Beach Vacation-Day 1

We are here!!!!!!!!  We are so thankful once again for the generosity of Greg and Tomi Jean that we get to enjoy another wonderful week on the coast!  Life doesn't get much better than this.  The weather today was great.  There has been a gentle breeze blowing which makes everything nicer.  Mema decided to come down with Andy, don't you love the jeep picture of those two?!!? 

Jack & Caroline heading to the beach, so sweet

 first time in

love that Caroline and Jack are all in, while Grace is still thinking about it

 good times

 thought I would include this one because her feet aren't touching the sand

 sweet Gracie

 for some ocean front owner, there is very little no sandy beach front during high tide.  we were amazed at how high the waves were crashing.

 maybe one of the largest snow crabs I have ever seen!

We had dinner at our famous Italian restaurant, finished the last of the grocery shopping and just made it home.  After getting up at 4:30 AM, this girl is tired!  Looking forward to a great week!

Garden Update

I am so excited at how well our garden is growing!!  I can't wait to come home from vacation to see what we find when we come home from vacation. :-)

first year growing squash in our backyard garden

thrilled to find a baby squash starting

 lots of squash and zucchini blooms

 roma tomatoes

 grape tomatoes

Reunited and it feels SO GOOD!!!

After being without "pink little lovey with the bunny ears" for almost 9 months, the two have been reunited and it feels so GOOD!!!!  We left the lovey at Aunt Tomi Jeans back in November when we stayed over there.  It got placed in a cabinet and was recently found.  Caroline was SO EXCITED!!!!

Perspective Changes Everything!!

Sometimes, we just need to have a little perspective on what appears to be the big problem picture.  I have been washing several loads of laundry all day today.  (Yes I know that means that we have plenty of clothes TO wash.)  I noticed a small puddle of water, which I tried not to think too much about.  However as I prepared for the next load an even larger puddle appeared.  The hubs helped me clean it up.  We didn't see any leaks and thought maybe it was just a fluke.  So I decided to wash a small load of the wet towels we used to clean it up.  All was well until the rinse cycle...we had somewhat of a pond forming in the laundry room...

My first thought went to REALLY?  The day before we leave for vacation?  Then I thought well how much do we want to invest in our almost 12 year old washer since we just put a chunk of change in it last summer when we replaced the motor.  Then I thought about the most important question...How will I pack for vacation without clean clothes???????

Can you see where this negative dialog in my head is going?  I sat down to check my email.  Two things hit me right off the back:

1. An email update about the young youth pastor in town who is battling cancer...
2. An email reminding me that no matter where I live or what I had for dinner tonight, chances are it is more than many people around me had.  Regardless of what we have, enjoy and be thankful for the many blessings that the Lord has given us.

Nothing like a little conviction from the Lord to put things into perspective.  So we will head to a family members house tomorrow, wash clothes and head out of town for a wonderful vacation.  Once we get home, we will figure out what to do next!! :-)  

Thank you Lord for all our many blessings...even when our attitude is less than deserving!!

Bears' Family Picture

Caroline arranged her bears and then asked us to please take "bears family picture."  I love her imagination and creativity! :-)

Happy Memorial Day

 We enjoyed an absolutely beautiful Memorial Day on the river.  The cabin was located about 10 miles from where I grew up and about a mile from my dad's farm that he grew up on.  Our sweet friends Brandon and Ashley hosted several families for the day.  The kids had lots of friends to play with and enjoyed hanging out with each other.  I love that our kids not only hang out at church but that they also do life together outside of church.  Such a great opportunity for them to build relationships.  (And the parents have a great time as well!)

our view

 the gator provided lots of fun!!!

 the tire swing was a big hit also

 lots of boat rides

 digging up worms

 so proud of her worm

 thankful Mr. Jake took Caroline for a ride since the poor hubs was working today

 all the kids ready for the water

 it was Mr. Jake's big idea to get in...once he got his toes in, he was a little nervous, it was COLD!

 chilling by the dock

having fun 

 never mentioned that it was cold

 of course my kid would be the one to swim out the furthest

 sweet Collins

Fun day with great friends...so thankful for the men and women who have fought so hard for the freedom that I take for granted each and every day!

Making strawberry jam

Ever since I met my friend Lori, I have heard her talk about her amazing strawberry jam.  She invited me to join her this year when she made it.  I wasn't sure that we were going to be able to find a date that worked for both of us but we did!  Her rule is that you MUST pick them and can them in the same day!  So after church Caroline and I met her and Kate at the strawberry patch.  Sadly it took us an hour and a half to get 4 bucket worth of strawberries.  It also smelled like a wine factory with the rotten strawberries that were yuck in the field.  There were a few times I honestly didn't think I would make it out without getting sick.  But that is another story!

 

these girls were champs!!

 We actually had 7 buckets of strawberries among 4 people

 Step 1: wash strawberries

Step 2: Cut the tops off

Step 3: Slice the strawberries

 Step 4:Mash the strawberries

 Step 5: Add 6 cups of mashed strawberries to the pot

Step 6: Add 1 pack of Sure Jel (pink packet)

Step 7: Bring to a boil and add 4 cups of sugar

Step 8: Bring to a hard boil, while stirring 1 minute

 Step 9: Pour into jars, wipe the rim, add lid and sealing rim

(make sure jars are sterile and lids are placed in warm water)

Step 10: Turn jars upside down for 5 or 10 minutes so that all the fruit doesn't float to the top

Final step: Lori made hot biscuits for us to try our jam on!!!!!!!! 

