...I was madly trying to get us ready to leave town for the week...no small matter when I had to go on a field trip with Ruthie and have everything we needed packed for the frigid weather in D.C. as well as all of our formal wear for Adam's cousin's wedding! I had in my mind that we would leave around 2:00 and be at the rehearsal dinner at 4:00, right on schedule...well, at 4:00 we had been in the car for 2 hours but had yet to leave town...checking the cat into the kennel took forever, I forgot some stuff and we had to run back to the house, (ok, twice) but anyway, we made it to the dinner part and Adam did fine in the wedding so I think it turned out ok.

We left the hotel on Sunday morning at 5:30ish...took our time, stopping when we needed to and playing at rest stops to keep the kids from going crazy in the car...they did awesome, really! In South Carolina, we were playing at a rest area and a man from our church came up to us...how weird! We got to the Durham area and spent some time there with our Friends, the Forzaglias.

On Monday, we got up leisurely and headed out...after having coffee at you guessed it, cultbucks, and an hour long stop at the Walmart, we landed in Leesburg a little after 5pm to spend Thanksgiving with our friends, the Harrisons. We spent the time there seeing the sights including: the air/space museum, Mt. Vernon, The White House, all the D.C. monuments and some of the Smithsonian. Stacy was an awesome tour guide with all of her historical knowledge but while she knows her dates, her figures leave a little to be desired:0)

She laid a beautiful table on Thanksgiving and it was wonderful to spend time with the people who have shared in such an important part of our lives...Aidan and Ellie, while I can't say that I think they remembered each other, I did tell Stacy that I felt like they felt a familiarity to each other...there was no time needed for them to warm up to each other, he was so sweet and gentle with her and they took to each other like they had never been apart...it makes the mind wonder...

After a fun-filled week of hanging with our Russian co-horts, we packed back into the car and went to see Arlington before hitting the road for home...D.C. was different...I have been there before, as a child but, as an adult, everything there and all that it stands for looked different to me and some how, more important. Seeing it all made me want to recall all of those history lessons I never cared about in school and always wondered why we had to learn them. I've come to the conclusion that while the saying goes that it is important to know your history so that you don't repeat it...I feel exactly the opposite...sometimes, repeating history can be a good thing.

It's late, I know but I decided to challenge myself and list TWENTY things/people I am thankful for during this season of Thanksgiving:

1. Jesus: He is just so AWESOME!

2. My mom: She's pretty wise.

3. Adam: of course, he is the reason I am happy.
4. My children: I could go on forever.

5. Ellie's birth mother: she could have made a different choice.

6. My job: I'm lucky to be able to work from home.

7. Adam's job

8. Our church
9. My friends

10. A great school and teachers for my children.

11. clothes and food

12. My home: I have a love/hate relationship here...so many unfinished projects.

13. books

14. crystal lite

15. My dog: woman's best friend

16. warm, fuzzy socks

17. music

18. my college education

19. fall weather

20. having known my brother, if only for just a little while...

Time to Deck the Halls!

I Was A-run-ning

I am so proud to say that I finished my first 10k (6.2 miles) EVER, tonight... I was slow, about 4 minutes slower than I wanted to be but honestly, I don't care...my training plan did not call for this distance yet, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I felt really good until about the last quarter mile when all of my abdominal muscles started to cramp up...I pushed through and made it to my drive way...I really don't know what came over me. I have so much to get done before Friday morning...I know...but really, we just got back from a weekend away and we are off again soon...there is so much to get done...I was just sitting at the computer and I thought, I'm going to run six tonight, why not? I'm sure I will discover the reason tomorrow when I wake up and can't move...oh well, I feel pretty good right now...


This past weekend, we packed up and went to Disney's Fort Wilderness for our first family camping trip EVER! A lot of firsts! It was a lot of fun! When we got there, we started to set up and we pulled out the tent that I bought, on clearance about 2 years ago. (never out of the box until now) It was ginormous and there were quite a few pieces...I wanted to read the directions but the men balked at that. Alas, they did figure it out and I am pleased to announce that my husband showered me with praise all weekend for such a wonderful purchase! He was absolutely thrilled with our tent! Especially when it started to pour on Friday night and we were snug and dry inside. Our partners in crime were not as lucky but they weathered the storm and we woke up Saturday morning to beautiful weather! (And smiles all around:0)

