We had a great time this weekend at a six year old birthday party. Our great friends Ken, Tina and Matthew are also our neighbors, fellow Ju Jitsu parents and Ken teaches our children's T-ball team. We were excited to get invited to Matthew's Birthday party at the Ice Skating Rink in Kuwait City. We haven't been skating since we were in Michigan, so we knew the first 30 minutes of skating time would be a big learning curve. Honestly, I was dreading it and had prepared myself for large amounts of whining and frustration. I am so happy to report we had a great time and all the children didn't whine at all! Kelly and I would whine to each other on occasion about how much this was going to hurt tomorrow. After our trip to the ice rink all of our children now want skating lessons. I don't think there is an ice rink in Mali, so sadly no lessons for the next few years. Maybe we could all take up rolling blading as a family? : )

Hello to all! I am sorry I am posting so infrequently. It has been a busy summer in Kuwait. I have all five kids home and we are trapped inside most days because it is so HOT! I will begin posting more frequently after school begins again. If the choice is to blog or play with my kids, the kids will always win. I have learned it is better to engage them and be a playful parent. If I spent time blogging more often, fighting would most certainly ensue. Thank you for being patient with me! I have not stopped blogging : )


Now, back to Israel. This day in Israel was my BEST day. We were blessed to drive to see the the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River and the City of Nazareth. We had a picnic in a park near Galilee and had some time to stop for a photo with the sea in the background. It was absolutely beautiful! I could have spent a long time near Galilee. It reminded me of many of the beautiful inland lakes I grew up near in Michigan. The sea was full of boaters, jet skis, people swimming and many resorts alone the shoreline. Our picnic in the park was a much needed break from the car after a long drive.

When we were down at the Sea of Galilee we went on to Yardenit a baptismal site on the Jordan River. Our three oldest, Grace, Faith and Luke asked Jesus to be Lord of there lives between four and five years old. Since that time the oldest, Grace has asked consistently to be baptized. Over time and as the her younger siblings came to belief in Christ, they would ask us to be baptized as well. We had decided if we were posted in Kuwait that we would try to get to Israel and the Jordan River to baptize our oldest three.

On this morning, it was very hot and humid. This baptismal site is very popular with many Christan pilgrims. The parking lot was full of tour buses and many people were getting ready to be baptized. We paid a fee and the "Big Three" and daddy got dressed in white baptismal robes. Kelly had wanted to baptize them all, which absolutely thrilled my heart!!! Once all were appropriately dressed we headed for photos and the river.

I loved taking photos of this time in the river. The birds were singing and many people were watching our family. You cannot tell from these photos, but we had drawn a large crowd. Grandma and Granddad Briden, Timmy and Hope were watching from the background as well. I would be lying if I said I could see all the photos I was taking. I was very misty eyed as all this occurred, so I was glad the photos turned out as well as they did.

One, two, three in they all went with Daddy's help. They were making a public profession of their faith in Christ. This makes my heart swell with joy! I think the photos of them after show a little bit of each their personalities. Grace is peaceful and calm (Most of the time), Faith is full of life and excitement, Luke is a happy guy, full of a great sense of timing and humor. I am so proud of the fact that Kelly baptized them and that they have such a knowledge and love for Christ. God is so good and I thank him for this time on the Jordan. It gave me chills, while the water lapped my toes, to picture Jesus being baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. The river was very clear and full of fish. It was an amazing setting and I could feel God's presence as my oldest children walked in obedience to Christ and followed him in baptism.

After our time at the Jordan river, we drove up to Nazareth. Nazareth was the town Jesus grew up in. It was neat after all these years of studying the bible to see these places. Nazareth was up in the hills. It was actually more beautiful up there that I expected. We ate at a mall food court. The kids were all tired of being in the car for most of the day. We were able to eat, burn some energy and talk about the day. After dinner we prepared for the drive back to Jerusalem. The drive was so green and full of farm fields. I have missed green while living in Kuwait. After a long day we made it back to our apartment in Jerusalem. Thanks be to God for this great day!!! I will always remember this time in our lives. I remember clearly what my brother, Rick, said when I shared with him our first post would be Kuwait. Rick said "Wow, you will get to see the Holy Land! That will be amazing!" I have focused on that often as we have lived in Kuwait. It is hot here and there aren't many yards for my children to run in, but I have lived a dream. I have seen the Holy land!!!!!!! Thanks be to God for making this dream come true and for blessing us with safety. I will post some pictures of our second week of vacation soon. We spent that time relaxing (mostly) in Cyprus. God Bless you and I will be back soon~

