Sunday we will be hitting the road for a little vacation. I hope to carve out some time for blogging when I return.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Enjoying the Moment
It seems that summer is flying by. I am haven't been around much because I am trying to enjoy the moment.
Sunday we will be hitting the road for a little vacation. I hope to carve out some time for blogging when I return.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Sunday we will be hitting the road for a little vacation. I hope to carve out some time for blogging when I return.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Changes
At the beginning of the year we received a notice from the county about rezoning some property near us. One of the properties is at the end of our dead end street and the other was at the back of our property. To make a long story short we found out that the owner of these properties was planning to build apartments. Sigh. We (all the neighbors) were able to fight and block the rezoning of the property on our street. The property behind up was several acres of vacant property. All the county could see is the dollar signs of having this property developed.
This is our backyard before development began. Beautiful, lush, secluded.
My oasis. I felt like I was in the country instead of in the busy suburbs.
Once they started clearing the land we knew that what was said to us and the county about keeping the mature trees was not to be. I have watched tree after tree be removed all week.
One of the workers stopped to talk with us. He said that they have orders to remove all trees on their property. It surprised him that he had an order to remove trees so close to our property line. It didn't surprise him when we said we were told the mature trees would stay. Apparently he hears that often.
At first it made me sick to watch all of this taking place. Hundred year old trees gone in a matter of minutes in the name of progress. I am trying to embrace the change. It isn't easy. I will take it as it comes and when the dust settles we will decide what we want to do.
We are more fortunate then others as there are a few mature trees on our property behind the fence. Many of our neighbors now have nothing at the back of their property. We are little more bare as of today as they keep coming and removing any remaining brush on their side.
In the mean time the kids are loving it. It is like having Bob the Builder in the backyard.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
This is our backyard before development began. Beautiful, lush, secluded.
My oasis. I felt like I was in the country instead of in the busy suburbs.
Once they started clearing the land we knew that what was said to us and the county about keeping the mature trees was not to be. I have watched tree after tree be removed all week.
One of the workers stopped to talk with us. He said that they have orders to remove all trees on their property. It surprised him that he had an order to remove trees so close to our property line. It didn't surprise him when we said we were told the mature trees would stay. Apparently he hears that often.
At first it made me sick to watch all of this taking place. Hundred year old trees gone in a matter of minutes in the name of progress. I am trying to embrace the change. It isn't easy. I will take it as it comes and when the dust settles we will decide what we want to do.
We are more fortunate then others as there are a few mature trees on our property behind the fence. Many of our neighbors now have nothing at the back of their property. We are little more bare as of today as they keep coming and removing any remaining brush on their side.
In the mean time the kids are loving it. It is like having Bob the Builder in the backyard.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Celebrating Six Years!
April 2, 2007 is a very special day. It is the day that thirty families meet their daughters. Megan is from the HengFeng Orphanage and there were ten other children united with their forever families from that orphanage the same day.
We are fortunate that many of the children adopted that day live in our area. For the past six years we have gotten together to celebrate our special girls. Due to scheduling issues our group was smaller this year. We tried to work it out so everyone could be there but we are finding that as the girls get older they are more active and it is harder for all of us to be together. It is sad, but also part of life.
We started out by enjoying lunch.
Our host, Paul and Wendy, always go above and beyond. The year was no exception as they had arranged for an art teacher to come in and set up painting for the girls.
It seems that everyone loves creating as much as Megan so this activity was a huge hit!
Before we left the girls gathered for our traditional couch picture.
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We are fortunate that many of the children adopted that day live in our area. For the past six years we have gotten together to celebrate our special girls. Due to scheduling issues our group was smaller this year. We tried to work it out so everyone could be there but we are finding that as the girls get older they are more active and it is harder for all of us to be together. It is sad, but also part of life.
We started out by enjoying lunch.
Our host, Paul and Wendy, always go above and beyond. The year was no exception as they had arranged for an art teacher to come in and set up painting for the girls.
It seems that everyone loves creating as much as Megan so this activity was a huge hit!
Before we left the girls gathered for our traditional couch picture.
2013
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2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007 While still in China
Six years.... wow! It seems like yesterday we were taking this picture in China. Watching these sweet ladies grow up is amazing. It is unbelievable how fast the past six years have gone by. Megan is the answer to many years of prayer. It is hard to put into words how blessed I am to call her my daughter.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Joy in the Ordinary
Look around, really look around and you will find joy... joy in the everyday... joy in the ordinary things.
After a hot and humid day the sweet and mild weather returned. Yes!
I hit the clearance rack and was able get 7 new outfits for Megan for $21! Some cute dresses for church and three capri leggings with tunic top that will be great for back to school. Oh my! I can't believe I am even thinking about that. :(
This little guy had been sneaking into a raised bed and destroyed my broccoli. We switched out the fencing to chicken wire and his free meal days are over!
Big changes are coming around here. Sigh.
Just when I thought I might have to water my garden... rain!
My hard working man. Oh how grateful I am for him. :)
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
After a hot and humid day the sweet and mild weather returned. Yes!
I hit the clearance rack and was able get 7 new outfits for Megan for $21! Some cute dresses for church and three capri leggings with tunic top that will be great for back to school. Oh my! I can't believe I am even thinking about that. :(
This little guy had been sneaking into a raised bed and destroyed my broccoli. We switched out the fencing to chicken wire and his free meal days are over!
Big changes are coming around here. Sigh.
Just when I thought I might have to water my garden... rain!
My hard working man. Oh how grateful I am for him. :)
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Ready, Set... Go!
Friday I loaded the kids up and we hit the road. The first stop was to pick a couple more passengers... my nieces.
Then it was off to the park.
A friend introduced me to this park last year. It is off the beaten path and has a wonderful walking trail.
The best thing is that we are usually the only ones there. Such a pleasant experience!
Next we hit country roads to take us to our next destination.
My parents back yard!
Before leaving the house I had packed a cooler for lunch.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool at my parents.
Megan is becoming quite the little fish. She says this is her favorite summer time activity.
A thrifty day as the only cost was what was used in gas. A full, fun day full of memories. We are all looking forward to doing this again soon.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
Then it was off to the park.
A friend introduced me to this park last year. It is off the beaten path and has a wonderful walking trail.
The best thing is that we are usually the only ones there. Such a pleasant experience!
Next we hit country roads to take us to our next destination.
My parents back yard!
Before leaving the house I had packed a cooler for lunch.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the pool at my parents.
Megan is becoming quite the little fish. She says this is her favorite summer time activity.
A thrifty day as the only cost was what was used in gas. A full, fun day full of memories. We are all looking forward to doing this again soon.
May your day be filled with joy and contentment!
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