The future looks bright!

In July Dakota embarked on a week of Chef's camp at the "Young Chef's Academy".  This was Dakota's long awaited camp that was given to her by her Granny and PiPa for her birthday.  I have a girl who LOVES to cook and bake ... and LOVES "The Cake Boss".  She has aspirations of going to Culinary school and she and her Daddy have big plans of opening their own business ... Daddy = business development, Dakota = Head Chef, Mommy = taster and head janitorial (ha), Canyon = funding the entire business while he plays MLB, Maliah = taking the products and marketing them (you know she LOVES to talk to anyone!).  Yep, another family business in the works.  Stay tuned, Dakota has plans on putting together her own bake sale to help raise funds to bring Levi home.  How sweet it is!
So, check out our girl and one day, you'll say, I remember her when ...

All ready for her special week!

The them for the week was "Secret Recipes".  Want your favorite restaurant meal ... ask Dakota ... she knows the secret to many of the most awesome recipes.  

Chatting it up with one of her favorite teachers.  

Don't waste fun!

Earlier in my posts, I put the pictures of my kids being dropped at TbarM. Did you wonder if they got picked up? Indeed, the following Saturday, we met up with two VERY excited kiddos who couldn't wait to tell us about all they did in their week away from home.
I cannot speak enough about TbarM camp. The coaches and staff are incredible. The camp is completely centered on Christ, full of adventures and of course, they waste no fun!

Each day the kids go to "Batters box" where they are broken into small groups of 3-4 campers to one coach. In this time, they spend really getting into God's word. Those same teachings are then reinforced during their worship and in activities throughout the week.
This years theme was "UN1TAS" and the memory verse was Ephesians 4:4-6 "There is ONE body and ONE Spirit - just as you were called to ONE hope when you were called - ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism; ONE God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all".

When we picked up the kids, we got to hear from each of their "Batters Box" coaches about the qualities they saw in our children. Dakota was given "Adaptable - with Phillipians 4:6 and "Good-Natured" - Luke 8:15. Canyon was given "Initiative - Exodus 18:21 and "Humility" - Proverbs 22:4. As they speak into the kids, they point out the characteristics and strengths they saw in them throughout the week - and scriptures that they felt they exemplified in those. THEN ... throughout the year, those same coaches follow up with the kids by sending them post cards, dropping them e-mails and notes that encourage them in their walk with the Lord.

I cannot tell you how valuable it is in the life of a young child to have a role model other than their parents to look to. We know our kids are going to look up to someone, who could be better than a group of Jesus Loving, passionate college kids that your kids have come to love. Each year we have been, the Lord has blessed my kids with coaches who have encouraged and inspired them to be set apart in this world. The coaches are college kids so you can imagine that these younger kids really look up to them. To see examples of what living out Christ in this life as a young adult is priceless to them!

Canyon's coach this year definitely left a mark on his heart. Even weeks and months later, he speaks of "Hodge" daily! He gave Canyon his contact information and asked that he would follow up throughout the year. His coaches from last year STILL send him cards and e-mails asking him if he's reading the word, growing in Christ, being a leader, living out his faith and loving his sports. Even more fun, when Canyon returned to camp this year, many of those coaches were there. You should have seen the bear hugs that transpired!

This was Dakota's first year of overnight. I worried all week about her ... for NOTHING!
She was all smiles and full of stories when we picked her up. She LOVED her coaches, made new and great friends and well, is already signed up for next year!

TbarM Camp - one week overnight - $850 per child

The impact on my child's lives - PRICELESS!

Dakota and "Gary"

Waiting to Charge the Field to meet us parents ... Canyon's in the camo shorts

Maliah was SOOO excited to see her "Best Sister"

Oh Mommy missed this girl!

Canyon with two of his coaches

Dakota and her sweet coach, Abby

Canyon and Hodge ... his awesome coach!

So glad to be back together!  Nice grin, Maliah!

O.K. not much better of a picture.  Oh well!

Great friends!

Great Friends!  

Hedge Clean up

I once again apologize for being SOOOO far behind on my family blog. I'm going to make my best effort in the coming weeks to play a little catch up. I don't want to miss out on documenting some really cute and fun summer moments, but I am FAAAR behind.
Paper chase for Levi, the end of summer and back to school has left me with little time to blog. My apologies.
I thought I'd start today with a picture of my helpers:

One day this summer I was trimming the hedges. I asked my beautiful girls to help out in cleaning up my trimmings. They busily got to work. I went inside for a short bit to get the dinner going. All the while I could see them out my dining room windows ... there heads going back and forth as they "Cleaned up". I could also hear giggling. I should have known then that "project clean up" became "project play".

FOLLOW US!

It seems these days, an adoption isn't complete without a blog to keep family and friends informed on the process. I loved keeping Maliah's journey and it is has been a priceless treasure to be able to go back and re-read what the Lord was doing in our hearts during the 23 months it took to bring to her home as well as those initial days and months learning all about each other. Maliah loves to hear her story and I think there will be no greater gift than to one day be able to give her a window into her journey by reading it as though she had been watching through a window. In reality, that's just what these blogs are; a window into our lives and into the adventures that the Lord leads each family on when he says "GO".
So, in true adoption fashion, we have created a blog for our next adoption ... to our son, LEVI! This will be HIS story, the one the Lord is already writing in his life! I hope you will pray us to Ethiopia so we can find him and bring him HOME!