HAPPY HALLOWEEN

...from the most adorable reggae musician, rock star, hippie and T-Bird you've ever seen!!! :)

The Blessings of a Broken Heart...

God is teaching me to be obedient when it doesn't make sense. I am a slow-learner and extremely task-oriented and logical so this doesn't compute easily with me, but He is persistent. I am in the middle of my busy season, and by busy I mean REALLY busy (which is a blessing by the way). So, I shrugged off God's tug to write this post, but he keeps tugging and I finally listened. I don't think this post is about me telling you something you should understand, know, do, think or feel. That's between you and God. It's about me recognizing and focusing on what He is saying to me.

Since we began the process of adoption from Ethiopia, God has been opening my eyes outside of my own little world. With the process came a network of friends who have a heart for orphans. Friends who have traveled to Ethiopia and have a global reality, who have seen face to face people who are starving or sick or who have no access to clean water. People who have nothing yet would give you their last bit of food to show you hospitality if they could. God had me read "The Whole in our Gospel" and "Radical", books that gave me eyes to see the world as God must see it. Many of his children living in excess, spoiled with their toys and mindlessly whining about their problems with no grasp that their fellow human beings and brothers and sisters in Christ are going days without food, water or suffering from preventable, curable and treatable illnesses with no hope because they don't have access to a doctor or medicine.

I am that spoiled, whining child. God has shown me so clearly how wrapped up in me I am. He has broken my heart over this and I am so grateful. My heart needed breaking. I want it to continue breaking. Because with a broken heart I must rely on Jesus.

He came into this broken world and through His death He brought healing. Because of Him one day I won't live in a broken place anymore. But, that's not the only reason He came. The gospel isn't just about Him saving me, it's about Him using my life to love and care for others. His plan isn't for sickness, starvation and hopelessness. His plan is for His people to be His hands and feet.

What exactly does that look like for me? I don't know but I pray that He continues to break my heart for the things that break his and that He teaches me to listen and be obedient even when it doesn't make sense.

The State Fair of Texas

Going to the State Fair of Texas has become a tradition! We are becoming pros at finagling our way through the crowds to hit our usual route. We did great this year except for missing the dog show. They closed the doors early because it was full! It was beautiful weather and a fun and delicious day!!

*** perfectionist photographer's disclaimer...these are not fully edited! :)

Sam's first State Fair...he wasn't so sure about all these people everywhere!

First stop...the giant indoor sandbox. Sam didn't like how the sand felt on his feet so he observed just outside the box.

Now that's some Texas Sized cotton candy!

Our favorite stop is the Little Farmers Farm. They get to pick fruit, plant seeds, milk a cow, ride a tractor out to the fields to feed the cattle and more. At the end they turn in eggs, milk, corn, wool and more to get paid for their labors and buy a treat at the store! Really a well run exhibit!!













onto the rides. They each got to pick one ride with our tickets and Nani took them on a ride with her. Max couldn't resist the first BIG CAR he came too!



and Abby, of course, made a fast friend on her airplane ride.

Madison picked the loud music ride. No idea what it is called, but boy was it loud!


Max needed a little carry/snuggle time with daddy by the end of the day!

That is one tired baby!

But, we still must go out with a bang. Funnle cake complete with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup! Can you say tummy ache???






A tuckered out kid is the best judge of what a fabulous day we had!!