My Dad (aka: Paw Paw)

I'm typing this minutes before we head out the door to go to Baylor Hospital in Dallas. My Dad, or Paw Paw as he's most known these days, will be undergoing open heart surgery tomorrow morning at 7:15. The heart surgeon will be replacing his aortic and mitral valve. There is a slight possibility that he will be able to repair the mitral valve. The surgery is supposed to last 4-6 hours, and he should be in the hospital 7-10 days. The Baylor Plaza Hotel, located in the hospital, will be mine & Georgia's home-away-from-home for the next week! Packing for a week with a baby is for the birds! WOW! I didn't realize how much I would need and I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  

I've posted some pictures, some that are a few years old, but they just show how loved he is! Georgia Claire already loves Paw Paw...

This is Mary Katherine when she was a baby...around Christmas time...she is now FOUR! This is one of my all-time favorites!
And here he is with Luke, studying one of Dad's many insect collections...I just love this picture because of Luke's face in the magnifying glass!

A hot summer day at the farm with Gabe when he was little...

Look at the LOVE on Dad's face AND Will's face...happy to be together!

One of the MANY tractor rides with Paw Paw during Christmas tree season with Will, Gabe, Mary Katherine, and Luke (before Caroline & Georgia Claire!)...

AND sweet Caroline, giving Paw Paw a kiss! This was taken the night Dad first told us he would be having surgery...If you are reading this I want to ask you to pray for our Dad. He's our family's rock and we have never gone through anything like this before. It's hard seeing your Dad in a situation like this, but we know he will feel so much better when it's all over...he still says he can't believe he's having this done, he doesn't feel sick! Also, please remember my mom. She's been through a lot this year already, with the death of her dad, my PaPaw, back in March and now this major surgery of Dad's. It is very scary and we are all very anxious, but we are finding rest in our Heavenly Father. I Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."  We KNOW that he is in the hands of THE GREAT physician, as well as great physicians at Baylor.  

First Tractor Night

For the past three years or so my parents have been hosting "Tractor Night" once a week. It's just an excuse, really, for my Dad to get out in his shop and tinker on one of his many vintage tractors with his buddies. They have already fully restored a 1954 John Deere and two 1947 Farmalls--one "H" Model and one "Cub". Mom always cooks a delicious meal, we all eat together, and then the men go to the shop and the women stay inside, clean up the kitchen, and visit. It's turned out to be one of the highlights of our weeks! Yes folks, I'm a simple girl!

Georgia Claire had her first Tractor Night last night and she was a hit! These men & women were some of our biggest prayer warriors during the months before Georgia Claire was born. Because it was her first Tractor Night, she HAD to have an appropriate outfit! Here she is in the onesie that my sister Kathy and I made for her...SO HAPPY!

Here she is again...

Another Paw Paw, tractor enthusiast, and good friend of my Dad's...Robert. I don't know which one enjoyed their time in the chair more!

Here is Georgia Claire socializing with two of the ladies...Faye & Donna...

And here she is after too much socializing, I guess! I thought this was HILARIOUS! She slept like this in Martha's arms for a while...

She HAD to make her way to the shop! Shelby & I took her out to see what the guys were doing.

Paw Paw stopped work, sat in a chair, and held her for about a minute or two and was then ready to get back to work!
And here is some of the men that were there last night...Pat, John, Bill, Joel, and Billy (also there...George, Robert, Todd & Howard).

Talking shop with the men...

And finally she fell asleep in Grandma's arms...what a night! =)

First Day of School!

