GIRL'S WEEKEND

BECKY, DEEDEE, AND MYSELF

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF "MAN CANDLES"?
THEY ARE PRETTY FUNNY AND STINKY...
SCENTS LIKE, FOOTBALL, BEER AND GARAGE...YUCK!


HANGING OUT IN DOWNTOWN COWETA...COWTOWN AS THEY AFFECTIONATELY CALL IT. I WOULD NEVER TAKE A PICTURE LIKE THIS, BUT THEY WOULDN'T LET ME SAY NO... A BIT GOOFY I KNOW.

I was so blessed this week by the visit of my girlfriends from our Seminary years. I can not tell you how much I have looked forward to this and how WONDERFUL it was for me. I have often said that I think my grief journey would have looked different if we had lost Samuel during our time at the seminary... and that would have been because of these great gals. While we were at the seminary, I think all but 1 of us lived on campus in the married housing. It was like college, but with families. This group of gals went out most Sunday nights. We would head out after 8 so the kids were mostly in bed. Last year 4 of them came down just a few weeks before Samuel died. I remember my sweet, sweet friend Becky telling me about when she had gotten them all together to tell them about Samuel and what had happened after we knew he was gone. She was one of the first couple people we called. They were all standing outside on what had been our back porch at the seminary when we had lived there. She said they were all just crying, tears dropping on our concrete, just praying and mourning with us. That spoke volumes to me. They were the ones that made the blankets for us last year. All getting together to tie them and pray for us and our kids. We all still sleep with those blankets. For some reason our "Samuel" blanket helps me feel close to him.

Anyways I get to rambling.... It was so nice, they kind of trickled in and trickled out. Some came in as early as last Tuesday night and the last gal left today at 2:00. That was such a good thing. I knew I would be so sad if they had all left at once.

I can't tell you how nice it was to have them here.... it felt like home having them here. We ate lots... laughed a lot, watched a chick flick, went for walks and runs in the neighborhood, went shopping in downtown Coweta, and mostly just hung out and visited. There are only 2 of us left at the Seminary and the rest have been placed in Nebraska, Florida, Massachusetts, and Texas. They brought us a gift of a cross that we can put in Samuel's garden. They all wrote words about our sweet boy. That was given to me right away once they had all arrived. My friend Becky even went as far as to have a card that had a leaf on it... it kind of reminded her of the one that was on our hospital room door when we had Samuel and when Faith had Joel. She remembered that ( that amazes me and just shows how much she is listening to me and absorbing the things that I tell her) and they all remembered my boy... that touched me deeply.

I had lots of opportunity to talk and continue to process things with people who knew me before this all happened and who love our family deeply. They are like family to us.... We so miss being with all of them at the seminary.

I was so blessed by our time... I miss having them all here... There was already talk of another get together next year.

I am so thankful tonight for friends... loving, caring, compassionate, sister's in Christ, friends who understand me, friends who are ok with where I am at, friends who will laugh or cry with you, friends who are really there in your deepest darkest moments (when they can be there then... you know they will be there for anything), friends who have husbands who all have the same job as pastors, friends who are so different in many ways, yet so much the same in others... friends who really love each other. Ahhhh, tonight I am thankful... missing them all again... but so thankful:)

A NEW FRIEND HAS ARRIVED... MORE FRIENDS ON THE HORIZON

WELCOME HOME SOCKS

A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO GREG CAME HOME FROM THE BOTTOMS WITH SOCKS, OUR NEW OUTDOOR KITTY. WE HAVE SEEN SOME MICE IN THE GARAGE AND ARE HOPING THIS LITTLE GUY WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM.

THE FIRST OF MY GIRLFRIENDS ARRIVED TONIGHT... THE OTHER 4 WILL TRICKLE IN OVER THE NEXT 2 DAYS. I CAN'T WAIT. GOD HAS PROVED FAITHFUL TO BRING DEAR FRIENDS AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.

