December 2016

December is always a wonderful month but this year was even more special then normal. Read on for details.

Over 3 years ago, a tiny, premature baby was placed into our family. We spent the next several years raising her, loving on her, and watching her mature and thrive. There were many trials along the way and she had many obstacles to overcome. God in his infinite grace allowed us the ultimate privilege the beginning of the month as we were finally able to adopt her! Naomi Marie Rice is now legally ours forever. Make no mistake, she was ours from day 1 but now the courts recognize it! The first smilebox is a release of pictures from the past 3 years.

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The adoption was amazing but even more so was getting to celebrate the birth of our Savior. There were many times throughout the month that we took time to read and remember the story of Jesus coming to earth as a tiny baby. I have been overwhelmed, yet again, by the depth of His love for us that he would "put on flesh and dwell among us" all the time knowing that he would face an even greater sacrifice for me. Wow! I am so humbled by the reminder of this tiny baby. Emmanuel...God with us.

Christmas was a wonderful day of celebration and memories. From having Nana and Papa spending the holiday with us to having our cousins over for a day of games and fellowship, there was so much to be thankful for. God was so good to give us this special day before the Anderson's head back to Albania the beginning of next month. We are so thankful to have such a great family that it makes it difficult to say good-bye. May God continue to richly bless their ministry as they serve in Albania! Saying good-bye to Nana and Papa was so hard too. We plan on visiting them next summer but that seems so far away. Lord, please protect our family until we are together again.

The second smilebox is of our adventures this month. We enjoyed many Christmas activities including a trip to Silver Dollar City, riding the Christmas train in a park here in Fort Smith, and playing games together as a family. I hope that this month you too enjoyed time spent remembering the best Christmas gift of all: JESUS!

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November 2016

November is such a great month for remembering all that we have to be thankful for. Read on for some highlights of things we are thankful for.

We are thankful for getting to celebrate Elijah's 9th birthday. He is such a smart, funny, compassionate, and still amazingly energetic kid. We are thankful for friends who came to celebrate with a round of mini-golf followed by donuts with whip cream. We are thankful for family who called to sing and wish him a very happy birthday. We are thankful for his continued health. Most of all we are thankful for his relationship with Christ!

We are thankful for doctors and modern medicine that have helped see us through over 5 weeks of varying sicknesses. We are so thankful for a God who heals and a compassionate Savior.

We are thankful for our church family who helped watch our kiddos so we could attend foster parent training.

We are thankful for the boys abilities and work ethic which showed through at their spelling bee and piano recital.

We are thankful for an opportunity to spend time with family and friends during a birthday party for Seth and Elijah in Russellville.

We are thankful for a group of women who bring us meals on Mondays, pray for us, and sometimes help out with the kiddos.

We are thankful for 8 months with Eden. We are thankful for her smiles, giggles, and snuggles.

We are thankful that Marie and Anna continue to add words to their vocabulary and that they are receiving continued therapy to help them improve in some areas they are struggling in.

We are thankful for an opportunity to take a break from school and work and spend time with family in Illinois. We are thankful for an abundance of love, food, and laughter. We are also thankful for the help we received with Thad while he was ill.

We are thankful for reliable transportation, low gas prices, and the ability to travel.

Most of all we are thankful for a Savior who loves us beyond comprehension and desires a relationship with us. What an awesome God we serve!!!

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October 2016

In the entire month of October, we only had one day on the calendar that wasn't filled up. The fall is always a crazy time of year for us and this month was no exception. I hope you enjoy reading about some of the many things we did!

The first weekend of the month we were blessed by a visit from the Andersons. It was a fun time and the weather was great for playing outside. From Nerf darts wars to playing in the fort under the trees, a good time was had by all!

The next weekend Grandpa and Grandma Rice came for a visit. They brought gorgeous cooler weather with them so we spent a good part of that weekend outside as well. We read stories, played cards, carved pumpkins, laughed and fellowshipped together. It was a wonderful time and left us eager to see them again in November for Thanksgiving.

This month the Lord blessed us, and specifically Marie, with a miracle. After getting her hearing retested to have her aids readjusted, we were told she no longer needs them! Two different doctors said it is truly a miracle as people with her type of hearing loss don't just "get better". Praise the Lord for his healing power and for the miracle of hearing for Marie!!!

