Wednesday

Today summer vacation officially came to an end with the onset of the school year. Our big 5th and 3rd graders were ready and eager to get back to see their friends!

The obligatory front porch/first day of school photo ~

I couldn’t help but recall the SSSSAAADDD moments I put little Gavin and then sweet baby Greta on the bus for the first time. Their scared, sad little faces looking out at us from the bus window. My, how times have changed. I was lucky I even got so much as a kiss this year!

I was somewhat apprehensive about starting up into the new routine. I had become used to the ways of the summer. However, I quickly reminded myself of the apprehension I experienced at the end of the last school year. Having the big kids here at home all day seemed daunting!! It was simply the change of what I was used to that caused the anxiety. It was a reminder to remain versatile. This “new” routine would quickly become the norm again.

“Where’d everyone go??? I guess no one will notice if I rip these dang tubes off…”

We had some special visitors today who bribed me with lunch so they could come to meet Nora! 😉 I had a wonderful visit with my long time friend Elizabeth and had the pleasure of meeting her cousin Melissa ~

Melissa has been following the blog since the very beginning. Although I had never met Melissa in person, she had been walking all this way right along with us – as many of you have.

These are the encounters I love whether I planned them or God planned them! I hope I get to meet ALL of you at some point along the rest of my life. I can tell you on the blog how much I love and appreciate each of you, but I sure love getting to do it in person!

With that said, I want to let you know about a little something special that Wing Eyecare is doing for us. I received a phone call out of the blue one day from Ryan. He explained that Wing Eyecare does a Give Back event every year for someone or an organization in the community. One of Nora’s nurses had nothing but good to say about Wing Eyecare when I had mentioned in casual conversation to her that I needed new contacts. At my appointment this past December I had shared the blog with the woman who assisted me. She in turn shared it with the rest of the office. As Ryan explained this to me, the hugest chills ran down my spine. He would have had no idea that just the previous night William and I had been to a fund raiser benefit for a crisis pregnancy center. I truly believe that as a direct result of our deep desire and ability to help others, these type of things practically fall in our lap! The VERY NEXT DAY!!!!

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:25)

After talking it over with William we agreed to accept this blessing. We could always use extra assistance in childcare costs. Anything left over is used to bless others. I assure you we’re not over here buying speed boats and Ferraris.

These are the details ~

Weather and health withstanding we plan to be there at this event with Nora. We would love to personally invite each of you to our home, but that’s virtually impossible and wouldn’t be NEARLY as fun as this!! While you meet Nora you can also meet retired Bengals players and members of Florence Freedom. There will be lots of food and drinks courtesy of Smokey Bones, and probably the opportunity to check out some swanky eyewear from the fabulous Wing Eyecare!

We will try to be there with Nora for as long as possible, but check the Praying for Nora page for details as the day draws closer! Even if we can’t make it for some reason – this looks like a lot of fun!!

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Come late afternoon, Nora and I strolled up to the bus stop to wait for the arrival of the big kids.

“Hey, look! Here comes da bus!!!”

Sister and brudder were so happy to see their baby sister! Nora was so glad they were finally back home!!

Lots of squeezing and cuddling ensued once we got back home!

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
(1 John 4:12)