Saturday, August 30, 2008

Space Bar Blues

My thumb no longer works. I think from "over use syndrome" due to repetitive space bar usage. I'm trying to utilize my right thumb now for space bar, but it's hard to re-train my brain.
My thumb literally looks deformed. I have no idea how this has happened to me. Isabelle thinks I need to see the doctor for sure. I bought a wrist/thumb brace but it seems to be making it worse.

Suggestions?

Highlights from the weekend:
1. Dinner with Aaron and Jennifer! She is REALLY going to have a baby folks!
2. Picnic with John's worship team. My children didn't drown in the pool, but they may have drown in the chocolate fountain.
3. Elia peed on the living room carpet tonight, twice before I could grab her and get a diaper on her.
4. Nick did a photo shoot for our good friend Dave Campbell.
5. And we were given a few incredible gifts today (2 used laptops for the kids and .... ooops can't tell you the third one til we photograph it and blog it, but it is a BIG BIG DEAL folks!) God is so good.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Big News and a New Blog

It's been quite a week here in the Loux home, and I can finally blog about it!
We're adopting again! We are so excited and want to share in our journey with you, but have decided to document our next adoption on a NEW BLOG!!!

We'll continue to keep this blog rolling for family and ministry updates.

Please pray for us, and PLEASE leave comments on the new blog so we know you're reading! I'd love it if everyone would leave a comment on our first post just so we can get an idea of who all if following our story and praying for us!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Family Pics

Well we realized that we had lots of pictures of Elia- Elia alone, Elia with me, Elia with John, Elia with her brother and sisters, and not very many of John and I with our older kids. I blame this entirely on two things:
1. Elia is cute.
2. Nick is biased as a photographer and she is his favorite. (just kidding!!!)

So we ventured to Westport to take some shots of the rest of us. Elia only had her picture taken once WITH her siblings the whole time! She survived the lack of attention just fine!

Here are a few shots from the day with Nick as the primary photographer, me if Nick was in the shot, and Taylor if Nick and I were both in the shot!


Haven't had a shot like this in a while! Can you believe how tall he is? I even wore 4" heels that day. Yikes!

Double take!

A few of my favorite things!


I love this one!


Sweet stuff in the middle.

Tenderhearted Taylor!


Speaking of tall! (remember I have the 4" heels on!)




Dear Anonymous

As we live out this missionary life here at IHOP there are occasions when someone will give to us "Anonymously". So here it goes...

Dear Anonymous,
If you are reading this THANK YOU so much. Please don't get me wrong, but part of me always gets a little bent out of shape when some one gives to us in this way- only because we really really want to THANK YOU personally! So to you and all those of you who have EVER given in secret, THANK YOU!

Praying that He who rewards what is done in secret will reward you for your love and faithfulness!

Many Thanks,
The Loux Family

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Please Continue to Vote and Spread the Word

Please pass the blog link below on to others. Though we have almost doubled the Reece's Rainbow's votes in the past few days, so of the other organizations have in the neighborhood of 3000 votes! Please keep spreading the word so that this money can be used to rescue orphans and bring them into loving families!

Monday, August 25, 2008

1.5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR ADOPTIONS!!!

American Express is giving away a 2.5 million dollar gift to different organizations who are doing charitable work, and who also get enough nominations to qualify to be chosen for this project. (1.5 MIL will be given to the top nomination and an additional 1 MIL will be split between three other worthy organizations). We need 700 more votes to help qualify a very important organization called Reece's Rainbow. They are doing a tremendous job of helping orphaned Down Syndrome children through their adoption agency. This is the agency that where Derek and Renee are adopting Misha. If Reeces Rainbow were to win this gift, this would enable them to adopt out almost all of the waiting DS children with full grants!

You DO NOT have to own an American Express card to vote. Just sign in as a guest and remember to vote for Reece's Rainbow.
It will only take 1 to 2 minutes of your time and your vote could make it possible for an orphan to be placed in a forever family. Thanks so much for considering this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the life of an orphan.

Please log on to THIS SITE to vote!
God bless you!

Friday, August 22, 2008

12 Hours to Spare

I think I mentioned that last Friday John and Nick went on a ministry trip and Taylor and I had a project waiting for us. With a whole day on our hands, we decided to tackle our very neglected hallway bathroom.