The soccer season came to an end this month and the boys team ended up finishing 4th. It was a great season and a lot of fun for the boys to be on the same team.

We decided to take a fall trip to Silver Dollar City with some friends at the end of the month. The Lord blessed us yet again with awesome weather and a great day with friends.

We were also blessed by a sweet friend who took our family pictures. It is no small feat to try to get good pictures with 5 kids in the mix ages 6 months to 8 years. Several of the little ones proved particularly challenging resulting in some "real life" photos.

As the month wound to a close, Mommy and Daddy participated in a masquerade ball and we also attended our church's Fall Festival. Everyone had a great time dressing up and doing all the fun activities.

As we begin the Thanksgiving Season, we hope you too have much to be thankful for!

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September 2016

September was another exciting month in our household. Read on for more details.

The very first day of the month saw both boys walking into Grace Academy. This is Eli's second year attending this 2 day a week academy for home-school kiddos. They are taking science, history, Spanish, PE, and Language enrichment. The boys both LOVE it! Thad especially loves that two of his friends from church are in his class. Eli loves PE and the chance to be competitive.

In the next couple of weeks the boys started soccer and Bible Study Fellowship (with Mom). It is a blessing that both boys are on the same soccer team this year. They really enjoy soccer and it is such a great way for them to burn off all their extra energy! This is the first time the boys have been at BSF in a couple years. We are studying the book of John this year.

We continued with our all our other usual activities but Daddy added a Men's Bible Study on Monday nights. He is enjoying studying the book of Isaiah with Explorers.

At the end of the month, we headed to the Humane Society and met the next member of our family. Bella is a boxer mix (supposedly). The vet estimates her age at about 5 years old. S
he is a sweet, spunky, lover who thinks she is a lap dog. So far she is a nice fit for our family!

Marie turned three this month! I can't believe that she is three already. She is a sassy, silly, spunky girl. She loves to sing and "ride" her bike. She really enjoys her new play kitchen, food, clothes, toys, and bike. We were so excited to find out just two days after her birthday that we can finally continue the adoption process. The Court of Appeals made the decision to uphold the termination! After waiting for a year and a half for the decision we are having to pinch ourselves that it is finally over and we can move on! PTL!!!

Anna has been loving the cooler weather and often asks to be outside. She loves to swing and go down the slide as well as ride her tricycle.

Eden turned 6 months old a few days ago. She finally ate baby food and didn't spit it out. She cut her first tooth. She also goes everywhere in her walker. You have to watch out for your toes as she will run them right over!

Our house is always buzzing with activity. We absolutely love all the space we have in our new house and are finding ways to make use of every room! We are certainly blessed and are so thankful for the way God provides each and every day!!!

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August 2016

The end of summer in August doesn't mean the end of heat. Thankfully, we were blessed with many ways to keep cool this month. Read on for more details.

At the beginning of August, we made a decision on very short notice that if we could find someplace for Eden to spend a night or two we would make a last minute venture to Branson. The Lord provided by allowing Eden to stay with some sweet friends of our from church who also happen to be foster parents and without any current kiddos besides their own. So, we quickly made the necessary arrangements, packed the car, and took off. We spent one day at White Water and the next at Silver Dollar City. This was a first for both Anna and Marie and neither had any complaints (other then maybe one ride). From swimming to riding rides to getting to stay a night at a hotel, the fun was endless. We were also blessed when our friends asked to keep Eden for an extra night, thus allowing us to unpack, catch up on laundry and prepare for our yearly re-evaluation. What amazing friends!

As I mentioned above, we had our yearly re-evaluation for foster parenting. We managed to pass the inspection even though the house was not completely unpacked and filed all the necessary paperwork in order to continue on for another year. We recently received the "official notice" that we will remain open for another year!

While the temperatures stayed high, we remained cool. Thanks to Jeff and his handy-man abilities, we have a new a/c unit in the addition of our house. He spent many hours putting it together and preparing the unit so all the a/c guy had to do was hook it up and turn it on! It is a beautiful thing to be able to come in from 100 degree temps and actually get cold sitting on the couch!

