Harrigan Man-Land Adventure #4,132,793.

Okay, so sorry if you haven't heard about all the adventures that we have around here, but today's was well worth the post. We had a dead, 100 foot tree in the backyard, very close to a powerline that had to come down. My adventurous and fearless husband along with his sidekick/co-master planner Ken went to work on it. After about an hour of plotting, planning, and beginning cuts it got exciting. After another 1/2 hour, the tractor took on a secondary purpose, began pulling and. . . .

See below: the beginning set-up




Then: the actual fall (you'll have to turn either your head or your computer 90 degrees, my apologies!)

Adoption News. . . See these two amazing things-

Hello again, those of you who read here every once in a while. I thought I would point you to two really interesting things. For one, my dear friend Candace. She put up a post today on her blog about Bethany, and the fight that we are facing for this next new member of our family. Candace is a dear friend, and when she writes on her blog she often says the emotions of my heart better than I can get them out. This post is just one of them. Read it and be blessed!

This second one I don't know at all, but it is a really cool site. Randy Bohlender (an adoption junkee on the leadership team at IHOP) posted this link about a movement in Colorado to have all the kids in the foster system adopted by 2014. It seems like a crazy and ridiculous goal, hardly unachievable, but they are totally on track for completion! You should look at it, it's pretty cool. It's also really interesting to see other places where the Lord is moving about adoption, totally disconnected from us. Be blessed friends!

A Saturday of Fun....

So, we had a day of it. It started early this morning, as Samuel awoke at 6am saying he needed to poopoo. Lo and behold, he really did so John took him in and they had their business. However, after the adventure, there was no going back to sleep. SO, for the next hour he laid in bed with us, talking, singing, kicking, talking some more. . . . you get the point. At 7 Benjamin woke up, and the day had begun. We made waffles, had our coffee and were ready for the blackberry patch. It's actually at the same place we went a couple of weeks ago for blueberries, but it's a different season now. Or so we thought.

Sadly, there were no blackberries to be found. Nonetheless, we had a great chocolate chip cookie, a train ride pulled by a riding lawn mower, and some really good corn on the cob and green beans. Picked by our own little hands. :)

Afterwards, naptime ensued and everyone was happy. The boys both slept for some time, and then we went to a swimming party at our friends, the Stephensons, house. We gathered with our AMS comrades, enjoyed the water, the sun, the grill, and the fellowship. And it struck me. As it so often does, at the most random of times. I am thrilled to be in this place, at this time. We have all kinds of issues (who doesn't??), but we are so grateful to be connected to such amazing people. The leadership of AMS is wonderful, the students are amazing and inspire me daily. Thank you dear friends! For such an amazing reminder of the goodness of the Lord- simply in sitting together and laughing. I am blessed beyond measure.

Bethany Update

Hey friends- this is quick, but we are almost done with our home study and I got an email today saying there was an agency in Utah that was desperate for families. I have printed off the application- and we need to fill it out, finish and copy the profile, and mail it in. It's getting more and more real. . . . be praying for us and her.

lydia

4th of July fun!

Okay, so I find this a bit amusing. . . I am not a largely patriotic person. I know my American history well, I am moved by the men and women who have fought and died for our nation. I love and hate things about this place, but don't generally run around with large flags in my yard, or red, white, and blue hats donned for the annual celebration. However, for some reason I love a good 4th party. We never had them growing up, so I don't know where the drive comes from, but for most of our marriage we have attempted to throw some kind of event. I remember the first one in KY-- we had been there for almost a year, but had a hard start and so it was just us and the Chaneys (memories....) I remember one in Arkansas where some fireworks ended up shooting the wrong direction and a trash can was almost ignited. But this year takes the cake. . .

I invited several groups of people that we love (know that I usually do this and end up with 5-20 people), had many more replies than expected and offered to host a Latino group of 20 (they were at IHOP for a conference and wanted to join the fun of an american cookout on the 4th). Anyway, when it was all said and done I had close to 80 people at my house last night. It was a fabulous party, there was food enough brought for everyone, the slip-n-slide was again a hit, and Benjamin made it all the way to midnight! A special thanks to my peeps for helping in the kitchen- that was totally awesome! Thanks Tricia, Sarah, Melissa, Melissa, Melanie, Rachel, and Lizzy. . . . (i think that was everyone). At midnight when I put Benjamin to bed it was such an amazing thing to be able to go to bed myself! I love you all and our celebration may look different next year, but we should still have one! Here's some pics.

Three things I like to do

Because I thought it was such a great idea, I thought I would steal my friend Candace's blogging idea. Randomly, I thought I would join the train.

1. One of my favorite things about the summer and my permed hair, is that I don't have to wash and dry it every day. I love this. I love that I can pin it back with bobby pins and it looks just as it would had I washed it fresh. (this never works in the winter, by the way, when my hair is straight and much more difficult!)

2. I am obsessed with the weather. I love to watch the local news, because in my wonderfully educated opinion, they know much better. And to add to it, I am quite amused when, like today, they said it was going to rain tonight at 7, and it starts this morning at 7:30 and all I can think about is how wonderful it is for all my veggies and flowers. I keep saying it, "It's still raining outside!"

3. Though I cannot carry laundry on my head like Candace, I am loving meeting people from around the world. It's this strange oxymoron in my life, know and loving people that I rarely get to see and who are spread around the globe. We met a new friend this week from the middle east. She is an Israeli Arab who is a believer. She had an amazing testimony and a wonderful heart for the Lord. Mine was blessed just knowing her. And next year, when we travel to Egypt, we will make a stop in Nazareth to see our new friend.

There you have it friends- a glimpse into the world of harrigan. . . .