Wow! I cannot sleep. Hays cannot sleep. We are going to be worthless before we even get to Rwanda! Yesterday was one week until we leave Durango! Today is one week until we leave the country. Tomorrow is one week until we get to Rwanda. . . .OH MY GOODNESS! I can hardly function at a normal human level!
I'm collecting all kinds of toys and medicines for the orphanage. I'm getting Ruk all ready and packed--clothes (waiting to hear how big his foot is) and stuff to do in the hotel and on the airplane. I've gotten a few games that don't require too much verbal communication so that Hays and Ruk can play together during the days! I'm so excited!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Come On Vacation With Us!!!
March 13-21
Okay, keep reading! I need you all to take action! Post this to your blogs, post this to your Facebook accounts, tell everyone about it! We are taking an amazing trip to the Philippines in March! It is a VACATION WITH A PURPOSE: we are vacationing in the most amazing vacation spot ever and we are doing a side of missions as well! Camp Kivu is putting this trip on, but you do not need to be a camp family to go. I would love for it to be a trip filled with all of my friends and adoption blogging buddies if that is what it turns out to be. Andy and I have been there five times (four with the kids) and it is truly the most beautiful place on earth (and that is saying a lot because I live in Colorado).
Let me give you some more details. The trip costs $3000 but that includes EVERYTHING: room, all meals (fantastically indescribable meals), all activities and airfare from Los Angeles. Once you break that all down it is a very "cheap" vacation for an all-inclusive. We are also asking everyone to "raise" an additional $500 to donate to the mission work we will be doing. The point of that is so that as we are helping in the community of El Nido Town, we really feel like we have put something into it by personally raising the money. (Also, since Camp Kivu is "hosting" the trip, you can raise the ENTIRE COST of the trip and it can be tax deductible for the people who give you the money!!!!)
Activities: sailing, snorkling, scuba diving, sand volleyball, island hopping, rock climbing, camping on the beach, looking for sea shells or watching turtles hatch. . .the activities are so fun and they are ALL OPTIONAL--including the amount of mission work that you will be doing. OPTIONAL because it is vacation after all! You can opt to lay on the beach all day reading a book and just soaking in the scenery! OPTIONAL!
You can come alone (if you are over 16). You can come as a family (all ages welcome. . .we will be there with our FIVE kids).
All of that to say. . .please come on vacation with us! Please post this! If anyone has any questions, you can direct them to me (jamiejo@campkivu.com). I am really excited about this opportunity to go to El Nido with friends! Visit www.elnidoresorts.com if you want to see additional pictures! This truly is the best vacation ever!!!
Now GO!!! Email me with questions about how to get signed up! Blog it! Facebook it! Let's get 40 people (individuals or families) signed up this week! SO FUN!
Okay, keep reading! I need you all to take action! Post this to your blogs, post this to your Facebook accounts, tell everyone about it! We are taking an amazing trip to the Philippines in March! It is a VACATION WITH A PURPOSE: we are vacationing in the most amazing vacation spot ever and we are doing a side of missions as well! Camp Kivu is putting this trip on, but you do not need to be a camp family to go. I would love for it to be a trip filled with all of my friends and adoption blogging buddies if that is what it turns out to be. Andy and I have been there five times (four with the kids) and it is truly the most beautiful place on earth (and that is saying a lot because I live in Colorado).
Let me give you some more details. The trip costs $3000 but that includes EVERYTHING: room, all meals (fantastically indescribable meals), all activities and airfare from Los Angeles. Once you break that all down it is a very "cheap" vacation for an all-inclusive. We are also asking everyone to "raise" an additional $500 to donate to the mission work we will be doing. The point of that is so that as we are helping in the community of El Nido Town, we really feel like we have put something into it by personally raising the money. (Also, since Camp Kivu is "hosting" the trip, you can raise the ENTIRE COST of the trip and it can be tax deductible for the people who give you the money!!!!)
Activities: sailing, snorkling, scuba diving, sand volleyball, island hopping, rock climbing, camping on the beach, looking for sea shells or watching turtles hatch. . .the activities are so fun and they are ALL OPTIONAL--including the amount of mission work that you will be doing. OPTIONAL because it is vacation after all! You can opt to lay on the beach all day reading a book and just soaking in the scenery! OPTIONAL!
