30 July 2008

Blog Union '08



We're off to Hermosa Beach for Blog Union '08! A huge shout to Carey who arranged this amazing gathering of Ethiopian adoptive families. You are fabulous, my dear, and we are so grateful! What a blessing. We can hardly wait to see you all, and meet some of you and your precious African babes for the first time in person. See you at the beach!

29 July 2008

Our Toddler Rocker


Tonight.


Evangeline: Papa, may I please have some more listen to "Panama-ah-ah"?

I play opera, classical, blues, jazz, classic rock, and christian music all the time, but when she finally asks to listen to a song on the iPod, it's "Panama-ah-ah"! What a crack-up.

28 July 2008

The "Rocking the Colonies" Tour

80's fans will appreciate that we saw The Fixx, The Alarm, and The English Beat last night at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney. Backstage passes, too. We pulled out our best Ska moves and enjoyed the many fashions of Fred Perry, Sta-Prest pants, pork pie hats and Doc Martens. It was totally awesome!

Dave Wakeling, lead singer of The Beat and General Public

Cy Curnin, lead singer of The Fixx

Jamie West-Oram, guitarist for The Fixx

Meeting a Friend

This weekend we got to meet our new little buddy, Brenner Paschall, home from Ethiopia with his Forever Family!

Brenner, Ray Ray & Evangline made fast friends.
I'm so bummed that I missed photographing them kissing each other!

The newly minted Paschall family: Danny, Carrie, Brody, and Brenner (minus big sister Ramie who was at Bible Study)

Welcome home, little man! We praise God for you and love you already.

Check out the Yates' blog, too. They're in Ethiopia right now getting ready to bring home their new son!

26 July 2008

"Cir-cus! Cir-cus! I Love The Circus!"

Remember that line from A Bug's Life?

We took the kids to RBB&B Circus yesterday. WOW, what a great show!

From the very funny ringmaster & clowns

to some really cool acts like these 7 motorcycle riders spinning around in this huge metal ball

to unbelievably agile balance teams

to Marg's fave, the horse trick-riders that scare the life out of me, every part was a thrill.

But, the best reason to go to the circus is to see the elephants

and the tigers! AMAZING!!!

Here is Evangeline yelling, "Are you OK, guys? Are you doing awight now?"after some clowns caused an explosion.


Sure, it was a little overwhelming for the babies...
Exhibit A: Sleeping through cannon fire
Exhibit B: Snoozing through alarmingly loud funk musicBut, it was an all-around GREAT show!

25 July 2008

Please Pray for the Lauries


Greg (of Harvest Crusade Ministries) & Cathe Laurie's oldest son, Christopher, died yesterday in an auto accident here in California. He was 33 and leaves behind his wife, Brittany, who is pregnant with a little girl due to arrive in November and a 2 year old daughter, Stella. The Laurie family has ministered and evangelized in Orange County and beyond for years and are long-time dear friends of our McClure family. They are full-throttle dedicated to our Lord Jesus and the kingdom of God. Please pray for Brittany, Stella, baby girl Laurie, Greg, Cathe, and all their family for strength and comfort through this very difficult severe mercy.

24 July 2008

Great News!

The Paschalls are home with their little man Brenner!

The Yateses are travelling this weekend to bring home their little man D!

Moody & Emily made it through court and Abe is now part of Team Alexander!

THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR YOUR GOOD AND PERFECT GIFTS!

Leid Back After Maui

Oh, so punny!

It was raining big, fat, tropical drops when we left the Garden Isle, which made it much easier to actually get on the plane willingly. If it had been sunny and perfect I don't think we would have made it. As hard as it was to come home, we are so thankful for the awesome, once-in-a-lifetime (well, hopefully not!) trip with all 21 of us McClures. It was really a wonderful time together that we'll never forget.

We took thousands of photos, so I thought I'd share a few more. For some reason Photobucket is being snarky with me and not letting me publish, so here's the link.

Reentry was a little jarring. You know how it is. No one wants to get back to real life, so there's fighting, cranking, crying, and misbehavior everywhere. I had to hand out time outs and swats within five minutes of coming in the door. Michael and I just looked at each other, laughed, and said, "Welcome home!"

22 July 2008

Granddaddy Ortlund


Today is the one year anniversary of my granddaddy, Ray Ortlund, Sr.'s passing into Glory. My cousin, Mindy sent all of us Ortlunds this photo and message:


Sweet Ortlunds,

Today marks one year since Grandpa went to be with his Jesus. I found this photo in the archives: Grandpa next to the empty garden tomb in Jerusalem, 1992. "Jesus is alive today." So is our brother Ray, more alive than ever he has been, no longer subject to death!

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes -- I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
--Job 19

But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
--2 Timothy 3:14-15, NLT

Grandpa would say to all of us: "Go hard after God. Go with God.
He goes with you!"

17 July 2008

A Little Pineapple Juice

More McClure Maui Megacelebration Moments...

Poppy & Mother, 40 years of true love

Poppy and 11 of his 13 grands (two are under the table)



Our dear Maternal Person & sister Lisa



Lifeguarding. Now I wish I hadn't left my bullhorn at home.

A walk on the beach


Ray Ray's self-portrait

Sisters
Johnny & Jackie

A little luau honey

Kisses for Auntie Becky

"Snips and snails and puppy dog tails"


Fam fun


Evangeline, Poppy & Elianna Ray


Babies on the fountain

McClure girls

Buddy & Beck


The Keiki at Honoloa

Ray Ray having a ball at Kapalua



Team Hausam

Goin' on an Uncle Mark Adventure


This precious look is the "I dropped my Kona chocolate shake" sad face

09 July 2008

Aloha! Maui Mo Bettah!

We've had such a wonderful time so far. Here's a little taste:

Michael in Kapalua Bay

Jackie heading out to snorkel
Evangeline and Mama just got back from snorkeling in Turtle Bay. Well, I snorkel and she rides on my back saying, "Whachoo seeing, Mama? Big fishie so pretty? Swim faster!"
Playing in the kiddie pool

Ray Ray & Ricker snuggling and sharing the earbuds listening to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Big brothers are the best.

11 days left in Paradise...

01 July 2008

Celebrating!


Our dear friends, Curtis & Karen, have had a big week. First, the Lord blessed Curt's tremendous amount of hard work with the announcement that a really big contract (John Eldredge) was signed and sealed. Then, after a lot of blood, sweat, tears, fasting, praying, and a lot of waiting...


Baby D miraculously became a YATES!!!


Thank You, Lord! This little one is no longer an orphan, but a son and a brother. That moves me to tears. I think I hear the angels singing!


We can hardly wait to hug and squeeze him. CONGRATULATIONS!