7.17.2008

People Magazine Photo Shoot


This week SCC & his boys rolled back into town after 3 days of concerts.

On the day that the family celebrates Maria's Gotcha Day, they had a photo shoot.


People Magazine is doing a story on the Chapman's.
These were taken at the family's home, in Franklin.

I cannot imagine how hard this must have been for them.


Please remember to pray for them.

I stand in awe of their faithfulness to live out God's plan for
their lives.

Peace.

7.16.2008

Funny of the Day!





Daddy is on vacation this week, so we decided that it would be a good time to teach the kids some "Life Skills".

Caleb is getting some driving lessons....from his DAD!

Hannah is learning to write letters and thank-you notes. She is also doing some cooking(she doesn't know that ,yet.)

Ben is going to learn to unload the dishwasher and do laundry.

Rachel and Mary are learning to sort laundry, load the washer and dryers, and turn them on.

Rachel and Mary are very competitive and will not be outdone by the other.

They both love to be the one to sit on the washer / dryer and push the buttons for the settings.

There have been several arguments over whose"TURN" it is, and if they even see me walking toward the laundry room-they follow right behind me.

After lunch, I had managed to sneak into the laundry room to sort a few loads and I hear Mary running into the kitchen.

She turns the corner into the laundry room , and as soon as she sees me she starts squealing," I want to PUSH PLAY! I want to PUSH PLAY!"

O.K......Guess who spends a little too much time in front of the DVD player?

Peace.

7.15.2008

Remember Little FEN?


Looking For a Family To Call Her Own...........


WELL GUESS WHAT>>>>>>>>>>>

Friday, July 11, 2008

A Dream Come True
We want to thank EVERYONE who advocated for sweet Fen to find a forever family.
Thanks to everyone's efforts, we are so happy to be able to report that a family has chosen her to be their newest daughter.
What a dream come true for this very special little girl who has been waiting so long to be adopted.
There were actually two girls from this orphanage who came out on the shared agency list at the same time.
We were so grateful for the outpouring of support for Fen that we hope the same blessing can be given to her friend Meigan.
Here is a photo of them together from Children's Day.
Fen is on the left in white and Meigan is in red.
Some of you might remember my post from many years ago that talked about us sending a beautiful scrapbook back to one orphanage, with photos of all of the children who had been adopted.
We had worked so hard on the book, and we thought that the aunties would love to see each child, now home in a loving family.
I was making a visit to this orphanage at one point, and the staff finally shared with me that they were concerned about me coming because of this book.
You see, they had put the book away and hidden it from sight because of the deep pain that it caused to all of the older children in the orphanage who had NEVER BEEN CHOSEN.
They knew we had worked so hard on it, but they just didn't want to cause any more pain to the older children who had opened the book and saw the friends they once knew in the orphanage now riding on merry-go-rounds, being hugged by their new siblings, and being dressed in princess gowns with bows and barrettes in their hair.
Oh my heart. I couldn't believe that I had not thought of that, and I was so sad to know that I had caused any of them pain.
Lesson learned in a very hard way.
I just learned something else that has made my heart sad, and it involves Meigan.
I made the mistake of asking if she really wanted to be adopted, since she is now 10.
And I was told that she wants it more than anything.
In fact, since this orphanage now has done adoptions for many years, several families have returned on homeland tours with their older daughters.
Meigan's eyes have followed them the whole time, with a longing that the whole staff could see that she wished SHE could be the one holding onto a mama's hand, and that she could be the one who someone had chosen as their own.
Each time an adoptive family has returned, there is a deep sadness in Meigan's eyes and a feeling that she just isn't good enough to be chosen.
During normal days, she is a happy girl with a smile to melt any heart, but close to the surface is a feeling of, "Why did no one want ME?"
Meigan is ten years old and has the sweetest personality.
She is a loving and gentle little girl, who loves her baby doll and who has the voice of an angel when she sings.
She loves music and playing with her friends.
Meigan was born with a spinal tumor, which was repaired as a baby. She has full range of motion with her legs and is a beautiful dancer.
However, due to a complication with the surgery, she has one health issue that might make her adoption more difficult.
However, many parents have helped their children successfully overcome this issue with treatment by a specialist such as Dr. Pena at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
It absolutely does not have to stop her from having a full and productive life.

LWB has decided to offer a Tuan Yuan adoption grant for Meigan, in the hope that it will help allow someone to bring her home.

Please help spread the news that this beautiful young girl is waiting, as we know that somewhere out there is the perfect family just waiting for such a sweet daughter.
Meigan has so much to offer this world with her loving and sweet spirit, and we are all praying that her family will soon be found.
Thank you so much for your help!

