Week in Summary

Wow......one week and have been visited by six of our eight kids! Kendra and Craig left for home today. They were here since Tuesday. We got our Emerson fix.....she mimics EVERYTHING one says so we have to be careful. Words we use as adults don't always sound good coming from an eighteen month old. She is just so precious.

Jennifer came on Thursday. Joshua came today to finish a painting job he worked on two weeks ago. He is such a sweet kid.......always giving. He got the job done and it all looks beautiful.

John and Kim and their five sweet kids came this afternoon and spent time here. Before we knew it, all of them were working in our gardens and when they left they left a promise to come back on one of John's days off to do MORE. As they worked today they seemed to develop a vision so I smiled at Ken and said, "Let them do what they want to do, I love it". John transplanted a bunch of hostas and seem big sedum. The area where our neighbors weeded has been transformed. Hopefully there will be no room for weeds any longer.

Of course, Lauri and Elton and Scarlen were in and out during the week. Lauri takes control of the meals for which I am so grateful.

A couple of John's kids and Lauri's kids were conniving to spend time at the other's home. We laughed at their creativity. In the end both sets of parents consented and one could hear a chorus of cheer from the kids. So Mackenna is off to Michigan and Kyle is staying in De Motte. They were happy clams. I smiled as John said to the adults, "I really think this is the only opportunity all summer that they have to spend time together." We always listen to what John says. Welllllll, almost always.

What a joy to have a family that loves one another. We are most blessed. With the dynamics of four adopted and four bio kids, we are such recipients of God's grace and love. To God be the glory forever and ever! I couldn't love each one of them more. Various personalities and personal challenges but oh so wonderful. People thought we were a bit crazy some twenty five years ago. Actually, we found ourselves questioning ourselves at various points, BUT, our blessings have overflowed. I always knew it was God who orchestrated the whole idea to adopt older children. I just didn't always trust Him for the outcome. He was faithful. That is a lesson for me right now, isn't it?

God's blessing for a day of rest.