Ruthie and I traveled back to town for her exhibition...I missed it last year so I really wanted to go this year and I was glad I did! She is getting to be so good and I am really proud of her. While we were gone, the rest of the gang went to a poolside party and played in the arcade, at the park and just hung out. When we got back, everyone was at the campfire, finished making smores and ready to watch the outdoor movie...the chilly weather set in later that night and we woke up to frigid temps but our little heaters kept the chill to a minimum in our tents. After packing up, the Mckinleys held a ceremony for the the burial of their tent and then we went and played before heading home...I was asleep by 6:30 that night and feel no shame in confessing: I slept the night through and woke feeling refreshed! It was a great time and I can't wait to do it again!

Oh, Good Grief...

I started the day out taking Ellie to the preschool for the first time. I hadn't planned on starting her until this time next year but I am a regular volunteer at the elementary school and Ellie needs some place to go while I am there. She has been going over to my friends house but things changed and so, the director of the preschool we have been at for over six years now found space for Ellie. She is going to go two mornings a week.

When I got there, I picked out some t-shirts for her, handed in her paperwork, talked with the director...then, the director says, "Are you going to stay with her for a while?" Uh, no. If you could have seen her face! It needed a sound effect, really...maybe a "doink!" Jaw dropped, eyes widened. She was very concerned..."but, you haven't visited with her???" yah, I know, this is the fourth kid, what can I say. No, really, In all truthfulness, Ellie is just very adaptable. She loves being around other children, she takes easily to others and falls right in to whatever is going on around her. I have her going to a music class on Mondays, Tuesdays she is in a little Bible class at church while I work the nursery and Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, she is at church as well...On occasional Thurday mornings, she attends a little gymnastic camp. The girl is used to being in a room with other children...she walked right in...not one tear, except when she fell off the monkey bars...that's right, incident report...day ONE! When I picked her up, she was eating lunch, so cute, she looks up, sees me, yells, "Mommy!!!!" and then says, "I ready to go." Is she bigger, or is the cubby?

We walked down to her classroom to check her file folder and she pulls on my hand...I looked down at her and she says to me, "Mommy, This Ellie's class?" How cute! She is always asking if this is Flip's school or is this Rusty's school? She was so excited and it really put me at ease about doing something I really didn't want to do yet.

On another note...Flip went back to the ENT today...here comes the grief...In one ear, the tube is out and the inner ear is once again full of fluid. In the other ear, the tube is still in place but it is completely obstructed and the inner ear is once again full of fluid. Recommendation: permanent tubes that will NOT fall out on their own but will have to be manually removed when his ear finally "matures." My grief: There is some controversy with multiple sets of tubes...1. scarring on the ear drum that can cause permanent hearing loss. 2. If the hole in the ear drum remains longer than three years, we run the risk of it never closing and therefore causing permanent hearing loss. (the existing tube has already been in place almost 18 months) 3. If we do nothing, he will continue to hear as if he has his head in a bucket of water possibly causing, you guessed it, permanent hearing loss, continued ear infections, sinus issues and possible speech issues. We have to do it, the question is, how long we allow the docs to leave the tubes in and whether or not his ear canal will mature in the allotted time.

I discovered this week that when I am ordering online, I now have to SCROLL DOWN to find my birth year...this is not encouraging...another sign I am getting old. I just finished my first week of 1/2 marathon training. The training plan I am following only called for 13 miles this week so I am pleased to say I finished that easily even if my times left a little to be desired. Also, I have found that I despise the cleaning that no one notices: under the couch, between the cushions, the windows, baseboards...whatever.

And without further ado: Why did God create daddies?

Ruthie: "MOMEEEEEEE! UUUGH! So they can protect their family, keep them safe and work to earn money."

Rusty: "To have ears to hear." What? "To love their kids, so God can LOVE them" very profound. "and so they can play football with them." of course.

Flip: "To love little children AND, so we can grow up to be the same size."

Good Grief, Charlie brown.

Why did God invent mommies?

Happy Birthday Andy!

Rusty had his last flag football game this weekend and got a little medal...yay! I had Ruthie at the gym most of the morning for lessons...we spent the afternoon chilling out, watching football and getting some stuff done around the house. Today we went to Toys R Us to make Christmas lists and I made the ginormous mistake of not bringing extra shoes...I had to walk around the store for 2.5 hours wearing my shoes from church...yikes!

