A few beach photos... to remember the summer by

I think I may say this every year, but it seems even more true this year. Summer went by waaaay to fast!

Although it has still been well over 100 degrees around here, our "fall" routine has officially started and life seems a bit crazy at the moment! I have about a million blog posts swarming around in my head and zero time to type them out or even make sense of my thoughts at all! So for now I just stick to reading other amazing blogs whose writers put it SO much better than I ever could (like this one, or this one, or this one or this one are my favorites right now) and I'll end up posting a few pictures or a video or whatever strikes my fancy for today! (P.S. If you actually click on those links- you will notice a theme here with what I am reading!) Hopefully soon I can process all that is happening in my heart. But not yet. God is still giving me the words. The Lord has been stirring me and changing me in a crazy new way. And I have a feeling that a month from now I will be even different than I am today. In fact I expect it. Because a funny thing happens when we start begging God to break our hearts with the things that break His. We can't remain the same.

More to come on that topic... you can count on it! :)

But for now, today I am reminiscing of our little vacation at the coast... and feeling in the mood to post pictures. And because it's my blog- I can do that!

So, I have had a few friends ask about the beach pictures that have been popping up here and there on my blog and facebook- wanting to know who took them. Well I am proud to say that I did! I was determined to get all 9 of the cousins in a decent picture while we were at the beach, so with the help of my sweet sis-in-law we figured out the right clothing, planned it for early into the trip, and just got 'er done!


We steered away from the TRADITIONAL "beach portrait" look of everyone matchy matchy in white and khakis or jeans.


And I LOVED it!

I think it just "pops!" against the muted sand and ocean backround. I know, not everyone's taste- but it worked for this crowd! :)




When did he get so big?


A favorite of my nephew Samuel


It's the twins!


This one could quite possibly be my favorite of the entire week. I LOVE their expressions and everything else about it! Elliana simply adores her cousins!


A few strong men!


Sweet sweet Makenna


Noah- always photogenic. Always.


ANd this one cracked me up! It's the popeye face!

Yes, the dads were there too! I managed to get a few family shots.




And after a little bit, I just made sure the camera settings were correctly adjusted and then handed it off. Aren't you proud of me?! First was Randy. I think he did an amazing job with this one- I love this photo.



And then Allyson took over. She did awesome- I am so glad we got a few of our family. You know the "really important shots" that you don't want to miss. Like this one. hee hee.


No really, I love some of these that she took




If you normally receive Christmas cards from us- forget you ever saw these! lol

Just wanted to relish in the lazy days of summer for a little while longer. So much to be thankful for and to praise the Lord for. Even as we get into the next crazy couple of weeks (only two more weeks till Africa and LOTS to do still!)I don't want to get overwhelmed by the tasks and forget that I am serving the Lord and not anyone or anything else. Looking at all these kids together makes me so thankful that we homeschool and have such a great relationship with the cousins. The truth is- summer doesn't have to end just because school started! In fact today we headed to a local park with water to splash around in and there were dozens of other awesome friends there to play with! Should have brought my camera, but it was a bit too wild!
Anyway, thanks for bearing with me through all these photos!

And speaking of wild...




Next post: Update about our trip to Ethiopia- and another way you can be involved! Stay tuned!

Wordless Wednesday {Water Fun!}

And they're off!

All 4 of my guys left today. For a week. On a man's trip.

Aren't they so handsome? Yes, I miss them already! :-)

My guys are headed on a train trip up north to Portland and then Seattle and then back home again next Tuesday. What will they do on their trip you ask? Well, I don't exactly know. All I know is there will be some fun sights to take in, some man-food to be eaten, and a lot of father-son bonding taking place. That is the blessing of having 3 sons so close in age- it makes for great opportunities to have some of that guy-time with the best dad in the world. Randy has plans for a special time of discipleship and training during this trip and I am so proud of him for just planning it and making it a priority. He has been looking forward to getting away with them and having fun and being able to discuss some of the things they have been reading about becoming men more in depth. The boys were pretty excited about it too!

And what about the girls? Well, little miss Elliana thought she should be allowed to go too! Trying to hop right into the truck...

Sorry baby, this trip is for BOYS ONLY.

She was NOT happy about that at all.


The girls (as in Elliana and I) are actually STILL recovering from our rough weekend. She was still very sick yesterday and seems to be recovering today, and I seem to have gotten an infection at the extraction site which would explain why I'm still in so much pain, but I've got meds to help clear that up soon. So after we are all well, we have small plans to go play at the park, swim at grandma's, go to the zoo, have the girl cousins and auntie over for a girl's night, and relax here at home. I have a list a mile long of projects that need to be done around here, but who knows what will realistically get accomplished before the week is over!

Of course she wanted to join in on the picture too! I know she is going to miss her da-da and bubbas this week!

And I am too!!!

"My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.


When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.


For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline are the way to life..."

Proverbs 6:20-23

Some pictures from Summer

Yes, we are still alive over here- thank you to those who have been checking up on us! :-)


It seems that life does not stand still and the routines of Fall have unfortunately begun. Which means I have less time to spend blogging about everything that's happening and even less for catching up on all of my bloggy friends. I can't believe it has been 3 weeks since I last posted here. Most have probably given up checking in by now!



Not sure where to start, as a lot has been happening over the past few weeks...



I think I'll backtrack a little bit first: (mostly because I wanted to share a few pictures!)

So here are a few snippets from the end of our summer.

As I already posted a few weeks ago, our Elliana turned one year old on the 16th of August. Because we had only been home a few short weeks we decided to not have a big party or anything that day. We actually made it to church for the first time in quite awhile, came home to take naps and then gave her the toy that we had picked out for her at the store. It was pretty un-eventful, but she was happy.





Checking out her new toy that sings and makes music





She loves this little baby we got her at Target for only a few bucks!






We had a few of our close family over for dessert the next night and she opened a few presents.

She thought Grandma was pretty funny!

We plan to celebrate her birthday in a little more traditional Korean style when she is dedicated at the end of November. We are so excited she will be dedicated on the day our church celebrates Adoption Sunday!

A few more fun pictures are from a swimming day we had out at Grandma's house with the cousins. Everyone was anxious for Elliana to try the pool and when we finally got in- she loved it and splashed all around. What a cutie she is in her little swimsuit...

The girls are so cute with her and love having a new baby girl cousin to play with!

Actually I think EVERYONE is excited to play with her!

Cousin Noah is totally in love...

Enjoying her food outside!

Just hanging out with daddy

This was the sweetest thing- to find them in her room like this snuggled in the rocking chair with Nathan reading her stories. He is such a good big brother! (they didn't even know I was taking the picture!)

What a Summer this has been for our family- definitely one we will NEVER forget!