A day in Mystic {Part 3}..and some big news

We started off our third day in Connecticut by heading over to Mystic.  Yes, the same Mystic as in Mystic Pizza, the movie starring Julia Roberts (though most of the movie was not filmed there.)  Anyway, we first hit the aquarium.  This is what I saw as I stepped out of the car in the parking lot.

We were all looking forward to seeing the Beluga whales, as we had never seen them before.  Then we enjoyed the sea lion show.  I don't think any of us will ever mistake a sea lion for a seal and vice versa after that show. lol  After a bite to eat, we made our way to the sting rays.  The tank was a little deep. So it made touching the rays a little hard.

Thankfully, there was a step up for the little ones.

And, of course, the day wouldn't be complete if Madeline passed a hand sanitizing station by without helping herself.

We also got to see some sharks, sea horses, eels, lots of crustaceans, tons of jelly fish, and the list goes on.  We had such a fun, educational morning.  Gotta love those kinds of hands on learning field trips as a homeschooler.

After the aquarium, we headed over to the Mystic Seaport Museum, where you can catch a glimpse of what New England life was like in the 19th century.

We stopped by the Visitor Center before heading over to the Sabino for a steamboat ride down the Mystic River.

Lots of other boats are also docked there.

One of the best parts of the boat cruise was getting to check out the engine.  Those are some pretty hot coals you see.

After our boat cruise, we strolled around the Village Green and Seafaring Village.

The kids enjoyed playing in the fall leaves.

And we enjoyed watching them have so much fun.

Well, as I promised, I do have big news to share.  As much as I'd love to share that we have accepted a referral for our precious daughter, that is not the big news....though one day soon, I'm sure.  Sorry to disappoint those of you who were hoping for that.  Believe me, we are itching to know just who she is!

The big news is that, last week, on our 10th wedding anniversary, we made an offer on a house.  Earlier this week, the seller countered and we accepted!  Yesterday, we had the home inspection.  And while the seller knew that there were a few things that needed to be repaired, the repairs are going to cost more than he anticipated, we're sure.  So...we're hoping he's willing to make them because we really like this house.  It's just a few miles up the road (and actually quite close to friends of ours.)

I could really write a whole separate post about what the Lord has taught me about house hunting, but suffice it to say that this house meets all our needs.  And while it wasn't a "need" "but more of a "want", I was really hoping for a house with more natural light.  And this house has it!  Now, it's not as bright at the hotel we stayed at in Miami, but I couldn't believe how low I could set my ISO and take photos indoors .("Hello low ISO indoors.  Nice to meet you. Stay as long as you like.")

So the bottom line is that we are really hoping the seller will make all the repairs.  There are four biggies.  The inspector didn't even talk about the small ones.  If all goes well and we move forward, we could be moving as soon as the middle of November.  Patrick jokingly wrote in my anniversary card, "If someone asks you what your husband got you for your 10th wedding anniversary, you can tell them a house!"  I sure hope that's true. lol

And on a completely different note, the kids and I will be walking with the rest of Team Gina at the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure this weekend.  These last few weeks have been so tough for me, I'm not gonna lie.  I miss Gina.  And walking without her just plain stinks.  But that's a whole 'nother post. Sigh.

That's enough rambling for now. Be sure to stop by Lisa's blog for some fabulous photos.  And be sure to wish her an early Happy Birthday!  

Why I have been MIA

Alrightie, so the big question is "Why have I been so absent from the blogosphere lately?"

The answer:

We've been house hunting.  Yep. It's hard to believe we've been in our house for eight years now.  And in that time, we've added two precious dumplings.  With our fourth and final bedroom dedicated to school, we have always planned that Madeline and Havi would share a room. The only problem is that 2 out of our 4 bedrooms are busting at the seams.  Our school room is packed with school supplies and toys, and it's not enough big enough to hold our printer/copier, which is currently stationed in the dining room.Madeline currently shares her room with all my photography gear and only half of my sewing stuff (the rest of it occupies the front hall closet.)  Since we have to make room in Madeline's room for Havi, there is zero space for my stuff.  And in my gramma's favorite words, I can't put it on my head.

So, the obvious point is that we have outgrown our space, even before bringing Havi home. And for the last few weeks, we have spent our days scrolling through listings and checking out houses.  The kids have been troopers through it all.  We have seen about a dozen homes and went back to take a second look at one of them.  We made an offer.  The sellers countered.  We countered.  They countered. And now we wait.   And we'll continue to look.  And if it's the house the Lord wants us in, then He'll make it happen.  Somehow or other, we'll find a way to meet in the middle if that's what the Lord wants. The hardest part is trusting Him and His plan for us while we wait.  It's tough, and I often find myself wanting Him to just hurry up and tell me what He wants for us.  This trusting, waiting, and patience thing is just plain hard.

The other big part of this picture is that we have put our own house up for sale.  We have put a lot of time, effort, and energy into making this house our home.  I adore it.  I really do.  Although my decorating style has changed a bit recently, I still love this place.  In the eight years we've lived here, we have completely remodeled our home.  Completely.  Every surface.  Every wall, floor, ceiling, door, window, room, pool....all.of.it!  We have made it our own. Yet, we're willing to give all that up for the sake of some much needed space for our growing needs and growing family.  In the end, it's just stuff.  And we can't take it with us.  So, soon we'll find another house and again, with time, make it our home.

