Saturday, May 28, 2011
The Z's
The Z's are the real deal!! The parents are our dear friends and the boys are the best of friends!! More friends for a lifetime. They, too, live in SC and we miss them, too.
Hopefully, the girls will be good friends, too. The oldest Z is a Clemson grad--she didn't make this trip...
Clemson Tiger Fan She Is
Yep, she is a Tiger fan thanks to the Browns.. If she goes to Clemson and meets friends like the Browns then it is worth out of state tuition!! The Browns are friends for a lifetime. You want your kids to make friends with people like the Browns..
We love you...and miss you terribly!!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Emotions
Today was a tough day for us. I spent much of it sobbing.
Baby Andi fell face first onto concrete when we were at John's last day of school. The screams from the parents that saw it happen would send chills up your spine..
I picked her up from the ground to comfort her. She was crying and blood was coming from her mouth.
A crowd was gathering around...
We went into the classroom to calm her down.....and that is where she stopped outwardly crying and sobbed deep within her body...
Oh---she should still be crying...
she was looking around with fear all over her face.
But no crying... just deep sobs that I could only feel...
Her lip began to swell and her nose was scratched...
Everyone was trying to help---ice bag, offers of popsicles, more paper towels..
and I just wanted to disappear with her. I wanted to be alone with her to hold and comfort her.
She needed me but was shutting down...
I texted Andy to tell him what had happened. He called as I was driving into the garage at home. My tears started flowing...
You see it is not the blood, detached frenulum, scratched nose that really bothered me. It was that she cried in pain but then made herself stop...
Andy reminded me that it takes "little bumps and bruises" for her to learn that she does have a Mommie that loves her.
Oh---my baby didn't have her mom with her for the first 18 months of her life to love and comfort her... Oh, my heart breaks..
All of this is hard to describe in words right now. It is just hard..painful..sad..helpless..
Baby Andi fell face first onto concrete when we were at John's last day of school. The screams from the parents that saw it happen would send chills up your spine..
I picked her up from the ground to comfort her. She was crying and blood was coming from her mouth.
A crowd was gathering around...
We went into the classroom to calm her down.....and that is where she stopped outwardly crying and sobbed deep within her body...
Oh---she should still be crying...
she was looking around with fear all over her face.
But no crying... just deep sobs that I could only feel...
Her lip began to swell and her nose was scratched...
Everyone was trying to help---ice bag, offers of popsicles, more paper towels..
and I just wanted to disappear with her. I wanted to be alone with her to hold and comfort her.
She needed me but was shutting down...
I texted Andy to tell him what had happened. He called as I was driving into the garage at home. My tears started flowing...
You see it is not the blood, detached frenulum, scratched nose that really bothered me. It was that she cried in pain but then made herself stop...
Andy reminded me that it takes "little bumps and bruises" for her to learn that she does have a Mommie that loves her.
Oh---my baby didn't have her mom with her for the first 18 months of her life to love and comfort her... Oh, my heart breaks..
All of this is hard to describe in words right now. It is just hard..painful..sad..helpless..
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Andrew turns 15 years old
My Boy turned 15 on Friday!! He still has those cute chubby cheeks.. Gotta love him:)
Thursday, May 19, 2011
That doesn't hurt
Andi does not get upset when she falls and hurts herself. Some would say, "wow, what a tough girl! She is tough like her brothers."
But really, it is a behavior that can be traced back to being in an orphanage. She learned that when she was hurt nobody came running to make it all feel better. So she had to "tough it out" on her own. Take care of herself. Deaden the feelings that something was painful.. Deny the pain.
That is the way she had to survive!! Orphan mentality!!
It makes this Mommy's heart sad when I see Andi do this at home. I go to her and love on her. I tell her that she is ok, that Mommy loves her. I pray that she will begin to cry when she bumps her head! and that she will come running to me for comfort! Because that is real.. pain hurts.. we need someone to care for us.. to know that you have a family...
How much do I have the same orphan mentality?? That "things" in life are no big deal...
I deaden myself to the reality because reality hurts.. and I need to be a tough girl and take care of myself! The ole American way --- pull yourself up by the bootstraps!!
