Branson Day 2.

Another great day with friends in Branson.

(very tired now)

Branson day 1.

We made it to Branson for the AWAA(our adoption agency) first reunion. I do not even know where to begin. These are people we have known for almost two years. We talked to each other on the phone, we prayed for each other we cried together we fasted together we rejoiced together well you get the picture. We follow each others blogs yet we never met most of them in person.

I wish all of you that could not have come were here.Meeting at Starbucks (where else). Got to have good coffee to start the day.
The girls spent more then an hour playing in the pink aisle.

Downtown Branson

Emma and Hannah

Jill and Silas

pool time

Upstate New York Day 6. Part II.

The kids started the evening by playing ring around the rosy while they were waiting for dinner to be finished. They had so much fun.

Josiah loved the big boys (Sam and Nate).

After dinner we had another mission going on. One of the boys wiffle balls got lost under the deck so they spent long time looking for it (They did find it).

This is one of those pictures with a story behind it. Penelope was taking pictures of Josiah and the girls wanted to see him but in the camera. So here they are looking at Josiah.

This is a pair of Alexandra's shoes. She was on a dock next to a pool with water and wanted to play in it.

I do not have to introduce Penelope to most of you.

And after all the evening drama we had some time of fun before bed time.

The boys teaching Josiah to play in a rock band.

And jumping of the rock.

It was big hit

Upstate New York Day 6. Part I.

Another day at the lake. However, the weather got colder.

The boys jumped right into the kayak and played in it for most of the morning. This is a picture of a rescue mission when Sam left Nate on some rocks and came back later to rescue him. As you can see it was successfully mission.

This picture is after Fil and Sam took a ride on the lake and the wind picked up. They both took different boats so they were on their own. Sam got stuck in the middle of the lake for some time but he did not panic and slowly made it back to Fil and they both came back in one piece.

My two fairy girls who were not cooperating for posing for my pictures. Oh well they are cute anyway.

And here they are running away from me.

This is Jo climing the stairs. Looking good even from the back :)

We are played inside for a while and this game was if you can fit the whole family into one chair. Jo was not happy about it at all.

Since it got chillier we went for a long walk in the afternoon to the neighboring North Lake.

And what do you by the lake if you do not have bathing suits with you?

Though rocks in of course.

Oh and look for stick weapons.

Sunday Reflections

It is impossible to get from preoccupation with behavior to the gospel. The gospel is not a message about doing things. It is a message about being a new creature. It speaks to people as broken, fallen sinners who are in need of a new heart. God has given His Son to make us new creatures. God does open-heart surgery, not a face-lift. He produces change from inside out. He rejects the man who fasts twice a week and accepts the sinner who cries for mercy.

--Tedd TrippFor the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope -- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Titus 2:11-14

Upstate New York Day 5.

Day five in Adirondacks started with some clouds. That did not stop the kids from playing in the water (it stopped me from putting my swim suit on). Daddy and Sam attacking (who know what).

Emma helping Josiah down the stairs.

Even Fil got cold playing in the water. Since the boys were full of energy Fil just let them paddle around the dock in a kayak. The boys got the hang of it after a while and it was so much fun watching them from the shore.

They took me for a cruise around the island and I had not laughed so much in a long time. We did make it back without getting wet.

And while the older two were busy in a kayak the four little ones were busy pretending cooking on the dock.

I believe chicken with peanut butter was on the menu.

Alexandra getting comfortable in the evening.

Ever popular 'smores'.

Emma and her daddy.