Friday Gratitude

Just a few things that I am so thankful for this Friday.  As Spring approaches, it seems to be easier to find things.  Find myself smiling more and more as the weather warms. 

Lilac Buds!!



Daffodil Sprouts

My sparkles are back!  The river sparkles like this when the light is
just right in the afternoon.  Sometimes it even reflects on the dining room wall.

My reading nook on the screened porch is finally warm enough to enjoy again,
and enjoying it I am!

We have gone for several family walks this week.  The girls are actually old enough and strong enough to walk a longer distance with us at a nice pace so it actually feels like exercise.  We played at the park for about an hour this afternoon and Zion was so excited to be able to do so many more things than he could in the fall.  Hubby and I discussed last night whether it is better to watch the news daily and everything that is happening (what I tend to do) and get kind of stressed out and fearful, or to live in a bubble and not know or think about all the crazy stuff going on.  I think I need to be informed, but at the park this afternoon, decided that it is definitely essential to my sanity to completely enjoy the moments of beauty even if surrounded by ugly, nasty and crazy. 

Friday

A few moments of lovely from yesterday and today:

 Daddy was in Texas since Saturday and we got to pick him up from the airport and take him out to lunch and to Mitchell Park Domes.



Lunch at Red Lobster



I need a big bowl of rocks and moss.  Pretty sure...



In the Desert Dome with my amazing kiddos who impressed the heck out of the employee that we were chatting with.  They Rock! 

Mexican Redbud in the Desert Dome.  Just starting to bloom. 

Thanks to the super nice lady who snapped a family pic for us. 

Powder Puff tree and yes, this is the flower!

Abi in her new dress from Aunt Mandy.  I think she looks like she stepped out of  a Dick and Jane book.

90% of my Zion pictures look like this...

Birthing Kits all ready to send to Haiti through Craft Hope

A new spring wall hanging in the works.

I'm Back!!

I had decided, last year, that something had to give and the blog was not a necessity.  Thus why I haven't updated in a year again.  Very recently, I have wanted to get back at it. I have been reading an amazing book, A Thousand Gifts, by Ann VosKamp. The entire book is about the power of gratitude and I have been keeping a gratitude journal and just feel like it is time to get back to blogging about lovely things again.  That is one reason why there is finally another post here...

My second motivation for starting back up is to introduce myself to the lovely ladies that I will be traveling to Uganda with in April! (UGANDA IN APRIL!!!). I am going with Linny and Emma Saunders and a group of ladies to Kampala, Uganda in April to basically love on some orphans and share Jesus in that way and I can not wait! So to all of you who came to my poor, neglected little blog who will be joining us on this amazing trip... Hello!!  I am Kelly and I can't wait to get to know all of you! I am going to try to post more, but feel free to look around and see what we have been up to in the past. The last year has included more being a wife, being a mom, homeschooling and creating. That is just who I am :)  A couple of pics...

Our family at Curt's Brother's wedding in June.

Our Christmas picture from this past year... Abi in pink, Emma in purple and our boy is Zion  :)

Hi... I am still alive and kicking!

I know it has been over a year! Please don't hate me. Life has been super full and active. We have all adjusted very well to having Zion in our family and can't remember what it was like before him. I am hoping to get back at posting lovely things. For now, will some photos of the last year appease you???

Abigail's 6th birthday (Jan. 2009). Zion had been home 2 weeks at this point.

Daddy proving he can hold all 3 kids.

Zion's personality starts to shine through...

Mother's Day 2009

Door County June 2009

Girls' Only Camping Trip Sept. 2009

Partners in crime...

Fall 2009

At one of Daddy's team's cross country meets

One of the last nice days of fall.

This face... oh my!

First time playing in the snow!

Christmas Picture 2009

More to come I promise!

Home

We are finally home and getting settled in. We ended up renting a car and driving from New York to Chicago and a friend picked us up in Chicago for the rest of the journey home. We arrived home at 4:30 am on Monday. Yesterday was long and hard, but we all had a good night sleep last night and are taking it easy today. The girls LOVE their brother and are being very helpful. I will post more later, but wanted to let everyone know we are home and safe. Thank you all for your prayers. We felt them!

Still Stuck

Standby flight for tonight didn't work. Did get a hotel, but there are no other forms of transportation available either. Hopefully tomorrow brings better news.

Getting Home

All day today we watched their flight numbers, hopeful whenever we saw they were still on. Dismayed when watching national news and seeing video of Detroit with ice and snow. Got the text from the previous post, and prayed. This afternoon Curt sent a message saying they were on standby for an 8:30 flight tonight, and confirmed for an 8:30 flight Saturday. We prayed they could make the earlier flight. Curt called and spoke with the girls on speaker phone to let them know. We had not told them about the chance of the delay so as not to worry them too much without need. They took it well, though with some more behavior issues this evening, most likely not just from the change in plans, but from not having an entirely consistent life the last 10 days, and from being snowed in for most of that! Emma changed her journal for today from "Mom and Dad coming home with Zion" to "NOT" to "MAYBEE!" after the phone call. Abi is "monkey mad" at the weather, Emma just wants to slam a door maybe to make her feel better.

We all went out to dinner tonight - both sets of Grandparents, the girls, and me (Mandy!) Curt called while we were eating and said they had found a hotel and would be staying the night and next day for the 8:30 flight Saturday. They should arrive in Chicago around 10:30, where Curt's brother will pick them up and deliver them to us. Please pray that no more weather disrupts their travels, and that their spirits will be lifted. Pray that Emma and Abi remain the angels they have been in the face of missing mom and dad. Thank you for your support of this wonderful family - they can feel your prayers and most certainly covet more for the future - in their immediate travel needs, and in their transition to a family of five.