Summer with Friends & Family

We were able to make it to Florida at the end of summer to see our friends and family. 

We had a fantastic two weeks!

While there....

We celebrated my sister Hope's 10th birthday with a bowling party. This was Lily, Aaron & Joy's first time bowling. They all loved it. Unfortunately, all the pics of them actually bowling turned out blurry.

The girls helped Meema bake Hope's Birthday Cake(s!)

 The girls also spent some time with Pop-Pop fishing in his backyard

We made it to Tampa to visit our friends over at Miracles and Blessings who just welcomed home their two newest daughters from China. 

When we first met our families only had 1 child living at home (their daughter, Tiff, in the striped shirt). Now together we have 10 children living at home! So fun! Such God moments we've all had together! 

And, it's always bitter sweet to see Dale's adult sons. We miss them so much. 

It's still hard to not be part of their daily lives.

We were also able to spend at week at the beach (and see more friends there). 

But I am gonna have to save that post for another day. 

Multitude of Thanks

See this lady...the one in the pic...what an amazing lady she is. Since we were fundraising for our adoption, we couldn't bring ourselves to pay for a hotel. She welcomed all 6 of us into her home. Not only that, she bought all the food. Not only that, she prepared all the food. Not only that, she contributed to the adoption expenses above and beyond her own means.



There is only one word for a woman like this.

That word is....





Wait for it.....





It's......







MOTHER.


Mother, I love you. Thank you for your generosity. And to John, who is the world's best step-dad, thank you! We love you both!

Welcome Summer 2011

We've been in Florida all week welcoming in summer.

Moments We Cherish

This day was just one of those days I cherish and always will. All the kids, all the friends, the little talks, the games....these sweethearts all lives so far away now, but they are always close in my heart. I love each of them as my own (thankfully 4 of them are my own!).





~ meeting Jake & Emma: the newest members of 'the clan' ~

Jacksonville Museum

During our August trip to Florida, we were sure to get some homeschooling in by visiting the Museum of Science & History.


~Kya absolutely did not want to enter the Planetarium Theater, but during the show she decided it was "the coolest thing EVER." And, that is why we sometimes 'make' our children do things they don't want to do. ~



~ Autumn is not so sure about this body display as she reluctantly poses for a photo-op. ~

Fun in Florida & A New Puppy

We had a nice time with our family in Jacksonville, escaping the blizzards in Baltimore.




While we were away, Dale had gotten us all a puppy for Valentines! She is a Mal-Shi (Maltese - Shih Tzu mix). We have named her Angel and she is so sweet. She should grow up to be about 8lbs. THANK YOU SWEETHEART!!!






~more photos of our Florida trip can be found on Facebook.~

Travels! Travels! Travels!

The kids and I made it to Florida and are having a great visit. On Saturday we spent the day with our dear friends from Bits & Pieces. We love you Bella, Krista, Vito and Zsa Zsa! Can't wait 'til next time.



(more pics to come from Jacksonville)
(Tampa photos posted to Facebook)

Summer 2009 Memories

Here is the last of our NYC pictures. This was the night life. I have chosen 7 of my favorite photos to share with you. Just check out the kids faces. They have spectacular smiles!

Summer 2009 Memories

More photos from when my family visited us over the summer. This is 12 of my favorite pictures from New York City.

You know I just love our kids. They are so cool. We had 6 young kids walking for 12hrs straight on a hot summer day in the city and they were so good! They loved the city and it was a thrill to watch their faces light up at all the things the city as to offer.

Summer 2009 Memories

My mom, along with my baby sister and little brother, visited us for two weeks. We made some great memories. I have several post to do of our visit. I will post them over several days and not necessarily in order.

Today these photos are from our last day in New York City, visiting the Empire State Building. My mother is terrified of heights. I was very proud of her overcoming that to stop and take a picture. She had quite a few photos on her camera but they accidently got deleted.

Here are 10 of my favorite photos from the ESB.

About our Florida Visit

It was a sweet visit. We enjoyed each minute we got to just absorb with our friends and family. I only wish we had a little time to see a few more folks. We've only been gone from Florida for less than 3 months but I was missing everyone so badly. I wondered how this visit would sit with me emotionally. Would I miss everyone more? Thankfully, our God is good. He is sovereign and He used this visit for healing. It helped me to not feel so far away from everyone. I did miss my husband and the cooler weather of the northeast. It was good to come back home. I felt peace, a peace I didn't expect to feel. Joy, actually an abundant joy, for what the Lord has done. He has given me great friends, sweet family, wonderful trips to sunny Florida and a beautiful life in the northeast. I get to live in one post card town and visit another post card town. He is the creator of all things and the beauty of his creation just surrounds us. As I came home and felt much joy, I found praise in this Psalm. Those of you who know my heart and know our struggle since October 2007, you know it's been a long road and that road may or may not be over but I praise God in all He's done. He does have a perfect will and perfect plan and I am so glad He is in charge and not me! I would certainly muff it up and yet, he never does.

Psalm 34

I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;

he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.

Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

10 Things we did in Florida

Number 1: Hanging out with Family



Number 2: Visiting the YMCA


Number 3: Cooling off with watermelon


Number 4: Having a little girl time


Number 5: Reuniting with an old friend, Elvis Elmo


Number 6: Puttin' on a concert


Number 7: Havin' a little girl talk


Number 8: Lettin' *uncle* Vito give a giant spoon of coolwhip


Number 9: And, more Swimming with the girlfriends


Number 10: Letting your best *boy* friend cool you off from the hot, hot sun