Abby & Jadyn were Baptized Today!

We are SO happy for Abby & Jadyn.  Jadyn asked Jesus in her heart last summer (2011) during VBS.  She was afraid of being baptized.  Sometime this summer, she said she felt comfortable now and wanted to be baptized.  So we went and talked with Pastor Tony.  As we were talking to him Abby was listening.  Pastor Tony asked if Abby wanted to ask Jesus in her heart. She said "no, she's not ready".  Even though Abby knew all of the answers, I asked her if she had more questions. She said "No, I understand, I'm just shy and did not want to ask Jesus in my heart in front of anyone."  So we went into our playroom, just Abby & I and she prayed to ask Jesus in her heart.

Our church was doing their 2nd Annual Beach Baptism's today. Abby & Jadyn told us in July that they wanted to do this.  So today, we drove to Apollo Beach area with 48 other members of our church.  This was the largest Baptism at one time in our church history I believe. Of course we were praying that Tropical Storm Isaac would stay away long enough for us to have the baptism's. And thankfully the storm did stay away.

I'm so thankful that my sister & her family came and stayed to watch the baptism's.  It meant so much to the girls and to me. I wish my brother, his wife & my parents could have been there.  But they are all in TN right now.

The girls were 2nd to last.  We had to walk out into the bay because of low tide.  They were nervous.  But when it was their time, they chose the pastor they wanted to baptize them and walked right to them.  Jadyn went first. She chose Pastor Tony (our Children's Pastor).  Abby went 2nd and she chose Pastor Daniel (our Youth Pastor).  I am so proud of them and I'm so glad we were able to be there today.

Here are some photos of the day. I took 175 photos. Wow!  I will not post that many. LOL  OH, and my awesome sister made a cake for the girls.  Their request, strawberry cake with pink frosting with a green cross.

I'm so thankful for the miracle of adoption. Because without adoption, my girls would have NEVER heard the name of Jesus. And they would not have had the opportunity to ask Him into their hearts.

A Senior and Two 3rd Graders!

First day of school.  Wow! Where did the summer go?  So much happened this summer.  I can't believe we are at the start of yet another school year.  One that I have not been looking forward to for 17 years. Tiffs Senior Year.  :-(

Everyone was excited this morning.  Everyone got up on time.  I think Hope & Maggie were confused and I think they wanted to go too.  (You can read about their day on their adoption blog).

Tiff left very early.  Like 6:50.  Actually that was late for her. She hoped to leave earlier.  She was picking up a few friends and of course had to take photos with them too.  I can't believe how much the girls have changed.  How on earth are they Senior's in High School already???  We were just sending Tiff off to Kindergarten.

First day of School 2000

LAST First Day of School 2012

Friends (holding their very 1st day of school photo)

Then it was time to take Abby & Jadyn to school.  THIRD Grade!  Seriously???  How can this be?  They are growing up way too fast.  They were excited. They could not wait.  I drove them and parked the car. I wanted to walk them to their class. I did not get to meet their teachers on Thursday because we were flying home from China.   The girls ate breakfast in the cafeteria (something they did every day last school year) and then we went to class. Their teachers seem really nice.  I hope and pray they have a fantastic school year.  

Miss Abby ready to go

Miss Jadyn is ready

Sisters Forever

Breakfast at school

Abby at her desk

Jadyn at her desk

Carline was insane as usual for the first day of school at dismissal. I waited almost 45 minutes.  The girls told me about their day. They had a good one. Jadyn complained because her teacher sent her home with homework.  Abby was sent home with homework for me. :-)  

Tiffani had band today so it was almost 7 PM when she got home from school.  And guess what?  Someone hit her car as they were backing out in the school parking lot.  Tiff did not get out to look at the car. The other girl did and Tiffs friend looked out the window. They did not see the dent.  Well there is a dent. Tiff has contacted her now but I bet it's too late.  Live and learn.  Not a fun lesson Bill wants her to learn right now.  :-(

THE DENT!!!  

Other than that, Tiff said she had a good day. She said her classes are going to be great this year.  I hope she is right.  

Praying day # 2 is even better than day #1.  

What Do You Do During A Tropical Storm?

Play in the rain of course.  LOL

Now before anyone thinks I'm a bad mom, the tropical storm is out in the gulf.  We are just getting some outer bands of rain.  No lightening. No big winds.  Just a lot of rain.  So the kids played out in it for a little while. And for a while, I was "the bestest mom EVER!"   :-)

Summer Is Here!

Today is the last day of 2nd grade for Abby & Jadyn.  Where has the year gone?  It's been  good year for them. They loved their teachers.  Abby came home crying yesterday because yesterday was her teacher's last day (she has family obligations today).

Tiff finished school yesterday. She is officially a senior now.  Unfortunately she did not really pose for a picture for me.  She was home for 10 minutes to pack some clothes and then she was off with friends.  She is officially a senior now.  Makes me want to cry.

But, since Abby & Jadyn are still willing to take photos for me, I did snap a few this morning.  I will put a photo from the first day of school and from today, the last day of school.  My how they've grown!!!

August 23, 2011

June 8, 2012

Jadyn's Gotcha Day

This post is late.  Only because we were on vacation last week (photos & blog will come soon about that).  But I wanted to put on here that we celebrated Jadyn's 6th Gotcha Day last Tuesday (March 13).

I think we were all thrown off by the travel day on Monday. Because we all forgot. And that is unlike Jadyn to forget a date.  She was surprised when we started singing to her.  :-)

She had a fun day.  We let her choose what to do. She chose black light putt-putt golf.  Everyone had fun.  Ethan was a little scared so after 1/2 way through he & I left and waited for the rest to finish.  Jadyn enjoyed her day and we enjoyed celebrating with her.

I can't believe it's been 6 years. I don't know where the time has gone.  Jadyn has changed SO much.  I love seeing how she has grown.

Happy Gotcha Day Jadyn Mei!  We love you so much.

Surfing!

My girls got a "lesson" (so to speak) in boogie boarding.  They went to a birthday party where you could do this, inside. They were thrilled because they kept saying "I'm scared of sharks".  :-)

We drove to Kissimmee to Fantasy Surf.  It was really need. An indoor surfing place.  The girls were not tall enough to surf. But they could do the boogie board.  They did it about 3 times and then got hurt and were done.  I'm so proud of them for even trying it.  It was very rough.  Yes, they wiped out 3 times. And it was rough (I have video and even though they said it hurt, it looked very funny).

They had fun, they tried something new, and they were happy. That's all that matters. :-)

Here are a few pictures from the party.  Doesn't this look like fun?  Adults can do it too. I chose to just watch. :-)