Trick or Treat Fun

Well, the girls were so excited about going Trick or Treating tonight! Okay, I have five kids. I lost all costume creativity (wasn't that creative in the first place) after the first three kids. We made due with what we had in the house. Fortunately, the girls love to be a combination of Cinderella and any type of princess. They were thrilled! We go every year with the Johnson's. You'll see Hope (excaped convict) and Ruth (Belly Dancer) in the photos with another escaped convict (Dane).

Can I just say that I'm getting kind of tired of Trick or Treating? It's been 16 years!

Three Year Celebration of Lily!

Tomorrow will be three years since we first got our hands on Lily! The adoption world calls this moment several things....Gotcha Day....Metcha Day.....Forever Family Day. I don't really care what it is called! It is one of the most memorable days in my life....the day I first laid my eyes and hands on my daughter Lily! As Tom stuck the camera in my face that day and asked me, "How do you feel, Kath?" The only word I could muster up as I fought back tears of joy was, "good." To some that may seem like such a simple word with little meaning. Oh, but, I can't help to recall what we read in Genesis (Chapter 1, verse 31), "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." So, "good" isn't such a bad word afterall.....I felt VERY GOOD!!!

Dane and Pleasant Moments

I've posted the above video before. Dane made the video when he was home alone one afternoon. This was the final video of six videos. The previous five videos showed his attempt to spin a plate on a stick and play the violin at the same time. Below is a video of him playing in a violin group this past Sunday. The song is "Pleasant Moments." It wasn't his favorite of the five songs they did that day, but I like it! A special thank you to Mrs. Thellar, our dear teacher. We appreciate her very much. Now, here is Pleasant Moments. Dane is the fourth kid from the left.

Hider, Hurler or Healer?

Okay, so I have been struggling with whether or not to copy and paste a writing of mine from several weeks back. I hesitated, but then I said, "It's my blog, I'll write what I want!" :) So here are my thoughts on being a hider, a hurler or a healer. What will you be in your life's circomstances?

Our church is going through a difficult time right now. I’m not so certain I know how it will all end up. I do know that God is sovereign and that He promises us in His word, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Even through this difficult time, we will certainly see “good” when we get wherever it is we are going. Regardless of what happens here in the life of this church that I love so dearly, the main thing still remains the main thing, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7-9)

I remember hearing my husband, Tom, quoting someone who shared that people often fit into one of three categories: hider, hurler or healer. I’m not certain who had that original thought, but I find myself thinking of these three words as we go through this difficult time in our church. You see, our church is our family. We love each other deeply, but sometimes we don’t always act in the manner that we should to communicate that love to one another. I have been saddened beyond what many may understand. I have tried to challenge myself to ask the question, “What do you want to be? Do you want to be a hider, a hurler or a healer?” I have failed miserably as I have quickly filled the shoes of two of these roles, but find myself gearing up to be what I am called to be..that which is right, that which is good for the family!

It has been easy for me to become a “hider” at times. A hider “remains out of sight or tends to seek protection or evade responsibility.” Oh, how I have been guilty of doing that! It is not easy to hear the words of others that can either make you sad or angry. It is much easier just to stay in the comfort of your own home and avoid those that can say things that bring you to a place of frustration or sadness. Hiding is wrong.

I’m ashamed to admit that I have also been a “hurler” from time to time. A hurler is someone that “sends something with great vigor or violence; someone who throws forcefully.” The hurler I speak of hurls words that bring death, not life.

We read in Scripture, “Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God's people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul.” (2 Timothy 2:13-15, The Message) Wow, poison in the soul! Words that discourage and tear down not only brings forth pain and suffering for those to whom we speak, but they become poison in our own soul!

We read in the The Message, "You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation." (Matthew 12:33-55) Words are powerful! Oh, I don’t want to be a hurler!

If I’m not going to be a hider or a hurler then I must choose to be a “healer.” A healer is, “one that heals, one that helps restore to health, one that restores to original purity or integrity.” With this situation with our church, I only want to help restore her to health in whatever measly way I can be used by God. What then is my responsibility?

