Noodles, Tea, and a Didi Please!: December 2011

Our Family Year in Pictures: Part 2

>> Saturday, December 31, 2011 – daily life

July 2011

Really a difficult month with Eric in Oregon, me trying to get the house ready to sell, and saying goodbye to those we love. Mom threw one big shin-dig to say good-bye.

August 2011

August brought some sadness, adventure, adjustment, and discovery as we settled into our new home.

Although no more pool in the backyard, we discovered some "swimmin' holes"

We discovered what the Pacific Ocean looked like (more like how cold the water is)

We discovered the local wild life too!

September 2011

September brought some new discoveries as well. I discovered that I actually can homeschool all three kids and still remain sane.....sometimes. We discovered that an artist lived in our house all along.

The boys continue to be each other's best playmates and their brotherly bond has grown even stronger.

October 2011

The Roloff Farm was a big hit especially when we watched the special on TV that was shot while we were visiting. However, I think they would have had higher ratings if we had a cameo shot in it!

We became tourists in our own state and drove all around through the beautiful falls and parts of Washington.

November 2011

Daddy has been able to go on many a field trip with us this year. He likes pretending to be a scientist!

November brought Grammy and Poppy to see us!

"Why, the Polar Express of course!"

December 2011

Picture perfect!

Go Ally, Go!

Christmas Party Date

We had lots of grandparent time in December! Grammy, Poppy, Omi and Grandpop all came to see us! What a great first Christmas in Oregon!

Kisses from Katie: A Must Read

>> Friday, December 30, 2011 – books

My sister-in-law mailed Kisses from Katie as a Christmas present. She always comes up with the best presents whether it's for me, Eric, or the kids. She's cool like that. Plus, since she works at a Christian book store, we get the very best reading!

Anyway, she called to tell how wonderful this book was and I didn't doubt her. I picked up the book that night and the following day I finished it. "Auntie Katie" draws you into Uganda as she describes and tell her experiences with the sick children, parents, and grandmothers. These are the sickest of the sick and the poorest of the poor. Katie intended to stay only a year after high school and then return home to go to college. But God had other plans for her and Uganda became her home. At 20 years old, she had adopted 14 girls and continues her work in Uganda and runs a program called Amazima. With her program Amazima, she sponsors the neediest children so that they can go to school and eat regularly. She also sells beads for the women in the village so they can support their families. The Ugandan women in this program sell their beads to Katie with the understanding that they cannot drink or make alcohol, pick through the trash for food, or prostitute themselves. Some of these same women had been giving their children alcohol just to keep them from the pain of starvation.

I am amazed at her courage to literally lose everything to follow what Christ has laid on her heart and serve the "least of these" daily. She states in her book that if 8% of Christians alone would help/care for/ adopt a child, we could care for the 143 million orphaned children in the world today!

One more thing, if you think being a 20 year old woman adopting 14 children and caring for the poor in Uganda is crazy, read the book. I guarantee it will change your mind. This book is one you'll want to keep to read and re-read. Promise!

Our Family Year in Picture: Part 1

>> – daily life

What a ride it has been. The year 2010 brought us Jake. The year 2011 brought us Oregon. And the year 2012? Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves because you just never know what God's plan is.

January 2011