Trip to SC

Two weeks after vacation, the girls and I headed to SC to visit my family while Billy flew to Washington state for a songwriter's retreat with our label, Centricity. Billy had a fabulous time with the Centricity gang and did some AWESOME co-writing....I believe you will be hearing a song or two in the near future:) Meanwhile, the girls and I enjoyed Charleston beaches, family and friends.... 

Taylor, Libby and Camryn (the two blondes belong to my sister,  Becky)

backyard pool fun

nothin' but cool goin' on

and pom poms

Folly Beach, I have missed you.

Becky and Camryn

checkin' out the waves

three amigas...the fourth was being a princess:)

fun in the sun

peak a boo hiney

all the colors of the rainbow and more

so. stinkin. beautiful.

sweet, sweet, sweet Taylor

SISTA!

My granddad (far left), dad, and mom..... I really thought this might be the last time I would see my granddad. He had cancer and many other troubles. This was also the most alert my mom was all week. She has been sick for nearly 26 years and I also wondered, during my trip, how long it would be before she left this earthly home. But God had something HUGE in store.....more about that in another post to come!!)

Pepa, my girls and me

Hipsta Libsta

My brother, Kelly, with our beautiful and all-grown-up niece, Taylor

We celebrated Sage's first birthday! (Kelly, Sage, Carissa)

The Sweet and Pretty Birthday girl!

Hunter and Libby playing with the train track. Hunter looks just like my brother did at this age. So adorable!

Sage, Carissa and baby-loving Gracie

my dad taking my girls for a "snake hunt"....wasn't too sure about that but they sure latched to his hand for the walk....which was probably my brilliant dad's plan all along:)

long layover in Houston on the way home. Gracie spent the time loving on her babydoll

Vacation, May 2011

Our family has not been on a vacation alone since, well, since we became a family. We decided this year we would vacation in South Padre. We spent a week a the SunChase IV condo. And if there hadn't been construction on our roof for the first four days, it might have been a great location.  We made the best of it and enjoyed the beach when we could. It was not quite warm enough the first few days and the wind was brutal a couple of other days. It took us about 4 days to really settle in. Guess we needed vacation more than we realized:) The pics are not all in the right order, but you get the idea - cute kids on the beach! Great memories. We are grateful we had the opportunity to get away, laugh and play.

Libby

Gracie - a.k.a. princess - she did not like the seaweed and sand. 

Seriously growing up too fast....and too pretty.

once a seaweed-free-pathway was made, she was good to go...hauling water for her sister, of course.

first evening on beach. really calm evening.

Libby and Daddy

full moon

breakfast on the balcony every morning = NICE!

Built many castles. This was one of our best.

my favorite pic of the girls from vacation

wind.

warm and cozy watching the cheesiest movie in all of history - Yogi Bear

Really, could she be any cuter?

checking out the sea turtles

sisters:)

love this!

Billy took Libby on a fishing boat for a day. She caught 12 - more than anyone else on the boat...of course.

Girls in their pretty dresses

Gracie, wearing sass.

sweet.

the girl would simply NOT look at the camera.

Love that throw-back-her-head laugh/smile

precious hands

chocolate toes 

Honestly....

If I were to take off my "adoption advocate" hat and my "I'm learning so much in this process" hat and then lock up my entire closet of pro-adoption hats.... The truth is,  I'm tired of adoption journeys and ready for this one to be over. Ready for Keemberlie to be home. Ready to have my family complete and settled. Ready to stop waiting. The end.

Moon

Moon 

You look peaceful as you float the sky

But you powerfully shift the tides

Fullest moon while you're up high

Would you please upon my child shine

Remove the oceans in between us

Waive the endless sands of time

Guide her eyes to gaze upon your glowing

And do not hide your face from mine

Share your cosmic space if just a moment

Be our meeting place in still of night.

for Keemberlie, love Mom

(c) 2011 Poetic Present Poems

No Double Yellow Line Release Is Here!

That's right! It's May 23 and the day has finally arrived to share this project with you! EP (which just means that it is shorter than a full length CD...specifically its 7 songs long) can be purchased/downloaded at: www.nodoubleyellowline.com under the "store" tab. OR you can click HERE and go directly to the store.

And to entice you a bit...here's a new video featuring a song from the EP as well as our youngest daughter, Gracie. If you like it, please share with your friends via blog/facebook and twitter to help me get the word out. Thank you!

Bring Our Children Home

Two months and no blogging??? I apologize!! I've been up to something a little time consuming, which I will share in a minute. But first, for anyone wondering what is going on in our Haiti adoption journey here's the update. All we can hear (as my friend Elissa would say) is crickets and tumble weeds. Yep, that quiet. Our papers have been in Haiti's social services office since Feb. 1 and, as far as I know, they are still there...sigh. After we exit that office there will be more steps to accomplish before bringing Keemberlie home. In the meantime, however, she is doing well...just growing up too fast without her family to watch and enjoy. But we're praying, praying, praying and practicing faith without sight daily. We trust Jesus and declare our dependence on him daily in this process. Jesus, bring her home.

Libby and Gracie are fabulous. They pray for Keemberlie daily too. Libby is wrapping up her first semester of Kindergarten by way of homeschool and is reading the "I Can Read It Book 3"...the last book in the series before she begins regular books like Dr. Seuss and such. I am so proud of her!! Gracie is as sassy as they come. The sweetest smile and the sneakiest tricks has she. She completely skipped 2T clothes and is well into 3T, though she is only 2 years and 4 months old. Yes - TALL! Can't imagine my life without her.

And on to the time consuming, but FUN thing I've been up too.....
A NEW EP!!!!!!!
The No Double Yellow Line EP has seven songs, all inspired by our adoption journeys or orphan care and it releases MAY 23! That's one week from tomorrow. One of the songs on the CD leans more towards being a worship song. Its called Bring Our Children Home and you can hear it in the video below. The others are the kind of songs you listen to while you drive or clean the kitchen....though, you may want to have tissue nearby.

You can read much more about this project at: www.nodoubleyellowline.com. If you feel compelled, join the e-newsletter and you may discover a few freebies or discounts along the way. This project is only the beginning of what God's put in my heart to do, and my newsletter members will be the first to hear new details when the time comes to share.

For all the waiting families, enjoy this video... and if you do enjoy it feel free to share it. Thx! And don't forget: You'll be able to purchase the CD at the site above starting May 23!

Sisters

Looking cute and stopping to pose before church one Sunday morning.

I'll hold you.

A big chair to fill! Boerne, TX

The coolest sisters on the block (or at the SA zoo, I should say)

Sassy Gracie Enjoying Sea World

Bay to Fun was truly fun!

Sleep the sleep of the righteous, baby girls.

Josie, your sisters are waiting for you. They ask about you everyday. Gracie told me a few mornings ago in her sweet toddler voice, "Mommy, I sad. Pray Keemie home". So we prayed. And we all keep praying. We've been in IBESR for about 6 weeks. Hoping to hear good news soon.