We Won Larry!

Our Daddy had a meeting the other night...so this little group headed to our local Chik-Fil-A for "Veggie Tales" night. Low and behold...Miss Katie won a DVD and Mom Jo won a book! Pics are blurry (cell phone pics) but it was definitely worth the trip! (not to mention the $1.45 kids meals!!) The big girls and Cade were sad at not getting anything...so being the good grandma...Mom Jo took them to the dollar store thereafter. :) Have to give a plug here for Mr. John and Mr. Craig who manage our local Chik-fil-a. They go to our church and make every visit to our fav fast food place a joy!!

This Seasoned Homeschool Family...

..can take anything and turn it into a 'school' session. Take this recent project on Mom Jo's property down the street. Leni was particularly enthralled with the tree men and how they used their machinery to get to the tippy top of some trees threatening to collapse on the house. We learned physics and math are important!(Katie was at preschool during this project:))

Cypress Gardens Did A Very Good Thing!

They offered admission to everyone today for $5 each. Yes, not a typo! 5 bucks for admission to a Florida theme park! A last minute decision for us had the P.C. and their always ready for a party grandma... strapped into car seats and headed to Winter Haven! We mixed school with fun...visiting the butterfly conservatorium, exotic animals, botanical gardens, and riding lots of makeyourheadspinthenfeelsick rides! They let Katie ride EVERYTHING and so she did with lots of giggles and fortitude. At 36" tall (she's in the whopping 13th percentile!) she's not afraid of anything! Leni found a snake (for real) and the day couldn't have been better. We couldn't get Mom Jo on a roller coaster though!! And last but not least....the lake Cypress Gardens is located on is named appropriately.....Lake Eloise. Our own Eloise had eyes as big as saucers over that one!! (Click on each pic for a up close and personal. Yes, those are my girls on those swings. I was prayin hard Leni wouldn't get any ideas about being a trapeze artist during flight:))

(M.E.'s are you sure you were really there??!! Katie asked all day!!)

Why I Blog....

You're looking at them :) The 7 reasons why this blog is so important to me. You see, seven years ago when we adopted Leni life was crazy, but manageable. I had a high-schooler, a middle schooler and an infant. Little did I know the plans God had in store:) Exactly 10 months later, Kristin was born and came home to us 48 hours later. So, in the course of less than a year, we went from a family of 2 children to 4. Leni and Kristin are only 17 months apart...so needless to say...uh...out with the sleep....in with the fun! THEN...to top it all off...we had always felt God calling us to international adoption. Enter Miss Katie Mei born in June 2005, adopted from Jiangxi, China in May 2006. She was adopted exactly one month after our grandson Cade William was born...and they are 10 months apart to the exact day. Pretty awesome eh?! But, realistically there are not enough hours in the day to do everything...and do it well. Somethings have had to go by the wayside....and for me that would be scrapbooking. So this blog is my 'virtual scrapbook'. I've tried as best as I could to give each of these seven 'pictures' (literally and figuratively)a look at life at each and every stage since this blog's conception. I found this idea from other adoption sites..and as a giant HINT HINT HINT for my family...here's what I would like for Christmas. **HINT AGAIN** I had been saving our blog on CD's but you can actually have your blog made into a hardbound book here. I'm sure there are other sites like this one, but I know this one has been used by many in the adoption community with great success and satisfaction. It's not cheap...but a timeless keepsake for those in my position...lots of memories, laughs, pictures and no time to scrapbook. I feel so blessed to have the gift of family ...and even more so for the gift each is individually to this home. These are who this blog is written mostly about and for...to chronicle the busy days so they can look back with fond memories and see the grace God has given each of them in their lives. That's why I take the time to blog. I'm amazed anyone else chooses to read about us...but I'm so very glad you do! Thank you for your interest in our humble little lives! We mean that! Here's to more new adventures and memories made for God's Glory!!

*Disclaimer*- I also am VERY, VERY careful what goes on and into this "public' site. You will notice an attempt to keep it light, fun and simple. This is purposeful in that there are efforts to protect the girls privacy and intimate details of their lives,(and not embarrass the older ones...but hey, that can be fun:)) The 'deep calls to deep' moments are in journals and other methods of communication kept privately for them...this has been the Lord's leading for me/us. You will not find me too philosophical or wordy ...or spending much time on 'intricate' issues whatever they may be (spiritual or otherwise). That's for another time and place. What you will find here is our lives being played out for God's glory...watching him mold and prepare all of us for use in his kingdom here and for all eternity. We're not perfect...don't even pretend to be...we're simply trying to be faithful and honor God's leading for our family and home. :) We love having you be a part and hope you continue to journey with us!

