tired

It has been a very long and exhausting few days.  I promise to get back into the swing of things when things get back to normal around here.  We have spent the past three days with Scott's family.  It is such a blessing to have family at times like this.

Tomorrow is Mamaw's funeral.  We are having a graveside service.  Simple.  Kim (Scott's mom) will read the eulogy and I am going to read a few scripture references.  And then it will be over.  I think Mamaw would want it that way.  Mamaw was simple and sweet.  Why not celebrate her life in the same way!

I hope all of you have had a LESS exhausting week so far.  I will resume regular blog posts when things slow down around our home.

(((HUGS)))

father's day

 Mamaw with her three GREAT grandchildren

Scott lost his grandmother this morning.  Over the past three years, she has suffered with various heart and infection issues.  However, it seems so sudden that she's gone.  We were not expecting this.

Not today.

Kim (Scott's mother) called early this morning from the hospital.  After arriving at the ER, she was quickly moved into CCU.  Following an emotional string of decisions, the doctor removed the ventilator..  Mamaw peacefully drifted off to sleep.  She was not in any pain.  And for that, Lord, we are very grateful.  While we are saddened by our loss, as Christians, we do have an understanding of how this process works.  Having said that, it is NEVER easy trying to explain to a five year old what has taken place.  And why Mamaw will not be around anymore. 

Dwayne (Scott's sister's husband) was leaving the house today to tell his children, MacKenzie and Coleman, (pictured above.)  I love what he planned on telling them, and I don't think he'll mind me sharing.   He told MacKenzie (she's older), "Today is Father's Day.  God is Mamaw's Father, so he wanted to be with her on this day."  How beautiful.  And how true. 

It must be hard for God to sit on His Throne and watch His children suffer.  How gracious of Him to attend to Mamaw's needs.  Here on Earth, it is hard for those of us who loved her, but we are thankful that she has been united with her Father.  Forever.

Happy Father's Day. 

chuck e cheese, please

We met Joseph and his grandmother, Cindy, at Chuck E. Cheese this morning. ( I will share the rest of the pictures from today later on...)


For those of you who may be new to my blog, we adopted our son from Guatemala.  Three hours out of the city is a place called Solola, Guatemala.  In Solola there is a "big white house,"  as JP calls it. The Eagle's Nest, a Childrens' Home run by local missionaries.  JP and Joseph were at the home together as babies.  Joseph's grandmother and my aunt attend church together...the rest is history!  We obviously met J's family and have tried to keep the boys in touch with one another. 

I cannot explain to you what it does to my heart to see these two together.  We know lots of other children who are from Guatemala, but for God to allow my son to grow up with a child from the same children's home is simply amazing to me.  He is so good.

We had a great time.  JP and J are so funny!  They both talk a LOT!  When we first met with them, when they were younger, they would mainly stare at each other.  Their faces were always painted with a, "Hey,  you look like me" expression.  Now that they are older and understand more about where they are from, they hug and show excitement when they see each other.  It melts my heart.

So, thank you Erin and Tim for sharing your precious son with my family.  We love you guys and are so thankful for the bond that these two will continue to share as they grow!

And most of all, thank You God, for sharing BOTH of Your boys with our families.  We are blessed because of it.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, JP and I went to the movies to see Dolphin Tale.  In addition to the OBSCENE ticket prices, the theatre seriously charges way to much for every concession on their menu.


They have a "kiddie box" available for purchase.  In it, you get a small bag of popcorn, a small drink and a pack of fruit snacks.  We won't even talk about how much they charge for this!  I told JP BEFORE we left the house that we would not be buying snacks there.  However, he did enjoy a small bag of popcorn, a small drink and a pack of fruit snacks... WE JUST DIDN'T PAY FOR THEM!

Going to the movies is so much fun.  However, you shouldn't have to choose between making your monthly house payment or paying for buttered popcorn and gummy bears.

Leave your house a few minutes early,  (you wanna make sure you arrive in time to watch the previews), stop by your local convenient store and load up your over-sized purse with goodies.


You'll have just as much fun without breaking the bank!

hump day

Today was a good day.  We slept in... thank You, Lord!  I usually do not put JP on a night time schedule until the middle of July.  For now, I let him stay up watching movies/television etc. until he gets tired.  It normally does not take that long b/c we are so active during the day.

We went to the local movie theatre this morning to see Dolphin Tale.  It was the featured $1 movie this week.  We made it halfway through before JP decided he was bored.  We've seen the movie several times.  (BTW, if you haven't seen it, watch it...it's worth your time!)

After lunch, my friend Angela brought her son over to swim with us for a while.  It was really nice outside.  The water is STILL COLD!  What is up with that??!!  It is so frustrating.  Our winter was not even that cold.  Oh well.  Preston joined us for about an hour.  I took some really cute pictures.  I'll share later in another post.

Other than swimming and hanging around Greenville, we are just being pretty lazy.  It is SO nice not to have a plan. 

No alarm.
No time schedule.
Nothing!

Oh how I love summer! 

I did receive an email this morning that I was the featured writer on a Christian website today.  Here's the link.  I was pretty excited.  At the very least, it is good exposure.   

in case you haven't figured it out...

...we spend MOST of our summer at the pool!  When it's hot outside, there is nothing quite like kicking back on a float with a book and a tall glass of ice tea!  We love it!


JP has turned into a little fish.  At the end of last summer, he started getting in the pool without a life jacket or float.  We praised him and talked about what a great swimmer he was when in actuality he was just "drown-proof."  His sweet little face would barely be above water...it was too cute!  This year, however, he is ACTUALLY swimming!!  I am so proud of him!  I even feel comfortable sitting in a chair reading a book.  He goes off the diving board and flies around in the water without a care in the world.


So, you'll probably grow bored with seeing all the pictures of us by the pool. I'll apologize in advance.  But, that's just how we ROLL around here!

apple and the tree

My son LOVES Eric Carle.  His favorite book is, and probably always will be, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

It was raining today, so we went to Barnes and Noble after lunch to look at/read books and play in the kid section.  JP spent the majority of his time walking around and pointing out all the things he wants for his birthday.  MOST of them were related to Eric Carle and the Caterpillar book.  (Everything else was Angry Birds or Spiderman!)  When he completed his wish list, we sat in the corner and played with the Thomas the Train display.

While we were sitting there, a very snooty young mother walked up to let her much younger son play at the train table.  JP, of course, started talking to her and pointed out all of the Hungry Caterpillar paraphernalia he was carrying around with him.  He proceeded to tell her that he wanted all of the stuff for his birthday this year.  The lady looked at him and said, "How old are you?  You look like you're five.  Don't you think that's baby stuff you have there?  I don't think you REALLY want that, do you?"  JP's answer was a resounding YES!  She rolled her big  eyes and laughed at him.

Yes, you heard me correctly, laughed. 

Are you kidding me??  I felt my blood begin to boil.  JP looked at me with a "what did I say that was so funny"  look.  I quickly told the bully lady that he was soon to be SIX years old, but that he loved anything to do with that particular author.  She got up and left.

All I am going to say is this...  I do not care if my son is holding a baby rattle, it is NOT okay for you to laugh at his interests.  This little obsession of his will soon pass.  Until it does, I will certainly encourage it.  He is so proud of himself when he reads the book.

Okay, I'm calm now.  Thanks for allowing me to rant. If this is any indicator of how I am going to do when he gets older and faces adversity, I'm in big trouble.  It is no wonder why there are so many child bullies in our elementary schools...

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.