Pool...Burr!

Kids were begging for us to set up our pool! So, after some coaxing from a friend "Come on Carrie, it will be FUN...do not think of the work, the up-keep, JUST DO IT" we began to set it up!
Here is the pool all ready to go...one thing missing WATER!

When you live in the country and you have a well....it is not easy to fill a 6,000 gallon pool. So you have to call in the WONDERFUL farmer/friend next door to get him to run a connection from the HUGE pipes and hose that he uses to water the corn behind our house towards our pool to fill it up.
Believe me I speak from experience....a few years ago...we started to fill our pool and realized that after 5 hours we only had knee deep water and our PUMP was running and running...that we needed a new plan. Ron "Farmer/Friend/Neighbor" saved the day.
Any guesses on how long it took to fill our pool the "country way"
20 minutes! Not even kidding!

A BIG thank you to you RON! The kids are now swimming everyday...65 degrees outside or hotter, thanks to your generous help! I can say that Victoria came out side after a rest to see the empty pool laying on the ground and gave us a good 10 mins of jumping, hopping, dancing, running excitement as she joyfully expressed her delight in the fact that the pool was there! I LOVE HER LOVE FOR LIFE and her THANKFUL heart!
She swims until she is shaking from the COLD....but she swims everyday!

Alice in Wonderland

Guess what....a little bit of "theater" was introduced to John and Victoria as they excitedly got to watch their brother Tanner play the "Mad Hatter" in a summer theater of Alice in Wonderland! Tanner BLEW our socks off...he can sing and act....guess we have theater in our lives for awhile longer! We miss seeing Ash on the stage but after we heard Victoria singing along through the whole play....I am sure she will follow her sister and brother and give us even longer to enjoy theater.

WAY TO GO TAN MAN!!!

We LOVE seeing you use your gifts and talents the Lord gave you!

Gift

A picture speaks 1,000 words...we have all heard that before. But really, if you put words behind what this picture represents to our kids and to us....it would FILL a book. A book of history....which was and is "His" story.
To think that God knew before we were even born that we would all be connected and family is truly amazing to me finite mind!
Today Romana arrives back in Ghana, after some time here in the States. The Gift we received was better than anything that could be wrapped up in wrapping.

As parents we got to see the "loop" be closed in the hearts of our children. For the kids to be able to hug the one who saved them, to eat with her, to show her their rooms, toys, clothes, and all their siblings was like watching torn fabric be sewn back together.

Although it was easier with Victoria to see how wonderful this was...John had a few questions "Am I going back to Beacon House?" "Where is Moses?" (the first thing he said to Romana when he saw her :O) *Moses is his friend at Bh who he prays for everyday. and "is this America?" It has taken a few weeks of communication.....but he is more solid than he was and is starting to build in some good attachment.
He got to love on Romana, then he got to wave good-bye to her. Gift!
Do people walk on water? No
Do we give Romana GLORY....no...but we are sooooo thankful for Jesus in her.
Do we stand AMAZED at how God calls people to an eternal purpose, how people respond in obedience and "HIS"-story is MADE! (thanks Romana for your obedience)
We are Blessed to be a part of "His" -story!