Finding Strength when you can barely hold on...

I found the link on line to a show I had wanted to see but we Tivo'd the wrong night.
Steven Curtis Chapman's family, life and music have meant a lot to me and I have been praying for them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u8T3dL8KYo

This is the family's interview on Larry King. It is in six parts. There is also an article about them in this month's People.
It is about their faith in the midst of tragedy.

I am so inspired by them. His music and their ministry are amazing. Now I am amazed by their family.

Lori

Happy Birthday Ryan Foster!!

I'm late in posting this because the last two weeks have been a blur. We have had so much craziness and so much going on - finally today I feel as though I can look around clearly and catch my breath.

On Wednesday, July 30th, Ryan Foster turned six!! He has really been into dinosaurs lately and knows the names of most of them. He likes to play dinosaurs, Cars, and of course, Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves reading and is really into the "Magic Treehouse" books. He is such a sweet boy and helps with his little brother and sister. He cares about others' feelings and that makes me very proud.
On his birthday, we had a family day and went down to the Ozark Empire Fair for the day after we all ate breakfast out. It was free ride day and we had gotten tickets ahead of time. We got there early and it was a lovely cloudy day (not the blistering heat we'd been having). The kids had a great time riding on the bumper cars. Alex wanted to hit everyone and I had a hard time keeping him seated in the car with me. Ryan did a lot of going in circles till he got the hang of making it go. Katie was too short to ride so she went on the merry go round with Daddy. Ryan and I stayed all day and Daddy took the little ones home to nap then came back. We saw baby chicks in an incubator that had just hatched along with lots of other animals. Ryan was quite impressed with two baby calves that had been born just that day. "on MY birthday!!" We went out to supper at Nakato that night.

Saturday we had Ryan's birthday party at Nana's and they had lots of fun. That night was NOT fun when Alex couldn't sleep - he went into my room ahead of me at about 11 o'clock. I was talking to Eric in the livingroom and heard that gut-wrenching scream and I raced in to find Alex beside himself with his mouth bloody.
He cut his upper gumline right between his top two teeth all the way up and knocked the teeth loose. He must have been jumping on the bed or lunging to something and hit the headboard. It looked horrible and to be safe we took him to the ER. I called Dr. Scott (our SPECTACULAR pediatric dentist) on Sunday morning and he worked him in on Monday. He fractured both of his top two teeth high at the root and all we can do is feed him soft foods and watch to see if they will heal. We have another appt. in a week and a half. If they don't heal - he will have to have oral surgery to get them removed. He is feeling much better now but he sure had a rough week. Everyone is praying his little teeth will heal.

Last Wednesday, we all went to the Aquaplex in Branson for the afternoon with my friend Colleen and her three kids. We had a BLAST. Katie and Jonathan were best buddies and swam all over the place together. Ryan really learned to swim well - floating on his own and swimming well underwater. Katie is a fish and can actually swim just as well as Ryan almost.

Work has been busy and we've been battling getting our home pest-free and organized.
All the school supplies are ready and school is now just around the corner. Ryan's first day of kindergarten and Alex's first day of preschool is August 21st!!

A parting note - I am LOVING the Beijing 2008 Olympics. I watched every bit of the opening ceremonies last night and cried through half of it. I feel proud of China and what she has accomplished - I love her people and I am glad to see them celebrate this amazing time in the history of this magnificent country. God bless America and God Bless China.

Family Fun

We had a great visit from Aiya and cousin Joshua this last week.
I think the kids spent almost every day at the pool.
Ryan and Joshua went with Eric out to the Springfield Cardinals game and got to see their names in lights on the scoreboard for their birthdays. They got to meet the mascot, too.

There was much playing of Legos and Thomas trains.

We played outside on the swingset on Monday night and SOMEONE started spraying people with the water hose.

Happy Birthday today to Joshua David! We love you and we miss you and all your family. We love you, Aiya and we miss you too!

Yep!! Are Mama Iz from Arkansas!!

Last night we had a fun "family" night. It was a beautiful summer evening and we had a picnic at the park. We decided to play "Adventure Cohens" in which we pretend to be exploring dangerous terrain on an incredible quest - we ended up splashing in the mud and in the creek at the park, climbing up the "tree house" and sliding down the pole like the firemen. We got to round out the day racing barefooted in the front yard and eating ice cream. Someone decided it would be fun to climb up on Mama's car and then they all three had a big time with that. We are loving summer.
Our next big adventure is a visit from Aiya and Josh!!

Love,

The Adventure Cohens

Happy Birthday Alex!

Four years ago today we were cuddling with our newest addition - a tiny little red-headed baby boy. What a joy he is and has been to us! Happy Birthday to our stubborn and loving and hilarious angel! We celebrated Alex's birthday on Sunday with a family party. These days he is very into "Cars" the movie and Leapster games. He can count to 100 and write his name (and the alphabet) and do some simple math and reading. What a kid...

Alex's birthday party wrapped up a very busy vacation week for the Cohen Clan. We went to Branson and had fun at Silver Dollar City and an indoor/outdoor waterpark. Ryan got to stay up late one night and see "Noah- the Musical" at one of the wonderful theaters there. The highlight was probably the water park - they all loved the waterslides of various sizes.

We went to the second Annual Reunion for Families with children adopted from China put on by the wonderful people at the New Shanghai Circus Chinese Acrobat Show. The kids had great fun doing crafts and watching the show. Katie and Alex both spent some time with a small group of the acrobats - playing and sitting on laps. They were a bit hit and we all had fun speaking just a little Mandarin.
Our week in photos....










NOT last or least....Happy Father's Day to Eric Charles!!! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband who is also an amazing Dad. Thank you for all you do for us and for your patient love and support. We think you ROCK!
Happy Father's Day as well to our Dads - Larry Dablemont and Steven Cohen. Thank you both for all you've done - for raising children that love you very much.
Happy Father's Day to Uncle Jon! We really miss you and the Cohen Clan East.
Blessings to all the awesome Fathers...

In Memory of Maria Sue Chapman

As I write this the Chapman family is laying to rest their youngest daughter, Maria Sue. With three adopted daughters from China, Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, have been incredible spokespersons and passionate advocates for adoption.
Their organizaton, Shaohannah's Hope, has helped thousands of families bring their children home. Their youngest daughter, Maria, was killed in a tragic accident on Wednesday night. My thoughts and prayers are with them as his music and their example has been an inspiration and meant so much to me and to so many.

In the midst of grief and suffering, may they feel the healing, comfort and hope of God's love.

Rest in peace, Maria, another angel in the choirs of heaven.



http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/

Silver Dollar City Fun

I took the kids and our friend Megan to Silver Dollar City for a fun day on Wednesday. It was really Katie's first time going and they had lots of fun.

Otherwise, not much is new. We are all well and enjoying the beautiful Spring weather.

Love from Missouri,
Lori