BUT WAIT!! I have a family... a forever family.. one that will never leave or forsake me!! I have a big brother! He protects me.. He picks me up and loves on me... He stands before my father and takes my punishment so that I will not have to take it (but it was my wrong doing that he is being punished for!!) He sacrificed his life for me... He came from heaven to earth for me!
AND THERE IS MORE!! My family's father is called Papa God... I can come before Him in boldness because of what my big brother has done for me.. I can crawl up in his lap for him to quiet me with his love. He is there when I get hurt... Actually, He runs out to me.. He comes for me. He picks up his pant legs and runs to greet me...(greeting me covered in my own muck--just as I am) He doesn't tell me to "get over it" or "I can't believe you did that again".. He loves me. He comforts me. He adores me. He is my father.. He will never let me down..
AND SO why do I act like an orphan on a daily basis? Thinking I can take care of myself. That I have "this one" but I will come to my Father on the big things... Why?
I have a family:) Let the rejoicing begin. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness... amen
But really, it is a behavior that can be traced back to being in an orphanage. She learned that when she was hurt nobody came running to make it all feel better. So she had to "tough it out" on her own. Take care of herself. Deaden the feelings that something was painful.. Deny the pain.
That is the way she had to survive!! Orphan mentality!!
It makes this Mommy's heart sad when I see Andi do this at home. I go to her and love on her. I tell her that she is ok, that Mommy loves her. I pray that she will begin to cry when she bumps her head! and that she will come running to me for comfort! Because that is real.. pain hurts.. we need someone to care for us.. to know that you have a family...
How much do I have the same orphan mentality?? That "things" in life are no big deal...
I deaden myself to the reality because reality hurts.. and I need to be a tough girl and take care of myself! The ole American way --- pull yourself up by the bootstraps!!
BUT WAIT!! I have a family... a forever family.. one that will never leave or forsake me!! I have a big brother! He protects me.. He picks me up and loves on me... He stands before my father and takes my punishment so that I will not have to take it (but it was my wrong doing that he is being punished for!!) He sacrificed his life for me... He came from heaven to earth for me!
AND THERE IS MORE!! My family's father is called Papa God... I can come before Him in boldness because of what my big brother has done for me.. I can crawl up in his lap for him to quiet me with his love. He is there when I get hurt... Actually, He runs out to me.. He comes for me. He picks up his pant legs and runs to greet me...(greeting me covered in my own muck--just as I am) He doesn't tell me to "get over it" or "I can't believe you did that again".. He loves me. He comforts me. He adores me. He is my father.. He will never let me down..
AND SO why do I act like an orphan on a daily basis? Thinking I can take care of myself. That I have "this one" but I will come to my Father on the big things... Why?
I have a family:) Let the rejoicing begin. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness... amen
Endeavor Launch from our backyard
So cool to watch the launch from our backyard and on tv at the same time. I just can't believe that the program is coming to a halt...
But to see the lift off in person with all the sights, sounds, and people was way more exciting.
This is the Discovery going off in February.
I remember when the Challenger blew up:( I was in college (go Clemson). Ron McNair, an astronaut on that mission, was from my hometown of Lake City, SC.
Monday, May 16, 2011
What if??
What if God had not given us Andi??
We wouldn't be enjoying a home-cooked meal by the sweetest, cutest, most precious girl in the world!!
We wouldn't have the joy of listening to her laugh and giggle...
We would miss the sweetest kisses in the world..
We wouldn't have the privilege of watching Andi blossom into a beautiful flower..
and the flip side is sooo hard to write---
What if??
She was still in an orphanage with about 80-90 other children..
She did not have a family to hold her, love her, laugh with her, care for her.....
She did not get to go outside to play (because she did not go outside.. she stayed in a playroom on the second floor)...
She did not get to hold her first earth worm..
She did not get to hold her first frog..
She did not get to marvel at baby birds in a nest waiting for their mother to feed them...
She did not have a mother to feed her like the baby birds do...
OH---my goodness......
What a blessing to be given this child of God to love and nurture in her forever home....
Kayak Fishing Tourney
Andrew and Austin fished in one of the largest (if not the largest) kayak fishing tournament this past Saturday.
Andrew caught a flounder a little over 18 inches long which would have placed around 3rd place if he wasn't disqualified..
