Christmas Gift

Sunday Jeremy received a message on facebook from a friend in Peru. In broken english this is what it said:

"hello bro only for tell you that today i plaing with
Christian and Anthony
and i ask who is your father?? and he answer Jermey...
GOD Bless you"

It is a common question for people at the orphanage to ask the children "who is your father?" they are looking for the response "God". We didn't even know that the boys knew Jeremy's name. As stated in a previous post, this is a prayer for them, that God will prepare them supernaturally to be aware of our family and to be ready for us.

I was telling a friend at church and she said "Thank you God for an early Christmas gift for the Keevers". Our sentiments exactly!

Another first from our precious daughter

On Tuesday I took Harper to run errands with me. I had ordered 2 books from Barnes and Noble, so we went in to pick them up. Right at the front of the store is a HUGE display of Elf on the Shelf with a video playing and all. She had already told me about the book, they had read it at school the previous week. The display has no "just books". All they have is a $30 gift set with the book and an elf. The story, in a quick skim, tells about an elf that watches over kids and reports back to Santa. Every day the elf moves location around the house and the kids have to find it. So it's also a game. Harper starts asking for it right away. I tell her let's go look at other books and I'll think about it. We had fun looking at other books. I found a Christmas book that I had as a child that is about a bear and is scratch and sniff. It was fun to read it to her.
So it's now time to leave and I just couldn't spend the $30 on the Elf on the Shelf with out talking to Jer. This is when the 1st happens. She starts to cry. It is not a fit, she is not begging. It really breaks my heart. She is just standing beside me at the check out with big tears rolling down her face. It took all I had to walk out of the store with out the book set.
Usually my kids are easily told "Not today" and we can leave a store with out much fuss. This, like I said was very different. I almost would have rather her whined, screamed and complained so I would have felt righteous in my "no".
The end of the story: As I write Jeremy is on his way with Harper on a date to get Elf on the Shelf. She doesn't know. I wish I could be there to see how excited she is going to be when they pull up at Barnes and Noble and she realizes what is happening. So precious. I love them both.

November is National Adoption Awareness Month.

It has been 2 and 1/2 years since we met the boys that we have prayed will be our sons. Nothing new to report. Just re-did our fingerprints for the 3rd time and those will last us 12 months. Most of our paperwork expires in December 2009. So we wait. We pray. We go through so many emotions. Fear, anger, nervousness, sadness, expectation but it always ends in HOPE for both of us. We still have hope that Peru will allow us to adopt two precious little boys who we have prayed for and loved from the States for so long. We pray that God will make clear to us His will. We pray for our Peru boys that they will continue to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually. We ask the Lord to prepare them supernaturally for us. We ask Jesus to hold them and protect them. We pray for ourselves that we are as prepared as we can be to have 4 children. That we are emotionally and spiritually prepared for parenting 2 adopted children and 2 biological children. We pray that the transition will go smoothly for our 4 children. We pray for Calahan and Harper's hearts, that they will be gracious, kind, patient and loving in the transition (as well as our hearts). Please pray with us.
Thank you for continuing to ask us about the process. I am sorry that we are usually short. We are just sad there is nothing new to tell.

Thought I would post a poem I read. It does a good job of putting into words some of our thoughts as we wait and pray.

KISSES IN THE WIND (The Waiting Child's Lullabye)

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

--- © Pamela Durkota, written for Josh

***Hair Update***

The curls did return on their on after washing and the length is hardly noticeable! Yeah! :)

