Silver Birch Ranch

For 5 years now we have been blessed by being able to go to Silver Birch Ranch in Northern WI. It is always the highlight of our summer. The whole weekend is filled with worship, friends, horseback riding, hay rides, swimming, boating, tubing, archery / shooting, mini golf, food, camp-fires, testimony's. It is always amazing.....To make things even better-Will was baptized this weekend. He'd been asking for 2 years but he was finally able to articulate WHY...Our friend Neil who's a pastor & brought us to the camp 5 years ago was the one who was able to bless us with his baptism. A rare look at Zach w/Sofi on the hay ride.

Will, Sofi, Jules & Lize

Will tubing

After 2 days of coersion, Sofi finally rides the horse.

Will's favorite part.

Lize did not want to get off.

Teens...

Lize kept saying " this is the best day EVER"

Summer fun...

Summer was a ball and anything but boring. Birthday parties, Amusement parks, moving, friends....

There is nothing like watching your kids enjoy life & childhood!

Yes I made Zach go on here with his sisters.

!st rootbeer float for Will.

!st Pinata for ladies...

Our friend Nora who ALWAYS brightens the day....

Lize still remains the most joyful child I've ever met....

In her mama's arms

Although I don't have any new pictures yet- Alivia is her mama's arms. She is perfect (of course) Her foster family loved and adored her. They were full of information, pictures, gifts and love. I can't wait to meet her! They will be home Thurs night.

On her way.....

Jackie is on her way to get her little lady Alivia. She doesn't get her till Tues but she gets the weekend to take in the Korean culture. We can't wait to see pictures of their fist meeting.

HOOOORAY Balsigers!

After years of prayers, our friends the Balsigers are traveling to get their daughter Alivia from Korea. She will be well loved and welcomed by 4 brothers, lots of extended family, wonderferul church and large group of friends.

Please keep Jackie in your prayers as she travels with her mom to get her, Scott staying back w/4 boys, all their activties and his own business. PLEASE pray for her health and BONDING. Praise GOD another orphan will know CHRIST and never go to bed without a family.

Functional hearing????

Lizeis sooo flippin cute, sweet, energetic, inovative, creative, loving, motherly and spirited. GOD knew I would love these traits and foster them well. I prasie HIM for the gift of all my children but Lize took me extra work convincing everyone. Yesterday we visited Shriners for the audiology and ENT exam for Lize. Since her ear surgery in June she has done amazing although she has 2 major ear infections in the left. She has been speaking more clearly, more blended sounds and starting to use constanents at the beggining of words. The volume thing though seems to not change to dad's dismay.

In July I noticed some of the same behaviors I saw back in February. Her not turning to certain sounds on her left, hitting her self on the the left side of her head and the "whatd you said" phrase. I told myself-she's 3, it's learned behavior from before, stop overacting.........

Then yesterday the Audioligist and ENT had "that" look again. With a smile Dr. Curtis said we have functional hearing on the right. She has all ranges of function, can partipate in speech and will get "great" benifit BUT.....the left is a whole diff story. We know she had severe damage to the left eardrum and the bones are'nt able to vibrate like they should b/c of scar tissue. We also know sometimes surgery works but it didn't again. The tests say she hears everything on the left "muffled". He said she is an awesome compensator and will do well. He aggreed to try one more surgery in 3 months but then tht's it. We then have to concentrate on the "good" ear and decide on a hearing aide on the left or not. He also said if we wanted a 2nd opinion to not feel bad-he'd help any way he could.

HaHaHa.....

"Mommy, I nweed awergy medcine-my itchy eyes and nose are making my awergies sneeze."

Moving....

Although moving can be fun, exciting, awesome & scary--it can be hard for 14 year old teens who have been "friends" for 3 years. Zach has been great with all the changes, he never complains. I however remember very vividly being that age-madly in love with my now husband of 19 years. It is hard to sit by and watch them hurt. We are only 90 min north of where we were but for the non-driver...it's a million miles away.

p.s. moving went smooth, james loves his job and so far this seems like a GREAT place to live.

Wordless Wednesday.....

More July Fun....

We went to a farm to see where milk comes from. Sofi was not excited once we got there. She is very particular about cleanliness. She was "gwossed out". Lize and Will loved every minute. Sofi kept saying things "cows are nasty", "they all need a bath", "they stwink" and "wet's get out of hewre".

Fun at the lake with Faith. Faith if from the same place as Lize. We went with her parents to get the girls. She is 6, Sofi 4 and Lize 3.

Sofi waiting for candy at the 4th of July parade. I'm not sure if just getting older, going to China, the state of our counties leadership or the fact a bloggy friends son Ryan is giving his life for our country but I am much more patriotic than I ever have been. I love this place. No where else in this world on earth do we have so many blessings. We also are blessed to have people serve through choice.

Zach and Giles here were planning on what trouble they could get in to later.

Lize loved the parade (i'm sure it had nothing to do with candy).

Summer Fun....

Will's holding his breath till his turn to go tubing.....

Zach and Giles are ALWAYS up to something they should'nt be

Lize loves the beach. Although it's a lafe, she was looking for "sting rays"

Uncle Michael in his hooter hat at summerfest....

James enjoying summerfest...

Zach and his "friend" Paige......

Will enjoying swimming.....

SASSY CHINA GIRLS

Sweet Sofia..

Change????

During my recent " pity party", GOD reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you "declares the LORD" Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The past 6 weeks have been a whirlwind--first we moved to a rental house while waiting for James company to firm up plans where we were going to live. It looked like we were moving to suburb of Detroit MI. When a very large, stable and well known company in his industry called about a job. After 3 weeks of praying and waiting for GOD's direction, all our plans changed again.
He took the job with the new company which has been an unbelievable miracle in many ways. Better benefits, insurance, less travel.....
We get to stay in WI about 90 min north of where we are. This will be the 4th move in 1 year. Although we have a mover this time, I was a little overwhelmed. I'm not good with change but GOD has been clear with HIS words and promises.

We are still here.....

We are still here. LOTS of life stuff going on. Grandma always said if you don't have something nice to say, don't say nothing!

wordless wednesday....silly sofia

Random Cuteness....

Costa Rica.....

Costa Rica had beautiful mountains, trees and blue skies. The people we were with were strong in their faith and beliefs. Took great pride in their apperance and all they do

The kids were amazing. Very joyful.

ALL the houses, churches, business have thick bars on their front window.

To the right is the school, to the left their church.

Marie with baby Genises at the government home (orphange for unadoptable)

Some of the things kids put together from recycled plastics.

Plane home.