Yep, my boy was DQ'ed because of his mother's mistake with the camera. Basically, my camera split the morning launch photos from the afternoon catch photos so when he presented his photos at weight in, he did not have the launch photo (which is a requirement). Boy, did I feel bad..
The director of the tourney came by yesterday and brought him a bag filled with fishing supplies and a gift certificate to Black Creek Outfitters because of the sportsmanship that Andrew demonstrated when DQ'ed.... and because his fish would have placed in the top 3.. and the director so enjoyed the photo with a bag of chips, Gatorade, water bottles, half eaten banana in the kayak and pouring down rain!!
A huge storm came up while they were out on the water!! They had to tie up the kayak across the creek because the tide was too low to get back to our dock... thank goodness for neighbors...
After it settled some, the boys went back out to fish in the cold rain.. (yep, it got cold after the storm)
The boys had a blast...
Andrew caught a flounder a little over 18 inches long which would have placed around 3rd place if he wasn't disqualified..
Yep, my boy was DQ'ed because of his mother's mistake with the camera. Basically, my camera split the morning launch photos from the afternoon catch photos so when he presented his photos at weight in, he did not have the launch photo (which is a requirement). Boy, did I feel bad..
The director of the tourney came by yesterday and brought him a bag filled with fishing supplies and a gift certificate to Black Creek Outfitters because of the sportsmanship that Andrew demonstrated when DQ'ed.... and because his fish would have placed in the top 3.. and the director so enjoyed the photo with a bag of chips, Gatorade, water bottles, half eaten banana in the kayak and pouring down rain!!
A huge storm came up while they were out on the water!! They had to tie up the kayak across the creek because the tide was too low to get back to our dock... thank goodness for neighbors...
After it settled some, the boys went back out to fish in the cold rain.. (yep, it got cold after the storm)
The boys had a blast...
Johnny Boy's Birthday--Double Digits
My baby boy turned 10 on Sunday!! I just can't believe it...
My sweet boy...my smiley boy...my fun loving boy...my brown tanned boy...my boy!! 10 already..
Oh, I am sooo thankful for the gift of John..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JONNY-MICE... I LOVE YOU
Saturday, May 14, 2011
She loves to swing
We took Andi up to Jarboe Park to swing. She cried all the way back home because she had to stop swinging..
Mother's Day
What a special Mother's Day. It was Andi's first day at church. She even wore her squeaky shoes--which Andy about killed me for letting her wear them to church.
So content having all my children home!!
I thought getting four kids to smile and look at the camera was hard! Try 4 boys and one little girl!!
So content having all my children home!!
I thought getting four kids to smile and look at the camera was hard! Try 4 boys and one little girl!!
The Real Heros
Wednesday at the TPC was Military Appreciation Day. John went up to one of the soldiers and asked for his autograph! Then other kids starting following his lead...
We are so thankful for the men and women that serve and protect our country...and for their families that make so many sacrifices.. Brings tears to my eyes.
There was a F-18 fly over!! I just love fly overs.. I cry every time. But this time, the jets did a golf fly over---quiet!! We are used to the fly overs over the Jaguar stadium which are thunderously loud!!
The 82nd airborne sang Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" and the Temptations' "My Girl"--pretty cool stuff.
Darius Rucker ended the day with an awesome concert. We used to listen to him in the local Charleston nightclubs way back in our college years...
TPC
Andi loved going out to the TPC. She even got Phil Mickelson's autograph in her baby hat!! That's my girl..
A Gator Girl
She sure does look cute in her Gator cheerleading outfit.
The boys went on online to shop for Gamecock items!!
And I am wondering where I could go get Clemson items...
Andi is going to have a tough decision regarding which team she will pull for!!
Grand Slam!
Grand Slam!!
That is how the cardiologist described baby Andi's test results.
The vsd and asd that had been reported on her echoes in China are now completely healed!!
Wow!! What a Miracle.
Thank you for all your prayers.
So thankful that God has blessed us with a healthy baby girl:)
So happy for baby Andi. She is such a joy to be around.
That is how the cardiologist described baby Andi's test results.
The vsd and asd that had been reported on her echoes in China are now completely healed!!
Wow!! What a Miracle.
Thank you for all your prayers.