A Big Event... Harper's 1st Hair Cut

Yes, she is 4 1/2 years old!
We have hung on to her precious long curly hair long enough. It was really starting to get unhealthy. This is how the event went down: Place call to Jelly Beans where children get their first hair cut for 1 penny. I explain that my 4 year old daughter has never had hers cut and ask if they would do it for a penny. They say yes, come at 1:30pm. I call Jer to see if he wants to join us, he is not able but asks me to take video and pictures. I prep Harper as much as I can and detangle and comb her hair. We get there and they ask her to lay down on a table to get her hair washed. I had not prepared her for this. She is doing great, so I get my camera and try to turn it on to begin all the pictures. It will not turn on. The battery is dead. "REALLY?" I think. So I am deciding ok, no big deal. We can remember it. But then the nice lady says "What do you want done to her hair?" I say "Oh, just a trim to remove the dead ends." She says "Ok, that will be about 4 inches." I say "What! Will she still have any curls?" She says "Probably not." I start to panic. I am thinking "Do I have enough pictures of her precious curls, I can't believe I don't have a working camera, Should I cancel and come back?...." The nice lady says "Why don't y'all run over to BiLo and get a disposable camera." Good option. Didn't even know they still made those things. So, that's what we do. When we return Harper hops up in the chair and the curls start to come off. It really wasn't too much hair, just 4 inch pieces. The nice lady then blow drys it and puts a cute little french braid and a ghetto blue plastic bow clip in it. She then sprays lots of stuff all over Harpers hair and curls the bottom where the curls used to be with a curling iron. Hmmm...
Harper liked it well enough. I look forward to washing it and seeing if her natural curls return. Sorry, no pictures. We have to try and remember how you get them developed!

Halloween '08

So fun! Such great family memories!

Harper had asked to be Princess Leia. I thought she was confused, thinking it was a Disney Princess. We are not a Star Wars family and she has never seen the movie. After showing her online what Princess Leia looked like she said "Yep, that's who I want to be!" Seeing that the costumes were $30 we bought a twin sheet and Jer's grandmother made it into PL's gown. Harp had the perfect hair to braid and twist into buns! She was cute! Calahan then decided he wanted to be "Dark Vader". He bought his costume with his own money, he was so proud.
This was the first time we have been in a neighborhood for Halloween. The kids were ready and standing outside at 5:30pm. No one else was out, so at 6:15 we decided to be the first. We had practiced saying "Happy Halloween, Trick-or-treat" and being thankful for whatever candy was dropped in their pumpkins. We also practiced not saying "I don't like this, or could I have that instead?" Jer took them around with one of our neighbors and his daughter. They really had the most fun handing out candy from our door to all of our treaters!
A week before Halloween Jer, who is always in charge of cleaning out the pumpkins, got all his tools and headed to the garage with the kids. They decided on the Jack-o-lanterns face and Jer traced Calahan's foot for the other pumpkin. They both turned out great!

Date Night Suggestion

Jeremy and I had a much needed night out last night. In our effort to be cheap we ate at Moe's with a coupon and only spend $7.59. Then we went to the mall and walked around, people watching. We went to Starbucks and spent more on 2 drinks than we had on our Moe's meal. Oh well, still a date for under $20!
This is where the suggestion comes in: Then we went to Costco to look around. It's one of our favorite stores. We ran into a friend who told us they had the scooter coolers out to test drive. It was a blast! There were 2 scooter coolers so we drove around Costco for about 15 minutes. We had an employee be our line judge and we did a little race, we tried to tip them doing fast turns, and just laughed our heads off! They go really fast for a little scooter cooler! Enjoy! (You can borrow our card to get in if you want! Oh, and if you want to buy one they cost $359!)

Practical Theology (Jer's 1st Post)

Time and time again I hear that theology really isn’t important……I mean maybe for pastors and teachers but not for “real” people. To be honest, I find myself wondering if that is actually true. Are the things that I love to read and study really important and practical for the average person or are they simply a hobby or an intellectual exercise? Recently, I have had two conversations with Harper (our 4 year old daughter) that have me believing that theology is as practical as breathing:

Her Questions

1 - “Dad, If God doesn’t have a body, then how did he create things by speaking them? Wouldn’t he have to speak from a mouth?"

2 – “Dad if Jesus died for all sins, how come there is still sin in the world”

My Thoughts

Wow! Are you serious? You are 4! Shouldn’t you be thinking about Dora, the alphabet or what pretty dress you are going to wear today? I wish I could get my high school students to think that way! You are asking questions that the smartest people in the world have been asking for years!

Yeah, shaping the hearts and minds of the next generation is about as practical as it gets. Parenting with a biblical and theological worldview is critically important for those of us who claim to know Christ (Romans 12:1-2). No, you don’t have to be the next John Piper, Wayne Grudem or even Matt Williams. However, you better know what you believe and why you believe…….because when you least expect it you are going to be asked to communicate it and to live it……and probably from the persons you least expect!

