Flamingos Game

 Our sweet neighbors Neil and Megan gave us VIP tickets to the Flamingos game.  It was a perfect night for watching baseball.  Because it was their last game, they had a fireworks show at the end.  It was spectacular!!!!  

So thankful for my momma!

Today I needed to be in three places...a conference with my teachers, Maggie's meet the teacher and Caroline's orientation.  My sweet momma came to our rescue.  Not only did she taxi my children and take them out to lunch, she also did ALL of our laundry...washed, dried, folded, put away!!  My momma is the most selfless person I know!  Thank you momma for all that you do for us, never complaining, always with a huge smile!!
 

8th grade orientation

 These girls had their 8th grade orientation at their brand new school!  It was a little overwhelming but they did great navigating their schedule.  I know it's going to be a great year!!!  Can't wait to watch it unfold!

When things don't go as planned...

Aunt Lill was coming to town to visit Aunt Etoile and planned to spent one night with us before heading back to Virginia.  So we planned a girls trip to the beach.  Momma, Claire and Mary Claire were going to meet us.  So we left bright and early, actually ahead of schedule. I was so proud.  We made lunches for everyone and were set for the day.  Well about half way there, my van starting acting strange.  I couldn't turn the wheel and SO MANY lights came on on my dashboard.  I am so grateful that I was able to coast into the empty parking lot of the American Legion.  Thankfully Aunt Lill has Triple A.  They were super easy to work with and had a tow truck heading our way shortly. I called Mom and asked her to turn around...head in the opposite direction from the beach.  Mom and the tow truck arrived about the same time, less than 20 minutes from when we first got stranded.  Because of the lost time and the fact that we needed to be home early afternoon for Caroline's orientation, we decided not to go to the beach.  I was bummed because I know how much Aunt Lill enjoys the beach.  I was looking forward to being with family and the girl cousins getting to enjoy the day together.  Oh well, once the van was loaded, we headed home.  

Since our original adventures didn't pan out, we decided to head to Buccuees.  That was an adventure all together!!!!!! We tried some yummy things, we looked around and just enjoyed being together.  Today didn't go as I had planned but the Lord blessed us in so many ways.  So many things could have happened differently that would have made it so much worse.  Aunt Lill got us a free tow, Momma gave us a ride home and my hubby has connections that got the alternator fixed and the van is back in my driveway!!

 

Jr. High Orientation

 These girls toured their new school tonight.  It was total chaos!!  Craziness!! However, the school is absolutely amazing!!!  They are so lucky to get to be the first class in the brand new school.  School starts in 5 days...I think they are ready!!

Back to school hair cuts

 Today the girls got their back to school hair cuts.  Mags got a little trim.  I would have liked to trim a little more but all is well.  Caroline got a nice trim that she is absolutely thrilled with!  She has been taking selfies and sending to friends...she's looked in the mirror at least 10 times on the way home.  It made my heart happy to see her so excited!

Youth and family fun

 Our youth group gathered for a baseball game.  For $15 they got into the game, got a hat and unlimited food.  Well some of the parents wanted to join as well.  So we got tickets on the opposite side!!  We had so much fun!  The weather was nice and we actually had a little breeze.  Always fun to hang with our church family who also happens to be fabulous friends!

Kinda like Amy Carmicheal

 Earlier this summer, Maggie attended a children's Bible Study at our church.  During one of the lessons, they learned about Amy Carmicheal who prayed for blue eyes instead of the brown eyes God had given her.  They never changed...She later became a missionary and her brown eyes matched those who she served and helped.  The moral of the story is that when we pray, God answers in 3 ways: yes, not right now, maybe never.

A few days later, we were discussing her adoption story.  Maggie said "Mommy, your story is kind of like Amy Carmicheal's.  If God had answered your prayers to get pregnant, you wouldn't have me or Caroline."

Her words stopped me in my tracks and reminded me that sometime unanswered prayers really are the best ones.  I wanted children.  The Lord showed me that my children didn't have to come from a pregnancy, they could and would come through adoption.  While He didn't answer my prayers to get pregnant, He answered my prayers to become a MOMMY!!!!  Another example that He knows what we need, when we need it!!  

