Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! If you are looking for our Christmas pictures, head over to our other blog at  http://grantfamilyfunfarmlife.blogspot.com/  See you there!

On His Throne

Sometimes encouragement that God is in control of everything doesn't have to come from amazing seminars, inspiring messages, or moving-of-mountains!

As we worked on kitchen chores tonight after dinner, a few of my siblings who finished early moved to piano and guitar and sang a few praise songs. One of them was "You are God Alone", and it was sweet to hear everyone singing as they worked.

As Ethan brought his dustpan back into the kitchen, he informed me, "He's on His throne right now!"

The older I get, the more I realize the truth in the age-old quip "faith like a child". Praying that God helps us all trust Him more and more, in the regular day-to-day ups and downs as well as in life-changing blessings and trials, and that we remember He is God and we're not. He is on His throne -- right now!

Victoria for the Grants

Dillion Beach Camping Trip

 

The Grant family was blessed to take an awesome camping trip to Dillion Beach (Located on Bodega Bay) a few weeks ago! Following a fun Grant family tradition started by Scott's parents, we met with several other extended Grant family members and enjoyed a week of building sandcastles, catching crabs and clams, and lots of laughter. Since our wonderful Mama wasn't too keen on the idea of cold weather and digging through wet sand for clams, she volunteered to hold down the home fort and graciously stayed home with Levi and Ashlyn, who shared her sentiments on weather. They had a great time going out to ice cream, sewing fun summer shorts, and spending time with friends. And of course, since the absence of two siblings left an empty bunk in the trailer, it had to be filled! We were delighted that Victoria and Savannah's very dear friend Mackenzie was able to join us for the fun.

ice cream + time with mama = smiles

 

Ashlyn with her successful sewing projects!

The camping gang got the trailer set up and arranged, and then headed out to the jetty to go crabbing. We were able to enjoy several crabbing expeditions during our trip.

 

Climbing out on the jetty with a group of uncles and cousins ranging from 6 to 19 was always a slow but interesting experience

Preparing the nets

Laramie loved the anchovies!

For those who have never experienced the fun of crabbing, you start by putting bait (squid, anchovies, fish heads, etc.) into the small metal cages which are attached to large nets. You throw your net as far as you can out into the water, and let them sit there for about twenty minutes. When the time is up, you pull in your net as quickly as possible (to force the crabs to grab hold of the net) while attempting to not get it stuck on any rocks in the water. If you are successful (or sometimes, just lucky...) you end up with crabs!



Ethan loved his first crabbing expeience, and was very proud of this large Dungeness crab he pulled out

 

We were blessed with a large crab harvest and (Despite the cold and occasional 40 mph winds!) thoroughly enjoyed standing around the crab pot every evening, cooking and eating them.

 When we weren't trying to catch the local seafood, everyone enjoyed sitting on the beach, hanging out with cousins, building sandcastles, hosting impromptu foot races, and playing "Ninja".

Per another tradition, the cousins enjoyed burying a reluctant volunteer in the sand!

 

We built a sandcastle, but due to a slight misunderstanding between the older kids, who wanted to call the sand castle "Helms Deep" (courtsey of the Lord of the Rings) and the younger crew, who thought we said "Home Depot" it ended up with the comically unimpressive title "Home Depot"!



The ill fated Home Depot, destoyed by the next morning's tide...

We are so blessed to have been able to take this trip! Many thanks to Daddy for all his hard work and planning, to all the extended Grant family for making the effort to come, and to Mama for watching all the animals to give us a fun vacation.

Ethan (6)

Laramie (10)

Mackenzie (15)

Savannah (16)

Victoria (19)

Scott (Daddy!)

Blessings to all!

Savannh for the Grant Clan

Conversations with five-year-olds...

Happy almost-Easter, everyone! Praying we're all overwhelmed by Jesus' love for us as we celebrate the most amazing victory in history!

Just thought I'd share the following conversation that just took place between my almost-five year old brother and I...

L: "Hi, Victoria. I'm organizing these."
(He's lying on the floor sorting colored zip ties.)

Me: "Good job!"

L: "I'm a cool guy."
(This is the way he currently refers to persons such as Captain America. Who wouldn't want to be known by such a statement-making title?)

Me: "Wow. Am I a cool girl?"

L: "You can if you want to. Do you want to?"

Me: "Yes, I want to."

L: "But you have to follow me where I go."

(Here I sense an opportunity to instill some good, manly, Biblical principles in my little brother...)

Me: "Well, are you going to be a good leader?"

L: "What?"

Me: "Are you going to be a good leader? Because if you're a good leader, I'll follow you!"

(This is working out great so far...I just know he'll be an awesome daddy and husband some day!)

L: "I'm going to take you to your room. You need to clean your room."

(In my own defense, school has taken precedence for the last couple days, so a quick organization is, ahem, probably a fine idea.)

At least the little guy's honest.

Off to follow the fine advice of my little leader!

I love my pirates!

 

Celebrating "Talk Like a Pirate Day", Sept. 17.

It came to my attention this year that our family was missing out on a holiday. What? How could this be? Well, it turns out we had completely overlooked "Talk Like a Pirate Day", celebrated world-wide on September 17. Now that we are a better and more informed family, we expect to be talking and celebrating like pirates every September. Who can't embrace eating seafood for dinner? Or topping off dinner with some rum cake? ("Yes, but why is the rum gone??")
It was a fun day filled with light-hearted laughter. A plus in any household.

I be signing off now!

Summer swimming

Ethan and Levi love swimming.. and their fun new goggles (they call them "glasses")

Laramie is a little fish in the water! Watch out!

The kids are loving summer swimming at the gym. The boys are having their first-ever swim lessons. It is so fun to watch them as they both LOVE the water. No fear. They leap right in, keep their faces in the water, and think every swim lesson is a great one. How fun is THAT? Laramie is on an intermediate swim team, which is a perfect fit for her. It is encouraging to know that the girl who used to scream in the water is now excited about a swim meet later this month. Thank you, Lord! The older girls are swimming laps independently and having fun getting back into shape. They are joining Mom at a few of the workout classes, which marks a whole new season of life in our house.  Mom and Dad are having a fitness competition to see who can be in the best shape by summer's end... let the competition begin! I love my family!

Our one year adoption annniversary!

May 28, 2011....it has been one year since we left Ethiopia with Ethan and Levi and stepped off the plane in California (tired and weary!) to be a new family of eight. What a year it has been! Full of joy and laughter and fun, as well as incredible hard work, tears and sadness. Praise be to God who equips us to handle and fulfill what He calls us to do! I am thanking the Lord for our amazing daughters who have navigated the last year with large degrees of patience, selflessness and grace to their mom and dad. I am thanking the Lord for our amazingly resilient sons, who lost all that they knew as "normal" in Ethiopia but have grown to love us and call us Mom and Dad and love our family and want to be a part of crazy (but fun!) Grant life. I am thanking God for my amazing husband, who was willing to step out in uncharted waters to follow God's call to Ethiopia, and who daily keeps our family on track and brings fun and laughter to our lives. I am thanking God for my adoptive friends who have helped, counseled and sustained me throughout this last year. I am thanking God for my life. What a year it has been. An amazing journey that continues on.....

March 2012 - Legal name changing day

April 2011 - Ethiopia