A "Piece of our Puzzle"

 Ryan and I, as well as our children, are so excited to be adding to our family through domestic adoption!  We were recently awarded a matching funds grant through Hand in Hand Christian Adoption Inc, to help with the expenses of our adoption!  In conjunction with this matching grant, we are doing a "Puzzle Fundraiser" and we need. . . .

                                               


YOU!!!

 

We have a beautiful 500 piece puzzle that, when put together, will hang in our child's room with clear glass on the front and back.  For every 10 dollars that you donate, we will put your name on the back of a puzzle piece and add it to the puzzle.  As the names are added, and the puzzle comes together, we will be posting pictures on our blog :) 

 

 

Thanks so much to Julie Chen, with http://www.lifeversedesign.com/, for the lovely design on our puzzle! 

 

Want to hear the super fun part?  There are PERKS for different amounts donated :)  

 

$30:  Your name on the back of 3 puzzle pieces AND we will add you to the list of people we email/text a picture to first of us with our new little one!

 

$50:  Your name on the back of 5 puzzle pieces, a first email/text picture, AND a thanks for donating bookmark created by Ainsley!

 

$70:  Your name on 7 puzzle pieces, a first email/text picture, a bookmark, AND a magnet that has a picture of our puzzle on it!  We'd love for you to hang it on your fridge and pray for us when you see it!

 

$100:  Your name on 10 puzzle pieces, a first email/text picture, a bookmark, a magnet, AND guaranteed Christmas letter/picture from our family for the next 5 years!

 

$200 or more:  Your name on 20 or more puzzle pieces, a first email/text picture, a bookmark, magnet, Christmas cards, AND an invite to a grilled hot dog feed at our home after our child arrives!! 

 

*You can specify what names you'd like us to write on the puzzle pieces

 

 

 

If you do not receive a letter from us with more details, and would like to support us in this way, please email us at adoption@ryanswanstrom.com

 and we will send you one, as we would love for you to be a "Piece of our Puzzle!" 

 

This matching grant puzzle fundraiser goes until October 25th!  Feel free to spread the word!  Thanks for your support and prayers :)  Check back to watch the puzzle come together!

 

 

 

 

Apple Orchard 2014

 One of my favorite things about Fall is hitting the apple orchard. . it's even more fun with cousins and Grammy and Grampa! 
                                                                  Ready to Ride!

 

 

Hittin the Hay Bales!

                                                  
                                                        Gettin a lift from dad. . .

Sippin Cider while the kids rode the train. . .

And last but not least, baking apple pie when we got home :)  Ryan was laughing as he heard me telling Ainsley about the very difficult pie crust recipe I use. . .I learned it from my mom and I'm passing it on to our children. . . it's called Pappy's Pie Crust ;)

"Back in the Saddle"

                                                  Well, our boots are all shined up. . .

 

And "WE'RE BACK IN THE SADDLE!"

 

                                                     The BLOGGING SADDLE that is :)

Good Work, Ryker

Ryker did some pretty good work today :)  He drew a picture all on his own and told me it was Porter. . .




























Then he presented me with some playdough "skyscrapers" and a playdoh "building"                                                                                              . . . .the cheese truck hard at work also

               I loved the building he presented me. . .esp with the cheese on top :)

It's all in a days work when you're 2 1/2.  Good work sweet Ryker. We love you!

          (GooF found a surprise when checking on Ryker. . .inflatable alligator all tucked in  :) )

Porter's Baptism

 A while back during a church service when people were getting baptized, Porter wanted to go up and be baptized too.  We've been talking about what that means, and this morning after camp, he was baptized by his Grampa. 

 Lighting a candle, and answering questions that yes, he believes in Jesus.

 Porter William's Baptism, on Sunday morning, July 21st, 2013 at Lake Poinsett UMC Camp

 We are so thankful you made the decision as a small child to follow Jesus, and today, to be baptized.

 "May the Holy Spirit work within you, that being born of the water and the Spirit you may be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ."

 Porter, God has given you a strong will and a tender heart. . .I pray He uses you in mighty ways for His glory.  You pray often for other people, and want them to have Jesus in their heart.  You and daddy made it through the whole Jesus Storybook Bible this year.  My child, you ask hard questions.  The other week there was 3 different times you had tears as you asked questions about Tessa, such as why God allowed her to die.  We cried together.  My child, we have had our share of "im sorries" and "will you forgive me."  We sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" at your baptism, because you love Grampa to sing it to you, and we are so thankful His mercies are new every morning.  Grammy wrote the special prayer you like her to say on your card, "May God always forgive you and heal you, protect you, strengthen you , and encourage you to do His will."  Congratulations on your baptism Porter. . .we pray you will really make your faith in God and your relationship with Him your own through the years.  We love you!

After Porter's baptism, we made a stop at the camp tire swing :)
 Love Ainsley and Ryker's arms in this one. . .

 Looking on as the big kids went fast. . .

 It was GooFs first year at camp and he did a great job with the boys :)

 Cousins

 Glad you had fun at camp, Porter and Trey!  And glad we got to share in your baptism Porter :) 

"Then". . .Happy 12th Anniv GooF!

The other night while out for a walk, I found myself praying for our children and their future spouses, as I'm sure our parents did for GooF and I.  I'm so thankful to be celebrating our 12th Wedding Anniversary, but what exactly were we doing in those early years while our parents prayed?

For one, we were being spoon fed.  Both of us are 3rd children. . .this makes for two pretty easy-going people.  It's a miracle we figured out how to feed ourselves ;)

 

While I was busy practicing up on my mommy skills (apparently making my baby wear clothes was as important to me then as it is now while around the house). . . GooF was practicing up on his smarts skills!  I am so very thankful to be with our kids during the day, and that GooF provides for our family in so many ways.

During those early years, we were loving to make people laugh.. . .some things never change!

And while I was dreaming of my future family. . .naming my future children in my head and drawing up house plans. . .well, he was not even thinking about me at all.  And as he moved me into my college dorm room, pretty sure I had eyes for him first ;)
 

 GooF was learning to be superhero and save the day. . .I was waiting for my superhero to come. . .

 And that he did.  And I am so thankful!  Happy 12th Anniversary GooF. . .atleast 63 more years to go :)

Exploring Downtown

We spent the afternoon exploring downtown today.  I'd slept in and not packed GooF a lunch, so we took the opportunity to meet him for lunch at the Falls :)  Ainsley had fun sportin her new summer do. . .

Ryker. . .pretty proud of himself for climbing up the rocks. . .

 Headed to the trolley. . .

 Ryker was seriously cracking us (and the others on the trolley) up.  The driver was telling about the buildings that we passed, and the years they were built etc.  Ryker was repeating him in his deep, loud, slow voice.  Too funny. . ..

After our stop at the library, waiting for the trolley. . .

 They must be homeschooled, right GooF?  Either that and/or their mom said something to them about using kind words or else. . .before they left for the outing ;)  Either way, it was a fun afternoon spent exploring downtown.