Georgia, Sweet Georgia

Coffee...lots of coffee...long hours...

My time in Georgia kept me ever so busy with three beautiful young ladies and their Grandfather. We rapidly became like family with the feeling we had known each other, always, but had missed some stories here and there.

Our week was filled with normal activities like "homework, cheer practice, school pictures,

dinners at home and smoothies at night". Quite naturally, Reed and I fell into the rhythm of this life, caring for the girls; it seemed too easy. 

 I nearly held my breath, waiting for something to go wrong, waiting for a hiccup. 

Ahh. It came. The nightly routine after cheer practice was thrown off schedule by 2 hours with a late but wonderful dinner at home and so the meltdowns began.

It was comical even in the midst as we ran up and down the stairs consoling one, praying with another and carrying a sobbing little girl up two flights of stairs and back to bed.  (ouch...someone was out of shape)

The disruption continued long into the next day until school was dismissed for Labor Day Weekend . Vacation begins!

The girls made a  Bucket List  of  "fun things to do" and we tried to accomplish all we could to make their time special while Mom and Dad were out of the country.

Friday night started with a Mexican dinner at  Cheeky's, a restaurant we found listed in the GPS. Little did we know it would lead us on an adventure to a nearby town giving me my first glimpse of  the beauty surrounding us. We traveled through the winding hills of GA on the night of the rare "Blue Moon" whose light shone through the evergreens creating unforgettable, magical images in my mind.

It could not have been more beautiful.

A favorite night for all, it was so delightful, we began the quest for another town on Saturday night.

The road to Roswell was memorable (thank you girls...) but the real surprise and charm of this sweet town is in the historical district. There, the streets are lined with adorable little restaurants and people enjoying one another's company. The weather was perfect for out-door dining but we took these starving girls indoors to Pasti's whose old world charm called for all the table manners the girls could muster. As we looked over this exceptional menu, they were given wise counsel from their Grandfather and it provided a timely reminder on how a woman should be treated by a man. I'll not forget that conversation...it was Priceless.

For the grownups Pasti's provided a taste of  fine French cuisine with leg of lamb as our main course. A gracious and lovely evening for me; indeed, a rare treat. It was a comfortable quiet night with sleepy girls in the back seat as we head  home. Once again we drive under a full moon peaking over the evergreens, illuminating the dark night. 

Sunday was church at Browns Bridge Community Church with Pastor Andy Stanley. 

Oh! It is an awesome church and I highly recommend their pod casts.

Our fun things included jumping on the trampoline together, head stand practice, bubble baths for the girls, making homemade lemonade and smoothies, among other things.....

Monday we took four girls shopping at The Avenues where they went out 2 x 2 while Reed and I enjoyed 

coffee in Barnes & Noble. An early dinner at Ichiban's  for Japanese and then it's back home to get on schedule after a wonderful Labor Day Weekend.

Homecoming!!!

The whole reason I am here in GA is to help care for the older sisters while B&C finalize the adoption on two more little girls.

The day finally arrives and after cleaning house and making "Welcome Home" signs we head for the airport to pick up the family. After weeks away the parents return and bring with them Dasha and Leanna, the new sisters. 

What a joy to be here and witness this moment; the first glimpse of them coming down the hall.

 I've walked alongside B since this was merely a thought.

Like, "Really? Is God calling us to international adoption?" 

Yes, He was and I couldn't think of a more loving family to bring these 2 girls to. 

I marvel that when they were born in the Ukraine, God had picked out a family in the U.S. who would rescue them and raise them in a Christian home where they are surrounded by His name.

We all enjoyed a few days of  family bonding with the littles but

with their arrival comes the retirement of  Reed and Zanetta, the"Fifth String" babysitters. 

What a great time we (Dadushka & Nana) had "doing life" with the girls and being with the whole family. Unforgettable moments...

Truly I am thankful for them all.

Another Milestone...Graduation

Paris High School Graduation 2012

Let's Do This Thing!

A turning of time, milestones behind them

New roads ahead.

I am reminded of 1Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

The students were charged by Judd Payne to know what they want and pursue it.

The world will knock you down and knock you down but if you want it badly enough,

you will keep getting up until you see your dreams become a reality.

There are no words to describe how I felt as I watched the caps

tossed into the air.

They did. It is done. The crowd leaves. You're not ready to close this door but as the last few walk off the field the lights will dim, doors will lock. Old chapters close and new ones

begin. They walk with a new confidence we close the night with Biblical confidence.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

{{ 100 }} Boys

He drives away in the Jeep that once was his dad's great love. While in Israel it somehow fell into his hands and Dad never took it back. So one child took the Suburban that Dad loved and one took his Jeep. He said it's a weird feeling watching both your vehicles drive off and they aren't yours anymore.

