Xio's Voice

Xio's Voice is a new Adoption Ministry (not Adoption Agency) running through Bethany Alliance (which is the church Bill serves at). The goal of Xio's Voice is to be a voice for the orphan in the Charles City area by encouraging families to "welcome one of these little children in His name" through prayer, adoption support and financial grants.

Xio's Voice: The Beginning

A few years ago a friend of ours traveled half way across the world to pick up her daughter. While at her daughter's orphanage a boy followed them around, hanging on our friend's leg, asking in his native language, "Will you be my mom, will you be my mom?" Our friend inquired about bringing this little boy home with her but it just couldn't happen. That little boy's name was Xio (pronounced Joe). After returning home our friend and her husband began to have their hearts stirred about how they could help kids like Xio come home to their forever families and how they could reach out to families who have gone through the adoption process. After much prayer Xio's Voice Adoption Ministry was born and is now ready to start impacting families!

You may be wondering why I am sharing this story with you. Well for obvious reasons our hearts are stirred for adoption and for the orphan. We long to see families able to bring home their children. We long to see the hearts of those around us long to help the orphan. Below is a video that stirs my heart each time I watch it. If you think that adoption is something that is just for others and that it can't touch your heart, think again. Listen to the words the man in the video says, begin to think of your own child or a child that you are close to. There are millions of kids who are longing to be held, longing to the hear the words, "I love you, you belong to me." (If you are an emotional person you may need a tissue handy, I cried my eyes out recently while watching this.)

Calling All Golfers!

Xio's Voice will be holding a 9-Hole 4-Man Best Shot Golf Fundraiser on Saturday, August 13th at Cedar Ridge Golf Course in Charles City. The tournament will start at 3:00 PM with a meal to follow at 6:00 (for those who don't want to golf, but want to be apart of supporting Xio's Voice). This will be a very non-competitive golf outing for the whole family. The cost is $30, which includes your 9 holes of fun, your cart, prizes and meal following the tournament. If you are in the area, could be in the area, love to play golf or simply want to support this great ministry, let us know. We'd love for you to join in on all the fun. We would be happy to get you all the details. Before the meal, there will also be a silent auction with lots of awesome items on it. Xio's Voice will be using ALL the money raised to provide grants for families going through the adoption process.

kids day fun

Friday was kids day uptown and Jennifer was loving it!

First it was the kiddie parade and we decided to see if Jennifer wanted to ride her bike this year. Of course she did, so off she went. Bill said he pretty much pulled her for the first part of the six block parade but by the time they made it to where I was watching she was doing great!

I am pretty sure at some point over of the past few years we said we would not wait in the long line for our kids to ride this train. However, for some reason this year we broke down and hopped in line. Jennifer was very excited to ride the smiley train. So I guess the long wait was worth it!

We went home and cooled off for a few hours (you may have noticed how red Jennifer's face is in the previous two pictures) and then went back up town for some inflatable fun.

This game cracked me up. Jennifer didn't really get that she needed to run to pull the person on the other side but she tried really hard.

She finally was able to run a little bit and tired to make a basket.

What was Mikayla doing this whole time you maybe wondering? Well, she was being her sweet self and just hanging out in the stroller. When she got bored she would ask for some crackers and be content again for a while. Someone did point out that if she was walking she would not be that content to just sit in the stroller and yes they are right. Next year may be a little different.

Jennifer did the big slide several times in a row.

Despite the heat of the day the kids had a great time!

planting flowers

Last weekend we finally got around to making the front of our house look a little prettier. Mikayla loved helping us by playing in the dirt. She was a mess by the time we were done and had dirt everywhere but it was cute and she had fun.

She is helping prepare the pot for the flowers. Notice the dirt on her shoulder, she got a little crazy with the little shovel.

Jennifer got in on the helping for a little bit as well, she did not last as long as Mikayla though. Jennifer had other things to do like ride her bike and play baseball.

"Here you go dad, there is some dirt for the bucket."

Bill filled up a bucket of dirt and Mikayla sat in the yard for about twenty minutes just playing in the dirt, as dirty as it was it was sweet to see her being so content. When the planting was done it was inside for bath.

last vacation pics

Our last day of vacation was wonderful! We had great weather and so we pretty much stayed outside all day.

Jennifer and papa enjoyed one last time of fishing together. Something was wrong with Jen's pole so poor papa did not get much fishing in but of course being the sweet papa that he is he didn't complain because he was helping his grand-daughter!

Bill and Nick got a little tubing in the last day.

One last day of playing in the water and on the beach.

One last picture before everyone is packed up and ready to go home.

Thanks to my sweet family for another great vacation!

more vacation

Not every day on vacation was sunshine and warm. So we did have to entertain four kids in a cabin for a few hours. I think after a few hours of being stuck inside not only were the parents going a little crazy but the kids were too!!

As you can see by my girls here!

After a long morning inside we needed a little quiet activity for the afternoon. So the kids got to have a popcorn and watch a movie. They thought it was great!

Jennifer showing off one of the fish she caught. As you can see papa is holding the line and Jennifer is not going to get any closer than she is.

Jennifer dressing up as papa. Her giggles after she had gotten on papa's coat and hat were too funny as she was saying, "Look I'm papa!"

Having some fun driving the power wheels!

Jennifer and the boys each got to ride along on the go-karts this year too. Of course Jennifer thought she should drive, it may be a few years before that happens.

Mikayla checking out one of daddy's fish.

These guys came up with this great plan all on their own!

Everyone helping get the fish ready for supper.

Mikayla is just happy that everyone is having a great time while on vacation!

vacation time

After another fun filled week of vacation we are home and trying to get back into the routine of life. This is the fifth year that we have gone with my family to enjoy a week of fishing, playing on the beach and just enjoying being together.

Bill would, as always, spend his entire week fishing if he could. It seems each year Jennifer gets a little more into the fishing thing. If Bill would head out on the dock for some fishing Jennifer was usually not far behind. She usually didn't last as long as her dad though. Have to admit I do love this picture.

We were able to spend three days playing on the beach. The kids did great and loved the water. Jennifer ready for some fun in the water.

Mikayla enjoyed some time on the beach as well, although she kept eating the sand so she had to be moved to a less sandy area.

The water was not all that warm but that didn't bother this little girl, she actually kind of loved being in the water. Hopefully by next year she will be walking so she can go in and out of the water as much as she wants!

Jennifer and dad playing on a water toy.

Jennifer trying it all by herself.

Taking a little rest with mama.

Jennifer did great in the boat this year, she loves going out on papa's boat. She would hold her pole until there was a fish on it then she would help reel it in and then pass the pole to papa. Of course she wanted nothing to do with the fish!

More pictures to come later!

the pool!!

Friday was one of those days that our girls look forward to. It was going to be a warm day so it was time to get the pool set up! Jennifer was, of course, super excited about getting the pool blown up and filled with water.

So excited in fact that finally shortly after nine in the morning we just gave in and let her get her swimming suit on and get in. Now it was fairly early and the water had just been put in the pool so really it wasn't that warm yet.

Deciding that maybe the water is just a little cold.

Giving a quick splash but still not really sure if she wants to play in the cold water.

We thought maybe this would be it but she ended up playing for over a half hour in the water!

Once it was a little warmer out and the water was not so cold Mikayla got to join in the water fun as well.

School has been out for a few weeks now and the days have been getting warmer but getting the pool out makes it feel like it is officially summer at our house.