OUR PLANS MULTIPLIED: Still Working...,

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.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Still Working...,

We are super proud of Gabriel, who is excelling beyond our best hopes in the military. He recently was awarded Sailor of the Year in CO where he works; he will now be coming out to MD to compete on a national level. It also sets him up as a very hopeful for another early promote.

JD put on a uniform and flew out last week to re-enlist him again for a few more years. I know the Navy is very happy to hold on to him! He, Alayna and my adorable grand-sons will be moving all the way back to the west coast, which stinks for this Mimi, in the spring. He plans to head back to our area after that three years is up.

The re-enlistment was done in the Bronco's Stadium, where Gabriel has done color guard for the team the last few years.

Here's Gabriel and Elijah at the touchdown line -

JD and Elijah heading home in their new matching "Salute to the military" Steeler hoodies Gabriel ordered them.

Monday is my only day that Oliver comes and hangs out with us while Alyssa works, she only went back two short days a week. He enjoys the kids very much.

This particular Monday I thought the guys were just swapping doors, but it turned out that it was rip the flooring out day. It was rough with the noise and mess with Oliver, but we made it. Here was the living room area -

And the kitchen -

We have our first hold up also, the dishwashers were evidentially leaking under the cabinets, so now the cabinets have to be ripped out, sub flooring replaced and NEW dishwashers installed. Counter tops have been delayed.

Today the siding guys came and took the siding off the entire back of the house. The windows were not sealed to code, so now we are having them fix this portion as doors and windows were being swapped anyway.

Just this morning, I put the last clear coat on the bathroom vanity cabinets and drawers. I intended to also paint the actual bathrooms before the new flooring went in, but they are doing that now. So, I will just try to beat the new counter top and cover the floor!

Here are my cabinet doors curing against the living room wall.

And last, but definitely not least to the kids, we are putting in a very large above ground pool. For years we have hoped to put in an in ground, but the cost is just so high and it doesn't seem to make it up the priority list. So this the compromise - the kids will have a pool and we won't go totally broke!