it's so true

I've thrown myself headlong into your arms--

I'm celebrating your rescue.

I'm singing at the top of my lungs,

I'm so full of answered prayers.

Psalm 13: 5-6 (The Message)

az fun

(Maybe this is why no other parents were letting their children play in the sprinklers today! It's more appropriate when it's 110 degrees outside!)

so, so blessed

I wish I could explain about every person we're traveling around the country (literally) to visit. Each of these people have played a significant role in my life at some point. Each could have (will have) a chapter in the book that I will one day write! Some people I'm meeting for the first time but through their praying with us for so long, our hearts are knit together in a deep way. Many people have encouraged me, financially sustained me and most definitely walked with us through the ups and downs of really, my adult life. Each day is so special as I reunite with old, and new friends. This, I'm sure, is a time in my life like I will never have again. It's pure sweetness! I look forward to continuing to reunite and continue to renew my spirit as I get loved upon and encouraged. God has blessed me with SO MANY special friends-- we are two very blessed girls!!

 To all of you we're seeing, thank you for making this such a beautiful time for us! To those I just won't be able to see, we wish we could! Your support and love means so much-- it often keeps me going. Thank you and God bless you!

 Lovin' life in Arizona!

now is now

Then Pa began to play again the song about Old Grimes. But he did not sing the words he had sung when Ma was making cheese. These words were different. Pa's strong, sweet voice was softly singing:

"Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days of auld lang syne?
And the days of auld lang syne, my friend
And the days of auld lang syne,
Shall auld acquaintance be forgot,
And the days of auld lang syne?"

When the fiddle had stopped singing Laura called softly, "What are days of auld lang syne, Pa?"
"They are the days of a long time ago, Laura," Pa said. "Go to sleep, now."
But Laura lay awake a little while, listening to Pa's fiddle softly playing and to the lonely sound of the wind in the Big Woods. She looked at Pa sitting on the bench by the hearth, the fire-light gleaming on his brown hair and beard and glistening on the honey-brown fiddle. She looked at Ma, gently rocking and knitting.
She thought to herself, "This is now."
She was glad that the cosy house, and Pa and Ma and the fire-light and the music, were now. They could not be forgotten, she thought, because now is now. It can never be a long time ago.
(Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder)

One of my fondest memories of when I was young is sitting on my dad's lap with my sister and Dad reading the Little House on the Prairie books. I've started this ritual with Nede now. Last night we finished the Little House in the Big Woods. I love how the book ends. And I love that this is now. I want to enjoy that now is now, it's not a long time ago, it actually may one day be forgotten but for now, it's not a long time again and I love now!

i'm staying awake

Last week, in Boise, sitting with my long time BFF, at midnight she said, "When did you get so much energy?"
I responded, "Does it make you worried about me that I'm not falling asleep and I'm the one saying, 'One more game!'"
"No, it makes me worried about myself that I can't keep up with Dara Hillstrom!"
Ha! Deanna, a ten year night-shifter, I've alway, always fallen asleep in every movie started after 3pm. I've always been the one yawning and thinking about bed starting at about 7pm. But not now, not since being a mom (after 8pm is the only time I have to myself, all you parents know this!) and especially not since our arrival in the US. I am still so loving being here, I'm so grateful, I'm so soaking in every minute. Even many, many minutes into the wee hours of the morning. It's true I probably can't keep walking on this cloud 9 for too long but for now I just feel like I'm walking hand in hand in the goodness of the Lord and I'm soaking in this season. Loving it! Every. Single. Day. I'm rejoicing in all we've come through and all the greatness we're experiencing here. Mostly the people we're spending time with. It is so, so good-- great enough to stay up for! Thank you friends. Thank you Jesus.

greetings from Idaho

...where life is good and fun-times with friends continue...

o happy day

One of my favorite days. Ever.

(It was really bright!) 

i am lost for words

Yesterday at church we sang a Jeremy Riddle song, throughout, my spirit resonated with all that's going on in my life right now, all the joy that I'm experiencing. We've just spent the last several days doing more new things with very, very influencial and important people who have walked with me to where we are today. To have our families together brings such amazing joy to my heart. The last time I was with them was in 2011 when I flew to Ethiopia as they welcomed their new daughter into their family. For us all be together in their home was pure sweetness. So good! My soul rejoices! 

(Ethiopia 2011)

(Wisconsin 2013:)

Each of these pictures brings me really, really deep joy! And with that, I continue to praise the Lord with where we are! Jesus, you are more than a friend!

More than a Friend

In the quiet of my soul 
In the stillness I hear Your voice call
And I am overwhelmed
And I am lost for words
To describe You

Jesus You're more than a friend
Jesus You're more than my heart could ever express
Your love and Your grace never fail me
Your merciful touch always heals me
You bring joy to my soul

My heart longs to worship You my King
And I long to bring You a pleasing offering
And I am overwhelmed
And I am lost for words
To describe You

God never gives anything we can't handle

I remember that day in 2010, just before I set out on a grand adventure that I was not prepared for. In. The. Least.
We were at the hospital, my sister awaiting the arrival of the quadruplets. Somehow our conversation lead to this...
Me: "I'm so grateful I'm not in your situation."
My sister: "I'm so glad to not be in yours!"
We all laughed, I dumbfounded that someone would rather have 4 children at once, than adopt one. I suppose my sister was grateful she wasn't taking off to a foreign land to do a seemingly impossible task.
Isn't that just how God is? We say it, don't we? "God doesn't give us anything we can't handle." Sometimes I don't believe it but when I think about the situations within my own family, I'm touched because God made so much good out of our individual situations. He's making the best out of our lives and there's so much goodness! I love that I have my situation and my sister has hers.

(This is what dinner time looks like)

(If I had quadruplets +2 I'm sure we'd never have "drive in movie" night)

(Nede's a huge help)

Some more of Nede's firsts:

(Pizza Hut) 

(Playing some sort of video game that I didn't know existed!) 

(We got to be part of Ethan's surprise 30th bday party) 

(Nede lives for cake!) 

(Building a bird house at Home Depot Kid workshop. Nede with a hammer me holding the pieces???) 

(Cheering at Thomas's basketball game. Yes, Nede wore her Spanish Home Depot apron the REST of the day.)