I will speak the truth in love. Ephesians 4:14-16 (NIV), “regardless of what the person hearing decided to do with those words. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” Regardless of what the person hearing decides to do with these words, I should be bold enough to speak them….in love!

I will pray. “Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:21-23)

I will trust. Yesterday I decided to set up a fitness circuit for the kids I teach at Fairfield Christian Academy. Sometimes when I set up a lesson like this, I like to play music as they move and play. The song, “I Will Not Be Shaken” really ministered to me yesterday. Those poor kids had to hear it over and over again as they galloped, skipped, hopped and ran! It is based on Psalm 62:1-3, “He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” The lyrics of this song are:

My soul finds rest in you, my fortress and my Rock.
My hope for life, my hiding place,
My refuge and my God.

In You I’ve found my home, my shelter from the storm,
And I pour out my heart to You, and lean upon Your throne.

I will put my trust in You.
I will put my hope in You.
I will stand upon Your word and
I will not be shaken.

I will let my praises show, holding on to what I know,
‘cause I know Your always there, I will not be shaken.





So, why be part of the healing? Are we not part of the same body? Why wouldn’t we want a totally healthy body?

Romans 12:1-5 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God---this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Philippians 2:1-2 reads, “[Imitating Christ’s Humility] If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

I pray for a healthy body within the life of our church. We owe it to one another. We owe that to Christ. For His sake, I want to be a healer!

Number 32

Okay, well....it's brag time on TJ! TJ attends the local public high school. It is one of the larger schools in the state. TJ has always loved football and was thrilled to get a blue jersey for football practice. This meant that he made the varsity team. Only five sophomores got the blue jersey this year. He has started on special teams in most of the games and has gotten in a few times at Tight End. Most of his playing time has been in the JV games. A few weeks ago he was told that he may get a chance to start at Tight End. Last week, he did just that! He was so excited. I wasn't able to go, but Tom said he did a great job. Most of the plays TJ is blocking, but there are a few plays where he has a chance to catch the ball. Last week, none of those plays were used. This week, they used them! We were so excited for TJ! Know that we aren't techies so I am video taping the game while it played on the television today! Enjoy watching number 32!

Zoo Trip with Bolicia and Kade

Last week I picked up our friend Alecia (whom the girls call "Bolicia" or "Malicia" simply because they do) and her little guy, Kade. There are several great pics I've posted. Yes, the one is of Lily's first kiss with a boy! Kade was more of the aggressor, don't you think? I'm guessing he is like his daddy!

I'm not posting as much simply because life has been extremely busy for us.

Endless Summer

One of my most favorite memories from childhood involved the Cleveland Indians! There were eight children in our family. Every Summer we would all get a chance to go with Dad to Cleveland to see the Cleveland Indians play ball at the old Municipal Stadium. Most of the time he would take two at a time. Mom would make ham and cheese sandwiches for us. She would always butter the inside of the buns...what was that about anyway?! We never went out to eat much. On occasion we would go to McDonald's and we would have to stay in the car. We were never allowed anything besides a cheeseburger, fries and a coke. If you didn't like onions...tough, take them off on your own! Well, on the Cleveland Indians trips we would hope that it was the lucky trip and we would stop at that huge fancy place Dad called, "Big Boys." We were blown away that they would come to your table and ask you what you wanted to eat!

I remember parking in these dark lots near railroad tracks. They were gravel lots. Dad would keep us close as we walked for what seemed like forever. I knew we were close when we saw the birds from Lake Erie flying around like crazy! We always sat on the third base side, upper level! My sister Karen got lucky one year and caught a fly ball! Those were great memories for me. Kara and I even got Hank Aaron's autograph one year.

When I go to a professional baseball game I always think of my dad! I remember hot days sitting on the front porch. Dad had the game on the radio! My sister Kimmy could recite the entire Cleveland roster when she was little....this was when Buddy Bell played on the team in the early seventies! Herb Score's voice was such a familiar sound to our family!

