Just Catching Up!

What a week. We have been homebound most of the week with Beckett. He was sick last Saturday morning with a virus and his fever finally broke on Monday evening, only to re-appear on Wednesday evening along with cold symptoms. I took him to the Dr. on Thursday and he tested negative for everything he was tested for, just had a cold and absolutely no energy. His fever broke on Thursday evening and he has continued to improve, although he has very little appetite. He has lost 6 or 7 pounds in the last week and still isn't back to normal!

Grankaki and Auntie Mame came over on Thursday to bring items for the yard sale and to help us get organized. Thanks for all of your help!

Here is a picture of B and H being silly with their crocs. They were trying to make it look like they had short legs.
This picture is for Aunt Susi. Remember this sweater? It is a "Smartwool" brand sweater that she bought at REI. It is a women's XL. Unfortunately, Susi accidentally threw it in the washer and dryer and it shrunk considerably! So, she gave it to my sister in law, Kathy, bc she is the only person that Susi knew that might be able to wear it. Well, last week, Kathy sent some things for the yard sale and we found this sweater in the bag. This is the same XL sweater, but it looks like Kathy might have shrunk it a little, too, because now Helen can wear it! She should stay nice and snug next winter! :)

And finally, the River Dogs played this morning after they had their team picture made! (Beckett is on the front row in the middle.) He had to miss 2 games last week while he was sick, so he was glad to get back out there today! He had two singles and a double and made another great stop at third combined with a good throw to first! The River Dogs finally won a game today! Extra innings....20-17! What a fun game! So glad they won! They are a great group of boys!

2009 Easter Memories

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HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you,who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. *1 Peter 1:3-5

Random Pictures

Well, we are hanging out on a Saturday afternoon, trying to decide if Beckett is well enough to travel to Brentwood for Easter! He woke up early this morning with an upset stomach and all that goes with it! He is beginning to feel better, but he isn't going to play in his 3:00 baseball game. He is pretty bummed about that. We were hoping to leave after the game and drive to Brentwood to spend Easter with my parents, but we haven't decided what to do yet! So, in the meantime, I thought I'd post a few pictures from the last few days!

These first two pics are of Beckett trying to do his best Toby Mac jumps from the fireplace! They both had fun doing this one afternoon this week!

Catchin' some air!

We are having a Yard Sale in a couple of weeks! So many people have been bringing tons of things to sell. Thank you all! The only problem is, that Helen goes through everything and decides what she wants to keep. Bailey sent a huge garbage bag of her old "Build-a-Bears" and Helen has had SO much fun with them. I don't know how I'll ever convince her to put them in the sale! She has fun lining them up and talking to them. I took this picture after she had put them all in the chair (along with several of her stuffed animals!) See if you can find her little face peeking out in the crowd!

And finally, I love this picture. Helen found this dress in her closet the other day and it has become her favorite. She has worn it for three days in a row. She wears it with the pink sparkly shoes that Grankaki gave her for her birthday and she loves to swing around in it and watch her skirt fly around! I took this picture after she had been riding her bike and came in for a sip of her Icee!

Hope you all have a blessed Easter celebration with family and friends!

New Number

So, I'm trying really hard to be creative, but I just want to get it out there! We got the email that we had been waiting for today and our new waiting list number is 4! We are amazed and thrilled! This part of the process has moved so much faster than we were told to expect. We certainly hope it keeps up! February 19th we were placed on the list at #21. March was #12 and now, April #4! There are no words. I just keep saying WOW! I can't even speculate as to when our referral might come! I did email our case manager to see if she could shed any further light on a time frame, but I doubt that she can give us much more information. I think that I will probably just start freaking out every time the phone rings!

When I was trying to think of some way share our new number, I found lots of pictures of four leaf clovers! Aren't they pretty? I guess I've never found a four leaf clover, but I'm feeling pretty lucky right now! I love how the leaves of a clover are in the shape of a heart. Our hearts are certainly being drawn to this new son and brother that God has chosen for our family! I like the one that is in the shape of a cross as well.

Then I found this little poem about a four leaf clover. I love that each leaf represents hope, faith, love and luck! This journey has certainly required faith and a hope for the future. We are already falling in love with our little one!

What a blessing to receive our new number during this Holy Week while we are reflecting on our Heavenly Father's amazing love for us!

And that's the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father.Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.

Galatians 4:3-7

Springtime in Tennessee!

It snowed off and on all day yesterday! The kids ran outside during one of the quick snow flurries and tried to catch snowflakes on their tongues. Usually, by the time we would get all bundled up, the snow would have quit. But this time, they were able to play for just a few minutes! You've got to love east TN weather!

River Dogs Opening Day!

Today was a great day for baseball! Beckett had his first game of the season and it was a lot of fun! Here is a picture of him in his uniform (pre-dirt) before we left the house! Sean is Beckett's coach again this year! He has a lot of dads who have been great help. It is definitely a team effort to get the boys in the right place at the right time! Here they are before we headed to the field.

Here is a picture of Helen with Gracie who is a sister of one of the players. I love how she is checking Helen out! We are going to have a long (and expensive!) season with Helen! All she wants to do is visit the concession stand. I'm going to have to remember to pack lots of snacks this season! Granbob kept her in hot dogs and chips today!

Here is Beckett at bat. He had three hits today. This is the first season that they have kept score and had three outs. In fact, there are several new rules. The last two years he played in the instructional league. This year, he is in machine pitch and there are a few new things to get used to. He hit the ball well today!Here he is playing third base. He made a great stop at third today, but didn't know that he had to tag the player. He stepped on the base and his mom thought that should have been enough, :) but evidently, there is some rule that you have to tag them when some other combination of events has happened! That sure seems like a lot to keep up with! He has a lot to learn defensively this year! (and I do too!)

Here is "Coach Harper" with the team after the game. They lost their first game, but they all had a great time!

My mom and dad (Grankaki and Granbob) came over from Brentwood to watch the game. Nana came too, but I didn't get Beckett's picture with her. Thank you all for coming to watch Beckett play! He had quite a cheering section!

We couldn't help but think about how many more years of coaching and sports we have in front of us. The fun has only just begun! We wondered this afternoon about what kind of sports "baby Harper" will want to participate in. Can't wait to meet him and begin to learn about his little personality! Hoping to hear something on Monday about our waiting list number!