Dreams

So we have this little piece of land that we have been dreaming about for several years now...dreaming of someday raising our kiddos on it with all the trees watching them grow. There is a perfect little creek that runs right on the front side of it, a beautiful hill on the backside that grows green, green grass in the spring and summer...it backs up to someone else's country little barn and lake...complete with an old horse that's probably been there for years. We can see him from our treehouse. We bought the land before there was a Shaelyn Jade or a Jude in the world, but honestly, we knew that someday they would run its hills and wade its waters and climb its trees. I remember when we bought it, we walked through the trees and said that "someday" we'd build a cool treehouse on it. Before the treehouse, Rich and I would drive his truck out there and lay in the back with pillows and blankets and look at the stars...and dream our dreams. Then a Jadeybug was born...


...and even though she was too young to enjoy a treehouse yet, her Daddy knew that "someday" was coming quick, so he built our treehouse for her first birthday. Lots of love hammered into it he says. And it is cool. So we started going there, to our treehouse- our family of 3, and laying down blankets and pillows and looking up through the tall, tall trees that have been there hundreds of years longer than the old horse...and dreaming more dreams together. Of living there on that land. Of more children, a house, a dog...maybe even a horse of our own. And then there was a Judeboy...

(driving that same ole truck)
... And a family of 4. And more love than I have ever even dreamed. And "someday" is here. And we have this land, this treehouse, these children...and more dreams. So we spent another dreamy day there Saturday, our family of 4...doing the things we are doing on these "somedays" lately...

Swinging...

Pulling up like a big boy...

Making music (this crew loves a good sing along!)...

Soaking up every minute we can get with Daddy...



And I told Rich as I sat atop those trees in my little house that I have to be the happiest girl in the world. God has blessed me beyond my WILDEST DREAMS- with these two little people...

...And this handsome man...

And someday, I hope we can spend every day right there in the middle of those green fields, but until then...our dream days in the treehouse are enough.

"Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue...And the dreams that you dare to dream REALLY DO come true!"

Dream...BIG!

2012 so far...

Well here I am already at the end of January and can't figure out where it's gone...must have been busy. Yes. Very busy. Between Rich's parents moving here, his birthday, and the 4 teeth growing in Jude boy's mouth that keep us all up at night...I have simply lost a few weeks in time! But it has been good. All good. We are so excited that Rich's Mum and Dad and little sis, Hosanna, arrived safely with no troubles at all on their 3000 mile journey. They arrived one day early on Rich's actual birthday- such a nice surprise, and we celebrated him and them with cake and ice cream in their empty house. Now it is already full of all their things and already "smells" like their home, I realized today...which made me smile. As I have mentioned before, their homes are always so "homey"...as I hope mine is. Hosanna starts school on Monday- 8th grade, which I know is both daunting and exciting for her...say a prayer for her if you think of it Monday morning. She is working over and over again on the "perfect outfit" to wear...big decisions, indeed! And I am so happy to have her here---to get to know her better, for real...and love on her. So fun to have a "teen" around to keep us in the swing of things. And Shae Jade just adores her. Hosanna "this" and Hosanna "that" all day long, now...and when she first gets around her, she is shy. So cute. Just tonight after we had dinner with them and Sweet Cece's we said our goodbyes and it was weird- us AND them both going to our homes here in lil' ole Spring Hill. Just crazy how it all happened so fast---we have prayed for them to be closer for so long...and it seems like all of a sudden, they are HERE. We are excited for all of you to get to know them...they are as GREAT as Rich!!!! :) :)

A few of our favorite moments from these first few weeks of 2012...


My BFF, Kathryne, and her hubby Jon and baby Charlotte came over for dinner one night and look who we found holding hands!!!! :) Charlotte is our pick for Jude's marriage arrangement someday...

Jude boy hammin' it up for Kathryne...

And Jadeybug feels like such a big girl around all these "babies"...made sure she got some good Charlotte snuggles that night!

Rich's best buds all showed up to surprise him at Cheesecake Factory...

These three pics are in order--- Rocky sneakily sharing a plan with Drason...

Me getting my pic of the handsome birthday boy... Say "Cheese...CAKE!"

Plan carried out. Nice Rocky.




My real gift for Rich was his first good night's sleep in about a year...so I took him a schnazzy room with a big, comfy bed...and honestly---a solid night of sleep is weird when it's been that long! WEIRDLY WONDERFUL!!!! :)

Our view from the top floor of the Renaissance Hotel...not something you see every day!

And while the cat's away...these little mice played at Nonni's! This was my first night away from my little man and I felt so good knowing he was with my Mom...Thanks Non for making Rich's birthday surprise happen!