We emptied it out, spackled the walls with a Tuscan-like texture, sanded and refinished the cabinets, painted the walls, and added a few fun elements to the decor. We started the minute they left the house (around 12:30PM), made a quick trip to Lowe's, headed home to spackle, made another trip for a few forgotten items and dinner, came back to dry spackling and painted, and finally finished the last little bit about 12:30AM.

I'll get you the "after" pictures later today!



Thursday, August 21, 2008

Still Life with Fruit Minus the Baby



School Re-cap

We've hit the ground running.

Taylor and Isabelle had their fist day at The Daniel Academy yesterday and came home happy! That's a good thing! Today is their first at home day and they are organizing and reading mostly, with not tons of homework after the first day of school. I cannot believe that Taylor is in 7th grade!! That's the biggest leap for me this year. Yikes! He's excited and nervous about the transition, but he is walking the JUNIOR HIGH road with marvelous comrades!

I will be teaching art again at TDA, however this year only 1st-6th grade. I will be teaching 3 classes on Friday afternoons. I'm looking forward to my first day tomorrow!

Nick is into his 2nd home schooling day. He and his friend Jackson on are this journey together and will be having at least one day a week that they work together at our house and one day a week that they work together at Jackson's house. They are also doing some of their prayer room and Bible study time together which is wonderful! Right now Jackson and Nick are here working on their Movies as Literature course! How fun is that! This book is designed as a writing class that is based on watching, evaluating, and critiquing movies. We're also very excited about Nick's history class Exploring World History, which encompasses Biblical studies, history, and English! And we're praying for grace to endure Chemistry and Algebra II.

Nick's home schooling schedule is allowing him to be on a worship team in the JPR (Justice Prayer Room) with one of the FMA (Forerunner Music Academy) teams. He'll spend about 10 hours a week on this which includes 2 sets (2 hours each), team briefings and de-briefings, team rehearsal, and team Bible study.

We're excited to see all that God has in store for each one of our children this year!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

School Starts Tomorrow!

WOW! School starts tomorrow. Isabelle enters 5th grade. Taylor starts 7th grade- which I am still in denial over. Nick will be a Junior. Taylor and Isabelle will be in the Daniel Academy again this year, where they will have three full days of academic instruction, a half a day in the prayer room, and a day and a half of at home study time.

Nick will be fully home schooled this year so that I can carve out large chunks of time for him to focus on the arts (music, drawing, photography, film making, etc.) Nick has also be able to join one of the FMA worship teams that plays in the Justice Prayer Room (JPR) twice a week, has a worship team practice, and a prayer room team. He is very excited about this opportunity.

We did our school supply shopping yesterday on a very low budget and managed to get everything we needed. God is so faithful. My books have been ordered and I'm now just praying that they actually arrive today as promised!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Saturday Morning

It's just Elia and I hanging out... getting ready to turn on the web cast of The Call.
We've had our pancakes and it's quiet in the house- well almost!

Taylor and I were up late working on a special projects (photos to follow).
John and Nick didn't get in until 3:45AM, so I expect they'll be sleeping all morning.

Isabelle's on her way home!
I can't wait to see her.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Quick Friday Update

- John and Nick are headed out for Arkansas for a quick ministry trip with Derek. They'll be back late tonight. I'm glad this one's not an overnight trip. And very glad Nick gets to go along to play drums this time.

-I just cleaned out Elia's mouth after she ate cat food.

-Isabelle gets home tomorrow night. Yippeeeee!!! We survived.

-Our friends Amy and Malcolm and their kids will be arriving tomorrow night too.

-Taylor and I (with Elia of course) are charting out our plan for the day. It may involve paint however, we'll see how it goes!

-Oh, and if you're in Kansas City, join us Saturday at FSM for the live webcast of THE CALL DC. If you're out of town, you can catch it LIVE on GodTV

-

Monday, August 11, 2008

The Call DC

This Saturday is the Call DC, be sure to catch in online at GodTV if you are unable to travel to DC for the solemn assembly.

Yesterday I was at a baby shower for one of the adoptive couples here at IHOP. Their baby is due any day now- a life that was saved because a young woman said YES to LIFE and chose adoption for her child instead of abortion.

And I was thinking, though we long to see Roe v. Wade overturned and we continue to stand believing that it will be as our generation rises up and stands for LIFE, do we realize how many lives have been spared because of our intercession.? We may never know in all honesty how many young women have chosen LIFE as a direct result of prayers offered on their behalf by people who may never meet them. How many women when faced with a pregnancy they were not planning chose LIFE because the Holy Spirit whispered truth into their ear?

