Monday, November 29, 2010

Oh there was cake...

Most November 28ths of my life have been spent with this guy...

...celebrating his birthdays. And although this year he wasn't with us, don't you worry, folks-there was celebrating in TN! The birthday card I sent him in South Africa said that we'd bake a cake...so we did!
...And this girl never even knew that the reason for our celebrating was on the other side of the world!



Joey, oh how we miss you! We miss your funny, funny stories, we miss your big, fun spirit, we miss your wisdom and we miss seeing you all the time. I am so proud of you- you have always been one of the strongest leaders in my life, and it does not surprise me one bit that God has called YOU to South Africa to lead those precious people there. I pray for you daily and I love you so much. I hope your birthday was the MOST special one yet...and can't wait until we're together again to celebrate many more!

PS...the cake was STRAWBERRY...your fave! :)

Sunday, November 21, 2010


We spent our Sunday night at the park...

...probably one of the last before light jackets turn into winter coats...

...and we loved every minute of it. We are so thankful for these fallish days with our little panda bear! :)

Monday, November 15, 2010

here and there...

Well we spent Friday ninght with two of our favorite dudes in town, Cy Austin and Colby Todd. Their mom and dad had a special date night and we had a sleepover. We started at the mall where they ran crazy with all of the other children in Franklin who apparently hang out there at the play place on Friday nights, too...

...and did a little driving around...

...and then ended up all snuggled up with popcorn and a movie. Shaelyn Jade learned how to say Cy ("th-y") so she pretty much goes around the house saying it all the time....

Then Nate and Rich left for work in Atlanta this week so Tiff and I joined our crews again last night for another sleepover at "Grandmo Connie's" house. We had one extra "cuz" join us so her mom and dad could also have a date night...and again it was just about more fun than they could all handle!

But I must say the highlight of this party was that we finally ALL got to talk to Joe and Court and the kiddos together this morning. Uncle Dra even showed up to get Livi at the perfect time and got to sit and chat with Joe for a bit...I know it did both of their hearts good. It was such a joy to see all of their faces- after too long...and hear their excitement at their new adventure. Briley is cast-free and has caught an African frog...Braxton showed us another one of his very cool lego creations and got to talk to his two best buds...Barron had MUCH to say to everyone over and over again :)...and told us about the baboons that are as big as him that walk all over the place there...we got to see Bristol walk (and heard her fall down the stairs)...heard a classic Joey story of how he ran over a snake the size of HIM (and a local took it home for "snake soup"...FOR REAL!)...and got to see our sweet "sis" Courtney and hear about her new home...and see that she is good. It was just what Tiff and I needed to hear, and KNOW----that our crazy family is still their same, crazy, HAPPY selves there that they were here!

So today as my sweet girl naps my heart is FULL of THANKFULNESS for my family...the ones HERE who we hold close and see lots (and who help fill the void of our other missing peeps) and who Jadeybug is growing to love more and more as she comes so alive to this world...and for those far away who we hold EVEN closer :), see less, miss more, and pray for MORE...and count days til we are with again. We love them all the same---so so much and feel so blessed to share such deep bonds with those who are my family. It was so good to be reminded, today, that those bonds will never change or lessen despite time or distance.

We will continue making memories as a group...here with "Th-y" and Colby (which she absolutely cannot say at all!) and via SKYPE with Bri and Brax and Bear and Brist. It's new for us, but hey- we'll take it! Oh how sweet to see those smiling faces...

Friday, November 12, 2010

For You, Court...

Last night I went to Chili's...and although I never am a "dessert girl" (I'd rather have seconds on dinner always!), I couln't pass this up...


...because Courtney would give anything for a bite of it right now! My sweet sis-in-law has been known go great lengths for a molten chocolate cake from Chili's, so I just couldn't pass up the chance to indulge, FOR YOU, Court! :)

Thinking of you every single day. All the time. Love you, girl!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

smiles

Lots of smiles this week as me and my girl have been just hanging out together...like we always do. This was one of my favorite moments. As dinner ended the other night I went in to run Shae Jade's bath water like I do almost ever night. I had just started it and ran in the other room to do something quick...and when I returned I found an anxious bather had forgotten something...


...In her excited frenzy she didn't realized she was STILL IN HER CLOTHES...tennis shoes and all...and when I got to her she was, albeit a little confused, happy as a lark in her warm bathwater! I laughed and laughed over this one and yelled for Rich to come get a picture of this so we can look back many, many days from now and laugh again when we tell her about it.

Oh what JOY she brings to me...

Thursday, November 4, 2010

GIVEAWAY!!!

Friends:
This is, perhaps, the BEST GIVEAWAY I have E-V-E-R seen on any blog...and it happens to be one of my favorite bloggers giving it away...so CHECK IT OUT! Enter to win. It's better than tickets to Disneyland...better than anywhere...because you can go there ANYTIME, FOR FREE, WITH ANYONE...for the rest of you life.

GO, GO, GO. It's one of my FAVORITE PLACES that I will be taking Jade to as SOON as she's old enough...I am dying to travel here with her!
Go, Go, Go...
And let me know if you win!