Cheers to the Weekend, Three Days Later Edition

Whoops! I didn't mean to take a little blog break last week, but alas, sometimes writing takes a backseat to other things. For those who reached out to ask if I'm okay, YES! Actually, more than okay as a super fun week lies ahead and I can.not.wait.!!! Before that, though, a few things that I'm saying CHEERS to this post-post-post-Friday day...aka Monday (and by "a few" I mean, overload starts...now) :

Trunk-or-Treat. Yesterday was our church's first annual Trunk-or-Treat, and the kids were pumped for an extra opportunity to wear their costumes and score a little more sugar. Try as I might, there was no family costume this year. BUT there was some similarity! Raleigh has said for months she wanted to be "Wendy" from Peter Pan. And every Wendy needs her Tinkerbell, right?

And Harrison wanted to be "whatever Banks is going to be." Y'all. This little boy ADORES his big brother. He thinks he hung the moon. So, when Banks said he wanted to be "an army guy," Harrison wanted to be an army guy. And then, when Banks changed his mind and wanted to be "a ninja," Harrison changed his mind and wanted to be a ninja. And so that's what they are this year: My two clandestine ninjas!

Halloween fun. There is more Halloween fun on the horizon, with "Book Character Day" at school on Wednesday for Banks and Raleigh and Halloween parties at school for Harrison and Bella. We have also checked a couple more items off our Halloween Bucket List, including going on our annual family Halloween 'Hood scavenger hunt and attending on our neighborhood's "Creepy Crawl." We can't wait for the grand finale in just two days!!

Farewell Flag Football. Well, Banks' flag football season has come to an end after a neck-and-neck semi-final playoff game on Saturday. My sweet boy was in tears when it ended. He just loves playing so much. And I love cheering for him and watching my hub coach him and his teammates. My hub was actually away at a guys weekend and drove back in early Saturday morning to (defensive) coach the (game and then drove the hour back to the guys weekend after that. <3 I am sad our season is over BUT am looking forward to a week (maybe two? a girl can hope!) of no sports practices...until basketball begins...

Ember CLT. Last week, one of my girlfriends and I giddily attended a quarterly event held in Charlotte called "Ember." We were so excited to attend that Thursday night because a speaker and author we love, who had spoken at a women's conference we attended a few years ago, was the guest speaker: Jennie Allen. Jennie is a fantastic speaker and has written several books I have read and loved, including Restless. We loved listening to her speak and worshipping alongside 1500 other women. It was a great night. <3

School pictures. For the love. Go ahead and take all my money, school photography companies - I was melting when I saw these cute school pics this year (and yes, I ordered them all). 

Twine & Twig. Last Friday, two girlfriends and I surprised another girlfriend for her birthday. One of my friends was able to arrange a surprise visit to Twine & Twig's private studio, where every piece they sell is handmade and shipped. It was amazing!!! Seeing the women creating necklaces while we were there, looking through and trying on so many beautiful pieces, and then each buying a new necklace (and being gifted with a special trio bracelet stack)? It was something we won't soon forget. Happy Birthday, Jenn! We love you!

Half Marathon? Check. Y'all. I did it. I ran a half marathon. And I am going to share more about it soon but for now? I did it. And there is nothing like crossing that finish line and then seeing your favorite faces in the world standing there to greet you. More on that soon...

Randomness. Let's see...we had an awesome, cavity-free dentist appointment for the kiddos (and celebrated with milkshakes, of course!); Banks and his daddy hit up Scarowinds last Friday with two great friends; my hub and I attended an engagement party for my cousin just a few hours after I crossed that half marathon finish line (and like an idiot, I wore heels); Banks accidentally wore MY jeans to church (insert face palm emoji); we surprised Rals and she's headed to NYC with her daddy on her first airplane ride tomorrow; Bella continues to work hard in therapy; only one cheer game remains for Rals....yeah...randomness, alright. ;) 

And now? Off to keep this Halloween week rollin'. Have a great start to your week, friends! And Go Tigers!!! :) 

Cheers to the Weekend, All Things Fall Edition

Happy Fall Friday, y'all! Hasn't the weather just been divine this week, all my Southern friends? Absolutely delightful, I tell ya. It's really put us in the Fall mood over here! I'm ready to share a few things we're saying CHEERS to as we welcome in the weekend...but wait. First, I feel I must confess. I know this won't be a popular confession based on all the superfans I see left and right, but I'll feel better once I get this off my chest. Are you ready? 

