Just Want You To Know ...

after yesterday's news ...

We are NOT discouraged.

We are Not defeated.

We are at PEACE.

We know that God has a 

GREAT plan for our family.

We KNOW that He will reveal His 

plan to us in His perfect timing.

We are excited to be 

walking in His will,

even when we are apart.

We know that the Lord has called Papa 

to be a minster of God's Word.

We know that God has called me to focus

on the discipleship of our precious children.

We hope and pray that some time soon

both of our callings will bring us to be 

living at the same place full-time.

However ... 

... we are happy.

... we are content.

... we are filled with joy.

... we are excited 

about the things God 

is doing in our lives.

... we are trusting God

to guide us each step

of our life's journey.

We are ...

Praising Jesus in the midst of our trials!!!

Action!

The Sword Fight

Sometimes, the Big Kids of the Big D. Family like to get a wee bit CRAZY.  While it's all in fun, it doesn't always set the best example for the Young Ones.  Oh dear!


While at the beach at Semiahmoo on Sunday, Cassie (24) and Ben (17) decided to have a Sword Fight with Drift Wood.  

Yes ... it got a bit crazy.  

But ... they had fun.  

And ... no one got hurt.  

Now ... they just need to convince the Young Ones that this is a "game" to only be played by Big Kids. 

Cassie has a BIG stick;

while Ben has 2 smaller sticks.

Elijah brings in the REALLY big stick.

Ben finds a BIGGER stick.

Back to the smaller sticks.

Cassie looks like the winner.

Back to Square One

We are riding a roller coaster 

of emotions again today.

The house on the island 

that we thought was IT, 

has turned out to be 

NOT the one for 

The Big D. Family.  

Oh. So. Hard.

Leaning hard into the Lord.

Resting in His peace.

Waiting for His will to be done.

Trusting that He knows 

what is best for us.

Wanting only what He 

desires for our family.

Goin' To The Beach

As you all know, The Big D. Family LOVES to go to the beach ... and it really doesn't matter what beach ... we just LOVE the water, the sand, the rocks, the crabs, the starfish, the sticks, the sunshine ...

So, we HAD to take 2 trips to the beach when Cassie came to visit this week.

On Saturday, we headed out to Birch Bay State Park for a few hours in the afternoon.  Big Sis Lindsey and Adopted Big Kid Jared were both able to join us for awhile.  Much fun!

While Ben and I both have nice Nikon DSLR cameras, we have both been wanting a small pocket-size one, as well.  So, this week we bought a Nikon CoolPix S3000.  

Cassie & Ben had fun

taking pics of each other 

taking pics.

Cassie & Josiah

Just to show you that we really were at the beach.

Hoping Cassie has some good pics from Saturday.

Papa came home from the island early this week, since Cassie was in town.  When Papa got home on Sunday afternoon we were all packed up and ready to head to a different beach, for a BBQ.  Yummm!

Papa Relaxin' at the End of a Busy Sunday

Hosanna and her friend, Kiana.

Much fun to have Kiana join us for the evening!

The Sword Fight

(more details & pics to come)

Again ... hopin' that Cassie has more pics of both Beach Days.

When Cassie is home, Mama doesn't get out her camera as 

often, as Cassie is the Professional Photographer of the family.

A Crazy & Busy & Very FUN Week

If you've noticed that my blog has been a little quiet this past week, it is because we have been having way too much FUN to take time to blog.  Sorry!  I love you all, and have missed my time with you; but FAMILY FUN has been the name of the game recently.

A week ago, on Tuesday, I took Ben, Hosanna, Sarah, and Elijah on a quick 300 mile (round trip) adventure to spend a few hours with close friends.  We moved away from these friends 10 years ago, but are closer than ever.  Praising Jesus for life-long friendships!

My girlfriend M. and I took on the Big Boys (Ben & his friend M.) for a card game of Hand & Foot.  The Mamas  won!

While we were playing cards, the Young Ones were all playing "Pioneer" in the backyard woods.  I think there were 8 kids ages 8 - 13, there, plus the 2 Big Boys (age 17).

After card games and pioneer playing, and after the fog burned off and the sun came out, the kids headed into the pool.  Here are a few pics of Elijah and Hosanna ...

We arrived home at 9:30 that evening (having left home at 9:00 a.m.).  While we were gone, Our House had been Invaded by Bridget & her Gang.  Tuesday night and Wednesday morning were filled with FUN with the Road Trippin' Ryan Family.

Early Wednesday morning, Papa headed out with Josiah, Rachel, and Adopted Big Kid Hannah on a 750 mile (round trip), 2 day adventure.   Hannah needed to take a placement test for college, and register for classes.  So, Papa and the kids headed across the state to visit Josh and take care of Hannah's school business.  Josh sure misses his family (and girlfriend Hannah); so he was excited about their visit.

