A little Thanksgiving warm up

Last week we had the chance to get our Thanksgiving warm up on. 

School had a special lunch and families were invited.

Let me just say, school cafeteria workers are legit. It's hard work, and they do an amazing job. Now it's not my mom's cooking, but ima blame that one on Michelle Obama, cause I think they do the best they can with what they are given.

But really I wasn't there for the food, I just wanted to spend some sweet time with the kids. Paul and I decided to split it up, so I ate with Hope, and he went and hung with the boys.

Second grade girls are so giggly.

AND SQUIRMY.

But mostly just adorable.

While fourth grade boys, are just so chill.

But EQUALLY ADORABLE.

We are so excited about Thanksgiving!

I am ready to see my family, watch football, cook with my mom, and eat until I need to unbutton my pants. BRING IT ON.

Yes of course Christmas is up

Anyone that knows anything about us, knows we do Christmas early. 

I think it was two Saturday's ago that we got everything put up. It was a free weekend, we had the time, so hey let's do it! 

This year we did a little outside too. The kids were so excited!

I was super proud of myself for being really chill about it this year. I just sort of let the kids put stuff wherever they wanted.

 Go me!

Isn't it pretty?

I think it's so funny how people get mad about when others put up their trees. Especially people on Facebook, they always seem to be getting fired up over when it's okay to put up a Christmas tree.  It's pretty simple to me, if you don't want your tree up early, then don't put it up.

But for me, it's peaceful and I want to enjoy it as long as possible.

So if you need me, I'll be right here.

40.

Little G, established November 17, 1974. 

That means that the big 4-0 was on Monday. 

Honestly, who turns 40 on a MONDAY? 

While I wasn't super thrilled about turning 40, ON A MONDAY, I was super thrilled to celebrate it! Not gonna lie, I love a birthday! 

Tracey always does such fun things for my birthday, and this year was no exception. Starting November 4th I had a gift to open everyday leading up to my birthday....

Just look at all the cards.

And she did the lyrics to the Golden Girls.

We really can't wait to be The Golden Girls. (BTW, Tracey is Rose.)

I was also treated to dinner, my friend Brandy took me out Sunday night. When the little fellas unexpectedly came round the corner yelling and trilling their r's, I screamed and suffered heart palpitations. Thankfully my 40 year old heart can still take mild excitement.

Monday was so fun to wake up to phone calls and texts....

AND SNOW!

Right as we left for the day some snow started to fall and I couldn't help but feel it was a special birthday treat just for me.

Actually I felt that way all day. Lots of surprises, lots of love, and lots of food, which you know always makes me happy.

Brittany, who has her hands WAY full, was sweet and offered to watch the kids Monday night so we could go out alone to celebrate. I fulfilled an old lady stereotype and chose Cracker Barrel.

Brittany then made the evening complete by giving me a candle to blow out.

I suppose this is the time I should get all philosophical about turning 40? But instead I think I will sum it up with what Pierce said to me, "Happy Birthday Mom! You're about mid-way through!"

Thankful for my life. Thankful for the years. Thankful to take on another decade.

New look!

So look at my adorable new blog look!

I think it had been three years since I had updated my blog, so it was high time! Tracey and Jami asked me for ideas for my birthday and I told them I wanted my blog updated. So here's a gift to me! And I love it! Thanks guys!

Faith worked with me at A Design of Faith. The process was easy and I will DEF be using her again. Check her out.


Speaking of birthday's, this is my last weekend in my thirties, so if you don't hear from me for a while I'm probably just sulking somewhere about being 40.

KIDDING. sort of. 

No really, I'm okay with it, because 40 is the new 10.

Have a great weekend!

Finally a family of FIVE.

 Friday, November 7th...

The night that Blake, Brittany, and Emaline would finally be home after 16 days. The night that would finally culminate with the union of a family. The night that would see the fruition of 14 months of work.

Friday, November 7th, it was finally time.

While Blake and Brittany were on the other side of the world going through their process, there was a big group of us on this side of the world going through our process. Mainly the process of WAITING. Yuck. But we were also busy, busy planning. We wanted their homecoming to be special, so my friend Abby and I worked on something as a surprise. We had shirts made for them, and I think they turned out quite adorable.

My friend LeAnn modeled it for me, but I will have you know she had a sweatshirt on UNDER the shirt, so that explains why it looks a little wonky. (Hi LeAnn!)

By the time LeAnn and I arrived to Nashville there was already a room full!

There was lots of love in that room.

And nerves.

Some seemed cool as cucumbers.

While others were so giddy they were about to explode.

Trust me, I was in that group.

The kids all seemed calm and collected.

 Even sleepy.

But yeah, excited was the key word.

I finally saw a text from Britt, "Landed" and I started yelling, because calm in situations is what I am. That's also when my heart started to beat so hard I was sure I might suffer heart damage.

Layton cracked me up. We were all standing there in a nervous frenzy, and he was just cool as can be tossing a ball in the air. So cute.

 Have you ever waited for someone to turn the corner at an airport? Um, it felt like it was taking FOREVER.

Almost every person I spotted I would say, "wait, that might be them!" Then I would realize it wasn't and be so disappointed. Seriously, I think it lasted all night, AT LEAST IT FELT LIKE IT.

BUT THEN.

Then I knew it really was them and I let out a loud, but brief, scream. Listen, I was excited. Then I waved, oh I don't know, fifteen times, LIKE BIG WAVES. Of course I only know what I was doing, I'm sure Brittany was busy seeing ALL SORTS OF MADNESS, or maybe all she saw was those boys of hers that I know she so terribly missed.

Have I mentioned it was a long hallway? Seemed forever to finally see them UP CLOSE.

 But finally, there they stood, in person.

Oh my gosh, the tears, from ALL OF US. Well except Blake, he held it together.

 It was beautiful.

Finally a family of FIVE.

For a few minutes I just quit taking pictures, and instead I just took the moments in. Seeing Emaline in person was sorta like meeting a celebrity or something. You've seen lots of pictures of them, heard all about them, and imagined what they might be like, but seeing them in person? SO SURREAL.

At first Emaline just took it all in. (Oh and do you know that they had been traveling for THIRTY HOURS? Yeah and Brittany looked this good? I'd be a crazy mess.)

But the most amazing thing happened, Brittany had described Emaline as shy in new crowds or situations, so we were all expecting her to just remain somber. Well guess who TUNRED ON THE CHARM? It was like she sensed that we were the good guys, or maybe just felt the love and attention? I don't know, but it was great! She was laughing and smiling and playing peek-a-boo, and trust me she had all of us ooooo'ing and ahhhh'ing.

 THIS PICURE! This was from someone else on their cell phone, I'm not sure who it was, but look at Em's face looking at her brother. OH MY GOODNESS! Completely ecstatic as if she knew that he was hers. I die.

I've only been around her a brief time so far, but I know she's wonderful.

And I'm not the only one.

Hope and Emaline had a few moments together.

Uh yeah, Hope was completely smitten.

I think it will be fair to call it love.

But that's what I call ALL of this.

Love.

Love to give up  your resources, your time, your heart.

Love to fly around the world to rescue a child.

Love from a God who rescued us, just as Emaline has been rescued.

And love of friends. Many friends.

Just take a look at this....

Hey Richey's, guess what?

YOU ARE LOVED.