Happy 18th Birthday Leila!

Dearest Leila,

Wow, you are officially a legal adult. You have grown into this beautiful young lady, and you have come so far from the 43 pound, timid 10 year old we brought home 7.5 years ago. 

You have transitioned to high school, and a large one at that, and while it hasn't been all roses, we are learning together what it means to work hard and earn your grades, how to discern good friends from not-so-good ones and how to do real grown-up things and take responsibility. It is good!

Youth group (or any church activity), listening to music, reading and hanging out with friends continue to be your favorite activities. What a blessing for you to have your Niger friends still active in your life. It is so sweet seeing you, Zalika and Sakina together. You have a special connection and bond that goes back farther than us!

Your sister is the one you turn to the most for advice on clothes, friends and the cute boy on the bus. I know sharing a room with someone messier than you is not always easy, but I think it has been so good for your friendship, and I'm thankful you are tidier than her and pick up her slack. You excel at keeping things tidy and organized, and are faithful to do your part around the house. Thank you!

You are starting to spend a little more time with me in the kitchen, and you still love rice the most. Your new favorite hot sauce is seasoned with Old Bay, which is your favorite dry spice when you don't have African spice. 

The other day you called your prescriptions in for the first time (on your own!), and I can see you are making real steps toward adulthood. We will get you driving soon enough!

For your birthday this year, we enjoyed dinner at Arby's and rides at Kings Dominion during Winterfest with some friends and family. I believe you rode the Dominator rollercoaster 5 times! You love crazy rides, and you had so much fun. 

We are excited for what this next year holds for you, and it will be a real joy to take you back to Niger as a family this summer. You haven't been since we brought you home, and I think it will be good for all of us. We love you, Leila!

Momma

Christmas Time!

It was a sweet season of Advent and preparing for celebrating Jesus' birth at Christmas. Fun gatherings with reverent moments and daily readings by candlelight filled the month. It felt a little different being in a new home, but we adjusted and kept one of our longest traditions on Christmas Day of delivering boxes of goodies and gifts to homes the Lord led us to. Actually, the kids are the ones who pray and ask the Lord to show them. It never fails to amaze us and wow them - God does speak in the middle of our days if we will just listen!

For several years we've enjoyed Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree readings each day of Advent. She's so good to take us through the lineage and prophecies of Jesus.

It was Leila's turn to put the star on this year. 

We enjoyed making hundreds of Christmas cookies with Nonnie this year. 

The next generation learning how to make delicious goodies. 


Leila performed in her first choral concert at MHS. 

Mary-Michael was invited to the Holly Ball at her former school (Aylett). She looks too grown up!

She had a wonderful time at the Holly Ball with Addison. 

Two little hams!

I love this group of ladies in my small group. We had such fun wrapping up an amazing book (Experiencing God) and doing a white elephant gift exchange. 

We had another occasion for dressing up. The girls are involved in a program called That Dance Thing, and they learn the classic ballroom dances, as well as etiquette. They enjoyed a lovely Christmas Ball, and Daddy even attended part of it to join them in a Daddy-Daughter dance. 

Frazier sung a Christmas song in front of the congregation at church, though his passion for these sort of things has waned in his 5th grade year...

We enjoyed our annual Christmas dinner with some dear friends. Great friends are a true gift from the Lord!


Here are the families we get to do so much life with. 

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Celebrating Christmas Eve after Candlelight Service at Mimi and Poppy's house is always a treat. 

Poppy and his 2 granddaughters. Here's to a very thoughtful and intentional grandfather!

Christmas morning in matching PJs!

Nonnie joined us a little while later for Christmas fun. We missed Granddad who was still recovering from being sick. 

We packed and wrapped the boxes and went out for our giving adventure on Christmas Day. We weren't sure what this would be like in our new community, but after doing it, I know we were able to bring joy and Jesus' love to those who needed it. 

We did enjoy celebrating with the Lawrences on 12/26, but unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. I was sick and in bed during all of the festivities, and Geoff was too busy with the 4 kiddos. I hear it was a great day!

