ATTENTION!! New Blog!!

Just in case you haven't changed me on your blog list...

thisisustwo.blogspot.com

That's where you'll find me!!

This Is Us Two

I'm moving to a new blogger page.

I think it's so funny that I started blogging the week that we moved to FL. Now that we moved again, why not start all over? I won't delete this blog because my intentions are to make it into a book for our family, but all of my posts will now be at...are you ready? Drum roll please................thisisustwo.blogspot.com. Original, eh? See you there!!!

Oh, (P.S.) if you have trouble finding it, just shoot me an email.

Oh, oh, (P.P.S.) I have already posted about 3 times on the new page, so don't forget to scroll down.

The End???

Well, I finally did it. I was uploading pictures to the blog, trying to catch up, when the message came: "You have exceeded your photo limit." I didn't know it could happen, but it can.

So, maybe this was just a Florida blog? Who knows? I'll keep you posted.

Last Day of School

I can't believe how much my kids have grown this year. I tried to do a side-by-side picture of the beginning of the school year and the end of the school year but I'm technically challenged. So, if you scroll up and down fast enough, you'll get the idea. :)

August 2010

June 2011

August 2010

June 2011

August 2010

June 2011

August 2010

June 2011

And here are some pictures of Isaac's end of the year school party. He had some sweet friends in 1st grade.

Jack, Isaac, Tyler, and Matthew

Isaac's table mates

Moving

I can't believe I'm even writing a post about moving from Florida. I can't believe it for two reasons:

1.) We thought that we'd raise our kids here and we are going to miss Florida terribly.

2.) We have missed Texas more than we ever thought was possible and we can't believe we are going back.

When we decided (were called) to move to Florida, I came with a heavy heart. I love family so much and couldn't imagine only seeing our parents or siblings once or twice a year. I wanted my kids to grow up knowing their grandparents in the way I knew mine. I lived in the same town as my dad's parents and walked to their house after school all of the time. I also lived 30 minutes from my mom's parents and loved spending weekends sewing and building things out of wood in my grandpa's wood shop. At both of my grandfathers' funerals, I truly felt like a chapter of my life closed because they were such a huge part of my childhood. Who wouldn't want their kids to be that close to family?

Even though I left Texas crying, I also knew that God had some big things in store for me personally and for us as a family. I knew that my time here would most likely be lonely because that's what it would take for me to grow spiritually and to heal. I couldn't depend on others, I had to depend completely on God. And all of that has happened. What has taken place in me personally makes my hands shake with excitement. (Ask me and I will tell you about it. :)) The way we have grown as a family is wonderful and I wouldn't trade it for 3 years in Texas. What God has done in Jay makes me so happy and so proud of him. One night while we were still in Dalhart, I looked at Jay and said, "Okay, I'll move to Florida and I'll become Anglican, but promise me you will never become a priest." Jay laughed and responded, "I cannot promise you, but as of now, I have no desire to become a priest." I'm so glad that he didn't promise because I have loved watching him follow God's call into the priesthood. I'm even kind of getting used to seeing him in a collar. (It took a while. I might have even cried the first time he tried it on. haha)

New Grace Church and Florida will always have a special place in my heart. This has been our safe place to grow and heal. And we have made some lifelong friends who will make it very difficult for us to leave. I might just pack them up in a box and bring them with us.

Texas. It's home. I never knew how much Texas was a part of us until we left. Our kids talk about Texas and have cried and prayed to move back for about 3 years. The day we told them about moving to Dallas, we recorded their reactions. Have you seen the Disney World commercials with the kids' reactions to finding out they get to go on vacation there? (Or do they just show those commercials in FL?) Well, I'd equate the joy and excitement of our kids to the kids on t.v.

We are glad that we will be closer to family and old friends. And we are super excited about serving at All Saints Dallas. The people at All Saints are so warm and big-hearted. They truly love the Lord and want to see him move in their lives and in Central Dallas. We couldn't ask for a better church to spread our wings.

Please pray for these things:

1.) For our house to sell. The market here is not good, but we know that God is in control. When you think about us, please pray for our house to sell without us owing $ in the end.

2.) For the move. Packing and moving halfway across the country with 3 kids is never easy. But it is exciting.

3.) For a home in Dallas. The area we are moving to is not exactly in our price range. But we know that God has just the right place for us.

4.) For our adoption of Hadassah. This is always on the forefront of my mind. If we owe on our house, that is money that could have been used for adoption fees. Also, we expect to be matched with her anytime now and our prayer is that she is healthy, has food, and is safe.

We'll keep everyone posted on the move!

Melted Heart

Jay and I were in Dallas this weekend and we ran into a family with a little boy who they had just adopted from Ethiopia. We were in a restaurant and when I started to order at the counter I was ignored because everyone turned to adore their favorite little Ethiopian patron. I think I said out loud, "We are adopting from there, too!" about 5 times. I was so excited that I could hardly contain myself. I went over to the parents and touched the little boy's arm and tears immediately sprang to my eyes. It's the closest I've come to my daughter and I can hardly wait to hold her in my arms. The parents were so gracious and didn't think I was crazy (which I'm sure I was borderline at the moment), but instead they congratulated us with sincere eyes. They know what this journey is like. It's like pregnancy, but nothing like it. The yearning to know her and the desire to protect her is unexplainable.

