It's been a long September

Those that know me best and even read this blog regularly know that I dread September. While I was starting this post that Counting Crows song, Long December, kept replaying in my mind. Because I feel that way about September. I mean 2010's September couldn't drag out more if it added 5 more days to the end of it.
Right now I sit in that deep grief that sometimes can't even be felt. Of course, I've experienced this before but I had forgotten the feeling until it came upon me again. The days, weeks and even months after my mom's death are a blur. I can barely remember her funeral service. It's because I was chest deep in pain and loss. I always vividly remember being right beside her as she took her last breath and it being an intimate moment that was given by God as a gift among the heartache. September is never the month to celebrate her life, it just doesn't seem right. But it does always bring me an awareness of the brevity of life and an urgency to love and live while I can.
Last year when I wrote this post I never could have imagined that almost to the day I would be letting go again. The last 4-6 weeks have that blur effect. The days just run together in a string of lasts. The last time Gamo came to Greenwood, the last time she saw the girls, the last thing she sewed for me, the last time she was well enough to walk without my help, the last time we had a conversation, the last time she drank and ate, the last time.... I was able to be there for a lot of last but she waited until I was gone for her last breath.
Today I'm feeling drained and numb from her loss. She meant so much to me and my girls. She was truly a one-of-a-kind. She can't be confused with someone else because she was just that different. A bright yellow in the middle of gray. The hardest part of a loss is finding a new normal. So much of my daily life included her. There are literally 15 times during the day that I want to pick up the phone and call about something the girls did. Or talk about getting the fabric for the annual dress making we do in the fall for B. I was looking forward to week long visits in Memphis to ward off my homesickness. But I will get by and find a new normal. The loss never fades but the hurt does dull with time.
The Matriarchs of my family are gone and now I must step up. I hope that I get the best of the both of them.

From the moment Lydia was born Gamo kept saying, "She doesn't even look like a newborn! She's exceptional!" Only from the mouth of a Grandmother...

Mother's Day and Lydia's Baby Dedication. She prided herself on looking young and was on cloud nine when people mistook her for my mother. "You don't look old enough to be her Grandmother!". "Oh, I'm actually a Great-Grandmother!"

Always so proud of Kara. She told Kara she was #1 just like she had always been.

Christmas at Uncle Terry's, 2009
Gamo and Bethany on her 1st Halloween. She and Bethany shared a very special relationship. Gamo stayed with us so much during Joey's intern year. She was there for all of Bethany's milestones.

Peace eluded from Gamo when she came home on Hospice. A quality I had never really seen her hold. She had come to terms with her illness and with her faith. A life-long journey of seeking out God and God being faithful in showing himself to her. I will rest in seeing the fruit of Peace in her discovery of the truth of God's word. The gift that I will treasure among this sorrow.

"But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart, and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29

Proud Big Sister

I wanted to share some pics from KK's first VARSITY game! I can't believe she is old enough to be in high school!?!?! I couldn't wait to see her gleaming under the Friday night lights, it took me back. But she did great. I remember how nervous I was my first varsity game with the whole student body glaring down at me and worrying I was not going to know the cheer the captain called. Oh, the worries of a high schooler... Anywho, here she is, Kara McKenzie, making her varsity debut for the Travelers Rest Devildogs (sad she wasn't a General, but only few can be so lucky)! You did a great job!

Halftime she meandored over to her big sister...

Proud parents

Joey loved wearing his blue and gold!

Looking all grown up:(

Half a year already???

Liddy, I can not believe 6 months have gone by since we brought you home from the hospital! You are doing great and have been such a joy to us. We can't take you anywhere without you drawing a crowd with your gummy smile. You are the spitting image of your daddy and everyone loves the blue eyes that you share with him.
You are sleeping 12 hrs at night and take a 2-3 hr morning nap and a 1.5-2hr afternoon nap. Sometimes you even take a cat nap in the evening! You have been eating 3 "meals" a day since you were 4 months and taking 4 bottles too!
You are actually trying to crawl but right now you are doing a great job at belly scooting to get your toys. Like your sister, you love Cruz. When he comes in every morning you giggle at him while I feed you your breakfast. You come to the YMCA with me and do a really good job, with the exception of one day. Your dad wants me to stop turning on the noise machine but I still think you need it with your noisy 3 yr old sister:) You love Bethany and get so excited when she focuses her attention on you. Today you were giggling at her while she threw a fit in the car!!
We are enjoying every moment with you, Liddy. I savor each day b/c I know I can never get these precious months back. We love you!

So happy on her half-birthday!

Her gummy grin that we love so much. Who wouldn't stop and babble with her?

Her sitting-up trick...

REFERRAL!!! And other life changing news...

