Saturday, August 21, 2010

Vacation Pics in Virginia, Annapolis & DC

Our first stop....Lynchburg, VA. We spent the day celebrating Christopher's
7th birthday (in May) with our extended family (Christopher's birthfamily). We went out to dinner, then the next day went to the pool and had a cookout and bday party for Christopher. Lot's of fun and presents all around! We always love spending time with family!


Then, we stopped in Staunton, VA to visit our good friends from college...Jimmy & Renee, and their 3 kiddos. We haven't seen them in 4 years...it was great catching up and spending a little time with them before heading to Annapolis!


Then we headed for Annapolis, MD for 4 days to spend with my family...mom, aunt rita, katie & her crew, and jessica. We spent the time there relaxing (as much as possible)...we did some fishing in the inlet behind the house, we toured the Naval Academy and downtown Annapolis, and visiting Daddy T's graveside in Arlington Cemetary in DC.








Then we moved into Washington DC to do a little more touring, swimming at the house, and we were joined by Nathan, Shannon & the boys. We also had the opportunity to honor Talmadge by placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the 1 year anniversary of his homegoing. It was a special time and we also got to go under the tomb in the barracks to see where Daddy T served while he was at the Tomb.













Saturday, August 14, 2010

First Day of School

Yep, that's right....the kids started school last Wednesday. Christopher is a big 2nd grader and Caroline is off to K-4. They were so excited for their first day!! Christopher woke up at 6:00...we didn't have to be at school until 9 for their first day, so I put him in our bed so he would go back to sleep. And Caroline woke up at 7:30. Wade was helping her get dressed and I overheard her to say "I am so excited, I have been waiting for this day ALL of MY LIFE!!!" Here are some pics of the cute little guys...



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

The Wait

WAIT

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the master so gently said, “Child, you must wait!"

"Wait?” you say, "Wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By FAITH I have asked, and am claiming your word.

"My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a "yes", a go ahead sign
Or even a "no", to which I can resign.

"And Lord, you promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."
So, I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting...for what?"

He seemed then to kneel and his eyes wept with mine,
And he tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heaves, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want...but you wouldn't know
ME.

You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;
You'd not know the joy of resting in me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of my spirit descends like a dove;
You'd know that I give and save...for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart.

The glow of my comfort late into the night.
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.

You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that "My grace is sufficient for thee"
Yes, your dreams for your loved ones overnight would
come true, but oh, the LOSS!
If I lost what I'm doing in you!

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
THAT THE GREATEST OF GIFTS
IS TO GET TO KNOW ME.
And though oft may my answers seem terribly late,
My wisest of answers is still but to WAIT."

—Author Unknown


I read this poem on the FLS blog (our adoption agency) and oh, how I remember these feelings. But I have experienced many other types of waiting besides our infertility and adoption days....and by drawing close to the Lord was the only answer for peace during the wait! God bless!!