Helpers, Wood, 2 Dogs, and a Date?

We are so grateful for helpers...yesterday we had a friend from our neighborhood help Chris move the heavy stuff out of our garage. He had to work early today and we had a taco dinner planned as well, so we over stepped our bounds with his generosity to help and we just really appreciate his servant heart towards us. In the past he has helped us build a swingset, try to watch our dog, move heavy furniture for our move, and loan us their fan many times. His wife helped us clean for our sale, has watched our children numerous times and is a great reprieve for me to talk to. Today we had 2 more helpers, one was from Chris' work and another a long time friend of Chris' from childhood. We've had many more over the past few months - THANK-YOU!!!

We had 3 guys, 10 kids, and 2 dogs around most of the day today, loading wood, loading stuff, stacking wood, and working hard in the heat and humidity. We did so much today that Chris decided to return the trailer early, and we had a date on our way! A gas stop at Fleet Farm and a couple cokes to go, and time spent together. OH, yesterday, Chris showed me my "dream list" for our home, and our new home hit every dream except 1! That was a fun thing to read, probably written 5+ years ago, God is so good and faithful to us.

2 Dogs???? We had a friend in need of a dog sitter, and with all that we have had to do, you'd think it a burden, but it was all but! It has been a comic relief really! Thanks to Katya for watching Amber and Chance all day, as we came and went, I think she kind of enjoyed it as well. Little Amber chased Chance all around all day, chewing him out for stealing her stick or ball, and they are so tuckered out, a reminder to keep our children active as well. We laughed and smiled during our stacking, unloading, eating lunch, and raking outside.

Attachment: Tomorrow we have our annual picnic put on by our Adoption agency, European Children's Adoption Services. Our children love this picnic and are really excited. I am excited for most of them, however, there is one that I worry about. She has a track record of finding someone to complain about, and she needs to talk, and can still talk in Russian, and some days are good for her here and other times are not. She has re-assured me that she is not going to keep doing this, but my trust is still low. I hope the attachment stuff doesn't get me too down. Mostly, it's fun to see the kids get their faces painted, eat snow cones, popcorn and other fun things, and play a ton of games, and swim if they want to. It's really a great time to connect with others doing the same thing we are.

Please keep my parents in your prayers as they go through down days and battling cancer is hard. Chris' Mom has carotid artery surgery next week.  Thanks for all your sustaining prayers for us. I am so grateful for some websites I have found (and put on the blog), and am finding, support, ideas, encouragement, etc.!

Ps 23, the Lord is our Shepherd, I shall not want...our cup runneth over...lovingly, Alesia & Chris