Coco Loco Anyone!!

I just want to share some pictures of my cruise with my friend Sally!!

Have I mentioned what an awesome time we had???

Just Checking!!!!

See all the people snorkeling!! The water was cold!!

See the joy on our faces!!

Sally asked me not to put pictures on facebook!! I didn't...I put them on blogger, does that count?

These pictures are from the Royal Caribbean's private island, Coco Cay....There was a little man that walked back and forth over and over and said, "Coco Loco, Anyone, Coco Loco, Buy your Coco Loco!!"  We probably heard this 1000 times that day!! To the point in all of our bliss that when he would start toward us and ask us again if we wanted one of these island drinks, we would bust out laughing....And we didn't drink a drop!! 

But now after two weeks back of work.....I close my eyes and dream I was back on this little island and this annoying man was walking back and forth saying, Coco Loco Anyone!!!

 

Happy New Year: What's been going on!!

I know, I know its January 10....We hit Christmas wide open and I haven't stopped since!!  Christmas was amazing (with the exception of one BIG thing-Olivia wasn't there).. The boys had an amazing Christmas...Santa brought a HUGE clubhouse/swingset combo for our backyard....We got to spend lots of time with family and friends. 

Christmas Day night around 11:00 PM...me and one of my dearest and oldest (not old as in age because were still young O....K.... but as in been my friend since we were really young girls) left and went on a cruise....just me and her!!! We flew to Miami, boarded a boat and went to Key West, Bahamas, and Coco Cay....We had the most amazing time....We laughed, we read, we laid by the pool and beach, we ate, we worked out, we ate some more!!! You get the picture!!! Total Heaven!!!

While we were on the cruise,,,, we became DTC!!!  That means in adoption lingo...our dossier (our paperwork) has officially gone to China... I am still waiting on a LID....I ask for prayers that our LOA (letter of acceptance) will come quickly!!

Two extra special things happened over the Christmas holidays and I want to post one of them here (I will post the other another day) so one day Olivia will know how much she was thought about and prayed for while she was still in China:

We had a Christmas dinner with my grandmother's extended family...One special cousin and myself were having a conversation at this dinner about Olivia...I told her that the hardest thing is going to leave my two boys and travel across the world without them...That is just about the hardest thing for me to do.....But I told her that on one blog I was reading, the lady had put on there about a story from the Bible about how you had to leave your 99 sheep to go find your 1 lost one....I told her I didn't know exactly where it was in the Bible but it touched me so much.  I dont know but when I read that it was like a peace came over me...So I shared that with her....


A few days later, this awesome cousin had left Olivia Grace a present of a beautiful SHEEP and had left this typed letter:

Olivia Grace,

Our mommy told us how special you are.  We wanted you to
have this little sheep.  We are so excited for your arrival.
May angel wings surround you.

J-K & J-G (These are my cousin's children)


At the bottom of the letter was this!!! My new favorite passage!!!


Luke 15 4-6

"What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it"? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"



I can't even tell you how much this touched me!!! I love you special cousin!!!

Merry Christmas Olivia Grace

Dear Olivia,

Merry Christmas!! I have thought about you often today...We went to pick out our hallmark 2011 ornament yesterday and the boys picked out one that we put your picture in that says, "cute as a button."  Oh how I wish you were here..  It seems so strange to know that I have a daughter and she can't be here with me.. People call this stage in adoption the "paper pregnancy."  Well, I dont like it one bit....

We are still waiting on one piece of the "puzzle" and then we will send our dossier to China.  Oh how I wish it would come... Tomorrow is Jesus' birthday...I can't wait to tell you all about him...He was born in a manger to a man and woman named Mary and Joseph....He later died on a cross for all of us and our sins...but I will get to that later!

Tonight I want to tell you about a little girl who was adopted by a wonderful family in our church.  Her middle name was Grace also.  Last winter she became sick and later she went on to be with Jesus.  She was the most precious little girl...She was in Benjamin's mission friends class and part of our children's church group.. I became very close to her....When she passed away, it was a very sad time...Her family had a memorial service for her at our church.. When I left there that day, I knew that I wanted to adopt a baby girl...She was an inspiration to us all...I picture her today sitting on Jesus' lap and looking up at him with her sweet smile....

When we picked out your name I knew I wanted to name you after her...That is where we got your "Grace" in Olivia Grace!!!

You never know what life can bring we just have to trust the Lord everyday!!  I pray for you day and night baby girl!!! I love you!!  I can not wait until next Christmas until you are with us!!

Merry Christmas!!

Your Mama

Day 24: NEW PICTURES OF OLIVIA!!!!!

CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY!!!!

There are no words!!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

I almost fell over when I got the email I was so excited!!

She looks so good and she weighs about 20 pounds!!!

Prayer Request:  Pray for patience as we wait for US immigration approval!! That's our last piece of our dossier needed before we send it off to China!!  It seems like its taking forever!!

Day 23: Nine Years AGO!!!

Nine years ago I married my best friend.  Nine years ago today we started on a journey that has been the best thing in my life.  Has it always been easy? NOPE  Has it always been fun? NOPE

 But I wouldn't change a thing!! We are two hardheaded people that come together with love and compromise and make it work everyday!!


I LOVE YOU CHRIS!!!! Thank you for asking me to take this journey with you!!!  I cant wait to see what the next nine years bring!!

              This is a picture of us a while ago!!! The mustache is a thing of the past (thank goodness)!!!

Day 22: What I LOVE!!!

Okay!!!! Today is short and sweet!!! I love......


HALLMARK and LIFETIME Christmas movies!!!


AHHHH!!! Thank you LORD for DVR!!!!!

Day 21: Jackson's Birthday Celebration

Well it came and went!!! He turned seven...I wish you could of seen him come down the steps in just his underwear on the morning of his birthday shaking his tush....singing, "I'm seven, I'm seven, I'm seven."  It was precious!! 

Here is a recap of the weekend:

Friday Night:  Drove 3 hours to see our favorite high school team get beat at the State Championship in Chapel Hill!!  SO SAD!!

Saturday Night:  Went to the Carolina Panther Stadium to watch the ACC Championship (Clemson kicked some serious hiney)!!!!

Sunday:  Big Party for his friends at the local YMCA....He swam, He played on the obstacle course, We ate AGAIN!!! 

It was a great weekend!!!  But I am ole so tired this AM!! 

I looked back over the photo album of Jackson's first few days on Earth!! Such precious memories... I remember holding this little newborn and thinking, "Oh Lord.....I am responsible for you!!"  I was a wee bit overwelmed...But today, seven years later....I couldn't be more proud!!!

I love you Jackson Reid!!!


Here are some pics from this weekend taken with my good ole cell phone (someone please tell Chris/Santa I would love a camera for Christmas)!!

My Boys at the Clemson Game: The Stadium was CRAZY...kindof makes me scared for him to grow up and go to college!!

He loves Green Bay Packers and Clay Matthews..Thank Goodness they pulled it out last night!!

This is Jackson and Benjamin wrestling in the pool...I tried to get them to look at me and smile...Yeah Right!!