Remember Us??

May has been a crazy, busy month.  Obviously, I totally failed the Photo a Day challenge.  We have not been home long enough for me to post anything.  Between baseball, musicals, and majorette camp, it has been non-stop.  It's been so much fun over the last 2 weeks, it will take a few posts to catch up.

The first two weeks of May, Mary Ashtyn's majorette line hosted a mini-majorette camp.  I offered to help and thought Lily might enjoy watching.  She was so excited to see several girls that she already knew.  She sat with them as they were called out to get in line.  The sponsor called her name and she was so proud.  She happily sat in a chair lined up with the girls.

The next thing I knew, she was put in a small group to learn the routine!  I had every intention of taking her out if she seemed upset that she couldn't do exactly what the other girls could.  I've said it many times before, but this little 30 pound beauty is my hero.  She sat in that chair smiling and twirling away!!  She couldn't do the turns or even lift the baton past her shoulders, but she couldn't stop smiling.

As the first practice ended, the girls got to show their stuff.  Lily learned every eight count of the routine and was beaming as she performed!  She left practice so excited and had to show everyone her routine. She twirled for her Daddy and Reece, she twirled during Reece's baseball game, she twirled in the car, she twirled everywhere!!   They had four practices and she couldn't wait get to the gym each day. 

 
Our mini majorette performing at the local Relay for Life.  One of the cutest things I have ever seen is Silly Lily with her hand on her hip "shaking it".  How proud and blessed I am to be this little diva's Mama!!

Day 4: FUN!!

Yeah!!!  Today is an easy one...

 FUN

We have fun everyday around here.  One of these three always  has something fun going on:  baseball, musical, majorette performance and on,and on, and on!  Even if we just stay home, they make life FUN!

Today was a fun day celebrating our oldest.  Mary Ashtyn was inducted into the National Jr. Honor Society this morning!!  Talk about proud, we were over the moon.  We received a letter in the mail a few days ago to let us know that she had been chosen.  The school asked us to keep it a surprise.  Since this is a long standing tradition (my parents kept it hidden from me a hundred years ago),I was determined not to tell Mary Ashtyn.  She did ask if she got a letter, but I told her no.  SHE didn't get a letter, Trent and I did :)  So I really wasn't telling a lie...right??

When the phone rang before 8:00 this morning, I was tickled to hear Mash's sweet voice asking if I knew that Honor Society tapping was at 10:00.  It was driving her crazy wondering if she was being inducted.  It was hilarious because I did the same thing to my Mom on the day that I was tapped into the Honor Society over 25 years ago :)  I remember how it felt to be sitting in the gym and see my family being escorted in with all the other parents.  It was even more special today to walk in with Trent, my Mom, and Lily to see Mary Ashtyn's face light up.

Love this smile!!

After the ceremony, we checked out Mash and her crew of friends, who were ALL inducted, and headed to celebrate!

Mexican, of course!!

So thankful for this sweet, smart group of friends!!

Once they noticed Lily waiting patiently while we made pics, they had to get one with her too :)

Just another day of FUN around our house making more memories with our sweet miracles!!!

Day 3: Something I wore today

Make Up!!!

If you have seen me lately at Wal-Mart or picking up the big kids in the car rider line, you know that putting on make up has not been a priority lately.  This is my public apology for those of you that I have scared.  I am really sorry...but I've gotten lazy :)    

Day 3 done!!!  

Day 2: Skyline

I have a confession...I don't think I'm going to make it through the May photo challenge.   It's only the second day, and here I sit at 10:30 pm trying to scrounge up a picture of a skyline.  I take lots of pictures, but they're all of my kids!!  No skylines to be found anywhere.

I thought a lot about the skylines that we've seen over the years.  We spent several hours gazing at the Republic of Kalmykia (Russia) skyline as we wondered what happened to our quiet, peaceful brand new 7 month old daughter that we left the orphanage with...she screamed for hours her first night with us.  Thankfully, she quieted down once she wrestled her bottle away from me and was able to feed herself.  We watched the sun rise over that same skyline as we stood on a balcony too excited to sleep as the sweetest little miracle snoozed in the middle of our bed.

This isn't a Russian skyline, but look at our adorable first child.  Mary Ashtyn was and is our dream come true!!!

Almost three years later, I stared at the Ust Kamenogorsk (Kazakhstan) skyline from our hotel room and held our second miracle as he slept on my shoulder.  He was too congested to lay down and I was happy to snuggle with him through the night.

Again, no skyline...but look at those cheeks!!  I still love to snuggle with my sweet Reece.

Ten years went by and who would have imagined that we would ever hold another child in our arms as we stared at the skyline of her birth country.  Wow!!  I think we spent the most time looking out at the Inner Mongolian skyline holding our sweet Lily as she grieved....crying, praying, begging God to help us comfort her.  As she adjusted to us, I held her and gazed at that skyline, wondering if she knew that it hurt us to take her from all the she had ever known.

My whole world getting once last glimpse of the IM skyline before we flew to Guangzhou .  

Y'all...there is a skyline in that picture!!!  I seriously just found it.  Bring on Day 3 of this Photo a Day challenge, I can do this!!!  LOL


God amazes me!!  He had this perfect plan to bring our family together, to send us across the world three times and place our children in our arms.  As I thought about skylines and tried to find a picture from each of their birth countries, I could close my eyes and remember holding my babies in my arms on our first night together.  Sweet memories of my sweet miracles...so thankful for Mary Ashtyn, Reece, and Lily and for the One who knew they were mine all along.

May 1: Peace

May Photo Challenge

I'm going to TRY to do the May Photo A Day...first pic coming soon :)  If you want to play along, please leave a comment and a link to your blog!!

Thankful

Our family has so many things to be thankful for.  Most of all, that God has blessed us beyond anything we ever deserved.  Today, I am very thankful for a husband who realizes when I've reached my breaking point and plans a quick trip to my favorite place....the beach!!  Trent called Friday afternoon to let me know that we were leaving late that night for a quick trip. 

We made it to the condo late Friday night ready for a great weekend!  Mary Ashtyn already had plans for the weekend, so we let her stay with my parents.  VERY thankful for grandparents who will drop everything to take care of her for the weekend.  She loved getting ALL their attention.  It didn't feel right without her, but we did have a wonderful weekend.

Sweet Girl

"Cooking"

How cute is he?!!?

Braving the FREEZING water!

Lily's first time in the ocean...she loved it!

She was a little worried about fish biting and the "fast water"/waves.

Holding on tight to Daddy.

Lily wanted a "big princess house"...we'll need to take more sand castle molds next trip :)

She always has the Bamberg boys at her beck and call :)

Watching Reece swinging at the waves.

Lily Joy

Time to bury Reece in the sand!

Here comes a big, cold wave!

Once he couldn't move, Lily thew sand in his face...love his look in this one!  Little sisters can be annoying!!! 

Daddy's Turn!

Waiting to ride the huge Ferris Wheel at the Wharf

The Girls, missing Mary Ashtyn

The Boys

Lily loved the Ferris Wheel!

Love the excitement on her face...so precious.

Love this little hand in mine!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts!

2 Corinthians 9:15