The next week we got to go to Russellville and celebrate Isaiah's birthday and visit with family and friends. Then Nana and Papa came to our house and we laughed ourselves silly playing cards and telling stories.

We then celebrated with friends over the completion of Jeff's master's degree in Education. He has spent many hours the last two years working towards this goal and we are so thankful that he completed it and did it with a perfect 4.0 gpa! We are so thankful that for the most part the Lord protected his health as he worked a full-time job teaching, a part-time job teaching, and worked on his master's all while being an awesome Dad to 5 kids and an amazing husband! God is so good!

August means the beginning of a new school year. Jeff started his 6th year teaching. Eli started 3rd grade. Thad started 1st grade. I cannot believe how much the boys have grown and changed since this time last year. Sorry for all the start of the year school pics but I couldn't choose!

The boys also started their After School Kids Bible Study. They are studying the life of Joseph this semester. They were so excited after their first class that it does this mama's heart good to see her boys excited to learn more about God's Word!

Once again, the boys competed in the Kids Triathlon held locally. Thad did great this year, especially on his bike WITHOUT training wheels. Eli also did well. I am so proud of them for pushing themselves to do hard things!

The month ended with us hosting our small group. With the blessing of a larger house, we in turn are able to bless others. It is an amazing thing to be able to seat 33 people for a meal! Thank you Lord for the provision of this house and some new furniture to put in it.

September begins another crazy season of soccer so stay tuned next month for more exciting happenings in the life of the Rices!

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July 2016

The roller coaster we were on in June took us right into July. Read on for more details.

We kicked off the month in Wisconsin with tons of celebrations. Thad turned 6, our country celebrated its independence, we celebrated our niece Rachel's graduation, we celebrated Grandma and Grandpa Rice's anniversary, we celebrated a reunion with old friends, and our niece Ellie also had a birthday. We got to visit with all of the Rice side of the family and enjoyed a whirlwind of activities. From celebrations and parades to time in the pool and fireworks, there was not a dull moment!

We ended up coming home a day early because we got word that the closing on the sale of our house had been moved up a week! What an amazing feeling to sign over the house and look forward to signing the contract on the new one. The Lord was so good and we walked away with a little extra which we put toward re-doing the hardwood floors in our new house. The next week was spent doing laundry, packing, and trying to stay cool. We closed on the new house the following week and Jeff began the week long process of sanding and refinishing the hardwood floors. It was a chaotic couple of weeks that culminated in us moving into our new place.

The rest of the month has been devoted to unpacking and trying to keep up with life. Jeff had a few days of training for school. We had a great visit with the Andersons. Marie has had therapy. Eden had her 4 month well baby visit. The boys participated in Summer Play days at church and enjoyed a day of basketball camp and a day at an indoor pool. Anna and Mommy unpacked and started organizing.

Hopefully we will settle back into a routine in August. These past few months have been crazy busy but so amazing. Hope you check back in with us next month for more adventures in the lives of the Razorback Rices!

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June 2016

June has been a roller coaster ride! Jump on and I'll take you for a ride through the past month in the life of the Rice's.

The month started with two nights at two different water parks. The boys enjoyed a fun time at the Alma Aquatics Park with our home-school group the BELIEVERS. The following night they splashed away at Parrot Island in Fort Smith with other foster families. The Lord blessed us with perfect weather for swimming both nights.

The first full week the boys attended VBS and got "Submerged" in God's Word. That same week Thad underwent surgery to remove his enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Thank you for all the prayers. The surgery went well and he was able to come home the same day. The next week and a half was pretty rough on the little guy but he is recovered and it hasn't slowed him down one bit!

The next week, Eli enjoyed his first tennis lessons. He learned all kinds of techniques and worked on the basics of the sport. He loved it and now says it is his new favorite sport. He is already scheming how he can play on the tennis team in the spring and the soccer team in the fall. Hold your horses, Cowboy!

In the meantime, we continued to show our house. The Lord was gracious and brought along a precious couple from our church to buy our house. They have been wonderful to work with and have been so excited to join us on the journey of buying and selling.

