We met Tom while in Uganda this past summer. His story is amazing. He is now in the states getting an education so that he may go back and help build up and better his home country.

We took him for a drive in the countryside and I took the opportunity to take a few fall snapshots.

This is a bridge along the Natchez Trace Parkway.

It is ginormous. And beautiful.

Even though the peak of fall has passed the colors were still breathtaking.

The kids really enjoyed playing around in all the leaves.

This is my favorite shot. It looks as though she is giving praise to God for our perfect day.

There is also this beautiful stone wall begging to be photographed.

And also begging for little children to walk along the top of ..

This picture was hard to get. No one wanted to stop having fun long enough to get a group photo. See how pitiful my little guy is?

Happy Fall!

Fear is what motivates dishonesty and acts of deception. Fear of punishment, fear of disappointment, fear of not getting what they want, fear of rejection, fear of embarrassment, fear of standing up for what is right are the motivations for the behaviors I so desperately want to change. In myself and in my kids. If we can get over some of these stumbling blocks we can learn to boldly go out into the world and be an example.

For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)

So you ask, what have we been up to?

Well first we went to go visit some friends up in Wisconsin, doncha know?

It was very, very cold.  And breathtaking.

The small towns are very quaint and absolutely charming. The snow makes a lovely decoration on all the homes. Everything looks so fresh and clean. Hubby really liked all the snowmobile trails and the itty-bitty traffic signs on them were really neat.

So we did what all kids do in the snow, we went sledding,

( yes that is snow covering that kid’s face. She face-planted on the way down.)

we did some ice fishing,

( don’t mistake that handsome fella there for Billy Ray Cyrus ..cause it’s not!)

Payton was waiting on the big one to hit his jig.

I just really love this boy.

We had a little scare though. Or friends borrowed their brother’s snowmobile. We thought we would take the kids for a ride. But it broke down. In the middle of a frozen lake. So the men drove the truck and trailer to pick up the snowmobile. On the frozen lake. It was 3 degrees in the sun that day. Really. I am not exaggerating. So my amazing husband took our smallest child with him in the nice warm truck. In the middle of the frozen lake. And he got out. And she locked the door. And him out. Of the truck that was running in the middle of a frozen lake. Did I mention she is only 2?

She is a resourceful kid though.  After being on hold for a while with Onstar…and debating on whether I should smash the window….the baby figured out how to roll down the window, and I jammed my arm in there and unlocked the door. But all I could think of was that my baby was stuck in a running vehicle in the middle of a frozen lake…and I was taking pictures.

I made a snow angel. Because I am really just a big kid.

We went skiing for the first time ever. It was so much fun. I can’t wait for next winter. I am hoping to hit the slopes some before we move to Uganda.

We managed to make it home just in time for our First Aid/ CPR certification. (You would think with all these kids that we would have done that long ago. but no. ) My best friend and I had a trip planned to Florida. So I was really only home long enough to wash our winter gear throw it in storage and drag out our summer clothes and pack. Oh yea. And have a little birthday party for Amelia who tuned 2.

My BFF has a 10 year old son and I only took the oldest 4 children. Big Daddy stayed behind with the baby and worked. We took of in the Honda and drove. to Florida. with 5 kids. it’s 600 miles. that’s about 10 hours. with 5 kids.  stuck trapped in the car. with 5 kids

Florida was great. It was so relaxing. Even with 5 kids.

This is what they did.

and this

and this

And of course Murphey’s law says there will be a trip to the Emergency Room!

Juliana was not feeling well and I started to get a little concerned.

But don’t worry! It takes more than bronchitis and sinusitis to slow down a Baker.

Juliana was glad her little brother was there to keep her company. He got a fever about the minute we left the hospital.

But what would a trip to Florida be without Disneyland!? Especially on your 11th birthday!

But the most exciting thing was yet to come. We received a phone call from a social worker from the agency that we work with about a newborn that they needed a home for. Without hesitation we said yes. So at the moment we are the very proud foster parents of a brand new daughter. We are not sure how long we will have her. But we are enjoying every moment we are blessed to have with her. Even the middle of the night feedings are a joy. It is so much different to me to have a newborn without having to deal with all the pospartum recovery. And oh, that baby smell..

Yes its a little bananas around here. But I can’t imagine anything but.

So, what have you been up to?

This post is part of "Laughter Lives! Tuesday" on the Riggs Family Blog. Check our their blog to read everyone else's "Laughter Lives!" posts.

A couple of years ago some friends of ours invited us to their church. Our friend Matt was filling in for his father, Pastor Ray, who was the regular preacher there. plug: you should read his story, it is an amazing testament of how God has been working through this family.

So we get to there church and sit in the second row from the front. Right away we can tell that this church is going to be much different from ours. We are Church of Christ-ers. They are Cumberland Presbyterian-ites. They have a pianist. We sing a capella. They have a choir that sits up in the front of the congregation. We do not even have a choir.

My son who was 3 at the time was in awe. He was so excited. I wasn’t quite sure why at first. After a couple of songs he says “Mom…when is Jesus going to come out?” I am puzzled and am trying to hush him…then I realize why he is so excited! He thinks he is going to see Jesus! He keeps on asking all the while getting a little louder.. “MOM, when is JESUS COMING OUT!?” I start to giggle thinking that he thinks that the singing is preceding some kind of show. I wasn’t sure what to tell him. I mean Jesus is already here right, but how do you explain that to a 3 year old. My friend sitting in front of us turns around and says. “Oh no honey, we don’t do THAT here”.

Happy Tuesday!