OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED

In the beginning, JD adamantly only wanted two children. I thought that four would be perfect. Once we caught God's vision of putting orphans into families, our plan was multiplied by God. We are currently blessed with 12 children; five biological, six adopted and one more waiting in Ethiopia. Our first adoption was from the U.S., the next three were from Liberia, West Africa, and our last two were from Ethiopia. We are supporting our 12th child in Ethiopia after her adoption could not pass court.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Gabriel's Departure

 As our family gets larger, more and more special events over-lap. Last night was Gabriel's last night at home and it was also Moriah's 15th birthday. Since Moriah had a party a few weeks ago, Gabriel had his girl-friend, Alayna, and his friend, Ham, for dinner. Gabriel's request was strombolis and cheese-cake and Moriah's was chicken pot pie and frosted sugar cookies, so we had both dinners and desserts. The benefit of all that cooking is that tonight can just be left-overs. 

Here's the teen pack at dinner - note how I didn't even have time to remove the mail from the table! (I'm packing for Ethiopia, you know...)


We gathered in the living room for presents - 


Moriah, now 15, with her little buddy - 


Alayna and Julia - 


Group shot...what cracked me up was what I noticed as I loaded this picture.


Look at Elijah kissing Alayna's cheek. He loves Alayna - (so does his brother!)


Gabriel and his phone, man, is he going to miss that when the Navy throws it into the "to be sent home" bin.


Ham taught the kids a bit of ball-room dancing. 


He decided Ben needed some culture; Ben was pretty horrified and Elijah said, "Ham is making Ben be a girl!"


Gabriel was supposed to leave this afternoon, but was informed last night that he had to report early this morning for a personality test that is given to all home-schoolers. I found it interesting that they don't phase that in a more politically correct way, but Gabriel has way more personality than any public-school graduate that I know, so we aren't worried. 

I insisted that he take this picture with the girls straight out of bed before they left for school.


Then we had another before I took Alyssa to school. Moriah was already gone and none of us thought to wake Alei until afterwards, (she would have refused to be photographed straight out of bed anyway.)


Hard to believe that he is really out on his own. It's just kind of sinking in...(JD took me out to lunch).

4 comments:

  1. i'm glad JD took you out to lunch...for congratulating or commiserating...either one! maybe some of both.
    it's wild to think that little gabriel is all grown up & off in the Navy making his way in the world.
    y'all did good! he will be alright....he knows his North is the Lord!

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  2. ***Chickenless Chicken pot pie

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  3. A personality test just for homeschoolers? Seriously?!?! How can they even get away with that???

    My eldest son spent 4 1/2 years in the Army, and #2 son is currently an officer in the Navy . . . and I've never heard of such a test. Crazy!

    :) :) :)

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  4. My son just graduated from Navy boot camp in IL last month. Now he's at school there. It's still hard to believe he's out on his own. He left July 24th and we won't see him until Christmas time. My husband and second son and two friends went out for the graduation.

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