Papa and the kids arrived home on Thursday night about 9:00.  Then, Cassie arrived for a visit from Oregon at about 11:00 p.m.  Thus began a WHIRLWIND of FUN with CASSIE.  She hadn't been home in almost 5 months, so we were all excited to spend 5 days with her.  Yeah!!!

Stay tuned for pics from ...

... Saturday's Birch Bay State Park Beach Fun

... Sunday's BBQ at Semiahmoo & More Beach Fun

... Monday's Berry Pickin' Fun

... Monday's Summer Track Meet Fun

... Tuesday's City Park Fun

    (hopin' Cassie took pics 

     of their time at the park)

Oh yes ... in the midst of all of the FUN ... Papa and I took a quick trip to the island on Tuesday (while Cassie took the kids to City Park) to look at the house for sale.  It was GOOD!  Very good!  We are working through the process of making an offer.  Yippee!!!

I was really tired after our quick trip to the island, but stayed up to watch a Family Movie after dinner.  Have any of you seen Faith Like Potatoes?  Excellent movie!!!  After the movie, I thought I was going to go straight to bed.  But ... I ended up staying up to talk with Cassie until 3:30 a.m..  Yikes!

Cassie headed home yesterday afternoon, after a very FUN-filled 5 days.  Thanks for coming, Cassie!

Now ... I have 5 days to plan, organize, and pack for our 5 week Cross Country Road Trip.  Woo Hoo!! Can't wait!  So excited!  Papa is going to join us for the first 2 weeks, in Oregon and California.  (Yeah for having 2 drivers!)  Then, Mama and the kids are going to head out for another long-distance Road Trip Adventure.  

Ben pressure washed the trailer today, before Papa took it to the shop to get the wheel bearings packed.  We certainly don't want a repeat of last year's Tire Explosion.  I get to pick it up tomorrow (after Papa heads back to the island for the weekend); and then Ben, Hosanna, and I get to clean, organize and pack it all up.

Of course, in the midst of trying to get ready for our Big Trip, we are working very hard to do anything we can to SELL OUR HOUSE.  Now that we have a place to buy, we need to get this place sold.  While we were at the island on Tuesday, Cassie and the kids did some major work in the flower beds, while Ben pressure washed the sidewalks and driveway.  Today, Papa bought, painted, and installed shutters on 4 big windows.  Tomorrow, he will do some paint touchup, before he takes off to catch his ferry.  I need to take some new pics, and update the listing on the real estate website.

I began to map out our route last night, and it looks like we'll be visiting 15 states on this trip.  (Driving about 7,500 miles.)  A few of the places we are looking forward to visiting are ...

...  Family Camp in Oregon

...  Bloggy Friend Donna in Oregon

...  Yosemite Nat'l Park in California

...  Big Brother Jeremiah in California

...  Beaches in California

     (did you ever guess that we LOVE beaches?)

...  Cousin L. in California

...  The Grand Canyon in Arizona

...  A Sweet Friend in Arizona

...  Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico

...  Auntie M. and Uncle D. in Texas

...  Hopefully a couple of Bloggy Friends in Texas

...  Big Brother Gregg in Louisiana

...  Bloggy Friend Dawn in Louisiana

...  Bloggy Friend Linda in Oklahoma

     (hopefully the Bloggin' Riggs Family, too?)

...  Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota

... The Badlands in South Dakota

...  Yellowstone Nat'l Park in Wyoming

...  Adopted Grandparents in Idaho

     (maybe Bloggy Friend Lisa, as well?)

So ... that's what the Crazy Big D. Family has been up to.  

How about you?  Are you having FUN this summer???

Do you go to the beach?

Do you take Road Trips?

What is Your Family's favorite Summer Time Activity?

A Very Fun Track Meet

Our weekly Summer Track Meet was extra special fun this week.  Not only could Ben go this week (after having Driver's Ed. every Monday for the past month); but Big Sister Cassie was visiting from Oregon and she was excited to run; and Adopted Big Kid Jared was also able to join us.  The Young Ones were very excited to run with the Big Kids.

Here are a few of the stats for the week ...