You can come alone (if you are over 16). You can come as a family (all ages welcome. . .we will be there with our FIVE kids).
All of that to say. . .please come on vacation with us! Please post this! If anyone has any questions, you can direct them to me (jamiejo@campkivu.com). I am really excited about this opportunity to go to El Nido with friends! Visit www.elnidoresorts.com if you want to see additional pictures! This truly is the best vacation ever!!!
Now GO!!! Email me with questions about how to get signed up! Blog it! Facebook it! Let's get 40 people (individuals or families) signed up this week! SO FUN!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Not Much. . .Great Recipe
Well, not much is going on right now for me to write about. My parents were in town for the weekend and that was WONDERFUL! We had so much fun! My dad brought my boys a BB gun and a cross bow (suction cup darts) and a bow and arrow (real) and a bunch of targets. So, needless to say, Annie Oakley got out and hit the bull's eye--my boys (and my father) were quite impressed! Mom cooked all of my favorite meals (so my diet was put on hold) and we just had a great time talking and laughing. It was so good for my parents to get away and it was so good for us to have them! I think the most fun part about us moving is that when they come to visit we HAVE THEM for the entire day and evening. . .not just for a meal. I know the weekly meals and daily drops in are fun, but it has been fun to host them for a few days! (Gran'ma, it is your turn! I'm working on getting a professional to kidnap you and drop you off at our house!)
My travel dates are getting closer and closer! Hays is having trouble sleeping. . .he is just so excited to go get his brother! I'm working on where to stay in Rwanda and Ethiopia. I'm trying to gather items for the orphanage such as baby and children's Tylenol and other meds and formula. I want to give them a big box of things they need. I can't wait to go get my (our) boy! I actually felt him in my arms today. I felt what it would feel like to finally hold him and I cannot wait!
Below is a great chili recipe! We are supposed to get our first big snow tonight and for the next two days, so we've got the fire burning and the chili in the crock pot. Enjoy it!
Spicy Two Bean Chili
2 pounds ground beef (I have also made it with ground turkey)
3 large onions, chopped (I use 2)
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans kidney beans, rinsed & drained (I use 3)
2 cans black beans, rinsed & drained (I use 3)
2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilies, do not drain
1 can chicken broth (14.5 ounces) (I use more b/c I use more beans)
½ cup lime juice
6 tablespoons cornmeal (make sure this gets stirred in well)
¼ cup chili powder
4 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons rubbed sage
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon pepper
Cook beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Transfer to slow cooker. Stir in beans, tomatoes, broth, lime juice, cornmeal and seasonings (feel free to go easy on the seasonings if your kids don't like spicy. I didn't the first time and did the second time and the response was much better).
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until heated through.
Serve with rice (optional). Sprinkle with cheese (advised).
Also great reheated!!!
My travel dates are getting closer and closer! Hays is having trouble sleeping. . .he is just so excited to go get his brother! I'm working on where to stay in Rwanda and Ethiopia. I'm trying to gather items for the orphanage such as baby and children's Tylenol and other meds and formula. I want to give them a big box of things they need. I can't wait to go get my (our) boy! I actually felt him in my arms today. I felt what it would feel like to finally hold him and I cannot wait!
Below is a great chili recipe! We are supposed to get our first big snow tonight and for the next two days, so we've got the fire burning and the chili in the crock pot. Enjoy it!
Spicy Two Bean Chili
2 pounds ground beef (I have also made it with ground turkey)
3 large onions, chopped (I use 2)
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans kidney beans, rinsed & drained (I use 3)
2 cans black beans, rinsed & drained (I use 3)
2 cans diced tomatoes and green chilies, do not drain
1 can chicken broth (14.5 ounces) (I use more b/c I use more beans)
½ cup lime juice
6 tablespoons cornmeal (make sure this gets stirred in well)
¼ cup chili powder
4 teaspoons dried oregano
3 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons rubbed sage
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon pepper
Cook beef, onions and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Transfer to slow cooker. Stir in beans, tomatoes, broth, lime juice, cornmeal and seasonings (feel free to go easy on the seasonings if your kids don't like spicy. I didn't the first time and did the second time and the response was much better).
Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until heated through.
Serve with rice (optional). Sprinkle with cheese (advised).
Also great reheated!!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Fun Shirts & Other Ramblings
So, I just found this blog (thank you, Rachel, for leading me to it) and the lady makes such cute stuff (I am ordering a few of her Africa shirts). It is called Pitter Patter Art (click on the name and you will link to it). I'm really excited!
Also, tonight I am really lonely (don't worry, Gran'ma, the kids don't know). But I am looking forward to tomorrow! My parents (who I miss so much it actually hurts inside) are coming for a visit and my husband (who has been gone for the better part of three weeks) will also be coming home. I can't wait! The move has been good, but sometimes I just miss hugs and laughter. . .they are here but sometimes they are harder to come by still. . .I know it will get better.
And I'm missing my boy I've never met. It is so past time to bring him home. I will be leaving two weeks from today and it cannot get here soon enough!!!
And some happy news: Hays just got back from a "field trip" to Camp Red Cloud. The entire fifth grade went for three days and he had the best time! He got to canoe and rappel (130 foot cliff) and horseback ride and play in the SNOW and tour a mine! He loved it! (Coincidentally, Red Cloud is where I spend 74 of the first 90 days I was married and I hated it. . .I'm glad he had a different experience!)
Hays rappelling!!!
Hays with a couple of guys from his class.
Hays with Kenna (his new BFF) and Jonathan.
Also, tonight I am really lonely (don't worry, Gran'ma, the kids don't know). But I am looking forward to tomorrow! My parents (who I miss so much it actually hurts inside) are coming for a visit and my husband (who has been gone for the better part of three weeks) will also be coming home. I can't wait! The move has been good, but sometimes I just miss hugs and laughter. . .they are here but sometimes they are harder to come by still. . .I know it will get better.
And I'm missing my boy I've never met. It is so past time to bring him home. I will be leaving two weeks from today and it cannot get here soon enough!!!
And some happy news: Hays just got back from a "field trip" to Camp Red Cloud. The entire fifth grade went for three days and he had the best time! He got to canoe and rappel (130 foot cliff) and horseback ride and play in the SNOW and tour a mine! He loved it! (Coincidentally, Red Cloud is where I spend 74 of the first 90 days I was married and I hated it. . .I'm glad he had a different experience!)
Hays rappelling!!!
Hays with a couple of guys from his class.
Hays with Kenna (his new BFF) and Jonathan.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
China Adoption
Well, I just heard from the China "rumor lady" (via her blog) and her prediction as to when we should get our referral from China is July 2012. For those of you who don't know, we started the adoption process in October 2005. We send our dossier to China and we were officially logged into their "waiting list" On November 2006. When we started it was a 7 month wait for referrals. . .which would have put us as having baby in arms July 2007. . .we did get a baby in our arms later that year, but from a whole different country as you all know.
So, what does this mean? Nothing. I'm not even sure we will complete our Chinese adoption. I feel like bringing Ruk home will complete our family. . .however, I feel like somehow that China baby is still supposed to be for us. Who knows. . .we obviously have a very long time to wait!!!
I'm not sure why I even felt compelled to blog that info about Summer 2012. I guess I just needed to tell someone!
So, what does this mean? Nothing. I'm not even sure we will complete our Chinese adoption. I feel like bringing Ruk home will complete our family. . .however, I feel like somehow that China baby is still supposed to be for us. Who knows. . .we obviously have a very long time to wait!!!
I'm not sure why I even felt compelled to blog that info about Summer 2012. I guess I just needed to tell someone!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Movie Premiere Tonight!!!
So, who knew when I moved to Colorado that I'd be going to a movie premiere!?!?! It isn't a huge blockbuster with Brad Pitt or anything, but it will still be a fun evening out for my hubby and me (Andy is actually flying in for the evening--out recruiting for Camp Kivu). Lance Armstrong is coming in for the big premiere that he is in. The documentary is "Race Across the Sky" about a 100 mile mountain bike race. It will be fun! I'm all gussied up (as gussied as you get in Durango. . .maybe a little too gussied) and I am ready to go! I'll let you all know how it goes!!! Worst case scenario, I get to have a date with my hubby. . .not too bad of a worst case!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Fun Time In Denver...KIVU Reunion
My college roomie, Amy, came to see us at the coffee shop on Friday night. It was SO much fun seeing her and I realized how much I really like her and what a blessing she was to me during my years at Baylor!
As always, talking and LAUGHING with Dee is the best! Being with Dee and Tamara was such a fun blast from the past! MOVE TO DURANGO, DEE!!!
AV and Gabby.
This is Hays and the daughter of my high school Bible study leader, Sherry Renfro Hamilton! So fun to see her!
Tickets Purchased!!!
My tickets are purchased!!! Hays and I are headed to Kigali on November 5th (we'll arrive on the 7th and meet Ruk on the 8th). We will be in Rwanda for one week and then we will be in Ethiopia for one week working on Ruk's visa and then we are headed home with our boy!!!! We will be back in Durango on November 21st...just in time for Thanksgiving!!!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Change Of Plans
Well, our travel plans got changed. We will now be headed to Rwanda a week later. The Minister and her family have the Swine Flu (among other issues that have come up). So, we will be traveling sometime around November 7th instead. I am bummed. . .I want to meet my boy sooner and not later. . .one of my friends was going to be in Ethiopia meeting her son the same week I was going to be there and I was VERY excited about that. . .and this changes our Thanksgiving travel plans and we won't be able to go to Missouri and Oklahoma for Thanksgiving and that makes me sad. God knows. I can't wait to know, too!
6 Year Old Orphan in Albania
Hey there bloggy world! It has come to my attention that there is a 6 year old boy in Albania who needs to be adopted! His sister was adopted and the family cannot take the brother. He is has some sort of special need (I think maybe some mental handicap of some sort) and his time in the orphanage is over. They will be moving him to an institution for adults with handicaps. He is really missing his sister, too! Please put this on your blog if you have one and let's get the word out. Surly God has a home for this boy! Please email tnrunner@hotmail.com if you are interested or if you need more details!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Ouray & Jack 'o' Lanterns
TURN OFF YOUR VOLUME!!! Sorry, my post from yesterday came with some obnoxious music and you would enjoy your next five minutes more if your volume was off! :)
Today we went to Ouray and hiked Box Canyon Falls. It was really fun. Then we came home and carved Jack 'o' Lanterns. Good day.
Today we went to Ouray and hiked Box Canyon Falls. It was really fun. Then we came home and carved Jack 'o' Lanterns. Good day.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pumpkin Patch
TURN YOUR VOLUME OFF!!! This song was an accident and I don't want to wait 30 more minutes to re-upload these pictures for the slideshow (at the bottom). So, please turn your volume off or down! Sorry!
My dad flew in for the weekend to surprise the kids! We are SO EXCITED to have him here! Today we went to a pumpkin patch and it was great! Enjoy the pics!
My dad flew in for the weekend to surprise the kids! We are SO EXCITED to have him here! Today we went to a pumpkin patch and it was great! Enjoy the pics!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monster Mash
(For those of you who get this blog emailed to you, you'll have to actually go to the blog to see this video...for some reason you cannot see the video with the kids' faces from your email. www.branerpartyof7.blogspot.com)
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Friday, October 9, 2009
A Little Sappy Today
Three weeks from tomorrow and I will be TOUCHING (hopefully holding) my son!!!
A little homesick today. I'm not sure what that is all about. Andy is gone again (home for 11 hours last night). That could be why. We have a four day weekend and I had BIG plans to take my kids to San Diego (surprise them) and go to the zoo and the beach and Legoland (the big finale) and those got foiled because my car is still sitting at the shop (we're going on 15 days now). I think I'm a little bummed about that, too! I miss my family and my good friends who really know me. I miss my boy that I don't even know. They say home is where the heart is. . .I think that's why I'm homesick. . .part of my heart is on a plane headed to Tampa, part of my heart is in Kigali, part is in Missouri. . .I'm all over the place! I'm just a little sappy today.
A little homesick today. I'm not sure what that is all about. Andy is gone again (home for 11 hours last night). That could be why. We have a four day weekend and I had BIG plans to take my kids to San Diego (surprise them) and go to the zoo and the beach and Legoland (the big finale) and those got foiled because my car is still sitting at the shop (we're going on 15 days now). I think I'm a little bummed about that, too! I miss my family and my good friends who really know me. I miss my boy that I don't even know. They say home is where the heart is. . .I think that's why I'm homesick. . .part of my heart is on a plane headed to Tampa, part of my heart is in Kigali, part is in Missouri. . .I'm all over the place! I'm just a little sappy today.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Snow On The Mountains
We headed to Andrew's Lake today. . .we just had to play in the snow. . .we had been seeing it up on the LaPlata's from school since Monday morning. . .so we went! So pretty!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
HOPE
I just listened to a great sermon on HOPE (James River: John Lindell). John started off by saying the hope is one of the most underrated, unappreciated and misunderstood aspects of evangelical Christianity. So often we say that we "hope" something will happen and a good Christian friend will discredit our hope by telling us that if we just had "faith" then it would happen. We tend to make hope second class to faith. However, John said, that without hope we have nothing to put our faith in.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for. . . ." Believing that God is who He said He is. . .that is what we hope for. Knowing that THE BEST IS YET TO COME is what we hope for!
Where do we get our hope? From God! From Scripture! God not only wants to give us hope (Psalms 62:5 & Jeremiah 29:11), but He wants us to abound in hope (Romans 15:13), He wants us to be overflowing the the hope that He gives to us! So often, though, we put our hope in ourselves and in other people and we become deflated because people will let us down. Sometimes we need to give ourselves a little peptalk and remind ourselves that it is time to HOPE! HOPE BRINGS JOY (Proverbs 10:28).
I know so often in life I become hopeless and deflated. I know that I look to people to bring me happiness. I know that I often think that the best has already been. I think that if I just get this boy home then I'll be happy. I put my hope in my timing of this adoption. I put my hope in what happiness Andy can bring me or what joys my kids can bring me. Then I get let down. I need to know and believe that THE BEST IS YET TO COME! God's best is yet to come! Not only does God have an amazing plan for my life. . .the hope for which God has called me to be. . .but God is truly who He says He is and the best is yet to come--in eternity when we are praising the Lord together in His very presence.
I really enjoyed that sermon and I just wanted to share it with you. If you are like me and are looking for a great home church, I suggest that you listen to Pastor John's sermons online. . .it is like being in seminary! His messages are powerful and honest and he isn't afraid to convict you. He does not sugar-coat the scripture! Go to www.jamesriver.org and you can listen to all of his sermons. Or you can download them weekly from iTunes! Enjoy!
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for. . . ." Believing that God is who He said He is. . .that is what we hope for. Knowing that THE BEST IS YET TO COME is what we hope for!
Where do we get our hope? From God! From Scripture! God not only wants to give us hope (Psalms 62:5 & Jeremiah 29:11), but He wants us to abound in hope (Romans 15:13), He wants us to be overflowing the the hope that He gives to us! So often, though, we put our hope in ourselves and in other people and we become deflated because people will let us down. Sometimes we need to give ourselves a little peptalk and remind ourselves that it is time to HOPE! HOPE BRINGS JOY (Proverbs 10:28).
I know so often in life I become hopeless and deflated. I know that I look to people to bring me happiness. I know that I often think that the best has already been. I think that if I just get this boy home then I'll be happy. I put my hope in my timing of this adoption. I put my hope in what happiness Andy can bring me or what joys my kids can bring me. Then I get let down. I need to know and believe that THE BEST IS YET TO COME! God's best is yet to come! Not only does God have an amazing plan for my life. . .the hope for which God has called me to be. . .but God is truly who He says He is and the best is yet to come--in eternity when we are praising the Lord together in His very presence.
I really enjoyed that sermon and I just wanted to share it with you. If you are like me and are looking for a great home church, I suggest that you listen to Pastor John's sermons online. . .it is like being in seminary! His messages are powerful and honest and he isn't afraid to convict you. He does not sugar-coat the scripture! Go to www.jamesriver.org and you can listen to all of his sermons. Or you can download them weekly from iTunes! Enjoy!
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Happy October!!!
October! The month I get to meet my son!!! OH MY GOODNESS! Words cannot describe! My mother-in-law asked for some specific prayer requests, so I thought I'd share them with everyone!
1. Pray that God continues to prepare Ruk's heart. Poor guy. He is getting adopted into this crazy family of white people who talk a million miles an hour and are loud and busy and whatever! I cannot imagine how anxious he will be!
2. Pray for the language barrier. . .patience on everyone's end!
3. Finances. . .we have to redo our home study and we have to travel (3 ticket) and stay in two different countries for two weeks. MONEY!
4. Pray for our hearts. . .the kids as they get a new brother (especially Dax, I'm sure) and Andy and I as we get a son who is already six years old!
So, Happy October!
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