So…today we are launching the new Adventure Project campaign.

LIke in a couple hours.

Because these things are so important to us

And we want it to be so right.

Because it’s so awesome.

And it deserves to be told with excellence.

Watch for it in a couple hours here.

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And…geez…yesterday was exhausting.

We have 6 great, new interns at The Adventure Project.

We had our first full team meeting yesterday on a Google hangout.

You know, with 6 faces all chatting on your computer screen.

Becky kept saying…”Geez, Jody. You look tired.”

Yah. That’s fantastic. And so professional of me.

I was tired.

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And my heart was heavy for my other 6 kids.

After a couple updates from school teachers and friends, my mind was racing with the challenges that each of them were facing.

It seemed to all come crashing at the same moment.

I was broken over some of their choices. I am continually aware that they are human beings with the capacity to hurt others.

That’s scary.

I was broken over the internal battle that I know rages in a some of them right now.

I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities and honor of being their Mom.

Parenting. Parenting is not easy.

—

We regrouped a bit as a family last night.

But these things…this parenting thing…does not happen with an occasional “Come To Jesus” meeting. (although I’m still a huge fan and will keep calling such meetings).

It’s a process.

It’s a journey.

With battles won and lost along the way.

With love and pride and the disappointments.

With heartaches and celebrations.

It’s all of it.

—–

So we’re attacking this new day with renewed strength.

Knowing that those moments will come.

And that grace is sufficient.

For me.

For them.

For all of us.

Thank God.

These precious, precious children were up very, very early this morning.

Apparently, they were using their time wisely by watching Rajon Rando instructional videos on You Tube.

By the time the sun was up, they were outside practicing what they learned….

It was sort of hard to stay mad at them….

” Unless we are intentional about embracing our calling as artisans of hope, we’ve not yet fully entered into our calling as followers of Christ.

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Transferring all our hope to the future and removing any hint of God’s reign from the present puts a wet blanket on the artisan’s soul before he or she even has a chance to begin. We’ve been taught that our contribution to the canvas is, at best, incidental, at worst, a waste of time. It’s tragic, and it’s not the real gospel.

—-

I hope he finds me being an artist, painting hope in my unique way. I hope he finds my church doing that too, collectively.”

(Richard Dahlstrom)

Sometimes my life is funny.

Crazy to me how my brain and body transition from one moment to the next.

I wake up to complete Mommy mode.

I prepare 6 lunches, try and get 6 kids to eat some sort of breakfast, do homework and teeth brushing reminders. I tie shoes and zip coats and find missing backpacks.

—————–

Very quickly after they walk out the door, I transition with a cup of coffee to “work from home” mode…which all too often utilizes a pajama uniform.

Today I spent 4-5 excruciatingly exciting hours meticulously going over spreadsheets and accounting reports.

It was a dream.

———————

I took a break to heat up leftovers for lunch.

————-

I prepped the dinner for the 10 people currently living in my house.

————–

I did some laundry. (I LOVE my family closet!!)

————

I made homemade cleaner.

Did a quick sweep over of bathrooms.

————–

I skyped with Becky from London–where she was asked to speak at a Nokia Conference as The Adventure Project was recognized as “Social Innovators.”

(I don’t really know what that means…)

———————–

I got the chance to chat with a hero friend of mine in Colorado.

She’s about to have her fifth baby.

She’s a spectacular foster care mother.

I adore her.

I shared with her this recent conversation Andy and I had:

She very much appreciated that.

—————

I jumped on a conference call to surprise a friend.

Her husband is sending her and another dear friend to Seattle to spend a couple days here. With me.

Um. Thrilled.

Everyone should celebrate their birthday with me in Seattle.

————

And now I’m about to pay some bills for my home.

Then will transition into basketball practice, homework, dinner, bedtimes.

————

That was a lot of random stuff.

That was a lot of transitioning.

And that is life.

And I’m pretty thankful for it…

We are getting some hints of days to come as the sun peeked out again today….

