Abby Day!

Three years ago we met our sweet, scared, excited, overwhelmed Abby.  In her words, she was so excited to finally have a family of her own she wasn't about to say "No".  But I still can't imagine how scary it must be to walk away with people you have never met, who don't speak your language, look different and I'm sure smell different!  How brave these children are!!  I will never forget the ride from the Civil Affairs Office as I would look at her beside me and she would give me the biggest smile and quickly look out the window.  I knew everyone in the van and I felt completely overwhelmed thinking oh my I have a daughter I can not talk to, who I wanted to hug big but knew I would probably scare her more if I gave her a big ole bear hug. :)

Abby checking out her new father just moments after we met her in China, Dec. 2011

If I summarize the past three years in one word it would be progress!  Abby has made amazing progress in the past three years learning what it means to be part of a family.

Abby loving the hugs of having her own sweet sister, China, Dec. 2011

Abby learning to love the night time routine of prayers, hugs and kisses in China,
Dec. 2011

Abby loving her brother Taylor in China, Dec. 2011

  To give and receive love, oh how big that is.  When I hug her now she does not tense up AND even bigger... she initiates hugs, real hugs.  Where she randomly comes up and squeezes me tight.

She has also made huge progress in her physical abilities!  As we were at the zoo in October, I thought back to our time in China at the zoo and she wasn't able to walk much at all and had to be carried.  But in October she walked the entire zoo and enjoyed learning about the animals.

Abby at the zoo, October 2014

  Also, as we go to pick apples in the fall it is a great reminder each year to see how much stronger she is getting.  This year was the most impressive as she walked the whole orchard with little complaining :)!  There is a large hill that must be climbed to get to our favorite apples and this year she made it by herself!

We know God preserved her life until she could get to the states and give her the lifesaving surgery she needed.  She is a miracle! We have been told by multiple doctors she should not have survived past her second year of life,  BUT GOD has other plans for her.  It is absolutely amazing to see her grow stronger!  She loves Jesus and has a heart for missions, she wants everyone to know of the love of Jesus!  Yes, she still has some physical limitations but I am reminded of,

Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

As I meditate on this verse, I feel God isn't saying all things that we want to do, our "bucket list", but all things that He has planned for us.  We have NO limitations in Christ, we can do all He wants us to do in His strength not ours.  Sweet Abby, God has great plans for you!  So glad God chose you to be a part of our family!

We love you!

Sweet Boy!

My birthday was last week and my sweet boy Andrew came home from work with flowers and candy for me!

Let me just say my day had been, umm, rotten!  I had one little one that was trying me allll daayyyy looonnnnggg!  It was one of those days you just want to end so you can crawl in bed because God's mercies are new each day and I was ready for a fresh start!  And then Andrew came in the door and brightened my day.  He has such a kind, thoughtful heart, I know I'm a bit biased but he is going to make a great husband one day!!  They could of been weeds and I wouldn't of cared, it's the thought!  Then my sweet husband came home with candy and took us out to dinner(after he had a stern talk with a little one).  I love their thoughtful hearts, it brightened my day (and hopefully was a good example to that one of how to lovingly treat your mother!)  :)

THANKFUL

The only difference between me and a murderer in a jail cell is 

JESUS!

But for the grace of God that could be me.  
His love, His transforming power.  
I am amazed each time I think on the fact that God loved me... a wretched ugly sinner.  He left His throne in heaven to come to earth and die for us!  Redeeming us through His precious blood that we may go to heaven with Him if we accept His gift of salvation.

When you think on that fact, if you have accepted God's gift of salvation the only reasonable, natural response will be THANKFULNESS!

An overflowing, grateful heart!

My heart is overflowing this Thanksgiving with gratitude to my Savior!

He is loving, just, faithful.  
He is always available, listening and answering my prayers.  His answer will be yes, no or wait but... He always answers!  Sometimes I may not like the answer or understand but His will is ALWAYS best!

My sweet Savior provides not only for my needs but also so many of my wants.

