We had fun all day celebrating Naty and Rachel's b-day

We celebrated Nataly's and Rachel's 19th b-day today. Actually Monday was Naty's b-day the same day as the twin boys.... but we all decided to let the twins have their first birthday by themselves. So today I took all the girls up to past Cumberland, Md. to go shopping, out to lunch. We got home just at dinner time and then ate the b-day cake they had picked out earlier....It was a fun day and I think we are going to make it an annual event.

The Lord's provision thru our garden

These were the crew that was helping me to make dinner last nite...We dish our food from the island and tonite we ate part of what we grew in our garden....We grilled the squash with onions that were splashed with oil and garlic salt...and yes we are still eating squash :)

We have had a garden every year...Actually I have put in a garden I think almost every year of our 35 plus yrs of marriage . There just is nothing like a fresh tomato and cucumber. Our cukes have almost died but our tomatoes are really coming in now. This is one days worth minus another full bowl of the cherry tomatoes...I just put them in a bowl and let the kids eat them whenever they want. This is so nice to be able to do because since we are such a large family- our food budget is huge and I control the amounts of food eaten. So it is a blessing to have a garden where we have so much food...We are thankful to the Lord for His provision thru our garden.

An afternoon at Devils Backbone Park

We packed a picnic lunch and drove just about 20 minutes to a very pretty park that was not very crowded ( until the 30 of us showed up :)

 Our Ghana 6 were all smiles.

Cate and Gracie

Judah swinging with Caleb

Climbing to the top of the pole is the challenge whenever we are here....

There is also a pretty waterfall to enjoy.

It was a good family day and we came home to a not normal big dinner - Pot Roast. It has gotten to expensive for us to eat this but I found some at Sams and we had a big dinner Sunday evening to end our family day. I loved having a slow and restful Sunday.

It was a happy b-day for Jesse and Judah

Today the twins turned 2 yrs.. This was their first b-day and we had fun celebrating their lives. They enjoyed themselves and I think the cake and ice cream was their favorite part...Happy Birthday Jesse and Judah!

This was off of Pinterest - yummy !

I saw this on pinterest and we made them for dinner last nite. You take the tortillas , spray them with cooking oil and place on a muffin tin that is turned upside down and sprayed as well. Bake on 375/ 10 min.. Take them out an let them cool a bit...then make a salad on top of them. It was a huge hit and one we will make again. Also we have enough of our fresh tomatoes to make our fresh salsa and guacamole. Since the twins don't really like salad I just made them cheese quesadillas and a side of beans which they love....

Who would have thought 20 pennies could be so much fun

They are the "Penny Team USA" and scored big... matter of fact a perfect 10 finding the 20 pennies. We have really enjoyed the pools this summer...this was our new game today :)

Some ramblings from an aching heart.....

Here is Gracie and Andrew in Bulgaria...they suffered so much pain, abuse and neglect the early part of their lives.

Here they are this week with us- healthy and loved and understood.

Some people just don't understand our children ... They say they have no idea how to handle them, or what they can or can not do....They say that they need to be taught what they can or can not do...but what they are really saying to me is, " Can you teach us how to control her" , so that she does not cause a distraction for the kids who really are the discipline problem. I am trying really trying not to be offended , not to over react, not to get so emotional about this but I can't . I am hurt deeply by this and it has been a rough day for me. I know that our family is different. We built our family that way on purpose by following the Lord's will .....We have many children not just these 2 ( Gracie and Andrew) who I am sure make people uncomfortable, and they are not sure how to react to them. I even have a daughter who has never taken the time to get to know her siblings...I suspect much of it is because she and her husband are uncomfortable with the children that are her siblings because of some of their needs.

I am tired of "christians" who speak words but don't walk a pure walk of love. They express many words of love but when it comes time to actually do something and spend time with or take time out of their busy lives to get to know these children it never happens. I know the heart of the Lord for these children whom many would rather not even see because it reminds them of what could happen to them or theirs....

I am also tired of the words of hate that come out of so many people who profess Christ and then can speak filled with so much hatred for a lifestyle they disagree with or a position they feel they need to throw words toward. I am tired of words....If you feel you need to profess your opinion than do it with your walk....Show love don't speak about it...Don't just post about it on fb, Don't just pull the lever when you vote and walk away thinking even that you voted "Prolife"...because in my opinion you are not unless you do something...unless you act ....unless you take time out of your busy lives to get to know my children so that you can better meet their needs in your setting...unless you choose to make an effort to love them and not have mtgs. about the children in your care you really will not get to know them ...but if you did you would be overcome with a huge amount of love, and respect for them for what they have been able to acomplish in their lives inspite of adults who have chosen to see them in a different way.

I have read so much about Chik fil a and all the support they were given for their stand about same sex marriage, I have no problems with this at all . I just wish that more of these "easy supporters" would also get equally involved in the life of an orphan. It is easy to "eat" out in support of your position on this but to me that is just like pulling the choice in the voting booth for the canidate you feel is "prolife" and thinking I have done all I need to do and I am "prolife". Get involved in the life of an orphan, a widow, or a homeless person or a special needs person ( child or adult)...do something that is radical- get out of your comfort level and spend time doing something to encourage and love the people the Lord places in your heart...If you don't have a love for someone other than yourself...than get on your knees .