January2009

Well, we started out the year with
some more Taekwondo lessons for
Maggie from Hannah. I think the
photo above is just so cute. Maggie
looks so tiny doing her forms.

Maggie got some play make up for
Christmas, and she and Eden put on
make up, did their nails, did their hair,
and put on dress up clothes. Then I
did a photo shoot of my lovely ladies.

Oh my. My
beautiful little
princess.

01-08-09 Update:

The Christmas decorations are all put away for another year, and life is getting back to "normal" again (whatever that might be), We
started the new year out by everyone being sick. Canaan had bronchitis and the rest of us -- except for Jordan -- have all had bad
colds. We have speculated many reasons why Jordan is the only one who hasn't caught this yet, but nothing we can prove yet.

The big kids are all registered for their spring semester classes, and everyone seems to be enthusiastic to some degree. Jordan
will be starting at UNCG in the Special Education program as a junior. She is also pursuing some other exciting opportunities,
which I will explain more about as her plans become more firm.

Art's work situation continues to be a concern. I was saying today how his work prospects are like the weather reports here for
snow. Whenever we check the weather online, it says that we will be having snow in the next week to ten days, but as the time
draws nearer, the forecast changes to rain or milder temperatures, and you look ahead and see that snow is predicted for a week or
ten days beyond that. It's always promised, and always just out of reach. The work opportunities that looked so encouraging and
certain in November, disappeared in December, and the possibilities that took their place in December, slowly melted away in
January. Right now, there is still no work for certain at all, at least in January. There was none in December either. I hesitate to talk
about it because I think people are probably getting pretty tired of hearing about it, but let me tell you, you're no more tired of hearing
about it than I am of living it. However, we continue to trust God to provide our needs, and that He somehow has a plan in all of this.
Thank you for your prayers.

This week I read an interesting article about the laws in different countries of the world for naming your child. Yes, naming your
child. I found it fascinating that many countries in the world actually have laws about what you can name your offspring! In some
countries, you have to choose your name from an official list, in one country the law stated that baby names must be gender
specific, and in many countries there are strict laws about what a name cannot be. Some go so far as to say that the names cannot
even be spelled in alternate ways, such as an "S" instead of a "Z" in Elisabeth. Oh my! But this got me to thinking about the
freedoms we have here in America. It had never even occurred to me that my choice of names for my children was a freedom. I
would not have believed that there are countries in the world where people are not free to name their child as they please. And then
I began to think about the many other freedoms we have, and may take for granted because we do not even realize that they are
freedoms at all. How we spend our time, how easily we travel from state to state, what we are permitted to read, how we dress... In
America, we often hold our freedoms so loosely and confidently, that we are willing to casually negotiate and barter them, thinking
that if things do not turn out how we like, we can merely rescind our offer later. But later may be too late. This new year, let us deeply
appreciate the freedoms we enjoy, and pray for those around the world who do not share them. Let us acknowledge these liberties,
protect them, and be very careful how easily we trade them away. We are very blessed indeed.

Snowboarders....

Playing outside on a beautiful day....

Hannah in a typical
groove, painting with
Jordan's cat on her lap.

The Nature Walk

1-19-09 UPDATE

I do not want to get too political, but when a friend posted the above banner (thank you President Bush banner), I just had to add it
for today. Despite all the very strong opinions out there, I simply do not believe that President Bush deserved to be villainized as he
has been. But in hard times, people search for someone or something to blame. I know I am in the minority, but I want to say thank
you anyway. God bless you and help us in the days to come. And that's all I have to say about that.

As I write, it is snowing outside, and we are very excited about this. It is supposed to snow all night and into tomorrow. We are so
hoping that it does, and that the kids can play in the snow tomorrow. It would sure bring some joy around here. Today, however, the
kids went for a nature walk in our woods. They had a great time. It was cold, and the creek was frozen over lightly. The dogs
crashed through the ice with surprise, and Maggie picked up a big sheet of it. They all came into the house breathless and rosy
cheeked and I just love it.

The big kids got the opportunity to snowboard again last week and did some jumps. The last time Canaan did some jumps was
last February when he broke his shoulder, so I was a bit nervous, but I knew it was inevitable that he would try it again. Art has not
been snowboarding yet this season, and says that he won't go until we get some work. I so hope that is soon.

This past week was a bit rough as several of us are still battling colds. Then on Wednesday Art received word that his mother was
in the hospital and he drove down to help out. Thankfully, she was out again in a couple days and is doing much better.

We are so enjoying our new church, and are thankful for it. The little ones have begun going to children's choir on Sunday nights,
and are enjoying that. We are hoping to be able to get more involved soon, but are not sure exactly what God wants us to do. There
are many things we have done in the past, and it is hard to know just where we could best help out. Meanwhile, the services have
really been so encouraging to me.

It continues to be a very difficult time, as we continue to pray and look for work, and wait for people to decide whether they need Art at
a time when everyone is downsizing and laying off. At times I am so afraid, and think it will take a miracle... so it is a good thing we
serve a God of miracles. I was encouraged and challenged this week by a blog I came across of another family who has adopted
several children. They brought home two new babies from Uganda in December, and have a little girl waiting for them in China. In
the midst of all this, last week their house burnt down. Yet this woman continues to stand strong, praising God, and I find it very
convicting as I struggle so much with our family's own circumstances which are certainly not nearly as tragic. I have a lot to think
about. Her blog brought me to tears. If you would like to read it, click here.