back tracking

There was a time that I was an excellent blogger. I documented life! And printed out cute blog books! Jones' first two years are neatly bounded on my shelf.  Then, I don't know what happened, but I stopped.  There is so much going on that I don't want to miss a thing.  I'm making a promise to myself to document Ollie's journey home, so I am back tracking a bit to the spring to bring my blog up to speed:

APRIL:

Jones turned five and celebrated with a super hero party at the church gym.

Trey and I snuck away with our BFF couple friends to the beach.  Adult only perfection.
(Do people still say BFF? Did 30-somethings ever say BFF?)

MAY:

We ran our first 5K as a family.  Anna Joy refused to sit in the stroller or walk.  SO I CARRIED HER.  For 3.2 miles.  We did not come in first place. But we did win "the most colorful family" award!

Jones graduated PreK! And he won the P.E. award. :)
Our first year at ACS was in the books and we were officially in LOVE with our school!

We had a quick visit with sweet friends moving across the country. We were tickled to be a pit stop for them and can't wait to visit when they move to Germany. Camp friends make the best friends. (Take me back to Maine...)

I finished up my job at ACS and started working part-time as an Assistant Children's Minister at our church one day a week.  Bitter-sweet, but a total answer to prayers we didn't even know to pray. Loving it! I also started as an Arbonne consultant.  

JUNE:

First week: Trey was in Eluthera on a mission trip. Kids and I enjoyed lots of swimming, playing, and summertime single-parenting meltdowns! ;)

There were lots of pictures to choose from his mission trip but I mean he looks cute here taking a break on that rock. 

Second week: VBS decorating in the afternoons and evenings for me and lots of swimming with the kids during the day.

Third week: VBS!

Fourth week: I left at 2:30 am the day after VBS ended for a week in Haiti.  No words this side of Heaven to describe my time there. Be still my heart. 

Somewhere during this month we celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  We were in two different countries that week, but he still managed to have flowers delivered on that day! Romance is not dead, thanks to modern day 1-800-flowers. I love him. 

Oh yeah, the day I returned from Haiti we found out we were moving into a church parsonage. Praise God for this unplanned blessing.  But also? Meltdown on my part. Because #12movesin9years. Someone hold me.  

June made me tired. Good tired, but tired.  I still want a nap. 

JULY:

We put our sweet house on the market and had a full asking price offer after one week! But the offer fell through...too good to be true.

Trey was out the second week at SIFAT.  Another week of single parenting swimming, art camp, painting and operation wear the kids out.

Another contract on our home after being on market for two weeks. This one was a success! Selling the house while Trey was out of the country for the week - check that off my list of things I don't want to do again.  But, again, praises! We give God the glory for a quick, profitable sale!

Trey was the spiritual director for the Happening during the same time I had a girl's weekend with my girlfriends from college.  Spa by day, lots of food by night.  Perfectly perfect and good for my soul.

Come back to me, my friends. 

AUGUST:

We closed on our home and moved to our first church parsonage making our 12th move in 9 years. But honestly, who is counting.  

Two days after moving in, while our house still looked like a tornado hit, I declared a state of family emergency and decided a day trip to Birmingham was in order.  Children's museum and unpacking denial for the win!

Quick.  Call Lita. 

Children's Museum fun in Birmingham

We finally met our precious cousin's baby, Hayes! Dallas is too far away.

Cousins/sisters and cousin/sister's babies! 

Jones started kindergarten at ACS! Oh my heart....

We officially submitted our paperwork for our China adoption (August 18th). A week later, on August 25th, we were accepted!

Starting the paper trail....

Anna Joy started using the potty! (All the angels sing!)

SEPTEMBER:

Anna Joy stopped using the potty. (Curses.)

Jones started soccer!

College football officially kicked off.  Hail state!

Annual Labor Day weekend trip to the beach with the Knights. Why can't this happen once a month?

Started our home study process.  First meeting in Columbus - September 10th.  Second meeting in Tupelo - September 17th. Third meeting in Tupelo - September 21st.  BEYOND thankful for a quick home study process so far and praying all of our necessary paperwork will be submitted just as quickly so we can move on to our dossier and bring home Ollie!

Celebrated Trey and Noelle Adam's September birthdays.

I think that about covers our highlights from the past few months!