Mission

I did something this week that is completely and totally exciting.  I called a travel agent and booked a ticket to Ethiopia.  That's right!  My mom, sister and I are going on a mission trip to Ethiopia this winter.  My mom and sister have been planning on going for months.  I didn't even consider it until my husband and I were talking one night . . . I couldn't believe it when he was telling me he thought we could work it out.  (LOVE HIM!)

I can't quite wrap my head around it.  I haven't been on a mission trip since college and have been longing for another opportunity, never dreaming it would be this!!!

My thoughts range from "what was I thinking?" to "I can't believe I am going to AFRICA!"  to "I can't believe I am going to Africa with my MOM and SISTER!" 

According to my sister, our time will be spent: holding babies, playing with kids, ministering to widows and single moms, and showing the love of Jesus in Ethiopia! 

While there, we will visit:

Several orphanages and street children's shelter http://www.duttonfoundation.org/

Awake and Alive Kindergarten Center http://www.noordinarylove.org/

Project Tesfa training program http://www.projecttesfa.org/

 

What an amazing opportunity!!!!! 

You know me, before I even made the call to book the ticket I started worrying:

• How can I be away from my family for that long?
• Who's going to take care of my babies when I am gone?
• Is my heart strong enough to see the things we are going to see?
• How am I going to leave Ethiopia without wanting to bring all of those babies home with me?
• How much can I collect to bring with me?
• What can I do in 7 days, so that when I am gone, it will matter that I was there?   
• Am I being selfish for wanting to go on this mission?  Will it be a blessing and not a burden for my family?

That's just the tip of the iceberg!  Because if you know me at all, you know I am already worried about packing! 

This is a big deal.  I'm excited and scared and nervous and anxious and can become totally overwhelmed if I let myself.  But most of all, I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity.  And so blessed to be going on this journey with my mom and sister. 

Purple T-Shirts

 

Last Friday night, the girls and I had the honor to attend the Relay for Life with my mom's Relay team, the 23 Hooters.  It was our 4th year in a row cheering these ladies on.  A high-light of our summer.

 

If you have never been to one of these events, they are really quite amazing.  Hundreds of people gather to raise money for the American Cancer Society.  The teams compete to see who raises the most money by the end of the night, selling a variety of food and crafts.  (Our favorite this year was the caramel corn!)  The teams also raise money throughout the year through different fund raisers and sell luminaries, decorated with the names of people who have fought, or are fighting cancer. 

Pinky helped me decorate some special luminaries this year. 
Each one has a candle inside to be lit later in the evening. 

 

Many of the teams that participate have special t-shirts made that represent their team.  They also get t-shirts for participating.  These shirts are typically white.  This year, the team captains got green t-shirts. Then, there are the purple shirts.  Everyone knows the purple shirt.  It is the shirt that everyone admires.  

 

Purple = Survivor

 

 





My mom and our dear friend, Jean!  Joined in sisterhood by the purple shirt.

 

After the opening ceremonies, the purple shirts gather on the track for the opening lap of the Relay.  This lap is called the survivor lap.  Survivors (and their caregivers) form a sea of purple walking around the track.  It is breathtaking.  It is heartwarming.  It is humbling.  Because we all know that next year, anyone of us could be wearing a purple shirt and walking in that lap.  And as we clap and cheer for these brave, beautiful people wearing their purple shirts . . . we also hope that we are never part of their elite group.  

 

 

 

The Survivor Lap

4th Survivor Lap

Not sure how many laps she has walked . . .
but if my math is right, this could be her 16th or 17th.



First survivor lap



Final stretch of the survivor lap. 
There's no kind of about it:  It's a BIG deal!

Time to join up with their team for the rest of the evening.....

The 23 Hooters in their new John Deere sweatshirts! 

Friends, Teammates and Survivors! 
3 of my favorite ladies! 

The rain kind of put a damper on things, but we still took a lap around the track!!!

Rosie's first Relay was a little wet.  Fortunately, there were lots of
"Hooters" happy to snuggle with her under the tent!

We're here because they're here! 
Our moms are amazing, strong, and faithful! 
I hope they each have a closet jam-packed FULL of purple t-shirts one day!

Snuggle and Snooze

While big sister was out seeking adventure on the farm, Miss Rosie Girl was having a much more relaxing trip to the farm.  Her first of many!  One day, I picture her chasing after her big sister, shouting "wait for me"!  But for now, she was found snuggling and snoozing!  (And finding someone to snuggle with was NOT difficult!)

 

Bright eyed girls! 

Great Grandma - Couldn't get enough of Rosie!
 

Shirt couldn't say it better! 

A little adventure of her own!

Farm girl to be???

zzzzzz

Dressed in pink

Showing a little "quack"!

1 month old! 

