Sunday, December 22, 2013
Time4Learning Review
It is has been a month since we signed Eli up for Time4Learning and he has enjoyed getting to use the computer to "do school". The lessons are diverse and hit on several different subjects. He found most of them to be too easy so I suggest if your student is doing well in their grade level to sign them up for the next higher level if you want to provide a challenge. We loved having 30 days to try it and look forward to doing more!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
November 2013
As we celebrated Thanksgiving just a
few days ago, we thought that a list of everything we’re thankful for would be
an appropriate November entry. So here
goes, we have quite a list since we have a lot to be thankful for.
- Our relationship with Jesus Christ and the hope that it brings.
- Fantastic and God-centered family.
- Healthy kids (for the most part)
- 2 adorable foster daughters
- Wonderful friends, who bless us in immeasurable ways.
- A fantastic church family who are supportive, caring, and prayer warriors.
- God’s faithfulness...we have never been in want.
- A job that Jeff enjoys immensely and that allows him to spend time with family at Christmas.
- The upcoming season to celebrate our Savior’s birth.
- 6 amazing and CRAZY years with Elijah!
- Freedom to home-school.
- Blessing beyond what we deserve.
- The ability to connect with family overseas at the touch of a button.
- Nana & Papa getting to visit for Thanksgiving.
- Modern medicine.
- Provisions beyond our needs and often over and above our wants.
- Did we mention our salvation?
- Freedom to worship!
- Excellent kidney function (for the boys).
- Prayers answered.
- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-Control
 |
 |
| This photo slideshow created with Smilebox |
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Review
I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
October 2013
Fall is here! We welcomed cooler temperatures along with our 2nd foster child. We welcomed Marie into our family on October 10th. She was a itty bitty 5lb wonder. Born as a preemie she has some catching up to do. We are happy to report that she is growing steadily and is content for the most part. Feeding her every two hours can be exhausting but God is giving us the strength and energy for the sleepless nights and even busier days. We are enjoying having a baby in our house again and are all enthralled when she smiles at us!
Unfortunately, the sickness from last month continued through the month of October. All three of the "big" kids are finally on antibiotics at the same time and we hope this is the end of it. Please pray that November would see our family healthy and whole.
Co-op classes came to an end this month and we really enjoyed getting to see what the kids had done at the presentation night. Eli took the stage like a pro and put on a very entertaining dance and song for his Mike the Knight class where he learned about the armor of God. Thad was a little more shy and needed Daddy to help him accept his award on stage.
Mommy and Daddy thoroughly enjoyed a night out for their friends annual Costume Party. They both took best costume for the second year in a row! It was their first murder mystery party but neither ended up figuring out the true culprit. They still had a great time and Marie was a big hit too!
Another highlight of the month was the Dads & Lads camping trip put on by the home school group we are a part of. It was Eli's first camping trip and he LOVED it. We are already planning another outing when Thad can join the guys!
We continued our weekly soccer games, ASK, Everyday Heroes, and BSF. Daddy also had parent-teacher conferences and started tutoring some junior high students in science. In our free time (ha, ha), we hung out with friends and tried to sleep!
We hope you enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for next months blog when you will get to see how much fun a six year old's birthday party can be!!!
Unfortunately, the sickness from last month continued through the month of October. All three of the "big" kids are finally on antibiotics at the same time and we hope this is the end of it. Please pray that November would see our family healthy and whole.
Co-op classes came to an end this month and we really enjoyed getting to see what the kids had done at the presentation night. Eli took the stage like a pro and put on a very entertaining dance and song for his Mike the Knight class where he learned about the armor of God. Thad was a little more shy and needed Daddy to help him accept his award on stage.
Mommy and Daddy thoroughly enjoyed a night out for their friends annual Costume Party. They both took best costume for the second year in a row! It was their first murder mystery party but neither ended up figuring out the true culprit. They still had a great time and Marie was a big hit too!
Another highlight of the month was the Dads & Lads camping trip put on by the home school group we are a part of. It was Eli's first camping trip and he LOVED it. We are already planning another outing when Thad can join the guys!
We continued our weekly soccer games, ASK, Everyday Heroes, and BSF. Daddy also had parent-teacher conferences and started tutoring some junior high students in science. In our free time (ha, ha), we hung out with friends and tried to sleep!
We hope you enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for next months blog when you will get to see how much fun a six year old's birthday party can be!!!
 |
|
| Customize your own slideshow |
Sunday, September 29, 2013
September 2013
Is it the end of September already? This month certainly flew by for us. There was so much packed into this month but I will try to narrow it down to the Reader's Digest Condensed Version!
I think I will start with the big news first. It is official...we are finally foster parents! Our final inspection went great, we opened on September 5th and accepted our first child on September 12. Valeria is a spunky little two year old with big brown eyes and a mass of curls that can get unruly at times. She has fit in well with our family and we enjoy making her laugh. Our lives will never be the same.
Eli had allergy testing the beginning of the month. Following the doctor's recommendations, we are continuing on a gluten free diet and he is on another medication to help heal the burns in his esophagus. It is tough at times for him to not eat gluten, especially when we are around others who are enjoying it but it has helped tremendously to eliminate this from our diet.