50m Hurdles

9.88   Elijah  *  2nd Place
9.79   Rachel  *  1st Place
 ??     Josiah  *  Participant Ribbon
9.93   Sarah  *  2nd Place


100m Dash

18.25  Elijah  *  2nd Place
17.25  Rachel  *  1st Place
  ??     Josiah  *  Participant
15.5    Sarah  *  2nd Place
  ??     Hosanna  *
  ??     Cassie  *  raced against Hosanna in the
                          "13 & older" category


200m Dash

44.0    Elijah  *  3rd Place
31.53  Sarah *  2nd Place
31.54  Hosanna  *  2nd Place


800m Run

3.27    Elijah  *  1st Place
3.24    Rachel  *  2nd Place
 ??      Josiah  *  Participant


Mile

7.41   Elijah
7.48   Rachel
8.30   Josiah
5.36   Ben
5.26  Jared


4 x 100 Relay


The Most Fun Family Race of the Day!

We carefully chose our 2 Family Teams.  We paired the kids up according to speed.  We ran 2 Big Kids, 2 Young Ones, 2 Big Kids and then 2 Young Ones.  Ben was quicker than Jared ... but then Sarah was faster than Josiah ... then Hosanna was faster (I think) than Cassie ... then the 2 youngest are pretty close in speed.  So, it was a back and forth race between our 2 Family Teams.  Totally fun!!!

1.05.22   Jared, Sarah, Hosanna, Elijah  *  3rd Place
   ???       Ben, Josiah, Cassie, Rachel  *  Participant


We also had a few kids doing some Field Events again this week ...


Discus (not regulation size or weight)

41'1"    Elijah
27'7"    Rachel
21'3"    Josiah
30'6"    Sarah


Javelin (kind of like a nerf-type-arrow-thingy)

45'11"   Elijah


Long Jump

7'6"    Elijah
8'9"    Rachel


Triple Jump

19'10"   Josiah
25'5"    Hosanna
                        


Pics to come ...  I need to get them off of Ben's camera.

Now Choose Life ...

Lorraine, a blogging mom that I follow regularly, recently adopted a son.  However, this son was not adopted through an agency, an orphanage, or the foster care system.  No.  This new son was adopted privately, as part of a disrupted adoption.  Another family had adopted this precious child of God.  However, for whatever reason, the first adoptive family determined that it was not best for them to continue to parent this child.  They had to make the excruciating decision to release their son into the arms of a different mommy and daddy.

While many believe that disrupting an adoption is just "throwing away your child", "giving up on your child", etc ... I would like to share with you today the perspective of the "new mommy", the mommy who will now be tucking this son into bed each night.  This new mommy does not gloat.  She does not think, "I am a much better mommy than the first."  No.  She lovingly and respectfully shares the deep and painful choice that the first mommy had to make.

Thanks, Lorraine, for this beautifully written blog post.  It blessed by heart.




I want to talk today about disrupted adoptions.  Some of you may not even know what that means, and some of you may be way too familiar with this unlovely term.  A disrupted adoption occurs when a family adopts a child(ren), either domestically or internationally, and after the adoption is finalized, the adoptive family decides that the adoption is not going to work (for whatever reason), so the adoptive family seeks to find a new home/family for their adopted child(ren).  When the adoptive family finds a new family for their child(ren), it is handled as a private adoption, very similarly to the way that a pregnant mother decides to grant her baby a new life, a better life than what she can provide, by giving her baby up for adoption.  Disrupted adoptions give adoptees a new shot at life, with a different family who might be able to better meet the child's needs.  It is a legal adoption, handled privately (in most cases) between the previous adoptive family and the new adoptive family.  Families are not paid, kids are not "sold".  It is a legal adoption with a decision that is made in the best interest of the child between the original adoptive family and the new adoptive family.

It saddens me that many people place judgment upon adoption in general.  When a young mom gets pregnant and chooses adoption instead of abortion, she will face judgment because others will see her tummy grow larger and place judgment upon her.  When a woman is raped and chooses adoption instead of abortion, she will be judged as to why she chose to carry this baby and when she gives the baby up for adoption, those who don't know the baby was a product of rape will judge this capable mother and question why she gave her baby up.  For adoptive moms who have poured their hearts, souls, resources, time, prayers, and given all that they have to their adopted child, yet nothing seems to work, she will be judged for giving up her child...or for giving up on her child....or for not loving her child...or whatever others want to think/say about the situation.

The fact is that God created all of us in His image.  He created mothers to love their child(ren).  It is not easy for any mother to give up her child, no matter what the situation.  No matter if the mother is on drugs, is single and can't provide for a baby, is raped, is too young to properly care for a child, or perhaps the child is born with special needs, or maybe the mom is an adoptive mom whose child needs something different than what she can provide...it still HURTS to give up the child.  It hurts more than any of us who have never been in their shoes will ever know.  It is wrong for us to judge the situation and say what we would do if we were in her shoes.  The fact is that if we've never been in the same shoes, we have NO idea what this mom feels.  We have no idea what type of pain she is in.  We have no business placing judgment (ever).  We must come alongside the mother who is choosing life for her child, pray for her, encourage her, comfort her, and praise her for choosing life, especially in our culture today where choosing death is the norm.