And we are thrilled….

Couple more cute kids…

With some pretty great grandparents…

And if you come visit us, you too can have your picture with 6 kids and a yellow bus….

There is something so profound about family.

It’s a big deal.

We were all able to travel down to the Portland area yesterday to attend Uncle Ned’s funeral.

It was a beautiful and touching tribute to an amazing man.

One of Ned’s sons said all he could think about this last week was this verse:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

And I think everyone in the room nodded in recognition that this was exactly the man we were honoring yesterday.

Really beautiful.

We were able to connect and see so many of Andy’s cousins and Aunts and Uncles.

And it’s so amazing to me that no matter how long it’s been or what paths we take—there is always a deep longing for the love and approval of family.

And the love of a family that flows freely in the wake of a tragedy or crisis it something to behold indeed.

I was grateful to be witness to it.

It’s been really interesting to watch how our kids have handled watching this all around them.

The idea of death is certainly a trigger point for Zeke and Kora.

They know the term only as what took them away from their first family.

Our four other boys also had their own coping mechanisms with seeing their Dad and Grandpa so upset.

Some great conversations.

Some education on living life well.

And grieving.

And loving.

Our prayers now remain with Ned’s wife and his kids.

Their coming weeks and months and years will be no doubt difficult.

We were inspired by them yesterday.

And thankful they let us celebrate Ned’s life with them.

—-

Andy’s parents were able to return with us last night.

They will stay with us for the week and we are hoping the lake view and a couple quiet hours during school will be refreshing for them.

—–

It’s Valentines Day.

My poor kids will not win any prizes for their Valentines.

But I do believe a good 300 Valentines left our house this morning…..

—-

I’m not really a holiday girl.

But this I know:

Love abounds in my life.

And it’s a big deal.

Happy Valentines Day all.

Love someone?

Me too.

Looking for a last minute way to send some love and change lives around the world at the same time?

Me too.

We have 4 e-cards…one for each of the four Adventure Project campaigns.

Pick your favorite, type in your personal message, and we’ll deliver it for you on Valentines Day.

Fun times.

Environment + Love_$20 (Haiti)

Water + Love-$20 (India)

Hunger + Love -$20 (Kenya)

Health + Love-$20 (Uganda)

(Oh…and that launch it not quite going to happen today. Sometimes Becky and I swear that days have 34 hours in them. And then we realize that’s actually not true. So Wednesday it is. ).

Week-ends are crazy around here.And so are week days come to think of it.
So whatever.

Did the day- long basketball games extravaganza solo yesterday. Andy was gone as he was able to go see Ned’s family yesterday. Important day for him.
This was some of us at the gym before things spiraled a bit.

By the time it was Max’s game, Zeke and Kora were DONE. My body became the infamous jungle gym/pillow as the “I Cannot Get Close Enough to My Mom” drama ensued.

Iowa ladies…remember this?

A soccer camp right after we first brought Zeke and Kora home.

Yah…it was that all over again.

Everyone next to me was trying to reason with them, “Guys. Your Mom can’t hold you all at the same time. Her lap isn’t big enough. You have to give her some space.” It didn’t work. But I appreciated their efforts….

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We made it home.Thank heavens.Quick energy release on the trampoline before bed….

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We will all travel to Ned’s funeral tomorrow.Andy’s parent will then be able to spend a couple days with us here.

We launch the new Adventure Project campaign tomorrow. (PS. It’s way exciting. I can’t wait to get started…)

So yah….crazy.

And good.

And there’s no way I’m completing my “must get done today” list in the next 15 hours….

We do bedtime in shifts around here.

As I walked through round 2 tonight, I took my camera.

Things were right on schedule.

Group 1 was asleep.

Group 2 were ready for prayers and kisses.

And group 3 were quietly in their rooms.

(One unnamed child was strongly opposed to being photographed. I can respect that.)

Just gratitude.

That’s it tonight.

Just gratitude.