All about Eli

I know I have posted about Eli and his guitar before, but yesterday, Eli said to me "Why don't you ever post about me on the blog?" So this post is all about Eli.



This boy loves his guitars. And we think he could be quite talented at it. He never complains about going to his classes. He loves his new teacher. He has learned more in the first two months of lessons this year than he did at the school he went to last year.



He is often in his room practicing. Depending on his guitar choice of the day, this can sometimes be VERY LOUD. But we don't even care. We love the sound of his music coming from his room.



For his birthday he asked for a microphone as well, so that he can both play and sing. He has big plans for a band with some of his friends.



This boy is always hot or cold. One extreme or the other. But more and more, he is pure joy. He makes me laugh on a daily basis. He has confidence in himself. He is high energy. He is always willing to figure things out and not give up. I think these characteristics will take him far in life.



Eli started to learn this song on Friday... Alive Again.

Ventura, California

We spent a lot of time at the Ventura Pier on our trip to California. There is nothing quite so peaceful or powerful as the ocean. We loved watching the surfers and the fishermen. The pier was built in 1872 and is the longest wooden structure in California.







We also drove downtown to see the San Buenaventura Mission. I love anything to do with religion and architecture and the history of it all. There was a latin mass going on when we arrived, so we didn't get to tour the inside of the church, other than to walk through it.







“Siempre Adelante”
“Always Forward”
(Motto of Fray Junipero Serra)

Guided by the Holy Spirit, Mission San Buenaventura is a parish rich in Catholic heritage called to "go forward" in worship to spread God's Word through compassionate service. Acknowledging diversity in cultures, life experiences and individual talents, we commit ourselves to building unity in our community of faith.

Parish goals:
Developing Leadership
Deepening Spirituality
Evangelization

Santa Cruz Island

This weekend Tim and I went to California. We flew into LA and then drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to Ventura, which is just north of Malibu.





We went specifically to Kayak in the Channel Islands, which are about an hour ferry ride from Ventura. On the ferry ride back we had hundreds and hundreds of dolphins swimming on both sides of the ferry and jumping out of the water. It was amazing.







We were in our kayak for about four hours, making our way around part of Santa Cruz Island. The water was so clear you could see to the bottom. The baby seals were very curious and would swim out by our boats to check us out. The tide was very low, exposing a lot of sea life on the rocks.





We went into many caves and by one big cave where there was a blow hole.

Tim is eating kelp... it didn't taste too bad!



After kayaking we had time for a quick hike up to the top of the island. The views were simply stunning.



There is thousands and thousands of years of history on these islands.





The sun disappeared in the afternoon and it was cold, we did enjoy a delicious seafood dinner back in the harbour and warming up in the hot tub.



Psalm 104:24-25

How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.

I will be posting more about our trip in the next couple of days.

Tentatively...

It has been difficult these last few weeks... waiting for our Letter from China... with no word of what the hold up is.

Family Outreach International is amazing. They have been calling every couple of days, trying to figure out what the problem is. It turns out someone, somewhere, mixed up some document numbers and it took awhile to get it sorted out.

I received a call this morning from FOI and they let me know that our dossier has been reviewed and the letter should be in Alberta by the end of the month. This meaning, that we can start planning to travel on May 3 - 17th. These dates are not set in stone yet, but very very likely.

Gotcha Day for Silas would be on May 7th!

Now, I feel like I can breathe and nest and prepare for his arrival. And there is a lot to fit in. Shopping, cleaning, cooking, arranging childcare for the girls during those weeks and preparing the girls birthday party, which will have to take place slightly earlier than usual, and a lot of packing!

But his room is ready... he will be sharing with Micah, once he is ready to move out of our room, where we will set him up for the first little while.



His dresser has clothes, but this mama will likely do a lot more shopping.



His travel backpack is ready to go and filled with stickers, drawing supplies, suckers, cookies, cars and a special t-shirt to come home in.



And because both girls were given a special handmade quilt from Grandma, my mom and I spent this past weekend making a rag quilt for Silas. It still needs to have the seams snipped and then will be washed, but we hope it will bring him comfort and warmth.



Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land.-- Proverbs 25:25

Happy Valentine's Day

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown



How I love my kids! Even when they take gum they shouldn't and stick it in their hair... when they spread toothpaste across the ENTIRE bathroom... when I have to beg them to do their chores... even when they beg and beg for something, because NO wasn't the answer they wanted.



Seven kids may seem like a lot of kids to most people... and it is a lot of kids... but when I look around my table at dinner and see it full with amazing beautiful children... it is overwhelming, in the most amazing way.



I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.
~Elizabeth Barrett Browning



Sunday was a day of filling out the cards for school and baking cupcakes. Micah had to give his little sisters Valentine's Day cards.
I love that I get to sit at the counter and help my 4 year olds fill out their cards. I love that I get to read the card my 11 year old made for his "girlfriend". I love that my 16 year old baked dozens of cupcakes for leadership at her school and that I get to watch her as she goes out tonight with her boyfriend of a year, to dinner and a concert. My life has such range.





What the world really needs is more love and less paper work. ~Pearl Bailey Ha! Ha! Agreed!



Today, I think about Silas and how I wish he could be here and be a part of this family and this day.



Happy Valentine's Day!

Dancing Girls

Dance till the stars come down from the rafters
Dance, Dance, Dance till you drop.
~W.H. Auden