MORE CHILI COOK OFF PICTURES

SNUGGLING WITH MY LITTLE PUMPKIN
OK, ONE THING THAT I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT RYANE AND HER HUSBAND IN THE LAST WEEK IS THIS... THEY ARE ON OLD PEOPLE'S TIME. I SAY THIS WITH TOTAL LOVE IN MY HEART:) SHE CALLED ME ON MY DRIVE HOME. IT WAS BEFORE 9 PM. SHE WANTED TO CHECK IN TO SEE HOW THE DRIVING WAS GOING BEFORE SHE WENT TO BED. OH MY, WE HAD SOME GOOD LAUGHS ABOUT THAT OVER THE WEEKEND...

I LOVE THAT GIRL.

WHAT STARTED OUT WITH ME SORT OF MENTORING HER IN HIGH SCHOOL, HAS BLESSED ME SO GREATLY. SHE HAS BEEN SUCH A HUGE SUPPORT THIS PAST YEAR... WISE BEYOND HER 25 YEARS.

THE KIDS ENJOYING TIME WITH RY RY. SHE IS SUCH A HOOT, VERY FUN LOVING... REALLY, YOU CAN'T HANG OUT WITH RYANE AND NOT HAVE A GOOD TIME.

ANNA IS JUST SMITTEN WITH BLAKE, RYANE'S HUSBAND. IT WAS SO FUNNY TO WATCH, THE POOR GUY COULDN'T GET A BREAK FROM HER. HE WAS VERY GRACIOUS ABOUT IT:)

YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT THE CHILI COOKOFF IN THE POST BELOW:)

THE COOK OFF IN CAJUN COUNTRY

GREG'S AUNT, COUSIN CAME OVER FROM TEXAS FOR THE COOK OFF.

THAT WAS SO NICE OF THEM, IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THEM, AND CAN I SAY ORGANIZED???? SHE CAME WITH ALL OF OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS:) AMAZING, I AM PRETTY SURE I HAVEN'T EVEN STARTED TO SHOP...YIKES! ANYWAYS, HERE THEY ARE WITH CALEB

EATING CHILI...YUM

THEY SERVE SPICY CHILI THERE IN CAJUN COUNTRY:)

JOJO IN THE JUPITER JUMP
ANNA AND JO IN FRONT OF ALL OF THE KAYAKS PEOPLE COULD TRY OUT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD POND... THAT WAS REALLY FUN.


SOME OF THE TENTS

THE BAND THAT CAME TO PLAY

The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was an incredibly short trip for us, but so worth it. The 9 hour drive with the kids went great. On the way down, we only stopped once, I couldn't believe it. After doing the Texas to Wisconsin drive so many times, 9 hours was not bad at all for the kids. I don't want to toot my own horn, but really my kids are great travelers.

Can I just say, I loved Louisiana. Blake and Ryane live in the cutest neighborhood. Ryane did an amazing job organizing it all. It was just a fun day. There were lots of fun things for everyone to do. I think the kids favorite was the kayaks. I got to judge the chilis... now that was hard, I liked them all.

Really, my heart just overflows that Ryane would do all of that in honor of Samuel. She raised over $5000 for Shaohannah's hope in Samuel's name. Can I just tell you how that makes this mama feel? I know my son's life has made a HUGE, forever life changing, impact on our lives... but to know now that it will have made the difference in some one else's life just warms my heart. Shaohannah's Hope will use that money to help orphans be placed in their forever families. As we wait for that ourselves, and know the cost associated with that, we know that will be a blessing to those families. We are just thrilled.

Thank you Ryane and Blake for hosting us and for all you did to put the cook off together... for blessing Shaohannah's Hope with your gift, and for cherishing Samuel's life with us.

We love you guys! We would love an Oklahoma visit anytime:)

WALGREENS COUPON SHOPPING

Have I told you how much I love Walgreens? I just had to show you all that I got yesterday for $20... I also got $10 in Register Rewards to use as cash next time I shop there. So basically I got all the above for $10. My bill to start off with was $95. Now who in their right mind would pay $95? certainly not me, but I will pay $10 for it:)

I got:

4 BIG bags of Halloween candy

4 Mascaras

1 pack of gum

1 box of peanut brittle

1 box of mints

2 Theraflus

1 body was

2 deodorants

2 cans mandarin oranges

1 24 pack of bottled water

2 cans of baby formula (I couldn't resist for $1.49 a can... they are usually $15 a piece. If we don't get that baby we are hoping to adopt, I can always donate it to someone for that price)

Just thought I would share... no actually I had to share... the older boys keep telling me that I need to post a picture of our coupon shopping... in fact tonight before bed Louis said, "Mom, thanks for being the best mom, and thanks for saving us all of that money." I thought that was pretty humorous. I am surprised they even care really. But really they love to cut the coupons and do the shopping with me. I am thankful for their help.

