Answered prayer and a request

I just re-read this post. It's a little surreal that I have my sweet bundle in my arms. I love my first letter to her now that I have her sweet face memorized.  I didn't know all that the Lord would do.  I couldn't have wrapped my head around it if I had known...I am glad that I didn't know all the details. I am thankful that I allowed the Lord (haha...as if I "allowed" him anything) to take control of this.  Because seriously we have the perfect open adoption and its just begun.  We adore our birthmother and her family.  God handpicked us to be Charleigh's family...and for them to be part of her forever too.  It's so amazing that they are believers, as this process would be so hard I think dealing with someone who didn't know Hope, Grace, Agape, and who didn't know that He has a plan.  His details are amazing.  All of them.  Psalm 139 has never rang more true to my spirit. 

I do have a major prayer request! Please be on your knees for our sweet birthmother tomorrow as she and her family go before the judge to relinquish her parental rights.  This is going to be a difficult process to go through most likely for everyone in the room.  I want to be there to hold her hand, but I am so thankful that she has supportive family that will be on her either side.  Just pray for peace for a non-judgemental atmosphere, for the undeniable hand of God. 

And then right after that, we are told that they will attempt to make contact with the birthfather...oh please would you pray that he would not fight this...

Love at First Site

Jeff and I didn't want to take our camera in right away when we went to meet the birth family...but thankfully they had theirs and this was me when I first saw her.  You can't tell (thank you M for making it b & w to hide it) but I was balling my eyes out!  But I just love it.  God is so good.

Welcome Home Charleigh

So, we're home! We officially (totally still unofficially) have 3 kids.  Today was my first day at home, but I was blessed by Mother's Day out today for the older two.  Charleigh and I stayed at home and I attempted to organize/pick up my disasterous home. 

I cannot tell you just to the extent of how much we have been blessed!  It's beyond measure really.  I mean of course, just in Charleigh herself, but so many people have stepped up and cared for us in so many ways: material things for Charleigh, financially even, meals galore in line for our whole family, and just tons of prayer and love! I feel so connected to my Savior and feel like He is being so glorified by his people in this!!  The Church is being the Church...it's so good.  It's just amazing. 

If you have been a part, whether small or large, in helping us in any way, thank you! From the bottom of my heart, my praise goes to my King, my thanks goes to my King...and to you all who are being the hands and feet of Christ.

We are in love with our littlest baby girl.  She is a great baby, although we do need to work on her sleeping in the night, instead of ALL day long ;)  We'll get there.  She's just precious.  Such a joy.

She most definitely has a purpose in this world and I cannot wait to find out just what the Lord has in store for us with her, for His Kingdom with her....I just can't even put parameters on it.

She has a story...a long one and I will share it in bits and pieces.  I am one exhausted mommy tonight though and MUST go to bed while she is sleeping....

The kids ADORE her.

But this shirt that my sweet friend Kara got her says it all:

Oh precious girl, we are...so thankful for you!

We have our new baby girl!!! She is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! She is a real peaceful, go-with-flow kinda girl. We are all in love! No computer here so will have to post more later. Http://yfrog.com/5hz6qvj you might be able to see her there but until we get home that's all we have

Jaxisms

The other day Jeff was giving Jackson a bath and he kept kicking the bucket over the side of tub.  Jeff told him he'd get a spanking if he did it again.  Several minutes later, Jackson kicked the bucket again. 
Jeff: Jackson did you kick that out on purpose?
Jax: yes
Jeff: [spanked him]
Jax: [cried]
Jeff: [feeling bad, because maybe he doesn't know what " on purpose" means] Buddy, do you know what "on purpose" means?
Jax: yeah, it means you get a spanking!


Then today, Jeff and I were in our room, and the two kids were in the sunroom coloring.  I start laughing because I hear Creighton just rolling and cackling.  I LOVE her laughter, especially her belly laughs.  About the same time, Jeff and I thought that must mean something really bad was happening, unfortunately.  We were right.

lovely, he is learning to write the number 4!

this is Jeff getting on to them after their timeouts

my crazy man acting like a wild indian

But, after they sat in time out for a long time, I was talking with Jackson...the coversation went something like this:

Me: Jackson, why would you mark on the floor?

Jax: Maybe der are tings in me..

Me: what?

Jax: maybe der are widdle pepull in my belly

Me: what kind of people in your belly buddy?

Jax: maybe kind of widdle pepull that make me make bad choices

Me: how would those people make you make bad choices?

Jax: maybe day haf wemotes...(maybe they have remotes)

Me: [i had to walk away for fear of actually laughing AT him]

This boy is a mess and is constantly coming up with the craziest and funniest things on earth.  I just love it, even though it's not always easy to discipline him because he's too funny (and not to mention cute!)

Waiting...

