The beauty of friends...

Proverbs 17:17 A friends loves at all times...


Carole and I have been friends for almost 20 years. Distance has never stopped us from feeling like we see each other every day. We can pick up right where we left off the moment we see each other again...sadly it is years in between. They arrived late due to traffic around DC but it didn't stop the children from having a blast together playing outside catching fireflies which her children had never seen. We sat and watched them for over an hour shout with glee as they caught literally 50+ bugs. It is the height of their season now so of course it was easy to catch many. They were amazed by them - every single one!

Then we sat up on our deck as the night fell over our property. The sounds of nature took over and we enjoyed listening to it as well. It was a cooler night and as Floridians they were getting cold. So we went inside and began to prepare for sleep. They only got to meet our oldest three girls, and they were anxious to meet everyone in the morning. I couldn't wait for them to meet all of our adopted children. It was their first time seeing them in person - we hadn't seen each other since before any of them came home almost 3 yrs ago. We did get caught up before bed time on both of our lives and it was wonderful to hear all that God was doing in their family. How amazing to now have that in common too!!! God is so good!

Morning came and one by one the children came down to meet their family. It was instant love with every one of them. Hugs and kisses for everyone. It was precious to watch their children being so tender with ours. Connor their 10 yr old son was amazing with the children. Not many boys his age are so good with every age child. They all loved him. Of course Naomi loved Chloe their youngest and Mykala their oldest daughter. I captured some neat shots of our time together. We look forward to seeing them all again - this time much sooner than 4 yrs. God willing! Please pray over them today as they are driving from CT back through Hershey, PA today and then tomorrow headed to Georgia and finally home. We were so blessed by our time together! Thank you Carole and Warren for making the time to be with us. We love you and miss you all! Give the kids a hug from us again!!!!



We were beyond blessed today when our friends asked us to bring our five oldest sailing with them on the Chesapeake - out of Harve De Grace, MD. It was a trip our children will not soon forget. Neither will Scott or I. Our day was spectacular!



As God always does - He takes every opportunity to show me and teach me things through every day experiences. I am either paying attention or missing the blessing of what He has for me. Lately, I am choosing to not miss a thing! How can you miss how amazing He is when you can close your eyes and hear the power of the wind. Brought us back to Jesus being on the boat with His disciples. We spoke about how they were afraid and He calmed the sea and winds. Who has power of them?

Then to look all around and see the power of the water and how easily our boat could have capsized yesterday. We were seriously keeling and sailing in some crazy winds on our way out to the island. The children were not afraid because we all acted like it was normal. There were a few moments Scott and I were like OK this is crazy! It was exhilarating too!

Or to see the majesty of His creation flying all around us - different birds would give us the most beautiful show. The children were thrilled! To watch the wonder in their eyes - is what gives life meaning to me. I am constantly brought back to the thought of "if we said no to God to keep adopting, where would they be? Would they be alive?" It is so humbling to sit with those thoughts as I watch our children face their own person fears and embrace a new experience!

Then God opened my eyes to see the treasure hunt in a whole new way. I paid close attention to Scott and the children looking at both the map and compass. When they rushed a bit they had to retrace a few steps. Or if they second guessed a direction they had to go over it again.

God and His word are our map.

We are to go to Him for all directions and how to get to and through every life experience. That is if we want to be doing His will vs ours. That is if we want to stay on His path vs going off on our own. That is if we want to see all that He wants to show us along the way vs having our own sight seeing plan. That is if we want to go on the road that leads to righteousness. That is if we want to walk through life with Jesus. That is if we want to be used by Him for His glory. That is if want to know what He desires for us to know and do. Only if we use God and His word as our map will we be allowing Him to be LORD in our life NOT simply Savior.

God and prayer are our compass.

We want to sit with Him in prayer and ask what He has for us this day, in this situation and know that we are waiting on Him to tell us the steps to take. That is if we want to only go through that lesson once. Or go through it with joy. Or go through it with grace. Or go through it with power. God will not lead us on the wrong path. God will not lead us into a journey for our pain or suffering. He allows them to teach us what He knows we need to learn to be prepared for what He knows is coming next. God is LOVE! Because He loves us and knows what is best for us - He wants to direct us through the places in life that He has us at. We can either look to Him for what we need to see and do during each day - or we can remain wandering in the desert like the Jews...feeling lost, lonely, afraid, frustrated, hungry and thirsty. Or we can drink from Him and receive life in abundance! Looking at everything as an adventure with God! Not just any adventure - but our own personal one that He is saying, "Come on today is going to be a little bumpy so HOLD ON TIGHT TO MY HAND because I"M NOT LETTING GO OF YOURS!"

The lessons on this trip were endless. But these are the one that He made sure I didn't forget. Thank you again Darryl and Alice for opening your life to us and allowing us the opportunity to be blessed by you both. We love you!

Today is another first for our boys - Jonathan and Gabriel are going to their first professional baseball game with Daddy and Pop-Pop. They are seeing the Phillies play - you know the World Series Phillies! I can't wait to hear all about their time together. I love the idea of three generations sitting together to watch an American past time together! Please say a little prayer that Daddy and Pop-Pop take a few photos for Mommy....you know it is hard for this Mommarazzi to miss such special memories!

Oh and I forgot to tell you the fit-fresh containers work AMAZING! I used them for all of our food on the trip and they were still cold 10+ hours later! Goodness what a good idea! Sure wish I thought of that!