Labor day comes to an end...

It's always amazing to me how quickly days off from work come and go.... The long weekend is over... and we had a nice weekend. We've been blessed by the presence of an amazing little boy (Jacob) for a couple of weeks now... A couple from our church (who have adopted him - their grandson) needed some help and we volunteered... The Grandpa is fighting a TOUGH battle with cancer and has been hospitalized for over a week. Please remember this family in your prayers... This little boy has a very special place in our hearts and we will be sad to see him return home...

It's been so nice having a boy around... Phil and I have both enjoyed it so much... Phil's taken every opportunity imaginable to spend "guy" time with him... and they've had a wonderful time... from fishing, to swimming, to just wrestling.... we love this little guy to death... and are so blessed that his family has shared him with us... The girls both adore him as well... and we've had such a fun few weeks....
I had to include some pictures from our time...
Phil bought the younger kids (Brooklyn and Jacob) fishing poles as a reward for good behavior and making "good choices!" Phil was very happy to get to buy a "boy" pole.. LOL... so, the kids and Phil spent some time fishing... I was laughing as I was adding pictures to the blog that it appears we are a "fishing" family, but quite honestly we are not... the pond is in our back yard... and we do not fish very often... I in fact NEVER fish, but Phil and the girls fish a few times a year... anyway, the last few weeks, they've enjoyed it more... and this weekend the perch were biting.... so, the kids LOVED it.. they each caught fish on their own..... Phil was VERY busy re baiting hooks... while I was busy with the camera.... :-)
Here are some of the highlights...


Brooklyn was mighty proud and the first to catch a fish... she never got out of her chair... Phil and I about died laughing... she was excited, but just stayed sitting down and reeled him in like a pro...
She was also VERY excited to hold him herself for a picture.. and quickly told her Daddy she could hold her own fish... Ha ha...



This is just an adorable pic. I snapped of Brook and Jacob... isn't he a cutie??? He's had such a great time being outside around here....from the pool, to the trampoline, to the puppy, to the swings, to the fort, to the sand box, to the Barbie jeep (:-)), to the pond catching frogs... and then all over again... he's definitely slept good at night!!!




Jacob was so proud of his fish... and was ready to pose for a picture... he insisted he could put it back in the pond himself... and with only a little help from Phil he did just that...
he was ready to fish after catching one...



and then here is Bay... she thinks she's the fishing champion of the world now... (right up there with an Olympic athlete...) she caught 4 fish in a row... just one right after another... she squealed and screamed with every fish... and you'd have thought they weighed 10 pounds.... it was a great time!!



We did get some things done around the house that we've needed to get done for a while... so overall it was a great weekend....
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On the international adoption front we did hear back from our agency... and they were aware of the rumors that have been flying around... and are attempting to confirm those, but have not confirmed any of the rumors as definite yet... so, we are still waiting...

We have been trying to use this time to grow... and seek God for all he is...
The Lord has used various things/situations/instances to encourage us the past few weeks... and we are doing so much better... We can wait forever if that's what God calls us to do... one day we'll know why! or maybe we won't... but, that's what serving God and being obedient is about... Faith... Faith to step out when you are not sure... Faith to just believe God... all is takes is the size of a mustard seed...
We recently heard a sermon and this phrase stuck with me: we should not change our actions, words, or thoughts, when we are in a valley.... for these very things will help us overcome the valley we are in....
Thank you Lord for your little reminders along this journey...

Praying everyone has a blessed September....
Lanetta