Congrats Drew!

Drew has been chosen

Gatorade Oregon boys cross country runner of the year!!

We are very proud of you son!

This award takes in not only sports achievements, but academics, community involvement and character!!

You can see the local article here.

Around the World and Back!!

I mentioned a few weeks back about a class I am teaching for homeschoolers---so here is the update.

I was approached by friend from the adoption group about teaching a class at her church for the homeschool kids whose moms are attending a Bible study on Thursday's.

Of course, my first thought was--

No way-too busy!!

Then--

Oh my it has been soooo long since I have done this!!

Finally--

Why not!

So I found myself saying yes to 21 weeks of 1 1/2 hour classes with no curriculum.

What to do???

So of the seven kids I am currently teaching, all but one are adopted internationally or have at least one sibling who is........

So of course you teach a class on COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD!!!!

Some of the places we will be stopping are:
Uganda
China
Liberia
Korea
Kenya
Ethiopia
All countries represented by our small group!!

We are quite international you see!!

We started with Honduras and last we we had a sudden change of course to Haiti, to give the kids some idea of the area and people affected by the earthquake.

Today we studied......does our snack picture help?

INDIA!!

We made Chapati bread and rice!

The kids had a good time and loved their chapati.
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c white flour
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp oil
3/4 c water
mix it together and roll into balls. roll out with rolling pin. and cook on hot greased skillet!

Simple and fun!

I have been using this site to pull down information and worksheets that we are filling in.

Hopefully by the end of the 21 weeks the kids will know:
all 7 continents
21 different countries and where they are on a map
how to say "hello" in a few languages
what life is like in different cultures
what animals are found on different continents
played some games from around the world
tried some food from around the world
and
how they can pray for kids around the world

Today along with making chapati the kids wrote "hello" in Hindi and we tried to say it--LOL!!

And we talked about Sarah's Covenant Homes and how they could pray for the kids there!


So you can see I am enjoying it as much as the kids, and I am thanking God for the little push to get me going doing something I have always loved to do!!

Joy!!!

One of the best things of having two daughters at this point in their relationships is the ----JOY!

I love all the engagement pictures (which I will be sharing a little at a time)!

We all need a reminder now and then of the wonder of our young love---and what better way than to be surrounded by it in your own daughters and their future husbands!!

I pray for them, many, many wonderfully blessed years, as David and I have enjoyed!

So I leave you with Danielle and Ryan and the Santa Barbara sunset!

Wow!

Congratulations to----

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the provision of “humanitarian parole” for certain Haitian orphans. (check it out at this link)

This means that all those families who are in the process of adoption from Haiti will be able to immediately get their children home!!!!!

WooHoo for them and to the US government for getting this one right!!!

AND......

the college choice has been made!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drew has verbally committed to Washington State University!

So I guess we have a cougar on our hands for the next few years!

Official signing date will be February 3rd.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Praying that you all had a wonderful Sunday and were blessed to hear the Lord's word preached and fellowshiped with wonderful believers as we did.

We were also blessed to attend our local Sanctity of Human Life Rally at our courthouse. It was nice to see a small crowd attending on this cold Sunday. Did you know that if a woman is considering abortion, that is she sees a 3D ultra-sound she is 70% more likely to choose life for her child? Wow, that number just amazed me! We will be happily donating to this wonderful project.

David and I as young parent with our first born, Danielle.

As the parents of a child from an unplanned pregnancy, we know how hard the choice can be. We have personally walked that difficult path. We have been shunned by our friends. We have walked alone as those in authority pushed for us to end the life of our child. We have walked into churches to have people turn the other way. We have heard the unkind remarks. We have heard people say our marriage was doomed from the start. We have parented at a young age and learned by trial and error. We have pinched every penny possible to make ends meet.

I thought long about posting a very personal issue, but as I stood there listening today, I was reminded how difficult it was and how it was people from the church who actually made it harder on us. I just wanted to use this opportunity to encourage you to be the one to make the difference in the life of someone in this difficult position.

When they find themselves in this position, it is not the time to judge or lecture. I promise you that they most likely have heard it all and more importantly have known it in their hearts already for a long time. Guilt they know, love is what they need.