Eli participated in his 2nd Triathlon this month. We are so proud of him for his awesome effort! He decided to do the swim this year without his life jacket. He then jumped on his bike and took off. He ended the event by running across the finish line. The boys then headed to their first Razorback football game while Mommy and Valeria went clothes shopping. Fun was had by all!
This month we kicked off several activities. On Monday afternoons, Eli started ASK (After School Kids) which is a Bible Study geared towards kindergarten through 6th graders. As part of the program he has bible homework that he does several nights a week.On Wednesday mornings, we head to Bible Study Fellowship where we are studying the book of Matthew. We also started our Co-op classes through our home-school group on Thursday afternoons. Both boys are taking a class on Dr. Seuss, then Eli heads to Mike the Knight where they are learning about the armor of God and Thad goes to Community Helpers where he is learning about dentists, firemen, policemen, etc. Valeria and I are in the nursery helping care for all the babies during the class time. And finally, Everyday Heroes began on Sunday evenings. This is a program that is very similar to AWANA. Thad is so excited to be able to participate this year. He was even more excited when he found out Mommy was going to teach his class. (I can't seem to escape toddlers/preschoolers these days!). We continue to meet with our Wednesday night small group and our Friday night friends group. Eli also started fall soccer and he plays games on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings.
In the middle of all this busyness, we also experienced sickness. Valeria was very sick when she came to us and went through a round of antibiotics for ear infections, sinus infection and borderline pneumonia. We also had to get her shots updated which made for a very unpleasant afternoon after she bravely endured 6 shots. Thad ended up with a fever virus that knocked him off his feet for a solid week. Unfortunately, he shared it with his brother and now Eli is down.
Our prayers are for restored health and that any children who enter our door would experience the love of Jesus through our family. Please join us in this prayer!
I think I will start with the big news first. It is official...we are finally foster parents! Our final inspection went great, we opened on September 5th and accepted our first child on September 12. Valeria is a spunky little two year old with big brown eyes and a mass of curls that can get unruly at times. She has fit in well with our family and we enjoy making her laugh. Our lives will never be the same.
Eli had allergy testing the beginning of the month. Following the doctor's recommendations, we are continuing on a gluten free diet and he is on another medication to help heal the burns in his esophagus. It is tough at times for him to not eat gluten, especially when we are around others who are enjoying it but it has helped tremendously to eliminate this from our diet.
Eli participated in his 2nd Triathlon this month. We are so proud of him for his awesome effort! He decided to do the swim this year without his life jacket. He then jumped on his bike and took off. He ended the event by running across the finish line. The boys then headed to their first Razorback football game while Mommy and Valeria went clothes shopping. Fun was had by all!
This month we kicked off several activities. On Monday afternoons, Eli started ASK (After School Kids) which is a Bible Study geared towards kindergarten through 6th graders. As part of the program he has bible homework that he does several nights a week.On Wednesday mornings, we head to Bible Study Fellowship where we are studying the book of Matthew. We also started our Co-op classes through our home-school group on Thursday afternoons. Both boys are taking a class on Dr. Seuss, then Eli heads to Mike the Knight where they are learning about the armor of God and Thad goes to Community Helpers where he is learning about dentists, firemen, policemen, etc. Valeria and I are in the nursery helping care for all the babies during the class time. And finally, Everyday Heroes began on Sunday evenings. This is a program that is very similar to AWANA. Thad is so excited to be able to participate this year. He was even more excited when he found out Mommy was going to teach his class. (I can't seem to escape toddlers/preschoolers these days!). We continue to meet with our Wednesday night small group and our Friday night friends group. Eli also started fall soccer and he plays games on Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings.
In the middle of all this busyness, we also experienced sickness. Valeria was very sick when she came to us and went through a round of antibiotics for ear infections, sinus infection and borderline pneumonia. We also had to get her shots updated which made for a very unpleasant afternoon after she bravely endured 6 shots. Thad ended up with a fever virus that knocked him off his feet for a solid week. Unfortunately, he shared it with his brother and now Eli is down.
Our prayers are for restored health and that any children who enter our door would experience the love of Jesus through our family. Please join us in this prayer!
 |
|
| This free picture slideshow created with Smilebox |
Friday, August 30, 2013
August 2013
August was another busy month. We fit in as many activities as we could before Daddy went back to school. Summer vacation has ended and our lives have picked up the pace. Read on for more details.
We enjoyed several free activities in the area. The STEPS Resource Center that helps strengthen families hosted a duck derby at the "train playground" so we went and enjoyed the festivities. We purchased a duck and cheered it on as it floated down the "river" that the firemen made in the middle of the park. Our duck didn't win but we really enjoyed all the fun family activities. There was even a duck calling contest! On another evening there was a family fun night hosted by the local police, fire, and emergency services. The kids got a chance to dunk the police chief and sheriff, ride a pony, and play more games.
We decided to go hiking at Lake Fort Smith State Park one Saturday and started early to beat the heat. We finished our hike drenched in sweat so we headed straight for the pool for a fun time of cooling off. The boys are such fish that it is almost impossible to get them out of the water. Side Note: At some point this summer Thad grew taller and his head is now above the water in our pool at home!
Another trip to the zoo was in order and we had a blast looking at and even touching some of the animals. We enjoyed the sea lion show again and had fun at the petting zoo.
