The Dress

Today as Savannah, the littles, and I

watched the Royal Wedding,

I couldn't help but become more and more excited

for 'Our Royal Wedding' one week from tomorrow!!!

WOW!!!

Savannah and I both LOVED the quote~

"every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and groom

as king and queen of creation,

making a new life together so that life can flow through them into the future."

And then there was the dress!!!

The big girls have always kind of laughed about my wedding dress~

probably the neckline and sleeves...

but as Kate stepped out of her car this morning

and we were able to see her gorgeous dress!!!~

it really took me back to June 21st, 1986

and to my gorgeous dress "handmade"

(every single appliqué, bead, and piece of lace) by Ms. Retha

from a photo I found in a bride magazine.

I see a resemblance ~ do you???

And just look at my Prince Charming. :)

So as we begin the last week count down,

I am thinking back to our wedding

and our 25th anniversary we will celebrate in June.

A lot of reflecting and embracing going on here!!!

AND!!!!!

All my data (photos) on my crashed external hard drive WAS recovered

and is being sent UPS TODAY!!!

YAY!!!

You can be sure as soon as it arrives,

I WILL be backing it up online and to DVDs as well.

Won't ever make that mistake again!!! Whew!

Us~ Joy to Love/ B&W Wednesday

Joy to Love 16 is about Us...

almost 25 years of us.

We said I Do on June 21, 1986

and gave our hearts to each other~

actually I think we became one heart.

One heart to love...

Christ~

each other~

our children~

our family~

our friends~

our neighbors (close and far)~

orphans~

China~

each other! :)

I can't imagine my life without my soulmate

and best friend!!!

Each day is precious because we have each other.

The best thing about us...

we love being together in this crazy thing called life.

And believe me...

things right now are CRAZY!!!

Ruth 1:16-17

Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.

Visit Lisa for more Black and White Wednesday

Valentine's Night

Today was a full day~

I had a follow up test around lunch

which turned out to be a wonderful blessing.

About six months ago,

my doctor found a lump and sent me for a diagnostic mammogram.

It was confirmed there was some kind of tumor

but looked to be benign... come back in six months.

Today was six months

and when I went in the lady said,

"Let's take a look to see if it's no worse or maybe smaller."

I said, "Or GONE!"

She smiled.

Guess what?

It was no where to be found...

Our God is greater!!! :) right Donna???

Scott and I decided since I was in Atlanta for that

we may as well spend the night at Ronald M. house

since we have to be at the hospital with SJ @ 7.

We had a couple of reasons to celebrate tonight...

my great report and

Valentine's Day!

SO... where else to go but~

And it was de-li-cious!!!

Best part... toasted pound cake!

Took a couple of photos out front...

and then we were off to the RM house.

The girls played a little while

and then it was time to get everyone in bed.

You can be sure I will fall asleep

praising God for this blessed day

and praying for this precious baby as she has her heart cath

in the morning at 7am.

I am confident He will take care of her too!!!

PS!!! We missed the originals like crazy!!!

We also miss them so much

and hope we are all home in the nest tomorrow night!!!

Love you sweet big girls of mine!!! :)

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,

the evidence of things not seen.

Wedding Bands~ Joy to Love

Today's assignment was to post about wedding bands

or some piece of special jewelry.

Before I left home today,

I scanned a couple of photos from our wedding album...

25 years ago in June.

We were babies~ 24 and 21.

More in love now than we ever dreamed we'd be!!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Scott Kelby's Photowalk in Greenville, SC

Saturday I stepped out of my comfort zone of being home

and drove to Greenville for the Scott Kelby PW.

I met my new friend Ellie

and we followed photographers around

asking them a million questions

and shooting lots of things that caught our eye.

I am not really a landscape photographer...

would much rather shoot people,

but Greenville had so much charm and lots to capture with my lens.

Here are a few of my favorites!

And my Favorite!

It was just the best day enjoying my favorite hobby,

hanging out with a sweet friend,

and making a NEW one!!! :)

Sunday Snapshot: My 45th BD

Yes, I turned 45 and not ashamed to tell... I needn't be... it's the truth. And the other truth is... I don't feel my age. I guess the girls keep me young and happy- Scott too. Have a few snapshots from my special day.

Scott took me out for dinner the night before. I think I had described here that he was hearing God through me, but tonight that all changed. He shared with me his encounter as God spoke sweet ShayleeJoy into his heart too. There is no better present he could have given me!!! The best bd date ever!!!

EK made me a present Wed morning of gum and candy bar wrapped in tp roll. She was so proud. I LOVED it!!!