As a couple who has been in this position, we can also tell you that we are very proud of all these women who choose life!! Choosing to parent a child is a difficult choice, but choosing to place your child for adoption is heart wrenching. It was not the choice we made, but we faced it.

Now as adoptive parents, we at times find ourselves in tears over the choice our children's mother made!! She choose life!!! Hannah would not be alive, except for the choice she made.

If we believe what we preach, we should recognize these women have made a wonderful choice for life, and we need to honor and encourage them in this amazing adventure they are undertaking, whether to parent or to place for adoption.

Show love as we have been shown love!!

Oh---and by the way we have been very happily married for almost 25 years, and our daughter that so many said was too much of an inconvience.....well she is a beautiful treasure who loves the Lord with all her heart, she will soon be joining her life to another to continue this wonderous circle of life!!

Was it worth it all?

You bet, we have NEVER EVER looked back!!!!

Haitian Blog

Here is the link to a blog I have read a few times and definately have revisited since the earthquake in Haiti.

Missionaries with a first hand account. Just wanting to pass it on.

Woven Together With India

I just love the way God intertwines our lives together!!
So back this summer when I was preparing for my marathon, I presented a ministry that I was hoping to support with my fundraising--Sarah's Covenant Homes

I have so enjoyed supporting this ministry and watching the children as they change and grow under her care.

While I was training for the marathon with Nichele and talking about my fundraising, she mentioned her sister-in-law, Faye, was going to be going to India in January. I really did not know Faye at that time, but wondered if all the places in India to minister it would be the same place.

It was!!! Faye is now in India helping to minister to these special children. You can follow her progress here on her blog. I was overjoyed to be able to send some things with her that can be used at the homes in India.

Interestingly, Erinn and her friend Grace had traveled up to a fundraiser and ministry opportunity last year, I did not even know about SCH then, but that was who the ministry was.

You gotta love God's tapestry--the way He weaves our lives together into something amazingly beautiful.

WSU??

Washington State University??

That is the question of the weekend.

Drew is off on his last recruiting trip this weekend.

This is his top school at the moment.

We are praying for clarity in the decision.

I am thankful to hear of a fellow adoptive family in the area that I know through the blogging world. It is good to have input from a family close to the school, that knows the spiritual climate of the area too.

Interesting to think, that if God had not led us to adopt, we would be looking at an empty nest! That sound so boring!!

I am not excited to be letting my last born leave my home, but I know he is ready for it. I know it is what I have spent so much of my life preparing him for. I am thankful he is looking at a school here on the west coast.

I am thankful and proud of the man he has become!!

Fighting Frustration

Yep, I am fighting frustration----bad!!!


After 2 weeks with my lovely foot friend, I am not feeling like I am any nearer the end of this!!


After injuring my heel training for the marathon, then running the marathon on it--pain of some degree in my right heel has become the normal! So after 3 months of "just wait, it is a bruise, or swollen tissues" --we opted for total immobilization.


It really seems to be helping till I was needing to drive the stick shift for a few days, which meant a lot of shoe time and heel on the ground to drive. So the pain is back even when it is immobilized now.


To add insult to injury while walking with this on I hyper-extended my bad knee on the other side, and it is totally swollen.


I am feeling like the walking wounded and icing both legs in the evenings!!


So there is all my whining--guess I felt like I just needed to get that out!


Have no idea where to go from here and the doctors seem about in the same place.


Praying for healing. Praying for peace in moment!

Our Evening

We thankfully enjoyed a quite evening last night!!

We were able to bring David's dad, Darryl, home from the hospital yesterday; and after a small scare and a quick trip to the doctors, we are happy to say he is doing well.

Here you see Caleb schooling him in the game of Stratego!!

Actually it was only Darryl's 2nd game and Caleb, in true Jordan form, did not go easy on his poor, recovering grandpa!! It took a while, but I think the Jordan competitiveness is becoming more and more ingrained in our youngest son's mind--I guess it has served most of the rest of us well!!!

So watch out world---when this one gets it, I have a feeling he will be a hard one to stop!!!

Probably the most fun of the evening was watching David, Hannah and Great Grandma Mae do a puzzle!

So can you teach a 90 year old woman how to do a puzzle, when she has spent most of her life avoiding them because she does not like them?