So thankful that God has blessed us with a healthy baby girl:)
So happy for baby Andi. She is such a joy to be around.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Mother-Daughter Photo Contest
Ok, I am going to let you know how crazy I am... There is a photo contest in our local newspaper for Mother's Day... mother-daughter look a like contest... It seems they will post photos of the mothers and separate ones of the daughters to see if the readers can match the families...
Well....I told Andy that I wanted to enter it..Because I feel like Andi and I both look a like!!
Andy thinks I am crazy--which he should have already known that..
But when I look at our photos I see 2 people happy on the inside.... we do look alike!! We are enjoying each other and it shows...
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Progression--Regression
Regression is what Andrew describes his relationship with Andi..
She begins to smile and laugh with him then he goes off to school or baseball, and Andrew starts all over with Andi..
But Andrew is being persistent in pursing the relationship with Andi...even though it is hard to feel rejection from her.
I wrote back to Andy when we were in China that Andi would be mad with me every morning.. She looked like she was thinking---"why are you still here? I like the boys, but you?? not so much!"
It was hard on my heart but worth pursing her heart!!
So it is good when Andi and Andrew can be alone together...she doesn't have any choice but to play with him...and this is what I get to treasure up in my heart---the laughing, smiling, reaching out for him to catch her, holding onto him!! and seeing Andrew smile with joy that "she likes him now."
Sharing lunch with Andrew:)
OH---She said BUBBA today during lunch:) BUBBA, Bubba!!
She begins to smile and laugh with him then he goes off to school or baseball, and Andrew starts all over with Andi..
But Andrew is being persistent in pursing the relationship with Andi...even though it is hard to feel rejection from her.
I wrote back to Andy when we were in China that Andi would be mad with me every morning.. She looked like she was thinking---"why are you still here? I like the boys, but you?? not so much!"
It was hard on my heart but worth pursing her heart!!
So it is good when Andi and Andrew can be alone together...she doesn't have any choice but to play with him...and this is what I get to treasure up in my heart---the laughing, smiling, reaching out for him to catch her, holding onto him!! and seeing Andrew smile with joy that "she likes him now."
Sharing lunch with Andrew:)
OH---She said BUBBA today during lunch:) BUBBA, Bubba!!
This past Monday
I told a friend of mine that Monday felt like when I came home from the hospital with our other 4 children..
"wait--doesn't anyone realize that we/I just had a baby?!!"
"back to normal life??"
"wait a minute, my emotions are all over the place, and the world around me is going back to everyday life!!"
"Do you guys realize---I just had a baby!! and what that means??"
"everyone stop---just sit here--and stare at this precious child!! because I can stare and hold them all day with such contentment.."
Well---the same emotions and thoughts were here on Monday as almost 15 years ago, 11.5 years ago and almost 10 years ago...
The heart of a mother is filled.....content..joyful...thankful..awe struck...
So Monday came--Andy went back to work, Andrew went to school, doctor appt for Andi, Walgreens shopping, driving a car (remember I have not driven in a little over 2 weeks).....everyday life....normal life...my life:) I am blessed..
Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Wow---our God rejoices over us!! He calms us with HIS LOVE...
These emotions/feelings/thoughts that I have regarding my children (really His children that He has given me the privilege of mothering) are nothing compared to the DELIGHT the Lord has for me!! WOW....
How great is our God!! Sing with me!!
"wait--doesn't anyone realize that we/I just had a baby?!!"
"back to normal life??"
"wait a minute, my emotions are all over the place, and the world around me is going back to everyday life!!"
"Do you guys realize---I just had a baby!! and what that means??"
"everyone stop---just sit here--and stare at this precious child!! because I can stare and hold them all day with such contentment.."
Well---the same emotions and thoughts were here on Monday as almost 15 years ago, 11.5 years ago and almost 10 years ago...
The heart of a mother is filled.....content..joyful...thankful..awe struck...
So Monday came--Andy went back to work, Andrew went to school, doctor appt for Andi, Walgreens shopping, driving a car (remember I have not driven in a little over 2 weeks).....everyday life....normal life...my life:) I am blessed..
Zephaniah 3:17
"The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you.
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
Wow---our God rejoices over us!! He calms us with HIS LOVE...
These emotions/feelings/thoughts that I have regarding my children (really His children that He has given me the privilege of mothering) are nothing compared to the DELIGHT the Lord has for me!! WOW....
How great is our God!! Sing with me!!
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