I graduated from Howard Payne University in 1998 with a degree in Sociology. I knew I wanted to work with children, but I didn't want to teach because I thought that meant I would be "stuck" in a classroom! After graduation I worked in admissions for two years at Kilgore College and that is when I decided that I wanted to go back to school to get my teaching certification. The summer of 2001 Shelby & I moved to the DFW area and I went through an alternative certification program to get my teaching certification. My first year to teach was 2001. I taught kindergarten in Grand Prairie ISD...and cried every morning! I can remember sitting on the edge of our bed right before it was time to walk out the door crying and telling Shelby, "Don't make me go!" Ha! Kindergarten was NOT for me! The kids were PRECIOUS but I was just very overwhelmed! Shelby & I moved back to Kilgore in June of 2002 so that he could go to graduate school and to get back to the small town where I grew up. Over the course of 8 years I taught one year of kindergarten, 4 years of first grade, one year of 3rd grade and the last two years I taught 6th grade science. All that to say--this is the first year that I'm not going to school on the first day of school...since I started kindergarten! WOW! It feels so strange, but it is SO GOOD! Instead of seeing 100+ hormonal teenagers today, this is what I'm seeing at 9:30 in the morning...sweet Georgia Claire already taking a morning nap!

Thank you, Lord! Thank you that my husband has a great job and can provide for Georgia Claire and me so that I can stay home! Yes, it's already been an adjustment financially, but OH SO WORTH IT! In June we started living on Shelby's salary only and using my entire salary to pay a loan off from the expenses we accumulated from Georgia's adoption. Once again, God provides. Shelby and I have always tithed, it's just how we were raised and what we know is the right thing to do with 10% of our income. Last month I paid the bills and could not believe the amount of money we had left in our account when it was all said and done. I actually calculated it two or three times just to make sure I had not made a mistake!

Malachi 3:10 says "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do, says the Lord Almighty, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!" Well, we've tried it, and we have received an incredible blessing!

First Sunday in the Nursery

Georgia Claire had her first Sunday in the nursery at church and did great! FHBC is blessed to have three WONDERFUL ladies who LOVE the babies like they are their own grandbabies! We couldn't ask for more loving nursery workers. It's such a blessing to be able to attend our class and worship and not have to worry about Georgia Claire. Here she is with Helen & Judy (Joanne was not there at the time). You can tell she's being spoiled already!

Here we are ready to go...she's getting SO BIG! Can you say "BOWHEAD"?! Zevely, a friend of mine, gave us this little onesie, complete with a big pink daisy, big bow in the back and rows and rows of tulle---OH SO CUTE!

And here she is in her carseat...so content!

We had the privilege of sharing our testimony/adoption story with our church's youth group tonight and we were reminded ourselves of the incredible timing of it all. God worked and moved in ways that we could have never dreamed so that we could have Georgia Claire in our life. She is our angel and we love her more and more each and every day!

Family Time

Shelby came home yesterday after a long six days in the Texas Panhandle working. We celebrated by having family night at home--eating together and having movie night. As you can see, Georgia Claire enjoyed herself by snoozing throughout the entire movie! She looks SO BIG in this picture! She was in her swing and sleeping so soundly...every time it moved forward she would squeak or make one of her sweet little sounds. Have I mentioned lately how much we love this little girl?!

And here she is tonight, after a busy day! When she smiles her whole face lights up and our hearts melt! Have I mentioned lately how much we love this little girl?!

Georgia's birth mother and her biological grandmother came for a visit today...the first one since her birth! I have to admit, I was a little nervous about how it would go, since it was the first. BUT, it was wonderful and comfortable, an overall great visit! We just sat around and caught up on our lives while they held and fed and played with Georgia Claire. I talked to Mom & Dad after they left and told them it felt like we had just spent a few hours with family! We have an even larger extended family now that Georgia Claire is here and we love them so much! Our God never ceases to amaze us! To people on the outside looking in, our situation may seem strange, but to us this is our life! This is the AMAZING path that God has allowed us to follow in order to grow our family. The last 10 months or so have been beautifully orchestrated by God and worrying about things is useless! Anyone that has followed our journey can see how God's hand has worked this whole adoption process out in a way that we could have never dreamed or imagined! Why should we worry? If you have ever truly given something over to God wholeheartedly you know exactly what I mean. God is in this in a BIG and MIGHTY way!

