been awhile...

Yes, it's been a long time since I posted. Blogging, for me, goes in spurts. I have times in my life where I'm on a roll and posting a lot and other times where I neglect this blog. There are seasons where I have to choose to either neglect my blog or neglect other things more important. Anyway, if anyone is still following along, here are some updated pictures of the kids.

Brooke is almost 9, Ashton is 7, Ava is 5 1/2, Kate is 5, and Gabe is 2. Not a day goes by where I don't thank God for these blessings in my life.

SAVE MONEY

Okay, my friend Amy has made a blog all about how to save money using coupons. I was skeptical because I've always used coupons and saved a dollar here or there, but it never really saved me that much. But the other day at Meijer, after using Amy's tips from her blog, I bought $74 worth of groceries for a total of $1.00 out of pocket. I spent $21 and have several print-out coupons ($20 worth of coupons that are good on my next order at Meijer). Crazy, huh? Let's just say that I'm stocked up on snacks, tomato soup, granola bars, and cereal for a long time! And for $1 out of pocket! If you want to save big money and also enter her giveaway for a Walmart gift card (giveaway ends today), then go here and start doing everything she says (trust me, you won't be sorry).

The Race

I think it's funny when, at the end of the race, the kids all say, "Gabe lost!" Gabe looks like he could care less!

Spring!

It's hard to believe that I took this first picture just one month ago!

Spring is finally here, so the kids have been outside a lot.

















































In case you are wondering what it's like to try to get 5 kids to look decent for a group shot, I updoaded a little video showing what it's like. ha!

I took a bunch of pictures outside, so I'm going to post some more soon!

Crazy Love

Many of you have heard us talk about our friends, Matt and Mandi Yager. Mandi traveled with Chad to China to adopt Mylee from the same orphanage as Ava. They live in the same city as we do and our kids get together to play sometimes. Many of you have also heard that they are in the process to adopt Drew, a 4-year-old little boy from China with multiple special needs.

Well, not many of you have heard this exciting news: Matt and Mandi heard about another need and are stepping out in faith to answer it. They heard about a 13-year-old boy in China who needs a family NOW, before he ages out of the system. When orphans age out of the system in China, they are no longer eligible for adoption, but are left to fend for themselves. We don't like to think about what happens to these "older orphans," but Matt and Mandi CHOSE to think about it and CHOSE to do something about it. That's right; they have decided to bring home this boy along with Drew. China is granting them permission to adopt 2 children at once and are expediting the paperwork to get this done.

The Yagers have a 13-year-old boy already who was the catalyst behind all this. He has always wanted a brother his age and even came up with ideas to get his parents on board (for example, telling them that he'd give up football camp if his parents would use the money to adopt instead). His parents used to say "No way will we adopt a boy that age! It's too scary, too risky; he'd have too many scars, too much baggage." That was before God got a hold of their hearts and revealed His plans for their family. Is it still scary? Yes. Risky? Probably. Crazy? Most definitely. Sometimes love is just like that and sometimes following God's plan sure looks that way. To the Yagers though, they do not have a choice. To them, to NOT follow God's call is the riskier and scarier road to be on. They know this is going to be hard and are not going into this decision naively. But they are choosing LOVE anyway. Amazing? For sure!

Mandi has set up a fund-raising blog to help raise money for the boys' adoption expenses. Please go visit and see what's there. Also, if you are local, please come to the benefit dinner that we (other local Nanjing moms) are holding for the Yagers this Saturday. If you didn't get an email about the dinner, please let me know and I'll get you the details.


In Him,

Tara

Never a dull moment...

Okay, I know I've been a terrible blogger lately, but my 5 little treasures keep me insanely busy, insanely happy, but insanely busy nonetheless. But, at the request of 100's of (really just two) people, I'm going to post an update!

Kate lost 2 of her teeth! Good, right? No, actually it's not good. Kate is 4 years old. She was running up the basement stairs a couple nights ago and tripped and hit her teeth on the step that goes to our kitchen, the step that is wood laminate. When we cleaned up enough blood to assess the damage, we realized that her 2 top teeth were bent in toward the roof of her mouth, with the roots exposed and sticking out! YIKES! Chad and I kind of looked at each other like, "That's not good, is it?" We took her for an emergency dental visit and now she looks like this (good thing they were just baby teeth, right?):




















She looks equally yummy, just different, don't you think? After the initial pain and shock wore off, Kate was really excited to show all her siblings her little teeth (in a tiny container the dentist gave her) and she was even more excited to find $2 in her tooth pillow the next morning! She is so happy to be in the "missing teeth" club like her older sister. Too bad it will probably be 3 years before she gets her new top teeth. Oh, well.


Kate explains it all in her wiggly, silly, 4-year-old way:



Check back soon because more posts are hopefully on the way; my goal is to catch up on my blogging a little...we'll see...

Chad's Latest Project...the Dollhouse

Here is what Chad made the girls for Christmas. He is beyond gifted in woodworking/ cabinetry, and he and Ashton built this together in the garage before Christmas. The girls love it! Ashton kept the secret from the girls, too; they were told that he and Daddy were working on a "cabinet" for someone. The girls never suspected anything.








































Kate and Ava getting ready to make their dolls slide down the roof of the dollhouse:


















There they go!