Yes, it is the month for celebrations in our home! Last week we were excited to celebrate our first son, Luke's birthday. Luke is now a big five year old! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday we were picking him up the airport in Chicago to bring him into his home and family. He was a little guy for seven months. He would drink 15-16 ounces of formula the first few weeks. He got bigger very quickly and now compared to that little baby we met for the first time in September of 2005, he is downright huge.
Luke is fun, very funny, full of questions, has a sweet heart, is very inquisitive and very kind to his siblings. He reminds very much of his father. He is VERY patient. He has the ability to entertain Hope and keep her happy for longer than even myself. I think he will become an Engineer or a Physician. He tells me he wants to be a Doctor, but he is determined to figure out how everything works. On a carousel ride, recently, he was engrossed by the workings of the machinery. Most children are just enjoying the wind in their hair while waving to family members. Luke is determined to understand the inner workings of the machine.


Luke, I cannot believe you are five years old! Time has gone so fast! You are a charmer my son and you have won my heart. You are often the first here in Kuwait to greet all the locals with an "A Salaam Alakum" (Hello). I am proud of you as you become a young man. You are very chivalrous to me and your sisters. You look out for us as a man should. You are commonly holding doors for me, pulling out my chair and bringing me an endless supply of coffee and diet coke : ) You are one of the least lazy people I know. You are always willing to help, even if that means climbing six flights of stairs in order to do so. You have started Ju-Jitsu and have had the instructors(Senseis) laughing out loud. People always say "Luke is quite a character!" I totally agree a character that I absolutely adore.

Keep asking questions, Luke. Don't ever stop thinking about the how and why of all situations. You are so amazingly gifted! You are also very inquisitive when it comes to all things spritual. Before we moved to Kuwait, you asked "Mom, do we have to worship their God?" You think so far ahead.

I am so blessed to have you as a son! Thank you for being such a sweet, loving, forgiving son. You are the best son we could have ever dreamed of, you are so special to us all. Though you do not look like your father and I we know that families are made up of more than flesh and blood. They are made up of love for each other, commitment to one another and dedication to all the members. My prayer is that we reflect each other where it counts, in the heart. I pray commonly that the desires of my heart are God's. I know back in 2004 when your father and I started the adoption process that this was God's desire placed in our hearts. You being in our family is his desire for us and you, Luke. God has changed me so much through your addition to our family. Luke, I pray that you seek God with your whole heart, that will always know that we (your family) love and treasure you and may you always reflect your father's (both earthly and heavenly) heart. You are going to do great things for God, Luke. I praise God that I was blessed with the privilege of becoming your mother!!!! Love and Hugs~ Mommy

I am finding many interesting things to photograph and here in Kuwait. Some of the most interesting advice about driving can be found on the overpasses. Here is one I snapped recently. I just wish most people driving here read this and understood it. I still cringe when I see children laying on the front dashboard of a car or hoping around on the driver's lap while going 70 MPH down the motorway. you'll be glad to know I have remained "civilized". I am awfully concerned though about my driving upon returning to the states. I might need a refresher course in driving American style : )

I am really enjoying photography, I even have been dreaming about getting perfect photos. There are not many birds in Kuwait, much to my chagrin and this has become a passion of mine as well. Here is a picture of the little three at the Embassy playground on the merry go round.

I am excited to report that very quickly Kelly will return to Kuwait, YAY! It has been an extremely hard parenting journey for me and I frankly am not as nice when he is gone. I feel bled dry. I am up before the crack of dawn, getting the girls on the bus, feeding all the kids, cleaning up, buying things we need for the home because many things are still in Virgina, trying to keep all people happy and not fighting, more meals and clean up, reading a plethora of books, kissing all hurts, bathing five children, helping with homework, completing bedtime routines, making lunches for the next day, and lastly reassuring those nightmare sufferers. I am tired just typing it! We have survived and even thrived in some areas. Overall it went well, do I want to do it all again without help? NO!!!!!

We are in the process of hiring someone to live in our home to help us out. She will function as a nanny/housekeeper. She has her own room and full bath that has a separate entrance. These homes here are enormous! I'll be honest I am still, like a typical American, uncomfortable with the idea of someone I employ living in my home. I am truly fiercely independent, but God and the Foreign Service are changing that. I have had to rely on others to help.

Our host family, the "R" family, has been the best! We can't thank them enough. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty. They have shared tips, tricks and their frustrations so I can learn quickly minus the frustrations. I can't wait to become a host family as well. I know what the concerns are, I have lived them. I am excited to bless someone else as they come to post.

