Day 5

So...I at least STARTED strong, right? Got to having so much fun that blogging had to take a back seat until now that I am home, but wanted to post the rest of our sweet pics from last week...the most wonderful week in Charleston!


Started our day with a pedicure...so fun!

Had so much fun the night before that we decided to spend this whole day just hanging at the pool there in the neighborhood...so nice with the little kiddy pool!

Brother and Dad...

One of my favorite pics of this sweet boy yet!

And we spent another evening in downtown Charleston- ate dinner at the Irish Pub that I worked at when I lived there, Tommy Condon's...and where we ate dinner with all our friends/fam the night we got engaged!

Does anyone know what time it is???

"Does anyone know what time it is?"...

That was the question that changed my life. Literally. I was waiting in the hallway outside of my new french class, along with everyone else, for the teacher to get there. It was January. I had just returned from spending 3 weeks at home for Christmas and was back in Charleston for another semester at Trident Tech, a local community college. The plan was to continue going to school, making good grades, and after a year of being in Charleston I could apply for in-state tuition and transfer to the College of Charleston. But for now, it was Trident Tech, and I was taking French because I'd taken it 3 years in high school and knew it would be an easy "A". And I was lonely. I'd met a handful of friends the semester before, and I loved living in Charleston, but after spending a wonderful Christmas with all my friends and family...I was lonely. I was always pretty friendly in all my classes- seemed to make new friends easy enough, and especially now that I was so far from home, I depended on my classes to meet new people. Pretty much all of the people I hung out with the semester before I'd either met at school or at Pier One where I worked...so on the first day I was always looking for a new friend or two.

...But back to the hallway. I was leaned against the wall and it was rather quiet, you know- everyone waiting on the teacher, no one really wanting to talk...maybe a little awkward, even. Then, breaking the silence, a guy directly across the hall, facing me, asked (no one in particular), "Does anyone know what time it is?" I looked up, he and I made eye contact (simply because we were across from each other) and I shook my head. He was tall. VERY tall. He had long, curly dark hair. Dark eyes. Earrings in his ear. Smelled stongly like cigarette smoke. And wore a long (no trench coat-but very big) black, leather coat. His name was Richard Andrews. And at first sight, he was not someone who would have ever caught my eye. He looked kinda "dark". I thought nothing of it, but a couple minutes later he walked across the hall, squatted down right beside me, and opened a very thick book and "pretended" (I was certain) to be reading. Ugh. I would've rolled my eyes if no one would have noticed. That's what I wanted to do. I was a little jaded at the time because a boy I'd really liked (who apparently didn't have the same feelings :)) had sorta broken my heart just before Christmas break...and I just wasn't looking for the "real deal" that day...at all. And this guy, whoever he was, who was pretending to be smarter than he was (because who, really, could EVER read a book that thick, by Des Cartes, no less!!!) and tried to catch MY eye (how conceited I was!) by squatting beside me...ugh. Ugh was all I could've said, if I'd said something. But, thank goodness, I didn't. :) On the other hand, he'd been the only person who'd started any sort of conversation (and he seemed nice, albeit dark :))---and I was, after all, looking for a new friend in this new class...so when the teacher got there and opened the door, if I remember correctly, I think I kinda hoped we'd sit near each other. And we did. He was a back row kind of guy...I was a back row kind of girl. He sat in the very back left seat. One girl filed in, in front of me, and sat directly beside him. Oh, poor girl...if she'd only known she was gonna be stuck between US! And then I sat on the other side of her.
That was the beginning. Of the beginning. That was 8 1/2 years ago now. Hard to believe. That dark guy is now my husband- one of the brightest people I know who, for sure, lights up my life! :) Funny how ironic life can be sometimes. And I still wonder- if, before he "popped the question" (the time question, I mean)...the angels were smiling and waiting...

It's been the BEST week...the best vacation I have ever had. Just being back here, where it all started, we keep looking at each other and sayinf, "Can you believe we have a family???" We have had so much fun just being parents together, with no one else around. Just us. In "our" town. We've told every person we can our little story...how we met here...and how we're back on our 5 year anniversary to celebrate. We've gotten lots of "Oh how sweet!" and "Congratulations!" and "What a great love story" comments from locals. And we've remembered so many almost forgotten memories that sights and smells and songs have brought back to our mind's eyes. There is much, much more to that first day of french class...for another night when I am less sun burned and less sleepy!