YUMMO!!!!!!!!!

 The finished product, almost 5 gallons of Strawberry Jam

 the girls were great, they played so well together the entire time!!!

So excited, we will make peach jam later in the summer!!! 

We are blessed...

Yesterday I uploaded some pics of Caroline to send to B.  I sent her a text letting her know that they were ready.  I also mentioned that I couldn't believe that it had been almost 5 years since the day we met for lunch at TGIFriday's.  I told her that I was so thankful for how God brought us together and that I was so thankful for all that she did to bring us Caroline.  Her response was beautiful! She said "Five years ago a blessing came to me as a mother for Caroline.  It was you.  I couldn't imagine a better mother than you! :-)"

So blessed to have such an amazing woman as our birth mom.  One day Caroline will learn about the precious woman who not only loved her dearly but loved her mommy and daddy as well.  What a beautiful story the Lord is writing in Caroline's life.

End of the year Celebration

 What a wonderful year 4k has been!  We could not have asked for a better year!  Caroline absolutely adored her teacher!!!  I love looking back at the first day of school and thinking about just how much of the year was unknown.  How would she adjust to a new classroom, new teacher, new friends, etc.  As I have said before, we are SO THANKFUL for our school!!!  I thought it was funny, she started the year saying that she wanted to be a princess and has now decided she wants to be a Doctor.  Might have to keep Mrs. Rushing around a little longer!!

 So sad that Andrea will not be with us next year.  These two have been best pals for two years now...

 Ice Cream Sundae Social

 Thank you Mr.s Rushing for a wonderful year!!!

Has it really been 5 years????

*Long post but I want to remember everything about tonight!*

 

 It's hard to believe it's been 5 years since this amazing journey began!!  Andy and I have always agreed that we wanted to be completely honest with Caroline about her adoption.  We both feel that it is another example of our Lord's perfect plan for our lives...it illustrates so beautifully how we are all adopted into HIS kingdom...I remember sitting in her room one night, rocking her to sleep and telling her for the very first time "Caroline did you know that you didn't grow in Mommy's tummy but you grew in Mommy's heart."  Those were some of the hardest words for me to speak out loud.  Honestly I am not really sure why because she was only about 2 or 2 1/2 years old.  However, I am so thankful that I did because it has paved the way for future conversations.

We really haven't said much more than I did that night almost two years ago. Every once in a while she reminds me, "Mommy I didn't grow in your belly but I grew in your heart right."  A few weeks ago, Andy and I decided it was time to give Caroline a few more details about her precious little life and her journey to us.  With the 5 year anniversary of our finding her "date" we thought it would be the perfect opportunity.

I told Caroline earlier in the week that we would have a special dinner tonight.  I asked her what she wanted and her response "Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich please."  Well normally I would not care but I thought it would be nice to have something a little nicer...so we all settled with spaghetti.  I wanted a special cake to help us celebrate and she wanted strawberry cake with the fresh strawberries we pick this past weekend.  We made the Pioneer Woman's Strawberry Shortcake.  Rich but yummy!

My sweet friend Charissa found a precious book. 

We enjoyed dinner and of course as soon as we were finished, she wanted her cake.  We told her we wanted to read a special book first.  She read with me.  Several times throughout the book I had to stop because of the lump in my throat or the tears in my eyes.  When we finished the book (which was told by the mommy fox) I told Caroline that I too was much like the momma fox.  I prayed and prayed and prayed...And not only did I pray for her but so did the sweet families in our small group.  She said "You mean my friends mommy and daddy's prayed for me too."  Yes ma'am they did.  We prayed and prayed and prayed...And I waited and waited and waited...And one day, God finally brought us our precious little girl and just like baby Fox she was perfect!!  I told her that just like the other momma (the birth mom) in the story, she loved Caroline very much and wanted her to have a safe place to live. 

She said "Tramp was adopted by Lady's family.  He got to live with them and get a collar.  He didn't have to live on the streets anymore."  She then went on to tell about their puppies.  Her first question of the night "Momma, what was the lady's name that brought me to you?"  Well now sister gal, no need to waste any time...I said "Mrs. B" which is what she has been referred as throughout the entire journey.  And with that answer, she was ready for cake!

Daddy telling a funny joke while Mommy tried to get a picture

 

Right after this picture she said "This is my luckiest day EVER!!!"  Baby girl, mommy feels the same exact way!!

Dear God, while on the LONG journey to parenthood, I couldn't understand why I had to wait so long for a precious little baby of my own.  Why things couldn't be as easy for me as they were for so many other mommy's.  And now, I see it so clearly!  You had this little bundle of fire waiting for me.  And I wouldn't have it any other way!!  Thank you for choosing me to be her mommy!  Thank you for finding me worthy of this little angel!  I pray that no matter what, she always knows just how much we love her and how thankful we are for her.  And just like our book said I pray that B feels our prayers for her each and every day.  Because without her loving our sweet girl first, we never would have had the privilege to call her our own!!  OH how my heart is oh soooo full tonight!!