This was Rich eating his real birthday cake the he made a wish on once his parents arrived...in their NEW HOUSE! :)

And as Rich said, this was is BEST birthday gift...his Dad, HOME AT LAST, in TENNESSEE!!!!

Highlights from the end of 2011

Instead of a post about a list of resolutions that should have (but actually do not) this year...I wanted to end my 2011 blogs with a post about how we ended it! Here are some of our highlights...


This was, perhaps, the BEST gift of 2012...seeing sweet Tiff with her baby girl at last. This little lady was long awaited and SO, SO loved!!



Here is our crazy crew after our long plane rides across America...but we made it to San Francisco!



On one of those long plane rides, Jadey girl had some fun "holding" her little brother and helping him look out the window. Let's just say he was less than thrilled... :)



The city of San Francisco is so huge! Here seen from the Golden Gate bridge...

Alcatraz also from the bridge...





We had never walked across the bridge on any of our visits before, so we did it this last time!





We also took our favorite hike up in the moutains behind Nanma and Grampy's house...it is quite exhausting on those steep hills, but the view makes it all worth while!


My Christmas girl in her homeade reindeer shirt from school that she was so proud of...and her Christmas hairbows. I hope I never forget how she looked this day!!!

Snuggle bugs that slept most of the nights with us in Emily's bed (thanks for giving us your room, Em!!!)

Grampy and Jude had fun getting to know each other better...Jude loved all of his animals!



And Daddy and Jude boy also spent lots of time together...so nice having Daddy with us every day all day long!!!


Jude had to get ear tubes early the next morning after we arrived home from Cali...he was a sleepy boy as he waited for them to come get him!




And we spent New Year's Eve with some of our fave friends having a slumber party with all of our new baby "Boys Of Summer" (Bayo wasn't here yet when this pic was snapped!). The attire for our party was undecided- whether fancy or sleepwear...so Jude did both- bowtie with pjs...Cash was dressed to party!!!


At midnight, we cooked a big breakfast to kick off the new year...here are the chefs!


And here are the non-chefs...sleepy boys awaiting their meal! (PS...Bayo tried to hang, and outlasted the others...but finally crashed right there in the middle of the action!)


Finally feasting...we hope to make this a New Year's tradition!

And last, but CERTAINLY not least...me and my man ringing in 2012 the right way! They say whatever you're doing at midnight you will do all year, right???? :)

Certainly the best New Year's Eve yet...a wonderful end to a wonderful year. We are so THANKFUL to God for all of the many blessings he bestowed on us in 2011 and look forward to seeking Him even more in 2012! That is our only resolution. What a MIGHTY GOD we serve!

Christmas in Cali...

This year I surprised even myself when Rich asked me about spending Christmas away from home....and I agreed. You see, I have always sworn I would keep my kids at our house for Christmas morning. We woke up at our own house every Christmas morning of my life, and I liked it that way. But this year has been a bit different for our family- the Andrews clan, I mean. God has been "a' movin'" and it's been pretty amazing to watch Him. And with all of the changes, we are THRILLED that Rich's parents and little sis, Hosanna, will be o-fficial Tennesseans as of January. So this year, we wanted to be here, in San Francisco, one last time with them. Plus, our kids won't really ever remember this Christmas away from home! So me and my crazy husband who loves to travel just about as much as I do packed up our two children 2 and under :) and made the 2 plane, 3000 mile trek across the US last Thursday. We made it just in time for a couple of crazy last minute shopping days right here in the heart of San Francisco (quite the experience!) and then such a wonderful, different, peaceful Christmas day. It was truly my favorite Christmas yet, I think. Anyone who has met my in-laws know that they really are super-duper people...but there is no way to explain JUST HOW super duper!!! Super kind, super giving, super loving...and no matter where they move on this earth, their houses are ALWAYS so home-y! I love that about them. Anyways, we have had a wonderful week...and today we decided we better make that long walk across the Golden Gate bridge if we're ever gonna...so we did it...just to do it! It was loud and windy...but oh so beautiful! Vast mountains and water on one side, vast city and buildings on the other. Lots of people and bikers doing the same. And as we were almost across, I realized I am living my own dream. If the lonely girl I was 10 years ago could have seen a snapshot of today---I would have known then, as I certainly do now, that my wildest dreams WOULD come true. I have a wonderful husband, a super duper extended family, two beautiful children (who fell FAST asleep during the walk across)...and God's amazing creation to look at...all on a random December 27, 2011. Wow. I love thoughts like that.

So a few snapshots for YOU...so you can share my dreams. Please pray for my sweet, sweet Andrews family. Like I said- God, He is a' movin'! :)

These rare snuggles with Nanma are about to be a common treat in Tennessee!!