As you will see in the smilebox, Ms. Laura came and took the boys pics again. She is so patient and has such a good eye. Eli especially loved hamming it up for the camera! Many of the pics were taken at Pendegraft National Park downtown. It is a really neat place and has tons of great places for pics (the boys are sitting on a cannon in many of the pics and are on the back of train cars in others).
Our foster parenting journey continued and we had all our home studies done this month. The sessions were very intense at times and we are glad to be past that part. We were "approved" and now our house has to pass final inspection next week and we will be open! Please continue to pray for discernment so we will bring the right children into our home that will fit with our family.
Jeff started back to school the first part of the month. So far he is loving it! He has an awesome schedule and some really great students. Please pray that he would have good health this school year.
Eli is thriving in his studies. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I never would have guessed that he would be such a little sponge, eager to absorb everything I throw at him. He absolutely loves math and reading. I can't keep up with all he wants to learn! Praise God for an early love for learning. Please pray that I would foster that love and excitement and that God would give me creative ways to teach my children.
Thad likes to "do school" right along side brother. He is working on his letter sounds and pretends to read. He wants to do everything brother does and is not content to color in a book. He wants the same math worksheets and all.
We enjoyed a night at the water park with the home school group we joined. It was fun to start making relationships with other families in the same boat. We hope to start co-op classes in the next few weeks and make even more friends.
In the midst of all these activities we also visited with friends as much as possible and attended all our "regular" church activities. We are looking forward to being involved in several new ministries in September and the boys can't wait to do Everyday Heroes.
We hope that you all had a wonderful summer and we able to spend time with the ones you love. God bless!
We enjoyed several free activities in the area. The STEPS Resource Center that helps strengthen families hosted a duck derby at the "train playground" so we went and enjoyed the festivities. We purchased a duck and cheered it on as it floated down the "river" that the firemen made in the middle of the park. Our duck didn't win but we really enjoyed all the fun family activities. There was even a duck calling contest! On another evening there was a family fun night hosted by the local police, fire, and emergency services. The kids got a chance to dunk the police chief and sheriff, ride a pony, and play more games.
We decided to go hiking at Lake Fort Smith State Park one Saturday and started early to beat the heat. We finished our hike drenched in sweat so we headed straight for the pool for a fun time of cooling off. The boys are such fish that it is almost impossible to get them out of the water. Side Note: At some point this summer Thad grew taller and his head is now above the water in our pool at home!
Another trip to the zoo was in order and we had a blast looking at and even touching some of the animals. We enjoyed the sea lion show again and had fun at the petting zoo.
As you will see in the smilebox, Ms. Laura came and took the boys pics again. She is so patient and has such a good eye. Eli especially loved hamming it up for the camera! Many of the pics were taken at Pendegraft National Park downtown. It is a really neat place and has tons of great places for pics (the boys are sitting on a cannon in many of the pics and are on the back of train cars in others).
Our foster parenting journey continued and we had all our home studies done this month. The sessions were very intense at times and we are glad to be past that part. We were "approved" and now our house has to pass final inspection next week and we will be open! Please continue to pray for discernment so we will bring the right children into our home that will fit with our family.
Jeff started back to school the first part of the month. So far he is loving it! He has an awesome schedule and some really great students. Please pray that he would have good health this school year.
Eli is thriving in his studies. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect but I never would have guessed that he would be such a little sponge, eager to absorb everything I throw at him. He absolutely loves math and reading. I can't keep up with all he wants to learn! Praise God for an early love for learning. Please pray that I would foster that love and excitement and that God would give me creative ways to teach my children.
Thad likes to "do school" right along side brother. He is working on his letter sounds and pretends to read. He wants to do everything brother does and is not content to color in a book. He wants the same math worksheets and all.
We enjoyed a night at the water park with the home school group we joined. It was fun to start making relationships with other families in the same boat. We hope to start co-op classes in the next few weeks and make even more friends.
In the midst of all these activities we also visited with friends as much as possible and attended all our "regular" church activities. We are looking forward to being involved in several new ministries in September and the boys can't wait to do Everyday Heroes.
We hope that you all had a wonderful summer and we able to spend time with the ones you love. God bless!
 |
|
| Another free digital slideshow by Smilebox |
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
July 2013
The theme of July was "on the road again". We did lots of travelling and were blessed to visit almost all our family and many of our friends. The kids did great for all the hours of sitting they had to do in order to get to our far off relatives. There was so much activity packed into this month but I will try to keep it brief so you can enjoy the pictures.
For the past three years we have kicked off the month of July with a birthday party for Thad. This year was no exception and like other years he was given multiple parties as we celebrated with many people. He received many wonderful gifts from swim apparel and toys to fishing supplies to games and puzzles. One of the funnier moments of his first party was his exclamation after opening his new beach towel. He said over and over, "Thanks so much for my new rug Mommy and Daddy!" It was hard to convince him it was a towel! Silly little boy.
We also enjoyed the 4th of July parade in Sheboygan again this year. We have been blessed by the friendship of Ms. Anita and her generosity in having all the family come for the parade and cook-out! God blessed us once again with beautiful weather and fun was had by all. The fireworks were awesome and it is so much fun to get to watch them with our cousins.
