Tilling the Land

"He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding."

Proverbs 12:11

The Last Time

January 15th was the first time Leif crawled. July 20th is the last time I remember him crawling.  And that was only because I was chasing him and it apparently took too much concentration to giggle and walk fast. 

I really want to try to remember his lasts.  I don't want to one day realize it had been weeks since he held his hands up to me to be picked up and cuddled.  He seems to be having so many "firsts" these days that I realize there are some baby things he just does not do anymore. 

Right now he is trying to wedge a piece of green bean between his toes.  How many of us remember the first time we did that??

We are not Crazy, We are Christians

Some might argue that being a Christian is crazy.  I suppose then I should not mind when people say Jamie and I are crazy for adopting a fifth child, bringing our total to 9.  What bugs me though?  The only people who have called us crazy are fellow Christians; not our coworkers, not our social worker.

How will we handle that many children?  Excuse me?? Parents have been handling large broods for thousands of years.  How many brothers did Joseph have?  I'd guess there were a few sisters in there too.  Just because a few of ours have Down Syndrome does not suddenly make life some incredible challenge.  Quite frankly, it is one of my teenagers that wears me out the most these days!

Please, stop thinking like a spoiled American and think like a child of God.  We can handle it because He is our strength and our Redeemer.

We do not need to eat out once a week or have steaks for dinner.  We do not need to buy everything ready made for us.  I am not the only person who saves money by baking my own bread, making my own laundry soap, growing a large garden, and cooking from scratch.  Bean soup is nutritious and delicious.  Beef stew goes a long way.  No one in my family has ever complained about hand me downs. That does not mean I never buy new clothes for anyone, there can be some very good sales out there.  Learning to live with less is a good thing.

Okay, I am done venting.  Check out the link below to one of Mary Hunt's Everyday Cheapskate columns, which coincidentally was in my emails today:

We’ve Become a Nation of Softies

Online Party!

I began reading a new book today, Fields of the Fatherless by Tom Davis. 

Wow. I am still only in the first chapter (VBS every morning), but I think everyone should read it.


On page 37 he says.  "God gave us the responsibility to care for the defenseless.  It's through our hands the Father's love touches, it is through our voices His voice is heard, it is through our efforts and those of the church that His care is revealed to the ones the rest of the world has forgotten."  He really nails it.

There are far too many orphans that the world, and the church, has forgotten. 

And yes, this is another plea to help us show an orphan that she is not forgotten.  Help us show her the love of Jesus.  Help us show her orphanage that she does matter, that all children matter to our God and to us. 

Elsa is no longer forgotten.

Our child needs your help to come home.

A friend of a friend has arranged an online 31 Products fundraiser for us.  100% of her commissions will go towards our adoption of Elsa.  Through her efforts His care will be revealed to Elsa.  Please visit the website here.  There are some really neat products; I had never heard of "31 Products" before but am glad I know about it now!  There is also a neat 31% off for every $10 spent sale.  This fundraiser ends Saturday, so please take a look at it soon. Or now!

Dante's Heart

We have been trying to keep an eye on Dante's Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and last March he had an echocardiogram to try to determine the size of the hole.   We were able to come to a few conclusions that day:

1. Dante's vocal chords and lungs are healthy.
2. Dante is able to physically express irritation and annoyance.
3. We needed a sedated echocardiogram if we wanted to know the size of that hole.

Today we went to the UMass Medical University Campus for the procedure.  It took some time getting him sedated, first with a liquid and then an IV to administer the rest.  Thankfully we bought him an iPad some time ago and he absolutely loves Starfall.  I am used to having to hold him during blood draws, so it was harder for me to see him suddenly go limp then it is to hold him kicking and screaming.

Dr. S is wonderful, and was able to do everything he needed, including an EKG.  Dante does indeed have a hole large enough to recommend repair.  I carry a notebook with me to all of his appointments, and when Dr. S started his explanation I was about to start taking notes. Dr. S instead took the notebook and drew me two diagrams and wrote notes for me as he explained it!! Here is the same explanation he gave me.  The hole is having no detrimental effects on him now, although his right ventricle is enlarged.  However it is the possibility of some very bad long term problems that cause us to want to have this fixed now.  Later would very likely be too late.

It was recommended that we take Dante to Children's Hospital Boston to have the catheter procedure done.  The US News rated Children's Hospital Boston as number one in the nation  for cardiology.  It is only a little over an hour away, and Dante has even been there to the Down Syndrome clinic so I know where to go.  I was told to expect a phone call within two weeks to discuss the timing and plans.  We expect to be in the hospital for only one night.  That is much better than up to a week if it was surgery being recommended. 

I am very thankful for the wonderful doctors and nurse that took care of Dante this morning, and thankful that we have the nation's top experts so close by to continue to help him.

Common Objections to Adoption

Apple Trees for Leif

 Today Jamie and I bought Leif  2 semi-dwarf apple trees with money he had saved from Nana and Poppy. 
It has been a beautiful day, and Leif played in the sprinkler with Nikita while Dad dug some holes for the trees.

 Leif was so funny, getting his hands wet and then rubbing them all over his hair.  He thought he was taking a bath!  I was surprised he took right to the spray and had such a blast with no crying.

 Afterwards he went over to his apple trees for some pictures.  He loved holding the shovel and playing in the loose dirt.

 Leif even consulted with Dad on the soil quality, but I drew the line at the taste test.

We look forward to watching Leif and his trees grow in the coming years.  He already likes to pick and eat the blackberries and blueberries, and I am sure he will learn to tend to his trees.