what I miss....

...clothes that are not stretched out, damp, faded or crunchy. I NEED a washer and dryer!!
...being able to "hide" the dirty dishes in the dishwasher!!



...driving on well maintained, paved roads.
...meeting my friend, Lynn, at Starbucks an hour before school let out. Not so much for the coffee but for the time we got to spend together, talking about anything and everything. AND... getting a little pick me up before the afternoon ritual of homework, soccer practice, football pracitce, ballet, dinner etc, started.

... yes, I miss Taco Bell. I really love the food and the ease for when the afternoon ritual is just too much to handle (see above).

...my pastor Bill and my church, Neighborhood Church of Redding. I miss the amazing preaching, the excellent worship and our small group, the people there becoming like family. I miss Awana's for the kids and knowing I could walk into that building and find God's love, freely given out. I miss Thursday morning Woman's bible study and Leslie Hall's unique way of leading. I miss the bonds that I started to form before we left.

BUT... most of all, I miss my family (natural and extended). My mom, Jody's mom and sisters, the Painter's, the Vivit's, the Schmeck's, the Faires... so many more. I miss seeing their faces, hearing their voices... knowing that they would be there in minutes if we needed them.

Maybe, it's time for a trip home????

(All pictures used WITHOUT permission, sorry, Pastor Bill, I couldn't find a picture of the church, so you were the next best thing!!)

Prayer requests

I'm going to try a start a weekly prayer request post. I say try because I am horrible at 1) remembering to post regularly and 2) I'm not good about sharing our needs with others.

So here goes...

Pray for wisdom with our finances. 4 of the kids started school last week and it is very expensive. We also need to find the money to have Carsen's car shipped to her ASAP. She has been borrowing a car from the Varner's and they need it back.

Health... I have a nasty head cold with body aches and fever. I feel all around pretty rotten.

Praises... I am now working at the kids school as the afternoon librarian. One of the benefits is a reduction in tuition so that is helping some. Pray that I can learn the job quickly and can be a positive role model to the students who use the library.

Pray for Isaiah's adoption, we are currently in MOI, we are hoping for a fast exit and to get through the US side of things quickly. We are praying that his adoption is done by the first of the year.

Also, for Carsen who left today. She is lonely and misses her family. School is starting soon for her and she is going to need to juggle a full load while working. She needs her car!

For Jody who goes back to work tomorrow. He has been on vacation and there have been several changes while he was gone. Pray that he is not affected by the many transfers that have been happening.

Pray for the kids as they adjust to their new school.

Thanks, friends!! When I am feeling better I'll fill you in with the details of my new job and the kids school, but for now... I'm going to bed.

p.s. Spell check isn't working and I feel to crummy to figure out what is wrong... so please excuse my horrible spelling :)

Christmas Traditions

One of the Gray family Christmas Eve traditions has been to open one gift before bed. Every year the kids tear open their packages to discover new (mostly matching) pajama's!! This year was no different.

We also are trying a new tradition this year. Every year it seems like someone's present gets lost or misplaced. Or worse, thrown away with the wrapping paper. So this year we decided to try giving each child just one present. Well... one box of presents is more like it. We wanted every box to be the same so the size of the box was dictated by the largest gift (a doll stroller for Sutton). The boxes are huge. But, they do like cool under the tree!!

I'm not sure how well it will work in the morning, but I'll let you know!

Merry Christmas from the entire Gray Family!

Jody, Gail, Andrew, Jimmy, Carsen, Shane, Dylan, Kynsley, Landon, Sutton and Isaiah

The Gray family is growing, AGAIN!

That's right... the Gray family is increasing in numbers once again. BUT, we are NOT adopting another child!!!

Over Thanksgiving weekend, Jody and I found out that we are going to be grandparents!! Yes, you read that right, GRANDPARENTS! Andrew and Ciji are expecting a baby in July.

When we committed to adopt Isaiah we said that he would be the last baby until grandchildren... Well we did not think it would happen quite so soon!!

Phillipians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." NIV

This truly is my favorite scripture. God revealed it to me right after my father passed away. It has helped me through some of the toughest times in my life, times when I wasn't even sure if I was going to get through another day. I like the way The Message Bible phrases it:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

So often I turn to God during the toughest times in my life, yet so often forget to look towards Him to help me get through the everyday struggles, the strife and discontentment I bring on myself. It's easy to turn to God when you have hit rock bottom, where else can you turn? But ,what about those times when things just aren't turning out the way you think they should, or when you have done something so stupid you know you deserve to be right where you are at, times when your problems seem so minor compared to cancer, world peace, malnutrition etc. Is it as easy to turn to God then?? It should be but I know for me it's not. Instead, I worry, I fret, I allow the worry to become the center of my life. If God can handle our biggest problems, can't He also handle the little ones, the ones we have made for ourselves??

So, today instead of worrying where the parts are to the crib, instead of worrying where the money is coming from to go to Haiti to get Isaiah, instead of worrying about the lack of clothes we have for him, instead of worrying about how his presence is going to effect the other kids, instead of worrying about all the little things that have been eating away at me for the past week, I'm going to allow God to shape my worries into prayers, letting Him know my concerns and then take a deep breath and relax.

God is in control, not me. Holding my breath, getting tense, freaking out does not help God be in control, not one little bit. It probably just makes Him shake His head and think, she has so much to learn!!

So, if you see me today or talk to me...can you remind me to do just that, take a deep breath and relax. And I'll try to do the same for you!

Praying for our family and friends in Southern California

The current fires raging in SoCal could threaten many of our family and friends. Here is what we know as of today.

Jody talked to Andrew last night, he is fine and currently is not in the fires path.

My grandfather was in LA yesterday and was on his way home to Escondido. As of yesterday he was not in the mandatory evacuations but the fire was getting closer to his neighborhood. My foster brother Rod and his family live a few miles from grandpa so if he needs assistance getting out Rod is there to help.

We have friends in Ramona (entire city of 30,000 evacuated on Sunday) that we have not been able to contact, Rod and Lisa we are praying for you!

Jody lived in Poway for 30+ years before we moved to Northern California, he has numerous friends still there and we are praying for their safety. He also worked and played alongside most of the fire fighters in that area and again we are praying for their safety!

We also know a few family's affected by the Stevenson's Ranch fire, our prayers are with you as well!

As I get more information I will keep you posted.