We have settled into a more regular routine and even made friends with the little Kuwaiti boy and his nanny next door. Some of our favorites of late are our weekly IKEA stop to get ice cream cones. The ice cream there is very good and quite reasonably priced per Kuwait standards. The other favorite is Domino's Pizza. Truly a taste of home as it is headquartered in Michigan. I am just positive the sausage on the supreme pizza is pork. Everyone reassures me that it is not. Pork you see is illegal in Kuwait, along with alcohol, and pornography. Chicken hot dogs are good, but just not the same as a juicy Koegel's dog with some mustard and kraut.

Have a great weekend~

" I have a dream that my four (five) little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. "

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

"If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my white brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive."

~Martin Luther King Jr.~

Hello All! We just got back from a great visit to Kalamazoo. Uncle Rick and Aunt Kristin live there and we always have a blast visiting them!!!! Thanks again Rick and Kristin for your hospitality to all seven of us, you are both amazingly generous : )

This is what the "Big three" have been up to of late. We have many BIG trees in our backyard, most of which are large White Pine trees. Those are impossibly to climb, because the branches that are large enough are very high from the ground. The other day I cam outside to find a scene similar to this. This the backyard of our home. They all decided to climb our ancient television antenna. Faith is not afarid of heights at all. She likes to touch the roof , which makes me nervous. Grace likes to climb up and chat with me as I prepare dinner or do the dishes. She peeks through the kitchen windows to see me. Luke loves to pretend he is "Cliff hanger"from the PBS show Between The Lions.
Luke shows his strength by hanging by one hand : )
I am encouraged ti see that when I feel something is lacking, like a good climbing tree, they find another way to climb. I hope you are all having a wonderful summer! This week we are off to the other side of the state to see family, more fun photos to come of Independence Day celebrations. Blessings to you~

Hello All! We are so glad that the weather has changed here in Michigan. Recently we had to end of the year programs at the Lutheran school where Grace, Faith and Luke attend. Luke had a wonderful pre school program with singing and receiving a special photo memory book from his awesome teacher, Mrs. J. We love you so much Robin, Thanks for loving our Luke!!!!! Luke is pictured below with Mrs. J on the night of the program.

Faith had her kindergarten graduation as well, she did great!! She and her class sang, read scripture and acted out skits. I am amazed that our second daughter is getting so old, here comes first grade!!! Faith's teacher Mrs. S is also a gift from God, we love you Jean and we thank God for you and your strong Christian witness to our children!! Faith is pictured reciting her scripture and holding her flower after the performance.

Lastly, are things I have spotted up in our trees of late. "The Big Three" loved climbing this tree tonight out in our woods behind our home. They were having a great time in it. They pretended it was a fort, "tree-school" and a ship of some sort. They kept saying "don't you just love nature, Mom?!!" Tomorrow is all planned out already, they will come home from school and head back out to "tree-school" to play. What a blessing warm weather is!!!!

We also have a Cardinal's nest in a large shrub/tree on the side of our house. I was thrilled that Kelly found it!!!! Most of you already know I a huge bird lover and any chance to peek into their world just delights me. This is a picture from the nest this evening. Praise God for his creation, new life springs forth in his time.

Lastly, I have a SECRET : ) It will be revealed in about a month or so until than stick with me, it will be worth the wait!! Just to stop this rumor immediately, no I am NOT pregnant and we are not currently adopting again. Blessings to you all~

Hello All! Here are some more funny quotes from today.

This morning I drove the whole bunch to school.

Faith: Mom, I loved that yogurt, thanks for making it for breakfast! I ate two whole bowls of it.

Mommy: Your welcome sweetie, I am so glad you ate it! Yogurt is very good for you and a great choice for breakfast.

Faith: I am so healthy now Mom, now you don't ever need to give me shots again!!!!!

Poor Faith, if only Polio could be prevented by eating one Yo plait yogurt!! The Third World would thank us : )

After the ride to school Luke sat on my lap to snuggle while I drank my morning coffee.

Luke: Mom, I don't like cows!

Mommy: Really, why?

Luke: Because they always MOOO at me!

Mommy: When has a cow moooed at you?

Luke: Never

Mommy: Oh, O.K........

Who knew the guy had such an extreme dislike of cows. He never would have made it in Missouri . We lived surrounded by hundreds of acres Beef cattle!

The picture is of the back of my head after Luke and Faith did my hair. They are really enjoying playing "Beauty Salon". Mommy is always ready for them to brush my hair : ) They were so thrilled with their "hair do" that they couldn't understand why later that afternoon I took them all out to go to Wal-Mart. I love those kids!!! Have a good night~ Crystal