I despise the movie Hocus Pocus. 

Gasp! Is anyone still here reading?

Or, did everyone abandon this post when I shared that confessional?

Y'all. We watched it as a family over the weekend. I was SO excited to watch it after hearing SO MANY people rave about it for years! But guys...what in the actual what?!? It was awful. And listen, I love me a throwback movie: Never-ending Story; Breakfast Club; etc. But this was just SO bad. The plot, the acting, the everything. And, in my opinion, it is SO inappropriate for kids, what with all the talk about being a virgin (and making fun of a teenager for being a virgin!). It'll be a hard pass the next time I see it on our channel guide!

Whew. I feel better. Now, what we're saying CHEERS to: 

Halloween decor. I swear, our neighborhood decorates harder for Halloween than for Christmas! In a couple weeks, there'll be a "Creepy Crawl," wherein we'll ride on a tractor pulled hayride with our neighbors and check out all the decorative lore. There will be a Halloween-decorating contest. And don't even get me started on actual Halloween night. It.Is.So.Fun.!!! It's one of the nights I love our neighborhood most! So, we put up our Halloween decorations over the last week. And while they are meager compared to the beautifully scary job so many of our neighbors do, it still makes us feel festive. :) 

Hat Day. Our sweet town is in the process of constructing an amazing, all-inclusive playground for all children to use that will be accessible for any and all with any sort of special needs or who are differently abled. To support the fundraising, my three FMES-ers got to pay a donation and wear a hat to school one day this week. Win-win for all!

LIFEGroup. Five years ago, my hub and I sheepishly joined a couples LifeGroup, and it has been one of the best decisions we've made as a couple. We are now four couples strong and meet together twice monthly - praying together, growing in our faith together, and supporting one another through all of our highs and lows. We love our people so, so much. Last Friday, we had a (delicious!) dinner and fun night together at one of our favorite taco restaurants that has the prettiest outdoor seating. I am so thankful for our peeps and am excited to continue to grow with them over the years to come. <3

Fall Frolic. Every year since we moved to the Mill six years ago, we have gone to the Fall Frolic as a family. It's one of my favorite October traditions. There is horseback riding and gem-mining and corn mazes and, well, all the things you would expect at a Fall Frolic. The temperatures were lovely, the crowds were low that day, and we had a blast!

Lost tooth. BIG news over here: Finally, at 6 years, 9 months old, my Raleigh Jane lost her first tooth! Y'all. This girl is so tough and has such a different personality than her big brother, Banks. She hardly flinches at pain and tends to be the brave one of the bunch - rocking any rollercoaster she can find; pretty much taking care of herself when she has a stomach bug; etc. So, it should come as no surprise she tried her hardest to pull that baby tooth out herself. In the end, her dad pulled it, and she was so, SO excited to see her new smile!! 

And that's that! One quick, superficial prayer request: Tomorrow morning, I'll be running my first every half marathon. If you have a minute, could you send up prayers that (1) I don't experience any joint pain (knee, ankle, hip) during the race; (2) I am able to run the whole thing without stopping (I'm not concerned with my pace - I just want to run the whole thing, no matter how long it takes), and (3) the weather is kind to me (forecast is calling for rain in the morning with some fairly cool temps)? 

On a significantly more important prayer request note, would you also send up prayers for some dear friends of ours, who delivered a beautiful baby boy (their second handsome son!) last week? He has been battling some significant health concerns since his arrival. I'll keep the details private here, but please pray for precious Cole and his amazing parents. We know that God is the ultimate healer and miracle maker and have faith He will restore Cole to full health so that he can live a long life and share the inspirational testimony of his warrior beginnings. <3

Thank you friends! Have a BEAUTIFUL Fall weekend, and GO TIGERS!!! :) 

From The Weeds

It had been an unseasonably long and hot summer, one where the daily temperatures hovered in the upper 80s/low 90s well into mid-October. 