We are busting at the seams with all sorts of wonderful news! First and foremost we want to announce that we have FINALLY been matched with our Ethiopian son! It's a journey that started 2 1/2 yrs ago and seemed like it would never end but here we are in the final stages of bringing him home. He is a beautiful and healthy 15 month old. He is in a small orphanage right now that has almost as many nannies as children. So that is wonderful news. We will give him Joey's name, Joseph Pearson, and call him J.P. Our family has been praying specifically for certain things in the life of this child that we were yet to know and God was faithful to those prayers. We prayed that he would have attention and love while not in our care and he been loved in his 15 months of life. Unfortunately we are unable to post pictures or too many details about him until our adoption is finalized and we bring him home. I really believe we were blessed with this referral after an act of obedience in another area of our life.

Two weeks ago we decided that we needed to move where God was calling us to and it's not here in Greenwood. In the same week that Joey started working for Ware Shoals Family Practice we also put in our notice to leave on Jan. 31, 2011. In 6 months we will be moving to Memphis, TN to work with a ministry called Christ Community Clinics. They have 5 clinics in the inner city areas of Memphis and move into these under served communities and work and start churches in neighborhoods. We did a rotation last May and loved it but when it came down to deciding to stay or leave this summer we did the most easy and comfortable thing. God worked on our hearts and we realized that we made a mistake and it wasn't too late to right this wrong. We will probably we traveling to Ethiopia to bring home JP around the same time that we move. It should make for an interesting year of changes and blessings. Pray with us as we move into this next phase of life and leave the comfort of the known and move into the unknown. I'm anticipating the things that God has in store for us!

Swimming like a fish!

We had a great vacay in Garden City with all our family and friends. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Bethany did start swimming all on her own. I think she didn't want to be out done by her big cousin Hudson when he started swimming without his swimmies at the beach too. Here are some pics of our week.

Miss B in her sun hat

Sam's Corner

Rusty Roo's Birthday celebration


Mommy and Daddy's night out. The grandparents kept all the kids while all of us went out one night.

Joey, Billy and Charley. They were coming to the beach together since they were babies and now they have babies that they're bringing to the beach!

Our little olympian...

Lydia relaxing poolside

Bethany, Blake, Reed, Cy Marie and Anna Cate

My sweet family

July 4th weekend

We spent the 4th on Lake Cherokee like we've done so many times before. The house was full and so were our hearts. It was so nice to be with the whole family and we had lots of reasons to celebrate. Hudson had his 4th birthday on Thursday and we had a little party for him and Doug had just celebrated his 60th birthday and Joey's graduation.

This is Hudson blowing out his Lighting McQueen cupcake. Liddy is dangling in the background...

Adrienne, Macy and I on Kabob night.

Elba taking B for a canoe ride. We had some technical difficulties with the boat so had to find a new mode of water transport.

Danny and his sister came to visit for the day and went to Oconee Falls.

I bet you didn't know that Hudson and B could kayak.....

The Patrick Family at Dee and Gray's annual bbq. It's a big broad and Rusty's not even married yet!

Our family before the 4th bbq

My sweet patriotic girl! We were taking a late evening cruise around the lake. You've gotta love those quiet and still evenings. (Note: every little girl needs a head light at the lake. You know, just in case your in the likely situation of being out in the woods by yourself at night:))

The sun setting over the Appalachian Mnts

As much as I am blessed and forever grateful to our founding fathers and those who have died fighting for my freedom. I remember that first and foremost I am a citizen of heaven and my home is not here. If not for my freedom and right to worship I may be like the millions of others that have never had the opportunity to find the hope and peace of salvation. Today Joey and I prayed for unreached people groups around the world and those that are persecuted for simply trusting Jesus as their Savior. I hope you lift your voices tonight in prayer and pray for the church around the world. The ones meeting behind closed doors, or hiding bibles in secret places, fearing for their lives, being shunned from their families and despised by their neighbors. Simply because they are believers. Pray for encouragement and comfort as they walk a road many of us will never have to walk because we have the privilege to worship freely.

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Phi 3:20

Our final graduation? Nope

Well, it's been a busy graduation week/weekend. We started the festivities off in typical graduation week fashion; skit night and bbq at Dr. Smith's pad. Complete with the big white tent and band. Joey volunteered himself last year to write the skit for his class. Let's just say he wasn't asked again this year! But he, Russ, Danny (whom they recruited from the 2nd yr class), and Carlos. They did their own thing and it was pretty funny to see Joey in my running gear and a depends. Don't ask.

Maggie, Asia, and Bethany climbing the big Magnolia tree in the front yard

Some of the residents gearing up for the skits.

Our family the last three years:(

Joey (Dr. Sealy), Russ (Dr.Smith) and Danny AKA Danququ

The goofballs. This crew could only mean trouble!