This year's lists are kind of interesting...Ruthie is in that in between phase where she wants to be a big girl but some of the little kid things still pull her. Rusty wants only video games and nascar stuff. Flip is all over the map and Ellie really has no clue what Christmas is so I helped her with her list and I am so excited to see her on Christmas morning. Anyway, I am in the process of putting their wish lists online for their grandparents...

This just in...I am training for a half marathon: 13.1 miles in...ouch! I downloaded a training plan online and starting tomorrow I am going to be stickin' to it! My race is in March so, if you don't mind sending me some encouragement every once in a while, I would love it!

I leave you with this: Why did God invent mommies?

Ruthie: "Why are you asking me? To take care of their kids, I guess...so they don't die right away."

Rusty: "I don't know, why do you want me to do this?"

Flip: "So they could love little boys with hugs and kisses."

It's Time for Christians to Lead.

My friend, Jen sent this to me this morning and it reflects and probably more eloquently states what I was trying to say yesterday...this is my last political post on this blog...I PROMISE! (although, this more of a religious post.)

The Day After, Pray for Our President and Our Nation
Charles Colson

November 5, 2008

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, whether you’re recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from your pillow, today’s a good day to remember the words of the apostle Paul: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). And the new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world—challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid.

How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of disaster? Why is our culture so utterly depraved? I can only think of what Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. “I recall,” he said, “hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.” Solzhenitsyn was right. Indeed, I can’t find any better explanation for why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in. We have forgotten God.

We have also forgotten that American democracy—indeed Western Civilization itself—is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding of God and humanity. Without that revelation that man is created in the image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, as I and others like Rodney Stark have argued, modern science and education, liberal democracy, capitalism flourished in Western civilization precisely because of the Judeo-Christian worldview.
The attacks on Christianity these days are only going to intensify in the months ahead. But we must press on all the more to make a winsome witness. Those who would banish Christianity from American life are risking the very survival of American society.

Friends have asked me whether this economic crisis is God’s judgment upon us. I don’t know.
As I’ve re-read the Old Testament prophets recently, I couldn’t help but notice the recurring theme: The people of God turned away from Him and worshipped false idols. The result was always disaster.

Is God responsible for credit markets collapsing around the world? No. We’re responsible. Because instead of worshiping God, we’ve worshipped false idols of the marketplace, credit card companies and cheap mortgages. We’ve put our own appetites over our duties to God and neighbor.

So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It’s a time for Christians, to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy. This is a time for the Church to get serious about Christian discipleship. Enough cheap grace. So pray for the new President and his administration. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, this is a time to love our neighbors and to hunger for God and His righteousness.

God, Please Bless America

I stayed up and watched the whole thing...then, I cried myself to sleep. I have never been so deeply affected by a political vote. I am young in the scheme of things...this is the first election/campaign I have followed, and had what I would say is an educated opinion on. I read, researched and watched everything I could get my hands on. I have kept my opinion to myself and within my home for the most part. I am posting this blog for the record; so it will be in my blog book...to mark the moment and the emotions that I feel at this time: defeated, scared, worried, pessimistic, enraged, shocked, worried, baffled, annoyed, nervous, worried, anxious, saddened...worried.

I hold on to the hope that this was not actually a vote for Barak Obama but rather a vote against George Bush. There can be no doubt that he let the American people down. I wonder if we have just let ourselves down. I fear that God has finally removed His blessing from this country that has taken Him out of nearly everything. I pray that as my children grow up in this land of the free, they will never have to experience the kind of health care, I personally experienced in Russia. I pray they will never have to live the way I saw people living while I was there and that they will never feel the hopelessness I saw on the faces of the people in Siberia.

So, I'm getting it together...getting into His word and remembering that He is in control...He knew long before now where this country would go...I am an American but my citizenship is in Heaven..."but our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Phil 3:20-21

I will follow McCain's example and I will submit to the office of the president recognising that he is the authority that God has established...I am reserving judgement on respecting him. I am preparing myself for the persecution of Christians that has begun and is strengthening in this country...I am gearing up for the continued breakdown of Christian morality, the acceptance of what we like to call "alternative lifestyles," the continuation of infanticide, and the government's continued stripping of MY rights to pray in school, to pledge under God, to believe and learn about creation as a theory along with the miraculous BIG BANG! Today when I went to the Bible, I came to a passage I have read many times and it can be used and interpreted many ways to suit whoever is using to state their cause...I leave you to read it and pray that the Lord will speak to you no matter on which side of the fence you are standing...God, Please bless America...Amen.

