Together

Yesterday we attended the Homecoming of a precious little girl.  She came from the other side of the world to her forever family here in America.  Although I am not going to share with you the details of their very sweet story, I will share with you a very similar story.

Jesus Christ came from the other side of life to make it possible for you to be in His forever family!  He came here as a baby, lived a pure life, radically changed the norm ~ the expected picture of God, and died on our behalf so that we could one day join Him in His eternal home ~ Heaven.

Witnessing their gathering made my heart sing...and my eyes leak!  The selfless love of a family (this is not their first adoption adventure) for a child who needs them is the picture of Christ.  He gave up His place next to his Father to come to a very broken world for the good of the world.  He wants to be united with you.  Won't you come?

Blessings,
Audra

The First Day of School 2010

Well, we are off to a great start.  Today Alex (9th grade), Marshall (6th grade), Levi (3rd grade), Beti (2nd grade), and Nardos (Preschool) started a new year of school.  Alex was not so excited about having his picture taken - you can see.  The rest of the gang was rather cooperative with my need to record this day.  Enjoy the pictures!

Tough guy pose is all for show!

So grown up!  Marshall has the personal goal of being taller than Mom by the end of the year!

What a cute trio!

Ball caps to Bows

They say (whoever "they" are) that variety is the spice of life.  Well, if that is the case, we are very spicy here in our household!  One of our friends is fascinated with the "ghost pepper" which is said to be the hottest pepper on the hot scale.  Maybe we are as spicy as a ghost pepper!  We have everything from ball caps to bows.  We have cooperation and attitude.  We have spicy and sweet.  I am certain that the Lord knew what he was doing when he put all of these very different personalities and preferences in one household.  I am challenged every day to find a balance, to meet a variety of needs, to be certain that everyone feels loved and accepted, that boundaries are defined and reinforced.  It is a bit like being the captain of a ship.  The entire crew is dependent on our leadership.  Without sound leadership, we will get off course and the ship will likely sink.

In life, we choose to have God as our captain.  His leadership keeps us on course, our ship is secure.  We are assured that in His time, our ship will arrive at the appropriate destination.  I can't imagine sailing through life without His direction.  He can see beyond the horizon.  I don't have to worry about what I can't see, He sees it all.  So, as I look around at the variety in my household, I know that everyone of us has a part to play.  Every personality is specially designed for this family.  Celebrate the differences!

Audra

Use your imagination...

Ok - here is a test of your imagination skills... I don't have pictures and even if I did, I'm not sure it would do the scene justice.  Marshall, playing the electric drum set, Beti playing this beat-box kind of toy that puts out keyboard music and a beat, Levi in a cowboy hat,  and Nardos in her purple princess dress with her red braided "fake hair on a headband".  Now put the picture in motion:  dancing, grooving, beating the living day-lights out of the musical instruments and loads of laughing.  Can't even begin to describe the joy in my heart at the joint effort and the happiness that I have for adding that well used family/kids room in the basement!  I just heard Levi say, "Let me show you how it's done!"

Oh the joys of motherhood!

5 kids + 6 days of rain = cabin fever

Six days of rain results in cabin fever!!!  We packed up and headed downtown KC to Hallmark's Kaleidoscope.  We made crafts and had fun then headed over to Crown Center to have a snack at Fritz's where a train brings you your order.  We were joined by my sister, her kids, an extra friend, my sister-in-law and her two boys.  It was a little crazy, but fun!

The gang in front of the Fritz's train.

Who are those masked men?

Chessy Marshall in Kaleidoscope.

Josh (Nephew) in the Fritz's train.

Beti, is that you?

Nardos gearing up to make her princess crown.

Beti's handmade puzzle.

New (to us) Camper and Branson!

We took our maiden voyage this past weekend.  A special thanks to Jim Chapman for helping us get the camper "unwinterized" so that we would be ready.  Another special thanks to God for sending Tom and Kristen Harris (a teacher from Fort Osage) to the same campground and just across the street from us!  Thanks Tom for guiding Bob through the labyrinth of hoses, nozzles, fresh, grey and black water (if you don't know the last three....be glad!).  We had a grand time figuring out all the special features of our home away from home and are already looking forward to the next opportunity to get out of town!  Enjoy the photos.

The Koning Bunch

Here's our home on wheels.

Our spot was right by this bear!

Audra - inside the camper.

Check out our Pet shop!

Wake up Alex!

Levi - at the camp playground.

Snuggling with Mommy.

Heading into Silver Dollar City on the 4th of July.

Having fun at SDC!

Can you spot Audra and Nardos on the kiddie roller coaster?

Nardos and her Princess umbrella - perfect fit!

The Hot Tub makes very BUFF boys!

Here's another one!

What a great bunch of kids!

I'm thinking.....

...we are sooooo blessed!

You gotta see this....

This is what happens when children get to use the camera.....

Good times!

Water Play

Spraygrounds Rock!  With our Picnic in hand and towels for drying off, we  met up with some friends at a local Sprayground.  We had a great time!  When I attempted to describe the park to the girls as sprinklers, they were not sooooo excited about going.....however, when we arrived, they were way impressed!  We stayed for two hours!  Of course, the Sprayground event was followed by two more hours at "Grama Pat's" pool!

Wow is winter going to be disappointing!

Wait for it......

Splash down!

Beti's turn...

Now try it sitting.....look out Beti here it comes!

Hey Levi!!!

Hi Marshall!

So much fun!

Happy Father's Day!

I have to tell you that Bob was pretty ill with a crazy bad case of strep throat on Father's Day, but he was a real trooper and put on his Happy Father's Day face!  Kudos to you Dad!  What precious blessings you have!!!

We also made these cutsie little brownies for dessert.  They were intended to look like food on the grill...  Aren't they fun??

Look Mom - no swimming vest!

Tonight at our swim...Beti asked to try swimming without her swimming vest.  Within 5 minutes, she was swimming ...  Really swimming!  Now she uses a mask with a nose covering most of the time, but the girl was really going to town!  She was so pleased with herself.  She was jumping into the pool from the deck and making it all of the way across the pool!  Here are some pics of her adventure!  Not to be outdone, Nardos made sure to make her own splash.  She had Alex throwing her into the air for a pint-sized cannon ball.  She has also made great strides in that she will put her face into the water and open her eyes!  She has even figured out how to hold her breath so that she doesn't come up sputtering!  Did I mention that they have only been swimming for two and a half weeks?

I know you can't hear it, but she is squealing the whole time!!!!

Jumpin in!

So happy to swim without a vest!

I'm not tired, Momma!

So Tired!

You will notice - in the blur - that Marshall's tongue is out!

What? Time to go?????