Until then...some of our favorite moments from yesterday and today...


Waterfront Park: I love that you can play in the fountains here!!!

Jadey made several friends with her baby doll, Dee Dee (named after you, Aunt Dee!:))

Lovin' on brother...he layed on his back and cooed all day...

Another fabulous fountain she could actually swim in :)

And another friend...

A yummy sushi dinner...lovin' the fresh fish here!




We hit the Towne Center in Mt. Pleasant last night...TCBY and Barnes & Noble!


Another fab breakfast at our B&B this AM...

Then we hit the beach...

...all day long...

...until they both crashed!

Tonight we went to our pool and Jude got in the water for the first time!

He loved it!!



We played in the water and had so much fun...

...& Jade had her first experience w/ goggles(we laughed and laughed at this pic!!!)

...and then they both crashed...again!

Nite

Day 2

Another fabulous day that started with a scrumptuous (and complimentary, might I add!) Sunday brunch at our restaurant downstairs, Jacob's Kitchen. It was seriously PACKED, not to my surprise, since I really think they are hiding Food Network chefs in there!


Next we drove around a bit...down memory lane...and went to see Rich's old house...

854 Law Lane! :)

Then we spent the next two hours trying to get to the beach...we laughed at ourselves (and high-fived!) after we finally sat down in our beach chairs about how long it takes to get ready to do anything with two kids! Especially on our first beach trip with just us- we had to buy chairs, an umbrella, sand castle equipment...you know, everything you need at the beach, we needed! But oh, so worth it to see...

...one happy heart...

...and one happy face! :)

And tonight was so fun. Dinner at an Irish Pub right across from...


...our B & B! Isn't it perfect?



Two snoozers during the meal- beach wore them out! Made for a nice, quiet dinner though... :)

And then we drove into the city for ice cream and swinging on the Pier. Jadey loved it!


A thunderstorm came up while we swung and the most beautiful lightning ever flashed across the sky...as if God was putting on a show just for us...

...just for our little family of 4!!!


Too tired for love stories tonight...so excited for another day here in one of my favorite towns with my three favorite peeps!

Room #6

So we drove, drove, drove as far as we could last night...made it to Augusta, GA where we finally laid our heads on pillows at a Holiday Inn at 2 am. My favorite thing about hotel rooms is that you can close the curtains and the room stays PITCH BLACK until whenever you want to wake up...which helped our kiddos sleep a little later today, thank goodness. Anyways we loaded back up and finished our roadtrip to the soundtrack I made Rich the first summer after we met when I had moved home and he was still living in Charleston. Crazy how songs bring back emotions...and as we got closer and closer to the big C-town, we started remembering all the things we used to do, the feelings...the very beginning...of us. All 4 of us. :)


...coming into the city and seeing the bridge finished for the first time...

I asked him if, when he got that CD in the mail from me- a girl he really didn't know that well yet- if he thought it was "just another girl"...or if he felt different about me even that early on??? See, I never really dated anyone before Rich. He dated about, um...100 girls. :) But you know what?...he said he did feel different. Not in love, certainly, but different. He said that with all of his other girlfriends, he didn't really care about their feelings, but with me, from the very beginning, he felt "responsible" for my feelings. That was so honest and so intresting to me that it wasn't an emotion that he felt differently, but a "responsibility". And why am I BLOGGING about all this??? Because just like I told him today- I think we have a really sweet love story that I have never written down. And I want to. I want our kids to hear our love story and know that God destined us to be together. You see, it is no small incident that tonight me and this "boy" from my college french class are sidled up next to each other on a bed- me tick-tacking away on these keys and him- giving his thumbs a super work out with "Angry Birds"...like we've been together our whole lives. No small thing at all! He was born in ENGLAND. Me, America. He grew up in Baltimore, MD. I grew up in Dickson County. :) I was raised on a church pew...he never darkened the doors of a church- a self professed atheist, in fact, when I met him. From two entirely different paths, the most unlikely pair finally "stumbled" upon each other in the hallway of a community college here in Charleston. I have wondered many times what the conversation in heaven must have been like that day as he and I woke up, ate breakfast, got ready, drove to school...did all the things we'd always done every day of our lives...but THIS day, this day was to be the day we'd finally meet. The paths would finally cross. I like to think the angels watched with anticipation as I parked my car and walked toward that building, nervous for my first day of french class. "Gabriel, it's about to happen!!!...she's finally gonna meet the guy she's been praying for since she was a little girl...and she doesn't even know it!!!!" As Rich's mom let him out a few blocks away (so no one would know he wasn't able to drive) and he walked and smoked a cigarette (yes, indeed, folks...I married a one-time LOVER of the cigs), I wonder if they said, "Look! He doesn't have a clue that he's about to meet a girl in a few minutes that's going to help him finally find some peace...he's been running from God his whole life- and right now he's walking directly TOWARD Him!!!" I just wonder, often, if the angels really do rejoice in moments like ours, where two people come together to accomplish His purposes...where futures start changing and the world becomes even just a little bit better- just because two people meet...and fall in love. I wonder...

