An apple a day.. more like 2 bushels

There is a farm not to far from us that sells apples. ( Not the same place where we pick strawberries) I was talking with the farmer as we were picking out or apples out of the bins and when I went to pay for our 2 bushels he would not let me.. He just gave them to us . He wanted to contribute to our family in a small way... what a blessing for us. Then Cate and Anna helped me make apple crisp for dessert. I think we will try making some apple butter this year... actually this week since I am leaving for Ghana in a week :)

Everyday Blessings

I have been reading from several daily devotions. I start my day with 2 more "deep" or requiring a bit more of my attention and study devotions. I usually close my day with a devotional that is not too deep or thought provoking as my last thoughts are centered on something that doesn't necessarily challenge me but gives me peace. I have enjoyed a very "simple" one l written by Max Lucado titled Everyday Blessings for this last devotional. I will be sharing from it as I feel led. I read this last nite :

He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. Matt. 10:40

How do you simplify faith?....

Simplify your faith by seeking God for yourself. No confusing ceremonies necessary. No mysterious rituals required. No elaborate channels of command or levels of access.

You have a Bible? You can study .

You have a heart? You can pray.

You have a mind? You can think.

Leaf prints and Ava Art

Leah is teaching the kids art this year as part of her school... She had them go on a walk to collect leaves and then they spatter painted with toothbrushes. Ava loves to draw using my dry erase board. This is one of her first "real" drawings of a person. It happens to be Leah that she drew. Why Leah was stinking out her tongue..and I love the bangs and all the cheeks that Leah has :)

We're Leaving on a Jet Plane

This is our email sharing our airline information...We will be leaving Oct. 16 ( my b-day) for Ghana. I have been waiting for a long time to share this news....We decided to travel making 2 trips for our adoption. We have felt the need to make these 2 trips and the first one is in less than 2 weeks to visit with our girls as well as to take over some much needed supplies for the school that the kids are at. Here is a list of the supplies needed and if anyone wishes to join us in collecting them we would love to bless these children who are in such poverty and need.....

School workbooks_ I have asked Sams Club if they would donate. Shoes, sandals and kids underwear, educational games for kids, treated mosquito nets and mosquito killer spray, kid's medicine, canned fish and can powdered milk are just some of what we are collecting. Also we are collecting money from donors to give to the foundation to help the children. Here is the link to their site and they can also be found on face book. http://www.ujimacare.org/index.html

I will be sharing more later about our trip but right now I have been busy all day gathering and making plans for our travel.

While I was away...daddy did play :)

While I was in NC Paul stayed home...the kids had lots of fun with just daddy. He made a big breakfast and Keith and Mary Kate's family and Paul's parents- Grandma and Grandpa came over to eat with them. Afterwards they went to Devil's Backbone Park. These are some of the pictures they took from Paul's phone. I had to laugh . If you were at the park at the same time they sort of took over the play areas there are so many of them... and this was minus 6 who were in NC.

More clips from our visit to NC

We leave in the am but we have had a great time with our "grand" babies. Time spent watching Ezra opening his b-day gifts, chats with Jenn and Jeremiah,fort building, ice cream eating, reading together at nite, and canoe rides on the pond...even the movie nite and eating cheesecake has been fun....Now back to home and I am hoping to share about our upcoming travel to Ghana soon :)

Guess where Nana is ?

Joseph , Ben, Cate, Lily, Mya and I came down to NC to visit Jenn and her family for the wknd... Today we went to Duke Gardens and it was a gorgeous day to be out...but mostly it was just great hanging with the Hambricks :)