Anway, I love this time of year...especially when we know the summer is endless as long as the Cleveland Indians are still playing ball!

Go Tribe!

Football, Cheerleaders and Car Art!

For some reason the new posting of photos makes it hard for me to comment under each photo. I'm sure I could figure it out, but I worked today and I'm just too tired!

I believe the first two photos are of the girls with pain on their hands. You see, we Alexanders like to do things a bit different. Some folks like to finger paint on paper....not us. We like to fingerpaint on our car...or minivan. The girls figured out on their own that if they use the sidewalk chalk on the drive and use a lot of it, add water, you get homemade paint! They managed to put their hands in it and place their signature all over the van! I love it! It is true art. Granted, we have a 1996 Ford Windstar...if it were something newer, I may not have allowed them to be so expressive! You see a few of the photos of the artwork. There is art on all four sides of the vehicle. When I'm out and about I wonder why folks are stairing at my van. I forget that it is a masterpiece on wheels!

The next photos are from our football game tonight. Dane played and wouldn't you know I only got one photo of him...from the back! Number 23 is small, but he is MIGHTY!!!!! The majority of the stands were amazed by two little girls that decided to join the cheerleaders. I got permission from the Cheer Coach. All I can say is that they (especially Lily) absolutely loved it! Anyone that truly knows me knows that anxiety exists when I think of my girls being cheerleaders. I have always been in sports and none of the stereotypical girly stuff has ever appealed to me! I'm much rather play cornerback that cheer! Oh, what will I do? I wish my girlfriend Kathi G. lived closer. She is so into that prissy stuff. The girls have brought so much joy and change in our home! To think that most of the clothes in our house were in the range of earthtones! Now we have an assortment of colors! And what is it with lipgloss? I may live dangerous and buy some chapstick from time to time, but I have never owned lipgloss! My girls LOVE lipgloss!

I also enjoy this photo of TJ with Lily. He is actually teaching her how to box. Well, I have a new appreciation for female boxers once I saw Miss. Ali on Dancing with the Stars. I guess I'd prefer a cheerleader over a boxer!

One of these days I am going to put aside posting on the family and post some thoughts. I'm still really into the "Hiders, Hurlers and Healer" thing so I may surprise my readers one day. I'm back teaching a Bible study on Wednesday nights. We are studying, "He Speaks To Me," a study by Priscilly Shrirer. She is the daughter of Tony Evans and is a phenominal teacher of the Word! The basic lesson of the book is that we often look to others to share with us what God wants to say to us when we have every opportunity to sit at His feet and have Him speak directly to us! We just have to make the time of prayer and study of His word. I'm so glad to be back in a study! I look forward to sharing what God has to say to me in the weeks ahead. Right now He is saying, "Get those kids to bed it is way too late for them to be up!" I'll be the obedient child and put my children to bed.

Blessings to all of you that take the time to check out the Seven Alexanders!

NOTE: Sorry for the double photo of the front of the car. I had to add the side view after I realized I forgot it and doubled the other.

It's a Roller Coaster!

Memories of the Roller Coaster goes back many years as we used to watch the boys ride it at the Johnson house. When the Johnson's moved across town, they left the coaster for the girls. As you can see, the girls love it! I'm sure the folks that drive by think we are nuts...they are right!

Oh, Where O where have I been these days?

Tyler was edging and must have been concerned about his eyes so he utilized the paintball protective wear...what a smart guy!



The girls just got these huge new stuffed animals from Pastor Tim at church...they loved them!



These are my "brown-eyed girls!" This was the night before the first day of preschool. Sarah refused to take my sunglasses off! As you can see, they weren't in the best of shape!


Lily was so excited to take some school supplies on her first day! She cried at the end of the morning when she was told that she couldn't take them back home...as if we don't have tissues and ziploc bags at home!



I wanted a picture of each of the girls on the front porch on their first day of preschool, but Lily wouldn't cooperate. Sarah has my old glasses! I gave Tom a quick lesson on hair, but he flunked miserably! He was smart enough to bring a comb with him to school. I met him in the lobby so I could be part of the first day!