She met lots of friends and family while at the farm!  What a blessing to have so many people to love and hug our girls! 

Thanks for the memories!  We'll be back soon! 

Farm Girl

 

We just got back from spending some time on the farm.  It's a summer high-light for Pinky.  Of course, we think every season is fun on the farm!  Pinky loves playing outside, chasing the dogs, and spending time with Grandpa on whatever adventure she can convince him to take her on.  (This is not hard, by the way!)  I think she is a little farm girl at heart.  

 

 

 

"Hey, Mom, I think I am big enough to drive this one!"

Grandpa's helper - Hauling the cows out to the pasture.
"Giddy-up partner, yets go!"

First (of many) "gator" ride! 

Tractor ride too! 

And the lawn mower!  (Grandpa didn't get to have all of the fun!)

 All that farm work is exhausting! 
Good thing she had her "cozy corner"!

What could be better - donuts for breakfast!
Of course the bowl of chocolate chips Grandma
provides at snack time are pretty tasty too!

Lucy is getting so big! 

Play date! 

"Shoo, cows!  Go on!"  (A natural cattle hand!)

Can't beat this view on a Friday night!

Followed by some s'mores fire-side with friends!

My big girl! 

One more ride on our list evening - beautiful night on the water!



Big Sister

People keep asking us how Pinky is doing with the adjustment of becoming a big sister.  It's hard to know how to respond to that.  As I have mentioned before, she's 3.  Which for us, and for her, means completely unpredictable in many, many ways.  And I have to admit, Pinky's reaction, response, and adjustment to becoming a big sister was one of my biggest concerns leading up to Rosie's arrival.  I evidently didn't communicate how much of a concern this was to my husband.  One day after a not so good 3-year-old moment, he said, "She's 3, she should be able to handle this." 

Clearly we weren't communicating!  OOPS!  Our doctor told us yesterday that age 3 was probably the hardest age to "introduce" a new sibling to the family.  Awesome!  She also told us that how we parent at the age of 3 sets the ground work for the teen years.  To stick to our guns and to stay consistent.  We probably should have talked to her before Rosie was born. 

But I am happy to say, that for the most part, Pinky seems to be adjusting as well as can be expected.  She wakes up and can't wait to see "her baby".  She wants to hold her, burp her, feed her, hug her, kiss her . . . just one more time!  And often during the day, you'll hear her say "Oh, Rosie, you're my best friend!" 

Yes, we've seen some regression with potty training.  Yes, she spends lots of time in the corner or her room.  We've heard much more screaming at mom and dad.  But she's had a lot of change.  And change is hard for all of us.  And it's our job to help her through! 

We've started an "incentive program" for Pinky. 
Every time she is "dry" when she uses the potty she gets a dime.
She spent her money last week on a carousel ride. 
By the look on her face, it was money well spent! 
She thinks the ice cream truck may get her money this week.
Whatever works!

Big sister!!!!

Mommy's helper

 

Another big change...no more daycare, at least for the year. 
I know she misses her friends already. 
We'll need to set up some more
play dates.

 

Father's Day

We had a fun weekend celebrating Father's Day.

Our girls adore their dad, as do I!

Happy Father's Day to the only man I would want to be my partner in raising our beautiful daughters!

Saturday evening at the zoo

Rosie's first trip to the zoo!  She slept through it all.

 

Sunday morning - Pinky kept her gift  ("tic tacs") a secret
for 4 days and then spilled the beans.  Her daddy also got a new
BB gun. 

 

Daddy's girls! 

BBQ with friends Sunday after Church

We didn't get to see our dads/grandpas for Father's Day, but we celebrated them too!  What a blessing to have so many wonderful fathers in our lives!  Every child should be so loved and so blessed! 

2-Week CheckUp

 

We took Rosie in for her 2 week check up this morning.  She was such a good girl.  Big sister came along to "help".  (This was a good appointment for big sister to join us - no shots!)  The doctor thought she was doing great and growing well.  What a blessing!!!! 

 

Rosie  has officially passed her big sister's birth weight (6 pounds 5 ounces), weighing 6 pounds 9 ounces!  She's starting to fill out the newborn clothes a little better these days, but is clearly not ready for 0-3 month.  The t-shirt I had her in yesterday looked like a dress.  She still feels so little in our arms, but she is a little more "sturdy" now!  I wonder if she will always be our little peanut???? 

 

Rosie is still eating 2 ounce bottles every 3-5 hours day/night.  She's getting up for bottles in the middle of the night around 1-2 am and again around 5-6 am).  Thinking she may be a morning girl, as she isn't always as eager to go back to sleep after her 5 am bottle as she is at 1 am.  We may need to start using that time to exercise.  HAHA!

 

 

so big!

little helper

let's go home