We head out tomorrow bright and early for Louisiana for the chili cook off that Ryane is having to raise money for Shaohannah's hope... in memory of Samuel. Just the kids and I are going... I will post pictures when we get back... we are so touched that she would do this all in memory of our sweet boy. His life is making a difference in the lives of some orphans... that makes me so happy.

A BIG 7 YEAR OLD

BEFORE

DURING... POOR GIRL

AFTER:)

Sweet little Anna turned 7 yesterday. This was the first year she has really GOTTEN INTO her birthday. She loved talking to everyone on the phone and she was thrilled to tell everyone that she was going to get her ears pierced for her birthday.

The anticipation killed her. She was shedding a few tears prior, but when they actually pierced the ear she didn't flinch... in fact she said she couldn't even feel it... I seem to remember feeling it when I got mine pierced. She did great, and had to inform everyone that she saw while we did our coupon shopping that she did indeed get her ears pierced today.

We relish the fact that we have gotten to spend 7 years with this precious little girl... we know we aren't guaranteed tomorrow so we treasure our time with her. She is so loving, tenderhearted and kind. She loves to be silly and act like a goof ball. She loves her brothers, all 4 of them so much... she would love a sister too. She aims to please her mom and dad. She is compassionate and quite intuitive already. She is growing up WAY too fast. (I just want to bottle her up) She loves her Savior and wants her friends to know Him too. She is pretty easy going for the most part... but at times she shows that she also has the hootspa... (that means she can get a little feisty too) She is really just fun to have around.

We love this precious gift from God. We are so thankful that He has entrusted her into our care for the past 7 years. We love her dearly and can't imagine life with out her. Happy Birthday sweet Girl.

A BITTERSWEET MOMENT

We went to the Bottoms all day Saturday to learn how to make her famous strudel and rolls. The rolls led to pigs in a blanket and cinnamon rolls too. As usual we went home completely stuffed, and with plenty of food for the next few days. Greg kept walking in the kitchen saying, "learn... learn from her." She is an amazing cook.

Their youngest son and his wife were up with their 4 month old son... he was precious. It was bittersweet. Anna was completely smitten with him. Honestly, she just wanted to be by him. She loved feeding him and was just beaming. It was the first time she has held a baby since Samuel. This will sound wierd, but part of me didn't want to let her hold him. It was like seeing first hand all the beautiful things she would have experienced with Samuel, but never had the chance to. Sad for me, but really I am not sure she even made the connection to Samuel... she was just enjoying herself to the fullest. Greg and I were just looking at each other from across the room, we know how much she would love a baby brother or sister... if only we could just give that to her and the other kids. But that isn't in our hands... but Gods. Would you pray with us that God would give us the desires of our hearts... another child? Pray with out ceasing right?... that is what we have been doing for the last 368 days... all in His timing...

Struedel makers...learning from the best:)

Anna at Caleb's soccer game... she is still working on getting those 2 front teeth she lost last fall. They are coming, just incredibly slow.... The more I look at her, the more I think Samuel looked like her.... Round face, chubby cheeks...



Does this boy need a haircut or what? It was good to see Caleb let some of his feelings out over the last few days. He is a feeler... and thinker... but doesn't always let others see how he is really feeling inside. He is growing up, such a HUGE helper... competetive, very self motivated and driven... kind of like his Grandpa Wally:) But lately he has been able to laugh at himself a bit more... That has been fun to see...

Children are a blessing from the Lord...and the fruit of the womb is His reward, as arrows are in the hand of a mighty warrior, so are children born in ones youth. Psalm 127:3-4