"Blessed is the man whose quiver is full" Ps. 127
How God Created a Miracle in Our Family...
Most people look at our family and either say "you're crazy" or "what a blessing". It is that statement alone that sets people apart in how they view what happens in life. We were childless for 6 years before God blessed us with our third foster child, Isaiah, whom we adopted. Our tiny, three pound, adorable baby boy quickly became the love of our lives.
8 months after Isaiah was born, my father-in-law gave a woman a ride. That 4 block ride changed our lives forever when she told him she was pregnant and giving up her baby for adoption. Oh yeah...and she was due in 8 days! Well, just 5 days later, we had Makenna Shea!
3 months later, after Dirk and I had just prayed to have another baby when Makenna was about 1, that same birth mother called asking us to take her next baby. Isabella was born 1 week shy of Makenna's first birthday!
The funny part of the story is when we found out that I, the one who could never get pregnant, was pregnant! Ian was born 7 weeks after Isabella! God had given us 4 children all under the age of 1 1/2!!! We were thrilled! Such a work of God's hands it was.
This year we added to our clan when we were surprisingly pregnant again (so much for not being able to get pregnant). We now have 5 under 4! And I now wonder how mom's manage with all those kids so spread apart in age. It may be hard sometimes, but we love our life!
Maple Leaf is a week long festival in my home town that pretty much is a town reunion for anyone who has ever lived in carthage, MO. it is really fun. the culmination is a parade. here are all my kids lined up and ready...love kenna picking her nose. however, it is the only picture i took. it was great to see them all so excited to see it start. they could not wait for the candy to start raining down on them.
While we were in Mo. my mom stayed with her best friend who lives way out in the woods with lots of land, a creek, and horses! my kids were in heaven! they were so free. Ian was born to be a cowboy and this boy's feet never touched the ground the whole time we were there for 4 days! he ate and breathed those horses. so, we decided to have an impromptu birthday party for him (since it was his birthday). everything he adores was here...so we brought on the bonfire, hot dogs, had a little tractor pull, a few presents and....you have a great birthday party. probably better than anything i could have ever planned at home! he will remember that forever! i love those moments. 
You can just see his contentment and bliss...
born to be on the range!
We met up with my best friend Carmen and her husband Josh in memphis to go to a family life marriage conference! it was really good. i just love it when God gets to clean out stuff in your life you didn't even know needed cleaning out! nothin' like it. also, my hubby really likes the show Man vs. Food so we looked up the best places to go in memphis...we hit em all! they were fabulous! we all ate the most amazing sweet potato pancakes ever! we will be revisiting that place.
Carmen and I on Beale Street...which is so not interesting.
Carmie and Josh
You can just see his contentment and bliss...
Bella
