Is this my new life?

So, we just went to VA Beach last week. It was great to see them. :)

When Chloe asked me to do that marathon last October and I agreed, I thought, HEY, it will be good to see her.

Then a few days later, she asked if the WHOLE family could go to them for Easter. That one was a toss-up. But my mom, my sister & her family and I agreed. (My sister moved to CA when she got married, and she remembered being bummed when the family couldn't go out there, so she was all for it!)

Well, stupid me didn't even look at the calendar when I was making these decisions. Last October.

Yeah.


And...

We just found out his family is going, too!!!

So, 17 of us are getting in our cars, and going down there.

Again. ( For us)


Yup, it would be easier for 2 people to come up here. But they couldn't. So we will go there.

And it will be fun.



VA Beach, here we come. Again.

All I have to say is, I can't even imagine what it will be like when they had kids. WHO CAN RESIST A GRANDCHILD??? Will 7 hours make a difference?

Holy struggle.

What happens when you have been in a holy struggle for almost 5 years, now?

What happens when you are so tired and you just want to give up?

What happens when you just wish it would stop and you could breathe without so much anxiety?

What happens when you know the Truth, and it has set you free, but you your heart is still breaking?

What happens when you only hear HIM, well, not often enough.

What happens when you are desperate and lonely in struggle?




I guess you continue to trust. And cling. And cry.

And take the next step. Even if you can only do 1 step today.

Run Guys, Run

(Warning: LOADS of pictures)( Click to view larger)

So in all the excitement for Chloe's first marathon, and being nervous about my knees blowing out in doing my 13.1 miles, I can't believe I TOTALLY forgot to mention, Samuel is also running!

He did his final mile there. He ran 25.2 miles here at home. He has been at it since last October. Actually I think he did way more, but that's not the point. His race was Saturday.


On the way to his run. It was his day. His alone, and I was glad we got to concentrate on him alone.


He got nervous and was fighting butterflies right before it started.


He did GREAT!! He had a personal best that was over a minute faster then his fastest. Sister was so proud of him. (He kind of collapsed on Elly's stroller.)


Free Jody's pop corn & his medal. Does it get any better?


His daddy was so proud of him, he was about 6 inches taller. :)





Is it night time?


What are my little ones doing out so late at night???


Oh wait, it is 5am, Sunday and time to go to our race.

And what were we thinking??????


Quite a few men running in kilts. Should John ever run this, I think he should were his family's tartan. :)


SHE DID IT!!!! We were so proud of her!! Josiah put the medal on her. He was also 6 inches taller. Maybe even 7. :)





Yes, I also finished my first 1/2 marathon. I finished before I every imagined. I thought I was going to fall. Several times. My knees are STILL not talking to me.



And what was Elly doing during all this time??

Enjoying her first car ride with the windows open. She thought this is the NEW best thing that has happened to her!!


And of course, keep up her job of being a cutie-pie.

Spring is knocking on the door.

And we are more then ready to let it in!!


What have we been doing as of late?

Well, Hoops has been trying to find the right hat for Spring.

He thinks he found it. You be the judge.



Samuel & Elly have been enjoying the swings that their Daddy made them.





And they have been on this thing so much. Sometimes before school is done!!! And let me tell you it is a pain to get him back in to finish.



She has found her new favorite toy. It is also helping her balance. And it means more trips to the chiropractor. lol


And me? What have I been up to?

We are getting in the car right after lunch for that 7 hour trip to see me other baby girl.

And to see if I survive this crazy 13.1 walk I got myself into last fall, when it seemed like a good idea.

Pray for my knees. I think I can make it just fine, as long as my knees don't give out.

Hopefully I don't come back with crutches.

Happy St Paddy's Day!

Let us celebrate this great Christian!!!! He is worth remembering.




We have done full unit studies on the man in school. We have researched him to the good, the bad, the legends, both true and false, and yes, the amazing!

As I mentioned in the past, before I married a full blooded Irishman, I had no idea when this day was.

