Packing Heat

While Nathan is away, my mom is keeping us company and productive!  An amazing packing machine, my mom spent over four hours this afternoon and another couple of hours this evening packing up and cleaning out the cabinets in our kitchen while I tried to help by tracking down boxes and sorting contents.  I had no idea it would take so long to pack up our cozy little galley kitchen (see below, taken right before we started), but thank goodness it is DONE!  What a blessing to have mom's help!  Before she leaves, we have 5 closets to tackle!

Forgive my cheesy title to this post.  A combination of fatigue and attempts at cleverness... this one might be up there in the 'most lame' column.

Bye, Dad!

Nathan is leaving us for about a week, beginning today, so last night before our walk/bike ride, we took some photos with Daddy.  Nathan remarked, "Are you worried I'm not coming back?"  To which I replied, "We can never have too many pictures!"

All images shot on the 35 1.4mm lens, cloudy white balance.

Quiet summer nights...

When school is in session, we may go weeks without a night free of appointments on our calendar.  Now that school is over, we don't take a quiet night for granted ... so while Nathan mowed the grass, the kids enjoyed a bit of time in their new pool and the back yard.
Here's a few pics of the kids from this evening...

Somebody told me recently that a dirty boy is a happy boy...

I have a feeling matchbox cars will be popping up in the volleyball court sporadically long after we're gone...

This girl is happy whenever there is water around...

... making footprints on the driveway

... and flipping her noodle (there is some kind of sensory input it gives her, but I can't yet figure out what)

My God Shall Supply All...

...  your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19, NASB)

Late this afternoon we took a spontaneous family outing.  Well, it was more like I had two errands to run in Lexington, but due to scheduling issues, we were going to have a couple of hours in between dropping one item off (before closing) and picking up something else (when a friend got home from work). So in the spirit of summer's arrival we decided to take the kids to see a dollar movie. (I know -- we know how to have FUN! But seriously, that's a big treat for us.)  After finding a film that was agreeable to all parties (not an easy feat, mind you) at a theater in close proximity to where we would be, the most difficult decision was actually finding a place to grab a quick bite to eat.


Now if you know us, we are creatures of habit.  It's hard for us to branch out and try new restaurants.  And at those restaurants, we typically have our 'favorite' dishes and stick to those.  Unfortunately, we were in a part of town with a variety of restaurants, but none that were really familiar to us.  Laugh as you might, it was actually a fluke of how we hit lights and lanes and rush hour traffic that we found ourselves at a strip mall offering "Confusing Confections," "Buffalo Wild Wings" and "Penn Station."  In the interest of time and taste, our decision was pretty much made for us.


I was happy that it wasn't difficult to find something appealing for every member of our party so we placed our order then I took the kids pick out a booth while Nathan paid.  I was getting the kids situated at our table when Nathan came over with our drinks and said, "Did you see that guy over there running the cash register?  Does he look familiar to you?" 


I told Nathan that I thought I recognized him and asked if he was an Asbury grad to which Nathan said, "Yeah.  And you won't believe what he told me.  He said that while he was at Asbury the student center and Global Cafe really meant a lot to him and he wanted to pay for our supper!"


We just looked at each other and could only shake our heads.  It was really touching.  And humbling.  I don't know how to describe the feeling of receiving that kind of gift, so unexpectedly. 


As we transition to a new phase of life and leaning on God in new ways to provide, I have an anxious excitement about how that's going to unfold.  I know we are going to learn a LOT and if God's provision for our adoptions is any indication, the conduits of that provision will be as unexpected.  As such, I don't want to forget stories like these, where we saw God say, "You're taken care of."  Where He used a young man, working at a sub shop, to treat us to a $20 supper.  Thank you, Daniel.  You have no idea how you blessed us.

in the news...

Our thoughts and prayers are in Albania today.  Yesterday 3 buses of university students left Elbasan (the city where Reni's former orphanage is located) to go an excursion to Saranda, a beautiful seaside town in southern Albania.  Before reaching it's destination one of the buses plunged off the mountain road, killing at least a dozen and critically injuring a couple of dozen more.

Dorina and Kerri

One of those who died, Dorina, was a youth from Kerri's small church, and another from her church is in the hospital in Vlore (you may remember Kerri as our S African missionary friend whom we met shortly after arriving in Elbasan in 2010 and then who served as an invaluable translator in February when we had our reunion with Reni's caregiver, Duzi).