With disrupted adoptions, it is HARD for others to understand how a child could possibly be on someone's home for a year, two years, three years, sometimes five or mome years, and then all of a sudden the adoptive family decides to "give up" and give the child to a new family.  I assure you that because we've never lived in that specific family, we have no idea what that family has gone through that has brought them to a point of having to CHOOSE LIFE and give the child up for adoption to a new family.  In most disrupted adoptions, the original adoptive family has worked around the clock to try to bring healing and hope to the child placed in their family.  They try everything they know to help the child from reading adoptive books to researching disorders to praying around the clock to therapies to doctors to evaluations to medicines to clinics to residential treatment facilities...you name it, they've tried it. 

But sometimes it's not enough. 

Sometimes love is not enough. 

Sometimes families have to make the hardest decision they'll ever face:  to CHOOSE LIFE for their adoptive child by placing them into the loving hands of our Father God with faith that He has a family chosen for this adoptive child.  This is His child.  He has a plan to give this child a hope and a future, and sometimes, as painful as it may be, the original adoptive family was only meant to be for a season in this child's life.  And the adoptive family loves the child enough to submit to God's will and CHOOSE LIFE for their child.

And I think that this courageous act should be praised instead of judged.  I cannot think of anything more difficult than to CHOOSE LIFE for your child by giving him/her up for adoption.

Thank you to all of the families out there who have CHOSEN LIFE for your child.  I admire your decision to put your child's needs above your own desires.  I admire your ability to recognize that God intended you for a season in your child's life to deliver them on to LIFE.  To have the courage to face judgment, when you could choose to hide from judgment through abortion or through keeping your child with you, even when you know that is not what is best for the child, for whatever reason.  You did not fail your child.  You provided your child with hope at a new life.  A life that matters to Him.  Thank you for having the courage to CHOOSE LIFE, in a culture of death.  As cited in Deuteronomy 3, you have lived a heavy burden.  Thank you for choosing to allow God the opportunity to make everything beautiful in its time.  I am grateful for your pro-life decision, as you have brought blessings into our lives that we never would have known without your decision of LIFE over death.  Thank you.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a:  See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.  For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.


But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.


This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life...

Hoping ... Dreaming ... Praying ...

Off to the island with Papa for the day ... to meet with a realtor about the possible house.  After looking for a place for an entire year, I can't wrap my mind around the fact that there might actually be a place for us on the island that really WORKS for our crazy, large family (and that is in our very low budget).

Guess what?!?!  Our house has been on the market since last September.  It has been shown to prospective buyers only 3 times ... once in October (the week we got home from our month-long Road Trip) ... once in April (the week we got back from living on the island for 6 months) ... and YESTERDAY.  Yes ... we showed the house yesterday.  The prospective buyer seemed quite interested.  Oh my!  Only God's timing!!!

Thanks for your prayers!

A Glimmer of Hope

As most of you know, we have been looking for a home to buy on the island, for a full year now.  There were several that we got excited about, but they were all beyond our reach financially.  There were others that we "might, possibly" be able to afford, but they were just "soooo.... small".  We always had the thought, "Maybe we could make it work."


After much prayer and discussion, though, Papa and I came to the conclusion that we weren't supposed to just "make it work".  We were supposed to wait and pray that the Lord would provide us with a place that "REALLY WORKS".  We were supposed to give God our dreams, and trust Him that He could provide for them. 


As I've mentioned before, real estate on the island is quite expensive ... much higher than the community that we currently live in.  Therefore, for the price that we hope to sell our 3400 sq. ft. house for ... we could afford a 2 bdrm. mobile home on the island.  But, a 2 bdrm. mobile just doesn't work for us.  


While we wanted to be "open" to wherever the Lord would call us ... and we wanted to be content, if the Lord wanted us to live in a small place ...  we also felt that we were called to pray specifically about the needs of our extra-large family.


Knowing that we could only afford a small mobile home, it almost felt foolish to pray for something quite a bit bigger.  Yet, our large family just plain needs SPACE.  So, we prayed for ...


...  at least 4 bedrooms


...  a family room for homeschooling


...  a quiet office for Jim (preferably a detached office)


...  a big enough dining room to invite company over
     (one of our most passionate ministry gifts is 
      hospitality, so we knew that the Lord would 
      want us to use this gift on the island)


...  enough space for all of our Big Kids 
     and Adopted Big Kids to come visit
     (and Bloggy Friends on Road Trips)






Now, while all of the above were pretty much 
"non-negotiables", we also had a few DREAMS ... 
a few things that would be "really nice" to have ...


