He's Home!

Little Man made it home from camp last night safely!!

And one little girl is VERY happy (and maybe a little suffocating)!! ;)

Chores and Corvettes

Today is the day Little Man comes home!!! There a few chicks in this house that are VERY ready to see him! ;) Daddy seems to be handling his absence much better than we are.

Yesterday Princess helped her Daddy mow the yard with his new "toy". A co-worker had this for sale and is being very generous on the price so we are thrilled to be able use it instead of our half broken push mower we've been using for years. It should really help with Jerod's back problems as well. A win-win!

Then, just down the street our cute little neighbors were hosting a lemonade stand that benefited childhood cancer. Princess was quickly recruited to help out when it got busy. Little Noah and Natalie raised $400 to send to this very worthy cause. Very cool!! Another reason I love our neighborhood. Our neighbors are the best!! We even got to meet some new neighbors and they are going to fit in very well.

At one point, the local corvette club showed up to buy lemonade. There were around 20 corvettes that came and after they had been refreshed, they offered rides to the kids in these beautiful automobiles. Princess got to ride in a yellow convertible. She said the driver went really fast but that she was never scared. I had no doubts. Kinda. ;) I have a feeling he never left the neighborhood so "really fast" is a matter of perspective. Plus, they were only gone for about 3 minutes. It was sweet for him to even offer because it made her day!

And lastly, because she had heard how anxious I was becoming from not hearing from Little Man, our children's minister sent me this picture of him during his quiet time. So sweet!! I love that he is getting this opportunity.

Hope you're having a great Monday!

One Day Down

Well Little Man has been off on his church camp adventure for one day now and we only have 3 left until he comes home. One of the hardest parts about not being with him is not getting pictures of his experience. I sent him with two disposable cameras so I hope that he gets some good pictures to help him remember this time.

With all of that being said, I did receive this picture yesterday from our children's minister and it made my day. It was labeled, "Already Out";) A 6 a.m. wake up call was hard for this guy. I'm glad he got some sleep on the bus and I hope he is having a fantastical time.

Princess and I kept ourselves very busy yesterday trying to keep our minds off of Bubba being gone. We had an grandma-mom-daughter day that lasted almost the whole day!! We started by painting pottery at a local studio, went and had lunch at Olive Garden (my sis joined us for this!), went and got pedicures, shopped a little and then ended our time with a sweet treat of delicious cupcakes. It was a great day!! Then, Princess and Goo-Goo made a plan and before I knew it, she was spending the night with her and I got a date night with my hubby! I couldn't have asked for a better way to end the already great day.

I was very proud of myself for handling the day so well. One reason is because I don't always do so well being away from my kiddos. It is hard watching them grow up and try new things without me there but I knew the best thing for LM was to go to camp without me. He is with me all the time and needs these experiences alone to grow and shape who he will become. But another thing happened yesterday that could have devastated me but didn't.

On Monday, we had been presented with an opportunity to be considered for a special 3 mth old little girl and knew we would know on Friday if we were the chosen family or not. By 11 o'clock, we had received an email stating that we were not her family and I wasn't surprised or upset. We haven't been on the waiting list very long so I really felt like it wasn't our time yet. Also, just between me and you, I just really feel like we will be getting a boy. I hadn't even picked out a girls name yet so it just wasn't meant to be. So I guess we have moved up the list a notch which would make us number 36 out of 50-something. Not bad. Once again, this family who was matched with her had waited 7 months and that really seems to be the average waiting time. Our 7 month waiting mark will be December 20 so the holidays could be really exciting this year. Who knows? ;) God may have the perfect Christmas gift for us or it could be even later than that. We will just have to wait and see!

HOT!

It has been so stinkin' hot here for so long that I haven't even been in the mood to go to the pool. Now that means it's been HOT. I love summer but enough is enough. Really. It sucks the life outof you within a few short minutes. Today we will hit a record of having 27 days of over 100 degree temps in one summer. Whoo hoo. 27 days of over 100 degrees and a whoopin' 1.41 inches of rain since JANUARY. Seriously. Thankfully, it's suppose to cool off a little by this weekend and get into the high 90's.