The next day was the big graduation day. Joey's family came and his older brother, Charley. We missed Rusty but understand he's got a "real" job these days. We then went to a little reception afterwards and said our goodbyes. Lydia was really tired and started getting fussy at this point and I took her home. I got to avoid the long goodbyes which I HATE! But I went by and said bye to the Acosta's later that day. So sad.

Joey getting his diploma, at least I think that's what you call it?

Bethany was so proud of her Daddy!

The Montgomery Center for Family Practices class of 2010!

Liddy had to be taken out during the ceremony but she was all smiles afterwards.

After the big graduation I took her Joey to ATL for some Braves games. Before kids we went to at least one series every season but I haven't been to Turner Field since the year I got pregnant with Bethany. Joey's been back each year but it was a long time since the two of us enjoyed some games together. We saw two great games against the Detroit Tigers. The first night McCann hit his career 100th home run and then the next day Chipper hit a 3 run homer. We enjoyed our time without the kiddos but I missed them.

Most people would be happy to never go back to school after 23 years of school but he's not through yet. Joey starts seminary in the fall while he works at Ware Shoals family practice. He has to get so many seminary hours before being appointed as a career missionary with the International Mission Board. We're in a our last phase before we leave for the mission field! So exciting. We have the month of July to ourselves before he starts working! We plan to make up for lost time while he was a resident! It's amazing to look back over the years and see God's hand at work. Guiding us when we had no idea he was nudging us. I can't wait to see what the next few years hold!

The Man of our house!

Dad cuddling his girls:)

I wanted to post a little about the man that is the father of our house. He has a lot to put up with with three girls that want his attention and love. He is the type of man who gets up in the middle of the night when his babies are newborns and calms his anxious wife when she isn't sure of herself. He makes bottles, changes diapers, plays tea party and cowgirl, and cuddle and kisses his girls daily. On top of his domestic duties he is fully committed to his patients and their families. Many a night he has come home after staying with a family well past his shift to comfort them or reassure them. He prays with nearly all his patients and has shared the gospel with many who lack the hope of salvation. He is passionate about his family and his calling and we are few lucky girls to have his devotion! We love you babe!

Father's day 2010 at Lake Cherokee

Lydia's first Father's Day

Saddle Ridge Ranch

Howdy ya'll! This here is a few pictures of our VBS at "Saddle Ridge Ranch"! Another teacher and I led the preschool missions. We had two classrooms for each age; 3k, 4k and kindergarten. Bethany had a blast. They learned about African missionaries that work with Ostriches, Cowboy missionaries that work with cowboys and X-treme team missionaries that work in hard to reach places like the Amazon. The first night they looked at me like I was from another planet but by the end I think they realized what missionaries were and that they could be missionaries right now just by showing God's love and telling others about Jesus. So if they got that then I deem it a success! We had over 150 kids each night and the last night was "Family Night". Bethany got to sit on a real horsey and that made her day. Each night she reported to me that there were no real horses. I think she thought VBS was going to be all about horses! I have so many cute things that the kids did but not the energy to write them down. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves....

This was my 4k group, they were a trip! You can see trouble all over their little faces!

B before the worship rally at the beginning.

This is part of B's class, 3k, this isn't all of them. They were hard to corral. The costumes were part of my lesson.

Family night and Miss Priss is on Velvet. Look at that smile. She told me last night that for Father's day she was getting dad a REAL horse and for "Child's Day" (a holiday I was not aware of) she wanted a really pretty dress.

She hung around Velvet for a while before she did the jump houses.

End of the Year Program

I thought this was funny. It's Bethany's end of the school year program and she did much better than her Christmas program. At the Christmas program she just stared out into the crowd and didn't move. I think she was mesmerized by the big light. But this time she did better. Note the ugly face she makes before the music starts. I get to look at these kinds of faces at least 6-12x a day! She also gets stuck with the "eyes" motion for a while but by the end she was doing all the motions. It's only a little bit of the video hope you enjoy....
* You can silence the music by scrolling to the bottom of the page and hitting the pause button.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great Memorial Day weekend with my family. The only thing missing was Joey! He had his next to last call night and was working all weekend. The girls had a blast with my sisters and brother. Poor Anna had Bethany on her hip all weekend. B also slept with Anna and woke her very early every morning!!! Kara played in a basketball tournament all weekend and i got to catch one game and Bethany went with them to a game. She also got a new horsey compliments of Gram. I don't have a picture with her and the horsey yet but she named him Spotted and rode him all weekend. It's just a little stick horse that makes a galloping noise but she loves it! Here are a few pics of the girls with the family.

B and Lid getting a pic in their matching outfits

The girls with Gram and Papa

Kara and Sam and B. She had a great time bossing them around all weekend!