I have heard many prayers uttered that go something like this, "Father, would you speak to the heart of young women who are facing a pregnancy that they had not anticipated. Would you speak truth to them about the child inside of them and cause them to choose LIFE! Strengthen them, provide for their needs, and surround them with those who will give them godly counsel."

I encourage you today to continue to pray, to continue to believe and to gather in your homes, in your churches, or in DC to cry out for righteousness over our nation!

Here are two very beautiful examples of answered prayers:

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Lost and Found

Lately Elia's mouth has been much like the lost and found. Random strange objects get plucked out of her mouth almost hourly.

Here's a recent list of objects (let us know if you're missing anything):
1. Modeling clay
2. Cat Food (no comment on how GROSS that is)
3. A Ear Bud (for those of you who don't know, those are the little foamy pads that go on the end of the ear pieces that John wears in the Prayer Room)- Really GROSS!
4. Tin Foil
5. A whole wadded up paper towel (I am not joking!)

And to top it all off............
6. A Tooth (yes, while I was working on the children's room for CEC this week, Nick extracted a tooth from her mouth- and it was not hers mind you. Apparently some child lost their tooth at church one Sunday and Elia found it)
TRIPPLE YUCK YUCK YUCK to that one!

So let us know if you've lost anything lately, Elia might be able to find it for you!

Illustration by Taylor Loux



Another fine illustrator! Don't you love it?
Visit Taylor's blog!

Friday, August 08, 2008

A Few of Nick's Recent Drawings!





And proof that our scanner now works! I'll work on those photos now as promised!
Aren't these awesome though!
I'm so proud of this kid.

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Busy Day

We're going to begin filming some of our children's prayer meetings and in order to do that, we needed to give the room a bit of a make-over. That's what I've been working on all week. Today's another full day, but it's coming together and looking much better.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Hi Girls!


Isabelle and Sophie- these beautiful girls are only about 2 months apart in age.

One thing they are really good at is being silly! They keep us all laughing.

Here's the one and only, beautiful Michaela (KK or Cakes to me).

Belle and Sophie with Maggie Sue (Thanks Shelley!)

You'll have to excuse me while I use my blog to leave love notes to the girls!
I know they're having a blast.
Let me just tell you though how weird it is not to have Isabelle around!

Bellie Boo,
I love you honey! Have fun. We sure do miss you sweetie.
It's not the same without you. LiLi stood by your picture tonight saying your name over and over again. I think she misses you too. Even the boys said they missed you today, how weird is that!!! Just teasing.
We love you so much beautiful girl.
Oh, and Nick fed the cats, so don't worry.
Love,
Momma

Soph,
Take good care of Belle for me, don't let her get too crazy ok?
Make sure she brushes her hair will you? Even if she teases you about how much you brush yours!!!
I love you honey. Have lots of fun!

Love, Auntie Tracie

Cakes,
Please, please, please make sure Belle brushes her teeth!
And don't give her too many bruises from all your crazy wrestling matches, remember she's not your daddy! Ha ha ha!!!
I love you bunches. Have tons of fun!

Love, Auntie Tracie

Sunday, August 03, 2008

I Miss My Girl Already


I've done a very brave thing. I've let Isabelle go with her cousins Sophia and Michaela to spend almost 2 weeks at Nana and Poppy's house (John's folks) in Indianapolis. I miss her already.

Isabelle,
I love you!
I miss you!
Have a great time at Nana and Poppy's though.
Call me a lot, ok?
You're an incredible young lady and life will not be the same without you here.

I love you to the moon and back,
Momma

Friday, August 01, 2008

HORRAY!!!

My sis in law Renee has started a blog!
Cheer her on and welcome her to blog-land at The Loux Family Blog

My Weekend Goals

I didn't fall of the face of the earth, I'm just on vacation rebound.

My goals for tomorrow:
1. Fold the mound of laundry that has become a creature the could scare small children in the dark and try to get it all in the appropriate drawers.
2. Run the vacuum and hide all the clutter so that my house has the appearance of clean.
3. Learn how to use my scanner and post some photos that are long over due- maternity photos for Jennifer, wedding pictures for Lisa and everyone else who will get a kick out of them. At 40, I'm way beyond being humiliated by them. (any other requests?)