During this time, we found out the test results from Eli's procedures last month and were told he has allergies. We now wait for an opening with an allergist at Children's Hospital for further testing. Please pray for healing and answers as to what is causing all his stomach pains. We also found out the test scores for Jeff's AP Chemistry students. His kids did phenomenal and as a result Jeff will be awarded money to buy supplies for his classroom. Thank you Lord for this blessing!
We had two reunions in the first weekend of July. First, we got together with friends from Rawhide. We now have so many kids between all of us that we fill and entire swing-set at the playground and then some! It was another gorgeous day and we had a great time catching up with old friends and watching the kids play until they were wore out. Next was the Rice family reunion. We had spent time on and off over the weeks leading up to this so it was a great way to cap off the time together.
As you will see in the pictures, we spent tons of time in the great outdoors. We enjoyed everything from swimming in Lake Michigan to the Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan.
After our time in Wisconsin, we packed up and headed north to Upper Michigan to visit with Leigh Ann's parents. Once again, we enjoyed beautiful weather and fun with family. Nana and Papa live in a gorgeous area right on Lake Superior. The beaches were plentiful and the scenery was breathtaking. The kids spent as much time in the water as they could while we were there.
After we returned home, Jeff started two weeks of training for school. Leigh Ann and the kids used this time to catch up with friends. We were also blessed with a HUGE answer to prayer. God provided a mini-van in a way that could only be from Him. Praise God for answered prayer!!! We now have room for several more car-seats! We are still waiting for our homestudy to be done. Please pray we would be patient for God's timing in all this. We are so excited and can't wait to meet the child/children God has for us!
There is so much more I could tell you but because the smilebox is the longest I have ever done, I will wrap this up. WARNING.. The smilebox is over 200 pictures long. It will take a while to get through it. I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures. We have been so blessed and it is hard to narrow it down to show you only a few. Next month will be shorter...I promise!
For the past three years we have kicked off the month of July with a birthday party for Thad. This year was no exception and like other years he was given multiple parties as we celebrated with many people. He received many wonderful gifts from swim apparel and toys to fishing supplies to games and puzzles. One of the funnier moments of his first party was his exclamation after opening his new beach towel. He said over and over, "Thanks so much for my new rug Mommy and Daddy!" It was hard to convince him it was a towel! Silly little boy.
We also enjoyed the 4th of July parade in Sheboygan again this year. We have been blessed by the friendship of Ms. Anita and her generosity in having all the family come for the parade and cook-out! God blessed us once again with beautiful weather and fun was had by all. The fireworks were awesome and it is so much fun to get to watch them with our cousins.
During this time, we found out the test results from Eli's procedures last month and were told he has allergies. We now wait for an opening with an allergist at Children's Hospital for further testing. Please pray for healing and answers as to what is causing all his stomach pains. We also found out the test scores for Jeff's AP Chemistry students. His kids did phenomenal and as a result Jeff will be awarded money to buy supplies for his classroom. Thank you Lord for this blessing!
We had two reunions in the first weekend of July. First, we got together with friends from Rawhide. We now have so many kids between all of us that we fill and entire swing-set at the playground and then some! It was another gorgeous day and we had a great time catching up with old friends and watching the kids play until they were wore out. Next was the Rice family reunion. We had spent time on and off over the weeks leading up to this so it was a great way to cap off the time together.
As you will see in the pictures, we spent tons of time in the great outdoors. We enjoyed everything from swimming in Lake Michigan to the Bookworm Gardens in Sheboygan.
After our time in Wisconsin, we packed up and headed north to Upper Michigan to visit with Leigh Ann's parents. Once again, we enjoyed beautiful weather and fun with family. Nana and Papa live in a gorgeous area right on Lake Superior. The beaches were plentiful and the scenery was breathtaking. The kids spent as much time in the water as they could while we were there.
After we returned home, Jeff started two weeks of training for school. Leigh Ann and the kids used this time to catch up with friends. We were also blessed with a HUGE answer to prayer. God provided a mini-van in a way that could only be from Him. Praise God for answered prayer!!! We now have room for several more car-seats! We are still waiting for our homestudy to be done. Please pray we would be patient for God's timing in all this. We are so excited and can't wait to meet the child/children God has for us!
There is so much more I could tell you but because the smilebox is the longest I have ever done, I will wrap this up. WARNING.. The smilebox is over 200 pictures long. It will take a while to get through it. I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures. We have been so blessed and it is hard to narrow it down to show you only a few. Next month will be shorter...I promise!
 |
|
| This picture slideshow personalized with Smilebox |
Monday, July 1, 2013
June 2013
Summer officially started this month and with it the temperatures that make you sweat within seconds of stepping outside the house. It made running a little more challenging and keeping hydrated even harder. The temperatures didn't keep us in the house though and we enjoyed many fun activities this month.
The month kicked off with Eli taking his first golf lessons. He took to it like a pro and enjoyed golfing with Daddy, friends, and Grandpa Rice. Thad also took his first swings and enjoyed walking the course as much as the rest of the guys.
Eli also learned to ride his bike without training wheels. One day, he decided to take them off and ride without them. He took to it like most athletic things and within a short time was riding like a pro. He has had his share of road rash but it is more because he likes to do crazy things then because he doesn't ride well. I have been told that it is a boy thing!
Eli got to take his first road trip with just he and Dad. They loaded Nana and Papa's stuff in a Budget Truck and drove the 16 hour trip to Upper Michigan. They unloaded and then they headed to Wisconsin to drop off the truck and jump in the van with Grandma and Grandpa who drove them the rest of the way home. All of this took a span of four days...Whew!
