We have a deck . . .mostly

Aaron's brother came this weekend to help us build the deck we've been dreaming about for 3 years. THANKS UNCLE JASON!

Here are the brother, posing very senior picturish for he camera. Today, Aaron and I finished all of the spindles. I have to admit I really enjoyed using the power drill. I could get into that. At some point there is going to be benches around the outside of the platform. Aaron is still figuring out how to build them.
At one point on Sunday, a couple of neighbors strapped on their tool belts and helped with the steps and the decking.

"Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. " Eph. 5:17

Every ounce of sunshine. . .

Ok, so sometimes I"m a pessimist. I don't always look at the bright side of things. My husband says it's my way of coping. He's right. When I really want something to happen  it's easier for me to say "oh it's soooo far away!" "or it's just not going to happen" then I will be less hurt if it doesn't happen. I guess it's my way of guarding my heart. Well as I"ve shared adopting a babyfeels soooo far away to me right now and sometimes I 'm not the most optimistic about the whole situation. Well, I want you to know that yesterday was a day of healing  for me.  

We went to the lake yesterday with some friends. It was  sort of a last minute trip. It was exceptionally wonderful. I felt like with every once of sunshine I soaked up, God was healing my broken heart. It was so fun watching the kids fish and have fun together. It was if all was exactly right in the world and I could stop worrying about what happens next. This morning I had wonderful quiet time with God and so for today I have surrendered it all to him truly! I can't say what tomorrow or the next day will bring but for today and yesterday, I am thankful I serve a living God who knows me and knows my situation. Who holds today in his hand and really that's all that matters. 

Holding my breath. . .

Ok so it seems I've been getting lots for questions in person, e-mail and on here about where we are with adoption. I thought I had made it clear. But you know sometimes you have it all figured out in your head but haven't expressed it out loud (or in writing). . . well that's not me! I don't have anything figured out but have been thinking and praying and trying to figure it out. I don't think I will ever figure out the ups and downs of adoption I just have to trust that God's ways are higher than my ways. ( Even thought it's really hard sometimes!) 

Anyway, I got an e-mail from a friend today asking me about the baby and because of who she is i was able to just write it all out in what ended up to be sort of healing for me. When I was done I felt so good and realized that is what I had been needing to post. So here it is. I just pasted it in here. 

Ok now baby news. Well, the baby in Alabama is not ours. That situation fell through and our profiles have been back out for 2 weeks, so we are still praying for the baby that is suppose to be part of our family. It's a roller coaster of emotions but God has felt so close through it all. (Even when I've spent a few angry moments with him) It's really weird I thought this summer was just going to be wild and crazy and I was going to be gone for 2 weeks, I even worried about missing summer. Now that fireworks season is over and we had a big family wedding last weekend , this week seems quiet. I find myself wondering what I should do next , because really the schedule is pretty open. I have been having a great summer with the kids ( and Aaron too of course).

So keep praying! Pray that God has a little person out there that is meant for our family. Pray I will have patience and not lose hope. Pray that I will remember to live one day at a time and learn what God wants to teach me. 

Wow, that felt good! Who new a 7 word e-mail would help me get out what I've been feeling in words. It sort of felt like an exhale for my soul when I feel like I've been holding me breath.

*** Welcome to blogland my sweet friend Misty she is a very talented writer and I know once she gets going many of you who are lurkers on my blog will be hooked out her blog as well.  

A wedding, a birthday and lots of fun.

Hey good lookin! Here is our nephew Bjorn at his 1st birthday party! He's doing great and has started walking! He's a great example of answered prayer. Thanks to all of you who followed his story and said a prayer for him during his heart surgery. He's doing great and doesn't have to go back to the doctor for 6 months. 
Here is my handsome boy as a professional ring bearer. He was very quick to announce to anyone who told him what a good job he did that this was his 4th time! The sweet little princess is my cousin Alexis. My cousin Mike got married on Friday night and we went to the event. It was a beautiful wedding and lots of fun. 

Best Buddies!

Since their siblings were in the wedding these two had a chance to all sorts of girl stuff together, including staying longer to swim in the hotel pool, try out the lip gloss and body glitter grandma bought them and just hang out. 

Celebrity Wedding

This picture really doesn't do it justice. But the decorations at this wedding were some of the most beautiful I've ever seen! We walked into the banquet hall and it really did feel like you were at a celebrity wedding. 

           The Happy Couple

No we weren't the ones getting married:) but it's fun every once and awhile to get dressed up and be reminded of the day when we commited our love to each other. Really I put this in here because we seldom take pictures of just the two of us and this one turned out pretty good. 

Random Thoughts

I have been sitting here reading other blogs for about 45 minutes now and thinking I really should update my post, somtimes I just have trouble narrowing it down to one subject so I"m going to just update on random things going on.

*We are on our last day of fireworks season. It has been a successful season, even thought we haven't seen Aaron much. He managed two fireworks stores and for the last 8 days has been gone from 8:30 am to midnight. The stories that surround the fireworks season are always entertaining from the quite unique characters who come in to buy to the attempted robbery. Some kid tried to steal Aaron's ipod and our friend Kate ( who was working at the store) ran after him stuck her head in his pick-up window saying, "Give me the ipod back we know you have it?" First he denied it, then handed it over and said he was sorry!! Go Kate! You are either the bravest or most foolish girl I know! We'll go with bravest! I hope that boy was truly sorry and never tries to steal again.

*Jonah and Lydia have just great conversations. The other day I over heard them talking about moose and deer and cantaloupe. I soon realized Lydia was mixing up the orange melon with antelope. Uncle Jason will be glad to know he knows lots about four legged friends and melon.

*Jonah has really been trying to wrap his brain around this 4th of July thing. First he wanted to know how old America was. ( we came up with 232) Then he said he wanted to pray to God and sing happy birthday to American. I was trying to understand what he was getting at and he said "Well God made America so I don't want to leave him out!" That's my boy, always thinking.

*We enjoyed the 4th of july yesterday. We (minus Aaron) went out for lunch with Aaron's parents and his sister and then I went and helped him at the store, because he was a little short on help. I became a very good shelf stocker girl. I totally got into the role. Asking people if they had any questions and then usually having no real answers, but feeling very special in my role.

*Then after dark, once again our little town did not let us down. There were families shooting off fireworks EVERYWHERE. They went on for hours.  The weather was beautiful, the neighbors were all out. The kids were running around with sparklers it was really like a Norman Rockwell painting. Very fun.

Hope you had a fun and safe 4th. Bye for now.