Sad News

Please pray for my brother in law Daniel and his wife Abbe. They had a miscarriage today. We just pray for God's peace and comfort to surround them right now. And we know that Baby J is in the arms of Jesus- what an awesome place to be! But down here on this Earth a family is hurting so we are grateful for your prayers for them. Thank you.

Open Hearts...

PLEASE TAKE THE 3 MINUTES TO WATCH THIS VIDEO. IT COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD.
Also, two of dearest friends, Jason and Shelley are officially in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia. Will you please commit this family to prayer as their journey to their children begins? Thank you.

One more thing, I have posted 4 or 5 blogs tonight. Enjoy and keep scrolling!

We Have TWO on the WAY....

Nieces or Nephews that is!! Over Christmas we found out that Drew's brother Daniel and wife Abbe are expecting their 3rd child and my sister Andrea and husband James are expecting their fourth! Above is Andrea's first sonagram picture! HA!! HA!! I bet some of you reading this were about to bust a gut! ha! Please remember in your prayers these precious lives as they grow and develop and for the safety of them and their mommies!

A Little of This and a Little of That

Keep scrolling- I have posted 3 blogs in one night! WOW! ha! We went out to eat- just the five of us- we had a great time at Osakas!
Karlee and Emma playing- such buddies!
Kate and Lilly- two peas in a pod- dressing and undressing!

PARTY...Indian Style

They had a welcome party for all the students from India. We went for a while and had so much fun dancing!! Kalie and Bhagyashri
Kate danced via Kalie's back.
We are dancing to Hindi music! I have no idea what the songs were saying but they had an awesome beat!
Riddhi had already claimed Drew as her dance party at the beginning of the week and she took him off to the dance floor immediately!

These people know how to celebrate- we had so much fun!

Another Year Older

My birthday was this past week. I wasn't going to broadcast it but man, one Indian student find outs and the next thing you know, the entire ESL department knows! ha! Bhagyashri and Drew talked alot on the phone apparently and she was at our house when I got home the evening before my birthday. She wanted to spend the night so that she could do this...

I came downstairs to our den decorated on the morning of my birthday! Doesn't it look great!
Well that was not all. She also along with my husband put together a surprise party during one of my classes. She brought other students with her to join us. I learned a new Indian custom- when the "birthday person" enters the room, they pop all the balloons! I just knew someone was going to think a gun was going off! ha!
That evening, my family came over for Chinese and my all time favorite cake!
CC, Papa and Grandmother
My sister Andrea (pictured but not seen -baby Hendrix whom we lovingly call Dot)My girls who also made my day so extra special!Yes, he is my lap this time!Cheers to another year closer to 40! Thanks to everyone for the calls and warm wishes!

Perfect Birthday Weekend

We just had one of the greatest weekend ever! For close to 20 years, Drew and I have wanted to see Phantom of the Opera. That was one of the purposes of our NYC trip last fall, however 3 days before we went, the stagehands went on strike and cancelled the performances. We discovered that the Broadway team was coming to Louisville, KY and we got tickets! We went to Nashville on Friday and visited with our precious friends Jason and Shelley. We went out to a delicious steak restaurant since mine and Shelley's birthdays are only 1 day apart. Drew, Kalie and Karlee went inside a store to get snacks on the way to Nashville. Kate had her sunglasses like mommy so we took goofy pictures in the car!We love these people!
Girls playing the game Hullabaloo- too cute!

more shots of the girlsadults play too- Jason is trying to dip Shelley and kiss her for the camera but Shelley fought him off well- ha!


Our original plans were to leave the girls with grandparents but Jason and Shelley insisted that we let them stay with them so on Saturday, we met up with our longest friends, Stuart and Tonya (i did not say oldest :)). We try to get together with them a few times each year and a few months ago we had a camping weekend planned together and I got this wierd inner ear virus and we had to cancel. So, this made up for that trip. We went up to Ky and saw Phantom of the Opera and let me just say that it is better than all the hype I have heard over the years. Absolutely fabulous!!

Drew and me before we went to the performance
Stuart and Tonya with us at the Phantom
Then we ate at Shoguns- YUM! (notice the quick change of clothes- it was 6* up there!!!)
and had dessert at the Melting Pot! We also had Starbucks of course and played cards and acted crazy! Stuart this is where I could say alot, but I will refrain.

What a perfect way to celebrate my birthday! Thank you Drew for this treasured weekend. I enjoyed this time together so much! Thank you Jason and Shelley for watching the girls. Thank you Kalie, Karlee and Kate for doing so well for them. And to Jason, Shelley, Stuart and Tonya- we thank God for your friendships! Our life is so much more blessed because of you!