Anyways, more of that story later...but for now- we are HERE. We are in Room #6

of the I'ON Bed & Breakfast...


...super plush room with comfy southern charm...


...and can I just say the restaurant downstairs is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!? Rich and I split both our entrees tonight- Goat Cheese Ravioli and Pan Seared Scallops over a bed of perfectly steamed spinach...and Kobe Beef Sliders! Seriously gourmet...and don't know if we're gonna be able to handle Sunday brunch in the morning!!!


I surprised Jade by packing a bunch of her babies and toys and wouldn't you know that there was the perfect little closet in our room that I went in and set up for her...when I told her to go in and look she literally squealed with delight and danced a jig! So cute!


She's loved the big bathtub with the detachable shower nozzle (we don't have one of those at home :)...


...and she was so cute at bedtime laying her dolls out to sleep with her in her OWN big bed...

And Jude...well, tonight we finally got them both laid down to sleep (or so we thought) and were going to take advantage of the huge bathtub (seriously the longest tub I have ever seen- like it was made for Rich!!!)...you know, soak up a few relaxing moments...but just before we got our pinky toes in that warm water, our little guy let out his own squeals and was not going to calm down until he was right with us! Yes, it turned into a bubble bath for THREE! :) Funny how life changes with babies...but always for the better! He kicked and cooed and talked to us until we were all prunes---we LOVE us some Jude Warren! :)

Tommorrow we will go to that beach I mentioned before...the one where my sweetheart gave me the ring on my left hand. Now that was another good day, too...

Nite!

Uncles

You know you have a LOT of uncles when you start referring to anyone and everyone with that title. Recently, a new friend of our family stopped by my parent's house and Jade met him for the first time:
"Jade, this is Mr. Marty...can you tell him hello?"
"Hi Mr. Marty!"...

...but about 10 minutes later, she looked up from where she was playing in the grass and curiously questioned, "Mom- where'd Uncle Marty go?" Classic.

So I am sitting here on the bed today (in our fabulous Ion Bed & Breakfast Room #6- which I will tell more about later) feeding Jude and eavesdropping on what Jade and her favorite playmate in the world are talking about. This is how it goes:


Jade: "Put this shirt on Darla, Uncle Rich!"
Rich: "Jade, I have told you a hundred times, I'm not Uncle Rich...I'm Daddy. Daddy to you..."
Jade: "Uncle Daddy- put this shirt on Darla!"

I laughed out loud. :)

Pretty rare that one girl gets not 1, not 2, not 3 but FOUR brothers... and I will admit it took me until I started inheriting fabulous sister-in-laws to determine it was actually a lucky turnout for me!!! And since I have 4 brothers, Jadey technically has 4 uncles, but she hears the word so much that she pretty much calls any ole guy that hangs around our group "Uncle ___". We are so thankful for all the uncles...Uncle Joe, Uncle Nate, Uncle Gav, Uncle Tay Tay...Uncle Dra...Uncle Jeff...Uncle Rocky...Uncle Marty :)...and Uncle Daddy!!! :) We love you all!!!

5 years

Five years ago today, Rich and I stood on my parent's front porch and promised our love to each other. Five years. Goes by fast. Two babies later, we are headed back tonight, on this anniversary, to where it all started--Charleston, SC. We haven't been back since he got down on one knee on a beach there and asked me to always be his. And I said yes! We are so excited to see some of our old stomping grounds, to take Jade that same beach to play...And to reminisce about the very beginning of this wonderful life we share. Who, but God- in His sovereignty and grace- would have ever know how far this "back row of class" romance would go! Today Rich called me and started out with, "Well hello, French class girl!" :) I love when he still flirts with me... So here we go down memory lane together, now with two tag alongs, and we'll keep ya posted on how it goes. Mr. Andrews, I love you "big ocean" as Jadey would say...and it's still you and me,baby- 'til the wheels fall off! And oh, by the way...I am still YOURS! Thanks for askin'!

