Happy Birthday, Peter!

My boy turned fifteen today.

That's hard to believe!

Charlotte made him this Wordle which I thought was precious. . .

He had a pretty good day.

We had a yummy breakfast with some presents,

he hung out with Meredith most of the morning

and went shooting with Ian and Meredith in the afternoon.

We had BBQ for dinner and he got lots of brother love, too!

It is such a joy to celebrate Peter -

He is truly growing into a godly young man.

Happy Birthday, son!

They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3

David Day!

Two years ago today our family of six, with my father,

walked into the civil affairs building of Hubei Province

in Wuhan City, China

to meet our son and brother. . .Wu Yue He.

We walked out a few hours later a family of seven!

He was 2 1/2 years old and had been living with foster parents

under the direction of the city's large orphanage since open heart surgery recovery

at six months of age.

Oh how we longed for that moment to see him and hold him and love him

after waiting 11 months from the first time we saw this precious face

on AAC's waiting child list.

I knew this precious child of God was an Achterkirch and the Lord lavished us with

the blessing of calling him our son.

It is hard to believe it has been two years for it is like he has always been ours.

Adoption surely changes the lives of children

abandoned and institutionalized and forgotten
{this month is Adoption Month and I pray many children will find their forever family}

 God has used adoption to deeply change our family. . .

and we are forever thankful for the journey He has set before us and for our own

adoption as Sons of God!

We celebrate Wu Yue He today....how God graciously folded him into our family

from the other side of the world and made our hearts to love him

before we even saw him.

That's what God's love does.

We celebrate the plan God has for David - unknown to us, but known to God.

From Wuhan City to Houston Texas via Phoenix, Arizona through an agency in Colorado.

That's a glimpse of God's sovereignty.

We celebrate all the ways in which David has flourished in our family.

The joy he brings to everyone that knows him.

He is such a happy kid!

That is Christ's peace and joy taking root in him!

We celebrate our family -

authored by God

upheld by His grace day by day.

And we remember with wonderful fondness our journey two years ago to David's homeland

So rich with memories for us....
and a tangible reminder of God's grace and mercy and lavish love for us.

This video was made as a remembrance of God's mighty work in David's life and ours!

Glory be to our great God!

Happy Gotcha Day, David!!!

Sailing Into Sixth

Today we celebrated Charlotte's graduation from 5th grade.

It was a beautiful luncheon marking the end of elementary school.

And the beginning of middle school.

Sigh.

The theme of the luncheon - Sailing into Sixth

We enjoyed a nostalgic slide show, inspiring addresses from administration and 

lunch was served in darling sand buckets

Students, parents, grandparents, special friends rejoicing together in God's faithfulness.

Each teacher spoke personally to each student

and gave them a biblical character trait that

they have seen God grow in each child.

Charlotte's was 

AVAILABILITY

making her own schedule and priorities secondary to the wishes of those she serves

(based on Philippians 2:20-21)

Then they were prayed over and commissioned for a new chapter!

You would never know Charlotte was not with these these girls since kindergarten.

She has been so welcomed and enfolded.

Loved and nurtured.

And these two godly teachers have poured into our girl

with excellence...and patience...and passion

They are amazing and we're so blessed that they touched Charlotte's life

as she passed through the fifth grade in her life's journey!

So now these precious friends look forward to a summer of fun

with anticipation of sailing into the sixth grade in just a few short months.

After the luncheon, the 6h grade teachers gave them a tour of the building

they will be moving to.  They are carefully and purposefully separated from

elementary and the rest of middle and high school.

6th grade is a nurturing year.  A preparation year.

And we're so excited to see what God has in store!!!

Eggstravaganza 2012

What an awesome day we had with our church family today.

It was Eggstravaganza 2012

and the Youth's 30 Hour Famine Car Wash Fundraiser!

It wouldn't be a spring gathering without a new spring baby....

introducing...

sweet little Primsrose

She was most certainly a hit among the girls!

David helped the teenagers at the carwash....

Sweet Ford....always loving on our boy!

There was some joyous praise and worship music. . .

and an Easter egg hunt through the gardens and playgrounds

Then it was indoors for an ice cream social!

We all enjoyed the day and look forward to

Easter morning!!!

Seder Celebration

Tonight our whole family participated in a Seder Celebration at our church

Passover, if of course, the most important of Jewish religious festivals

commemorating God's deliverance of the hebrews from slavery in Egypt

and His creation of the Israelite people.

The Seder or "order" recounts and celebrates the entire sequence of events

that led to the Israelite's freedom from slavery.

While thoroughly based in those historical events, the Passover celebration 

encompasses much more as it becomes a vehicle to celebrate 

the greater revelation of God's nature and His gracious work

in the world through Jesus.  

It is in this larger dimension that Jesus celebrates the passover service 

as a sacramental remembrance of God's new

work of deliverance in Christ, and allows Christians to celebrate this ancient festival.

It was a very special evening of tradition and meaning

"Jesus has said, 'Surely I am coming soon.' We say Amen.  

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!"

Revelation 22:20