It's For Real!!!

Okay, my chance to update has somewhat diminished.  Especially with pictures.

Our move to Virginia is now officially happening.  I had an interview with Capital One the last day in June, got offered the position on July 2nd and I start working as an Executive Assistant in McLean, VA on Monday, July 12.  July has started off in a whirlwind.  I leave for Virgina on Saturday (that's tomorrow). WOW!!! This is really happening.  My family is going to be back together, with a small temporary delay.

To help with getting adjusted and situated, my kids will be spilt between the grandparents for the next two weeks.  This will give me the chance to locate daycare/summer care for the kids.  We have located a rental home in the Ashburn area and plan to move in at the first of August.  Thank you Lord for such wonderful parents between myself and Mark.  1)We are so grateful for their generousity and willingness to take care of our children for a lengthy period of time, and 2) That they only live about 20 minutes away from each other, and 3) That Virginia is a border state and our new town is about 4 1/2 hours away from Raleigh.

July is going to be a very challenging month, mainly emotionally, with a lot of adjustments.  I ask for all your prayers as me and my family are about to open up another door of opportunity, adding new experiences into our lives.

Thank you to all you have helped me and my family along our journey and stayed up-to-date with our current situation.  I thank the Lord for the journey he has taken us on.  I am blessed to have been able to stay in North Carolina and further develop strong relationships with my own parents and my parents by love, other family members and friends.  It has enriched my life in so many new ways and I will cherish every moment and memory.  It has been a true gift for my kids to have been able to make such loving bonds with their grandparents.  I know that they will cherish the memories they have made with them as well.  I also would like to thank my brother-in-law, Eric and Jenny for being flexible with their schedules and helping us out with taking care of the kids when the grandparents were not available to do so.

For now, I say farewell for a short absence.  I would love to hear from you.  If you would like my new contact information, please let me know.

Much love to you all

More posts to come

Much has gone on since I posted on Mother's Day.  Layne's school play, 12th wedding anniversary in Washington DC, fun outings, and school is out for the summer. Bear with me as I get my pictures together and play catch up once again in a couple of days.  I need to give myself a day for blogging so I can stay current for you who follow regularly.  Happy summer to all!!

School's Out-New Look!

Before

After

Layne has sort of had a tradition since Kindergarten that she likes to get her haircut for the summer months.  This way it feels cooler during the hot season and if she decides she doesn't like it, the cut will have grown out by the start of the next school year.

She has really wanted bangs for the last few months, so a few days ago she braved a trip to the salon and had 2 inches cut off and added some bangs.  Surprisingly, she looks really good with bangs, a little older, I must say, and Layne is really happy with the result.  Along with the change of hairdo, she officially told me that since she will be entering 3rd grade, she is going to start calling me 'Mom' instead of 'Mommy'.  Oh, why do they grow up sooo quickly?!  Enjoy the photos.

Mother's Day

I had a joyful Mother's Day and Layne, Liam, and Brenne made me feel very loved and special.  I was provided with many hugs and kisses, beautiful homemade cards and gifts, and lots of 'I love you's' throughout the day.  I had gone out shopping with my Mom a few days before, so I had a nice new outfit to wear for Mother's Day.  I appreciated all the cards and loving words I received from my Mom,  Mother by love, and Mark.  I also received my all-time favorite movie, The Princess Bride in Blu-Ray format to replace my original copy.  It was a very special day and God has truly blessed me with a wonderful family.

I hope that all your Moms received a very special day as well and I know you cherish the love you receive from your children.

Outings with Brenne

I enjoy my time to run errands and be out with Brenne.  It is great to share these small moments with her.  One day, when I go back to work (which will be soon), I will not be able to go out on these little adventures with her.  Anyway, back around my birthday, I went to have coffee with Loreen.  Brenne really enjoyed having a 'coffee' cup.  So this picture was a good captured moment of what looked like she was enjoying her own 'cup-of-joe'.  It was apple juice. 

We were running errands another day at Walmart and this geese family was waddling around the parking lot.  The little goslings were so cute.  Lots of people were capturing this photo with their phones, me included.

Yesterday, after much debate and desire to say no, Brenne received her first haircut.  It was a little sad for me.  Brenne was great sitting by herself and immediately touched her hair after the cut.  She kept saying 'haircut, haircut'.  It was too cute.

Let's Play Catch Up

It seems I tend to get a little slack on my posts sometimes.  So, let us catch up with some happenings I have missed and not posted on.

Layne turned 8 in January.  Mark was also there to celebrate her special day before heading back to Qatar. She had a roller skating party with mainly school friends and enjoyed the celebration.

Jumping ahead to the end of March, Spring Break up in Virginia with Mark and with my brother-in-law and his family in Pennslyvania was a great mini vacation.  It was great to get to explore Ashburn, VA with Mark and to see the surrounding areas and where we will be moving to and getting settled this summer.  It was great to spend time with Mark.  The kids were very excited to see their cousins and enjoyed being together and being separate; boys vs. girls.  Brenne and Cole did a lot on their own, but Brenne tagged along with the girls club when she could.  It was great for me to get to see how Greg and Ashley interacted with the college students and see how they are impacting the student's lives with their ministry. Finally, right when we got back we had Easter. The kids loved hiding the plastic eggs.

Birthday Awareness

I think a 'light bulb' moment came with my 32nd birthday.  There are many things that define all of us, we are each unique and God made us that way.  I do not need some 'that's it' defining sentence or list of words to describe me.  Plainly stated, 'God created me, by his design, that I would do wonderous works.  Who am I? is no longer my search.  I am a child of God with many talents.  I will cherish every moment I have with my loved ones.  I will continue to search the scriptures, knowing that whatever comes my way, I will be prepared with the full love and assurance I receive from believing God.  I will cherish my husband, as one of my gifts is being a wife. I will train my children to do the same, as one of my gifts is being a mother.  
I will be M E!!!!!!

It was great to be surrounded by so many loved ones this weekend.  I had a great chat over a cup of coffee (which I rarely drink) and outing with Loreen, my mother by love.  I then enjoyed a decadent chocolate cake and gelato ice cream with my Mom at Macaroni Grill.  Mark arrived right before the kids got home from school and we had a fun weekend together.  Other family members were present, so it was great to just feel the love from everyone who was there.  Thank you to all who provided me with birthday wishes and gifts.  I appreciated them all.