My sweet little lady getting excited for Santa!


The grand Golden Gate bridge is truly an awe-inspiring structure!

Andrews pre-bridge...all eager for the hike ahead!

Andrews post-bridge...two peaceful sleepers, two aching backs...but 4 happy hearts still!

She's BACK!!!!!

Well it has been a LONG break from the blog world...but I am happy to be BACK! I have had such a wonderful few months, finally feeling totally settled into my life with 2 little souls to look after. There is much to catch up on so that my days are not forgotten, but rather recorded here...but for now, I will start with one picture of the person who has MOST changed since my last post.



I love this face. He is the happiest little boy all the time. He loves his mama and his daddy but he LOVES his sissy! He keeps his eye on her at all times and lights up when she even looks his way. It has been the sweetest part of my day every day to watch this sweet relationship grow between my children.

Shaelyn Jade is such a good big sister- always wanting to help me with "Judey-boy"...and I am loving watching them take in the wonders of this Christmas season together!

I am back to blogging! See you soon...

She

New Sis!!!

Do you remember when I posted THIS BLOG...or how about THIS GIRL (keep reading to the bottom)???

Well, if you can believe it, folks...she IS "the one"...for my sweet brother, Gavin. This past weekend we were in on a BIG SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT for Kara. We drove to her hometown Thursday night and stayed at her parents' house. Talk about hospitable...her Mom and Dad are such sweet people---can't BELIEVE we're getting more good family! My mom and I have always been so amazed that God has given us TWO amazing girls already (Court and Tiff)...and their sweet families are like family to us, too...and now, Kara. God is good.

Anyways, we spent all day Friday getting ready (and taking Jude to an unexpected doctor visit there since he woke up with a fever/ear infection that morning...of course!) for the big night! Kara was CLUELESS...which is, apparently, hard to achieve. She thought she was just driving home after her classes Friday to go to the local high school football game (it is THE thing to do on a Friday night in Greeneville, TN!). So, she and Gavin and her parents went to dinner, as usual...and then the game. Gavin told Kara that day that he'd lost his phone somewhere that day while "riding horses on her parent's farm". So that night, after the game, he casually asked her to ride back where he'd been that day on a four-wheeler to look. Now I kinda need to give you the picture of where he took her. It is out in the middle of NOWHERE...so it was pitch black. There is the cutest little cabin back there on this rugged land...up on a hill...with a beautiful little pond just at the base of the hill. And right there on the bank of the pond sits this old, wooden swing. Just alone. Nothing special. Until Friday night. :) On Friday night, it became the site of a special engagement. We'd wrapped it in a million lights that day...


...but you couldn't see them in that darkness. We'd run extention cords from up the hill where the cabin is, and since there is NO ELECTRICITY out there, we even had a generator running (but far enough away that you couldn't really hear it). I'd planted Gav's phone right there by the swing where he could just flip the red switch on the power strip and the swing would light up the night like a Christmas tree! So Gav and Kara are there riding in the dark calling and calling this phone hoping to see it light up...and as they crest that hill he tells her to call it again...and she does...and they see it light up, way off, down by the swing. And one other sweet addition: Gavin joked with Kara when they first started dating that if he ever took her "fishing in the dark" then it was serious business...and he'd end up marrying her! Soooo....there on that swing, with all those lights...and hundreds of rose petals scattered beneath it...and 24 perfect pink roses (tied in a Tiffany-blue ribbon!) layed on the seat----he had her fishing pole leaning over it all with THE RING tied to the end....


...AND----when he knelt to turn on the lights, he also turned on the song "You and Me Going Fishing In the Dark"....such a sweet, sweet idea!!!!!


Well...to say the least...SHE SAID YES!!!! (Wouldn't you have???)...and my brother, Gavin- the hopeless romantic that he is (ha!) will marry the perfect mate that God created just for him...on June 16, 2012! I am so thankful for another wonderful sister I will get out of this deal, and excited for the rest of our lives to make memories together!
Now the second best part of this story is the second surprise! Kara and Gav rode back to her house where her mother was, of course, waiting in tears! They did the normal hooplah and then, again casually, suggested she go down the road and tell her Aunt Barbara the big news! So...they hopped in the car, drove to Barbara's, and unbeknownst to Kara...to a HUGE SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT PARTY where her closest friends and family were gathered! It was so sweet! I was so thankful to be a part!




Isn't LOVE grand?????

I know most peeps aren't into posting comments...but if you would take a second and do it---tell me about YOUR engagement! I'll give you the details of mine later...when I finish my love story I started last month! (PS- sorry for the long blogging sabbatical...been busy, but gonna get back to it now!!!)