OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED: Birthday Week

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.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Birthday Week

Yesterday was Tori's birthday, today is Alayna's and Monday is Bella's. While Alayna isn't back in Virginia yet, Tori and Bella wanted to try out the new trampoline park, Sky Zone, in town for their birthday event. I felt like an hour wasn't going to be long enough, but it sure was expensive enough, and it turned out to be plenty of time. They didn't do any sitting or resting, but they had time to enjoy everything that was offered. We will hope to go back sometime when the ninja warrior course is completed.

Elijah probably flipped 100 times in the first 20 minutes we were there and was in pain with an aching back. We outlawed any more flipping and he still had fun. He can flip frontward and backwards effortlessly on a trampoline or diving board. He has been working on back flips on the ground in karate also.

We watched a handful of teenage boys strive to jump high enough to slam dunk the basketball; once they gave up, they handed Tori the ball and she made it several times. I think they were a bit embarrassed.

Today was Tori, Elijah and Selah's first basketball game. I didn't get to see Tori's since I had a birthday party to take the younger crowd to, but she scored 12 of the 18 winning goals!

Dodge ball is a favorite since they play it weekly at home school PE. At one point, Selah was the only one in on her side and dodged three boys throwing balls at her until the whistle was blown. It was humorous because she trips over her own feet regularity, but can dodge speeding balls!

Once we finished up our hour at Sky Zone, we headed to CiCi's pizza buffet for dinner and then home for Tori's cake and gifts. Her major gift is acting lessons in CYT's (Christian Youth Theater) spring session. She is certain at this point that her career is in Hollywood; unlikely from rural VA, but local theater perhaps.