Changes!

Well I must say alot has happened in our lives and the people around ours since my last post. (I will admit I am not very good at this blogging thing). I guess first and foremost our house is getting a little emptier. We have become empty nesters. Yep the three biggies have all moved out. If you know us you know that we are not really empty nesters. The two littles are still here!!! Michael moved into an apartment with (you are not gonna believe this) but his big brother. I must say it is shocking to see them live together in an apartment when they could not share a room! I really am thrilled for them. So exciting to be on your own for the first time, well until the first months rent is due! Chris has been on his own for about 2 years but this is Michaels first time out of the house. He is ready. He is working full time now and will be returning to college in the winter. Because Michael has moved out I am proud to say that after 4 years, Emma is getting her own room. She has had two roommates the last 4 years. Her Dad and I! I am not sure how I feel about not seeing that sweet face in the middle of the night. I am excited for her though. The room is going to be a beautiful little girls room. Princesses and all. I have a young woman I work with that is a beautiful artist and she will be painting a few favorite princesses and the castle on the wall.

I have done some reflecting on my life and past in the last month or so. Went on a woman's retreat in October to a beautiful "camp" in Williams AZ. Camp is in quotes because I use that term loosely. It is beautiful and you would think you would go up there and giggle and eat chocolate and fun with the girlfriends. Oh don't get me wrong we did that but there was some serious issues that I needed to and continue to need to deal with in my life. I have a major trust issue. Which leads to a major control freak issue. Ask my family they know that it has been there all along. With prayer from these wonderful Godly women I am allowing God to work on me. It is a daily struggle but God is faithful and God is enough. Love you ladies.

Last week our sweet Emma turned 4! I cannot believe it. How could the time fly by so fast? I should know this happens, it already happened with the first 3. We went to Disneyland!!!! Emma got to go to the Bibbiddi Bobbitti Bootique. WOW it was such a great experience. Makeup, hair, crown, jewels, fairy dust, princess wave and all. What a great time. This time her big sister got to go with us. What a blessing. We also were blessed to get to take our sweet grandson, Brayden to Disneyland for the first time. What a great time.

A new, but quickly becoming old friend is living through a health crisis with her little baby girl who just happens to have 47 chromosomes. I weep for her and baby A. To watch the grace that this woman has during a huge upheavel not only in her baby girls life but in their families life is truly inspirational to me. I ask God daily how can I show her love and to show me how to help. Pray for this family. You don't need to know their names to ask our Gracious Father to watch over them and provide peace to this family.

Peace to all who read this. Enjoy some of the sweet pictures of my amazingly beautiful family and friends.

Look who is 21!

Love you son!

Look at her eyes!

Look at her eyes. It is like you can look into her soul. She is a beautiful soul. One with dreams and hopes. One with so much love in her eyes for those around her. She trusts. She knows there are so many people that will always be there for her. She is amazing. She amazes me and all around her. She is smart. She is beautiful. She is sassy. She says NO! and means it. She will always be loved. She will always be cherished. She is a gift from God Himself to our family. And I am proud to say she is my beautiful daughter.

Excited to say the least!

Well the eve of our families return. WOW time has flown since we found out they would be coming home to stay not just for a visit. So many things have happened. The biggest of them all is that they are coming home as three. An incredible little gift was given to Sam and BJ and to our whole family, little baby Brayden. Or as Emma puts it Bray Bray. We are so excited to all be together again. The big boys are getting excited. Emma is saying Sissy everytime the doorbell rings and well we are all just getting generally excited. Anyone that knows me knows to the hour when Sam and Brayden will arrive. The girls at the hospital have heard it and heard it for months. I thank you for listening.

This mama's heart is bursting. To say that the last two years have been hard would be an understatement. Every time she came home I started to get sad because I knew she had to go back to Virginia. I can't even express how I felt the first time I left Norfolk Airport and as that plane lifted off the ground how my heart literally ached knowing I was leaving my first born there. I can't tell you how much that child means to me. I wish I could put it into words. I just can't. From the moment I locked eyes with that beautiful baby I knew she would have my heart forever. And she does. I am a very proud mother. If you know me you already know that about me. I am proud of all my kids. Every accomplishment, every step, every word that comes not so easy, I am proud. And I continue to be proud of Sam and for that matter BJ for what they did exactly two years ago tomorrow (yep two years from the date they left she is coming home) they packed up that old red truck and drove across the country on an adventure to start their new life in a far far away land (well it might as well be). They have grown up. They have made their parents proud and now we get to welcome them home. Not only their families but their church family as well.

