My 2 front teeth

2 bottom teeth for our lil girl.

She has held up well, considering she got 2 teeth in 2 weeks!

She has been enjoying chewing......EVERYTHING!

A cold wet washcloth seems to be the best to ease any discomfort....and cold water!

What a big girl!

Sometimes you feel a person's impact in your life....much further

down the road.

When I was a high school student, I became friends with a young lady named Heather Loux.

She and her brothers were a christian band. They were 3 amazingly talented young people that had moved to Wellsboro, lived there for a brief time, but had an impact on me.

Over the holidays, Heather's brother Derek was killed in a car accident.

Derek was leading worship at the international House of Prayer.

He and his wife have 10 children, some birth children, but the majority adopted, many with special needs.

Derek championed the cause of adoption. He was a gifted and published christian musician.

His memorial service was aired via his churches web-telecast.

It was not until this evening that I watched it.

And as I sat there watching this beautiful service, I remembered how much Heather's family had welcomed me into their home. How they had taken me on a scavenger hunt with their church youth group, how I had gone to see the Loux Family Singers play in the basement of a college dorm....how they modeled their love of god in all that they did in their lives....how often I have thought of that kindness as I wondered far away from the god that has always loved me and thankfully RAN, not walked back to him.

Praise God for the people that walk in and out of our lives...even for the briefest moments...for it is true what Francis of Assisi said: Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary...use words.

Thank you Lord for the people that you place on my path. Your plan comes full circle. it is perfect.

If you wish to watch Derek's deeply moving memorial:

http://ihop.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?ID=1000059490

If nothing more, scroll the video to 1 hr and 44 minutes to listen to Heather and her brother John offer a beautiful memorial to Derek with one of his own songs, Fragrant Burning.

I forgot how amazing this family's voices are.

Baby's first Christmas Vacation

Dear Audrey,

On Christmas day, we packed up the car with Gram and Pop and made the 8 hr trip to Corolla, North Carolina, the OBX. We stayed at a town home in Corolla Light Resort called SeeHorses.

You slept in your own room...with Gram.

We visited the 4X4 beach where we took the Expedition on the beach with other cars.

We saw a 300 year old Oyster boat washed ashore and the engine of an old car.

The most fun day, was when we went to the aquarium on Pine Island.

I was surprised at how you reacted to the

fish that you saw in the tank.

You were mesmerized...so we went through twice. We really enjoyed our time with you at the aquarium.

We played games at night after you had gone to bed.

Our last day, we went to the Currituck Lighthouse and the wildlife center.

Here are some highlights and lovely pictures from our trip.

We decided that you are a great traveler. You never got fussy or anything on our long journey.

But, we certainly got fussy. It was one LONG drive for us.

Next summer, we are driving 3 to 4 hrs only.

Love,

The weary traveling mom

Happy New Year

Dear Audrey:

Last night you woke up at 11:45 pm, just in time to ring in the New Year with all 4 of your grandparents, me, Kendra and, after Daddy dropped the wrench in Mburg, him. It was a wonderful time. And then, you didn't want to go to sleep. It is like you learned that fun things happen when you are sleeping. I hope that I didn't set myself up for future times of "glasses of water and sneaking down the steps".

Yesterday, you learned to roll over.

You are growing up too fast for mommy. And, even while I want you to slow down, I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for you.

You are the greatest JOY in my life. But, I realized over the holidays, as I watched you interact with Gram and Pop and Daddy that you are also the greatest part of their days as well.

Last year at this time, I was so sick, not morning sickness, but all day sickness.

Weeks went by and I worried that we would ever get to meet you.

And one day, in the middle of it all, I remembered something....

All that I have placed in God's hands has flourished beyond my wildest imagination.

Here I sit on the first day of a whole new year with a whole new wonderful life.

God's plan is perfect.

Happy New Year, my chubby cheeked, rolling over, smiling, laughing and silly daughter.

Love,

Mommy