This is the photo of the girls and I on their first day of preschool. I was able to get out of lunch duty for a little while to meet them, fix their hair and walk them down to their classroom. They both did really well. I shouldn't be surprised since daddy works there. Mommy works there. Two brothers go to school there. We all go to church there. The only big difference is that they brough backpacks. Lily chose Cinderella and Sarah chose Spongebob.

I haven't posted much simply because we are just crazy busy with me going back to work, starting up a new Bible study, school, sports....such is life as the Seven Alexanders...the very busy seven Alexanders!

Just an update, no pics.

I thought I'd post just a few things of late. The biggest news is that Tyler shot an eagle the other day! My friend, Lisa Sexton thought he actually shot an eagle in the sky with a gun! It's amazing that I'm such good friends with women that have no clue about sport lingo! It was hole 9 at Valley View and I got to see it. I was steamin' mad because I was waiting at the golf course for him to finish. Tyler would golf all day, every day if we would let him. He is one of those kids that can golf for two hours and talk about those two hours...for three hours! Anyway, I wasn't sure it was an eagle because I was up on the hill, but I had a great veiw of the green. Tyler was down below the green and could not see it go in....poor guy. There was this disbelief as he made his way to the green, couldn't find his ball and looked in the cup.....there it was!

The other news is that I went back to work yesterday after being out for four years. As some of you may know, I have a BA in Health and Physical Education....I know....a bit chubby for someone with such a degree! I never thought I'd teach PE because I had more of an interest in higher education administration and went straight from undergrad to grad school to BGSU to get my MA in College Student Personell. Anyway, I worked in higher education for a number of years before staying home full-time with the kids. I've come to realize that a career in higher education administration isn't the best job for me in terms of being the mom that I want to be. Teachin PE works will with my life right now. I only teach a few days each week so it isn't too difficult, although I did have a hard time not being home when my girls woke up. They are a bit more clingy today, but that's okay.....I like it.

TJ's first football game is tonight. Go Gales! Dane had a scrimmage this past week and they looked pretty good.

Oh, yeah...I turned 44 yesterday! I'm not one for celebrations at this point...and gifts are not a big deal. Oh, but celebrations and gift-giving are important to two little girls. The best gift was watching them with excitement as I blew out the candles on the cake they made with daddy and helped me unwrap the gift they bought for me! What a joy!

First Day of School

Tyler and Dane ready to go for Day One at Fairfield Christian Academy! Dane was excited that the first day of school was also a game day so he could wear his football jersey.

This is TJ's happy photo....actually taken after the one below. TJ goes to the public high school....Lancaster High School.

This was TJ's first photo for the first day of school. I said, "Hey, let me get a picture of you on your first day of tenth grade!" His response, "Are you serious!?" I then told him, "Hey, after this I only have two more first days of school to take pictures of you!" Ugh! (Sory for the potty chair in the background. With seven people in this family, I needed a back up near the closest toilet for the girls to take care of their business if the big one was being used. By the way, this was Tom's potty chair when he was a toddler.....I guess it is at least 44 years old!)

The boys were perfectly fine going back to school. Last night I heard Ty and Dane in bed talking. First, they had a devotional together...how cool is that? I then let them talk because I remember the days as a child sharing a room with my four (yes, four) sisters and the night before school starts chatter. We did have a nice prayer time with the boys before they went to bed. It did get side-tracked as TJ informed us that he would not take the College Prep program next year but preferred to take Auto Tech. I'm not opposed to him going into the auto business, I just have my heart set on that boy going to college. In fact, there are two things that I tell my boys that they are NOT allowed to be when they grow up.....unrighteous and self-righteous. I figure I really don't care what they do for a living as long as they live within these two realms and love the Lord with all their hearts, minds, strength.

This morning I made sure we got the photos and Tom made sure they had a little devotional time....what a guy. He shared these words with them from Ephesians 2:8-10.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." These were the last words for them as we sent them out to their first day of school for the year 2007-07!