We enjoyed a trip to the Monkey House bounce house this month too. The inflatables are so much fun to jump on and are a really good work out. The kids were so tired after that they took great naps. It was fun to have their friend Travis along too.
We finished up our physicals, turned in our paperwork, and are now waiting for the home study to begin. Foster parent training is not for the faint of heart. Waiting is so hard and we have been told the next part of the process is the longest! Please continue to pray for God to pave the way and that we would welcome children into our home that would be a good fit with our family. We are also praying for a mini-van. We have had cause to put three car-seats across the back of our car on a couple of occasions now and it is not a good fit!
Part of our adventures this month was a trip to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Eli underwent a procedure to try and discover the cause of his stomach pains. The scope revealed burns in his esophagus. We won't have a definitive diagnosis until the biopsies come back in a few more days. The rest of his digestive tract looks good which is a huge praise! Please pray for a clear diagnosis and easy treatment that will quickly heal the burns.
We enjoyed visits from Ms. Laura Scheible, Grandma and Grandpa Rice, and our cousins from Illinois. We didn't realize we could fit 16 people in our house let alone sleep them all for a few days. It was a cozy fit and we had a great time. The pool got a work out for sure!
Next we headed to Illinois to be a part of Cousin Caleb's graduation party. Eli had another first when he got to shoot Micah's gun. Thank you Micah and Caleb for the shooting lessons! He and Thad had a blast being real cowboys. They put on their boots, played with the farm animals, and even enjoyed riding a horse! Thanks Rebekah for the awesome rides! Completing the cowboy activities was barn dance complete with caller. We learned many new dances and did the dosado until we had blisters! It was so much fun. Congratulations Caleb on your graduation!
As I write this, we are in Wisconsin on the next leg of our road trip. July holds so much more fun but you will have to wait until next month to hear more! Until then, enjoy the pictures.
The month kicked off with Eli taking his first golf lessons. He took to it like a pro and enjoyed golfing with Daddy, friends, and Grandpa Rice. Thad also took his first swings and enjoyed walking the course as much as the rest of the guys.
Eli also learned to ride his bike without training wheels. One day, he decided to take them off and ride without them. He took to it like most athletic things and within a short time was riding like a pro. He has had his share of road rash but it is more because he likes to do crazy things then because he doesn't ride well. I have been told that it is a boy thing!
Eli got to take his first road trip with just he and Dad. They loaded Nana and Papa's stuff in a Budget Truck and drove the 16 hour trip to Upper Michigan. They unloaded and then they headed to Wisconsin to drop off the truck and jump in the van with Grandma and Grandpa who drove them the rest of the way home. All of this took a span of four days...Whew!
We enjoyed a trip to the Monkey House bounce house this month too. The inflatables are so much fun to jump on and are a really good work out. The kids were so tired after that they took great naps. It was fun to have their friend Travis along too.
We finished up our physicals, turned in our paperwork, and are now waiting for the home study to begin. Foster parent training is not for the faint of heart. Waiting is so hard and we have been told the next part of the process is the longest! Please continue to pray for God to pave the way and that we would welcome children into our home that would be a good fit with our family. We are also praying for a mini-van. We have had cause to put three car-seats across the back of our car on a couple of occasions now and it is not a good fit!
Part of our adventures this month was a trip to Children's Hospital in Little Rock. Eli underwent a procedure to try and discover the cause of his stomach pains. The scope revealed burns in his esophagus. We won't have a definitive diagnosis until the biopsies come back in a few more days. The rest of his digestive tract looks good which is a huge praise! Please pray for a clear diagnosis and easy treatment that will quickly heal the burns.
We enjoyed visits from Ms. Laura Scheible, Grandma and Grandpa Rice, and our cousins from Illinois. We didn't realize we could fit 16 people in our house let alone sleep them all for a few days. It was a cozy fit and we had a great time. The pool got a work out for sure!
Next we headed to Illinois to be a part of Cousin Caleb's graduation party. Eli had another first when he got to shoot Micah's gun. Thank you Micah and Caleb for the shooting lessons! He and Thad had a blast being real cowboys. They put on their boots, played with the farm animals, and even enjoyed riding a horse! Thanks Rebekah for the awesome rides! Completing the cowboy activities was barn dance complete with caller. We learned many new dances and did the dosado until we had blisters! It was so much fun. Congratulations Caleb on your graduation!
As I write this, we are in Wisconsin on the next leg of our road trip. July holds so much more fun but you will have to wait until next month to hear more! Until then, enjoy the pictures.
 |
|
| This free digital slideshow customized with Smilebox |
Saturday, June 1, 2013
May 2013
May was a month of endings in our house.
- Foster Parent Training ended. The next step is to complete our physicals, turn in our mountain of paperwork, and wait for another home evaluation.
- Bible Study Fellowship ended. The study of Genesis was wonderful and we are looking forward to Matthew in the fall.
- School ended. It was a great year for Jeff and he too is looking forward to classes in the fall.
- Everyday Heroes, a children's ministry at church, ended for Eli. Both he and Thad are looking forward to attending this fall.
- Women Run Arkansas finished for Leigh Ann. She has come a long way since her heel recovered and is hoping to train for longer distances and maybe even a half marathon!