Now that our house was under contract (again) we began the hunt. The house we had originally intended to buy had come under contract with someone else the same morning we signed off ours. The Lord gave us such a peace about losing the house as we had specifically prayed that He close the door if this was not the house for us. So, we looked at house after house after house. None were "the one". Just when we had told our realtor we were taking a break until after vacation, we received a call that the contract had fallen through on the original house we wanted. WHAT?!? After prayer, excitement, and walking through the house one more time, we made an offer. It was accepted and we are now in the process of getting the loan in order and settling things for the closing company. We are set to close on our current house the beginning of July and close on our new house the middle of July. WOW! We are beyond excited. Please pray God would continue to work out the details and give us extra energy and stamina to move with our five little ones during one of the hottest months of the year in Arkansas!

The third week of June found the boys in the local pool getting another round of swim lessons. They are fish and we are hoping to get a bigger pool once we settle at the new house. They also participated in another VBS at a friend's church. They loved learning more about God in this fun and upbeat environment.

While the boys were running Mom and Dad ragged, the girls were doing their best on the home front to wear them out. Eden is a chatterbox and makes sure she can be heard over the chaos. She is a smiley, chubby, cuddly baby. Marie began at home therapy and has shown us all what a smart little girl she is. Anna is a happy-go-lucky, smiley, little girl. They both love to play in our little pool, swing, and play with their dolls. Of course, they also love to drive their brothers crazy.

As the month wound down, we piled all 5 kids in the car and drove to Michigan to visit with Nana and Papa. The Lord provided safe travels and absolutely glorious weather. Nana and Papa had everything ready from new cots, to a closet full of toys, bookshelves full of books and games, and a yard full of toys. We loved playing at the beach, going to our favorite playground (Chutes and Ladders) and spending time with Nana and Papa.  We also celebrated Thad's birthday a little early. Nana scored big with the Slugterra cake. He loved all his gifts and being able to celebrate in Michigan.

Our time in Michigan came to an end and once again we loaded up all the kids and headed to Wisconsin. You'll have to wait until next month to hear about the next leg of our trip. Thanks for reading and riding our roller coaster. God is so good! (Click in the box to see the slideshow.)

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May 2016

April showers bring May...showers? May has been a very rainy month. Thankfully, we had lots to celebrate along with a few disappointments. Read on for more details.

Jeff's birthday always kicks off the month of May. We enjoyed lemon cake and fried pickles (not at the same time). A week later was Mother's Day. We were blessed to be able to celebrate with some sweet friends who have become surrogate grandparents to our kiddos. Two weeks later was Mommy's birthday and we enjoyed celebrating with pork chops and angel food cake. So many fun celebrations!

We wrapped up homeschooling the middle of the month and continued packing as we awaited the day of the move. God had other plans. Unfortunately, the buyer for our house could not get her financing in order and the deal fell through. That left us having to cancel the contract we had on our next house. We were very disappointed, however, we believe that God is in control and has a plan for us to give us hope and a future. We are not sure what the future holds but completely trust in the One who holds our future. It may sound cliche but it is true. In the meantime, our house is back on the market and we are praying for just the right buyer.

What has been so sweet is that in the midst of our disappointments is how God has used His people to bring comfort and encouragement. The day we found out the deal was off, a sweet lady from church showed up on the doorstep with gorgeous flowers as a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness. Our family (both blood and church) showered us with prayers and notes of encouragement. Friends called to remind us of God's promises. Even our children, though disappointed, were able to learn more about God in this process. We would not have wanted this to happen but we want to be in the center of God's will. So we wait, pray, and lean more heavily on Him.

Jeff also finished another year of school. He loves his job but always looks forward to spending more time with us in the summer. Just so he wouldn't get bored, Mommy had a list of honey-dos with his name on it. We are so thankful that Daddy likes to fix things as we have a tendency to break a lot of stuff!

The kids continue to grow like weeds. Eli is such a big help around the house and now he helps mow the lawn and weed-wack. Thad can empty a dish-washer like no ones business and loves to play with Eden. The girls are both talking more and Mommy can't decide whether this is a good thing or not. If either girl says something and no one acknowledges them they will say it over and over at an increasingly loud pitch. The volume in the house can get pretty loud at times!

It has been such a crazy month! We look forward to June as we eagerly anticipate getting to travel and see family. We already have many things planned so you will have to read on next month to find out what we are up to. Please remember Thad in your prayers on June 9th as he has a tonsillectomy. Until then, enjoy the pictures!