God, please protect and nurture our sweet Hadassah and give us the ability to trust and wait gracefully.

Kindergarten's Over!

Of course, we celebrated. Our original celebration station, Maggie Moo's, has closed down. So we ventured on over to Yobe Frozen Yogurt and ended Josiah's year in a happy way. He can't believe that he's a 1st grader now. And, quite frankly, neither can I.

He started off his kindergarten year in public school and had a pretty rough time. The day that I walked out of the room as his teacher held on to him while he screamed and cried, begging me to not leave him was one of the worst mommy experiences so far. I wish that I would have grabbed his hand and said goodbye to his class that day. But we stuck it out until Thanksgiving and he's been one happy camper since coming home for school. He's such a great student and catches on to things so much quicker than I ever expect of him.

Before all of his time alone with me he seemed to get lost in the mix. But he has found his voice and there is a pep to his step. I love that kid.

Happy end of the year, Josiah!!

Number...

We are moving up the waiting list!!

I'm Cherishing These Days

Though some days seem like they'll never end, I do know to cherish them.

Just tonight, I walked in on a conversation that Josiah was having with Jay. He was asking Jay about who he'll marry and if maybe it will be Hadassah. We told him that he'll have to marry someone that is not in our family. He was a bit confused. He decided that maybe he won't get married (especially if he has to kiss in the wedding) and he'll just show up at the reception for the cake.

Nic At Night

Isaac made us so proud on Saturday night when he performed in the church musical, Nic At Night. He had a speaking part and solo as Joseph of Arimathea. His performance was flawless. We love you, Isaac!

This little rascal kept me on my toes.

Liv and her friend kept each other quietly busy (quiet for 3 year old girls).

Stud.

He was really getting into it. Hilarious.

Our clan.

And then we came home and I found something interesting. Let's play "Where's Wally?" Kind of like "Where's Waldo?"

Do you notice anything strange below?

Take a closer look.

How about now? Yes, that is our albino gecko. We'll call him Wally. In fact, there are several of these out on the roof of our porch, but Wally decided to take a peek at what goes on in the house he calls home.

One Evening Vacation

A few weeks ago we heard about an Ethiopian restaurant here in Jacksonville. We decided that we needed to try out Hadassah's food for ourselves. The food is spicy and very flavorful and instead of using utensils, the meal is served with injera, a spongy, sour flat bread that you use to pick up the food. Even our picky eater, Josiah, raved about the food.

Last weekend, Jay and I went on a date with our friends and ran across this outdoor area with live music. I immediately thought about how much the kids would love to spend an evening out there. So after the Ethiopian food, we drove on over to Neptune Beach and enjoyed the atmosphere with ice cream.

The band was begging for some children dancers, so Jay and Olivia obliged.

Even Josiah did a few moves in the back corner. Isaac and I watched on. :)

And, of course, every person needs to visit the beach in the evening. So we ended our evening with our feet in the ocean. The pictures are a bit blurry, but we'll just call them artistic. :)

Moving On Up

We received an email from our adoption agency stating that we are now number 5 on the waiting list! Yay! In fact, the email said that 2 baby girls just came to the orphanage, so we could be number 3 in the next few days if their medical checks are clear.

I just thought you all might want an update. Keep praying Hadassah home with us!

The Day Has Come

I've waited for the time when my kids could do the dishes and help out more around the house. Well, the day has finally come that Isaac can load a dishwasher. I called him over this afternoon and showed him how to rinse off the dishes and stick them in the dishwasher. He was so proud of himself that I found him unloading what he had washed earlier, putting the dishes up, and loading it all over again after dinner. Now we have a team: Josiah unloads (and hands a few things to Olivia) and Isaac unloads the breakable things and loads the dishwasher back up.

I was so excited that I showed Josiah how to do a load of laundry. That may have been a bit too soon. :)

Easter 2011

Easter has become so much more meaningful to me this year. I was definitely very emotional during our Easter Sunday service. The fact that Jesus took all of my sins on him so that I can live in freedom is overwhelming. I'm grateful and in love.

Here are some pictures of the kids in their Easter clothes. We were able to spend some sweet time with friends who are on staff with us at New Grace. Two of the families don't have family close by, so we have enjoyed a few holidays together. I wish I had pictures from that, but my camera doesn't seem to travel with me often enough.

Double Doggone Cute

Andy had to have a major overhaul.

His puppy hair and big boy hair were colliding and we could not get his knots untangled. So he was shaved and we hope this is the last time he ever has to look this dorky.

(This picture is actually kind of cute. His hair cut is not this cute in person. But he's still super sweet.)

But this girl is precious.

She has started playing with imaginary friends and it makes me smile. Well, her friends are real, but she pretends that they are here with us, not at Busy Bees.

For example, today as she got out of the car, she turned around and said, "Come on Brynn, it's time to go inside." Brynn is her Busy Bee friend, but she's never been home with us. :)

And right now, behind me, Olivia is pretending to play with Mum-Z and Shanna. They are all sliding off of pillows on my bed.