Amy Eldridge
Executive Director

7.14.2008

WEEK 1 OF "NO T.V." and Look what we can do......


We can read books about FAR AWAY PLACES!


We can play board games!


We can be thrilled over $500 worth of fake money!


We can be estatic over a beautiful island we just purchased!


We can even find joy in "rolling the dice".

We also spent an hour writing letters and drawing pictures
for 2 little girls that left for summer camp today

Who would have EVER imagined?!

Peace(ful).

TF Summer Round Up 2008


TF Summer Round Up 2008
Riding Camp for the '8 & under' crowd.

This was our youngest camper, stepping up at the
ripe ole' age of 3.


We put the teenagers( under close supervision) in charge
of some of the instruction to see what they are made of.


They did not disappoint!
Austin giving Roping Lessons while Rick looks on.


The little ones had a great time and Rick and I got
to rest a little bit.


One more camp to go before the riding season starts.
I don't know why I had this crazy idea that I was going to
have a SLOW summer.


One happy little girl!


Caleb helping the little one to the barn for the 100th time-
Being an experienced "baby handler" helps!
Bless her heart-She got hot & tired and wanted to be carried
for most of the day.


Mikey teaching proper "form".


At the end of the day the kids all get their TF t-shirts.
Pink for the girls and Khaki for the boys.
Nothing is cuter!


It was a good day, and these little kids walk away with something
you can't buy in stores- and our little group of teenagers...............
Well... they walk away knowing that have spent one day trying
to make a difference in the life of a child.........just because they can.
They had a great time and were wonderful with these kids.

To say that I was impressed would be putting it mildly.

As a parent- that's when you feel like you just might be doing
something right.

Maybe.

Peace.

7.12.2008

I AM WONDER WOMAN- From The Spunky Homeschool Blog



I found this is and thought it was perfect.

I don't know about the rest of you-
But My " Stage 1" usually starts on Monday.
By Thursday- I am a "Stage 3".

Transformation of the Inner Me
Thursday, August 11, 2005


I AM WONDER WOMAN!

Yes, it's true! But before you click off in total disgust at my apparent arrogance
let me explain how I came to this profound conclusion.

I AM WONDER WOMAN - Stage One
I can do it all.
Have lots of babies while my husband is in night school and working full time.
Potty train all my children by 6 months and use only cloth diapers before then.
Wear a size 6 outift the day after delivery, that I sewed the day before delivery.
Home educate using only "living books" that are still sprouting roots from the binding.
Eat only organically grown non-genetically modified foods where no animals have been harmed. And in my free time tell everyone else how to do it too.
Yep, that's me, I AM WONDER WOMAN.

I AM WONDER WOMAN - Stage Two
I wonder if I'm doing anything right?
Are the children learning anything?
I'm beginning to wonder if I am going nuts. Becoming gen-u-whine squirrel feed.
I wonder why I ever thought that I could do this?
Did Charlotte Mason ever have a bad year?
I wonder what Debi Pearl would do right now? I wonder what's for dinner tonight?
I wonder when the last time my children's sheets were changed?
I wonder why I don't care when the last time my children's sheets were changed?
Yep, that's me, I am WONDER woman.

I AM WONDER WOMAN- Stage Three

"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
...There is no one like you, O LORD" 1 Chronicles 17:16.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8:9

I stand in awe and wonder before a faithful God.

Thank you Lord, that I am not the woman I used to be.

I truly AM a wonder woman.

*******

7.07.2008

2 Pumpkins and 1 Little Angel !


4th of July Party and pictures galore!

I was pumped when I saw them!


OK- so maybe this one wasn't all that comforting.....


But this one was.
Now- I am starting to get antsy, and Yes- I am starting to get
a little attached...........just a little!

NOW FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS!

This little Angel is on the WC list of CHSFS(check out my side bar)
and everyone is thrilled!


She is a doll, and is as healthy as a horse.
Everyone who meets her falls in love with her.
She is extremely bright and is ahead of the children
her age in fine and gross motor skills.

If you are interested in learning more about her, or know someone
who is in search of their daughter- PLEASE contact CHSFS and
get the ball rolling.

We are all praying that she is home soon.
A family will change the life of this child.

AND YES! I am probably breaking every rule in the "CCAA" book by
posting these pictures, but I am a Stay-at-Home Homeschool Mom
of 5 kids that has been waiting for a "response" for 8 weeks...........
I'm thinking the INSANITY plea will get me off.


Peace.