{{ 99 }} Mother's Day

Blessed to have two of my three children with me on Mother's Day 2011.  I never thought I would be the only female in the house...just never thought about it.
I'm convinced there are great rewards to a woman who lives in a house with only men. Proud of my kiddos.

{{ 98 }} Prom

They are so cute all dressed up. I have to laugh when I see hair bands on both their arms...

now isn't that a great addition to prom?

{{ 97 }} Prom

The lovely Daylon and my son, Jansen.

Prom 2011 NLHS

{{ 96 }} Teens

Have I mentioned lately how blessed I am?  One such night was this one....I quietly listened to the conversations of my son and two friends as they cooked steaks, listened to country music and just hung out. Once the food was done I heard them offer thanks to the Father for their meal. No adults to remind them to pray at dinner, they just did.  : )

{{ 85 }} The End

The end brought a great time with my parents, sisters, neices and nephews.

{{ 83 }} The End

Sometimes the end reunites old friends such as in the photo. The next week I got a call from one of our Congressmen. He had saved a letter I wrote years ago recalling a memory. Most of his friends are "gone" and he is 87. He was looking for Daddy and asking about how he was getting along.

{{ 82 }} The End

Sometimes the end sneaks up on you and other times you know

it's in the future. You dread the day when you want to pick up

the phone and talk to your Daddy or your Moma and they

aren't there. Thankfully mine are. My sweet husband now

has only my family. What's mine is his.

{{ 81 }} The End

Mom came with Dad to his brother's funeral. The next morning she was headed over to see her sister.
The end came at 5:00 am...totally unexpected. Sometimes it sneaks up on you and you don't get to say good-bye.

{{ 79 }} The End

We have traditions in the South. I am grateful for that. As I have travelled to other 

parts of the U.S.  lately I find them lacking.

Difficult as it may be I'm glad the family rides together in a big shiny black car.

That we remain next to our cars while the casket is in place and wait

for the family to go next. We shake their hands, hug their necks and

let them know how much we also loved their "loved one". 

{{ 78 }} The End

We've had two funerals lately. It's the end of Aunt Gerri's earthly body and for that, we grieve. It was the instantaneous beginning of eternity with Jesus and for that we rejoice!

{{ 75 }} Breaking

"Life breaks and falls apart...But we know... He will leave nothing unredeemed! "

{{ 72 }} Boys

They're so cute and I love seeing them work together.

{{ 68 }} PePaw's truck

This truck has been around a long time. When my parents moved Stef. inherited it. She used to be faded, chipped red but now sports black primer.
He named her Black Beauty and she's tough.
We've had lots of memories with this old thing.

{{ 52 }} Birthdays

His 47th birthday came and left quietly.

The G-baby follows him and R.'s mom follows her.

Lots of celebrations, deep loss, getting past the days....

I love him deeply. Happy Birthday to the one

who holds my heart.

{{ 39 }} Valentine's Day

I remember the days with my sweet children when we made Valentines.

There would be glue, scissors, paper, doilies, crayons, glitter.

Miss the days of see ing what their little imagination would dream up.

{{ 38 }} Bernie

Bernie got loose today while we were having our Valentine lunch.

The boys came home to get their guns and he opened the door and 

quietly left. He ran around all over oue neighborhood.

One neat thing about asking help: you meet the neighbors around the corner.

I met the man and when he saw my runaway moments later he helped catch him.

The young Dominos pizza man locked him up in the building and the neighbor

 drove up and down the streets looking for me. I was on the other side of the main road.

I prayed the whole time...nearly sick. Bernie is the riding companion to R. as he

drives back and forth to work and Bernie spends the night at Harvest House too.

So relieved to have him back home where he belongs. Thank you Dominos pizza man,

thank you neighbor whom I would have never met...."it takes a village".

{{ 33 }} Ground Hog Day

My almost 5'2" self looks long. No, this wasn't taken today. I daren't go out much. It's bitterly cold to the point that my car was a little freaked out and just said  ICE. No kidding. It's 12 degrees with a windchill of -2.
When I was little I played "step on shadow". I still like my shadow.
Madison visited in Oct. and as she pranced around the camp fire one night she suddenly stopped and said, "My shadow finds me watching the stars." She had seen Peter Pan; her imagination had taken off.
It was one of those magical toddler moments; I wanted to bottle it up andkeep it to take out when I am missing her so badly.
Do shadows captivate you?
Does it carry you back to a time when all was simple?