Kristin's Birthday

Today started off with Kristin being the first one up! She watched her TV time, even though she had to have seen her gift sitting on our bedroom floor by the doorway. She was very patient and for letting us sleep until 8:00, we appreciate that!

We all got up, and let Kristin open her gifts from us. She was allowed the option of having her gift from Mommy & Daddy today, or waiting until her party, which will be combined with Ryan's in November. She decided of course, to have it today! She opened her gifts, and then we all got ready for church.

Church was very moving for me today, I felt like I was being spoken to. I have been worried about our good friends Sean & Tracey in Ukraine who are adopting two young ladies. Things have not been going as smoothly as the first part of the adoption had gone, so we are asking for your prayers. However, todays message spoke to me as "God is always working, a little bit every day". You might not see it all in one day, but over time, it all comes together in his perfect time as his perfect plan. Sometimes suffering is made for us to learn our lessons, and in that time, we need to refocus on the Lord. Our time in waiting for the Lord is Satan's perfect time to step in and place doubts in our hearts. We need to stay focused on the original task and cast out the devil. Easily said for those of us here at home in our cozy homes, with those that speak our language, with our own family as a whole, and understanding our own culture. We pray for you Sean & Tracey, and know that God will show you the way. We pray that you will "stay on task"--and bring your girls home together as a family.

Our day continued after church by bringing Alexis & Kimberly home to play with Kristin. We stopped at the grocery store, and then the dollar store. Kristin's big wish for her birthday!! Oh what fun those three girls had in the dollar store. I told them they could all have a dollar, and Kristin was gracious to share her birthday money to add an additional dollar. Kristin & Alexis found some fun socks...(three pairs for a buck!) and were tickled to death. Kimberly got a princess dress up set, with clip on earrings, some pretty hair pieces, a crown, and some fancy fingernails. The other dollar was spent on a treat for themselves. We picked out a fun treat for the boys too, since the didn't get to come....and then hit McDonalds for lunch, and came home to play. (We, by the way did not make Kristin spend her birthday money that she so graciously shared with the girls). It was worth the extra few dollars to have her be willing to share it.

Lynn & Cyril arrived around 4 with Ryan & Declan. We all had supper together (Spaghetti, Kristin's favorite)...and then the girls decorated cheesecake. They had lots of fun. They then headed outside to play their favorite hide & seek game in the dark, and run off their sugar.

It was a great day spent with special family. Happy 9th Birthday Kristin!