Sweet Friends...

Been so fun to watch Jade making her own friends this year by the pool! :) Love that Cate Calmus!!!

lifelong

life·long: adj \ˈlīf-ˌlȯŋ\

Definition of LIFELONG
1: lasting or continuing through life
2: long-standing


some things in life-

and some poeple-






are lifelong.
Thank goodness!

Pink Or Blue

So the plan for this late night post was to say...there's another baby coming tomorrow in our family!!! Sonya and Dra were all set for an early 5 am induction...BUT JUST NOW I got "the call" from Dra saying they are on their way NOW!!!! Pink or blue we don't know yet- but we will soon...and oh I just can't wait to hold that baby! With all of the grief they have experienced in the past year, we are so ready to share this joy with them tomorrow. Please keep my sweet soul sis and Rich's best bud in your prayers as they welcome this sweet new baby into their family. Livi is READY to be a big sis again!

PS- My last vote, for the record, is GIRL!!!

The best things in life...

So for months now, our family has been counting down weeks, days, "sleeps", and finally just HOURS until we were all going to be reunited again.That's right, Joe and Court and their gaggle of kiddos :) were supposed to be coming home tomorrow (as in MONDAY, the 13th!!!) night. We've skyped about how excited we are with them, planned all the fun things we're gonna do while we're together. On this side, we've sat around the pool and talked about how much MORE fun it will be when they are all here. Tiffany and I have literally said about a hundred times that we couldn't WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE to see our sweet sis, Court and spend a month making memories again. We'd even planned funny ideas for how we could show up at the airport and make a big scene for them...bottom line, friends, this has pretty much been the number one thing we've looked forward to for...well...7 months...since the day they left! :) But the point is, we were counting down until "Monday, the 13th, at 6 pm!!!!"

So how did I snap this picture TONIGHT...


...of my sweet ray of sunshine, Briley, holding my newest love, Jude Warren for the first time????

The answer: BEST SURPRISE OF MY LIFE!!!

See, last night, my Dad had planned a big birthday party for my Mom. I'd thought it was a little odd that he kept asking people to bring their kids...I thought it was weird that he kept saying we'd swim after dinner...a little out of the ordinary that GAVIN was coming all the way in town for it...and oddest of all that he invited several of OUR best friends, along with our family...for "Mom's party". Well it was her party, but just as we'd all eaten our fill of Nathan's delicious ribs, I noticed another car pulling down the driveway. I didn't recognize it, but that wasn't that suspicious. I was in conversation with my cousin so I really just kinda glanced at it and kept going. Then my Dad said, "Ok can I have everyone's attention one more time??? This is the REAL SURPRISE of the night pulling up!!!"...and as if perfectly cued for that moment, that car door flew open and out came a Briley, a Braxton, and a Bear running across that field. It was so surreal and I was taken aback by my own flood of emotions as I BURST into tears and took off running toward them myself. It was truly the BEST SURPRISE EVER!! We actually ALL took off running because my Dad had actually KEPT THIS FABULOUS SECRET from ALL of us (except Gavin who never would have come to the party otherwise :))...so there we were- me and Tiff squeezing little Courtney (sorry to disappoint, people, she's still as perfectly teeny tiny when she left!!!) to death, Nathan was jumping up and down with Joey, Rich got to Brax first and almost squeezed the life out of him...we just ran around in circles like a bunch of wild indians crying and laughing and absolutely not believing our eyes. Too good to be true. But true! Dad and the South Africans tricked us all.

And when I lay down my head last night (after Courtney and I text JUST BECAUSE WE COULD -which was technically the same as our daily black berry messaging, but felt better because we were actually "texting"), I couldn't stop smiling again that one of my favorite memories probably of my whole life got to happen on that day. That's why I love surprises. Real surprises sneak up on you and make you so happy on a day that you just didn't even know you were gonna get to feel that way...you know what I mean? That was yesterday. And I realized that the BEST things in life, the really BEST things like surprises and family and deep love...are FREE. Absolutely free. Isn't that GREAT???

We spent today with them... and we'll spend every minute we can with them over the next month. If I have learned ANYTHING over the past 7 months, it is that we cannot take for granted the time we have with each other...to squeeze each other's bodies while we're together :)...to be able to just sit and talk...to just hold each other's babies and soak in the summer sun together and really SOAK it in, every minute. Because there have been so many days gone by this year that we could not...and so WE WILL!!!!