Yes, you get her sweet, cute, 6 year old great grand-daughter to sweetly ask her!!

Well I know why she does not like them, she does not get them! Seriously she can not figure out how to match the pieces up. This from a woman who paint beautifully!!!

So David was showing extreme patience helping her to find the pieces and hinting on where they go.

Then Hannah would jump in and show her what to do. It was fun watching my youngest daughter who struggles so much with learning to get a chance to 'teach'. Maybe she will be a teacher some day! She will definitely be able to empathize with the child with learning delays.

Praying for Haiti

Since hearing of the major earthquake in Haiti, I , like many of you have been praying for their country.

This morning God brought to mind this orphanage (God's Littlest Angels) there in Haiti that some friend of ours adopted their two beautiful daughters from.

This picture is borrowed from their website.

I thought I would pass on this information in case anyone was looking for a way to make this tragedy a little more personal to help their children pray for this country.

I believe they are all safe, though shaken up. They are presently preparing for an influx of children from this disaster.

Darryl's Detour

I got this picture of David and his dad, Darryl, playing Wii yesterday!!!

I love the faces---they are just the same and they are actually bending over just alike!!!

I guess I really don't have to wonder what my husband will be like in 20 years!!!

But I really enjoy my father-in-law----so I am not to worried!!

Actually Darryl and Becky were supposed to be back in the Philippines today, but they had to make an extra tip back here to visit the local hospital!!

Not a fun detour!!!

But I am very happy to report that Darryl is doing very well after this afternoon's surgery, and the doctor said there was no way he could have waited any longer to have his problem taken care of. Glad he was here to get such good medical care.

You got to love this photo with Hannah and Caleb and their dr*gged up Grandpa!!

Human Trafficking

I missed it---Yesterday was National Human Trafficking Awareness Day!!

A wonderful site to visit if you are interested in finding out ways to get involved in ending this practice is at Make Way Partners

Unbeknownst to many Americans---slavery did not end with the American Civil War!! It continues today in many forms in many places around the world!

I encourage you to find a way to get involved today!

Brides!!

As we are in this bridal marathon, I expect some of you will get tired of reading about it---but my way of dealing with things is talking about them. So here goes:


Erinn and I enjoyed a girls night away on Friday. We drove to Roseburg and had dinner and watched 'Blindside' with my mom. It was a great movie, even a second time!


We headed up to Eugene the next morning to a bridal show. Talk about overwhelming! Did you know the average wedding the the US costs between 15K and 25K???? I don't know about you, but that is not what we are going to be able to do, especially twice over in the same year. Plus I believe a beautiful wedding can be done for less and that it is all a big game in the industry.

We took lots of ideas from the wedding show though and had a good weekend together.

We are presently looking for a church that will rent to us without breaking the bank! Danielle will be getting married outside at a private home in the hills around here. Erinn is looking for a site, due to the fact that our church meets in a gym and is not a real pretty sight for weddings. Back to the calling churches---some churches won't even talk to you, others will only do do if you are using their pastors and their counseling (we are using our own), and some are in the $2000 range just to rent their facilities. We are praying for some place to come available at a reasonable price soon, as so many of your ideas are based on location.


The other priority is the dress. Thankfully Danielle has purchased her dress. She was able to get a great deal from someone who bought the dress she wanted then did not use it. My mom is presently making alterations on that dress. Erinn has found a dress she loves and is in the process of trying to find it at a reasonable price.


I am praying this whole process will draw us closer together as mother and daughter and sisters.

I keep trying to find the fun, even in the stressful moments. Like beautiful flowers, fun table settings and good food.


So as things set presently, the score is:
engagement---2
venue--1
dress--1
bridesmaid dresses--1
save the dates ordered-1

And unless something changes I have about 15 years till I will have to do this again!!! And think all the practice I will have by the time Hannah walks down the isle!!!

Happenings...

After a day of catch up....today...

* I got to catch up with my mom in a nice long phone call!!

* I got to talk wedding dresses!!

* I got to talk wedding decorations!!

* I got to talk wedding flowers!!!

...getting the picture!! LOL

Actually...

* I also got a complete day of homeschooling done!!