It is his favorite holiday.

And yes, U2 is his favorite band. ( mine too, but for different reasons)

And yes, our children have been to Black 47 concerts. Quite a few of them. Their father having taken them.

And my husband and my sons, and yes even my daughter have those Irish characteristics that aren't learned. They are born with them. Those babies of mine may have my skin coloring, but they have his personality, his passion. Whether is it great or misdirected.

Let me explain that...I have a quote someone sent me years ago. " The Irish don't know what they want, but they are willing to fight to the death for it.

True story.

So someone...PRAY FOR ME. lol.

And to all of you HAPPY ST PADDY'S DAY!!!

Beautiful eyes.

I may or may not have mentioned, but our baby girl from China has cerebral palsy.

Sometimes we forget, because we decided not to make a big deal out of it emotionally.

We are doing everything medically possible to help her. It's one of the reasons we are so happy she is here. With physical therapy and all the medical break-throughs...the possibilities are wonderful! What ever the neurologist says to do, gets done.

But we do remember when people stare at her when she is walking because she limps. And she tends to lose her balance easily. But we just cheer her on to get back up by herself. And she doesn't seem to know any different, either.

One of the things that also happens, is her left eye kind of crosses itself randomly. Not often enough that it is constant, just often enough for us to notice since we are with her all the time.

We went to an eye specialist today. GOOD NEWS!! Her eyes themselves are healthy. :) Yes, he noticed the wandering, but for now, he will take the wait and see approach, specially since it doesn't happen all the time, and she is young, we will see what happens in 6 months.

6 Days

6 Days.

Until I hope to feel the grace on GOD on my knees.

And survive this *thing* I agreed to do.

And here I always thought I was a reasonably sane person.



And my daughter, she is running the whole thing!!! Crazy girl. She gets that craziness from her father.

Because I am a reasonably sane person.

Usually.

These are a few of my favorite things.

What is one of her favorite things??

PICTURES!!

Mommy, I am going to take a picture of you.


Ready, set...


Mommy you have to pose!! Like this.


Say CHEESE.



And then we get the most delightful pictures of 2 little fingers.

And they are my favorite.

Our family. God is good.

We finally got our pictures taken!!

And now we can make our *Join us in welcoming our daughter* cards!!

Our family. :)


Our kids. The whole mix of them! :)


Our boys.


Our beautiful daughters.


Another family shot.


Fun one with the married couple and the soon to be married couple!

Mud Season = Maple Syrup Season!

Yes! I , too, am amazed we make maple syrup right here in NJ!

We went about 40 minutes into the mountains and were treated to a just-how-maple-syrup-is-made guide.


They told us to wear mud boots; they were NOT kidding about the mud.


This was their only 'old fashion way of doing it' tree. The rest were done with tubing, which is much faster and more efficient. I guess the guest want to see how people did it in Little House times, so they cater to that, at least in one tree.


The house were they purified and boiled the sap down to syrup.


Eating waffles with fresh made maple syrup; outside, where it was COLD.


I bought Chloe some just made maple syrup. She & Josiah love it. I am slightly embarrassed to say, we are Log Cabin people, ourselves. This tour made me rethink that, but I have to convince John to go for the natural stuff, as opposed to the chemical stuff which he loves.


I walked out to get something out of the car this morning.

It is snowing.

Again.

I wasn't expecting it.

Again.

But God is good.

And what a weekend it was!

My babies, together, finally.


My girls. Chloe has been waiting for this moment for a long, long time. Since we have been preparing Elena for sister's coming she took to her real fast.


Here is The Peanut after sister got her out of bed, bathed, dressed and ready to go for the day!


*Playing* tennis at Nana's house.


And they are back home. And we miss them. In a good way. Elena cried when they left. She kept saying " no bye bye, sister. No bye bye." Needless to say, there were a few tears.


It was so good to see them. :) And we will see them in 2.5 weeks for the marathon!!!