A Once in a Lifetime Experience

It started at home as we watched the Space Shuttle Endeavor take off from Edward's Air Force Base from the comfort of our own living room.

We then got on our red, white, and blue and headed to the Queen Mary in Long Beach to see the flyby live.

It was so fun to be standing there with hundreds of people cheering as Endeavour flew overhead.

 I love this picture Beth took with a bird flying under the plane...

I told Beth after this shot though to stop taking pictures and to just watch.

 I did the same, and it was incredible!

I'm thankful for this once in a lifetime experience, and that I could share it with my kids.  It was even worth the two hours of traffic getting out of Long Beach, especially when Adam told me later that day, "I can still see the Space Shuttle on that airplane in my head."

I told him to save that image deep in his head cuz someday he's going to want to tell his grandchildren about today.

Interestingly enough, when we headed to the Discovery Science Center that afternoon (while foster baby was at a visit) we noticed that the Space Shuttle Cabin in the parking lot says Endeavor!

I did some research and it's a training simulator, an exact copy of the Endeavor that is no longer needed.  What a day!

 

 

 

Our 5th Child...for now

It started almost a year ago...It was Orphan Sunday at church.  And now here we are with a baby.

When Andrew and I went on our first date, he told me he wanted 9 kids...yep, on our first date.  He wasn't completely serious but he knew he wanted a lot of kids, whatever God would give us.  Well after 4 children, physically we knew I shouldn't have anymore.  Emotionally, Mentally, and Spiritually however, we were up for more. 

We talked and figured someday when our kids were older,

someday when we had a bigger house,

 someday when we were no longer selfish with our time,

someday we would like to foster children. 

Well, that Sunday last year we met a representative from Olive Crest, a foster/adoption agency.  Our friend Stephanie knew we were interested in fostering...someday...so she introduced us.  I can still remember my stomach flip-flopping as she told me I didn't need a bigger house.  My response without even blinking, "Well, I would but my husband, he wants to wait until our kids are older."  This woman asked to meet my husband.  Wouldn't you know it, when he heard we could keep babies in a crib in our room he responded, "Well, ok then.  Let's do it!" 

 It seemed Someday had arrived.

We applied online...we took some classes...we updated our CPR certification...we locked up our medicine and knives.  Buying and remodeling a home slowed us down but we kept moving forward one class and one piece of paperwork at a time. 

 And then we were certified. 

And then we got the call. 

She's 7 months old, been in foster care for months already, and she would be a longer-term placement than we had originally wanted but here she is...our 5th Child...for the time being. 
Not my plan but God's plan, not my way but His. 
Sometimes not knowing the future and having no control over it can be very freeing!

People say we're crazy but we don't think any of this is crazy.  Somehow we've allowed God to work on us in this last year, to show us, to teach us, to prepare us for this. 

For He has a plan and we're thrilled to be a part of it, whatever it is!

And you can be a part of it, too...just ask me how :)