not much happening but….

• spring cleaning around the house
• lots of rain here in the upstate
• half marathon coming up in 3 weeks
• tennis to be played
• girls on spring break
• way to much on my plate at Wayfarer
• finding time to run
• celebrating 11 years with Dave next weekend
• a hubby who’s been on the road a lot this spring
• getting rid of lots of stuff in our house
• simplicity
• a new season of idol
• tax returns finally coming in
• no more diapers or pull ups in this house
• 6 months now waiting to get into IBESR with Frankie. 
• good times with friends and family

To do for others

Lately I’ve been inspired by people’s stories as they do for others is such a hard economy…

 - a barber giving free haircuts to those who need to go and find jobs.

 - people signing up to support kids for summer camp.

 - people playing the grocery game and taking deals they don’t need to the local food pantry…

So I wonder what can I do?  What can I offer in a time of people having so many needs…when I don’t have much in the wallet to give.  Well here is my thought and offer…  I am an event coordinator and have planned and booked events for over 10 years now.  With that I also love a deal.  So even in these hard times if you or someone you know wants some free research on a trip, or plane tickets, hotels and what is out there as far as deals go…. well let me know your trip details and travel dates and I’ll see what best deals I could possibly find for you…. 

It always surprises me how many people don’t do the research.  So if you don’t have time here I am offering my time to do in a way to pass on the blessing in this not so good economy….

Love Gives People… In many ways….

Frankie Turns 2

Today was Frankie’s birthday per all the information we have. He turned 2 today. It’s weird celebrating a childs birthday when they are not here with you. The girls wanted to make him a cake so that is what we did and then we sang Happy Birthday to him. I wish we would be able to look forward to his 3 year old birthday with him here but that is almost impossible. I even wonder if he’ll be here for his 4 year old birthday? Still no news as to any movement with getting us into IBESR. We are on our way to missing the next few years of his life. For me that is going to be hard since these next few years are my personal favorite as far as age is concerned. But that is ok… we know we will have many birthday celebrations to come when the person we are celebrating will be around the table with us. Happy birthday Frankie. We love you so much and we are hoping you had a good day today in Haiti with your friends and your nannies. Sleep well….

Today

Today -

• Is the first day of spring
• Is twin day for Emma at school.  She was so excited
• Is the day Emma’s animal comes out of hibernation at school
• my feet don’t hurt after running 4 miles yesterday.  Thank you Lord!
• Dave is home and not heading out for an event this weekend
• Is Frankie’s 2 year old Birthday (so we think per some records) 
• We are making a cake to celebrate
• I have more than I can tackle today at work

Yup.. that is today.  I’ve kind of been a little out of pocket lately.  In reflection mode.  So many things going through this little brain of mine.  If I even attempted to spit out some of the thoughts you may think I’ve gone off the deep end.  My friend Burge made me a running cd and on it is Martina Mcbride’s song Anyway…..  that about sums up a lot of things for me right now….

You can spend your whole life building something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away … build it anyway
You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach
And you know it might not ever come your way … dream it anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway … I do it anyway

This worlds gone crazy and it’s hard to believe,
That tomorrow will be better than today … believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons
And in a moment they can choose to walk away … love em anyway

God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway … yeah, I do it anyway

You can pour your soul out singing a song you believe in
That tomorrow they’ll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway … yeah, sing it anyway yeah, yeah

I sing … I dream … I love … Anyway

Winter Park

I am with Dave this weekend in Winter Park, CO.  He’s here for a Student Life Ski Event and they were so kind to let me come along.  It’s been a very long time since I’ve been on the road with Dave without the kids.  It’s been more than 3 years I’m thinking….

I’ve never been to Colorado and I am just in awe of it’s beauty.  It’s so peaceful and clean here.  I feel like I can breathe again.  Dave and I went skiing today.  Well I went skiing and he went snow boarding.  I was on the ski club in high school but have not been on the slopes in over 15 years.  And I never knew the skiing was as beautiful and enjoyable here.  I’ve only ever skied on the north east of the country.  I don’t know if I can ever call that skiing again.  Dave has had 2 ACL surgeries so he can’t ski but tried the snow board.  Let’s just say he spent a few hours in bed today and loaded up on the advil.  But we had a great time.

I’ve been doing a lot of “firsts after so many years this past month”.  Running, playing tennis again and now skiing.  I’ve been so blessed to have had these opportunities.  It’s so nice to be here with Dave.  To be along side of him as he lives out part of his calling as he gets the opportunity to speak to students and challenge them in God’s word.  Our family is always thankful for any opportunity to partner with others.  We consider it a big responsibility and a big joy.  I think that is the best part of this weekend.  That I get to sit in the back of the room and just be another person there.  With kids often with me at these times I don’t get to do that much and so this weekend it’s nice to just be available to just sit and journey along.

