My First Baby

 My first baby is growing up too fast.

 She is an incredible young woman.

 She hates to be photographed, but I had her cooperation the other night so I took and took and took pictures of her.

 The garden was as beautiful as the young ladies I captured, and it was so fun to see them all dressed up.

 The littles didn't mind jumping in for a few shots.

 These frames were so fun!

 I am so grateful to have the chance to parent this young woman.  God is so very good to have blessed me so with this child of mine whose face matches her daddy's to a tee. I know these moments together are fleeting, and I long to sit and soak her in as long as I can.

Our Big Girl

 Our big girl has literally grown up at Gull Lake Ministries as we have been blessed to attend each summer since she was eight years old.  Each year, she has such an amazing time and grows so much in the Lord that she loves, loves coming.  She is assigned a small group and given a counselor to hang out with her as we are there.  This young person was amazing this year and happened to play college basketball too which we loved.  Our teens really liked her.  

 We are so blessed to be able to give our big girl a week like this.  She also gets to reconnect with two of her friends from IL while we are there and it always means so much to us as we spend the week with these old friends.

 They have two daily worship sessions where,after singing, they are challenged by speakers to get into the bible and give themselves fully to the Lord.

There are so many things to do for our entire family which is so nice given the age difference between the littles and our biggest girl.  Everyone loves coming here. 

We can't wait to be back here next summer.  With only two more summer vacations until she leaves us for college (YIKES), I am embracing every moment with our young woman.  I don't know where the years have gone, but I am so grateful for the memories we have at this special place and the wonderful group of people we have been able to share them with here over the years.  

One of the most special things about Gull Lake is that at the end of the week, the counselor presents our girl with a character certificate.  At the presentation, the certificate is read to her.  It is amazing how the counselors build into the young people who attend.  She is not terribly emotionally, our Emily, but she cherishes these certificates.  She hangs them up in her room each year and is careful not to bend it in her luggage on the trip home.  These mean so much to her.

So grateful to the amazing staff that provide us with a God filled week in this heavenly place.  There is nowhere better to spend your summer vacation than the shores of Gull Lake.

God's Miraculous Provision..Always There

In the last three years, we have made two journeys to China for our beautiful daughters.  We have had many, many support us along the way with their prayers and their financial donations.  We are so very grateful to each and every one that had a part in making our daughters ours.  We could not have done it without each and every one of you.  In addition to the many who supported us, we cleaned out retirement accounts, sold things, and made sacrifices (insignificant sacrifices compared to those risking their lives to share the gospel right now)  ourselves so that our beautiful treasures could be called daughter.  So when the need for braces for our oldest couldn't be put off any longer,  I have to admit that I felt a little bit hopeless.  I knew the cost and I knew that we had cleaned out every possible account that could cover such a cost in the last three years for our adoptions so I was searching.  As I was searching one summer day, I prayed to the Lord for His provision and I was lead to an organization online.  This organization provides braces to individuals who need them by matching them with orthodontist who are willing to donate their services for screened families.  There were a few orthodontist listed that worked in our state and so I began the process with my biggest girl.  Four months later, we have visited the orthodontist with our Em and she is getting her braces.  I can't believe it!  This wonderful orthodontist is donating his services to meet this need for our family and we only have to pay 10% of the actual cost.  Truthfully, there are times as a parent that I worry about all that my oldest has had to give up as we have added these beautiful siblings with special needs to our family.  I should always trust the Lord with this I know, but at times I question how she can handle it.  Yet again and again, God just shows up!  He just does exactly what we need and as I see this unfold again and again..you would think I would trust more and doubt less.  What little faith I often find myself with.  Honestly, I choked up pretty considerably when thanking this kind, kind doctor as I met with him last week.  He is using all of his expertise, top notch technology, and treating us so very well though we can't even begin to pay him what he is worth.  Isn't this the picture of the gospel?  Yet again, I am watching the gospel lived out in my life through the gesture of this doctor as he fulfills a need our family couldn't possibly afford on our own.  My God is faithful!  He loves and cares for our every need.  He lavishes grace and mercy on us abundantly again and again.  If I hadn't stepped out and adopted in these last three years, I wouldn't have experienced this near as dramatically.  Oh to know and trust Him more is the song on my heart!  He is so so very good!

Celebrating Our Biggest Girl

Fifteen years ago, God made me a momma and I was hooked.  I LOVE being a mother.  My children have given me a greater purpose and more JOY than I could ever write.  Yesterday, we spent the day celebrating our Em who turned fifteen.  We got her permit (heaven help us), had chocolate chip pancakes with candles, opened presents in bed, and had a chocolate death cake with fifteen candles with 30 of her friends at youth group.  It was a special day and it just reminded me that we are one year closer to a grown up girl....YIKES! 

