Birthday Celebrations!

We've been busy here.  Lots of stuff going on with 6 kids.  But one thing we have been doing is celebrating mine & Abby's birthday's.  My birthday was August 28th and Abby's was yesterday, Sept 5.  Abby turned 9.  NINE!!! How did that happen???  I turned....well I'm not embarrassed to say it....I turned the BIG 4-0.  Again, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN????  I honestly have not had any issues with turning 40. Until I see the number written down.  Then it freaks me out, just a little. LOL

I'm so thankful that we could celebrate together, with our entire family.  Here are some photos.

Happy Birthday Miss Abby.  We are so blessed to call you our daughter.  You are our first adoption and because of you, we have added more children to our family.  You are an amazing little girl. You are growing into a wonderful young lady.  I am so excited to see how God is forming you. We love you Miss Abster!

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!"   :-)