BASEBALL SEASON

Baseball Season is in full swing for the Asperger family. Ethan is playing on a 'Rookie League' team for GB Little League & is transitioning into the 'real' game rules of baseball and enjoying trying his arm at pitching. Aiden & Muaz are playing on a 'Coach Pitch' team for GB Little League and doing very well at all aspects of the game. They are all having fun and so blessed to have 'Coach Daddy' & 'Coach Papa' enjoying America's favorite past time together. They are all pictured above with their prized Game Balls!!

DREAM COME TRUE...

Muaz has finished his 1st season of AYSO soccer - a dream come true for an Ethiopian boy with a love of soccer and a burning desire to play 'real soccer'! The day we met our Muaz - we walked through the gate to Hannah's Hope orphanage and he was in the 'play yard' (a small section of cement) playing soccer with some friends. The 'goals' were some torn nets tied up to either end of a small cement driveway which was the 'field'. Watching him play soccer this season was a privilege that is hard to put into words. He ran that field of grass with everything he had and scored more goals into those large, white nets than anyone on his team - it was something he always wanted and being able to give him that dream humbled my heart beyond words. He loves soccer and passionately plays the game every time! He is an excellent ball handler and team player. He excelled far beyond the ability level of teammates this year - God has gifted him with an amazing skill level and we were so proud to watch our son play out his dream with 'Coach Daddy' along for the ride & his sibling/family fan club there to cheer him on. God is so faithful to His promises for the orphan...

FINISHED WITH SCHOOL!!!

THE ASPERGER HOUSE NOW CONTAINS ANOTHER 3RD GRADER AND A 1ST GRADER! WE ARE FINISHED WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR AND I HAVE MADE A MENTAL NOTE TO SCHEDULE BETTER NEXT YEAR SO WE CAN FINISH BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY! WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF OUR SCHOOL BOYS AND THE GREAT STRIDES THEY HAVE ALL MADE ACADEMICALLY & SPIRITUALLY THIS YEAR! I LOVE THE PRIVILEGE OF EDUCATING MY CHILDREN AND AM ALSO SO LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING OFF MY TEACHER HAT & JUST PLAYING WITH THEM FOR THE SUMMER!!

SPRING HILL FAMILY CAMP

Make a Smilebox slideshow Spring Hill Family Camp - Memorial Day Weekend has become a tradition our family looks forward to each year! Our dear friends have been going for years and have invited us to be part of a wonderful weekend of family fun & worship. This was our 3rd year (we missed last year because we were in Ethiopia). It was the 'Year of the Zip Line' for the Asperger boys - Ethan, Muaz & Aiden conquered the zip line and are still talking about how they can't wait until next year already. Spring Hill puts on a fabulous family camp and the activities are great, but we love it because of the families we get to share the experience with. The Lord has gifted us with the most precious friends and spending time with their families for an entire weekend of play & worship is awesome. We all attend family worship together twice a day and it is so moving to see all the children & adults sing and praise the Lord together. We thank God every day for the friends He has given us and the way they enhance our walk with the Lord.

A THIRD GRADER...

WE HAVE A 3RD GRADER IN THE HOUSE!!!!

Ethan worked very hard at school this year & is now finished with 2nd grade - yahoo!

The top picture is Ethan @ the end of the year & the bottom picture is from the beginning of the year - he sure is a handsome young man & we are so proud of his academic and spiritual growth this year!

ONE YEAR LATER...

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On May 30th - one year ago - Joe and I arrived to Detroit Metro Airport carrying precious cargo - our Ethiopian sons, Muaz & Bereket. We were united with our children & began a new chapter in the life of the Asperger family.

It has been quite a ride for the past year - we doubled the children in our family, sold a house, bought a house, moved and began driving a passenger van ('Blessing Box'). I now have mastered the necessity of 'head-counting' my blessings when we go anywhere and cook twice the amount of food for dinner (growing boys...& I know it is just beginning!). We have doubled the amount of homeschoolers in our home & begun the life of multiple sporting activities. And one year later, I praise God that we are catching our stride and running the course He has set before us with great pleasure & perseverance!

God has hand crafted a family for us that is beyond anything we could have ever asked for or created on our own. It is exactly everything we never knew we wanted/needed/loved. Each and every hour of the day for the past year have been filled with parenting experiences that I cannot even put into words - blending families...molding characters...building trust...bonding...growing in love for one another...praying...establishing respect....learning...crying...grieving...anger...tenderness...discipline...forgiveness...learning some more...talking...mending...praying some more...thanking God for His provision...joy...sorrow...& love, but the greatest of these is love...

And there have been times that I think all of these experiences have occurred during the same hour...what a privilege to weave the character of God into the hearts and minds of all 6 of our children through each of these joys & challenges. It has been so important to remember that nothing is a surprise to God and He walks before us and with us through each life moment He ordained for us before He breathed life into our lungs....

What a year...what a God...what a family...thank you Jesus for the Asperger 8