...  enough room for me to set up my Creative 
     Memories Scrapbooking business


...  a small piece of property (at least .5 acres)


...  a piece of property in the woods
     (rather than in the village, or pastureland)


...  a beach nearby
     (within close walking distance 
      would be a HUGE bonus)


...  a peek-a-boo water view
     (I didn't even pray for this ... 
      but thought it might be nice)




Soooo ...




Guess what ?!?!?!




We believe that we may have found ...


...  JUST THE RIGHT PROPERTY 
    (with EVERY SINGLE THING on both lists)


... at JUST THE RIGHT PRICE




How did we find it???




One of you sweet Bloggyland Readers found it for me.  Can you believe it???  Our realtor never mentioned this most amazing piece of property to us.  But, one of YOU found it.  I have been in contact back and forth with the owner today.  I REALLY think this is IT but trying not to get too excited!!!




Papa walked the property today.  He peeked in the multiple outbuildings, but couldn't see into the house.  He says it "looks good".




Last night, I went to bed at 2:00 am and lay there for 2 hours dreaming of the possibilities.  


Oh yea ... one really cool thing ... as I was dreaming of the possibilities, I had no idea of the layout of the first floor of one of the outbuildings.  I thought, "3 rooms would be really nice".  Today, I asked the owner and she told me it has "3 rooms on the first floor".  Oh my!


Tonight, it is already 2:00 am and I have hardly thought of anything else all day.




I know I don't even have to ask ... you are already praying.  




I'll keep you posted!!!
   

Window Stickers

I have looked high and low to find the little stick figures that people put on the back of their cars and vans.  For 2 or 3 years, I have wanted to find these.  For the past year, I have actually had a plan as to how I would have the girls on one window and the boys on the other window.

And ... I finally found a place to custom make the stickers for me.  Yeah!  (There is a little kiosk in our local mall that makes these.)

Next month, if you see a Big Red Van heading down your freeway, take a peek at the back window to see if it is the Big D. Family.  We'll be off on a Road Trip, which will probably find us in about 15 states.  So, we just might be driving down your road.

Now, of course, making these stickers is not an exact science.  Rachel was upset that Elijah is "bigger than her"; whereas, in fact, they are the same size.  And, Mama gets to take a creative license to be taller than all of her girls; whereas, in fact, Carissa & Lindsey are both much taller.  But, overall, this is a fun depiction of our crazy, fun family.

If you are wondering what Mama has in her hands ... it is a book and an apple (for the Homeschoolin' Mama).

And, the rest of the gang ...

Girls (left to right)

Rachel ... cute little girl

Sarah ... long curly hair like her braids

Hosanna ... bike ridin' to the library

Lindsey ... stylin' young lady

Carissa ... playing soccer in Argentina

Cassie ... cute & bubbly with the pony tails

Boys (right to left)

Elijah ... wild & crazy little guy

Josiah ... fun little boy

Ben ... the runner boy

Josh ... crazy guitar guy

Jeremiah ... baseball boy

Gregg ... crazy hair dude

Papa ... nice guy

How many of you have family window stickers?

Our House was Invaded ...

... by Bloggin' Bridget & Her Gang.

The Ryan Family is in the midst of a

"Road Schooling" Adventure,

and we were BLESSED to

be able to host them for a night.

They sold their house in CA

and bought this to travel in.

(We discovered that we have a 40' driveway,

when their 38' RV just barely fit.)

They traveled the country

from November to April,

and then headed home to CA 

for a couple of months.

Here's where they have already been ...

(We want to get one of these cool maps, too.)

Now, they are Back On The Road,

to see the rest of the country.

We had a yummy breakfast of Waffles,

with raspberries & whipped cream.

We washed those down with

Strawberry / Banana Smoothies.

We all fit around our big table.

After breakfast the kids played 

on our backyard "playground".

While Bridget & I enjoyed our Iced Latte's.

Sadly, we soon had to say our good-bye's,

so they could get back On The Road, Again.

But, we are hoping to meet up next month,

as the kids and I head out for another

Month-Long Cross-Country Road Trip.

Who knows what state we might be in, 

when we cross each other's paths again.

And ... if not next month ...

we are dreaming of taking a Road Trip together.

We think that our families would have a BLAST

exploring the Wilds of Alaska together.

Watch Out!!!

Two Road Trippin' Families

bonded by the Love of Jesus,

seeking His paths

for each of our families' lives.

Praising Jesus, for this crazy blogging world,

that brought our families together!!!