I heard about this through a tweet from David Platt. In his words, it is a "hidden horror exposed. eye-opening and heart-wrenching". Please have an open mind and watch all 33 minutes of this documentary. There is some graphic content, so preview it before you share it with your children.
Monday, October 03, 2011
Friday, September 02, 2011
women of faith
In July, Lauren gleefully informed me that she had been chosen by Booksneeze to be an official review blogger for the Women of Faith Conference in Atlanta on August 12-13. This honor included a ticket for her and one friend to attend the conference. Guess who she chose to join her in this adventure? Yes, her mom -- who would drive, pay for a hotel, food any other incidentals. Bright girl, she is.
I have attended two other Women of Faith conferences, both well over ten years ago. But, I had never attended one with my daughter. I couldn’t pass on this one:)
We headed out mid-morning on the Friday so that we could make a few stops before checking into our hotel and getting started Friday night at 7 pm. We stopped in Newnan (just outside Atlanta) at a very special Chik-fil-a restaurant called Dwarf House. Lauren has wanted to stop anytime we are in the area, but this is our first time (well, she stopped by briefly once with her dad, but I haven’t been by). We stopped for lunch and ate in the sit-down dining area (after Lauren used the Dwarf entrance, of course).
After lunch, we headed into Atlanta and made a brief shopping stop at Atlantic station before checking in at our hotel. We decided to stay at the Omni which is attached to the CNN Center/Philips Arena. The picture below on the left was out our hotel room window.
When we arrived at the conference, we found that Booksneeze sent some pretty good seats for us (on the floor, only about 10 rows back from the stage). It was neat being close to the speakers, but we found that the folding chairs were not very comfortable and very crowded. When we returned for the Saturday morning session, we found available seats up a little higher that had a great view of the jumbotron. Just what we needed!
I really enjoyed our time together: traveling, shopping, and just hanging out with each other and talking about what we heard from the speakers.
I have attended two other Women of Faith conferences, both well over ten years ago. But, I had never attended one with my daughter. I couldn’t pass on this one:)
We headed out mid-morning on the Friday so that we could make a few stops before checking into our hotel and getting started Friday night at 7 pm. We stopped in Newnan (just outside Atlanta) at a very special Chik-fil-a restaurant called Dwarf House. Lauren has wanted to stop anytime we are in the area, but this is our first time (well, she stopped by briefly once with her dad, but I haven’t been by). We stopped for lunch and ate in the sit-down dining area (after Lauren used the Dwarf entrance, of course).
After lunch, we headed into Atlanta and made a brief shopping stop at Atlantic station before checking in at our hotel. We decided to stay at the Omni which is attached to the CNN Center/Philips Arena. The picture below on the left was out our hotel room window.
When we arrived at the conference, we found that Booksneeze sent some pretty good seats for us (on the floor, only about 10 rows back from the stage). It was neat being close to the speakers, but we found that the folding chairs were not very comfortable and very crowded. When we returned for the Saturday morning session, we found available seats up a little higher that had a great view of the jumbotron. Just what we needed!
I really enjoyed our time together: traveling, shopping, and just hanging out with each other and talking about what we heard from the speakers.
“May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like
graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.” Psalm 144:11-13
Monday, August 22, 2011
first day of school
Well, the first day of school for Max and Desmond was actually last week (Monday, August 8), but I waited until today to post the traditional ‘first day of school’ pictures because I wanted to include ALL of my children. Today was Lauren’s first day of her SENIOR year of college and she was kind enough to tweet a picture of herself before heading out to class this morning.
I have to admit that this first picture of the boys was taken AFTER school (when we arrived home after the stop for an Icee on the way home). They weren’t very interested in having the pictures taken in the morning. I think I may have bribed them with the Icees so I could get a picture. I did have to laugh (to keep from crying) when I saw that they wore old clothes (not any of the many new clothes we bought during back-to-school shopping) on the first day of school. I am slowly starting to accept that they are not little boys anymore and I need to start letting go a bit. So, here is your warning: be on the lookout for the Adam boys in their old clothes and uncombed hair:) And, yes, I know Max needs a haircut. But, that's not how he rolls.
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9
braces before and after!
January 20, 2010 (top braces put on; the lower braces were put on in October 2009)
August 3, 2011 (braces off!)