I remember the day I drove to the garden shop, carefully selecting which flowers I wanted to plant for the Spring and Summer. I brought them home and painstakingly cleaned the old soil from our window boxes before re-filling each with deep brown, nutrient rich soil. I carefully dug little burrows for each plant before massaging the roots, gently placing them in their soil beds, and blanketing them with more soil. I watered them daily, these little flowering plants of mine, and watched them spread their roots and grow. I pruned them constantly, watered them religiously, and had a front-row seat as they grew, shining toward the sun and gently dancing in the breeze. I did my best with my flowery wee ones. But sometimes, life gets in the way. 

It had been an unseasonably long and hot summer. 

We spent a week at the beach, an escape from the unforgiving heat. Upon returning home, I discovered that the sun's harsh rays and unrelenting heat had been too much for my blooms. What once were window box stages proudly presenting the beauty of the purest white petunia performers were now vacant arenas showcasing the shriveled, shadowy remains of former promise. 

The only thing left to do was uproot the now parched, decaying plants, leaving their former homes vacant, aside from the brown soil stage that once had boasted their beauty. 

There was no more watering. No more pruning. I had done my best to care for my plants when they were fresh and new. I had taken the time, energy, and effort to help them grow and flourish, but, when left alone, without my nurturing care, they had not survived. 

Time continued like only she can, and with her, the lingering Southern summer heat. Day after day the unforgiving heat remained. Weeks passed. I willed Autumn to arrive, to relieve Summer of her ever-present swelter. And yet, she remained steadfast and strong. One day, I noticed weeds in my emptied windowboxes, lining the soil, sprouting anew. Rows upon rows of weeds. And then, weeks later, my emptied window boxes, well...

...they weren't empty at all. 

Somehow, someway, against all odds, there - in the soil that was vacant just a month prior, there, rising tall and strong amongst the weeds, were three beautiful, healthy, pure white petunias sprouts, growing from the ruins. All that groundwork that had been laid - all the care and effort and nurturance and time - all that had seemed so futile, as though it made no difference, had come to bear fruit. In the end, it made all the difference. It had built a solid foundation, one that allowed little seeds that had been left behind to grow, to flourish. When hope seemed lost, when the blooms withered and the weeds took over, new life found a way to rise. 

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Take the time. Put in the effort. Nurture and love and care. Prune and nourish. Over and over again. For, even when you think hope is lost, you may just find that the seeds you  painstakingly planted have, in fact,  taken root. We can’t see what’s going on beneath the surface, under the soil. But God knows. He always knows. And hope triumphs. 

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:14-15

Cheers to the Weekend, Feels Like Fall Edition

Hip, Hip, Hooray!!! It actually, truly feels like Fall today! I think our upper 80s/low 90s temps have actually hit the road. Good thing, since we're nearly halfway through October! This week was a bit of a strange one, as Bella was home from school sick on Wednesday, and then school was cancelled for all four kids yesterday, due to Hurricane Matthew and the 50 mile-per-hour wind gusts he rudely brought with him. We were lucky not to suffer any damage but are thinking of, and praying for, all those who were affected in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. <3

We are ready for a packed full weekend, one that will include dinner with our LifeGroup tonight, football, cheer, and soccer at 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00 tomorrow morning, our annual visit to our sweet town's Fall Frolic, family photos, my last long training run before my half-marathon, community and church volunteering, and....a very restful Sunday to recuperate from all that madness- ha! 

And we are hoping for a little more of this:

...and a little less of this:

So, here's to good health and good fun! Before we kick off the fun, a few things we're saying CHEERS to as we welcome in the glorious Fall weekend: 

Health. Banks had a great 9-year-old well-check appointment earlier this week. Since bringing Bella home and facing medical challenges and question marks over the last year, I NEVER take for granted hearing the word "Healthy!" anymore!!! And at 4'7", he is now just one foot shorter than his momma. I'm happy he's growing but I am not looking forward to the day I have to literally look UP to him! 

