Our own interpretative dancers!

A special thing happened today

Mom called yesterday. Dad's headstone had been set in place at the cemetery, and she wanted to know if I would go with her sometime soon to see it. We were going to go today to purchase some silk flowers to make an arrangement for it, but instead we remembered that my aunt, who is a florist, had said she would make the arrangement.

So we called off going today to the cemetery, and this morning the boys and I were still in our jammies when Mom called. She wanted to know if someone could watch the "littles" while she and I drove out to the cemetery to take the new flower arrangement that my aunt had just finished. She worried that going to the cemetery would upset Philip who still misses his grandpa so very much (as we all do). She wanted to leave in 15 minutes! (Which was impossible for me to do on such short notice.) I told her I could go in about an hour, but I would need to take my youngest sons with me.

She needn't have worried about Philip being upset by seeing his grandpa's grave! . . .

. . . because going to the cemetery with Philip who always has so many questions about everything was a trip! It helped make the journey less sad when he asked why we were taking flowers to Grandpa, and how would he take them to Heaven? Then when we stepped out of the car, he said in an amazed voice that there sure were a lot of people here who had died!

The little flower arrangement that my aunt had made was so pretty, and the American flag plus the checkered Indy 500 flag looked very festive! Two things out of many that Dad had especially been fond of - his country (he had served as a marine when he was 18 years old) and the race (he had worked for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for many years and had even been at work a few weeks before he became ill last fall).

Standing there next to his grave holding my two precious youngest sons' hands (one who had been named for Dad and the other whom Dad had never met), I suddenly heard a very loud airplane noise. Mom heard it, too. The boys and I looked up just in time to see the military fly over to commemorate Carb day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Imagine that! Two of Dad's favorite things - the military and the race track - right up in the sky on a beautiful afternoon! What are the odds that I would be standing right at his grave when those planes flew by? We weren't even supposed to have been there today!

I have been smiling ever since this afternoon.

Smiling because I just know that was a sign from God today that Dad is ok - actually much more than ok! I feel strongly that it was a sign that he is doing great!

And also, I can't help but think that God might have given Dad a glimpse at that moment of his newest grandson whom he never had a chance here on earth to meet!

Wouldn't that be something?

:)

Just a typical week with our boys

There was a "fashion show" of sorts . . .

Ted and Philip show off their new shoes.
Don't they look GQ in shorts, black socks, and dress shoes?

Then another sporty gent modeled the correct way to wear a
Curious George Hat . . . It will probably become all the rage now!

The "littles" helped make cookies.
They were lots of help!

Of course, there had to be a taste test!

And don't forget some "super hero" action.
They saved the day.
Thank you boys!

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this; to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27

Enjoying a moment with Baba Tim

What a gift from God this weekend we received by spending
time with Baba Tim from Philip's China home!

Introducing Tim to our congregation

Tim telling story after story of God's leading and God's provision -
Amazing stories!
Life-changing stories!

Our children's minister with Tim - this summer
during Vacation Bible School,
the children of our church will be raising funds
to benefit the children at Shepherd's Field.

Tim talking to some of the children about what

Shepherd's Field is like and taking questions about China -
very cute!

Eating at the Mayberry Cafe (showing Tim some down home cookin!)
with our good friends Tim and Anna and their family
who, by the way,
are in the processing of adopting their little son Aaron
from China!

Victory in Jesus - buddies forever

This weekend -

Hearts were stirred.

Hearts were opened.

Keep praying prayer warriors!

Special guest this weekend

The pretty grounds and buildings at Shepherd's Field

We are so stinkin excited about our special guest this weekend!


Many years ago, with God's leading and His provision, this man and his wife established the Philip Hayden Foundation which eventually built Shepherd's Field Children's Village! God is still very much at work there to this day.



That beautiful village is where our Philip lived for most of his life in China until we could come and bring him home.

Philip practicing his counting at Shepherd's Field

The staff at that beautiful village showered our Philip with so much love, nurturing, and care for those three years. They also provided him with his first two surgeries on his palate and lip.



Tim Baker is coming as our special guest to speak at our church this coming Sunday about The Philip Hayden Foundation's amazing God story and share about the children's village.



As you might remember, many people gave us donations to buy much needed supplies to take over to the children's village when we traveled in January to bring home Eli.



And many sweet children from our church will be raising funds for the children's village this summer during our Vacation Bible School!



Oh happy day that we get to visit with a man who followed God's leading to give our Philip such a wonderful beginning and continues to help many other children.



Oh happy day that we get to share Tim with our church so that others, too, can hear his amazing story.

Tim, his wife Pam, and their daughter at the PHF Reunion last summer

Please pray for hearts to be opened this Sunday to the precious children at Shepherd's Field Children's Village.

Sweet weekend

Yesterday Ted graduated from Ball State University.
You may notice that our littlest member did not
attend! His behavior couldn't be counted on!!
LOL!

At one point in the ceremony when
Philip saw Ted march in, he said,
"That's my brother!"

Yep . . . that's your brother.
Forever.

We are so proud of Ted . . .
Proud of how hard he worked in college . . .
Proud of the choices he made along the way . . .
Proud of how he loves his family and friends . . .
But most of all, we are proud of how
he lives his life for Christ.

God has blessed him with faculty
who supported and guided him.

Friends to brighten his days.

Brothers (you can just barely see their heads)
to love and cherish

And family who cheer him on.


We love you Ted!


Oh how I had the happiest of Mother's Days
with my three treasures!


A son home now from college and ready to begin his adult life and two little ones just beginning their journey.

Plus their wonderful Papa - my sweet husband!

Ted stopped on his way home from BSU this morning to bring me a Starbucks hot chocolate, Philip presented his handprint in plaster to me, and Eli, well, he was Eli! Also, Kevin gave me goodies from Bath and Body Works - Heavenly!

Then we celebrated Ted's graduation and Mother's Day today with our dear mothers, brothers, sisters, a niece, and our nephews. We missed our Susie and Dan and their children who could not be here and hope Susie is better soon! As always and will ever be, we missed our sweet papas and remember them with love. They would have treasured being part of this beautiful weekend.

A rainy day

What do you do on a rainy day?

You ride through puddles . . .

Of course!

Or you just stand around looking cute!