The Pink Journal

On my bedside table sits a notebook covered in pink fabric. I made it a few years ago at a Mops meeting, stuffed it on a shelf somewhere,and forgot out it. In March, I fumbled across it again and knew it would be perfect for what I needed. You see, God has been working in my heart, in Tim's heart-in the heart of our family, and I needed a place to record these words and thoughts that have been knocking on my heart's door ever since I started praying about a certain idea.



The idea of adoption.


Long before our sons were born, Tim and I had talked about the possiblity of adopting one day. After Wesley came, we started talking about what was next for our family. We both felt our growing brood was not complete. Our hearts longed for another child, but we sensed this child would be brought to us in a different manner than they way Wesley and Graham arrived in our arms.


Tim was the first to conclude that God was leading us to adopt. He told me his thoughts. I wasn't so sure; I needed more time. So this past January I got serious about praying about adoption. Let me tell you, God wasted no time. I couldn't get it out of my mind. Everywhere I went I would be reminded of adoption. I was thinking about it constantly.


In February, we heard about an adoption conference to be held the following week at a local church, and we scrambled to make arrangements to go. The conference laid out all of the risks and scary things about adoption. No sugar coating anything. At the end of the day, a panel was brought together to give us different perspectives on adoption. As I sat there listening to their amazing stories, I noticed Tim wiping tears from his eyes. A lump emerged in my throat, and I knew the answer to the questions I had been asking God. Adoption was to be part of our story.


Somewhere across the world in the country of Ethiopia, a little girl will be born or has been born, and through God's grace and providence she will make it into our arms someday soon. We ask you to pray with us for her, and for our journey to her. I know the road ahead is long and will not be easy. But I also know God will lead us and provide everything we need to bring our daughter home.

Happy Father's Day (a little late)

About a month ago, when I was making my list of why I love Tim for our anniversary, I asked Graham to tell me some reasons why he loves his daddy. This is what he said:

1. He's sweet.
2. He let's me help him wash cars.
3. He plays with me.
4. He takes me to the pool and dries me off.
5. He takes me camping.
6. He makes me special treats and popcorn.
7. He tickles and wrestles with me. I like it.
8. He lets me wake him up when he's in bed.
9. He covers me up with my blanket every night after I'm asleep.
10. He tells me he loves me every night.
"I love him very, very in the whole wide world."

We all love Tim around this house. I'm so thankful for the kind of daddy he is. He models Christ to our children.

My Little Niece

My brother and his family along with my mom came for dinner tonight, so I got to spend some time with sweet baby Grace. She is doing very well and already has adorable chubby cheeks. With four little boys and one baby girl, things are going to be interesting when we get together. I am so thankful Tim and I live in the same city and our children can grow up together. I love being an aunt, and I am grateful Graham and Wesley have an aunt and uncle close by to love on them.

My Trip to Texas

Graham and his buddy, Caden

Caden and his mom, Kimba, and his little brother made the drive from Dallas to Tyler to visit us while we were in town. Kimba and I were good friends in Nashville, and I've missed her greatly since she moved to Dallas. It was a special treat to see her.

I drove with the boys last week to Texas to visit family. The drive went amazingly well, and we had a great time with grandparents. While we were there, we stayed busy doing lots of summer activites in Tyler.

I got to visit a sweet friend from high school, Misty.


We visited the wonderful zoo in Tyler and enjoyed the perfect weather.

the boys at the zoo

We rode bikes on a beautiful new trail and ate ice cream afterwards.

The boys got to experience fishing for the first time. My mom caught a fish but neither she nor I wanted to touch it. We had to ask a man who was fishing nearby if he would take it off of our hook. It was rather funny.

Nana and Graham on a walking trail

Nana and Graham at a sprinkler park

my granddad and I on my birthday

My family helped to make my birthday special. Graham and my mom made a yummy cake and we took it to the sprinkler park to celebrate. (That was Graham's idea.)

my mom and I

Tyler has a beautiful park built in memory of children that have passed away. These pictures were taken at that park.