Philippians 4:6-7 says "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." We have experienced God's peace, and it IS more wonderful than any of us can understand! Thank you God for Georgia Claire and for her birth mother and her entire family, which is now OUR FAMILY!

Two Month Check-Up

Georgia Claire had her two month appointment today...which means shots! YUCK! She is now 23 inches long (75th percentile) and weighs 12 lbs 6 oz (87th percentile)! She is a GROWING GIRL! Dr. McCrory said everything looks absolutely wonderful! Thank you Lord for our healthy baby girl! She continues to be a very happy and content little baby! Here she is before the doctor came in to examine her. Poor baby, she had no clue what was about to happen!

She loved the sound of the crinkling paper on the table...she was kicking as fast as her little legs would let her! I couldn't get her to smile...she was concentrating too hard! Serious work!

So, today she had to get three shots and she got so red and cried so hard! It brought tears to my eyes...her little mouth was wide open and her tongue was up but no sound was coming out...absolutely horrible! It was horrible for about 2-3 minutes after but then she calmed down...I put her up on my shoulder and it soothed her. Poor baby! I was a nervous wreck before and right after but by the time we made it to the car she was asleep in on my shoulder and I had calmed down.

Here she is at home, asleep in her bed, with three bandaids on her little chubby legs!

Mimi & Granbarry come for a visit...

Shelby's parents (or Mimi & Granbarry) came for a visit on Saturday. It has been three weeks since they saw Georgia Claire and they were ready to see her! They recently went to Pagosa Springs, CO & Santa Fe, NM for a vacation and came back with gifts for Georgia. One of our favorite things to do at Santa Fe is to buy turquoise jewelry at the Indian Market at the Palace of Governors. I knew Georgia Claire was getting something when Heather emailed and asked what her wrist size was...

Paula bought her the coral and turquoise bracelet and Barry bought her the silver and turquoise one. SO SWEET! She is wearing one to church tonight!

And here is the little model showing off one of her bracelets...cutie pie! =)

Cousins!

Angie, Joe, Gabe & Will came in Wednesday night and stayed until Saturday. It was a crazy visit--very busy, but we got to enjoy time together Friday evening at Mom's and Dad's. My favorite thing to do is for all of us to get together out there.

I have never seen kids more excited about shelling peas! Dad has borrowed a pea sheller from a friend and the kids were jumping up and down with excitement about getting to use it! Dad, Shelby & Andy supervised...why didn't WE have a pea sheller when we were little?! I can remember shelling peas for hours when I was a little girl. We LOVE to eat purple hull peas...it's one of our absolute favorite things to eat, along with a pan of cornbread and other vegetables.

Will & Caroline have become BIG BUDDIES and it is SO CUTE to see them together. They sat on the island in Mom's kitchen and ate vanilla Blue Bell together...

One of many meals together...supper at Andy's and Kathy's...happy to be together!

And finishing the day with a group bath...too bad Georgia couldn't enjoy the big bath tub! =)

Our little cupcake...

Eight weeks ago our little cupcake was born! This outfit was fitting for today, I thought. We just had to celebrate her arrival eight weeks ago! It feels like forever ago, and yet it feels like just yesterday. Georgia Claire has changed our life! Shelby and I are so in love...it brings tears to my eyes to think of how much JOY this tiny baby has brought to us! God is SO GOOD! I was reminiscing today about our entire adoption journey...all 5 1/2 months of it! I still cannot believe that after we finally gave up trying to have a biological child (after 5 1/2 years) God gave us Georgia Claire so quickly! It was all in HIS perfect timing! We prayed for so long for a baby...and now we know it was for this baby...

"And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for." -1 John 5:14-15 THANK YOU LORD FOR GIVING US WHAT WE ASKED FOR...this healthy, happy baby Georgia Claire!