Romans 12-13

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13

Submission to the Authorities

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love, for the Day is Near

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

A Happy Halloween

Disclaimer: You are probably looking for pictures of my children in their costumes...You will have to check your mail box in about a month or so...there will be no sneak peek this year...you will have to wait for the Christmas card and if you aren't on my Christmas list and you are a regular reader, and you want to be, just email me! Also, I apologise in advance for all the run-on sentences in this post...


Flip went to school with a costume in hand...not THE costume but Robin from last year. I called the director and begged her to take some pictures of him with his friends for me...It is the "third child syndrome" and my guilt was running high...Of course I scrap booked every breath Ruthie took and every other breath Rusty took...so, Flip...poor guy...I am just so crazy busy now with four to keep up with and I am at the school once a week and nearly every holiday plus field trips that I rarely get over to the preschool. Anyway, she promised to take some pictures of him doing his thing and I will post those when she emails them to me.

I went to school with Rusty on Friday. Ellie got her own little desk next to him for all the fun. Each child had their own pumpkin for some estimation and experimentation and when all that was finished, we carved them...we meaning me and one other lady. I figure I carved about 12 pumpkins all total this Halloween. My hand and shoulder are quite sore and if you are wondering why my shoulder is sore, you try carving 12 pumpkins! In addition to all that fun, we also made caramel apples in Rusty's class..yum! Mine had caramel, chocolate chips and coconut and Rusty left his plain and just dropped a few sprinkles on it between bites...hmmm...I have not actually eaten a caramel apple in I don't know how long and let me tell you, if you haven't had one this fall...go out now, and get some caramels and some apples and make yourself one!

While Rusty was at PE and Ellie was napping on a cot in his teacher's office, I ran up to Ruthie's class to see what they were up to...they had a read-in...she got to pack a pillow and blanket and take her favorite reading material (she chose her latest American Girl mag and some joke books, plus the book she is currently reading, Shiloh) and they laid around in stocking feet only taking breaks to snack, cook and journal. Sounds like my kind of day!


At home, we rested for a bit and then ate our dinner and got costumed up. This was our first year just walking out the front door and trick-or-treating...we usually go with friends in another neighborhood. We were a little leery because a lot of the kids from our neighborhood go elsewhere. We found out that has a lot to do with the fact that the lots in our neighborhood are enormous and there is a lot of walking between front doors...we were out for about 2 hours and we had a lot of fun, just the six of us...Ellie was too cute! She got invited in to several homes and she was funny with the candy...people would hold the bowl down for her to pick and she would grab one and look up with a big smile and then grab some more. I would say, "just one, Ellie." The people at the door would say, "oh, it's ok, she can have two." She was totally working the system and is probably responsible for most of our loot.


As for Adam, every year, his department tries to come up with something silly and better than every other department...This year, they decided to dress up as the senior VP's. As a result, Adam shaved just the top of his head and left the "balding ring" (I made that up and may copy write it at a later date) around the sides. They did some silly skit and then he shaved the rest of it off...so, he's bald right now...brings back memories. By the way, Thank you Andy for the cookies and the fall arrangement. The flowers made a very nice center piece for my table this week.

We left Houser home to answer the door...

The Crew, Minus a Few

A little background on our crew: There are four families involved...we all met once upon a time at church here in town. A few of us went to high school together and the rest of us just sort of fell into place. We started having children and often more than one of us were pregnant at the same time. Our kids, all 12 of them, range in age from 2 to 12. They are together at church, on Sundays and Wednesdays, at all the birthday parties, Christmas parties, the pumpkin patch, socials, weekend vacations, you name it. They love each other and they fight like brothers and sisters. And when I see these pictures of them, I feel nearly ten years of emotions that are difficult to put into words so I leave it with just one: Friends.

So, every year, we, meaning my girls and I take our kids to the same pumpkin patch and shoot pics of our little tykes together...we shoot a few of just our own, we shoot some of all the kids, some of just the boys and on the years our husbands grace us with their presence, we rope them into a photo or two as well. This year, it was awesome fall weather and the patch looked a little different if a little sparse due to the poor economy but we got our pics anyway...we were just missing a few of the people we needed to make the pictures complete...so, this post goes out to my girl, Meagen and her beautiful children, Taylor, Kelly and Anthony! We missed you!