A Football Player and a couple of beauty queens

Number 32 of the Lancaster Golden Gales 2007

TJ with Mom and Dad.

TJ is one of only five sophomores playing on the varsity team this year. Right now he is at Tight End and Outside Linebacker.

I just made this arrangements of photos on the wall. The girls love to point and say, "Baby Sarah, Big Sarah."

A couple of beauty queens!

Something Funny!

Gotcha Day on November 1, 2004.

Gotcha Day 18 months later!

I made this arrangement of photos for Tom's office this morning. I framed five different photos for him....each a photo of him in the early days of each of our children. I wanted an early photo of him with each of the kids so it seemed appropriate to have the Gotcha Day photos with the girls. As I was putting the photos in the frames I noticed something interesting about the photos....Tom was wearing the exact same thing on that day.....18 months apart! So, I go over to his office to arrange them on the wall and there Tom sits at his desk wearing that same shirt. That must be one nice shirt to hold up so well!

Guangdong Reunion

Lilliana Rollings and Lily Alexander in July 2007

Lilliana Rollings and Lily Alexander on November 1, 2004

Cribmates in China....Lily Alexander, Hannah Horne and Chloe Lenhart. This was taken in November of 2004 on the famous red couch of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China.

The same cribmates(out of order) in July of 2007. Chloe Lenhart is on the left, Hannah Horne in the middle and Lily Alexander on the right.

Eight of the Guangdong 12 at our Reunion in Owensboro, Kentucky in July of 2007. (left to right) Lily Alexander, Ashley Gebhardt, Jasmine Hodapp, Chloe Lenhart, Lilliana Rollings, Riley Williams, Hannah Horne and Kendall Warren. Missing from the photo this year was Chloe Cowan (I know I didn't spell that right), Ruthie Meyer, Joy Sourwine and Mandy Cook.

Picture Two of the same crew.

The Guangdong 12 on the red couch in November of 2007. Sitting on the couch left to right: Ashley Gebhardt, Lily Alexander, Jasmine Hodapp, Chloe Cowan, Kendall Warren, Lilliana Rollings, Ruthie Meyer. Standing in front, Mandy Cook. Sitting on the back of the couch left to right: Chloe Lenhart, Joy Sourwine, Riley Williams, Hannah Horne.

Well, we took a road trip last week to Owensboro, Kentucky. We stopped in Southern Indiana to visit some old friends that attended church with us while we lived in that area. We spent the night with the Byers'.....Steve, Julie and Philip. It was so much fun to see TJ there with them. They were one of our favorite sitters for TJ. Phillip was good to TJ when TJ was smaller than he....and he was good to TJ this evening as TJ was slightly bigger than him! We also enjoyed allowing them to meet our little girls for the first time. The next morning we had breakfast with some other friends from our old church....the Meaders, Sellars and Kennedy's. It was so much fun to be with them! It was so comfortable that it was hard to believe it had been several years since we last got together. I had always enjoyed spending time with Connie, Cindy and Janet.

(I didn't take any pictures of this time....what was I thinking?)

After breakfast we made the final two hour drive to Owensboro. This was the city TJ was born in so it was good to think back to those early days as first time parents making that drive from Louisville to Owensboro to hold our 6 pound 2 ounce boy for the first time. This day we allowed him (at nearly 6 feet 2 inches) to drive a bit along the way. We met our travel group at the Owensboro Christian Church for the day. It is always good to spend time with these families. They will always hold a special place in our hearts. Nine of the girls were from the same orphanage as Lily and the other three were from a nearby orphanage. We spend two weeks together in China sharing in a moment that changed our lives forever! Forever we will be connected to them!

Other things to note: We are getting ready to start school. TJ will start the tenth grade and is busy with football right now. Ty will be in the ninth grade and is ready to take off with the golf team. Dane will start sixth grade and is going to try football this year. Lily and Sarah will start in the 3 year old preschool program two days each week. Me? I've agreed to teach PE two days each week at the Christian school that the lower four attend. Tom isn't starting back at school although he often talks about the possibility of a Ph.D.