A Cute Moment Captured!

Thank goodness for cell phone cameras! Because of recent storms....Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike (just to name a few) our lake is overflowing! Not all of these storms hit us directly...but rainfall amounts have been extraordinary lately. Needless to say, waters have risen...more boaters are out, and tons of trash has been floating to our beach area. Leni decided yesterday she had had enough! She declared 'trash clean-up' time...got a trash bag and proceeded to clean our beach. This was done completely on her own.:)(Of course she fell in:)) Gotta love this girl! She's so sweet and concerned for others, in addition to animals and her environment. She is definitely our 'mercy' girl! Right after this as dusk was falling she and the other girls were 'flashlight' dancing in the yard. Leni treed 2 big ol' fat racoons! Hysterical laughter for quite a while from this group as 2 confused racoons met 3 LOUD little girls! Lots of animal life around the lake lately... including 2 snakes we've seen the last couple of days!SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

See Anyone That Belongs To Us?

Strange! Some of these mannequins look vaguely familiar! How could this be?

There is never, ever any privacy in this house (or out of it!!) as this pic shows! I don't think you're supposed to take dressing room pics...but again..I'm the mommy and I so very can!!:) Katie Mei and Eloise are giving Julie their ever so humble (HA!) fashion advice.:) LOUDLY at that!


The P.C. went on adventures to visit Julie at her part-time job today. Any guesses where she works??

More from Mother Earth:)

Aren't these little girls so gosh darn cute?? Any guesses what we're growing? (other than girls:))

And...We're Going Mother Earth!

Yes! The P.C. has entered into uncharted waters for them ...the land of gardening! We were looking for a project that would involve the whole family and not segregate us into 'this child does this class, the other child does another class'...you know..the mom taxi service. Well in my efforts to avoid that until they are a little older:) this is what we came up with that would serve as 'school' (Science!!), exercise, family togetherness...and products to boot! We cleared land (a 20ft. by 15 ft. plot) ...killed nematodes (bugs found in Florida)... tilled soil (Dad's job...amazingly done by someone hit by a car only 4 months ago!!) ...fertilized 'just right' ...and planted. What are we growing? ***HINT*** It's ALL edible. Or supposed to be anyway:) You'll find out in the days to come! AND it's growing magnificently and just as planned. I grew up in Georgia and Mississippi...where everyone has a garden. I remember my grandma bent over picking fresh produce daily from her GIANT garden and the memories of shucking peas and snapping beans on the back porch are forever imbedded in my memory. Our little ladies have been very busy the last 6 weeks planting, pulling weeds, watering and patiently waiting for their plants to produce something. (When Mama, when?) See that tree behind Scott in the last pic? Leni fell from it yesterday and sprained her ankle. We're limping along...no bones broken...so gardening has it's pitfalls too! We're having a great time and learning lots! Krisitn likes to be in the center barking orders at everyone.No great suprise here! Blondie is a born leader...or likes to think she is anyway. Katie runs around SCREAMING everytime she sees a bug...and our precious Leni loves 'wallerin' in the dirt and climbing trees. The mommy loves the outdoors and would be there all the time if that was possible. Julie...well....not so outdoorsy:). The daddy is our construction worker and our 'large machine operator' when we can't do it ourselves. This is meant to be a school project so the girls are taking full responsibility!! Our little horticulturalists will be back soon with an update!

Happy Birthday Leni!!!

We had quite the celebration for our Leni this year. We can't believe that 7 years have gone by so quickly. We began with a family party on Saturday, Nim's Island theme, complete with lizards and frogs and a big girl sleepover. Daddy created some fun games for the kids and Mommy made her famous caramel cake. Best buddy Alexis came over for the fun too! On Tuesday, her actual birthday, Mom Jo took us to lunch at Leni's favorite place, Cracker Barrell, where she enjoyed fried shrimp and chocolate cobbler! The waitresses sang a special song to her. After lunch, Leni, Kristin, and Julie went to see Space Chimps, a movie that both girls had been begging to see. It was perfect for our little monkeys. Grandpa and Grandma brought dinner and dessert over that night to celebrate with Leni. Texas Chocolate Cake is also a favorite among the VanLue's. Leni had the best time celebrating being 7!