Today I have to get Little Man ready to go on his first over-night, out-of-town church camp. :/ Not sure I'm ready for that. But I know he will have a great time and come home completely pumped about God and I am ready for that. ;)

Anyway, yesterday we went to our local science center with Eddy our neighbor to stay out of the heat. Luckily, they still had the dinosaur exhibit up and we got to experience what everyone has been talking about. These dinosaurs are really cool and the T-Rex senses your presence and follows you. Very realistic.

Princess was not so much diggin' the dinosaurs...they were loud, big, and very real. I had thought she might get over it by bedtime, but she ended up in our bed last night after having nightmares. Sheesh.

These three have been inseparable this summer. When both boys leave for camp tomorrow, I don't know what Princess is going to do with herself. I have several fun things planned to try and keep her occupied but she is going to miss them terribly. It's rough being a kid ya know.

I videoed Mr. T-Rex as he followed me trying to capture the point where he lowers his head and sniffs you. Even though I was expecting it, I still jumped. I'm such a dork.

So after much begging and pleading from Princess, we finally left the dinosaurs and explored the rest of the exhibits. We watched two shows in the dome room and finally left about dinner time. It was a great way to spend the day and stay cool.

I can't believe summer is halfway over! I saw my first back-to-school commercial last night. I'm not even ready!! Thank goodness I can start when I want! ;)

Camp Agape 2011

Well we can put another great Camp Agape in the books. My family (my kids, hubby, brother and Amanda were all there! Yay!!) had such a great time and it was a huge blessing to be there altogether. The kids participated in everything they could and helped out with the campers whenever possible. I'm so proud of them for having hearts to serve these special people. But in the end we realize they serve us much more than we serve them.

Princess got involved in the water day(s) and got very very wet

Not the greatest pic but oh well...we definitely bonded even more this weekend. ;)

We are already looking forward to going back next year!

4th of July

4th of July around our house is a pretty big deal. We have a neighborhood parade and then spend the day cooking, eating and having lots of fun with family, neighbors and friends. Our day started super early...the hubs was up at 5 a.m. starting ribs and a brisket and then Michael joined him with his own menu around 7a.m. I didn't get out of bed until 8...thankfully my part of the meal didn't include having to watch the sun come up. But it was a beautiful morning. We had a wonderful rain the night before so it was cool and cloud covered. A great way to start the day!

Let the parade begin!!

We had a really good turn out this year and I think everyone who participated had a really good time. The kids enjoyed decorating their bikes and getting in the patriotic spirit.

Even the smallest participates had a good time! This cutie got to sit next to my niece and lead the parade. I'm seeing a future match!! ;)

For me, the parade was as much a family event as it was for neighbors. Being the coordinator gives you special privileges to invite whoever you want to join in.

After the parade came food, food, food!! And some great fellowship. The clouds didn't stick around very long but we found shade where we could.

And then came a tourney of washers. My kids played on the slip-n-slides, bouncer and water balloons that we shared with our neighbor across the street and kept cool that way. Unfortunately, I didn't trust them near the water so I didn't get many pictures of them. :)

The gallery was very impressed with the washer playing talent

After a hard afternoon of eating and playing it was time to just relax and visit until sundown.

Another great 4th of July in the books. A day full of fun, sun, food and celebrating this great country that we live in. We are so incredibly blessed to live in this country where we can spend a day like this; but more importantly, where we can share the wonderful blessings God gives us and talk about Him freely. Happy birthday America and God bless the U.S.A.!!

Anxious I Am Not

Well it's finally beginning to look like summer around here. We have had the busiest (but funnest) couple of weeks so our lazy days of summer have started kinda slow. The last two days have been "do nothing except what we want" days. One day my kids were still watching cartoons, in my bed, at 11:30 in the morning. Yep. I let them totally veg out all morning and take over my bedroom while I worked on some things.

