Jordan's Summer ~ Drum Corps Style!!!

Practicing in the Parking Lot....I LOVE the smile on his face in this photo!

Jordan on the far right playing the quads (4 drums)



That's Jordan in the center

So very happy that he has had this adventure for the summer.  It has been A LOT of  work...and we are VERY PROUD!!!

Getting Emotional

Getting so emotional with:

1.  Summer closing (way to FAST)
2.  Seth getting ready for his freshman year at the University of Delaware (REALLY FAST)
3.  Jordan getting ready to head back to California (this past year with him home...again TOO FAST)
4.  8 years ago today last day I heard Brandon's voice when he said..."I LOVE you, I'll see you in a little bit"
5.  August 3rd...8 FULL years of him being GONE! (FASTER & SLOWER than I can even comprehend)

Good things:
1.  Seth gettting ready for freshman year at UofD ~ So PROUD of him, exicted for his next new chapter!
2.  Jordan getting ready to head back to California ~ So PROUD of him, excited for his next adventure!
3.  Jedidiah getting ready to start 1st grade ~ SO PROUD of all that he has accomplished!

4.  Desi is 4 ~ a very sweet, but also sassy DAUGHTER who loves to sing and dance!
5.  August 3rd ~ Celebrate Brandon Day ~ 8 FULL years of him being HEALED & living with JESUS!!!
6.  August 13th ~ Seth's Eagle Scout Ceremony ~ VERY PROUD of this accomplishment
7.  August 15th ~ 1 FULL (and I do mean FULL) year of completed adoption of Jedidiah & Desi!!!
8.  August 19th ~ 3 FULL years (again...FULL) that Jedidiah & Desi first walked into our/their home!!!


Wow ~ I am a wreck good/sad, but GOD is ALWAYS FAITHFUL.  Sometimes I just have to really press hard to get my heart to KNOW IT & FEEL IT!!!  But even still...God is always the same, and that helps me through the tears of joy or sadness.

Counting the Days

~ I ask for Prayers of SAFE TRAVEL for Jordan & his friend Brant as he is taking a road trip to San Luis Obispo for a couple of days, and then on to San Diego for Thanksgiving with Brant's family. May they have safety, fun, and that God show him AMAZING things!

Football Season has come to an end.


But this guy just got inducted into the NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY! We are so very proud of Seth and how hard he worked to get to where he is. He is also such a fun person to hang out with...I LOVE being his mom!









And this guy will be home in less than a month for Christmas & lots of hugs & kisses from this very proud momma! So pretty soon, we will look like this again, except...picking him up from the airport!
Although...I hope the "Little's" are good in the airport this time....no running off from "little helper boy"...and that the "Princess" realizes that she MUST keep her clothes on!

Counting the days with a happy heart and knowing that this guy...is laughing and cheering us on all the way!

Changes & More Of The Same

The wrap up of summer ended with a fun camping trip to Chincoteague. It was so much fun spending time with family, seeing the wild ponies, eating roasted marshmallows, being outside...& just chillin!

Then it was the start of new seasons...Seth started his junior year in High School...yes I cried (I always do the first day)
Jordan left for California (cried too ~ but soooo happy for him), "helper boy" started Pre-K, and the "Princess" started with her toddler class.



As seasons change, it can be so hard for me to move into them. Both naturally, and the seasons of life. I am trying to enjoy each moment (thought I would have learned by now), and embrace the change. Expected and Unexpected. Trying to be STILL in the moment that God has me in. Trusting, pressing in, & like Brandon...NEVER GIVING UP. Sometimes I "get it"...most times, I don't. But non-the-less...I KNOW I am called to keep going, keep reaching for it, and always always always...Trusting and Loving the one who Loves me Most...after all...I am HIS FAVORITE! :-)

This SON!!!

22 years ago today, God supremely blessed me with another wonderful son...JORDAN! He has always quite literally marched to the beat of his own drum, and we are so proud of that. He is so much fun to hang out with, and I am enjoying and soaking up these moments before he is off to his next adventure in California! I love that while he may be a little anxious...he hears God calling him, and is always willing for that "next adventure". He has had his ups and downs, and has had to deal with things that I never had to at his age. But through it all (the good and bad), he has survived, thrived, and desired to make and enjoy his life! Jordan, your dad & I love you so very much and we are so proud of you. And yes like I have told you...I am VERY JEALOUS of this new adventure in California...but then again...YOU are going to be able to impart into me what God is pouring out into you! Thank you so much for listening to that "still quiet voice of the one who loves your heart and soul". We are proud, Seth is proud, the Little's are proud, and Brandon is REJOICING with you!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! xxooxxooxxoo
And like your mama always reminds you....JORDAN, can do ALL THINGS through CHRIST who STRENGTHENS him!