Having driven that same road a couple of times and seeing the images online, we can't imagine how anyone in that bus survived.  Please pray for Kerri as she ministers to those in her church who are hurting.

In Europe's second most mountainous country -- a place where the infrastructure still has a long ways to go in connecting cities with safer, wider multi-lane highways, prayer requests by those who live and travel there for safety on the road are requests made with all sincerity. Sadly, during two of my last three visits to Albania, similar accidents involving buses on mountain roads took place.

Click here to read more about the accident.

It's Party Time!

On Tuesday night we hosted a party!  While it's not unusual to throw a shower for someone having a baby, in the adoption community, we have fundraisers (sometimes we have showers too, but we're most familiar with fundraisers)!  Being that this was our first, there was a lot of nervous anticipation -- would anyone come?  Did we sufficiently get the word out?

To back up a bit, this past year through our adoptive families group we reconnected with some college classmates, Bryan and Tammy Williams, who found themselves back in Wilmore for a season after serving overseas.  Having two homegrown kiddos and a daughter recently brought home through the blessing of adoption, we were super excited to learn that they were adopting again, and this time, a sweetheart with a lower limb difference.  Yeah, he's got one more foot than Reni, but hey, we are excited to know another family that will be joining this very exclusive club! ;-) Knowing that international adoption is expensive, and wanting to express our support, I approached Tammy with the prospect of a fundraising party.

Two years ago my friend Myra threw a similar party for the Kinnells for their second Ethiopian adoption.  I liked the concept and blatantly copied it.  Calling up some friends (as well as some friends of friends) I asked if they would ever so kindly want to participate in blessing a family through donating the proceeds of their business sales one night to help a family in the process of adoption.  I was thrilled with their responses!  With our businesses on board, Tammy and I planned a menu, made an invitation and Facebook event, and waited for May 15 to arrive!

We have no idea how many people came, but over the course of two hours there was a steady stream of guests.  Several of whom we had no idea how they heard about the fundraiser and many who didn't even know Bryan and Tammy personally (someone told us they found a flyer in the grade school office)!  Thank you to everyone who spread the word and invited friends! Bryan, Nathan, and another couple of folks (including some other dads who were brave enough to come) supervised the kids in the backyard so the moms could shop.  At the highest point, Nathan said he counted thirty children!  Before the event began, I snapped some photos of the tables all set up.  Once things really got rolling, I didn't have time to snap photos of all the dear friends who showed up!  You'll have to take our word for it!

(Below)  Jyll Hearn (mommy of three boys, one from Taiwan) represented Blessings Unlimited.

Our classmate, Shawna Bivins, represented 31 Gifts...

Friend from church, Hilary Fiskeaux, represented Mary Kay...

Bethany Wells (soon to be momma of a little boy from Ethiopia) represented Stampin' Up..

Jennifer DuBois heard about the fundraiser through a friend-of-a-friend and represented Pampered Chef...

Myra's friend, Beverly, who also supported the Kinnell's fundraiser, set up a table for Premier Jewelry!

Tammy brought all kinds of yard games, sidewalk chalk, and buckets and shovels and kept the kids happy for hours!!

Nathan (joking) said our only problem was providing childcare -- it made the ladies stay a long time visiting!  What???  Nooooo.  We wouldn't just stand and visit when we could without interruption! ;-)

If you would like to participate, each of the ladies will continue taking orders through May 31.  Click on the links below to view catalogs and place orders and thank the ladies for being so generous!  AND whatever proceeds they generate, those will be matched by Lifesong for Orphans!  Double score!

Thirty-one Gifts

http://www.mythirtyone.com/sbivins/

Shawna Bivins

shawna_bivins@yahoo.com

859-948-1327

Pampered Chef

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/JenniferD 

Jennifer DuBois

Use "Tammy Williams" for your hostesses name

PC4Jenn@yahoo.com

(cell) 573-433-4892

(home) 859-368-7611

Host a show and mention Tammy's name and contribute an extra $10

Premier Jewelry

www.premierdesigns.com
50% of product price goes to the Williams' fund, which is then doubled by Lifesong
This is an amazing return for your purchase!