Then they moved to playing on their computer for awhile and after this, they played and played in their rooms together. No whiny voices, no arguments, no fighting...just playing. It was heaven. :) We then headed to the pool for several hours and ended the day with some "America's Got Talent" watching. We love that show. Just an all around great day.

I'm trying to take advantage of these moments and do things that I normally don't get to do. Like read. ;) I just finished a book my mom loaned me called "Witness". It's a fictional account of Mary Magdalene's journey with Jesus. It really helped to put real feelings on how these dear friends felt during Christ's death, Resurrection and ascending. It was just "Wow." I loved it.

I'm also working on deep cleaning each room...again. I just did this during spring break but with all the wind and dirt, it just doesn't last very long. I've really started wondering if it wouldn't be the best option for us to move (shhh...don't tell my husband!) just because I cannot imagine having a crawler on these nasty floors. But then I remember I'm crazy because then we have to start our whole home study process over and that. is. NOT. an. option. I just need to realize that the wind will stop blowing....eventually. I hope. Otherwise you're going to find me in the loony bin with broom and dustpan in hand and a t-shirt that reads, "The dirt won". I may be going a little crazy right now even writing this post. Hmmm.....

One thing I'm not doing is being anxious. What?! This is not like me people! I keep waiting for that very familiar feeling to sneak up on me where I start breathing fast and my chest tightens and I feel like I'm going to explode. My only reasoning? I must have MANY people praying for me to stay calm and take one day at a time and not be anxious. Now do I stress over where our baby is going to go or if my car is big enough to hold all of us? Yes, I do think of these things but that's just who I am. I'm a planner and I would kinda like to have an idea in my mind of how things are going to go when we get "that call".

Do I ache to hold my child and wonder what they are doing at this same moment? Yes...I really ache during church services...weird huh? I figure it's just one of the few times during the week that I'm being still for that length of time totally in tune with my Father and it overwhelms me at all He's done so far and what He's going to continue to do. But sitting by the phone, waiting for it to ring, I am not. And no matter what I may have tried to figure out in my mind that day, I lay my head on my pillow at night and sleep peacefully.

I am not anxious because I know God is in complete control. I am not anxious because I feel completely comfortable knowing that the timing is perfect and one day, I'll look back and see it. I am not anxious because I know that this is exactly what God called us to do and He is taking care of every little detail so we don't have to. I still have my job of raising two of the most precious, wonderful gifts God gave me and He knows that I would totally mess up trying to do it all. Life is so much bigger than just us and I hope I remember that through all of this.

There are other people being affected by this whole process. People I will never meet. A mom that had to either make the terrifying decision to let her child go or one that didn't even make it to see her baby beyond birth. A government that is trying their best to do right for these children when it has to hurt their hearts to send them half way around the world because their own country is too overwhelmed with orphans.

I am not anxious because every time I begin to feel anxious, I try to think about how God must hurt over His children worldwide. Our bad decisions, our self absorbed nature and disrespect for what He did for us. I am not anxious because I really have no idea what it is like to suffer. I feel very responsible to do what I can with what I've been given and not to lose perspective during the process.

I pray it stays this way through our waiting and I don't become crazy psycho mom who is constantly waiting for our call and emailing our program coordinator every other day. :) (I have only emailed her once by the way). I know I have said this before but if you are praying for us, thank you!! Your prayers are working and we feel very blessed to be this far. Life is good and I am very grateful for the support we've received. I'm learning to "Let Go and Let God." He is really teaching me that waiting on Him has such better rewards than trying to do things my way. His love for me is so much greater than I can imagine and He is on MY side. If our God is with us, then who can be against us? If our God for us, then what can stop us? Our God is greater, our God is stronger, our God is higher than ANY other! He is my God and I love Him!