Conversations . . .

I had a few interesting conversations over the last couple of days.  


In fact, as I am writing this I just realized that God had answered a prayer that we prayed for our girls while we were in the process of bringing them home.  Let me just tell you how grateful I am that God answered this prayer!


But, back to the conversations for the moment.


Our Hannah apparently has issues with snakes. (OKAY-SO DOES HER MAMA)  We were on the way to the beach and Hannah asked about snakes.  After we promised her that we would not see any snakes at the beach, she then went into what would happen if we did see a snake.  She said, "If I see a snake, and it bites me, and I die(throwing her head sideways for effect), then Mama will be very, very sad.  To which I replied, "Yes, Hannah, Mama would be very, very sad."  Hannah then added, "I would just go live with Jesus, Mama."  


That was such a HUGE statement from one of our newest members.  WOW!  In 5 months, she is starting to piece together the TRUTH.  Of course, these are just baby steps, But thank you Jesus--that she is starting to see the TRUTH.


On Sunday, we were in Church and Hannah was not wanting to stand and sing.  I told her that this was our time to get to worship Jesus.  Hannah whispered in my ear, "Mama, I didn't have Jesus back in _____."  I whispered back, "That's okay cause Jesus knew all about you and loved you."  Hannah said, "He did? That's right, he love everybody."  Oh, my goodness that just gave me goosebumps thinking about it.  


Can you see how God is at work in her life?  I love to see the mighty hand of God moving.  I'm so thankful that he gave me a small picture of the impact he is having in her life.


Then today, Sara and I were getting ready for school and I asked her if she had heard about Jesus before she came to America.  She said, "Yes, from a lady she knew."  I asked what she taught her about Jesus, and Sara told me that she sang songs about Jesus to her.  OKAY!!!!  YES!  Ben and I prayed that someone would tell her about Jesus while we were waiting to go get her.   How amazing is our God???


Little seeds are being planted into our girls hearts.  Seeds that we pray will take in the fertile soil and grow into  healthy fruit producing trees that bare much fruit for the Kingdom of God.  


And one day, I pray, that the sweet lady who sang songs to my sweet Sara about Jesus and I will get to meet, if not on this earth, than in Heaven.  I will tell her thank you for planting seeds into my daughter's life.


Which brings me to more thoughts.  How many times do we sing or speak about Jesus and we don't see any outcome?   Maybe we think, that was pointless, nothing came of that.  AND that is just what the discourager wants us to think.  So that we will stop sowing the seeds.


BUT DON'T YOU STOP!! You be the best seed sower wherever God has placed you in the world.  It's not up to us to make the seed sprout, that's the work of the Holy Spirit.  It's just our job to sow the seeds.


In Him,


Julie

Almost 5 months

Yep--We will hit the 5 month mark this weekend.

5 months since Hannah and Sara joined our family.

I can hardly believe that it has already been that long.

So many changes have taken place that I can hardly keep up with it all.

The girls are adjusting pretty well.  We are still getting to know each others personalities, likes and dislikes.

One thing I know for sure is that we DEFINITELY have more ESTROGEN in the HOUSE!

I thought I knew what it was like to live with a girl with Leighanne,and having grown up with 3 sisters, but boy was I way off.

 AND I'm pretty sure God is watching our family and telling his heavenly hosts, "Hey check out the Agee house and see what has happened since I added two more females."   I'm positive much laughter is taking place throughout the heavenly realms.

What's going on you ask?  Feelings getting hurt over legos???  Tears over a tomato added to a sandwhich???  Jealousy over time spent with parents???  Silent treatment when angry???  Pouting???  A few slammed doors???

DO you get a small glimpse?  And for those of you who know me well--I am a kind of no nonsense kind of a girl.  You fall down and you wipe off the blood and you move on.  SO SHOCKER!!  Newsflash Julie--you are not in Kansas anymore.

HOWEVER,  we have had lots of  amazing things happen within our new family.  The girls are learning: to share,  to say I'm sorry when they mess up, that being  part of a family means working together and doing our part,  to say prayers of thanks at meals, and to talk to God at night.

Their English is in explosion mode.  They are understanding great amounts and replying in mostly clear English.

Sara is reading on a 1st grade level and is able to read a passage and answer questions about that passage.  She has just completed a whole unit of fractions and we are getting ready to begin her next math topic.  She is able to identify nouns and she has mastered ABC order and using a dictionary.  WOO HOO!  We have spoken to the guidance counselor at the school she will attend next year, and are getting a plan in place for her for the next school year.

Hannah is reading on a Kindergarten/beginning 1st grade level.  She is really taking off in math.  When she began her schooling, she was struggling with simple addition.  She now is adding 3 digit numbers with regrouping.  She is struggling with subtraction with regrouping, but she is a trooper and working hard.
She loves school and we are seeing growth.

Leighanne still struggles sometimes with all of the changes, but I can see positive growth in her also.  She is now taking Chinese classes once a week.  At home however, we have our own Chinese/English classes taking place.  Sara and Hannah teach Leighanne Chinese and Leighanne teaches the girls English.  Very cute to see this in action--they are quite strict in "class".

We've found a Chinese church in Jacksonville that we are trying to attend one Sunday a month and one Friday night a month.  They are a wonderful group of people and the girls love hearing their language spoken.  We love that the girls are getting to hear about the love of Jesus Christ in their heart language.  On Friday nights, they have a youth program and children's program. The girls love it and Ben and I get a two hour date out of the deal.

So HAPPY 5th Month Home Girls!!!

We love you bunches!

Julie (aka-MOM--MOMMY--MAMA)

Cook-off in the Agee Kitchen!

All 3 of the guys and Taylor (Austin's girlfriend) have had a couple of cook-off's at our house.

Taylor and Jordan were team mates.

Making French Onion Chicken

Austin and Zach were team mates.

Cooking Teriyaki Chicken

Zach and Austin won the chicken contest and Jordan and Taylor won the hamburger contest.  

I personally believe that I'm the REAL WINNER!!!  

No cooking and good food included!

Julie

Catching Up!

Okay now -- let me breathe!!


I feel like I have been running a marathon!


First of all, notice the new "tab" addition to our blog.  LOVEM Care Ministries.  Our organization website has a new look and you can get to it by clicking here.  Let us know what you think.  And keep checking back on our ministry website to see how God is at work.


Second of all, Congratulations to the Agee children--we have now met our deductible for the year!  WooHoo!  3 oral surgeries involving teeth, one prosthetic eye, and one in-grown toenail surgery later and you too could meet your deductible by the third month of the new year.  :)  I knew our kids were very talented.  (Mom really does think you are special--seriously)


AND LASTLY--BUT NOT LEAST AT ALL,  Leighanne turned 10 this past Sunday and got into the DOUBLE "D" CLUB.  Double Digits Baby!  She then let me know that she would be driving in 5 years.  


Okay--when you see her sweet face in the pic below--you will join me in the "WHAT???  You driving in 5 years--Say it isn't so!"

We went to the zoo for Leighanne's Birthday Party.  But due to the drizzling rain--there was only one or two pictures taken before we went into the zoo.  


Now mind you--we had the best time because the zoo was pretty much empty.  And the animals didn't seem to mind the drizzle.  We enjoyed the weather with our high class ponchos that we were sportin'. (Sorry, no pics for this either.)


Now that you know "The Rest of the Story" about our lives for the past week--I will sign off.


Many hugs,


Julie