Our women's ministry is currently in the middle of Esther by Beth Moore.  I can't tell you how much I love this study.  As the weeks progress, it has only gotten better.  This week tops it all.  If I have ever needed a word from the Lord, then it was now, and it was this!  Get your pen!!

Habakkuk 2:3c
Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Oh, how my heart needed to hear that promise, first and foremost.

But the TRUTH behind what her whole talk today was this: We will lose our strength when we wait on _________ (fill in the blank for yourself), but we will renew our strength when we wait on the Lord.

For me, for us, our blank is our baby.  To say we are waiting would be an understatement.  Although we have not waited long compared to many people, not to mention we already have two blessings with us, we truly felt that this was a God thing and that because we were so willing to step out in faith, that there would be no waiting.  But there is.

And you know what? It's good.  I'm okay with waiting, I am.  I'm just not good at it.  Patience does not come naturally to me, but I must say I am working on it--with the Lord's grace.  We only want what is best for our family and for this child.  Truly.  So, why was I so anxious and trying so hard to DO when I should just relax and stop and wait on the Lord, not on my child.  Wait on the Lord renews my strength. I am excited for that burden to be completely lifted from me.  Because I have been zapped waiting (thinking I could actually do something) about getting a baby here sooner.

Today's lesson was all about time.  When time is so different on God's left arm than mine, why would I choose to want to be zapped of my strength.  I know there is another (maybe more) Berg out there, and somewhere written in the pages of his/her life we get to meet.  Not only will our paths cross, but they will unite, forever.  We'll be completed all the more as a family, and I CAN wait for God's best.  I am so thankful that I serve such a loving, compassionate, all-knowing God. 

So, I am not anxious about the wait for our child.  I am still thrilled to be on the journey, but it's better now.  God has ever so graciously been giving us (me) his sweet gestures to not lose hope in the journey all along, just as I needed them.  I am so thankful for this one. 

So, as we wait on the Lord for our precious new addition, we wait with open arms, open hearts, and renewed strength.  Thank you Lord.

And there is a song that I just love out called While I'm Waiting by Josh Waller...listen if you'd like!

Impressional?

If you think kids are un-impressionable...check this out. Wow. He's a doll...and he's got talent for sure. But it makes me want to seriously consider who/what my children watch/hear...I mean he has got it DOWN--to the facial expressions and all!

Orphan Sunday

Orphan Sunday from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Jackson and the Armor of God

So there is this lady named Kim Norton who founded Kingdom Kidz.  My kids recieved her CDs as a gift from Grandma Caroline and they love them (and so do I).  One song in particular they love the most is the Armor Song. I love that it is this one they love, because I love Ephesians 6.  And I so want that to be a part of their everyday routine...putting on the armor of God.

Well we sing this song almost daily, if not multiple times a day!  They love it.  I don't know that Jackson knew what to think of us trying to act it out with all his play toys/clothes, but I LOVED it.  Here's the picture of the completed Eph. 6 boy.

And priceless: here is the video

Random Pictures

Jackson jams out hard!

Creighton is IN LOVE with the Bruin Bear at the HS football games, good thing 'she' is one of our youth...she 'knows her name' and Creighton feels so special!

Oh man...I don't know if I have words for this pic

Creighton is IN LOVE with this hideous dog at the pet store.  I thought she looked pretty cute too

Way random, and quite stupid...but I went to Jenks the other day to pick up some adoption stuff and we ran by the gym to see the picture and Jeff snapped a shot on his iphone of me next to it...but wow...

Fun Family Activity

Ever wonder what to do with those broken crayons lying around?! This is fun, easy, and cheap..

On the clearance aisle right now, crayons are on sale for like $.40, but better than that, I bet you have lots of broken crayons laying around...we did.  But I bought a box as well.  We tore off all the paper and I let the kids break them up.  Their favorite part of course.

Then I let them put them in the muffin tins, in any order they wanted.

Here is what they looked like IN the oven...as they were melting

Then we put them in the oven on 275 for about 10 minutes.  Here is what they looked like out of the oven (fyi I think I left them in too long, which is why the colors aren't as rich *but more blended* and seperated as they should have been if I'd taken them out sooner, so maybe only 7-8 minutes)

But our final product was cute!  The botttoms are generally the 'prettiest'

It's such a fun and easy craft that the kids can do all by themselves (mostly) and they have fun with them for months!  We use them outside on the sidewalk too so their 'creations' stay around a little longer than with the chalk.  I love it!  (we did this on our family thursday before our bike ride)

Family Day

Last Thursday we had our family day! I love love love family day.  It's so fun to watch the kids interract with each other and with us, and especially their daddy!  We try our best to keep Thursdays sacred, but it felt like it had been awhile since it was just the four of us all day.  We went on a 13 mile bike ride.