Happy Girl

My sister Kathy and I have laughed and laughed and laughed some more about this picture! I took it yesterday morning after I changed her diaper. It looks like she is saying, "Peace Out, Momma!" Oh the smiles she brings to us...

We had a great day today! I had a hair cut & color appointment and she went with me...and of course, did GREAT! She was awake for the first part just checking out the place and then fell asleep on her own in her car seat. After that, we went up to the middle school and saw some of my former coworkers. It was great to see them, and they LOVED seeing the baby that they all helped get here! I really don't know what I would have done last year without the supportive principals and teachers that allowed me to take time off and supported and encouraged me along the way! Here are some sweet pictures from today...

This dress was the first dress that we received for Georgia. Shelby's parents bought it for her and we could not wait to get her in it! Now, she's almost too big for it! I can't believe how fast she is growing!

My niece Caroline came over for about an hour yesterday while Kathy ran some errands with Luke & Mary Katherine. These two girls will be best buddies one day--I just know it!
Caroline was very excited when she saw the bag of powdered donuts. She said, "What dat BB?" knowing good and well she knew EXACTLY what those donuts were! I said, "They are donuts. Do you want some?" She quickly said "Uh-huh!!!" We think we might just start calling her "Sugar"--it seems that's all she wants to eat!
If these last two pictures do not look like Cindy Lou Who from Whoville I don't know what does! Caroline is the funniest little girl and I'm so glad she is in our lives, and lives so close to Georgia Claire!

Sunday Afternoon...

This is the day that the Lord has made--we will rejoice and be glad in it! We went to the early service at church today and after lunch we enjoyed some time hanging out...just the three of us. It's been a great afternoon and I think you can tell by Georgia's face that she thinks so, too!

Happy baby girl...

Yes, I'm in love...

Yes, Shelby's in love, too...

Happy family...

Thank you, Lord for Georgia Claire and all the JOY she has brought to our life! We rejoice in your faithfulness today, this day that you have made!

This deserves to be posted all by itself!

Here is the most precious picture I have taken in a long time of my nieces and nephew, Caroline, Luke, and Mary Katherine. I love these kids--they, along with Will & Gabe, filled a huge void in our lives while we were waiting for Georgia to be placed with us. We LOVE our nephews and nieces! Gabe & Will are coming next week and we cannot wait for some good, quality time with all of them!

Happy Birthday, Luke!

Luke...full of life, rough and tumble, energetic, loving, our first nephew. We love you, Luke! Happy 6th birthday! I cannot believe he is SIX! I was talking to him this morning while we were at the farm and telling him about the day he was born. I told him how we all rushed to the hospital and then we waited and we waited and we waited...and then he said, "And then, POP! I just popped out! Right BB?" I think if he talked to Kathy she would tell him differently!

This is one of my favorite pictures of him...not sure how old he was...young enough to still be in a diaper and onesie!

Luke loves being at the farm and is always "helping"! Here he is during Christmas tree season sweeping in his Carhart overalls and black rubber boots...I could just eat him up!

Playing with the toy tractors with Paw Paw...one of his absolute favorite things to do!

I will never forget this night. He spent the night with Shelby and me--Shelby was watering the yard and I looked at Luke and asked him if he wanted to run through the sprinkler. He looked at his clothes and my clothes and said, "You mean in our CLOTHES?!" We got soaked, but had a blast!

We ate at Mom's and Dad's house tonight...burgers, chicken sandwiches, and hot dogs! Luke got to eat his hot dog and fries on Grandma's red "You are special today" plate. He was so excited!

Grandma, Paw Paw, Shelby & I bought Luke a razor scooter and boy can he ride it! He shot past me in this picture...
I love this "action" shot of Luke blowing out his 6 candles...

And the last picture of the day--must--get--every--last--drop! He is trying to get some ice cream that dropped on the table. He loves the "tiny cups" of Blue Bell homemade vanilla that Grandma always has! We love you Luke! Thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives!