A Not So Boring Blog Post, Like That Last One . . .

I saw this idea over on rageagainsttheminivan
and thought it was a MUCH more entertaining way to blog about 2013 than just some boring ole pictures of our beautiful kids.  So, here goes!

1.  What did you do in 2013 that you've never done before?  I went on a mission trip to Ch*na to work in a special needs orphanage.  Life changing.  Our Father is moving mountains on behalf of the least of these!  Wanna go?  lori mcmurphy @ gmail . com (when you type it, no spaces:)

2.  Did you keep your New Year's Resolution and will you make more for next year?  I didn't make one last year, but this year it's more of a new routine that I found over at www.aholyexperience.com with Ann Voskamp.  I've got some yucky routines that I don't like and I really want to break them.  I'm sure I'll be blogging about them here :).  Starting off the day with God's word instead of social media - wow what a concept!

3.  Did anyone close to you adopt or give birth?  My cousin gave birth to a sweet baby boy!  We have some friends who adopted a baby from Uganda!  Most of my cousins, and especially my sisters are done giving birth.  I keep hoping for more adoptions in our family!

4.  Did anyone close to you die?  A death that really affected me was the death of Teresa B.  It seems absolutely crazy to be so involved with a child's life that I've never met, but we were drawn to each other by a fellowship of suffering, bearing one another's burdens.  She was an orphan with a heart of gold, but her heart could not sustain her here on this earth.  She and Avery spent time together at the same healing home and that is how I 'met' her and advocated for her.  Thank you Jes*s that she was SO LOVED by a family here on this earth.  Beauty for ashes.

5.  What countries did you visit?  Ch*na!  That country has my heart!  If the Father called us to live there and work I would not hesitate.  For now, it's short term missions.  We started out in Be*jing and did the tourist thing, then off to Cha*yang to work with special needs orphans.  When I walked in I felt like this was where I was supposed to be, it's a piece of my puzzle.

6.  What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?  Have less stuff.  Be content with a more simple life.  Less visual clutter.  Less.  More peace.  More time with Him.  Be more on top of things.  Be healthier.  Move FORWARD.

7.  What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory and why?  We spent time at the beach!  If you don't believe in the Father then you've never been to the beach.  AND, we were with great friends!

It was VERY humid.  I must explain my hair.  I can't explain the Barbie arm in the last photo.

8.  What was your biggest failure?  I fail daily in some way.  I'm more often a distracted, grumpy mom than I am a happy, connected mom.  But, in Him, I am given grace and peace, and a fresh start every morning.  If I had to think of one big failure it would be that I couldn't break through to our exchange student better.  I don't lose sleep over it, but he was a tough nut to crack.

9.  What was your biggest achievement this year?  Learning to use my camera and taking photos of my family and friends.  Hopefully way more of that for 2014!

Some from the beginning of my classes.  

Some towards the end of 2013.

10.  Did I suffer illness or injury?  Nope.  Thank you Father that we were all healthy!

11.  What was the best thing I bought?  Probably my 50mm lens for my photography classes - it's the only one I use now!  I think my next lens will be a 35mm.

12.  Where did most of our $$ go?  Our old pool.  Taxes.  Blechhhh!

13.  What did I get really excited about?  One of our kiddos from Cha*yang going into foster care!!!  Watching G*d move that mountain!!  Oh, and, taking much better photos - I kind of get geeked up about a good shot.

Sweet girl experiencing the love of a foster family!  Looking forward to seeing what G*d does with her in 2014!

14.  What song will always remind you of 2013?  I LOVE the song by Gungor "You Make Beautiful Things,"  and then there's "You're Beautiful" by Phil Wickham.  Gorgeous music.

15.  Compared to this time last year, are you:
  * happier or sadder > I'm happier!  Moving FORWARD is good!
  * thinner or fatter > Fatter (that part makes me sadder).  Is it lack of exercise?  Diet?  Yes.  Yes it is.
  * richer or poorer > Poorer.  But we are getting our budget under control and figuring it all out, so that part makes me happier.

16.  What did you wish you'd done more of?  Eating healthier, being more organized, waking up earlier to be connected to Him.  All those things would give me peace.

17.  What do you wish you'd done less of?  LESS SOCIAL MEDIA!  I really like Instagram because I like photos so much.  And, dumb Facebook keeps me connected with other photography peeps, not to mention my GRANDMA is now on FB!  But, if I could just reduce it to once or twice a day.  What would that do for my life?

18.  How did we spend Christmas?  Just our little family, GaGa, then Mom and Melvin, then the Pikiti family came for lunch, and we saw Chelsea and Jett.  Thanksgiving was our BIG family holiday with my sisters and their families staying a few days - my favorite.  Mom always said one day my sisters and I would be good friends, she was right!

19.  What was your favorite TV show?  Modern Family.  Yes.  Hilarious!  My next favorite show is America's Next Top Model for photography reasons only - hate the dumb drama!  But I actually learn quite a bit about posing, and lighting!

20.  What was your favorite book?  I can't remember if I read UNBROKEN by Laura Hillenbrand this year or last (I think it was last), but I recommend it to everyone.  It is by far my most favorite book!  I also read Wonder by R. J. Palacio which was excellent.  I read it to Ethan.  Great book!

21.  What was your favorite music?  I usually listen to Contemporary Christian and not much else.  I am a huge Gwen Stefani fan and a closet Britney fan.  Love music with a good beat or music that speaks to my heart.  How cheesy is that?

22.  Favorite movie?   I loved Catching Fire, Frozen, Despicable Me 2, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (I guess I'm surrounded by kids, huh?).  I thought Identity Thief and The Heat were funny, but too much of the 'f' word (can we be more creative please?)  I did not like American Hustle or Oz the Great and Powerful.  Great Gatsby was ok.  I still want to see The Book Thief, Monsters University, August:  Osage County, Saving Mr. Banks, and Madea's Christmas.

23.  What did we do on my birthday?  I don't even remember.  Probably went out to eat?

24.  What one thing would have made my year immeasurably more satisfying?  Rock hard abs and a body that doesn't jiggle.  Well, how do you get that Lori?  Shut up.

25.  How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013?  Hmmmm . . . not important would be one way of putting it.  If my goal is to NOT leave the house in my ugly Target slippers and my pajama top with a hoodie on is that good or bad?  Should I be more fashionable in 2014 or just continue to look for ANOTHER pair of my favorite slouchy yoga pants and call it good?  I don't want to end up on www.peopleofwalmart.com!

26.  What kept you sane?  All five kids were in school for the first time in August.  That's 16 years of having at least one child at home if not more.  It was a milestone.  I love it.  I love public school (one in private).  We are on the mission field.

Now, let's rock this 2014!

One More Year . . .

Time keeps going doesn't it?  Marching on whether we need it to or want it to.  Some days I wanted it to speed by and others just to stop.  and.  breathe.

Technically we only have about a year and half with our oldest one under our roof, our rules, our mostly watchful eye.  He's had his first job, first car.  He's such a good boy.  I love watching him develop his own ideas and ways.  Trying to mold them and shape them into who He wants them to be gets harder - start early.

This precious, oldest daughter has grown and learned so much this past year, we both have.  It hasn't always been easy.  We are learning together and celebrating little successes because those add up to bigger successes.  God is so patient with me as a mom and leads me to where I need to be in parenting this one.  She's beautiful, brilliant, and absolutely precious.  I would not ask her to be any other way.  

Our third born.  Diggy.  Ebear.  The baseball playa.  The kid who'd rather be home, but once he's out and about he's good.  He keeps us on our toes.  He keeps us laughing.

Each of our children has a voice in the family.  This one is Pepper.  Best big sister ever.  Best baby sister ever.  She's going to be a leader and organize groups of people.  

 And, sweet, loud, rule follower, the baby.  She runs everywhere she goes.  She's happy.  Her world has opened ours to SO much more than we had ever imagined.  She's a big piece of the puzzle God has put our family in.  Who wants to go to Ch*na with me?

And, the fearless leaders, us, married eighteen years in 2013.  How did we get to where we are today?  Prayer, communication, teamwork, tag teaming, God, and mostly God.  

This Precious One

 Tomorrow this chick is going to look a little different . . . 

All that metal that has been in her mouth for three years comes off tomorrow.

If our orthodontist could give an award for the most broken brackets I'm just sure we would win.

Thank goodness he doesn't charge extra for that.

This precious baby girl has my heart.  Things don't come too easy for her.  But she is one of the smartest kids I know!  Her brain goes places mine doesn't and it is amazing to watch.  God has GREAT plans for this one, and I get front row seats to watch it all unfold . . . 

So Much to Be ThankFUL For . . .

So, my bloggy friend, Linny, had this great idea for us all to spend Thanksgiving together by linking our blogs up to hers.  This way we all get to lurk in each other's houses at what goes on in the preparing, thanking, togetherness of it all!  So, go visit aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ to see how that boatload spends their Thanksgiving.  Boy does she have some AWESOME GOD stories to tell!  But don't go visit her house until you are done visiting mine!

**************

Let the festivities begin!  I think Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays.  All this just being together and delicious food without the focus of material gifts just makes me happy!  

 I'm not doing the GIANT meal at my house this year.  We are heading to Grandma's a couple hours away.  And,  Thanksgiving AT Grandma's?  Well . . . just call me done.  It doesn't get much better than this as far as holidays go!

So, my part of the meal was baking a cake, well, Nicole and Carlie did the cake baking.  And, sweet potatoes.  Not too many people like the sweet potatoes but I LOVE them.  This recipe has a nut topping on it, no marshmallows tomorrow - those come on Friday for our OTHER Thanksgiving.  Lots of people to be thankful WITH, too!

The hubbie even got involved a little and came to my rescue to stir some things.  I love having him in the kitchen.  It doesn't happen near enough!

This kid was an official taste tester of the cake batter.  Yeah, raw eggs blah blah.  Rocky drank them, right?  Later I found the cake batter bowl with the leftover cake batter hidden in a closet upstairs so she could have a lick later.  Busted.

GaGa came over to help with dishes!  I love that she's my dish girl!  She loves that she's a dish girl, too!  Seriously, she'll admit it right along with me - she's not much of a cook, and that's ok!

Then there's this handsome boy.  He spent the evening staring at shiny things on the ceiling and being cute.  He does a great job of it!

The "Twins"

Just look at these girlies!  "Twins" born eleven months apart and half a world away.  

This one just turned five.  FIVE.  It's almost our fourth "Gotcha Day" anniversary.  Which is about as long as we waited for the "Gotcha Day."  But, that's another story . . . not for this post.

She LOVES her China and LOVES to tell people where she was born.  She's got SO much ENERGY.  She loves her teachers and school and friends.

Then this one . . . another gift!  She's so sassy and sweet.

She will defend her baby sister till the end of time if the need arises.  She's pretty happy go lucky.

 She's all girlie girl, and right now would prefer we all call her Brittany, but the name Pepper fits her so much better.

 We got one that's a rule follower and the other likes to bend them.  They play and fight well together.  Just like if they were sisters born to each other.

The years ahead are going to be so much fun.  I can't wait!

Sick Days

School has started which means we are around other kids who have some little germies.  On the third week of school we already had a little one stay home for three whole days.  We made it to the pediatrician just to make sure we weren't carrying around strep or anything lovely like that (we weren't).

I remember very well when I used to get sick as a kid.  All I wanted to do was spend all day long on the couch watching TV - you know, the kind back in the dark ages where we only had about 4 channels, and in the afternoon all that was on were soap operas???  We even had a BLACK and WHITE TV for many years, no remote EVER.

 Anyway, back to this little one . . . 

She wasn't content to just lay around and nurse her cold.  She wanted to be entertained with paints, crayons, and food.  (I don't think she was THAT sick.)  

But it was some good one on one Carlie time for me!