So excited about this next month of memories and joy...and so thankful tonight for the gift of surprises! So happy that my Jadeybug will get to really know her 4 cousins she's just come to know on a computer screen. So happy Court will get to see me struggling as a new mommy of 2 and be able to BE with me as she gives me her priceless advice. In person. Gotta love that. So happy Joey will get to stop in and visit Rich and Nate and sit across the desk like they have a hundred times before and just BE together...laugh and talk about senseless stuff like they do...

Just happy tonight. So happy. So thankful....

Please Help!!!

Today I am posting on behalf of my dear friend, Hayley (also Courtney's wonderful sister!). Anyone who knows her probably knows that she and her sweet husband have embarked on the journey of a lifetime, following Jesus' call to adopt EIGHT precious children. It's been so challenging to all of us who know them to see them just step out in faith, and so amazing to watch God provide one more stepping stone at a time as He has continued to provide all of the answers to the HUGE questions!
As my sis-in-law, Tiffany, and I started praying about how WE could help, we decided the best way was rally as many friends as we could get the word out to and try to round up CLOTHES for the kids. Obviously, this task is HUGE in and of itself, but we are trusting God to help us, one donation at a time...and we need YOU (yes YOU!) to help us get the word out, too!!!

This Saturday, June 4th, is the drop off date for any items you have...from 10 until 2 pm. We will be set up in the parking lot of Brentwood Baptist church. They are adopting 7 boys and 1 girl (10 yr old but wears size 6). For the boys, they basically need everything from size 10 and down. These are the items that would be most helpful:
SHIRTS
SHORTS
PANTS
DRESSES
SOCKS
SHOES
BELTS
PLAY CLOTHES
DRESS CLOTHES
HAIRBOWS :)
UNDERWEAR
* ranging in sizes from 18months to 10 in all clothes
*shoe sizes range from toddler 7 to a kids 4.5


The Lord has been so good to bless them with the bunkbeds that were still needed when we sent our first email. Things like towels, linen sets, and OUTSIDE toys (like bikes!) are still needed.

We are all praying that these kiddos make it home in the month of June. Please join us in this prayer for this sweet family... and especially their 8 precious children who are almost home!

How can YOU help???
1)By PRAYING for this sweet family. We are praying that these kiddos make it home in the month of June!!!
2) By gathering any donation items for these kids- both new and gently used are gonna be soooo appreciated!!!
3)By passing this info along to neighbors, friends, family and coworkers...anyone! Send an email out if you know of people who have children these ages who may have the clothes they need. We hope to make this drive an incredible blessing for this dear family!

For anyone in the Spring Hill area, you are welcome to drop your items by my house Thursday or Friday to save yourself the trek to Brentwood on Saturday. Please leave me a comment, email me, or call me and we'll get a plan.


Thank you so much and PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!!!!

Say Cheese!!!

I know I haven't been the best, new proud mama about keeping pictures updated on here...truth is, it's hard to find the TIME when you have a little "leach" attached to your body every three hours, day and night. And, did I mention that our camera broke a couple weeks before he arrived? That said, we've been snapping cell phone pics every chance we get...and here are some of my favorites!


Going home from the hospital...

So excited!!! The sweet "welcome wagon" in the background arrived right away from his Nanma and Grampy in San Francisco packed full of all kinds of boyish goodies! His sissy has, to say the least, taken over the wagon itself and it now totes around many a doll! We are so thankful for such sweet parents (and grandparents)!

Very thoughtful...and I love how this one shows how blonde he is! I'm telling you- he's COVERED in sweet white fuzz!

This is, perhaps, one of my favorite memories of the past two weeks. My Grampa came all the way from Dickson and spent a couple hours just sitting and holding his great-grandson (we couldn't figure out just how many he has at this point...40-something grandkids and somewhere in the 30s for great grandkids!!!...and praying the sweetest prayer over his life. I love this guy more than I can say. I have so many memories spent with he and my Grandma Barb and I was so blessed by the precious time he shared with me that day...

And our first trip to see Dr Brooks must be documented, of course. We love our pediatrician and are so thankful for the wonderful care he takes with our kids!

Hoping big for a new camera soon...and more pics to come! We are doing really well...adjusting to life with a new little person around...and feel so blessed. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!