Here is our approval letter. Tomorrow makes three weeks since news of our approval. Wednesday makes four weeks since actual approval, though according to the document, four weeks plus 8 years (signed on 2000!).

Homeschool Moments:

Math class: Today's subject - POSITION
Mom - "Color the third teddy bear red."
Mom - "Color the first teddy bear green."
Mom - "Color the second teddy bear yellow."
Mom - "Color the fifth teddy bear blue."
Mom - "In what position is the teddy bear that is not colored?"
Micah - (after MUCH thought and consideration) dutifully sits down with his hands and arms bent "just so".
Wait for it, wait for it...
I laughed so hard when I finally realized that Micah in all seriousness was sitting in the same "position" as the teddy bear on the page! He is such a cutie :)

Since when did a Washer and Dryer make me jump up and down with glee?

Since not having one for two weeks. Ahh, what a way to learn to appreciate the little things in life. 2 weeks x 5 people - 1 washer + 1 dryer = 1 scary mountain. So, there it sits in my laundry room, shrink wrapped and in a box. Ryan's trip to the Czech Republic coincided beautifully with delivery. I thought I would make an effort to just hook them up myself. I mean how hard can it really be? They are already in the laundry room, and I have been known to wield a screwdriver mightly in the past, why not add laundry hookup to my resume? And besides, the guys bringing in the supersonic machines could always point me in the right direction, right? Enter two Steve's in a truck. Steve #1 had one of those trendy vanity t-shirts that I always feel compelled to read. It said "If I could control my anger I'd destroy you with it". Nice. Steve #2 was less personable. They did, however, scare the begeebees out of me in the hookup warnings they did impart to me. One of which was the cute little fact that the dryer needs to lay down on its back in order to put on its feet. The bottom of the dryer has sharp metal edges as it is and ("hee hee") there is no longer the room necessary in my tight little laundry room to lay it down to do this. Don't even think about moving the 250 pound washer out of the narrow doorway on your own. That spells hernia for sure. They'd be happy to hook it up for me for $60. Do you remember the t-shirt? They really couldn't leave fast enough for me. I believe there really was truth in his shirt. So, what really does 3 more days mean in the grander scheme of things?

Funny Homeschool Comic

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Click on the comic to read it.

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It's official

This morning it came. The phone call. The phone call that we have been waiting for these past four months. Our dossier has been officially signed! We heard about 11 days ago that we had been approved, but were waiting on the signature. Our in-country representative will be taking our paperwork to orphanges tomorrow to "find" our daughter. We should have a referral in about 2 weeks. Please be praying for a smooth process.

Praise God!

Stolen Devotions

I just lifted this from my friend Heather's blog. Wow. Very timely.

Numbers 11:4-6Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving and the people of Israel also wept again and said, "Oh, that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

"Obsessing on an unmet desire takes away our joy and delight in all that God has provided for us TODAY... If we focus our thoughts on looking only at what we hope tomorrow will bring (or what yesterday had), we will miss the pleasure of today. Life is made of todays, not tomorrows. What do we have today? Whatever it may be - a good friend, a hug, a freshly baked bagel, sunshine, a place to call home - can bring us joy because it is God's gift for our enjoyment. Taking joy in the little things is... CONTENTMENT."- Lydia Brownback

Stinker

Joshua impersonating a goldfish. Such talent.

This is wrong, but it just makes me laugh. We celebrated the collective birthdays of Joshua, Sarah, Micah, Tyler and Jonathan. Tyler and Jonathan are the children of Dan and Beth, our fair-weather friends - literally. Because they are only in Michigan for a short time, we make the most of it and find any and all reasons to celebrate. So, this year represented the 48 collective years of life our children have lived to date and during our birthday party, one might think the candles should be shared amongst the lot of them. Please keep your eyes on my eldest. Proud moment coming...

First Day of Homeschooling '08

Here is how are day began...

And here is how our day ended...

Wake Boarding Maniac.

Micah FINALLY had the courage to jump off the high jump! Here he is (before my battery died) with a death grip on his very brave friend, Tyler's, hand. My battery died waiting for the courage to be fully mustered.
What a great way to end a momentous day. Good friends, cool summer evening, watching the sunset while boating on the lake! It just doesn't get much better.