dry humor

I've heard of kids climbing into the dryer before, but I've never seen it... until today! After I got the laundry out of the dryer, I apparently left the door open, because when I went to change the laundry from the washer to the dryer, Jonah had closed Gid inside it. Jonah said that Gid had climbed up into it. Jonah would knock on the dryer door, and then open it up and say, "Hello," and make Gid laugh hysterically.

boys will be boys

I overheard the boys laughing hysterically. When I asked what they were laughing about they said they were just talking. "About what?" I asked. To which they replied, "puke & throw up!"

reuions

There have been many reunions since we've been back. Reuniting with family, old friends, older friends, and even acquaintances. The one common thread is that each person who I tell, "No, we aren't just visiting. We have moved here!," has had the same reaction: excited joy! Everyone here seems to be so happy that we have moved back. At first it struck me as kind of odd. Even people I didn't know that well seemed to be really happy for us, but then I realized why.

For us, coming back to Augusta was like coming home. Mike and I both went to college here, we're married here, had 2 of our children here, made numerous friends here, and my mom's entire family (all 33 of them) and all my brothers and sisters live here. Most people that know us, know my family as well, and I think their joy for us is over us coming back to all of that. Whatever the reason, it has been so nice to get such warm responses from everyone when they learn we have returned.

mine

In the quiet of the early morning, before anyone else is awake, Jonah gets up and comes to snuggle in my lap. We sit here silently. It is so peaceful and brushing his head with a kiss I realize that this little boy is mine. Mine to love, mine to hold, mine to raise up in the way that he should go. And I feel privileged for the opportunity. Today, I pray I realize what a gift all my children are.

slip of the holy tongue?

Caleb to me at the pool: "Mom, Sol said that you can get an Air Head for a quater at the confession stand."

week 3 begins

I'm here sitting in our "transitional apartment," as I like to call it, finally posting something. The boys are lost in a land of Star Wars toys, and Gid is enjoying a bit of breaky. So much has happened since we arrived in Augusta that it is hard to know where to begin. We have moved, then moved again, house hunted, registered Caleb for school and soccer, shopped for and purchased uniforms, swam, visited old friends, swam some more, celebrated birthdays, started a new job, and have eaten out way, way too much! It has been an experience that none of us will ever forget. Throughout the entire process of basically starting over here, there has been so much peace, and it is easy to see God's hand in this decision.
As we start our 3rd week here, we have begun to adopt a saying of Padre Pio: "Pray, hope, and don't worry!" I'm learning everyday how much God loves our family. He has brought us here, and he will take care of us.

what we left behind

Well...we are here. We made the first wave of our move to Augusta this week, and let me tell you it has been crazy. We've gotten Caleb registered for school, Mike started working, and we celebrated our good friend Cathleen's 30th birthday. But it's not over yet. Tomorrow we are going to look at houses and then on Sunday we celebrate our bro-in-law Tony and our niece Kailyn's birthday. It is a whirlwind. And as we are enjoying all of these wonderful times and new experiences we are missing what we left in Birmingham.
The biggest reason for our move to AL, 11 months ago, was because of family. Mike's sister Moe & her husband Joe and their 3 wonderful children live there. And not only them, but Joe's whole family too, who we dearly love. We have made so many great memories with them and will miss them dearly. While clearing out my camera I came across some photos from the 4th of July weekend that we all spent together.