Weekend

We started out the weekend by going to the B-day party of a friend we've known for 30 years. It makes you feel old, but time flies when you're having fun! I think I've had fun.




The kids got to go and had a blast. They had a blow up thing for the kids that you jump in. They jumped for 3 hours. Guess they were a little over dressed. : - )






Then Sunday we went to our church picnic. Our kids love their church and are so lucky they have this one. This was one of the few times some of them were sitting long enough to take their picture.







Once again, the church had a blow up thing for the kids to jump in. When it rains it pours. I was afraid to let Cokie jump, since her arm is still healing (she jumped anyway). The cast is off, but it is still bruised.



I get asked some really stupid questions, as do most people who adopt. OK, so we do have a lot of kids, but Mike is an attorney and it's not like we can't afford to feed them. The other day someone asked me if the kids just get to eat one plate since groceries are getting so high. LOL! So at the picnic, my sister told the kids, "you guys are done; save some for tomorrow." In case you're reading this and still don't get the joke, trust me--we throw food out every day! : - )













It was Eliot's birthday, so we celebrated at the picnic.



Yes, my sister made Eliot's cake. She can cut hair and make cakes.



















As I write this it is 1:30 am. Jeeves's brother (below) is spending the night. They are upstairs wrestling and making enough noise to wake the dead and Mike too!



Payton just got back from a mission trip to inner city Miami.

Work day

My sister doesn't cut hair for a living, but she cuts all our hair. She also works outside the home (in addition to raising her five kids), so cutting our hair is a big deal (and with 8 kids still at home, she saves me a lot of money). So this last time, I offered to clean her house.




Between my two sisters and me, we have adopted a total of 18 kids, plus my sisters have 3 biological kids between them. It wasn't anything we set out to do, but God certainly led us down that path and has blessed us tremendously. For one thing, my kids are never at a loss for a cousin to hang out with.








I didn't exactly clean it all myself.












This was one of those things where you had to be there, but Payton was saying "I know you're going to crop me out and put yourself on Facebook, Aunt Sammy."





























Avery with the Gabrielle cut. You can see Erin's in the back.










Gabrielle



We call it the Gabrielle cut, because my sister has been cutting it like this since we first got the girls.



Admittedly Lyric didn't always wear it quite right.

Bible School

The quality isn't so hot, but we lost our video camera and this is the only one I've got. : -(((



Left to right: My niece Lacy, Bret and one of her best friends.



Jesus Christ is the head of our church and the Word of God is its only authority.

We believe to enter the kingdom of God you must follow what is outlined in Scripture:
Faith in Jesus as the son of God
Repentance of sin
Confession of Christ
Baptism by immersion




We've been attending this church for over 15 years and we love it.



My nieces








Remi ready for her first Bible School and soon she'll be going away to her first church camp. Her doctor asked her today what she thought about it. All she knew was Arden told her to take a dress. : - )

Happy Fathers Day to all you Dads out there. My Dad would get such a kick out of all his grandkids. Unfortunately, he died in 1998 right before we left for China to get Lael. My Mom didn't live much longer after that, but she at least did get to see Lael. Mom and Dad both spoiled our two oldest Whitney and Brady, and my younger eight have really missed out not having them around.

Mike's Fathers Day started a day early. He got this card in the mail:









Mike got all excited and was all "Ahhhh...that was so sweet of Cokie!" I was a little suspicious that maybe Cokie's teacher had the kids make Father's Day cards (it actually came in the mail, and the address on the envelope was in awfully neat handwriting...plus I don't know where Cokie would have gotten a stamp to mail it). Cokie's teacher this year was really sweet and thoughtful and this is just the type of thing I could see him having the kids do in class. My suspicion was confirmed when Mike went to thank Cokie for it. The conversation went something like this:

Mike (holding up the card so proudly): Thanks for the card Cokie! I love it!

Cokie (with a look of complete bewilderment on her face): Uhhh...you're welcome.

Mike: Did you make this in school?

Cokie: Uhh...I think so.

Mike (the cold reality starting to sink in): Do you remember making it?

Cokie: Uhhh...not really.

This was one of those moments where telling Mike "it's the thought that counts" wouldn't really help. At least Cokie's teacher was thinking of him.



Mike really does enjoy his Father's Day though and I wish my Dad were here to see all his grandchildren. I know he would have loved them to pieces.




Cokie

































We still have the dog and people thought I couldn't handle it!