I’ve got to get out and get some pictures of this great part of our country….  I’ll have to share those soon….

Oh and on a side note…  Aaron and Jamie Ivey are in Haiti this week with some Ladies from their church and Aaron texted Dave this morning and said…”Guess who I am sitting next to in church in Haiti?”  It was Frankie.  And there you go… once again another blessing that I don’t really deserve.  God keeps allowing random visits with people that we know with Frankie in Haiti.  It’s so comforting… in this very LONG process we always seem to get steps of Hope that keep us moving.  I feel at such extremes… today Frankie is in Haiti at church with our friends and Dave and I are witnessing snow capped mountains and their beauty in CO.  Just seems weird to me….

Frankie Update…..

We just got an update on Frankie.  Our files are still stuck in the Mayors office and thus we still wait to be entered into IBESR.  It’s ok.  We really do know that we are not in control of this process and we just have to trust God with our journey.  I have to keep saying that because it’s an easy thing to say but another thing to live out.  We are trying to live it out the best that we can.  We also know that Maranatha is doing everything they can and so thus we will continue to wait and pray that our files get entered soon.

Here are a few pictures of Frankie maybe taken today???  I think he’s changed so much since I saw him in January.  It does not surprise me because Izzie is in a stage right now where she is changing a lot too.  This first picture is my favorite since when I was with him, he just loved playing with the chalk.  This gave me the biggest smile tonight. Nothing better than seeing my sweet boy loving him some chalk.

If you ever wonder how you can pray for us right now…. would you please pray specifically for our papers in the Mayors office and that the lawyer who is not the least bit inclined to do what he is supposed to do would wake up one morning and decide to make it happen and not have any excuses not to.  And please pray for Junior who handles the paperwork for Frankie and all the other kids at Maranatha….  would you pray that  God will encourage Junior, and that He will give Junior favor in the eyes of every person with whom he works so that the adoptions can continue to move forward?

Thanks everyone who continues to read my blog from time to time.  We all have our journey’s we are on and I know our family really appreciates all the prayers and support for our journey with Frankie.  Much Love…….

Mad

I am so mad. frustrated. annoyed. disappointed. discouraged. mad.

I can’t run right now.  Dave got home from work and I was all set to go and made it to the front of the neighborhood and had to stop.  I can’t run right now.  My one foot and even my other is sending major pain every time it strikes the ground.  I can tolerate a lot of things and I’m not a wimp but I seriously can’t run on my feet right now.

I just started running 6 weeks ago.  I finally got to a place of enjoyment.  Last week I did 4/2/4 and then a 6 mile long run on Saturday and woke up Sunday and could bareley walk.  It’s not Thursday and it’s still killing me.   Is it my shoes?  Did I run too long on a slanted road?  Do I keep running through it?  How long do I sit out?  Will I loose all the ground I’ve made?  Half is coming up April 18th and I don’t need this right now.

I love my husband.  He asked if I would feel better if he would skip his run tonight.  I said, “oh would you?”  I hate being behind!  Now I feel bad… Not really..    I’ve had some advice but feel free to leave me some.

 - I have good shoes, was fitted for them.

 - I’m having pain in the side of my foot and heal area when it strikes the pavement.

 - been icing it and taking advil.

Snow Day

Yesterday was so much fun…playing in the snow.  And once we made the snow man Izzie went on to start eating and licking him.  Should I be worried?  I still laugh when I think about it!

What are you doing today?

It snowed here last night.  I grew up in the North so I really forget the impact it has on the little ones.  7am this morning and they were begging to get outside.  Emma is still out there.  We have not had a snow like this in SC for a long time.  It’s going to be a fun day.  Dave made it in from TX late last night.  His car is still at the airport since it was covered in ice and snow.  But we are glad daddy is home for today to enjoy a great SNOW DAY!

Look what I just found on facebook?

Nate is in Haiti and I believe just took these pictures yesterday or today.  I don’t know who Nate is or why he is in Haiti but I’m sure glad he took the time to post some pictures of the kids at Maranatha.  Ugh I miss Frankie.  I’m loving his hair right now and see those crocs?  I took him those in January when I went.  So glad he’s getting much use out of them.  And the sucker… well as you can tell he loves them and loves making a mess with them.

This mom is so happy that Frankie is happy and life for him is full of friends and lolly pops and people that love love love him!