Sunday, June 30, 2013

Sunday Snapshot- Park Time

Another busy summer weekend has come and gone.  With it many more pictures to sort but I wanted to share some of our cute niece.  A perfect overcast day to play at the park!

At two she is full of energy and curiosity.

Determination was never in short supply either.

We are headed into a big week. A birthday is just a day away.  A trip in the horizon and well some catching up for Mom...oh I hope!  I can't believe it is July...please don't go to fast this month!

Ni Hao Yall

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Sunday Snapshot- A Grandmother's Love

A Grandma's love is an amazing kind of love.  It is completely given freely. After all grandchildren are for enjoyment without all those parental responsibilities.  It is amazing to watch as Mom loves grandchild number eight. Miss Elizabeth may not know it but Grandma will always be in her corner!

I have watched Mom love all her "babies".  Five are biological and three from adoption and they are all loved the same. This is the most amazing part of love to me and always will be. It's ability to expand with such an amazing force to all without biology really being anything at all. 

Ni Hao Yall

Saturday, June 22, 2013

365 Photos - Day 170 to 172

Cousin time....and those non edited faces that showed how much fun scout camps were this week!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Favorite Friday Photo- Father's Day Hike

For Father's Day we headed out on a hike with friends.  We all had such a great time.  It was gorgeous from the top!

Our poor state is on fire it seems so it was nice to see a beautiful sky created with a clear blue color.


It was a perfect end to a Father's Day. This family is looking forward to a lot more hiking this summer!  Praying for moisture!

the long road

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

365 Photos- Camping and Canning


A week of a little canning and camping in our house.  This strawberry rhubarb jelly is usually the first canning I do for the season.  I love refilling those jars for the upcoming winter!

I had a lot of help this year.  These little ones did a lot of chopping and then some smashing.  Guess which job they liked best!

Then it was time to have some cousins stay and head off to Girl Scout day camp.  They were all smiles when I picked them up with the words "We love it there"! 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

365 Photos- Day 167

"Something New"

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Sunday Snapshot-Two Dads

In my life I have been blessed to be loved by two great Dad's.  One was a Dad who taught me right from wrong. He taught me what it means to have a parent who is truly there for his girls and wife.  Years later I would marry a man who would be a lot like my father. He loves his kids so deeply while at the same time teaching them right from wrong.  They love him dearly!
Happy Father's Day!
 


Ni Hao Yall

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Five years of blessings

Today Andrew Xiao Tong has been our son for five years. What an amazing five years it has been.  He still has that priceless smile that pulls people in.  He has that will and strength that will help him overcome many obstacles in life.  He has made us better parents and taught us that life truly is not fair, but it is not where you come from but what you make of your life.  He is still FULL of energy and seems to never tire.  I love this little boy with all my heart and have from that first glimpse of a little boy in China.  Happy Gotcha Day my little man!

Friday, June 14, 2013

Favorite Friday Photo- Sweetness of Ellie

A beautiful baby girl has joined my sister's family by means of adoption.  I couldn't be more excited to love on this little girl and to welcome her into our family.

As so many know adoption is not always marked by an easy path but in the end it is beautiful.  This little Miss Elizabeth is so lucky to have a big brother to watch over her.  I can only imagine what he will teach her!

I love being a mother with all my heart but being an Aunt is a close second!  When she looks at you with those eyes there is a story. It is her story but I know how love flows beyond biology. I can tell this little princess love is flowing from all of us that love her! 

 

the long road

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Thirty-nine



This week I turned thirty-nine years old.  Very rarely am I on my blog and really don't like to write about myself. This is also our families journal and honestly I wonder what my Mom was like at thirty-nine and so this post is for my children so one day they may "know" the me who is getting very close to forty. 

I decided to make a list of thirty nine facts about me that go beyond my passions of being a mother and wife.

1.  Running is my "coffee" in the morning
2.  Photography has become a huge passion and dream
3.  For the first time in my life I am older than my ballet teacher
4.  Find peace in my garden
5.  Favorite chore- hanging out laundry ( I can hear it now)
6.  Would rather clean than cook
7.  Think a book is the best escape
8.  Passionate about adoption
9.  Hate doing my hair
10. Love blue bell ice cream
11. Summer is my favorite season
12. Beach is my favorite place
13. Always clean house on Thursday
14. Love country music
15. Favorite date- a concert
16. Do not like to drive
17. Knitter
18. Love new technology
19. Dream house would be an old farmhouse
20. Love antiques
21. Takes me forever to use anything new
22.  Love to give homemade gifts
23.  Hiking yes- camping no
24.  Not a big holiday lover
25.  Looking for the "new" "middle" aged me
26.  Love love babies
27.  Think canning is fun
28.  Would not recognize me at 20
29.  Love mason jars
30.  Hate being cold
31.  Love chai tea
32.  Wear jeans daily in winter
33.  Catholic
34.  Like breakfast not lunch
35.  Love to visit "home"
36.  Love having a larger family
37.  Grateful for this past year
38.  Read newspaper daily
39.  Sleep is overrated

So for my kids when they wonder what I was like this is my list that in no way shows how blessed I feel and how my family truly does make me who I am.


the long road

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

365 Project- Day 153

One of my favorite things is flowers on my table...wild or not wild it doesn't matter!

 
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