Friday, December 30, 2011

We had a wedding today :)

 " Michael"- Isaiah got married to "Rose"- Selah this afternoon. Mya officiated and Ava " Clare" was the mom of the bride  :)



 These were some of the decorations....

 This was their fort ...because you know you need a fort at every wedding....


 And a tea party....

 This was Gracie's part to wear this head piece and smile .

I just love the imaginations of kids. They played all afternoon like this.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

I just love this guy...




Keith
 He is such a great daddy, and husband and son. He was holding Kloe and then gets goofy on us...Actually that is alot of his personality- teasing and fooling around. You can just see it in the second picture and the last one...A very unassuming and passive humor that you are never sure about...yep that is him. He sure loves his girls :)

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Andrew and Gracie just make me smile sometimes...

 Do you see how thick and chunky his food is? When we brought him home he was on a bottle of thin like milk with little food added in. We gradually added a healthy diet and calories and he is healthy now . He gave up the bottle in Oct. 2010- home 10 months. He was spoon fed until recently and now is beginning to eat more solid food and to feed himself...

 Gracie got her Winnie the Pooh and she saw her sisters from Ghana carrying their babies this way....



These last 2 pics are so significant for Andrew. This is where he usually eats ...around 5 pm he will walk to this table and sit down and he makes noises to let us know he is there...He is telling us," I am hungry and want to eat now." I love it :)

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Day after Christmas we had company....

 My brother, Johnny and his son, John came up for the afternoon. It was very good to spend time with them...The kids all loved it. They live about 2 hrs away so we don't get to see them as much as we would like. When we do we enjoy it. Uncle Johnny got to meet his grand niece, Kloe....



Isaiah has such a pure heart...I watched him give Uncle Johnny many hugs.



Lila, Selah and Ava playing with their new gifts from Uncle Johnny.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas ....smiles, joy, noise, , celebrating together and never ending play...and even a nap

I always take a shot of the kids waiting to come downstairs...waiting- being patient :)

Going thru their stockings- 25 hanging on our fireplace in the dining area.


Before they were unrwrapped....

Ogainized chaos :)

Surprises and figuring out ,"How you work this thing."


Naptime

Andrew loved his trampoline that he can use inside.

This was the nite sky and it was very strange with a covering of clouds and I guess a front coming thru....But a peaceful end to a very busy day of lots of energy.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

We welcomed a child into our family...actually 2 on this exact nite - 2 yrs ago



For some reason our kids remember more the day they come home and enter the US as their "gottcha day". The day they actually met the rest of their huge, mega family :) I remember our Christmas Eve. 2 yrs ago when we flew home and landed in Dulles, Va. at just about this time 10:30 pm.. I was exhausted but so glad to be home with them....

Bringing a child home on Christmas Eve was very special but actually it always is very special....It is like giving birth but almost better. You don't have the physical part of the birth to heal from but sometimes you have the emotional transitional time that you go thru....However it is an experience that brings me great joy.

Tonite as I remember where these 2 precious children ( Andrew and Gracie) have come from to what they are it is a journey we are still on but it is amazing to have seen them change....Actually to see a new life in them emerge from ashes of neglect and lack of love. I feel so blessed tonite as I reflect on all of my children.

In my thoughts though I know that if I had not given my life to a child that was born on this nite over 2,000 yrs ago ( Jesus) none of these children would be here tonite. I welcomed Him into my heart when I was 12 and I have never looked back ....I have been on a journey with my Lord and Savior and I could share many things but the one I am most grateful for tonite is the love He gave me by forgiving me and placing His love for orphans and children in my heart . I hope you know my savior personally. It has been an amazing journey and one that continues...I am busting to share some news soon :)

Merry Christmas from the Briggs family.......

Friday, December 23, 2011

Baby Kloe is a hit and a keeper around here :)

 Here she is almost 2 weeks old .



 Out like a light...eats, sleeps and excretes mostly :)




Everyone here is enamored with this little one. Gracie was always rubbing MK's belly when she was pregnant and she loves the new baby as you can see. It is pure delight to have a baby around again...even Mady has been great. Although what you do to Kloe usually gets asked by Mady...even checking and changing her diaper- silly girl.

Thursday, December 22, 2011


Just some Bible quotes from my devotional that I wanted to share. This was the evening sky tonite and I think it fit with these verses.

Seek the Lord and his strength ; seek his presence continually. Psalm 105: 4

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes . He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

There is not a shy one in the bunch...and I am so proud of them



Lila loves music and she loves to perform...so perfect thing for her to do - A Christmas Program :)


Ava and Isaiah were great....


Luke , Selah, Mya and even Gracie were in it.





Can you tell how proud I am of my little ones....they did so well on Sunday- Beautiful spirits singing about their Jesus !