My Oldest..

 My oldest treasure is leading a Bible study this summer for some six and seven year old girls in our body.  She is using a study called "My Best Friend Jesus" that she and I did together when she was eight years old.  Where has the time gone?  I love Tuesday mornings at my house because that is when the girls come by.  They usually do a little project like a craft or cooking and then Em sits down at the table with them to break open the word.  I love to listen in.  My oldest baby girl is growing up.

 There are no shortages of smiles when the girls are here.  There are plenty of giggles too. 

I just love having my house full of little girls.  I am grateful to God for the little hearts He is cultivating through this study in my home.  I am especially thankful for the heart that is ever developing in my Em.  I love seeing God working in her life.

Our Christmas Day..Anna Mei's First

 Anna Mei woke this morning to begin her first celebration of Jesus Birthday!  She was so excited!  She loved finding this sweet dollhouse. 

 She had never seen a slinky.  She was fascinated.  In true strong willed fashion, she refused to wear her Christmas pajamas last night.  I love her spunky spirit as she demanded butterflies.

 (Twelve years ago, this very same dollhouse was sitting out for our Em the Christmas that she was two.  I am mighty glad Grandma saved it. It is more special to have Anna playing with it as we remember Em this age playing with it.)  She was very excited to find her Elmo underwear too!  She put it on right away!

 Jillian always loves some slinky!  She also had some bags of dry red beans in her stocking to spill on the floor.  Good times for her!

 She found a tent full of rice this morning!  She has been busy all day in there.  It is such fun!

 Her favorite part of the morning was eating on the couch.  She loves being waited on.

 Anna Mei helped with Christmas breakfast...dark chocolate/ peppermint pancakes.  Yummy!

 Emily slept until well after 9:00.  She is a teenager and we opened most of our presents last night.  She did enjoy her angel pancake for breakfast.  She has played with her sisters all day.  Love this kid!

 Jillian made all of us (including Daddy get in that tent).  My back is killing me tonight, but it was a beautiful day.  We just played and enjoyed being together.


You can see lots of video on my youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/user/slmaster16/videos

Our Christmas Eve..Anna Mei's First

 Have you ever seen such joy?  This kids radiates it!  She was so thrilled to open presents and recited Jesus birthday a hundred times.  Her first Christmas has been a special one. 

 Emily was the first to open a package.

 Jillian loved this floor scooter.

 This is the first package Anna Mei opened.  It was a new game.  This is the first turn taking game she has played.  She is doing well.

 This girl knew most every gift she was getting because she is a teenager and so picky.  I would rather her like and wear what she gets so she picks a few things for her gifts.

 I did surprise her with two boxes of real poptarts.  They are her favorite peanut butter and chocolate.  We don't get them often so it was a treat for her. 

 Jillian LOVES potato head body parts right now.  She doesn't really like to put them on the head, but she loves to request them by signing and then hold them.

 She was very very happy with this gift.

Anna Mei slept with her new backpack.  She really wanted a backpack because Jillian has one for school.  She was so happy to get it.  It was a wonderful evening. 

Making Cookies (Picture Heavy)

 We have spent many, many hours in the kitchen baking this season as it is my very favorite place to be.

 My Anna Mei is very fond of it too.  It is a whole body experience for her..just look at that powdered sugar.

 How many cookies do you get to eat Anna?  Just one cookie is her answer every time, but she usually tries to negotiate more than that in the end.

 She takes decorating very seriously.

 Jillian spent a good while in the beans at first while we prepared dough..just goofing with daddy.

 Emily helped decorate and eat her fair share too.

 Jillian was excited when the sprinkles came out as it was a sensory bin for her.  One of her favorite visuals is the sprinkling of anything so these decorations were a hit.

 Anna was one happy little lady the entire time.  I can't help but think of her sad face and empty eyes less than a year ago while she laid waiting for us to come to her and just look at her now.

When I added icing to Jillian's tray, it really stressed her out.  She continued to play with it for a bit, but then had to go to the bath.  It was way too much for her.  It was  great fun decorating and eating this season away with my newest little to help.  We made many, many memories and had moments I will forever cherish.  I am so very thankful for this little family God has given me!

To My Oldest..

