Angels Rejoicing

The Bible says that the Angels in Heaven Rejoice when one sinner repents...

Well...

Today at our house....it was x2!

Ben and Eli have pelted us with questions about who Jesus is for weeks. This weekend it intensified...late into the night and this morning they asked us to pray with them.

Dad was at work...so we called him so he could pray too....the reason for the phone in our picture as they prayed!

Rejoicing with the Angels today!

A Bit of the Sillies at Our House

We can be loud...no, let me rephrase it...we are loud.  But we like to have fun too.

Here a few pictures from the last month or so....

We've had a busy month and half or so....5 birthday celebrations meant lots of cake, ice cream and family get togethers....

It's winter and long days inside mean that sometimes the sillies take over.  We played one day indoors all the games I played at birthday parties as I was growing up.

Here we were catchingup on some sensory play and it kind of freaked Becca out.  We laughed at her reaction to it.

There always oodles of noodles but Bran seemed to take a bit further...notice the chop sticks on the plates ...all the kids who try are getting pretty good using them.

Happy Silly Day!

Sugar Season here in NH

We were excited today to be a part of a Sugaring class right here in Raymond.  We were greeted by Waldo the turkey.

The boys were able to help collect the sap from the buckets in the woods.

Here, Ben and Eli are filtering the sap to keep out bugs and other debris.

Jason listening to the instructor give many details about trees, gallons it takes to make a single gallon on syrup (40!), and other sugaring facts.

Mike and Brandon listening eagerly.

Brandon in the sugaring room.

The boys listening to the instructor.  Check out the cool beaver pond in the back.  The owners ice skate on it in the winter.  

Joe loved Waldo.  He was a big helper too.

The best part....we got to try syrup straight from the boil....yum!  They also treated us to sugar snow....maple syrup poured in snow --the instructors saved. It from the last snow since we don't have any on the ground....what a wonderful sweet time!

Now that they know the basics....they can't wait to boil it at our house....they have been collecting.  We haven't sugared since it was just our two oldest girls.  Everyone is excited to give it a go!

Camp Maranatha Father Son Retreat

This is short overnight retreat that is jam packed with activity and teachings.  It was our boy's second year and they had a blast. The warm temperatures and lack of snow made them change it up a bit but they still had lots of outdoor time and lots of smiles.

They ate lunch on the ice....here is sweet Devon.  What sweet memories....

Everyone working on setting up lunch and getting their fill.

Check out the plates on the ice.

A bit of archery....

Hi Ben:)

Guaranteed they came home and dropped into bed for a very quiet night!

Rumney Snow Camp

Rumney Snow Camp Homeschool Day is one of our family traditions that we have been doing for years....we went for the first time when we had 2 little girls and they loved it.  We went every year and as our family grew.... That tubing hill was tough when all of our kiddos were really little and we had to carry them and their tubes up....but this year was a dream.  Everyone carried their own tubes and climbed the hill!

They also did a bit of visiting over lunch, skated on the pond most of the afternoon and played in the game room....oh what a glorious day!

Rebecca with bit of help.  She did awesome.

Brandon, Mike and Darrell

Ben showed us he already knew how to skate and loved every minute of it.

Lots of folks we love in this picture

Tubing on the big hill.

Jason with a friend of his.

Our Friend George

This our friend George Dennehy. Our children love to talk about him to their friends. He is inspiring, an overcomer, and loves the Lord.

We first were introduced to him about 2 years ago when a friend suggested we watch a you tube video on his family who has adopted many special needs children.

Last November we were privileged to meet him at a conference and our son, Jason, worked his table selling his cd of all original music he has written and preformed.  Our family loves this cd.

He was in New Hampshire this week to testify in behalf of the unborn.  We too were asked to testify in the same session.  We then caught up again with him on Wednesday at a local church.

His story is amazing....born in Romania, considered cursed, left in a full and overflowing orphanage.... alone... to little to understand why.  He was one of the least of these ....

He was adopted by a Virginia family who had been challenged at church to do something  big.  They chose to adopt.  They looked for a child no one wanted.  They saw George and knew he was theirs.

Unwanted became wanted.

Loved became loved.

It is a powerful thing when the Father orchestrates our lives.  

Lives change.

Healing happens.  

Opportunities arise.  

Obstacles overcome.

Powerful things happen with our lives.

When God brings you through it.  He will use you to help others, inspire their hearts, and be a tool in His Kingdom.

This guy spells amazing and he will wow you with all that he is capable...plays guitar, piano, and uses his feet like we use our hands! Humble you with all that he has walked through.  Show you how powerful a life lived for Jesus is a life worth living.

Praising God for the things he has done.

Romans 10:15

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Created For Care

This retreat filled up in under 15 minutes.....900 slots....back in August.  I was SO excited to get one and move forward with great anticipation.  How could it get better?....my Adoption buddy was joining me.

My hubby knew we were go to be tired for our early morning flight when he woke every few hours to hear us chatting through the night.  We were excited....really excited.  That morning, despite the free pat down at the airport thanks to a candle that was brought as a donation requested by the ministry team, we found everything funny.  That is what happens when you have lack of sleep.  

When we arrived in Atlanta...the air was chilly.  Chillier than the NH winter we had just left.  We traveled north to our hotel, settled in for some rest and relaxation a day before the retreat started.  We walked the around the beautiful lake, found a swing by the lake and made good use of it, went to Moonies for bar BQ and chatted and laughed.

Our retreat included wonderful speakers, moms with many like hearts, hearing people's stories--adoptive moms and those that had been adopted.  I was blown away with the Creative quiet time and the deep places it brought me and those surrounding me.  The Bible journaling class was exciting and our children have implemented it with much enthusiasm.  It was good...ALL good to connect, refresh and learn.  The hearts of the ladies who run this retreat are amazing...they are committed to the details and giving us an amazing time away.

The speakers words have stuck with me....put on the armour, send your straight arrows, finding hope through our kids stories, letting God work in their lives, pouring our hearts out in prayer for our families....arise and shine....through it all.

One sweet mama gave me a gift she had made and brought to the conference to bless someone....a necklace with an anchor in it and the verse from Hebrews....this hope is an anchor to my soul.  What a blessing to go along with my weekend.

Powerful things are happening in our homes....loving that we found Created for Care.   Excited to share with my family in the coming days.  Many blessings were to be had.