Thankful for - Weekend Away

The day we found out about our adoption setback we were scheduled to head up Maryland for the weekend. I really did not want to go, but am so glad we did. Family was just what was needed! We had a super weekend and were just able to be together and enjoy life.

So thankful for all that God has given us in our families! We are so blessed.

Adoption Setback

Last Friday we got some devastating news about our adoption plans. As it stands right now, we will have a 3 year waiting period until we can proceed any futher. To say we are heartbroken is an understatement. Right now there are many more questions than answers. If we simply wanted more children, bearing in mind our past experiences, we could easily have them biologically. But, the Lord placed adopting a child from Uganda on our hearts over 2 years ago, and we feel as though we have followed the Lord each and every step along the way, only to be brought to this painful waiting period.

We have been told that this experience can be compared to a late-term miscarriage. As much as I know about pregnancies, birth and children, I couldn't agree more. This precious child had a quilt being made by her Mama, a journal we wrote to her in, and a huge place carved out of our hearts that could only be filled by her. We're trying with all our might to trust in this promise:

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Unfortunately or fortunately, after over 7 months of already being in this process, we just a couple days earlier decided to share our plans with more than our family and close friends via this blog and facebook only to learn two days later of our setback.

We've only had a week to process all of this and we're starting to come out of the fog. We definitely don't have the clarity that we know will come with time, but each day is making a little more sense than the last.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:29-31

And now as always we simply have to entrust ourselves to God who is all powerful, all knowing, and who in all things works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18 

We sit at his throne and wait. We wait patiently on the One who holds to world together. Even though very little makes sense right now, we commit our ways to the Lord, trust in Him, and trust that he will bring His will to pass.

Thank you to all of you who have walked with us so closely during this season. We feel the prayers of His people and have been carried by them. Please continue to pray for us as we move forward.

Open for Business

Come one come all... the Eckert wrestling pit is now open for business! Don't worry, though, this was their last horrah in the mud before all the hay went down. Wrestlers should be able to wrestle and stay 'relatively' clean now.

Mama Bird and Her Baby Birds

Couldn't resist taking a picture of Annabelle in this adorable outfit.

 Then, Joseph went up and hugged her so I snapped another one.

 That reminded him that I never get my picture taken so he wanted me to get one with all of my kids.

I thought that was so thoughtful. I love pictures with my babies, but I rarely get them. Thanks, Joe Joe!

Funny Frog Faces

Wrestling Recruiting

The pit is almost done, and Daddy is doing some hard recruiting for his new wrestling league. The varsity team is filling up pretty fast, but Annabelle had secured a spot on the JV team. She's very excited!

I guess I'll be cheering everyone on alone.

Carter's Mountain

Charlottesville is gorgeous any time of year, but fall here is just perfect. We had some friends come into town from the beach and wanted the fall experience. So, we couldn't think of anything more fall like than picking pumpkins and apples at Carter's Mountain.

Fall Is Here

The weather is getting cooler and we are loving it. Here are some photos from the past couple of weeks.

Having a blast at the Discovery Museum

Learning about flight on a field trip

First ride on the trolley around town. Pure bliss.

Clean or dirty, she's just edible.

Ready for their weekly Saturday morning walk

The Eckert Tree...

...is growing more branches, this time of African descent!



Craft Time

The boys have really gotten into craft time at school. Joseph has always loved crafts, but Samuel would quickly lose interest. So, things have slowed down a bit in the other subjects of school while I let them run wild in their crafting phase. I'm figuring this is going to be short lived and we'll be able to make up what we haven't been doing. Another great advantage of homeschooling.

All their creativity has got me motivated as well. Life is just too full these days to do any sewing, but I have been able to work on a few little projects here and there. Here is a little wall in AJ's room that didn't have anything on it. I used all found objects in our home and think it turned out pretty cute.

Then the boys room got their garland, finally! I have probably had these made for over a year and have been taping them up in different places in their room but just never liked how they were hung. Well, I finally decided on this. We are quite pleased. It sure adds a nice touch to their room without going overboard.



All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go

Our little lady loves her fancy shoes or "fooooes" as she calls them.

Sam and Belle in a box!

Look at all that hair!



Trip to Grandpa's

A couple weekends ago we drove to western North Carolina to visit Andy's grandpa. We had such a nice visit with him. He is so young for his age and has such a zest for life. He's always up to some project and recruited Andy to help him out with some. They are a good team. His yard is amazing and we were able to enjoy it all weekend. Complete with trails all over, a stream and an enormous rock! Just wished we lived closer. 



With Andy's aunt Andye. Look at Annabelle's outfit! Andy dressed her :)

Where's Annabelle?

9 out 10 times when Annabelle isn't right next to me or the boys we find her here on these chairs. She is obsessed with them. She'll climb in and out of them a hundred times a day. I am not exaggerating! These shots are probably taken within an hour of each other and she was doing 3 different things on them. Times this by a dozen and add various other objects in her hands and you get her day in a nutshell.

Morning Bible reading

She decided it was snack time and snagged an apple and ran here for cover.



Nap time!

Who says kids need a million toys?! Give this girl a chair and she's happy for hours! Praying that she will be this content in the Lord her whole life.

We've Got Some Cute Kids

Just admit it!

Medical Mysteries

We have had some health issues with Joseph lately and went and got some blood work done. He got so light headed and pale he just about passed out. I knew nothing other than to take him to our favorite bakery and get him a chocolate cookie. Or maybe I just wanted to take advantage of getting one last cookie for myself for awhile. He was thrilled, no matter what the reason.

By the time we were home he was off to play with Gigi who was visiting and tell her all about how brave he was. Me on the other hand took about an hour to calm down. I despise hospitals.
 
The blood work has come back and his levels are fantastic. The highest level of vitamin D they've seen. But, just as I has suspected, he did not in fact have the chicken pox. I have no idea what he had, but for some reason in the back of my mind I was never positive that's what they were. So, the mystery is still out for both things.

Our next step to try and figure this out is to get back to eating only the foods we know are good for our bodies. Over a period of time we've slowly let some unhealthy foods creep back into our diet for various reasons, so this was just another motivation to focus more on what we eat. It's only been a week or so, but so far no throwing up and already improvements in other areas we were hoping to see change.

Trying to find a good balance between eating the most nutritiously and not letting it become an idol is always a challenge, but when you consider how important food truly is to your entire being, it's worth the fight.

Cheeeeese

If You Build It, They Will Come

If you do not know Andy, I struggle to describe him. He is truly unique. Many of his idiosyncrasies might drive others to insanity, but God has given me a love for this man that I cannot explain. I am blessed to be his helpmate.

He has maturity beyond his years, all while desiring to design a wrestling pit in our backyard for him and the boys to play, and for other men to join.

Yes, he actually believes that other men will come and wrestle in their pit once they hear that we have one. He is definitely a man of faith :)

Sorry for the bad quality of photo. They were working late into the night.

The boys are clearly in agreement that this is the best thing that the back yard could ever be used for.

We've had a 2 year long discussion about this thing, and I finally just broke down and gave in. When your husband wants to do something manly with your boys in the backyard no matter how ugly it looks, it's in your best interest to say 'yes'.

I recently heard a quote that I never want to forget when I get all in a tizzy about another one of his crazy, messy ideas.... "we're not trying to grow grass, we're trying to grow men!"

And apparently, men still love to play in the dirt!

Edited to add: Since a few of you have already been concerned, my garden has not been harmed in the process! I made sure it stayed clear away from my precious plants!