Yummy fig goodness!

My sweet friend Robin gave me A LOT of figs after I told her how much I enjoyed them.  She also gave me a jar of fig preserves.  We enjoyed it so much that I decided to make my own batch of fig preserves.  We use to have a fig tree growing up.  My momma often canned fig preserves for us.  SO I wanted to give it a try...I was nervous because I didn't have my momma beside me but thankfully she was just a phone call away.  I loved hearing the sounds of the lids popping...I just so happened to also have some warm bread coming out of the oven...it was delicious!!!!!!

 

CHAMPS 2022

The finale...the biggest swim meet of the season...CHAMPS!  The girls were super excited for the meet today.  Both girls swam really, really well!  Both improved times in the water.  

Annual CHAMPS picture.  Caroline wasn't thrilled but Catherine was like "Come on C, you know this is your momma's instagram picture!"  Thanks CC!!

Maggie was super excited for her first heat win which comes with a duck!!! She worked hard for this duck and we were SO very proud of her!!  She didn't give up and her hard work showed off!!!!

Caroline tied for first in her age group 13-14 year olds!

 

Catequest 2022

The girls and I enjoyed a great week at Catequest Camp at our church.  It's a busy, intense week.  Tuesday through Friday 8:30-3:00.  But it is so rewarding!  Watching kids learn about the gospel, have fun together and for our youth kids, aka counselors, serving the body of Christ.  The real gift this year was being able to host the camp on our new property!!  It was amazing!  We are so grateful for the gift of our church building and our church family!

I am so thankful that the Lord brought our two sweet girls into our lives.  What a privilege to be the ones to teach them about the gospel...the work of the Lord in their lives leading up to this point.  To my understanding, neither biological family is/was involved in church...and yet the Lord gave us the opportunity to show them!  I love seeing Caroline lead the worship that Maggie is enjoying and participating in. 

I had a blast bowling!!!  Caroline said I should be ashamed to actually be trying to beat the 10 year olds I was playing!  

I think Maggie did as well!!

 

Private Swim Instructions

 Tonight we went to the last swim practice.  However, when we got there, we found out practice was cancelled.  SO the girls and I headed out to the outdoor pool.  Caroline served as Maggie's private swim coach getting her ready for CHAMPS on Saturday.  It was fun to watch...not so sure Maggie thought it was fun!!

Soccer Camp

 Caroline and McCall a HOT but fun weekend at soccer camp at FMU.  It was a super small group of kids but they felt like they learned a lot.  I think it helped that they got to do it together!! :-)

Happy Birthday Taylor

 Today Maggie and I got to enjoy the waterpark with her friends celebrating Taylor's birthday.  It was an overcast day so there weren't many people there.  It was perfect!!!!!!  Happy Birthday Taylor, we are thankful for you!!

Watermelon yumminess

 A local young man was selling local watermelons to help raise money for his college tuition.  We bought this enormous watermelon for $4.  Mags couldn't wait to share it with her friends.  Zoe and Mica love watermelon.  We went on the back porch and got to town on this deliciousness!!!!!  It brought back memories of my childhood.  We enjoyed watermelon often at granny's during the summer.  The girls loved it!!

Fun with Ariel

 Caroline has loved inviting friends to the Y with us this summer.  Typically she and her friends work out for an hour and then join Maggie and I at the pool.  So thankful for these sweet friends and fun summer days.

Maggie's 8 year check up

Maggie had her 8 year check up this morning.  I am so sad that I have misplaced all her info.  I'm going to keep looking and hopefully have a better update.  Dr. E was proud of the progress she has made.  Her BMI is down and he told her she was working hard and making good choices to take good care of her body.  She continues to grow taller and taller.  She is off the chains in height for her age. :-)  SO thankful for our healthy 8 year old!!