Jewels in January

I thought I would catch up a little for January in one post. The girls have started back to school and we registered 350 students for the ESL program last week! I have many new students and am once again loving it! I have had to go back to school to receive an advanced certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL). I should complete the courses within the year. Drew has begun two of the final four classes of his doctorate! WOOO HOOO! So, while it has been a busy beginning to 2008, we have already had many fun memories!This is truly the life of luxury! I love how relaxed Karlee is in the pool.

Amy, Kate, Karlee and Kalie playing around
Amy had promised Kalie and Eloise that they could spend the night with her when she lived in the dorm last year and we never could get it worked out. But they NEVER forgot! So, Amy had them over to spend the night and they had a blast!

Finally a picture of Kate without her making a silly face! Isn't she a cutie?

Dhruvita (far right) is one of my special students from last semester. I don't have her this time but she comes to visit me daily! She is another daughter to us. She met some new friends and they came over for dinner. We then took them to get doughnuts- their first experience. They approved.
Dhruvita and I chowing down!
Like I have said before, southerners can do ALOT with a LITTLE amount of snow. We have this one good hill for sledding. Here are the girls getting ready to go down.
Of course we had a turn! Drew is the biggest kid of all when it comes to snow! I have to say, this snow lasted for several hours and had to be one of the most beautiful sights to watch I have seen in a while!

Happy Birthday Lils!

We celebrated Lilly's birthday with an ice cream party at Trowbridges- what a perfect place! There is nothing like some Trowbridge's ice cream. The girls loved it! I can't believe my baby niece just turned 3!! Lilly and Kate will be in the same class in school. Andrea and I have already discussed the adventure that will be. If things remain as they are, Lilly and Kate will come out of the restrooms naked or something like that! ha! I love this picture- this is truly Lilly. Happy Birthday Lils- we love you!Lilly blowing out her candles

The girls waiting for their ice cream and of course Kate has to make a face...

Christmas Vacation Came to an End

During the holidays, we were treated to many different Indian dishes. We were invited to Cristal's apartment for lunch. It was fabulous- they cooked some dishes that were not so spicey for us! ha!These next two photos are so funny. The girls started looking through our wedding album and I told them I had my dress upstairs. They wanted to try it on. So, first photo is Bhagyashri trying on my dress. The second one is of Cristal. She is holding the picture of Drew on our wedding day because she said she was in love with the 14 year ago Drew- ha!
New Year's Eve- we shot fireworks and celebrated at midnight! The girls were spending the night with my parents- they had all six grandchildren! Riddhi on far left is Bhagyashri's cousin and just arrived in the US to begin school. They had never celebrated an American New Year before.
New Year's we ate at my parents and they got dressed up in traditional Indian attire. They brought one for me to wear as well. Kalie got to borrow a top of Bhagyashri's.

Okay, most of you do not know that my dad has a skeleton in his office at home. This was the skeleton that he learned on in college biology classes. When his university remodeled the science building (built a new one) my dad got to get this skeleton. Anyway, "Oscar" we decided needed to be festive. Here he is in his Christmas finest.
I love their smiles...
My dad is singing Jesus Loves Me with Karlee and Kate. They have pinecones for microphones.
My mom and I took a crazy picture
We woke up New Year's Day with Rooby very sick. We ended up spending several hours in the emergency vet clinic while she got iv's ,etc. It could have been so much worse if we had waited much longer so we are thankful. The next day, she laid with Kalie all day in the bed and Kalie just laid there and took care of her. Khloe has been wanting to learn to sew. We made this pillow together- she did a great job!On Bhagyashri's last night with us, we gave her a true American treat- Krispy Kreme doughnuts! She had never had one and before she got back home, she had eaten two! ha!

We have had a laid back holiday and it has been wonderful! Now back to school and work for everyone!

Highlights of 2007

As we begin 2008, we enjoy thinking back on 2007. So endure a few moments of reflection with me as I remember....
*Drew and I getting to go to NYC for a wonderful weekend together *an overnight camping/hiking trip with Kalie *a fun weekend with my two sisters in Nashville *seeing the Rockettes with my mom and two sisters *Karlee turning 4 and all the progress she has made *Kate saying "mama hold me" and continuing to show signs of improvement in her speech *walking into a classroom after 10 years to teach international students at UNA *Drew's racecar experience *other camping/hiking moments *the sounds of giggles sounding throughout our home *getting together with friends *struggles *God's provision *having the opportunity to have people from many countries in our home *Charleston, SC *dance competitions *and the list goes on and on....
And as we begin 2008, our New Year's Wish for you is to Live Well, Laugh Often, and Love Much and always look for the little pearls God hands us in the storms...