Redeeming Words

It's my month to take our "neighbor girl" and Calahan to school. As we were backing out of the driveway Jeremy is pretending to push our car. The kids and I laugh and
neighbor girl says: "no one can really push a car"
Calahan says: "God can"
neighbor girl says: "How can God do that if He is up in heaven"
Calahan says: "God is everywhere"

He is learning!

Waste of $

This morning on the way to church the 4 of us had a conversation that went like this:

Harper: "I brought some money to give to Jesus!"
Jeremy: "That's great Harper!"
Calahan: "I don't want to waste my money!"
Me: bust out laughing

So of course with a theologian for a dad, Jeremy begins to expound on whose $ it is to begin with and why it is not a "waste" to give back to God what is already His. It was a interesting conversation, I pray we made some progress in Calahan's little heart.... Time will tell.

Joining a Gym, the Budget and a Marriage Retreat

So Jer and I have joined a gym. We both feel like it is very important for the both of us to exercise on a regular basis so that we can ward off all the health problems that have been passed on to us! :)
Joining the gym has forced us to take a closer look at our budget. Today was the day. It went as good as it can when a married couple looks at their budget closely. Let's just say that nothing was broken or smashed and we did a fabulous job of keeping our voices at a normal speaking level. The outcome: We are going to be keeping things pretty tight around the Keever household for awhile. So I am begging you, don't tempt us by asking us to do fun things that cost money. Any money that is!
We are going to a Marriage Retreat this week (maybe the budget conversation should have been put on hold until after). In January we are going to celebrate 10 years of marriage and this will be our 2nd Marriage Retreat. The 1st was 5 years ago when we were pregnant with Harper Charis. I think that we learned a lot, I really don't remember. I don't have a very good memory anymore, which is super annoying. I attribute it to birthing 2 kids and trying to adopt 2 more! Anyway, we are super excited to get away and focus on us!
Thanks to Jeremy's parents for sending us and to my mom for coming to G'vegas to keep the kids!
(Ash~ does this sound more "real" :)?)

Never Have I Ever

This is from a game we play. One person says something that they have never done and anyone who has done it has to stand up and try and find a new seat. Fun game to get to know people. I thought I would tell you some Never Have I Evers about me:

• Never been to Europe
• Never liked Star Wars
• Never gotten a tattoo
• Never driven a 15 passenger van
  
• Never liked raw fish
• Never had my belly button pierced
• Never liked the Clemson Tigers
  
• Never liked Nancy Drew books
• Never been bungee jumping
• Never watched Night Rider
• Never been fluent in a foreign language
• Never thought stirrup pants were a good idea
• Never liked the Jonas Brothers
• Never been good at skate boarding

Feel free to add some of your own or some that you think about me!

Things I learned...

In my quiet time in the Bible today!
1. That even when Simon denied Jesus 3 times, Jesus promised him that when he repented and turned to Jesus again He would be used by the Lord to STRENGTHEN and BUILD UP his brothers! (Lk 22:32) Lord, thank you that you used Simon. Thank you for using me despite my sin!
2. Jesus says "The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father"! (Jn 14:12) Lord, Help me to do your work!
3. Jesus also tells us that " You didn't chose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last..." (Jn 15:16) Lord, Thank you for choosing me. I don't deserve what you have done for me!
4. Jesus commanded us "to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me." (Jn 15:12-14) Lord, please help me to deny myself. It is so easy to love me! Help me to love others more! I want to obey you.
5. Lastly, "Mark my words - I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom." (Mtw 26:29) That's right! There will be wine in heaven! Lord, help me learn to like wine! :)

