Update

Been a few weeks since I posted so I started feeling bad that I haven't updated my blog. Not sure how often anyone checks it anyway but I to keep it updated as a kind of journal of our daily happens.

So what's up? Well not a whole lot! Alex and Addie are both growing leaps and bounds. I can't believe how big they're getting. They're both doing well in preschool and getting ready to start Kindergarten in a few months. Alex's preschool teacher told Johnny this week that the time it takes most kids 45 minutes to complete a task Alex is completing the same task in about 15 minutes. She said she just gives him additional work to keep him busy. They both have learned to say the pledge of the Allegiance to the Bible this week. I really like our preschool. I think they do a wonderful job with the kids. It amazes me at how much the kids have learned just in the last few months. The preschool even sent homework home the other night to help the kids prepare for school work. Oh I don't miss that and am not looking forward to nights around the kitchen table doing homework!

Jonathon is now officially Deputy Cornelison. I think he made 3 arrests this week. Two were illegal aliens. He also bought a horse last week and is wanting to learn to rope. I don't know how he's going to find time to do that since he'll be going to Camden in a few weeks to attend Police academy.
Joe has decided to work for a semester and go back to school hopefully next semester. He's currently employed at Swift-Eckrich. Hopefully he'll be able to save up enough money to help him thru his next semester of college. He is also planning on going into law enforcement but can't until he's 21.

So many of you may be wondering about The Valley Inn. Yep we're still in business. My sister-in law is running it for me. I think she's doing a great job. I have some really good employee's. It's not been easy so far but I feel like business is going to pick up and that we're going to be successful at "some point". So I ask you to keep us in your prayers. I have 10 employees and a community that needs this business. As many of you know we live in a small community and this is the only restaurant in our community. We have gas stations that serve pretty good food but this is the only sit down restaurant in a 10 mile radius. It's also 1 of 4 businesses in downtown Hindsville. When we reopened people were so excited to be able to have a local restaurant again. We just need to build our customer base to be successful. So I ask that you pray for us, our community, our employees and our customer base. I know God placed us there for a reason and I'm holding on to Him that He's going to see this thru.
I'm still working at JBHunt. It's not been easy trying to raise a family, hold down a job at JBHunt and keep up with needs of a restaurant. But God is providing, He's uplifting, He's encouraging. So I'm trudging along doing what I can and trying to not let it bother me if I CAN'T. I think we get so tied up in trying to do everything that we forget to place it all in His loving hands. Because I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Here's a link to our website for the Valley. I encourage you to come see us. We serve a mean steak on Friday night. http://valleyinncafe.blogspot.com

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings to you,
Tina

Saturday Morning

Well it's Saturday morning and I need to be cleaning the house but it's one of those days where I really would prefer to just sit and veg for a bit. Johnny headed to town to run some errands. The kids are watching cartoons and expanding the mess in the house. When my boys were little I spent all day Saturday mopping, sweeping, cleaning and doing laundry. Now my house is lucky if one room gets a good cleaning once a month. Life's to short to spend it constantly cleaning. So I forewarn anyone that wants to come visit come on over but know I'm not too terribly concerned if the house looks like a wreck. Alex and Addie will be past this age soon and the house will be in order again before you know it. Kids just grow up too quick.

I hope you all had an opportunity to look at the blog I posted last week. I started in 2007 and have made it thru 2008. I'm anxious to get caught up to the current date. I've been amazed at this girl named Katie and her joy for the Lord and her ability to drop everything that makes common sense to most of us and follow the Lord. Most of us as Christians worry to much about what others might think or how we're going to make it to truly step out on faith and do exactly what he's called us to do. Not that all of us are called to be Missionaries or called to adopt or called to preach but each of us has a purpose and a calling. Her blog has made me ask myself over and over am I stepping out on faith and doing all I'm called to do. We get so tied up in the day to day hassle of life that sometimes we forget to listen to the still small voice of our Lord.