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April 2016

April was an exciting month in the Rice household. Read on for details.

The month started off with the newest member of our family getting settled in. Eden Grace was born on March 27th and was released into our arms from the hospital on March 31st. She is a tiny bundle of joy. We had been anticipating her arrival but the night time feedings cannot be prepared for!

We were super blessed to have a visit from Nana and Papa. God's timing is perfect and they were able to help with Eden, make meals, enjoy the kiddos and be a part of the graduation celebration. They were also here to be a part of more exciting news.

We put our house on the market at the end of March and two weeks later God brought a buyer. After the offer and our counter, it was accepted. We then finished up the house hunt when the Lord brought us back to just the right house here in Fort Smith. The house is more then double the size of our current house and is on a 1 acre lot. We are super excited!!! Please join us in praying that God would continue to work out the details. Right now we are set to close on both houses May 18th. There are still many things that need to fall into place but we are trusting God to do all in his perfect timing.

The end of that crazy week we got to watch Thad celebrate the end of kindergarten. It was such a special ceremony and we got to hear what he wanted to be when he grows up: an inventor. He loves creating things and says he wants to make things that help people too. This crazy, sweet boy is a great reader, loves to play outside, and is a great help with his siblings. We couldn't be prouder!

Less than a week later, Thad visited an ENT at Children's Hospital in Little Rock. After the consult, we were told that a tonsillectomy is in order. The poor guy has been snoring like crazy and complaining of a sore throat for months. The surgery is set for June unless a spot opens before then. In the meantime, popsicles are his friend.

We also had the boys bi-annual kidney check-up. The results were mostly good but we discovered that Eli has kidney stones. A day later, Jeff ended up in the ER with a kidney stone of his own. YIKES.

As we continued on with school, we were blessed to be invited to see the Fort Smith Symphony. Each year they do a special performance for the local elementary schools and highlight the various instruments. They do a great job of getting kids interested in music. They played many selections that the kids recognized. It was fun to see so many tiny heads bobbing up and down in time with the music!

Next on the list of activities was the boys' piano recital. They have both worked very hard this year and made great progress. You can enjoy their performance by watching the Smilebox  below.

We wrapped up the month with a very special date. Jeff and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary with a night away at a local B&B. We had a couple very special friends who volunteered to watch our kiddos so we could have some alone time. It was so nice to relax and get sleep that was uninterrupted by a hungry newborn! The next day was spent walking trails, visiting a local pool place, eating great food, and talking without interruption. It was amazing. We have so much to be thankful for this past 10 years. I couldn't have been blessed with a more perfect man to walk through this life with!!

As we start a new month, we look forward to new beginnings. Today we celebrate Jeff's birthday! Lord willing, in just a couple weeks we will move into our new house! Jeff will end another year of school and we will start another awesome summer! We can't wait. God is so good and deserves all our worship and praise.

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March 2016

March was another super busy month in our house. We enjoyed time spent with family and friends and a short break from school. Read on for more details.

It was so fun to start off the month watching Eli participate in his first spelling bee. He worked hard to learn the words so he could be well prepared. I am continually amazed at his brain power! I was also impressed by his stage presence. He stood in front of the microphone and spelled the words as if it is something he does every day. In front of a room full of parents, nonetheless! He did awesome and we are so proud of him.

It is hard to believe that Thad is almost ready to graduate from Kindergarten. Next month he will participate in a ceremony with other kindergartners from our home school group. We spent some time with other families planning for this special occasion. We can't wait to share more in next month's blog.

We had a special treat the first weekend of March when our cousins from Illinois came for a weekend visit. We had so much fun playing and working together. In one day, they helped repaint the main part of the house, cut down a dying tree in the backyard, and took out the pool. The Lord blessed us with some absolutely beautiful weather so we also enjoyed trips to playgrounds and the national park here in Fort Smith. The weekend was complete with a birthday celebration for Anna who turned two. We were so blessed by their visit and were reminded yet again was an amazing blessing our family is!!!