Labor Day Fun

We had a great Labor Day. We did no labor, just fun! Our family went to Chick-Fil-A with the Burns, Espinosas, Mozingos, Nelsons (missed you Scott and Adrienne) and Taylors. We wore our favorite sports team shirts and got free chicken strips for all! As you can see we made a long parents table and then 2 kids tables right by the door to the playport. We hung out from 10:30 to about noon!
Jeremy was so proud to wear his Alabama t-shirt (shout out to Kalynn) to mock all the Clemson fans... It worked! He got several comments. Roll Tide!!!! Thanks Heather for your entertaining stories, Ashley for the idea, Joanna for letting us change plans on you last minute and Julia and Molly for just being awesome! I love all of you and can't imagine what Summer '08 would have been with out your families. What a way to send out the summer!
Afterwards some of us came back to the Keever casa to continue to hang out and then we all split up for naptime. Jeremy and I took the kids to Sno Hut for their first experience with shave ice. Calahan got root beer"d" and Harper got bubble gum. They ended up sharing them. One other funny thing Harper has started being real into her "muzzles". Those are the things that get big when they eat their green beans, brocoli, salad, ect. Muscles, if you aren't catching on. :)
This is a big week for us. Harper starts 4K on Wed and will go MWF mornings. This will allow Jer and I to have Friday mornings together! 3 hours to be together every week! Amazing.

My and Jer's latest Addiction

Prison Break! We just finished Season 1 and are waiting for Netflix to send Season 2 discs 1-3. We both think Wentworth Miller (center right, light blue shirt), who plays Michael Scoffield, is hot! Yep, Jer does too! :) The character on the far left in this picture is gisgusging (that is how Harper says disgusting) a great actor but again, gisgusging! I cover my eyes and ears whenever he is on the screen. This has replaced our anger towards 24 not being on the air for a year! So if we don't answer the phones in the evenings or say no to hanging out, you now know why!

1st Day of 1st Grade

We can hardly believe that we have a son who is old enough to be in 1st Grade! Jeremy and I woke up early this morning to get things ready and to pray for Calahan, his teacher and his year. We decided that after the trauma of sending him last year to K5 that this was a breeze. It really helps that we are excited about his teacher! Mrs. Herlong. She is precious, with one downfall... She likes Clemson as is evident by her classroom decorations. We did not warn her that Calahan will tease her horribly and tell her that "Tarheels are the best"! She will learn quickly, probably in the first 5 minutes of him being there.

He wouldn't hold my hand as I walked him into the school. That was tough for me. On the way I asked him what he was most excited about and he said "lunch". What a boy! I can't wait until 2:30pm when I get to hear all about his first day of first grade!

So Harper and I will be home for a few weeks together until she starts school after Labor Day. She will go 3 mornings a week. Today she is going for a trial class at The Little Gym for ballet, tap and gymnastics. She already had her leotard on at 7:50 this morning. She is so excited! It is going to cost a lot of $ but it is worth it to see her so excited and happy!

Keevers at Kiawah

Jeremy's parents (Gammie and Gramps) took me, Calahan and Harper and Julie, Ed and Mary Addison to Kiawah for the week. It was hard to be away from Jeremy again. He had just returned from the Peru Parent/Student Mission trip and was heading into the Greenville Mission Trip and teaching the adult service at Grace this past weekend.
We managed to have a little fun with out him. We rode bikes a lot. It was Harper's first time on a Trail-Behind bike. She loved it and did great! Let me tell you though, her pedals do nothing! She can pedal while we are stopped! So basically I pulled another 50lbs around behind me! These are some highlights from the week: watching the alligators from the screened in porch, going to the carnival where the kids and I all did the rock wall, the kids seeing and trying to understand a really tall man on stilts, me reading 2 novels, being with MAE her first time at the beach, and riding bikes with Julie and Ed in the pitch black dark on the bike trail.

Below is one of the precious pictures we took at The Sanctuary and then me and the kids on our bikes.