In the meantime, boy do I need prayer!  My mind is a mess, as I feel pulled in so many directions.  So much of what I do lately is either for our house or one that we want to buy.  School time is getting squeezed.  I'm hoping that showing our own house won't interfere with our lessons, but I still wonder.So please pray that we'll continue to do well with fitting our lessons in. Also, please pray that our house will sell quickly and for the right price.

So, that's the big news. I'll be sure to keep you posted on our progress, or lack thereof...preferably the former.

Weekend Getaway: The final day

Our last day in South Florida was fairly short.  We started off each morning by enjoying breakfast by the pool.  It's amazing the difference a day makes because on our final morning, it was much hotter than the day before....making it hard to drink that much needed cup of coffee.  Yeesh.  The kids kept busy with iPhones and coloring while we waited for our food.

I thought I'd get a shot of my new purse/everyday camera bag.  I bought the Kelly Moore 2 Sues, and I love it!  Just perfect for every day use, though not quite big enough for a weekend getaway; mental note made.

After using the facilities following breakfast, I couldn't resist snapping a shot of me and my girl in the ladies room.

And then I HAD to get a family photo..not quite the kind you send to China for your dossier.  However, I had been admiring the lovely mirrors near the elevators and was determined to snap a photo of the four of us.  One member of the group wasn't particularly thrilled with this idea, but she didn't have a say in the matter.

So after packing up our bags, and before heading out, we snapped a few more photos around "The Grove". I loved these gigantic green doors, but my model didn't.

One last shot of Dinner Key Marina from the other side.

Palm trees galore.  Love me some sunflare.

One of the shots I was hoping to get, if time permitted, was that of the Miami skyline.  My wonderful hubby indulged me as we headed back home.  We managed to find a little tucked away spot off the Rickenbacker Causeway.

I couldn't resist snapping this shot of some graffiti out the window of the car minivan on I-95, though my camera wasn't quite ready for it.  So there's some motion blur.

Our last stop before keeping on the highway and really heading home was at the cremation garden where my mother's and gramma's ashes are kept.

It's kind of hard to see their names when we're hiding them.  Oops.  (They're right behind the kids.)

What was special about visiting that day is that the day before marked eight years since my mother had passed away.  Eight years.  It's hard to believe.  I have had the chance to bring Caleb here before during visits to the orthopedic surgeon in Miami Beach (who performed his muscle tendon transfer surgery for his brachial plexus injury.)  But this was Madeline's first visit.  And since she's named in honor of my mother, Susan Madeline, I thought it was quite fitting we had an opportunity to visit that day.  As each year passes, I can look back and see how God is healing me. I sure do miss my mom terribly, but I'm learning to live.

Well, before our final adios to South Florida, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the local McDonalds.  And in Davie, aka horse country, this is how they do the golden arches.

Although I didn't get in as many photos as I would've liked for this mini vacation, I'm still glad that I have proof I was there.  I'm a work in progress for sure.  And Patrick is getting the hang of things when I hand off my big girl camera to him.

Our next little getaway is planned for October, when we will be heading up to Connecticut to help our niece, Lydia, celebrate her 6th birthday.  Caleb is really looking forward to that day...because then most of the little cousins will be in chronological order...7, 6, 5, 4, and then Josh at 1.  He's pretty funny like that.

Joy in the morning

Weeping may endure for the night; but joy comes in the morning.

~Psalm 30:5

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.

~Psalm 30:11-12

There is so much truth I could quote from God's word, but I will share just these two verses for now.

As I've said before, Gina has taught me how to appreciate the simple things in life- simple moments like enjoying breakfast with my kids, helping them get dressed, cuddling in bed at night.

Most of life is made up of these ordinary moments, and if we don't choose to embrace them, they will simply fade away.

These last two months, I've set out to embrace them.  That means always having my camera ready.  And this particular morning was no different.  Madeline has been waking up waaaay early some mornings.  So I will put on her favorite show, Wild Krats, before her brother wakes up.

(By the way, I ADORE her little, wispy bedhead hair sticking straight up!)

She caught me off guard here.  I wasn't ready when she turned toward me and flashed me her big, beautiful smile.  So the focus was not on her face.  I still love it though.

I love seeing her precious, chubby face resting in her little, chubby hand.

This morning in particular, she passed the time by also playing with her lacing cards.  Sometimes she uses her toes (and yes, that's one of my lenses in the corner of the shot.)

She apparently needed a "splint" for her broken foot, or so she said.

Tomorrow I will be attending Gina's visitation, and Tuesday will be her funeral. No doubt, there are going to be a lot of people in attendance.  Gina, Will, and their three precious children are so deeply loved.  They have touched the lives of so many people- so many they have never even met. Gina fought so hard to live, even to the very end.  She had so much to live for.  Thank you, Gina, for all that you have taught us about living in the short time you had here on earth.  See you in heaven some day, my friend!  Love you!

For more Sunday Snapshots, stop by Stefanie's blog.