Blog worthy

June is rapidly coming to a close so here's some blog worthy pics from the month.

Our Ethiopian Fellowship! This group is growing and it's so fun to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

Carson is off to church camp! First time away (besides staying with family) from Dad and Mom. He was so excited he couldn't sleep last night. I mean really couldn't sleep. He was up past midnight and woke up this morning at 6:30. :)

Fun with cousins. Cole and Noah were standing on this huge rock trying to get higher so they could throw the ball over the roof.

Levi Dale

Happy Father's Day! We love you.

Swimming at the Bradles.

G6 weekend. Thankful for these friendships (missing you here Phil!)

Home shots. This little girl has quite the personality. Peek-a-boo!

What, you mean the crib is for sleeping?

Loves the pool and big brother Carson.

And yet again, more cousins.

ET roomates, cousins, and friends. God is good.

Fisher and Carson.

Summer makes me tired! But not tired enough to stay in bed. Kade and Cole sleeping outside their bedroom door at the top of the stairs.

That's all for now!

May has come and gone

School's out. Summer's here. The weather has been gorgeous. We've been swimming, eating popsicles and staying in our jammies a little longer than usual. And we just got home from our first "vacation" of the summer. As much fun as it sounds (and it really is), it's work.

If I have a good day and my house gets cleaned, you really can't even tell just a few short hours later. There are water puddles from the swimming pool, sandy foot prints from the sandbox, and grass clippings from the jungle I just mowed out back.

Someone is always needing something. A snack because Mom, swimming just makes me sooo hungry. A bandaid because boys+bikes=scrapped knees, feet, and arms. A referee because five little people living and playing together all day long just isn't easy. A maid because they don't have any clean shorts (except for those blue jean ones....I hate those!). A friend, please push me in the swing, please read a book, please... A cheerleader, watch this mom! And on and on it goes, until I want to run far, far away. Being a mom is hard.

But, guess what? Life is hard! God never promised any different. Jesus isn't suppose to make us comfortable. And God didn't give me five beautiful children and one committed husband to make me happy. They have something to teach me. The fact that I can say this, is progress. I've learned one lesson at least. I will forever be grateful for our adoption journey. Last night in bed I was thinking how in many ways, that was a beginning. God laid a foundation. After being home 8 months, I can look back and see stone upon stone that God is building. It's not easy. But growing never is.

This post didn't go where I thought it was. I'm not even sure it makes sense or "flows" but that's okay. Here's to a great summer and come on, how could I not love and adore these five little people who call me mom?! :)