We are extremely blessed to have Leni in our family. As our first adopted child, Leni came to us at 7 months old and already had experienced hardships that most of us will never have to endure. We have watched her grow and change from a shy little baby who wouldn't even smile into a energetic, compassionate 7 year old who LOVES animals and her family. All of us were brought to tears watching her open gifts and be surrounded by family, knowing that without God's sovereign power to rescue her, she would have never had a family, much less birthday parties. Leni, we adore you. You are a great source of laughter in our house, and you have such a compassionate and caring heart. We can't wait to see what God will do in your life in the years to come. Thank you Lord for this precious little girl and for the gift that she is to us. Thank you for guarding her life and protecting her heart. Leni your forever family loves you so much!!!! Happy Birthday!!!

A Freaky Thing Happened Yesterday....

The 3 little girls stayed at Mom Jo's house till well after dark yesterday....She just lives down the road from us and the P.C. walk there almost daily. After we left last night, Mom Jo was just relaxing in her lazy boy by her fireplace when the 5X4 ft. mirror that was glued to the wall over her fireplace came off the wall...bringing everything with it and shattered EVERYWHERE. Glass flew in places we didn't know glass could go (even in Mom Jo's hair!) Apparently there is a leak in the flashing of her fireplace which dripped behind the mirror, causing it to break away from the wall. Thank you Tropical Storm Fay. The mirror weighed at least 60-70 lbs...and was a good 1/3 " thick. No small mirror...and it's been there for years. The house was built in the 60's and the mirror has been there since they bought the house in the early 80's. So we are very grateful to the Almighty that no little girl or grandma was in the path of falling mirror. Tonight was the clean up. Mom Jo took all little princesses to Mickey D's while the mommy and daddy turned into glass cleaning machines and got all the glass up and outta there! All is well (except moldy wall and ceiling)....God has protected us yet again. The sad part is the picture Julie gave M.J. for Christmas last Christmas was damaged....and the antique secretary desk had shards of glass literally imbedded in it's side. Hopefully the next few days will be calmer...but I doubt it:)More birthday pics coming soon:)

Meet Nim! (Happy 7th Birthday to Leni!)

Meet Nim a.k.a Leni! We've been Nim for a few weeks now.:)Leni is celebrating big time this weekend, with family for dinner and now having her first big girl sleepover to celebrate her 7th birthday! We'll let you know how it turns out! Nim's Island is a current fav movie..and the theme of this party.... It's all about a 10 year old girl whose Dad gets lost at sea and she's alone on their island waiting his return. If you're an animal lover like Leni, you'll love this movie! We're so proud of this girl! She's had alot to overcome in her short life and she's doing so well....and has the sweetest, most loving heart! Happy Birthday to our Girl!
(more pics of the fun and games to follow:))

Bunny Relays and a Little Stuffed Sausage...(post at the bottom)

The now famous bunny!

Leni, Lily, Kristin, Katie, Alexis, Mitchell and Will....preping for the relay

Go! These girls can run!!

For some unknown reason...Katie wanted the helmet. I think it slowed her down!

Every morning before we start school is exercise time for the girls. I find doing this makes them much better students and gets their brain in 'thinkin' mode. So...to get their heart racing and add in a little fun, we invented the now famous 'bunny relay'. Simple game really....you take pinkish-purplely bunny and run around the cul-de-sac as fast as possible while others cheer madly...and return passing bunny to next speed racer. Each entry makes two laps. Hearts beat wildly, blood is pumping and afterwards, girls are ready to do math. Well...it's been such a hit, that I now have neighbor kids knocking on my door asking if it's time for the 'bunny relay' yet. We've been doing extra laps just for them! Who knew??
And...Katie has been a little under the weather this week. Allergies maybe, we don't know. What we do know, is that she's fine during the day...but can't breathe at night. So we were up 3 nights in a row. This mommy actually made a bed on the floor by her bed to try and get some sleep before 5 am...which is when Scott gets up and about when I was going to bed KNOWING I had to be up in a couple of hours because the next day would begin. I spent hours with her wrapped "like a little stuffed sausage' in a blanket...propped upright so she could breathe. If you lay her down...she would wake up...cry and make her nose worse. By the 3rd night, I was feeling a little sorry for myself (around 3am) and as held my little sausage, the Lord prompted me. This little girl could still be languishing in an orphanage with no one to hold her, no one to wrap her, and no one to offer comfort. God has given her a family, medicine and lots of fluffy blankets:) Who am I to complain to the God of the Universe about missing sleep when millions go without food, shelter, warmth, and even parents daily, and maybe their entire lifetime? This little one has been spared a harsh existence. I was quickly brought back to my senses....and low and behold..the next night...she slept. The house is returning to normal. (whatever that is..but I'm no longer lagging, dragging and sagging:))! Stay tuned!