Just over a week later, we enjoyed a visit to another set of cousins. From hunting for Easter eggs to a ham dinner, the day was wonderful. Again, the weather was nice and the kids spent it outside. We also got to visit with another friend and her kids. All together we had 12 kids running around ages 8 months to 8 years. Whew!

The following week we got a break from the normal routine. Spring break is always a welcome event and this year was no exception. Thanks to the help of our wonderful painters, etc we were finally able to get our house on the market. We are looking for a larger house to accommodate more foster children. We love our house but have maxed out our space. We are praying for a quick sale and just the right next home.

During Spring Break we: looked at houses, went bowling, went canoeing, played with our cousins, went to the movies, went to Silver Dollar City (in Branson), had another HUGE Easter egg hunt, played at more playgrounds, looked at more houses, and celebrated Easter. The week was exhausting but so much fun!

Easter is such a wonderful time to celebrate. We are so thankful that He is Risen! Our Lord and Savior conquered death! What a wonderful truth and amazing hope! I hope that you too were able to celebrate this amazing remembrance of what an AWESOME God we have.

The slideshow this month got very long. I hope you have a few minutes to enjoy the pictures though!

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February 2016

God is Sovereign. When times are good...and when times are hard. February has brought some hard times to our family. Still, we will praise Him.

At the beginning of the month, we tried several times to spend time with the Anderson's and each time there was sickness or other extenuating circumstances that made it impossible. We had't seen them since the beginning of December and desperately wanted to visit. Next, Kenneth had several accidents while at therapy that landed him at the hospital getting a CT scan. Then the flu hit our house. Then we said good-bye to Kenneth as he was getting to go home for good. Such hard times. God was still in control.

When times are so hard, I find myself closer to God then ever. He is my comforter, healer, provider, shield, and fortress. If I look to myself, I cannot go on. If I look to Him, there is peace that passes all understanding.

Where do you turn when times are hard? When I need a perspective change I start to focus on my blessings. God blessed us with modern technology that allowed for phone communication with many of our family during the hard times. God blessed us with modern medicine and the ability to look inside Kenneth's head to confirm that there was no brain injury. God blessed us with 4 amazing months with Little Kenneth. God gave us a precious church family who held us, prayed with us, brought us meals, and helped us stand firm. God gave me the faith to continue and that ability to pray in all circumstances. He endured so much pain and suffering for me and so I will glorify Him in the hard times.

February also brought some beautiful days. Days of sunshine and laughter. Days of health and love. At the very end of the month, God blessed us with a day with the Anderson's. We were able to watch Isaiah's last basketball game, celebrate Anna and Olivia's birthdays while skyping with Nana and Papa, hold sweet Baby Gabe, bask in the sunshine and eat grilled brats. It doesn't get much sweeter than that. God is so good.

Our family has been under tremendous spiritual attack and would covet the prayers of his saints. Foster parenting is a difficult journey at times but when you strip away the politics and broken system what is left are the faces of the children. The precious ones who did nothing to deserve being taken from the only family most of them have ever know. The children...that is why. God called, we answered. That is why.

God is Sovereign.

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January 2016

January was an exciting time at our house. Read on for details.

We were given a late Christmas gift on January 4th when we finally got to adopt Anna. We were blessed to be surrounded by church family and friends both in the courtroom and then at a celebration at our house afterwards. What a joyful day!

Two weeks late we were blessed by a visit from Auntie Sarah. She flew all the way from New York to visit with us. We played games, visited parks, and had so much fun together.

All our "normal" activities resumed this month. School, piano lessons, ASK, Bible Studies, Masters Classes, Small Group, and church keep our schedule pretty full. When we are not out and about we have really enjoyed playing games as a family. A new favorite is Mille Bornes. A side benefit of the game is learning some french words.

The weather the last week has been so beautiful (upper 60s and lower 70s) that we have enjoyed being outside. We took the kite out, played at a playground, walked around a historic site, and just soaked up the rays. It sure does feel good to have the sun out and the weather warm enough for short sleeves.

As we close the first month of January 2016, we have so much to be thankful for already. We hope that you too can count many blessings at the start of this new year.

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January 2016 - Anna Leigh Rice

We are so excited to be able to finally announce that Anna is officially a Rice. Today was adoption day! We hope you enjoy getting to meet the newest addition to our forever family!

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