We rested from the Christmas fun with 5 days in Nags Head. Zach, Christina, Emerson and Luca joined us from Charleston, SC, as well as our dear friends, the Kells. 

We had beautiful weather and took many walks on the beach. 

We created vision/dream boards for the year ahead with the big kids and took turns sharing them. So fun!


My crazy husband and son taking a dip in the ocean. It was a good substitute for the ice barrel he uses at home. Yes, we subject ourselves to icy cold water for the sake of health. I hope it's worth it!

Happy 11th Birthday, Frazier!

Dear Frazier,

What a wonderful young man you are becoming! It has been a joy of mine to spend so much time with you this year during your 5th grade year as a homeschooler. You have shown me how inquisitive and fun you truly are. 

One of the qualities Daddy and I admire the most about you is your ability to have conversations with your 4 year old brother, one of Daddy's wealthy, older clients and all those in between. You know how to engage people of all ages in conversation, you are pleasant to talk to, and you are respectful. These are wonderful qualities!

You are still a boy who loves the woods, and you love to explore the endless possibilities of fun and creating that can occur if you use a little imagination and bravery while exploring the outdoors. You always have a bag packed with an ax, paracord, a knife, a flashlight and other outdoor survival tools. You're currently building a fort in the woods and considering how you could even cook a meal out there. I love that you love the outdoors. Amos is your faithful companion when you go out exploring.

As a student, I haven't taught you a thing about math. You are flying through your grade 5/6 math book without any help from me. We are enjoying learning about world cultures and geography. You love when science gets us outside looking for how the natural world is actually working in our own backyard. Writing is still your least favorite thing to do, but you are growing and learning. I never thought I'd see the day when grabbed a book (that wasn't a graphic novel) and read it on your own, but you're doing it! The Little House on the Prairie series has captured your attention. 

If you're stuck indoors, LEGOS continue to be your favorite thing to play with. I am so thankful you are not too old to run around the house making zooming sounds with your little brother. He looks up to you so much. 

You have aspirations of working for and with Daddy as you get older. You are regularly using his excavator at home, and he's recently taught you how to cut firewood so you can sell bundles to friends and neighbors to earn some money. 

The future is bright, young man, and we love you so much!

Momma and Daddy

With Gratefulness – Thanksgiving 2022

We enjoyed seeing many family members for Thanksgiving this year! The week began with our Thankful Tree. "Gratitude shifts the attitude" as I frequently tell my children (and myself, if I'm being honest). And we wrapped up the week hosting family from my mom and stepdad's side at our house. Here are some pictures of the festivities.

It looks a bit like Charlie Brown's might have looked, but it reminded us of how blessed we are even when things feel hard or we don't have something we really want. 

I was happy to join Mary-Michael and her school for their annual "Giving Thanks" Day. The students went out into the community and spent time with more than 30 organization. I stayed at the school baking with groups of middle schoolers and high schoolers. 

Frazier joined in on "Giving Thanks" Day by spending the day with our dear friends who run RVA Hope Center. They delivered bedroom furniture to several families in low-income housing developments, which was a real blessing since many of these families do not have beds or any real furniture. 

Once the school break began we headed to Northern VA to connect with our cousins! We started off with a trip to the recently renovated Air & Space Museum. 

It was a beautiful outside, so we enjoyed the National Mall. 

Benaiah and Aunt Melissa taking a walk to the DC Wharf. 

After lots of exploring and walking, we were tired as we waited for the Metro. 

With 18 to feed for Thanksgiving, this is a glimpse of "too many cooks in the kitchen," but we still have fun!

A beautiful table ready for a feast. 

We enjoyed a delicious meal hosted by Grandma and Grandpa. 

As we do each year, we have a time of taking family pictures outside. 

This is what the boys prefer to do over taking pictures. 

We hosted my mom, stepdad and step-siblings for a Sunday afternoon gathering, and it was a real treat. Some of us hadn't seen one another since before COVID. 

Love you, momma!

All the girls plus Benaiah headed to explore the trails. 


Very thankful for these guys!