Easter 2014

For the most part we had a fabulous Easter

The weather was nice,

it was Dawson's 1st Easter,

he is a JOY!

we shared our time with cousin's

it was low key and simple!

I don't know whether to call this pure joy or redemption 

I hate dyeing eggs so we now have chickens that do it for us - and they have been busy!

Heehee Tao looks like a Cuban grandpa

We really to Easter egg HUNT!

Finally got smart and the little single loaders our littles with little hands can do themselves!

One particular child had a meltdown but recovered midway through the day - we just kept celebrating this year and it did our family good!

Got himself together to join us for a meal together!

Ended the day watching Frozen!

Glory

I LOVE EASTER  for me it is like New years Day - the beginning of the year.

Nothing is more glorious than the resurrection,
and as the day progressed I was assaulted by the people He uses.
THose that are not worthy.
Have you been watching the Bible on TLC?
Folks, of God can use Paul to do His work
then you better believe He will us YOU and I.

Surrender my friends,
as my new year dawns,
I hope to follow His path,
WITHOUT reserve.

Because of the importance I feel for His resurrection,
I am a freak about clothes.
I totally know that He doesn't care,
but I want to come to Him in our finest.

And since my figure isn't so cute to dress,
I dress our littles
and then bribe them with food and treats for pictures.
I know roll your eyes I am a freak LOL!

Actually I picked out the little boys pullovers and Morgan did the rest!
I love Fei's orange don't you!

We got through pictures before Cav lost his mind.
He screamed and tantrumed the rest of the day.
I had to laugh as I went through other blogs,
and read over and over about others from hard places,
doing the SAME!
Atleast I knew he was normal.
It's hard on our other kids,
but this year we kept reminding them Jesus died for ALL of us.

Saturday Little man learned what Easter Egg hunting was all about

One of these Buggy?

WHAT! There is CANDY inside!

Yeah, that is all our little sugar elf needed to know!!

AND she had it down pat!!

Cav has enough use of his fingers to pick up the eggs

And Morgan was sweet enough to keep a hand on him

so he didn't fall over when he tried to get them off the ground!

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Our NEW family picture

If you LOVE one please let me know!!

Love Tao in this to bad everyone else was asleep!

THis so shows their personalities

 (heehee Morgan had to be photoshopped as her dress was over her head when she jumped!!)

LOVE this kandid shot!!

And Mr Dimples

They all received

a book,

an outfit for spring (workout clothes except Fei)

popcorn

and SUNGLASSES!

Grandpa (my Uncle bought them all bunnies - so sweet!)

Blessings all for the upcoming year - 

may it be amazing,

and may God use you for His Glory!

Good Friday Hope

If you have followed you know Good Friday service has been very influentual in our lives over the past several years.  Before that, I would sit and absorb the incredible music from the full strings orchestra crowded upon the stage of our little church as the chancel choir performed Requim.  I would leave in sadness.
But I never really GOT IT.

Two years ago I understood the darkness,
the lack of Christ which resulted in our moving forward with Cav

Last year it confirmed our decision to move forward with Tao.

THis year was different.
As the pastor spoke of Christmas Eve and the one night of waiting until hope arrived.
And Good Friday and the darkness
and waking up Saturday ~ to DARKNESS
and going to bed on Saturday
not knowing what Sunday would bring ~ MORE darkness
or the light of redemption.

AS the Christ candle moved further and further from the alter
and the darkness descended

ALL I could think about are the orphans.
Not about the babies laying swaddled in blankets
hoping someone would find them in time.

NO, all I could think of are the older orphans
who go to bed each night wondering if tomorrow will bring them hope.

Hope of a future,
of consistent meals,
hope for education,
hope of belonging,
of eternal salvation.

And my heart aches.
Whether these children's "Good Friday death"
was as a newborn,
a month old,
even several years old.

WHEN will be their resurrection?

WHEN will they find the hope?

Disabled

When our little man was born to us, the one thing I swore was that we would NOT make him a chronic child.

AS a nurse we would cringe when these kids would come in - whispering that a parentectomy was the only surgery that would help.

I am afraid though I might have gone to the opposite extreme.  This became very evident this past weekend.

We took the little ones to a Starlight Easter Egg Hunt.  Let me first say we LOVE Starlight foundation.  We are extra blessed because they partner with the Cadets at the Air Force Academy and put on some pretty incredible events for kids with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Anyhow, we enjoyed all of the games, food and inflatables.  As usual I was floored by Cav's incredible ability and strength.

And then I was confronted with the breakdown of the Easter Egg hunts, 0-4 years, 5-9 years or wheelchair / physically challenged.

With the two others I thought no problem we will do the 0-4 year old group.

Very quickly the realization hit me that regardless of what we think of Cav, he is disabled, he CAN'T keep up with the other kids and this poor angel ended up with a whole ZERO eggs.  I had to leave him sitting there while I ran after the other two but my heart just broke for him.

I swallowed my pride (not even sure that is it) and took him to the physically challenged egg hunt.  Although he was far more abled than the other kids, filling his bucket and then his pockets, it's where he belonged atleast this year.

He was so funny, he shook EVERY egg next to his ear and would only place the ones that rattled in his basket!!

Easter Egg "Hunt"

Ok I know it - we are hillbillies LOL!

BUT daddy determined that we should add a little fun to our Easter Egg Hunt.

Don't you TOUCH my eggs! bwaahaa

LOOK what I got!!

Watch out Fei!

One time showing this girl and she was able to load and shoot!

Shorts on Easter, and a snow capped Pikes PEak in the background!

Everyone had fun, but especially DADDY!

SUnday Snapshot - Easter

It was a great Easter.  Not just because we were able to celebrate His resurrection with our new children.  But because I was able to get atleast ONE good picture of tall 5 kiddos that I LOVE!!

I am a bit of a freak.

I have always dressed them for Easter and usually pick three colors to work around.

Pink, white and tan were this years colors.

We found the girls outfits right after we got home from China.  Little man picked the little boys outfits and we got our big boys to coordinate.

These were taken this morning BEFORE church  -
heehee the sermon was basically on the craziness of our lives -
probably NOT the best timing, but I couldn't be more thrilled that they were
still CLEAN,
slightly pressed looking,
and excited enough they cooperated with me. . . some!

AN out take but LOVE little man's toothless grin so maybe a head swap is in order!

Love this picture of my girls - 

I can believe how much Morgan has changed and also a bit scared ~ she is TEN!

My little stinkers!

My favorite question when photographing is "WHO FARTED!" heehee

 I of course don't have all the info but I shoot mostly with a Canon and this was with my 50mm lens.  I have been fiddling in Lightroom for post processing.  Loving this different etheral look.

Not to look at the 500 other pics to see if their are some other keepers!