Small Group Reunion

This picture represents friendships that have lasted through so many years and life events...young couples, pregnancies, infertility, loss of parents, autism diagnosis, job changes, adoptions, scary biopsies, new jobs, promotions, grandbabies, weddings, moves, etc.  When you do life with people for over 15 years, there is a bond that you can't really describe.  Sadly the small group no longer meets but we do try hard to get together at least once a year if not more.  And somehow we seem to pick up right where we left off!  

Tonight after dinner, we had the most amazing rainbow over the pool.  Rainbows carry so much meaning to this group so it was the perfect addition to the evening.  Thanks Jack and Beth for hosting us!

 

Cashing in my mothers day gift

I love a good summer pedicure but my hubby knows I won't treat myself on my own.  So typically for either my birthday or mothers day he always gives me a gift certificate to get a pedicure.  I love it!  Always such a treat!  Thankful for a hubby who knows me so well!
 

Shopping with Maggie

 Today we went shopping.  Maggie couldn't find any regular shoes that she could use for school but she really LOVED these!!

Thankful for our home...

 When Andy and I got married, we loved hosting folks in our home.  It always brought me great pleasure.  However, over the last 6-8 years, I allow myself to fall into the comparison trap...my house isn't as big, my house isn't as pretty, my furniture doesn't match, my yard doesn't have enough room or toys for kids, etc.  The list could go on and on...but you know what.  The Lord slapped me in the face and said "Rita, I have given you a wonderful home to provide shelter for your family AND to enjoy with others!"  I've spent the last 6 or 7 months doing little things to make my place a little happier.  Mostly it's been outside.  Planting flowers, working on flower beds, turning my back porch into a fun spot to entertain.  When we had Maggie's party, it felt SO good to enjoy our home.  Most of the adults stayed inside while the kids filled the back yard.  The patio area was perfect for eating...we have a long way to go inside but for the first time in a long time, I am super thankful for our home and the opportunity to open it up to friends and family.  It's a small reminder to be thankful for the gifts we have...we are certainly blessed.  

Happy 8th Birthday Maggie

How in the world can our sweet girl be 8???  I am ashamed to admit when picking up her birthday candle, I grabbed a 7.  Caroline said "Oh Mom, I think you need the 8!"  :-)  This kid is so determined!  Some times that is a good thing and sometimes that is a not so good thing.  She fights hard for what she wants but sometimes lacks self confidence in herself.  You really have to know her to see this side of her.  She has worked SO hard over the last year to overcome so many things.  We are SO PROUD to call her ours!!!  Definitely her favorite thing right now is drawing.  She will watch how to draw videos every change she gets. She is actually a very good artist.  I am impressed with her work.  She doesn't leave the house without a notebook, her bag and crayons, markers or pencils.  

After the last two years of COVID style birthday's she was so excited to invite 10 girls to her party.  She wanted a slip and slide, water balloons, a piñata and to tie dye t-shirts.  It was a random party but she loved every single minute of it.  The weather was iffy but by the grace of God it held off for us to party outside.  We completed all the outside activities a little faster than I planned but it worked.   We brought the presents out and about half way through it began to drizzle.  It quickly passed over, thankfully.  One of the kids asked if we could play a game.  I was out of ideas so I asked Caroline.  She suggested Simon Says.  I kindly asked/told her and Tyler to take the kids out to do that.  They did.  I was thankful!  

I am hot.  I am tired.  I am sweaty and stinky.  However, my heart is full as I type this.  Maggie had exactly what she wanted and it was perfect in her eyes.  She loved everything she received.  She told me it was the perfect day!

Caroline worked with groups of 2 or 3 to tie dye shirts.  She said that bigger kids were a lot easier than 10 and under! :-)

Tyler looked like he was about to take Caroline's head off...when in reality he took out the piñata! Thank goodness we saved him for last! 

Maggie isn't a huge fan of cake.  She requested an ice cream sundae bar.  It was delicious!!!  Especially after being so hot!

It was about 95 degrees.  I thought long and hard about looking nice for the party.  I decided on my exercise clothes as they are the coolest!

 Happy birthday sweet Maggie!!  I can't wait to see what year 8 brings!  We love you and are so thankful for you!!