Sweet Ella

 There are just somethings that I absolutely LOVE about my "job".  

This is one of them.

Meet Ella Grace.

Doesn't she look like her name?

Soft, gentle, sweet, pure.

Sweet baby girl to M and L, Ella entered the world just a few weeks ago.

She has already captured her Daddy's heart, and it was so precious to see him talking to her, caressing her tiny little hands and kissing her beautiful cheeks.

Her Mama looks at her and her loving expression becomes one of an experienced mother although Ella is her first child.

 God's richest blessings on your life, sweet Ella.

How My Heart Aches...

".....aches for what?", many may ask.

My heart aches to hold the hand of a child I have never met, but who I already know... who I automatically think of each morning, wondering if he had a good sleep and a nutritious breakfast... who I desire more than anything to hold, letting him know I will never, ever leave... who I pray for each night... who I already call son...

Yep, it's true: 

And, I am unabashedly and uncontrollably unashamed.

Our beautiful boy awaits us in what is truly the heart of Africa, knowing we are coming for him -- 

but I wonder, does he understand that we are doing ALL we can, each and every day, to get him to us? 

does he know that we dream of him, talk about him as though he is already here - only to have stepped out of the room for a brief moment?

does he know his sisters can't wait to spoil him? 

and that his brothers are eager to teach him to ride a bike and wrestle?

and that his father finds pride in having him take his last name?

and that his mother... well, that his mother is in love with him even though she's never met him?

It is our prayer that you will join us on this beautiful journey - one that we have traveled before, only in a different time and a different land.

 Travel along with us as we bring home our beautiful African son and show him the love of the Father through becoming a Galyean.

I'm Back!!!!

It has been FOREVER since I've had an opportunity to post anything, but I've got a lot of cool stuff to share with you...... so, just to get my creative juices going and to figure out the new layout behind the scenes of my blog, here is a little diddy to wet your appetite!

Growing Up

My babies are growing up........

Something happens when a child learns to tie his shoes......

Call it responsibility -

a new-found freedom -

I don't know.

All I do know is that my children are growing up on me.

And..... it's a blessing to have a part in that.

The Chess King

A really cute 5 year old.....

who inevitably wants to play chess EVERYday.

Jonathan and Jamye

Sunday was such an incredible treat for me.

I had the pleasure of following around a beautiful bride for the better part of the day.

Jamye was such a sweet lady to be around. Her disposition was always filled with a beautiful smile and she has such a gentle, easy-going turn with everyone she comes in contact with. Must be why Jonathan surprised her with a little wedding gift early in the day.

Nicely done, Jonathan.

It is so refreshing to see a couple so undeniably taken with each other.

Who knew Cape Fear Botanical Gardens were even around, let alone so pristine and beautiful?

The infamous "dip kiss".....

I don't recall ever having the guys to pack such a photo session punch.

What a hoot to work with.

I mean, really..... who would think up a pyramid and have such fun posing?

And, what about a football team of groomsmen?

Jayme - a country gal at heart, looked at home on a Massey Ferguson parked right smack in front of a tobacco barn.

Thanks, Jayme and Jonathan.

You filled my day with many smiles and warm fuzzies.

May the rest of you days be filled with giving each other more of the same.

LITTLE MUMMY

Yep, this is what happens when you study Ancient Egypt with your children.....

and then go to Walmart at the end of summer when they are already getting Halloween costumes lined up in the lawn and garden center.

This little stinker got the biggest kick out of scaring the daylights out of his mother. Not only did he come into the schoolroom while I was vacuuming, but then commenced to chase me outside - all the while holding those little brown arms out towards me, never breaking the hint of a smile, and never taking his chinquipin eyes off of me.

Ah, but then he turned around, and after taking in a good view of his rear, I realized that I was dealing only with a "mummy-wanna-be", dressed in Scooby-Doo underwear.

Whew!! That was a relief.