 Jackson was a superstar and RODE the entire way on his tag-along bike attached to mine.  Creighton was in the doodlebug behind Jeff.  We went all over really, mostly trying to stay near the pathfinder and safe areas to ride.  We went to the soccer fields and the park area and we played frisbee and they loved it. Although there were most definitely sibling moments of not knowing how to share well.  Love the opportunity to be behind the lens!  Nature provides such a sweet background and lighting!  LOVING FALL!

We had a little bit of a uphill battle on a major street because of unforseen construction, but I was so happy (that we were safe) and that we got these WAY fun pics by the waterfalls.

We stopped to eat (and refuel and take potty breaks) at Taco Bueno.  It was great. Everyone was very hungry so we all ate well.  Then we came home and CRASHED for 2+ hours...everyone.  It was a long 4 hours out in the sun and getting some excersise.  I was beside myself with love for my family and our awesome day!

Colors and A HUGE DEAL

Earlier this summer, Jeff painted the kids' rooms the colors of their choice.  Both of them have 3 walls one color and 1 wall another color.  I wasn't for sure if I ever showed their new rooms.

Here is Jackson's room!  3 blue walls, 1 green wall

And I was SOOOOOO proud of myself this weekend.  I have been wanting a day bed for Creighton's room for a LONG time, but we haven't had the money.  Well, as I was lost trying to find something else entirely this weekend I 'happened' upon a garage sale.  I found the deal of the century!  Look at this wonderful beautiful day bed I got for her for only $25!!!!!!  I LOVE IT! And you can see her pink (3) and orange (1) walls in this picture too!

The kids love their beds and bedrooms.  I can't believe Creighton is SO big.  I love her new bed probably more than she does.  I am still in shock I only paid twenty five dollars for it! It's really really nice and heavy duty real wood.  I dusted and polished it and re-covered the underside padded boards and my mom found a new bedspread (shown) for $8!  It's perfect: pink with Orange trim...looks so good on her orange wall!

A whirlwind week!

This past week has just been one for the record books!!  It started with grieving news of a friend of ours.  Everything surrounding that was never really without our thoughts, as we had lots and lots of conversations, phone calls, etc. all week long.  So with that as the overcast for the week...the rest of the week went a little nuts. 

We had two sets of company, totalling 5 days between the two of them.  It was so much fun having folks over, but it's also tiring, when you are already tired, to be any kind of hostess, amid the chaos.  Monday was just a hard day altogether in lots of ways.  Tuesday we had bible study, then a playdate at the Duck Pond, then Ladies Night Out! We had Nikao Vespers Night which is always a good time, but lots of prep work for Brit and Jeff.  We took a trip to the Zoo to get away from it all for awhile.  I wrote more about that day in this post.  So that was quite the crazy day.

Friday night we had the "self divided" football game (Enid vs Bartlesville) and we stayed to the end of the game!  Jeff invited people over 2 nights in a row and they stayed way late...little sleep! 

Then this weekend we had Walk This Way, which went amazing!  But again, just a little crazy and puts us way off schedule.  My parents came up for dinner on Saturday night.  Then Sunday, we had WTW again, then we went to meet Jeff's parents at the Scottish Games (festival) in Tulsa.

 This is where I tried to win $100 carrying 2- 100 pound barrels (one in each hand) as far as I could. I got second place, traveling 41 feet, before my left hand just could not bare the pain of my wedding ring digging mightily into my hand.  I may not have gotten the money, but I have a nice souvenier on my left hand :( I really think I could have beat that girl who won...although she was WAY bigger than me in every category.  I was too competitive not to at least try...but oh man those things are SO SO heavy! It was unbelievable.

Anyway, to say the very least, I was CRASHED last night in bed long before I usually even think of being tucked away.  Too bad Creighton was up at 3am.  I was up from 3-6ish and so I am still very tired.

 But today wouldn't wait. I had to work up at the school because it was picture day!  We had fun. The kids were So SO SO cute, I just hope some of the pics turned out. 

Pressing on through this week!  And, of course, in the forefront of all of my thoughts are the baby...and all the questions that come along with that.  The ever-increasing excitement, yet, at the same time, wonder...it's just a lot for my little brain!

I have done 3 loads of laundry so far, and have 4 more piles to do, and a trip to Walmart! Whew...it's all good.

***Edited to add: I just remember two more things that were HUGE in our week!  Jeff and the other youth ministers set out on a task of passing out 3500 Bibles to Washington county Public schools!  It was insane, but it was all completed! Yea God!  And the other thing was the kick-off to one of our biggest ministries for Nikao--Life Hurts God Heals was on Monday night!  Thank goodness it was a reminder that yes, LIFE DOES HURT, but more importantly that GOD HEALS!  I am sure I am leaving out other things...but I just wanted to document it all so I can look back and remember that our life is/was a little on the insane side and we all made it out okay :) (atleast that is my prayer)