I will leave this site online so that people can find the content but all our new family news will be posted on www.fourplusmore.com

If you are linked to this blog on your blog, please change the link to www.fourplusmore.com

Thanks so much!

We had a good first day as a family of six, despite the sad news this morning that Mark’s Grandfather – Wilford Gumm – passed away in Arkansas. He was a beloved man and truly one of God’s great warriors. He has been an incredible Godly influence in the life of my husband and for that I will be eternally grateful. We would covet your prayers for Grandma and for the rest of the family.

We hope to post updates on our adoption blog during the next two weeks, so check there – www.fourplusmore.com

We tried again with soccer at age 5 – again with friends from church. He wasn’t that great at listening to the coaches and half the time didn’t want to play during the games. He also tended to get pretty upset when the other team scored.

So we called a timeout on extra curricular sports for a time.

As Natalie came along she really didn’t ask as much. I did enroll her in a gymnastics class at the gym and she is now doing ballet in an after school program (taught by one of the moms). She’s more of a flitter though. Six weeks of gymnastics was enough. She’s been in ballet for about 9 weeks and she claims she’s done. (Two practices and a performance to go.)

Just in the last year Noah has been asking about sports again and we decided to give it a try. His attention span is much better and after attending several Diamondback games this last year he’s taken an interest in baseball.

One of our friends is the coach and Mark and another guy from church are helping. There are 4 kids on the team from church so it’s been a fun time. I think we’ve played about 6 games so far and we are 0-5-1.

Every night at bedtime Noah prays, “God, please let us win just one game before the season is over.” I thought for sure we were going to pull a win out of the hat last week but it ended up a tie.

It’s pretty comical to watch the kids. They have yet to get a lot of the basics down. Noah was on third today when Dylan hit a pop. He ran home as fast as he could but when the infielder caught it he had to run back to 3rd. Luckily they were just as confused so he made it back to 3rd and evenutally back to home again. Whew!

I have to say I’m really proud of the sportsmanship that all the boys are displaying. They cheer each other on and don’t seem to get dismayed when the other team is scoring more runs than us.

Rounding home (the second time)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (does it count if you didn’t go all the way to the top?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (does Wii count – probably not)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke -
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (SOON!)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (well, “let go” is more appropriate – “phased out” maybe)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I woke up Monday with what I thought was an upset stomach. When it didn’t go away, and never got worse, I finally realized that it was butterflies.  Like the kind I get before going on a trip, or public speaking (which I love to do). So I guess they are court date butterflies.

Even though I’m tired from too many late nights, I have this amazing energetic bubbly feeling inside. Totally hard to describe.

I wrote more about some of the emotions I’m going through over on the adoption blog. (Speaking of which I’m thinking that I’m going to have to condense these two blogs at some point. I’ll keep you posted though.

I could write something really deep and profound about what I’m feeling, but my husband beat me to it.

So go read his post. I say “ditto” and also leave you with this…

“The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord;
he guides it wherever he pleases.” Proverbs 21:1

She is also very much a nut and makes us laugh so much. I tried to reflect that in the slide show below.

Make a Smilebox slideshow