I never saw this coming.  I never dreamed that you would be sitting in front of a Christmas tree in 2013, in the state of IA, with a lap full of sweet Chinese toddlers.  At fourteen, you are such a treasure and the way that you are growing into such an incredible young woman takes my breath away.  For ten years, you were the only one.  You didn't have to share, think of others, and it was pretty quiet around here at all times.  It is so the opposite of that now.  Your sisters need so much and quiet is very, very hard to come by.  You willingly give of yourself again and again as we care for them.  You wipe bloody noses while I'm driving, serve noodles and cheese while I'm rocking another, and sit with these sweet treasures in your lap hundreds of times throughout the day.  Watching you with them and thinking about how far God has brought our family is something I absolutely treasure in my heart.  I am anxious to see how God uses all that has happened in the last three years in your life.  You have walked this road alongside us.  You have seen God provide in ways none of us imagined for the sake of these beauties.  You have sacrificed, adventured, and endured just as we have.  Some of the greatest and most beautiful moments of my life are when you are loving on your sisters.  I love you and am blessed to have you as my daughter.  I know that all too soon you will be farther away from us and I pray that you continue to be strong in your faith as you walk your own path in this life. 

God's Miraculous Provision

I wish with all my heart that I could record every detail of the last week.  It has been so good in so many ways, but I know that I will never do it justice or remember all that has been on my heart.  We had an amazing crew of friends who came on Friday in Pekin to pack us up and send us off.  Many of them even gave up their Saturday to drive here and help us transport all of our stuff.  Thank you Eric, Rebecca, Chris, and Chris!  Sean's mom came up with us and helped us get settled in as well. We love you!

The girls did amazingly well and played in the water in the backyard all day here at the new house while we settled in.  We had lunch provided for us on Saturday by our new church family and many, many who stayed well into the afternoon setting up beds, unpacking, cleaning, and helping us get settled.  We felt loved and were overwhelmed by the way everyone served us.  Saturday night we had dinner delivered by another sweet church member who even went as far as finding out what my Jillian eats.  She brought Jill's yogurt and applesauce as well as yummy homemade pizza with delicious cake.  I cried sweet tears of joy because she thought of my baby girl's needs and met them without even knowing us.

The week has continued on much like this.  We have had visits by many with cookies, hugs, and welcomes.  We have attended a staff cookout where we spent time together with the school and church staff swimming, eating, and visiting.  This is an amazing place and while we are sad to leave the many that we love in Pekin, we are excited to get settled here and to start doing life with this incredible congregation.

Thursday we spent the day with some of the church families at a local beach.  You all know my Jillian LOVES water and sand! This beach is beautiful, free, and very close to our house.  Many may just see this as a lake, but as I looked across the crystal blue water I just thought of God's miraculous provision!  A crystal clear lake, much like the beautiful Gull Lake where we happily spend a week at family camp every summer, only twenty minutes from our new home.  This is a place that we will be spending many happy summer days with our new family of friends.  I heard one of the moms say that she likes to spend time together with other ladies of the church because she is never leaving Cedar Valley and so if we are going to raise up our kids together, we should know and love each other.  Music to this mommas heart!  Walking alongside these friends and doing life together is going to be a true pleasure.

My sweet babies have also found open arms already and this momma is thrilled.  Em seems to have found a wonderful young lady who is in her class and shares her name.  EF seems like a great girl and is delightful to talk to.  She is an answer to prayer indeed.  Anna Mei has already learned to say Abby and looks for her whenever we are with our group.  She likes to be held and Abby is amazing with her.  She has ministered to this momma so much with how very willing she is to help me take care of the girls while Sean is back wrapping things up in Pekin.  Abby walked carrying Anna Mei to the car from the beach yesterday which was a HUGE blessing and she was in the pool the entire time I was on Tuesday helping with the girls.  A little lady named Jesse has taken a liken to my Jillian too and watched me signing to her yesterday so she could pick some up.  Jesse is a tiny fourth grader, but still let Jillian climb all over her in the water.  Jillian kept signing sit and Jesse wasn't sure what it meant so she asked and then sat every time Jillian told her.  Both of these girls are from the same family and they have beautiful hearts.  I can't wait to get to know them more!

Truly, I can't believe how seamless this move has been.  My Jillian hasn't missed a beat.  She even seems more comfortable in this strange, new house than she did in our familiar one in Pekin.  I can't explain it.  I have no words, but what I do have is a God who holds us each in His hands.  How I love the Lord who has written this entire story for us and who knows every detail before it is revealed to us.  To God be much glory for the way that we have been loved by these beautiful people in the last week.  I hope that I have the opportunity to show God's love to them many times as we walk beside each other in the years to come.  Cedar Valley Bible Church seems so very special and I am grateful to be able to call it home!

14

14?

I don't know how it happened.

I am thankful for the young lady she is growing into.

And I am even more thankful for God's grace as I continue to figure out how best to raise her up as she refuses to stop getting older.