This is a VERY rough draft of our Gotcha Day video of Anna Grace. It has taken me almost 19 months to get it downloaded from my video camera to computer.  I am having a video made but I wanted to share this with those of you who have continued to ask.  I did add music but I could not figure out how to silence the video so please bear with me.  I love this song-I clung to it during our 2 year wait knowing that it would be worth it.  I find it amazing that my favorite part of the song is when Hal gets to hold his daughter for the 1st time.  This precious man waited for his girl for 15 years.  He prayed and waited patiently for me to hear the call to adopt.  I am so grateful that he was so faithful to the call and willing to wait for the right moment.  Our lives have forever been changed.  I would go back to China tomorrow if I could.  Hopefully soon we will have the professional video to share with you.

Happy New Year

I can't believe that it is 2009. Wasn't it only last week that we were home from China with our newest little one? Time has flown. I remember a time when "time" was measured by initials. DTC, LID, TA--- now we have been home with Miss Anna Grace for 18 months. Time has flown by. I don't get to update my blog as much as I would like. I am going to attempt to do a better job. Becoming a mommy to 4 children has been wonderful but very bad for scrapbooking days. I am so grateful to have my blogs to remember exactly what has happened during the last 18 months. When I do have time to scrapbook, I will have a tool to help me remember dates, milestones and more. 2008 was wonderful for our family. We are so blessed. We have done so many fun things and I am looking forward to 2009 being even better. I have so many plans and dreams but I must remind myself that most days I do well to dress everyone, check homework, plan dinner of some sort and get everyone to bed. As I read Mary Beth Chapman's Christmas letter, I was reminded that I need to enjoy the little moments. Stop cleaning and play a game. Enjoy bedtime routines and listen to my children. Stop trying to just get through a day and actually enjoy it. These are hard things for me. I spend most of my time just getting by. I want to be a part of my children's lives in even the smallest things. I am going to strive to put them first. My house will be here long after they are gone(mind you I do not have a spotless house, I just feel like I spend all of my time trying to keep it from getting completely out of control) Laundry piles up daily and I have a hard time getting it put away. I need an organization fairy to come to my house and smack me with her wand. I dream of Clean House choosing me as their next project-a girl can dream! I am spending this week doing my best to organize and clean while the kids are at school so that our evenings can be spent together. Next week it will be back to work selling t-shirts. I am enjoying the break and praying that my fairy will show up(think Princess Aurora singing "Someday my prince will come" except it is me "Someday my fairy will come, someday I'll find someone who can clean through the clutter and help me be a good mother" ha ha!
I hope everyone has had a wonderful New Year. I will be back this week to post lots of new pics of all the kids. We had a wonderful break from school and have lots of pics to prove it :)
Here's hoping 2009 is all that you dream it will be!

Christmas Fun

We had such a wonderful Christmas with our family this year. It was full of laughter, fun and food. We started Christmas Eve with Hal's family at our house. We enjoyed lunch and some gift swapping. My family came over later in the evening to celebrate my brother Johnny's birthday. It was so wonderful to have him home this Christmas. The kids had a ball and we gave them their gift from us(Guitar Hero Bundle). It was quite hilarious to see the adults play guitar and sing. I think we may have enjoyed it more than the kids. Uncle Johnny seemed to really enjoy helping the kids decorate cookies for Santa. Hayne ate every one that he decorated-poor Santa :) We are so very blessed. We were able to spend a very special day with all of our brothers, sisters and parents. There is not much more in life that you can ask for.
Christmas morning, everyone was at our house again to see what Santa had brought. We had a huge flashback moment as we watched Anna Grace cleaning in her high heel shoes(Many years ago, Ashton did the exact same thing-I am going to have to dig out our old photos and show you) Mema and Hal cooked a yummy breakfast and everyone had a great time. Next we headed to Nana's to see what Santa Bop-Bop and Nana had left for the kids. We spent the day there and it was so much fun. No rushing around - we actually relaxed and enjoyed our time together. It has been a wonderful Christmas. It is so nice to celebrate with those we love most.

Merry Christmas!!

Wishing you and yours a VERY Merry Christmas and a VERY Happy Birthday to my little brother Johnny!!! Happy Birthday!!

Christmas Joy

Hayne is such a joy! He is so excited about Christmas. He loves his jammies and his Christmas animals. What a precious boy! We are blessed.

Prayers for Pappy

Jodi's daddy, AKA Pappy, has been re-admitted to the hospital. His chest has opened up and the wires have come loose. He will have surgery on Friday to repair the damage, graph muscles and clear away possible infection. Please pray that there is no infection and that he recovers quickly. There is a possibility that he will have to go back to the ICU and be on a ventilator so please join us in praying that it doesn't happen. Our prayer is that the surgery is quick, no infection is found and he is able to return to a regular room so that he can be home for Christmas. Please also pray for peace and comfort for Jodi and her mom. This is such a hard time of the year to be sick, especially when Jodi has 3 kids at home, school parties and Christmas preparations. She loves her daddy so much and wants to be with him but her kids need her also. We are enjoying our time with her kids as she is with her daddy. My kids love having them over-Hopefully I will have great news to post soon.

Don't forget to scroll down and see all of the new pics I have added!

Unexpected Surprise

Today we received an very unexpected surprise-kind of an early Christmas gift. Our dear friends, The Kibbees, are on their way to Disney World(Wish we were going :( At 3:30 we decided that they were going to be just too close to SC not to stop in for the night. They arrived right before 7 and you should have seen the excitement in my home. The kids were so glad to see each other. Ashton & Kara headed upstairs to check out the computer and cell phones. The little girls acted like they had never been apart. Walking around with their arms around each other-so sweet. Just a few hours together but it sure was fun. We are so blessed with these special friends.