And look at this precious bookmark my sweet friend Cathy gave me. You know what I see I'm sure... EK and SJ together and the last word being JOY. Made my heart sing!!!

I had a great birthday and look forward to at least 45 more!!! One of my sweet girls was so kind to point out I was halfway to 90. Oh joy... there's that word again. Can't wait to see the little FACE that goes with that NAME!!!

Blessings,

My Birthday

I had a great birthday all in all. I woke up to the sweetest post written by my oldest daughter Savannah, who hacked my password and took control- thanks sweetheart for your sweet words. I will cherish them forever.

Today is my amazing mom's birthday! I just want everyone to know how thankful I, along with all my sisters and dad, we are for her. Here are just a few reasons why we love her so much:
-She is the most wonderful encouragement to anyone's day.
-She always puts everyone before herself.
-She is so smart and is good at a million things!!!
-She is what holds our family together, by being positive and loving.
-Although she has gone through so much she lives each day to the fullest and embraces what's to come.
-She is an amazing example of a Godly wife and mother.
-She has reminded my sisters and I everyday that we were made perfect and are beautiful on the inside and out.
-She is my best friend, who I can talk to about anything.
-She stays home each day to nurture, teach, and love EllaKate, while keeping the house in pretty much perfect order.
-She makes us all laugh.
-She shows us how to love and treat our husbands one day.
-She encourages us all daily to strive to do better, especially in our walk with Christ.

Mama you're amazing and I am so thankful to have you in my life! I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you for being the person I confide in, cry with, and laugh a lot with! Thank you for taking the time my whole life to understand me and guide me. Without you I wouldn't be who I am today. Also, thank you for taking time to write on this blog so one day we can all look back and see all these wonderful memories!!

I love you to the moon and back,
Your oldest...Savannah





Scott wrote me the sweetest note and sent flowers, plus gave me a Storybook maker from CM and running pants. He covered it all and I loved it! The girls gave great hugs and sweet cards. We all ate dinner at Sibling's, cake from The Green Bean, and sang happy birthday about 9:00. All day EllaKate had been asking when we were going to sing. We waited for everyone to get back home from meetings and ballgames to sing. She loved it and Scott took pictures but I can't find my photo card. I will post when I find it. I am thankful to be a year older and healthy enough to do what I do everyday!!! Blessed beyond belief!

Blessings,

Lunch w/ Pam

I met Pam in commerce yesterday. We ate and talked for an hour and half- as long as EllaKate could handle. Then we left and headed our opposite directions and got on the phone to talk all the way home. We had the best of visits!!! Thanks Pam for the beautiful coasters! Scott and I will love using them when we have our coffee in the sunroom.

My Birthday

I was so blessed to spend my birthday with my family (including Savannah) and friends! We had a great lunch @ mama and daddy's (pictures to come) and then a bd/super bowl party @ the Lopes' house. It was a great day and I enjoyed every moment. Scott and the girls treated me to a beautiful bouquet of roses and new clothes. Mama and daddy gave me a printer, copier, scanner that I have wanted for so long- I have already been scanning all of EllaKate's documents and memorabilia for her lifebook!!! I worked on that all day yesterday.

42nd Birthday

Birthdays get sweeter as time passes I think. I can't believe I am 42 because I don't really feel any older. I think Scott and the girls keep me young! Because we were going to have such a busy weekend, we went out to dinner for my birthday on Thursday evening. It was a lovely meal and when we returned home, Scott gave me a gift with a card. The box was long and wrapped beautifully. I opened it and showed the girls first- they gasped! Inside was a gorgeous diamond tennis bracelet, something he had always wanted to give me and now seemed to be the perfect time because...

Scott asked me to read the card out loud. In it he wrote that just as the diamonds in the bracelet are all different, so are the gifts each one of us have to give to others. And.... if in my heart I still felt like we were to adopt another precious daughter, then he said, "Let's do it!!!!!". The girls and I were amazed. I was sobbing and EllaKate crawled up in my lap to hug me because I don't think she has really ever seen me cry. I have waited for God to speak to Scott about going back to China. As some of you may know, I had long ago filled out the application to CCAI, so I just pulled it right out of the drawer and we signed. I mailed it off today with a couple other paperwork items. Thus begins the GREAT PAPER CHASE!!! We don't expect to get her for @ least 2 and a half years..... I know what many people will wonder..... How can you wait that long? God will make a way. After all, He was in control of EllaKate ShuangJiang Ankerich and isn't she just the perfect baby for us???