Renewal

I have been with out my precious husband and children for the past 3 days. It has been an amazing time of renewal on several levels. Most important, my relationship with Jesus has been real and refreshed. I have had time to sit and think, to pray and just worship. I am thankful that many circumstances have drawn me closer to Him in the last few days and that I have been able to rest in his grace. One of my friends dad's had serious surgery today and being able to spend the weekend talking, hiking and praying with/ for her and her family has been so special. Praying for your family has helped renew my relationship with the Lord.
I had lunch Monday with a friend whose family has been walking a long, tough road with us for the last couple of years and who I adore being around. It is wonderful to have someone on the road with Jer and I who knows and understands completely when no one else does. Thank you friend, your understanding renews me.
I had a fun supper with some girls last night (shout out Mary Beth, Julia, Ashley B, Elizabeth, Lindsay and Mollie) at PF Changs where we just laughed a lot and enjoyed being together. Laughter and friendship is so renewing.
There has been a continual situation for about a year now that I can not seem to get a grasp on mentally or emotionally. I think that it is under control and then something flares up again. I have felt God today just holding me and comforting me emotionally and mentally. What it boils down to is that God is enough, all I need and the cares of the world are nothing! Thank you Jesus for dying for me so that one day my sinful, nasty self will be completely renewed with a glorified self! There is nothing I could do to deserve or earn that. I look forward to that day.....

Firsts

I was privileged to be with one of my most special friends while she experienced a first. Yep, Leah got her ears pierced! Most people say "for the first time!?" and I reply "Yep!" She was really scared so she invited Laura and I along to hold her hands. She did well, only cried a little bit. She looks beautiful!

"Snort- HOLES" and the likes

After one of our trips to the pool this summer, (thanks to the Espinosas, Fowlers, Osborns, Jacobs, and Nelsons) Calahan requested that we go and get him a snort-hole. Took me a minute then I realized what he wanted.
This brings up another point. Please do not correct our children when they use incorrect words! We, or maybe I should say I, think it is precious and it makes my heart so happy! They will learn the correct words when they start school and are teased!!!! (Just kidding grandparents, we'll tell them before then!)

The "Brothers"

These are the "brothers" our family has prayed for during the past 2 years. We adore them and can not believe how big they have gotten. It has been extremely tough to have the Peru Team return and see all the people loving on them but it makes me so happy to see them happy and healthy.
By the way, They do NOT like the Dolphins. They let Jer know when he was there that they LOVE the COWBOYS!

Reunited

Jeremy and the team returned home safe and well from Peru about noon today. The kids and I had fun going to GSP Airport to pick him up. Harper Charis did not let go of him! It feels wonderful to have all of us together after 10 days. We celebrated by coming home and doing our Keever Pile! :)

Fourth of July with the cousins

Chad, Tish, Hudson and Kassady came up to see us this weekend! We had a blast eating at the Taylor's with the Espinosa's and then doing fireworks at the Fowler's. We got up early Saturday and went to Falls Park to take some pictures, that was tough!!! 4 kids happy and looking at the camera, close to impossible!

Our precious "Boys"

Jer called from Peru today to let me talk to "our Boys". All I could do was laugh, they were SOOO talkative! They said "hola Kelly" and told me their names and good job and bye bye and talked about their brother and then would hand the phone to the other and do it all over again. I got in Hola and I love you and then ciao. Thank you Jesus, I will treasure it always.
Oh, and Jer and the team are great. :)

Thoughts...

With the Student Mission Team in Peru, I thought I would try this blog thing again...
I have a few thoughts I would like to share:
1. Having a 4 year old and 6 year old is AMAZING!!! They are both so much fun! They play together, they don't whine (well hardly), they can go out to dinner like normal people, they can sit through movies, they can get in the pool and I can sit on the side, they can play games, they can travel, they are just precious. I am so blessed!
2. I am so emotional these days. I don't want to go to Peru until we are told to "Come and get your boys" but I get so upset that 40 of my friends get to spend a week with my boys! I cried recently at the BMW golf tournament our family got to go to when one of the caddies called Calahan over to give him a golf ball. I teared up spending a family day together at the pool yesterday. Just watching my wonderful husband be so great with our children. I am so full!
3. I have amazing family and friends. My mom comes to G'vegas whenever I need her. My Dad has us to his house and beach house and spoils us rotten. My dad's wife Katy gave me an amazing new bag! :) My brother and his family are so much fun. My In-laws are so generous in numerous ways! My sister and brother in law have given us a precious niece and love my kids. Friends, I don't know how to even begin. New, old, close, far, young, wise the Lord has given us an abundance. I am so thankful!

Getting Started

I have had so much fun keeping up with friends and family on their blogs that I decided to try it for our family.
We'll see how it goes!