Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Madison Ruth

Dear Madison Ruth,

You! Little girl will always hold a special place in my heart. From the moment I saw your picture, I knew why your momma fell in love with you:) You are SO precious. That smile would melt anyone.
See?
When your Mommy and Daddy decided it was time to go to Uganda to get you, I couldn't have been happier! We were all thrilled and praying and longing to meet you!
Whew! Your mommy was there for nine weeks fighting to bring you home! It felt like an eternity. A few weeks in, we found out your mom would need to bring you home alone. I couldn't have that. Mr. Jeremy and I prayed and God opened lots of doors for me to come and help you and your mommy home.
What a relief it was to step foot onto the Ugandan soil and see your mommy's face! And then it was off to meet you....
When I first met you, you were in class with your friends. You came right up to your mommy and squeezed her legs, begging her to pick you up. It melted my heart to see the two of you together.
I admired you from a distance until you were ready to get to know me. The first time you let me hold you, total sweetness.
The more time I spent with you, the more I saw your mommy's love for you, the more I have learned what God's love is like. It's unconditional, it breaks all barriers, and it's fierce.
I feel so privileged to know you Madison Ruth. To love you. To get to babysit you. To get the chance to watch you grow up. Right here, in North Carolina. Whoa.
Our God is Big Madison Ruth. He's Big and He's awesome and He's the author of your Life!


Monday, September 27, 2010

Homecoming

I still have more Uganda pictures. Yep, still sorting through.

The day we left, We threw a going away party for Madison Ruth. It's a time for the mommas to be thanked and they all say their goodbyes.
Kim had to go get the visa, so I got to babysit Madison and throw the party!
Madison is helping me cut the cake!
They sang, "Bye, Bye Ruth, Bye Bye Ruth, Bye Bye Ruth, may God Bless You."

Kim came with the visa, and we hit the road!

Madison conked out on the way to the airport.
She did amazing on the plane. Our first leg was overnight and she slept in this little thing the whole flight. It was so sweet.
24 hours later, we see these precious faces waiting on us!!! Our families and dearest friends, there to welcome us home.


Sweet little Sydney
The boys and one totally excited hubby and little girl waiting to see their mom and new sister!
The pics aren't good from here cause we were too excited to see our families:) Here I am trying to keep videoing Kim, but I didn't do a good job.
Their first embrace. There wasn't a dry eye among us.




Tis sweet to be home. But I do miss Uganda too.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Apple Pickin!

It's that time. Time for apples. Time for my favorite season of all, Fall.

Last week we took the kiddos to the apple orchard.
Every year we go to Apple Hill Orchard in Morganton. It's so beautiful up there.
Lunch started us off....
The gang getting ready to go up the hill...

Gracie wanted to pull the wagon. Bless her heart, she did a great job!
We picked Golden Delicious and Jonagolds




The big girls let the littles help them carry the baskets:)
It got heavy...


The kids did great! It was a hooootttt day, but fun!

Dan Nicholas Park

I'm baaack:) Once again, a long pause on here. I still don't have my computer back to where it was before the new hard drive, so that's taken a lot of time.

After Gracie and Ellie finished their first week of school, Kim and I decided to take the gang to Dan Nicholas Park. They have a little bit of everything!

The kids picked to ride the train first...
We had a big girl paired up with each of the littles:)

Then it was on the the carousel
Even Reese rode



Then it was on to the animals. This was the bear exhibit.

We made a pit stop at the playground
Goofy kids:)
Reese likes slides! And she really likes to climb up them
They even have a petting zoo. I wish I knew what this animal was called. Way neat.
Lastly, we finished up at the splash park