Together

Craig made it home safely and he brought all the kids the most beautiful Chinese pajamas!! (Hint: look closely - notice anything?)

Prayers please

We would covet everyone's prayers over the next few days as we have some decisions to make regarding the adoption. Craig is still in China so he is praying during the night while I am sleeping and I am praying during the day while he is sleeping. We can hardly wait for him to return so we can pray together!! Specifically, will you please pray with us for the following:

1) God's will to be revealed
2) complete clarity
3) undivided obedience

James 1:5-6 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Camp

Our church kids camp starts tomorrow. While this is technically 'kids' camp - we are making it into family camp. Craig is corralling 12 third grade boys (bless him), Hannah is going for her 3rd year, Luke is going for his 2nd year, and this is Katy's first year. I am coordinating crafts for the camp and so Emily Jane is my little side-kick (but don't tell her that, she thinks she is old enough to be a 'real' camper). The theme this year is fantastic - it's called Seeds & Fences - they will be studying the life of Joseph and it is going to be truly wonderful. The boys' groups are vegetables and the girls' groups are fruits. So we have a brown (and pink) pineapple - Katy, an orange orange - Hannah, and blue corn - Luke & Craig. Which leads to the next picture - I bet not many of you are the proud owners of a cornhead and we have TWO! They are blue now - seeing Craig wear it makes me laugh so hard I almost wet my pants. I'll make sure to take pictures.
We have our hootenanny attire, our homemade glow-in-the-dark shirts, and our premier movie night glam wear (can't wait to post pics of Luke - his costume is GREAT!). We have shorts and shirts in orange, blue and brown (and pink). We finally found Crocs for everyone (does anyone wear these for anything other than camp?). We unpacked towels from moving boxes and will take sheets off the beds tomorrow (all the others are packed in boxes) and we have enough colored hairspray to live in the 80's. We will write on the car windows in the morning. It's official - I think we are ready!!!
We are truly looking forward to the next 4 days together. Craig's travel schedule for the rest of the month is insane -- more on that later -- we are really going to cherish the days we all have together just having fun: blobbing each other, having a whip cream fight, fishing, worshiping, and learning more about God's provision in our lives.
Oh how I want my kids to understand God's sovereignty in their lives -- He knew why it would be so important for us to all be together this week and weekend -- He knows and will provide as the next few weeks play out in all their craziness - more on that later, remember?- He knows where our children are in Ethiopia and He knows when we will meet them. It thrills me to think we will hopefully have more children by camp time next year.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Camp pictures to come - and more on our move. We are in for a FUN BLESSED FOUR DAYS at camp!!