It was the week before he started 8th grade and he was thrilled to get his braces taken off. He wasn’t so thrilled when he learned he would be wearing retainers. He sure has grown up!
Two kids down…one to go.
August 3, 2011 (braces off!)
It was the week before he started 8th grade and he was thrilled to get his braces taken off. He wasn’t so thrilled when he learned he would be wearing retainers. He sure has grown up!
Two kids down…one to go.
“Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD and with the people.” 1 Samuel 2:26
Sunday, July 31, 2011
tripping in texas
Although Dan has traveled back to Texas to visit his family more often, the children and I had not been since our trip to the Frio River in 2007. So, we decided to make another road trip to Texas back in early June (yes, this is a very tardy post). There was really only one week during the whole summer that everyone was available (between VBS, mission trips, and Lauren’s college classes) and it required leaving the evening of the day that Lauren and Max returned from the Middle School mission trip to Chattanooga. They were so tired from being on a long trip in a 15-passenger van, only to leave six hours later on another long trip in our minivan…but, they were troopers! Once we were packed and ready to go, we found the battery on the van dead – not even a click-click-click. After some finagling with jumper cables and a can of coke, we were good to go. But, I had a bit of concern since, if you didn’t know, this is the same van that DIED at 125,000 miles while driving through Houston on a previous Texas trip. It was brought back to life with a new engine, though, and has survived another 125,000 miles. I started wondering if that was a magic number with Toyota Siennas.
We made it to my cousin’s home in Magnolia (a suburb of Houston) where we stayed Saturday night, went to church with them Sunday morning, and then shared a great lunch together. Shortly before we left Alabama, I realized that Desmond’s Uncle Paul (his biological mom’s younger brother) had recently moved very near Magnolia, and in fact, was on the route we took to Dan’s sister’s house in a nearby suburb. We decided to surprise Desmond:) We kept talking about heading over to Aunt Cathy’s house, all the while driving to Paul’s house. When we stopped, Desmond said “Aunt Cathy sure has a nice house”. We all just smiled as we got out of the van. As Desmond and Dan started walking up the sidewalk, Paul walked out and just stood and smiled at Desmond. It took Desmond a few seconds, and then he just ran and hugged Paul. It was great! Later, Desmond told me that, when he first saw Paul, he thought “wow, Eric (Cathy’s son) sure looks like Uncle Paul”. We had a nice visit with Paul, his fiancé Shannon, and Shannon’s mom and sister before heading over for a quick visit with Cathy, her husband Scott, and their oldest son, Eric, who recently graduated from High School. It was great to be able to see everyone!
Then, we headed on to Boerne and arrived at Dan’s parents home to find that his sister, Annie, and her family were also in town. What a great surprise! His older brother, Ben, and his wife, Beth, were also there to meet us.
We had a wonderful time with family during the five days we were there. It was also Natalie’s (Annie’s daughter)seventh birthday and Ben and Beth invited us all over to celebrate.
They have remodeled a quaint little place near downtown and I just love it. I really like how they have their photographs displayed.
Here is the birthday girl! Don’t you love the cute birthday cookies made by her cousin, Haley?
Dan’s brother, Paul, along with his wife, Sharla, and their son, Corey, drove down from San Angelo one day. I was able to get a picture of Dan with his family (minus Cathy, who was still in Houston) as well as the cousins that were able to be together for the day.
We had such a enjoyable time with Dan’s parents and family. We won’t wait so long for our next trip:)
We usually take two days to get home, but found out as we were traveling (on a Friday) that Lauren would be going on another mission trip (leaving around 11 pm Saturday for Michigan!), so we drove straight and arrived home in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. Lauren got a few hours of sleep in her own bed before heading out for another week of sleeping on a floor.
We made it to my cousin’s home in Magnolia (a suburb of Houston) where we stayed Saturday night, went to church with them Sunday morning, and then shared a great lunch together. Shortly before we left Alabama, I realized that Desmond’s Uncle Paul (his biological mom’s younger brother) had recently moved very near Magnolia, and in fact, was on the route we took to Dan’s sister’s house in a nearby suburb. We decided to surprise Desmond:) We kept talking about heading over to Aunt Cathy’s house, all the while driving to Paul’s house. When we stopped, Desmond said “Aunt Cathy sure has a nice house”. We all just smiled as we got out of the van. As Desmond and Dan started walking up the sidewalk, Paul walked out and just stood and smiled at Desmond. It took Desmond a few seconds, and then he just ran and hugged Paul. It was great! Later, Desmond told me that, when he first saw Paul, he thought “wow, Eric (Cathy’s son) sure looks like Uncle Paul”. We had a nice visit with Paul, his fiancé Shannon, and Shannon’s mom and sister before heading over for a quick visit with Cathy, her husband Scott, and their oldest son, Eric, who recently graduated from High School. It was great to be able to see everyone!