Jordan's BIRTHDAY!!!

Today is Jordan's 21st Birthday! He was MY Birthday Gift all those years ago. WOW! How the time flies from when he was my sweet little blonde hair blue eyed baby. Now he is my sweet TALL blonde hair blue eyed MAN!

And this momma loves him soooooo much!

Happy Momma

Picked up Jordan yesterday morning from the airport...he is now back on the East Coast...for a while anyway. I look for him to head back out to Seattle when he is finished at U of D. Can't blame him....I LOVE that city AND....the Bible says that God has a hope a future for him, and that he knows his path! (SMILE). Seth is glad to have his brother home again :-)

We also surprised Jordan with 2 of his special friends...Jimmy & Kristin...they got up at EARLY O'CLOCK to head to philly with us...now that is being good friends!

BEAUTIFUL & FUN weekend

There is just so much to be smiling about :-)!!!

First, Steve & I are praying intently on what is in this envelope, and about to jump in with both feet! God has confirmed so many times, that I think he may be wanting to say..."Dawn...just how many times do you want me to confirm this already "! But he is so gentle and so patient, and his timing is the correct timing! Yaaay for that!

Second...Steve & I had a personal "Sozo" ~ greek ~ restore, to make whole, heal. And WOW...God really did some MAJOR work on me! And showed me some things, and confirmed others (one had to do with the envelope), and he also just showed me just how much he loves me. And seriously....anyone and everyone who reads this...I WANT THAT FOR YOU & SO DOES GOD! :-)

More stuff....my neice Brooke had her senior prom...so of course you know what that means...LOTS of pictures! This is my Brookie Cookie, who by the way was also crowned PROM QUEEN!Cousins, Brooke & MY SETH!


Then while taking Seth to a friends (that boy never stays home) we got to take the Chevelle out and DRIVE IT FAST! Oh YEAH! So much FUN


And then the weekend was capped of on Sunday with AWESOME PRAISE & WORSHIP ~ that my Seth was playing the drums on, and then a wonderful Bridal Brunch for my sister Katie who is getting married in June. It was so much fun getting to spend time with all of my sisters (Susan,Katie, & Linda) family, and celebrate my sister Katie
(she was the flower girl at my wedding) I just love her so much

So all in all....GREAT weekend and GREAT weather...for those who know me, you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE the hot weather! :-O. And we are on the countdown for when Jordan comes home from Seattle...just about 5 weeks!

Happy Daughter of the KING, Happy Mom, Happy Aunt, Happy Sister, Happy Wife = HAPPY LIFE

Disney & Epcot Fun Photo's ~ Part 1

Waiting to leave at EARLY O'CLOCK from a COLD Philadelphia!!!
Friends
Seth & Jordan waiting to head to the parks from the airport in Orlando
Getting Cozy waiting for the Epcot Show :-)
Epcot Fireworks Show!!!
Seth Patiently waiting to go backstage to get ready to march
Here Comes our Band!
Seth Marching
Jordan ~ Percussion Staff
Gotta Love It's A Small World! Thanks Steve for ENDURING it ALWAYS!
Disney's Electric Light Parade ~ BEAUTIFUL!
LOVE THIS HOUSE!!!

Busy

This has been a whirlwind week with Jordan. But we had so much FUN in Florida! Steve will be one tired boy along with Jordan by the time Monday rolls around. Jordan flies back to Seattle today, so he will have one day to recover before classes again on Monday, and Steve has been on a Men's Ministry Team since Thursday. He will go back to work after being off all week, and being in between here and Florida! But it all is good, and most definitely worth it!

I am sad to see Jordan leave again, but he is anxious to get back and finish out the year, and then be home again by June. So really...not too much longer. These next two months will probably fly by.

This time of year also leads up to all of those memories 5 years ago preparing for Brandon's transplant, and then how our summer was and ended. I so do not want to get "caught" in grief, and miss out on the good stuff during what is my most favorite season. I also want to continue to seek God in all things, I know that he has never left me, and I am still so grateful that this is my life. But God knows that there is that one thing I would change....but I firmly believe that Brandon would want nothing changed. He is just that heartbeat away, waiting for us.

Everyone have a great weekend. Maybe after all this busyness, I will post some Disney photo's......maybe.