And like I mentioned, poor Bella had a rough go of it this week. She battled a fever virus for a couple days and was up much of the night last night, BUT I am so thankful that we are here to give her all the TLC she needs to feel better. <3

Panthers. Last Sunday, Harrison and I joined one of my good girlfriends, and two of her sons (one of whom is one of Harrison's best buddies) to go the Panthers game. It just so happened to turn into the BEST NFL GAME EVER with the BEST ENDING EVER by our favorite kicker. It was such a great day with friends we love!

Fall mode. Now that the weather is officially Fall-like, I am ready for allllllll the Fall things! We've put out our Halloween decor, ordered our costumes, decorated our Haunted (cookie) House, got Boo'd and Boo'd back two neighbors, will be Fall Frolic-ing this weekend, and I am consuming every pumpkin-flavored thing I can get my hands on #basic. And I'm loving it ALL!

Fun with friends. Last Friday, my hub and I, and some good friends, went to see a Guns N' Roses coverband. I thought my hub was looking quite the part! 

Bella and I had fun with some of Harrison's buddies (and mine!), too, when joining him for his field trip last Friday. We visited a pumpkin patch and had a great time - even though the temps were still quite summery at that point!

And that's it, y'all! Have a fantastic weekend, enjoy this beautiful weekend, and I hope you find some Fall fun to get into. Be back soon! 

Sick Days

For me, sick days were warm chicken soup, comfy jammies, and a soundtrack of Price Is Right in the background. It was extra snuggles and naps in my mama’s big, cozy bed. It was cold wash clothes placed gently on my forehead and being soothed while medication was administered. Sick days were comfort days. I felt safe because I was with my mama. 

For the first 26 months of her life, any time Bella was sick, she was...alone. She didn't have the undivided attention, care, nor love from her momma to soothe her. And while there were undoubtedly orphanage nannies there to take her temperature and give medication as needed (I hope!), it's just not the same. 

Imagine when you were little, being at school, and not feeling well. Your head is pounding, your skin burning with fever, you feel achy. You raise your hand and ask to go to the school nurse. You walk down to her office, alone. Really try to picture it: the sterile nurse's office with the stiff chairs and the disposable-paper-lined examination table. She is kind but matter-of-fact. She takes your temperature and confirms you are ill. 

Now imagine...What if it stopped there? 

What if you then just had to lie in her sterile office all day and night, on the stiff exam table, not feeling well and in the presence of someone you hardly know. You are not in the comfort of your own home, resting in your own bed, being snuggled and loved and comforted by your adoring momma. Sure, someone is there to administer medicine and allow you to rest...but it is far from the tender loving care of your own momma. 

Can you imagine?

It breaks my heart. 

Every little one deserves to get well while in her momma's arms. 

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When Bella awoke with a fever today, it halted every single plan that had been put in place for my busy Wednesday. I cancelled them all. Because while there were important places I needed to go and things I needed to get done, not one trumped taking care of my baby girl: the one who was without her momma for the first 26 months of her life; the one who never, not one time, had a momma to care for her when she was sick; the one who was 3 years, 5 months old, before getting sick enough to stay home from school and having her momma there to care for her, like only a momma can. This baby deserves to be snuggled and loved, to be rocked after medication is gently administered, to be checked on, over and over, during her nap, to be read to and sang to and hugged and kissed. This sick little lady deserves to be cared for by her momma. 

And it is one of the greatest privileges of my life to be able to do it.
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Adoption isn't easy. It comes from a hard, broken place. There is loss and trauma and pain. But adoption is beautiful. Beauty comes from the broken. Beauty comes from the loss and the trauma and the pain. There is redemption and rejoicing and joy and gratitude and faith-building and love. So much love. 

Every child deserves to have her momma during sick days. I'm so glad my Bella has hers. <3

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 3:12.