Then, we headed on to Boerne and arrived at Dan’s parents home to find that his sister, Annie, and her family were also in town. What a great surprise! His older brother, Ben, and his wife, Beth, were also there to meet us.
We had a wonderful time with family during the five days we were there. It was also Natalie’s (Annie’s daughter)seventh birthday and Ben and Beth invited us all over to celebrate.
They have remodeled a quaint little place near downtown and I just love it. I really like how they have their photographs displayed.
Here is the birthday girl! Don’t you love the cute birthday cookies made by her cousin, Haley?
Dan’s brother, Paul, along with his wife, Sharla, and their son, Corey, drove down from San Angelo one day. I was able to get a picture of Dan with his family (minus Cathy, who was still in Houston) as well as the cousins that were able to be together for the day.
We had such a enjoyable time with Dan’s parents and family. We won’t wait so long for our next trip:)
We usually take two days to get home, but found out as we were traveling (on a Friday) that Lauren would be going on another mission trip (leaving around 11 pm Saturday for Michigan!), so we drove straight and arrived home in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday. Lauren got a few hours of sleep in her own bed before heading out for another week of sleeping on a floor.
"Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone -
especially to those in the family of faith". Galatians 6:9-11
Monday, June 27, 2011
two dozen…
Happy Anniversary to the husband I prayed for, dreamed of, and was blessed with 24 years ago!
Still crazy after all these years…
“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.”
Proverbs 15:30 (NLT)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
gardening before and after, part 2
I thought I would provide a little update on our flowers and how the hay matting is working for mulch for the wildflowers. The picture on the left was taken on May 9, the middle on May 17, and the right was taken on June 3. The wildflowers are growing great:) The rest of the flowers are doing pretty good…except for the lavender:( I think they do not have adequate drainage. They are still creating a few aromatic buds, but not very many.
Here is a look from the opposite directions (same dates):
The first picture on the left below is a close-up of the wildflowers on May 17 and in the middle on June 3. On May 17, I also added a few more impatiens by the breezeway entrance.
More impatiens were added to the pot with the lavender and along the empty space next to the building. I also picked up another pot of petunias and marigolds which were added on the left-hand corner (see before and after below):
Below, even more impatiens were added in three planters at the end of the sidewalk near the yard, along with some new grass being planted (under the hay matting) immediately behind them. We needed some help keeping the sand from washing on to the sidewalk. The first two pictures below were taken on May 17 and the far right picture shows the growth as of June 3.
What do you get when you cross an old, sun-faded planter and a half-empty can of rust-colored paint? An almost-new looking planter:) Right now it is still empty while I decide what to add.
Be on the lookout for further updates. Yeah, I know you are waiting on pins and needles. ;)
Here is a look from the opposite directions (same dates):
The first picture on the left below is a close-up of the wildflowers on May 17 and in the middle on June 3. On May 17, I also added a few more impatiens by the breezeway entrance.
More impatiens were added to the pot with the lavender and along the empty space next to the building. I also picked up another pot of petunias and marigolds which were added on the left-hand corner (see before and after below):
Below, even more impatiens were added in three planters at the end of the sidewalk near the yard, along with some new grass being planted (under the hay matting) immediately behind them. We needed some help keeping the sand from washing on to the sidewalk. The first two pictures below were taken on May 17 and the far right picture shows the growth as of June 3.
What do you get when you cross an old, sun-faded planter and a half-empty can of rust-colored paint? An almost-new looking planter:) Right now it is still empty while I decide what to add.
Be on the lookout for further updates. Yeah, I know you are waiting on pins and needles. ;)
"I went down to the grove of walnut trees and out to the valley to see the new spring growth,
to see whether the grapevines had budded or the pomegranates were in bloom."
Song of Solomon 6:11
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