Contact Beverly Parker

beverly.parker@Insightbb.com
859-983-3668

Blessings Unlimited

Jyll C Hearn

(peruse the catalog online, then call or e-mail Jyll with your order).

www.myblessingsunlimited.net

jchearn8@bellsouth.net

(502) 241-7973.

Mary Kay

Hilary Fiskeaux

www.marykay.com/KYredhead

KYredhead@marykay.com

859-338-3431

Stampin' Up

Bethany Wells

http://www.facebook.com/bsteury

In lieu of shopping, gifts (which will be matched) may be sent directly to:

Lifesong for Orphans
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744 (note on your check memo: Williams, Bryan #2639 Adoption)


UPDATE:  Thanks to Lifesong's Matching Grant, over $1,000 was raised to cover the rest of their agency fees and some of the immigration fees!

Minding His Ps and Qs...

 Today was a big day -- Reni actually requested to wear his legs this morning!  Initially it was so he could reach the magnets on the fridge...

Then he realized he could reach the TV...

And see the top rack of the dishwasher!  This is pretty cool!



Forgive the lack of 'dress' -- it was early in the morning and I wanted to snap some proof before he changed his mind!  It lasted nearly an hour.  He's learned that if he says 'my legs hurt', we don't try to cajole him into wearing his legs any longer, so we don't know if they really are painful or if he's just feeling too restricted and wants them off.

If you're interested in hearing Reni's voice a bit, you'll enjoy the video below (started hastily before I thought to change the camera settings -- sorry he looks a bit jaundiced!).  Notice the neat line he puts all the letters in.  He's equally meticulous about lining up his matchbox cars too.  Wondering if we might have some OCD tendancies??? ;-)

We're throwing a party!

I'm throwing a party tomorrow!  If you live in Central Kentucky, you're invited!  This is a great family (classmates of ours from college) that we're hoping to bless in a big way tomorrow!  If you can't attend, I'll have information later about placing orders online to credit their account.

Happy Mother's Day!

Nathan and I want to say "Happy Mother's Day" to our moms today!  We are grateful for all they've sacrificed for us over the years.  We are so very blessed!  Moms, we love you!

Sunday Scripture: John 14:18

Remembering the motherless on Mother's day...

Saying Goodbye: the one with all the pictures

Last week was finals week.  Enough said.

For one last time, Nathan met with his discipleship group (sans Jonny).

Looking for any excuse we could find to spend more time with our friends, we hosted study breaks for three nights and the center was dubbed "The Hub of Relaxation."

There were movies.  There was studying.  There was food (like Anna's homemade sticky buns).  And coffee.  Lots of coffee.

And there was snuggling.  Because we won't see some of our favorite people again for a long time and that means we can stay up past our bed time, just a little bit longer.

Not photographed -- the washing machine.  We had lots of overnight guests in to help their students move out of the dorms. Lots of guests means lots of sheets and towels folded.

There was also lots of eggs cracked, flour whisked, and cream cheese blended while Nathan whipped up three cakes and three cheesecakes for Saturday's commencement reception:

I tried a new, easy-to-make tea punch recipe which you can find here:  http://www3.samsclub.com/meals/recipes/patriotic-tea-punch-recipe

While the graduates lined up to walk in for graduation, Nathan ran across the street and snapped a few photographs (below) that he turned around and printed on our home photo printer.  We then decorated the buffet table with prints of the guests of honor in their own Global Cafe mug (above) to take home.

Then we grabbed photos with some of our favoritest people.
Bottom right (below):  the kiddos with Mark.  On the first day of next month, Mark and Eszti will wed and start a year of ministry in Eszti's home country of Hungary.  We're hopeful that we'll get to see to see them sometime in 2013!

Prior to the reception, I took a photo of our apartment to remember it by before the start of packing...

...because my parents and Hannah made a spur-of-the-moment decision on Friday night to come visit us in KY.  Mom brought her A game and while we were serving cake and punch, she started packing up our closets and cabinets like a fiend.

Then less than 48 hours later, it was time to say 'goodbye'.  Sadly, I'm not trying to protect my parents' identities by not showing their faces.  These are literally the only photos I have to prove they were here!  There were lots of tears.

Though school is out for the summer, our schedule hasn't abated... Nathan is presently in Marion, Indiana facilitating a big session at orientation for our young-adult summer volunteers.  When he returns on Thursday we will get to begin tackling our summer list!