Along the way they have touched other peoples lives. People in Virginia have loved our kids and have welcomed them. I am sad for those that will miss them in Virginia. I truly am. I say to you that Southwest has some great deals to Phoenix and you are welcome here anytime.

While Sam and Brayden get to fly home in comfort, BJ and his brother Bryan will be driving straight through from Virginia to Phoenix in that old red truck and a trailer on the back. Not only that. When Sam gets here, the next day our whole family will be driving to Oregon, to the beach house we always rent spending about two weeks there. WOW what a great gift to our family. We also have BJ's family coming to the beach as well for a few days to spend some time with our returning loves. Great grandparents that have never met Brayden.

Well that is my final post before I post with great pics from their joyous homecoming. Thanks for following our not so perfect countdown!

Late again

If you have not noticed the days I work I don't post sorry about that. We are getting so close. 6 days!


Oh my gosh look at those eyes!

8 days~

9 days!

I have said alot about of daughter coming home with our grandson but his daddy deserves so mention as well. This picture to me captures our sweet son-in-laws personality and he is passing it on to his son.

I can't wait to watch BJ be a daddy. When I was in VA after Brayden was born he was a great dad. Supportive to his wife and changing the babies diapers and walking around in a new daddy haze. But I so look forward to watching him really raising his son. Fun times for our families. The Dunham's and Hendrick's can't wait for their kids to come home.

so behind

I know that I am so behind on my countdown but rest assured blogger friends the countdown has not been forgotten. I think the whole family is counting down. We cannot wait to all be together again. So since we are off to church more pictures will have to wait.

14 days and 13 days!

See his shirt it says My aunt Rocks!

15 days!

I cannot wait to have him here.

16 days!

The next family picture will have Samantha in it!

17 days!

I can't wait to watch her be a mommy!

18 days!

They will miss the beach and to be honest I will miss visiting Virginia. But would much rather have them home. What a wonderful time it has been for Sam and BJ but it is time to come home. YEAH!

19 Days!

Until he has lots of uncles to fall asleep on!

20 days! oh my gosh!

See how much BJ has missed us! He can't wait to get home!

21 days!

He is just Yummy! I can't wait

22 days!

Sam is like a second mother to these two. They will be happy to have her home

23 days!

24 days!

Until this little man gets to be loved on by his grandparents, great grandparents, aunt and uncles!

25 days!

Home for Christmas!

26 days a day late!

Home with friends!

a little late but 27 days!

Can't wait for them to just stop by or to be able to see them at church and be able to worship with them and our grandbaby!

28 Days!

Home with her daddy!

29 Days!

They will all be together again. Makes a mama's heart happy!

30 Days!

Until sisters get to be together all the time!

31 days!If you haven't figure it out this is a countdown!

32 Days!

"Bell" and her friends

lightroom, presets and pictures oh my! part II

Ok I am still trying to figure this out. I dont' know how to download new presets I am working on it. It is going to take an afternoon, some starbucks and again a very sweet 13 year old to help me. But here is the latest attempt. don't laugh ok! I am a work in progress

lightroom, presets and pictures oh my!

I don't get how this all works but I think I am going to get some help from a lovely 13 year old girl that has so much more knowledge that I. Lets see if I can add a picture, just one and then I will try some more. hang on here we go.

The "R" word

My feelings exactly!

I have not met the woman in this video but we will meet soon. She has agreed to allow me to post this video made by some dear people for all that look at our blog to see.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YgLgQaMCZk

I promise you, you will be blessed. Her words are not my words but they are my hearts feelings. We are blessed beyond measure with our daughter Emma Grace. We are so thankful we were chosen to be her parents and her family.

It is not always easy but I can tell you it is not always easy to be a parent period. There are disappointments and joys but I am so thankful to have all of our beautiful children.

Happy Birthday Samantha Kay!

Seems like yesterday that it was me holding and snuggling our little Samantha and now she is a mommy herself.

What a beautiful gift she has this year for her birthday. A sweet son.

She has been a blessing to me from the day I found out I was carrying her inside of me and I am so thankful that God blessed me with this sweet young woman. I truly am the lucky one! I love you baby girl. And I am counting the days until you arrive home. June 25th cannot come fast enough for me!