Growing a Legacy of Love

This is what it looks like to grow a legacy of love....

60 years ago, a baby was born in the small town of Tiffin Ohio...a very, very cute little baby

he grew....

and then celebrated his first birthday! 

He started school in kindergarten like all kid do...

then onto middle school 

and high school! 

He became a dad - and it is one of the things he excels at! He loves his children with a fierceness and compassion that mirrors God's love for them 

And his tribe grew and grew! 

He married the love of his life. 

And loves her well. Oh so well. 

A leader with a servant's heart for God - always and first his legacy of love is firmly rooted in the love  of and for His Savior

So we celebrate this amazing man who blesses all beyond belief  - this past weekend with friends and family and today - the 60th anniversary of the day God blessed with this world with Doug. 

Happy birthday baby - we think you're the bomb! Blessed beyond measure by you! 

Bust our Buttons......

This is the week of the 8th anniversary of when I met Katie for the first time. In a hotel room in China, a little fireball came barrelling in and changed our lives. 

We had no idea the depth of the struggles she would face. No idea that the first 4 years of her life and the circumstances she endured (of which we aren't certain of the details, but imagine the worst - then more) would forever present challenges to her that she would battle daily.

We were told when she was 4 by her teacher "she will never learn to read; it's an unrealistic goal - that's why we are proposing all goals that will be life skills oriented." That day an uphill battle began, but God led the charge, for he placed some amazing teachers in her life that got her to where she is today. 

Today, she received a district award for students that have perservered and overcome great obstacles. 

Katie's teacher, Mrs. Villa,  said in the award ceremony "No matter what challenges life has thrown her way, she has found a way to overcome. I couldn't be more proud!"
(us too - I have needed more than a few tissues since I found out she was receiving this award) 

Every parent has moments when they are "bust their buttons" proud of their child. This was that and all some - because 8 years ago, no one thought this was possible. 

Lots of the people who have been instrumental in Katie's progress came to celebrate her today - which was beyond amazing. Katie is so loved by so many, and we are so blessed to have education professionals for whom this is a calling and they pour themselves into our girl. 

Miss Karen who was her first one-one aid (uofficially, officially!) - who loved Katie and our family so much she helped with horse camp one year, and I"m not sure she even likes horses! But she loves Katie - and Katie likes horses, so that was good enough for her! 

Her first teacher after our lawsuit when she got her new placement; she helped Katie to see that she could be successful and learn which was a gift beyond measure. 

Miss Jamie, who has helped develop Katie's althletic abilities...and her love of Ariel! 

Her current teacher and school team - who nominated her for this award. There simply aren't words to describe how their confidence in Katie's ability has changed her life. The believe in her, and go far above and beyond the call every moment of every day to help her be the very best she can be. 

Katie's life verse - we see it every moment of every day. 

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and couragious. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your GOD, is with you wherever you go."

joshua 1:9

Happy New Year

Those words bring with them a lot of hope - that might be why people make such a big deal about New Year's Eve. Not us necessarily - other people - we generally let the evening pass without any fanfare! 

It's not that we don't like hope here - hope is a place we live in daily; it's just we can't stay awake until midnight. Plus, our people stress about "big deals' so we try to limit them as much as possible to necessary ones and NYE just isn't. 

However. we did take a little trip to Arizona to hang out with family - I didn't do a great job at getting any family pictures this time, so the candids are it...

Car #1 - because its good to have a back up, and quite frankly, sitting 5 people in 6 seats in the mini-van for an 8 hour ride is plain stupid! 

A random rest area - Arizona has much nice rest areas than California, so we stop just because! 

Reid Zoo in Tuscon - I braved it by myself with a toddler, two kids and Katie - and didn't lose anyone or my mind! 

Katie got a new bathing suit for Christmas - who cares that its 65 out and the water is freezing if you are a real mermaid! 

Christmas toys......

We brought an extra child home with us. She is going on the American Heritage Tour with Cami's school in March, and there are a couple of "pre-trip" details we needed to take care of - like dress fittings! 

Lunching at the Bowers Museum - I love these girls and I love that they love museums! 

Our break was not all fun. Right before we left, we lost one of our dear friends Jeff. I worked for and alongside Jeff for almost 10 years when I was in the sailing business. His wife Tracy hosted my baby shower before we brought Becky home. We did sailing and Porsche's and Jesus together with them. They are the friends you don't see for several months because life gets in the way - then you see them and all is right in your world again. 

Our lives are so much richer for having Jeff as a friend and we will miss him terribly. He is in glory right now with Jesus - and those of us who are left behind have a void and just a little less laughter in our lives. 

But hope - I started this entry talking about hope. There is no better hope than that found in the resurrected life of Jesus and because of that, this goodbye is a just a temporary one. 

Our One Christmas Tradition

Through the years, traditions have come and gone in our ever growing family. As the number of children grew, the number of traditions fell!! One that has sustained though is the annual "matching Christmas pj's" - the day of the year my husband (and now teen daughter) humor me and wear what I want them to wear....

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2104

2015

2016

2017

This year, our big kids joined into the pj tradition fun - we did not even attempt to get a full family photo on christmas day with 7 kids under age 7 (we are smarter than that!) , so the candids of the day will have to serve as evidence! 

We may only have one real sustainable Christmas tradition - but it's a fun one! 

All I want for Christmas

Dear honey, 

Because I am the best wife ever, I have solved the dilemma of what you are getting me for Christmas. 

Take out lunches and dinners from now through Christmas Eve. 

Last night, you bought me (and our people) pizza.

Tonight, we are having soup from Ralph's for dinner and Hawaiian Ono BBQ for dinner. 

Tomorrow for lunch, it sounds like an El Pollo day. 

Tomorrow night, you have a pass because the neighbors have invited us for dinner. 

I will cook breakfast for our people - out of self preservation to make sure that some part of their routine stays intact so they don't totally and completely lose their minds. 

Christmas Eve it's lunch out after church.

I will make our spaghetti dinner Christmas Eve - a tradition started the year Cami came home from China and it was all we could do. 

What a gift it will be to me to not have to plan, cook, serve and clean up after people while trying to keep us all sane in the "anticipation of Christmas" craze. 

I love you and you are welcome. 

Your loving wife. 

This is us (or welcome back!)

Life moves by us in the blink of an eye - but yet some days feel like they are never ending. Such is the story for our family, and so many others in the same season. Although sometimes I'm not exactly sure which season we are in.....we are raising children and watching grandchildren grow up (all together too fast, I might add). We are celebrating milestone birthdays and anniversaries. Our closest friends range from retired to new moms and dads. 

As we have entered into this season of Christmas, more than one Christmas greeting to us has included "we miss your blog". These aren't people who loved the reflective posts I wrote on adoption or the "fired up" ones I wrote when feeling self righteous, but from our family. The people who love us through those events. 

So while it's not new year's yet, as a small gift to them and to ourselves, I am going to blow the dust off and begin again. 

Welcome (or welcome back) to our family... 

Becky, Katie, Cami, Julie and Zachariah

Ashlee, Megan, Melidee and Emilee - and thank you to our precious son-in-law Jon who is overseas serving his country. 

Matt, Laurel, Amelia, Aleina and Averee

This is us, minus the one who bravely serves his country and is far away this season. We range from 6 months to 60 (this coming February). We are loud and messy when together, and incomplete when we are apart. We are honest about our struggles, loyal to a fault and more than a little frazzled sometime. We love Jesus and each other