- Our time with the Andersons ended. It was another sad goodbye but we are thankful for the time we got to spend with them and for Skype that allows us to keep in touch.
Endings can be joyous times if we thank God for his provision in allowing us to participate in these activities and in the lives of the ones we love but endings can also be very sad. This is the place we found ourselves as May came to a close. We were so thankful for God's many blessings but sad to see them come to an end.
We are also thankful that June is a month for new beginnings. Several have already started and we can't wait to tell you about them next month! Until then, enjoy the slideshow.
 |
|
| Personalize a digital slideshow |
Thursday, May 2, 2013
April 2013
April has meant rain, sickness, training, and soccer! The weather has alternated between cold and rainy and hot and humid. We are hoping it makes its mind up in May so we can swim in our pool!
We were busy once again with BSF, school, small group, run clinic, soccer, and foster parent training. We also tried to squeeze in a few days with family.
Soccer has been the name of the game for Eli. He has a great coach who is more then patient with the kids. Eli has gone from kicking the ball wildly in all directions to being relatively controlled and scoring multiple goals a game. He has scored most of the goals for his team and occasionally scores them for the other team! He is super fast and is fun to watch. He loves to play but can't wait to get an icee with his team after the game at the concession stand. Unfortunately, due to rain, several of his games have been cancelled but it has also meant the other games have been in cooler weather rather then the 80's we experienced last year.
Jeff and I are so thankful for the help of family and friends in watching the boys so we could undergo 30 hours of foster parent training over 2 weekends this month. Next up is CPR/First Aid Training. home studies, and the completion of LOADS of paperwork. Please pray that our home would open in God's perfect timing and that he brings children that will be a great fit for our family.
We have had to contend with several bouts of sickness this month. Leigh Ann got strep, Thad fought a double ear infection, and Eli is still enduring stomach cramping multiple times a day. The kids saw their kidney specialist this month. It was hard to hear that Eli's kidneys are now bigger then an adults. We also took Eli to see a pediatric GI doctor. We still don't have a definitive diagnosis but have a course of treatment to hopefully help solve the problem or at least rule out some possibilities.
I almost forgot, in the midst of multiple doctor's appointments, we celebrated our 7th anniversary. It has been a wild ride and we can't wait to see what the next seven hold!
Until next time, God bless!
We were busy once again with BSF, school, small group, run clinic, soccer, and foster parent training. We also tried to squeeze in a few days with family.
Soccer has been the name of the game for Eli. He has a great coach who is more then patient with the kids. Eli has gone from kicking the ball wildly in all directions to being relatively controlled and scoring multiple goals a game. He has scored most of the goals for his team and occasionally scores them for the other team! He is super fast and is fun to watch. He loves to play but can't wait to get an icee with his team after the game at the concession stand. Unfortunately, due to rain, several of his games have been cancelled but it has also meant the other games have been in cooler weather rather then the 80's we experienced last year.
Jeff and I are so thankful for the help of family and friends in watching the boys so we could undergo 30 hours of foster parent training over 2 weekends this month. Next up is CPR/First Aid Training. home studies, and the completion of LOADS of paperwork. Please pray that our home would open in God's perfect timing and that he brings children that will be a great fit for our family.
We have had to contend with several bouts of sickness this month. Leigh Ann got strep, Thad fought a double ear infection, and Eli is still enduring stomach cramping multiple times a day. The kids saw their kidney specialist this month. It was hard to hear that Eli's kidneys are now bigger then an adults. We also took Eli to see a pediatric GI doctor. We still don't have a definitive diagnosis but have a course of treatment to hopefully help solve the problem or at least rule out some possibilities.
I almost forgot, in the midst of multiple doctor's appointments, we celebrated our 7th anniversary. It has been a wild ride and we can't wait to see what the next seven hold!
Until next time, God bless!
 |
|
| This picture slideshow customized with Smilebox |
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
March 2013
March was a strange month in the Rice household. The weather kept alternating between spring highs in the low 80s and winter lows in the 40s complete with rain, sleet, and hail. Two weekends of foster parent training were planned and all set to go and then were cancelled at the last minute. There were also some new beginnings. Read on for more details...
This month saw Leigh Ann start her third year of Women Run Arkansas. Her heel is much better and she is up to running 3 miles. It has been a long healing process and she is frustrated by how much she has lost but at least she is running again. One step at a time...
The newest member to our family entered the world on March 7th. Olivia Jane was born to Amos and Meredith. She is a healthy, sweet, tiny blessing. We have had some precious times getting to know this new little one!
We enjoyed Spring Break complete with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Rice. We spent time at a few local attractions but due to yucky weather had to stay indoors most of the time. Jeff became famous at the beginning of break when he was interviewed by the local news station as we swam at a pool in Northwest Arkansas. Our neighbors have been asking for his autograph!
Eli's soccer season started but so far all his games have been cancelled due to rain. We hope to bring you pictures and news of his season next month.
Easter weekend brought family to our home for dinner and an egg hunt. It was fun for the cousins to play together and we enjoyed fellowship over good food. Sunday morning started with rain and clouds but by the time church was over the sun was shining and it was warm. It was a glorious reminder of the darkness on Good Friday followed by the Son Shine on Easter morning. He is Risen!!!! We hope and pray that Easter found you celebrating our Risen Lord too!