I love this picture of Grace and Ellie. Both of these girls were brought to their forever families with the help of America World Adoption Agency. Though they were born in vastly different countries more than a year apart, the miracle of adoption has brought them together and they are sisters of the heart.

The ladies: Jessi, Ellie, Grace and Ruthie.

The Gentlemen: Rusty, Brannon and Michael

The little Guys: Flip and Matthew

And, The CREW, minus a few

All In This Together

I hate starting ALL of my posts this way but alas, We had another busy week! We had the usual weekly schedule which I decided to post on the side bar...to keep people informed...mostly grandparents so the rest of you are just lucky, I guess. In addition, Ruthie had her team photo on Friday evening followed by a Halloween party which, although she had a lot of fun, she ran into a palm tree and put a pretty good scrape on her face! On Saturday, Adam had his second triathlon which I will talk more about later. I went with him and my mom pulled duty at the football field and gym with Ruthie and Rusty. Later that afternoon, Ruthie had her individual pic so we were back to the gym for the 3rd time in two days:0)

After church on Sunday, the three little one's went with my mom...Adam, Ruthie and I had lunch and then he was off to church for the rest of the day...Ruthie and I went to Target to kill some time before picking up two of her friends for HSM3...that's right, High School Musical 3! The girls all wore t-shirts and we took skittles, m&ms, and sweet tarts. We bought a giant tub of popcorn and huge Slurpee's...I pre-bought the tickets and we got there early to beat the crowd that didn't show up! It was showing every 30 minutes so there were maybe 100 people in our theatre. The girls giggled alot! (and covered their eyes when Troy and Gabriella kissed) This was a nice way for us to do something with her friends...a lot of times, Ruthie goes to her friend's houses because it just isn't as fun to hang with little brothers around...anyway, there may have been a little too much sugar because Ruthie was up in the middle of the night with a bit of a tummy ache if you know what I mean. She spent the rest of the night on the couch with a trash can beside her:0)

The weather here is beautiful!!! All of my windows are open and it makes me want to clean everything out! Of course if you know me, that means I have pulled everything out of everywhere, all of the closets are empty and each room is trashed...AND it will take me 3 weeks to get it all put back together...

SOOOOOO, Adam did not have quite as successful a race this go around. The swim was great, it was awesome. The bike was ok until he wrecked at the transition. I was standing there and the volunteer was telling the riders as they rounded the last corner to slow down and dismount at a certain line...well, when Adam came around the corner, the man was not paying attention and he yelled at him, "DISMOUNT HERE!" Adam braked hard and flipped over his handle bars! I started to rush forward and help him but he recovered so quickly that I didn't need to...I caught him on film just as his back tire was lifting so you can imagine the rest. After this, his drive took a dive and he cruised the run. We are chalking it up to a learning experience...in triathlons, things will go wrong on one leg or another and you have to put it behind you and move on to the next leg of the race...it is a very mental sport and your thoughts can kill you. He survived with only a little road rash and a small bruise to his pride.

This week looks to be equally busy if not more so...Halloween, you know...time to get that perfect photo for my Christmas cards, get a pumpkin carved for the front step, get all the fun stuff done at school, and all the stuff that HAS to be done...like that mountain of laundry that just will not fold itself, no matter how long I leave it sitting there! Ellie's first Trick or Treat...stay tuned!

Tagged, Again...*sigh*

Ok, I have been tagged again by two different bloggers and since I have already done the one about 6 little known things about me, I am going to do this one and then I am officially and I do mean *officially* retiring from the tagging game...but not before I tag oh, let's see....Karen & Debbie S...so here goes:

8 Shows I love to watch on TV:

Well, since my husband is king of all things ESPN and I really just like to read, these are old ones...
1. Seinfeld
2. Friends
3. Law and Order
4. CSI
5. FBI Who Dunnits
6. Dateline Investigates
7. Mystery Diagnosis
8. Lifetime Movies:0)

8 Things that happened yesterday:

1. I woke up....PTL
2. I went to church
3. Ellie pooped and pottied on the toilet ALL day! (even at church!)
4. I washed, folded AND ironed all the laundry...
5. Adam put most of it away.
6. Flip went to a really awesome Power Ranger Bday party and had a blast! (costumes provided! How cool!)
7. Went to the Rays ACLS Championship Game...super fun!...they won..."Hey scau baud ova heey!"
8. Met some folks from our church working the concessions that I didn't know before!