I think tonight we're going to go to a Lunar New Year celebration. Last Saturday our Asian friends celebrated their New Year. We belong to a small adoption group that gets together from time to time to celebrate Holidays and things to allow our kids to see a small part of their culture and to be around kids and families that look like us. I'm just now getting to the point that when we go out I don't notice people watching us or questioning the appearance of our family. Some times it can be obvious. Last night Johnny brought the kids down to the cafe. I was talking to a customer telling her they were my kids. She responded your grandkids? lol.. It's always a learning process for everyone. I want the kids to be around other adoptive families so they can see that while we may be unique in some ways there are other families just like us. After all it's ok to be different. It's ok to be unique. It's ok to step out on faith! I'm so glad our family stepped out on faith. I encourage you to do so today. The blessing is far better that what people say or think.

Blessings to you all.
Tina

Well it's Friday

All week I've been contemplating on what I should post and haven't really come up with anything substantial to post. However as I scanned over to my friend Amy's blog I was touched as she was by another woman's blog. Amy posted this link on her blog and I thought I'd share it on mine also.

Here's the link to her blog.
http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

Wow is all I can say. What an amazing woman she is. I've added her blog to my favorites. I wish I could write and share the word of God as she has. I know each of us has our own talents we just have to look to God for them and then act on them. You may not be called to move to a foreign country and adopt 13 kids. But consider what it is God has or is calling you to do and act upon it. My prayer is we'll all follow Him. That is truly follow Him no matter what the cost.

Blessings to each of you,
Tina

profound

Your primary goal should be to live in an ongoing state of surrender, acknowledging that without the intervention of the Holy Spirit you will be defeated by the power of sin. If there is a singular theme that emerges from the entirety of Scripture, it is this: Through relationship with God, man is finally capable of doing that which he was incapable of doing on his own. That's what walking in the Spirit is all about. And that's what character is all about...Character is the by-product of dependency...Character is the will to do what is right, as defined by God, regardless of personal cost."~Andy Stanley~

Each year I post pics of how the kids have grown next to Santa. Here's 2007.

Here's the 2008 picture.
And here's 2009. Look at the hip action Addie has going on. Whew how they've grown!

My two big-ins at Christmas. I'm so proud of them both.

Here's some snow action from a few weeks ago. I couldn't leave Paulie out of the picture. I think she's smiling.

This is what you call a hillbilly sled. Oh well it worked!

Too cute!

Too handsome!

Taking time out to poise for a pic.

Too funny!

Well I haven't posted much lately especially pictures so I thought I'd better get some uploaded. I know that's what most people are looking for when they logon. Hope you enjoyed!
Blessings,
Tina

Trying to get into the swing of things

I'm out of the loop on keeping up with my blog. At one time I blogged at least weekly if not several times a week. Not having internet connectivity for so long has left me out of the loop. I feel like I've lost my abililty to write..

I'll provide a few updates..
Addie and Alex are growing way too fast! Addie keeps telling Alex she's older than him because she's bigger than him. I've explained several times that being bigger doesn't mean you're older. They both had a good Christmas and recieved way to many gifts. A bit spoiled I have to say.

Joseph is getting ready to start his second semester at NWACC. He passed all his courses last semester! A few of his friends didn't fair so well so I'm tickeled that we have one semester down. He's still planning on getting a degree in Criminal Justice.

Jonathon is now officially a part time Deputy. He works part time dispatching and part time as a deputy. He's enjoying the change and I think he'll do great at it.

Johnny and I are still trudging along. Trying to keep up with everything. Overall we feel very blessed to have 4 wonderful children, food on our table and a roof over our heads. God has been so good to us. I look forward to this new year with new anticipation on what the Lord will provide just around the corner. Each day is a new day that the Lord hath made. I am going to rejoice and be glad in it.

Blessings,
Tina

Changes

Well as many of you have probably noticed I haven't posted in a while. To tell you the truth I just haven't had time to post. No internet connectivity and way to tired to post when I did find time.

I'll post the high lights of changes...

• Kids are doing great. Growing like weeds. I'll post updated pics soon.
• Business is going fairly well. A tad bit slow thru the holidays but overall going well.
• Decided to go back to work at JBHunt this week. My first day back was yesterday. Things are going well on that front.
• My sister-in law is running the cafe. She enjoys it much more than I do! She's going to pick up the torch and keep things going on that front with my help from time to time.
• We had a wonderful Christmas. The kids received A LOT of presents and we are truly Blessed.

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish each of you a Happy New Year.

Blessings,

Tina