* I helped Drew complete a Gatorade Athlete Scholarship application.

* I did laundry!

* I did the planning for a short class I will be doing with homeschoolers during their parents Bible study--It will be a trip around the world...more on this later.

* I am working on the ironing!

And then the unexpected...

* I also scheduled doctors appointment for my father-in-law who will be coming back through for and unscheduled medical delay before heading back to the Philippines and their ministry!!

And then the continuing...

* I restarted some 'motor memory' work with Caleb...more on this in the next few days.

Life is good--Life is busy--Life is changing---And I wouldn't change it for anything!!

Routine!!!

We have had two nights of dinner actually presented on the table with my family---that is the opposite of the chaos of many extra mouths and a chow line feeling!!!! Or just catching a meal in between places to be!!

We had a complete day of schooling with no where to go!! Only a couple of meltdowns and no interruptions!!!

I can almost see my desk for the first time in two months!!! I got----
*Grandma's bills done
*Grandma's files cleaned
*Grandma's checkbook done
*Our bill done
*Our files cleaned
*Our checkbook balanced
*New files set up for weddings
*Responded to our 5th child inquiry where the child was placed right before we called!!!
*Scheduled for a co-presentation on teaching our kids to be racially and disability sensitive
*Caught up with a good friend on weddings and kids
*Worked on some scholarship and college stuff with Drew
*Graded all Drew's school he did over break
*Cleaned out the desk drawers

All this and my house is relatively clean, my kids are relatively happy and my family ate 3 meals today!!

Praising God for the amazing feeling that comes from a day of big accomplishments!!!

Now praying for a good night sleep, which is not easy coming with a husband with a cough and cold---I spent last night on the couch with the dog!!

Save The Date

This cute photo will be on the front of Erinn and Michael's save the date cards.

They need to get them out soon so some of the guys in the military can ask for leave.

Also since they are planning the wedding for July 3rd and it is a holiday weekend, they thought it best to get the news out quick.

Our friend, Jen, did a wonderful job on their photos...more to come in the coming months...in fact you will all probably get tired of hearing about wedding details!!!

Smiling All the Way!!!

This is the theme that I will be endeavoring to adopt for this new year! Those who know me, know I like consistency, and routine. I believe this will be a year that will stretch me in areas I have not even begun to think about!!

David will be continuing with his Masters in Management (MIM) program a the local university. He is also continuing with every physical activity he can prod his body into---we are abundantly thankful for the health he continues to have and for medication to keep things under control. He is the hardest worker I know and I am so amazed that I have been blessed to have him as my husband!!!

Danielle and Ryan are planning to be wed on June 5th at an outdoor site here at home. Ryan is presently looking for a job after his year long deployment with the National Guard in Kosovo. Danielle will continue to work at the Reagan Ranch as a Curatorial Assistant.

Erinn and Michael are planning to be wed on July 3rd in a church wedding, which will probably be much larger, as both families are from Medford. They will then be headed to Fort Hood, Texas where Michael is stationed with the army. At this point it looks like Michael may be again deployed in the fall and Erinn would return here to finish her last two terms at the local university to get her degree in Anthropology. But with the army, nothing is ever certain.

Drew is always keeping us running, forgive the pun!! He is presently narrowing down his college choices for the fall. He will be enjoying his senior year in track with his eyes on the state championships and hopefully junior nationals. His graduation date is set for May 15. He will most likely be heading out to school about the same time Erinn is returning if the army stays on schedule.

Caleb will be continuing to work on his sensory integration issues. We are so excited about the improvement we are seeing. We will also be working on some new ideas with listening and responding and also with helping out Hannah with some of her lessons.

Hannah will continue with speech therapy and most likely begin some OT for sensory issues this year too. We are planning on taking the school issues very laid back for the rest of the year as I will have enough on my plate and I really feel she just needs more time. She has been getting lots of comments on how far she has come!!

So to put it bluntly we are looking at many changes in the new year. But change is good!! We are praying the Lord's blessings on the many changes we have coming, that He will lead and direct our paths. Eph 2:8-9 This is my key verse this year!! In all my ways may I acknowledge You!!!

Happy 2010!!!!

Wishing you a wonderful new year----

From The Jordan Clan!!!