8 Things I am looking forward to:

1. The day all my children have made professions of Faith
2. Halloween!
3. Thanksgiving!
4. My tenth Wedding Anniversary! 12/19
5. Christmas!
6. New Year's!
7. Disney '09 (Ellie's first trip)
8. A new Bible Study in my ABF

8 Things on my Wish List

1. All my children making a profession of Faith!
2. A really nice trip somewhere really cool for our 10th anniversary!
3. A Garage...DUH!
4. A pool...we live in FL people...
5. A full time laundress...seriously!
6. I want to be a better wife and mother...always...
7. Better devotion to my time in God's word...I tend to slack off when life is smooth sailing.
8. That our country would get a Christian back-bone and really ask ourselves, "what would Jesus do?" And then, DO IT!

8 Favorite Places to Eat (this is a hard one for me...a connoisseur, I am not)

1. Taco Bell: 2 Bean burritos, extra cheese, extra sauce, easy onion
2. Steak and Shake: grilled cheese and chili 3 way
3. Olive Garden: salad and bread (duh!) and Fettuccine Alfredo
4. Barnaby's pizza: pepperoni
5. Krispi Kreme: chocolate glazed (I feel obligated to put this after scrapbook weekend!)
6. California Pizza and IL Patio: (this is for all my Kras families)
7. My house
8. The park: with my kids (we did this just this past Friday and it was fun!)

Ok, that's all...Get to it girls...

The River

Garth says a dream is like a river...ever changing as it flows. It seems to me life is much that way too...each new age brings a different stage in life and I find that Rusty at seven is differnt than Ruthie at seven, Flip is so different at nearly five than either of the other two and Ellie at two...she too is her own little person...Some things never do change...when there are children in the house certain things must happen and one of them is the inevitable unauthorized haircut...

A few weeks ago, I was walking through the house and I found a long chunk of blond hair on the floor....there is only one blond in the house so I knew where to look. I immediately found the place on her head that it had been cut from and so I set off to to find the would be beautician...he has red hair. So I walk up to him, chunk in hand and I say, "Flip? Did you cut Ellie's hair?" He replies in the negative...I say, "Do you know who did?" He tells me she did it herself...hmmmm..."Flip, if you tell me the truth, you won't be in trouble." To which he responds, "ok, I did it." I said, "Thank you for telling me the truth, please don't ever cut anyone's hair again." I thought he understood until the next day when I found little red hairs all over the floor and noticed he had two large chunks out of the front of his hair as well...there was no talking this time...I will leave the conclusion of that story up to your imagination...

This year AWANA has included a new two year old program and we now have a child in all four sections of the AWANA program: Truth in Training, Sparks, Cubbies, and Puggles. So, I couldn't resist lining them up and taking a shot of all of them in their uniforms...after much frustration and me finally yelling, "JUST STAND THERE AND SMILE!" Here is a picture of them just so...So far, the AWANA year is going well. Last year, Ruthie was only able to stay in club until Christmas when her gymnastics schedule changed...we will have to see what January brings. Ellie absolutely loves church! As soon as she sees the steeple, she yells out, "Ellie's church!" to which all her older brothers and sister start to tease, "no, my church!" and this goes on until she cries and then they get in trouble and I explain to Ellie that the church is everyone's.

SIX MONTHS

So, you can see by the ticker that we have had Ellie now just over six months...I can hardly believe that it has been that long since we got home! Before we know it, we will be filing our 1 year post placement and then I will blink and she will be in kindergarten! Six months has brought so many amazing things! She is talking so well, she loves to read, dance, and sing. She absolutely loves "dollies." She fights with her brothers and sister like a pro and she is just so well adjusted that I almost feel guilty for not having had some of the problems we expected to have. She is a completely loving child...loves to snuggle, gives kisses and craves contact with others. She goes easily to others but runs to us with arms flung wide when we return to her. So, I have no complaints, just pure joy mingled with craziness and moments of fine tuning...for your listening pleasure...Ellie sings, LIVE! (make sure you mute the music.)