This month saw Leigh Ann start her third year of Women Run Arkansas. Her heel is much better and she is up to running 3 miles. It has been a long healing process and she is frustrated by how much she has lost but at least she is running again. One step at a time...
The newest member to our family entered the world on March 7th. Olivia Jane was born to Amos and Meredith. She is a healthy, sweet, tiny blessing. We have had some precious times getting to know this new little one!
We enjoyed Spring Break complete with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Rice. We spent time at a few local attractions but due to yucky weather had to stay indoors most of the time. Jeff became famous at the beginning of break when he was interviewed by the local news station as we swam at a pool in Northwest Arkansas. Our neighbors have been asking for his autograph!
Eli's soccer season started but so far all his games have been cancelled due to rain. We hope to bring you pictures and news of his season next month.
Easter weekend brought family to our home for dinner and an egg hunt. It was fun for the cousins to play together and we enjoyed fellowship over good food. Sunday morning started with rain and clouds but by the time church was over the sun was shining and it was warm. It was a glorious reminder of the darkness on Good Friday followed by the Son Shine on Easter morning. He is Risen!!!! We hope and pray that Easter found you celebrating our Risen Lord too!
 |
|
| Another free picture slideshow by Smilebox |
Sunday, March 3, 2013
February 2013
February started like most other months...BSF, small group, school, etc. Then we attended church on February 10th and our lives might never be the same! It was on this Sunday that we heard a presentation from the C.A.L.L. (Children of Arkansas Loved for a Lifetime) and Jeff and I knew we were being called to join this organization.
What does that mean you might ask. Here is a synopsis from their website:
Mobilizing the Christian community to provide a future
Jeff and I have known for a long time that we wanted to be foster parents but always pictured teenagers in our home. Due to the age of our own kids, we felt it best not to do this until they were at least teenagers and maybe older. On this Sunday though, God made it clear to both of us that we were more then capable of taking in babies and toddlers NOW!
Now what? Well, we have six months of training, home visits, background checks, etc before our house will be opened. At any point in the process, DHS could find us or our home unacceptable for fostering and that is as far as it will go. We have no idea if six months from now it will be life as usual or if we will be welcoming new children into our home.
Suffice it to say, we need your prayers. We need strength, stamina, and health for our whole family in the coming months. We need wisdom and guidance in knowing the right kind of child that would fit into our family. DHS and DCFS need wisdom to place the children in the correct home. The CALL needs wisdom to train us properly and in a God centered manner.
In other Rice Home News, I attended a Bible Study Fellowship Leaders Retreat in Memphis. It was an intense weekend of Bible training and challenges to eradicate Biblical Poverty/Illiteracy. Our nation is in a sad state where people no longer read, own, or are taught even the simplest of Bible stories. There is an entire generation that have never attended church, feel as if God is irrelevant to their lives, and are bringing their children up in the same manner. We need to be on our knees for our nation and teaching our children, grandchildren, neighbors, etc the truth of God and His Word.
The following week we headed to Illinois to stay at Jeff's brother's house while we attended a doctors appointment for Jeff in St. Louis. It was a very productive trip despite being caught in a horrible snowstorm. The doctor had some new treatment options for Jeff that are neither invasive nor dangerous AND we got to spend a fun filled weekend with family. Thad ended up with strep throat but quickly bounced back once given antibiotics.
We were also able to spend time with Leigh Ann's side of the family several times during the month. We are eagerly awaiting the birth of Amos and Meredith's baby girl any day now.
The month ended with my attendance at the kick off of Women Run Arkansas Fort Smith. This is the start of the free 10 week running clinic. I am hoping that my heel does well enough to allow me to participate the whole 10 weeks!
I hope that you, like us, are able to praise God for his wonderful provision of his Son, Jesus Christ. I also hope this spurs you on to spend time daily in God's word and with him in prayer. Nothing else matters!
What does that mean you might ask. Here is a synopsis from their website:
Mobilizing the Christian community to provide a future
and a hope to children in Arkansas foster care.
There are about 3,500 children in the Arkansas State Foster Care System at any given time. These children come into state custody through no fault of their own - it is because of abuse, neglect, or some other safety concern in the home. For instance, there are about 7,000 children in foster care in Arkansas within a year, and there are only about 1,100 foster families available to care for those children! Plus, there are over 500 children available for adoption through foster care in our state. It's a crisis shortage!
It's time for the Body of Christ to step up and meet the needs of these children in our own neighborhoods. We are asking you, if you are called, to care for one of these precious children through foster care, adoption, respite care, or volunteering in some way.
Now what? Well, we have six months of training, home visits, background checks, etc before our house will be opened. At any point in the process, DHS could find us or our home unacceptable for fostering and that is as far as it will go. We have no idea if six months from now it will be life as usual or if we will be welcoming new children into our home.
Suffice it to say, we need your prayers. We need strength, stamina, and health for our whole family in the coming months. We need wisdom and guidance in knowing the right kind of child that would fit into our family. DHS and DCFS need wisdom to place the children in the correct home. The CALL needs wisdom to train us properly and in a God centered manner.