I am so thankful for my wonderful family and spending time with them this thanksgiving.  "Stuff" will one day be trash!  Nothing on earth lasts except people.  Precious family and friends, that's what is important, they can go to heaven with us one day! 

Hoping you are enjoying your family this Thanksgiving.  
I fall short often but, may praise be continually on my lips!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Complete!

My big boy got home last night from college!

YIPPEE!

When I laid my head on the pillow last night that was how my heart felt....

COMPLETE!

All my babies in the nest!

Looking forward to the next few days of family!

SURPRISE!!

Andrew drove down to visit Taylor and was able to pull it off as a surprise!

Lots of selfies to document the visit!

 Taylor was surprised and Andrew loved spending some time with Taylor!

 Andrew was able to see a soccer game and ...

 they went downtown to a great pizza place.

 Andrew was also able to visit the campus while school is in session and visit some classes, as he continues to decide which school is for him.

Preparing to say goodbye.

They both enjoyed the visit!  The benefit of homeschooling is that these boys have been buddies since Andrew was born spending every day, all day together and being apart now is not easy! Love, love, love my big boys!!  Counting down the days until Thanksgiving and I get to see Taylor!  :)

Happy 13th Birthday Abby!

Our sweet Abby girl is 13!

 My parents came for lunch and brought Chinese food and a cake.  She had looked forward to her special visit from grandma and papa!

 When we asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday, she told us she wanted a minion pinata.

The picture below shows the "posed" picture of our kids.

 This is the more normal, goofy, real life pose of my sweet kiddos(minus Taylor-it still seems odd not having him home on special days, like birthdays!) ready to bust open the pinata. 

 This picture is very blurry, but I love how it shows the pure joy on her face as she whacks the pinata!

 Oooo a weak spot on his bottom!

 Andrew planning his hit.

 The littles enjoying watching Andrew take his hit.

It is hard to believe it has been almost three years since Abby came home.  Her choice of foods is definitely changing!  This is the first birthday that she has not requested Chinese food for her birthday dinner.  What did she choose?  Roast beef with gravy(what my kids call "cow juice"), mashed potatoes, carrots, baked apples and homemade rolls.  Hmm, what do you think, I think her food choices are becoming a bit more like American comfort foods. :)

After dinner she opened her presents and....

...had her dessert.  Cake is not her favorite so she chose peanut butter bars with ice cream.

  

We didn't do much, but that night as I tucked her into bed she squeezed me tight and said, thank you so much, I love you mommy!

She has come so far, love you sweet girl!

Pensacola

Andrew and I flew down to tour Pensacola Christian College.

The campus church

Water park in the Sports Center on campus

Rock climbing wall in the Sports Center on campus.

I would love to say that the whole trip was great and for the most part it was.  But... it was also stressful!  My happy-go-lucky, joyful, glass is half full boy has found deciding on which college to attend is not an easy thing!

We did have fun touring the area also!

Love that sweet boy!

 We would eat breakfast on campus, attend classes and chapel and then head to the beach in the afternoons!

 Pensacola has a really pretty downtown area.  We enjoyed walking through the streets of that area.

Downtown waterfront

 We also found some great eating spots.

 We had a great view from this seafood restaurant.

 Andrew loved his seafood platter!

 We found a fun pizza place...

 and a great outside eating area with four food trucks in the downtown area where we walked.  The food was great and it was a fun area.

 We also enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  This picture does not do it justice, the sun was blinding as a huge fire ball that seemed so close and then seconds later it was down out of sight.  Absolutely beautiful!

We are glad we made the trip, it is much different to read about a college and experiencing a college.  Simple things such as how welcoming and friendly the place is makes a huge difference!

Praying for my sweet boy, for God to give him absolute peace on which school to choose.

Apples, APPLES, Apples!

We had a wonderful day in the mountains picking apples.

It had rained and was very muddy but we still had a great time.

 Of course we sampled a few!  Yum, nothing better than an apple right off the tree!

 We went with a group from our church and Mr. O challenged the teens with a great devotional.

Lots of yummy, fresh apples of course means lots of baked apples and apple bread at our house! Yum, yum!!