In other Rice Home News, I attended a Bible Study Fellowship Leaders Retreat in Memphis. It was an intense weekend of Bible training and challenges to eradicate Biblical Poverty/Illiteracy. Our nation is in a sad state where people no longer read, own, or are taught even the simplest of Bible stories. There is an entire generation that have never attended church, feel as if God is irrelevant to their lives, and are bringing their children up in the same manner. We need to be on our knees for our nation and teaching our children, grandchildren, neighbors, etc the truth of God and His Word.
The following week we headed to Illinois to stay at Jeff's brother's house while we attended a doctors appointment for Jeff in St. Louis. It was a very productive trip despite being caught in a horrible snowstorm. The doctor had some new treatment options for Jeff that are neither invasive nor dangerous AND we got to spend a fun filled weekend with family. Thad ended up with strep throat but quickly bounced back once given antibiotics.
We were also able to spend time with Leigh Ann's side of the family several times during the month. We are eagerly awaiting the birth of Amos and Meredith's baby girl any day now.
The month ended with my attendance at the kick off of Women Run Arkansas Fort Smith. This is the start of the free 10 week running clinic. I am hoping that my heel does well enough to allow me to participate the whole 10 weeks!
Other then that, nothing much is going on in our lives!
I hope that you, like us, are able to praise God for his wonderful provision of his Son, Jesus Christ. I also hope this spurs you on to spend time daily in God's word and with him in prayer. Nothing else matters!
 |
|
| Digital slideshow customized with Smilebox |
Friday, February 1, 2013
January 2013
Is it really February already? Where did January go? Hmmm
After a great Christmas break, we jumped back into our routine and hit the ground running. From BSF to Small Group, to babysitting, there were very few dull moments. There have been MANY enjoyable times so far in 2013 but for the sake of time and space I will only highlight a few.
One Sunday, we enjoyed a trip to Russellville and an opportunity to go to our church there and reconnect with friends and family. It was a potluck Sunday and it was definitely our "luck". Food and fellowship should always go hand-in-hand!!! We also visited with friends who were in the hospital. For once, we got to be on the giving end of encouraging someone who is in the hospital. We always said that if the tables were ever turned we would reach out to those like so many reached out to us on our many stays in the hospital. It was a great opportunity for our children to experience loving others through hard times too.
We also enjoyed several visits from Nana and Papa. The boys, especially Thad, always look for the special surprise that they deliver when they come... donuts! It has already become a tradition, so much so that Thad started crying when Papa didn't bring them one time. Can you say SPOILED!
We were blessed with not one but two date nights this month. After spending much time deciding what to do with ourselves, we usually end up grabbing a bite to eat and then going for a walk or just snuggling on the couch, without two kids between us. Ah, remember when...
The biggest highlight of the month was by far and away our reunion with the Anderson's. We have known for a while that Amos, Meredith, Isaiah, and Seth would be returning to the states for a short time so Meredith can give birth to their first girl. We did not, however, inform Eli and Thad until a few days before. Even then, we were asked, a least a million times, when Isaiah and Seth would be here. Every time a plane flew over, Eli would ask if Isaiah was on it. So, you can imagine the joyful reunion that Eli and Isaiah had. Their joy does not hold a candle to mine though!!! We are looking forward to enjoying as much time as we possibly can with them in the next few months before they return to the mission field in Albania.
We have so much to be thankful for and we hope that as 2013 made its way into your home that you can say the same thing. We serve an amazing God who freely lavishes us with his love and blessings!!!
After a great Christmas break, we jumped back into our routine and hit the ground running. From BSF to Small Group, to babysitting, there were very few dull moments. There have been MANY enjoyable times so far in 2013 but for the sake of time and space I will only highlight a few.
One Sunday, we enjoyed a trip to Russellville and an opportunity to go to our church there and reconnect with friends and family. It was a potluck Sunday and it was definitely our "luck". Food and fellowship should always go hand-in-hand!!! We also visited with friends who were in the hospital. For once, we got to be on the giving end of encouraging someone who is in the hospital. We always said that if the tables were ever turned we would reach out to those like so many reached out to us on our many stays in the hospital. It was a great opportunity for our children to experience loving others through hard times too.
We also enjoyed several visits from Nana and Papa. The boys, especially Thad, always look for the special surprise that they deliver when they come... donuts! It has already become a tradition, so much so that Thad started crying when Papa didn't bring them one time. Can you say SPOILED!
We were blessed with not one but two date nights this month. After spending much time deciding what to do with ourselves, we usually end up grabbing a bite to eat and then going for a walk or just snuggling on the couch, without two kids between us. Ah, remember when...
The biggest highlight of the month was by far and away our reunion with the Anderson's. We have known for a while that Amos, Meredith, Isaiah, and Seth would be returning to the states for a short time so Meredith can give birth to their first girl. We did not, however, inform Eli and Thad until a few days before. Even then, we were asked, a least a million times, when Isaiah and Seth would be here. Every time a plane flew over, Eli would ask if Isaiah was on it. So, you can imagine the joyful reunion that Eli and Isaiah had. Their joy does not hold a candle to mine though!!! We are looking forward to enjoying as much time as we possibly can with them in the next few months before they return to the mission field in Albania.
We have so much to be thankful for and we hope that as 2013 made its way into your home that you can say the same thing. We serve an amazing God who freely lavishes us with his love and blessings!!!
 |
|
| Slideshow design generated with Smilebox |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)