Pool Party

We had a birthday party for Levi and Lennox Saturday evening. I love that I finally have kids with summer birthdays so that we can have pool parties! So easy and fun! Levi wanted a Jake and the Neverland Pirates party, so that's just what he got. We loved getting to celebrate Lennox, as well. We sang Happy Birthday twice - once for Levi and again for Lennox. All of the kids blew out a number once candle for Lennox. In fact, we lit and relit it about 5 times, because everyone wanted a chance to blow it out. Each guest also brought a children's book for Lennox, with a message to him written on the inside. We will put them away and save them for when he comes home. I hope they will be special to him one day - as a reminder of how we celebrated his first birthday even before he came home. 

We sure do love our tiniest boys and hope they both had wonderful birthdays!! 

Lennox Chan {One Year Old}

I cannot believe the time has come to write this post. I can't believe that precious chubby 5 month old has already celebrated his first birthday. Lennox turned a year old on June 14, and I want to honor that with a letter to him. 

Dear precious Lennox,

   You are now a big one year old! It is so hard to believe that we are already celebrating your first birthday. We had a party for you and Levi this weekend, and I wish so badly that you had been here with us. You had so many friends and family there, sweet boy, wishing you a happy birthday. You are SO loved and SO treasured. 

   As much as we missed you, as we always do, I know that you were celebrated big in Korea, too! Your foster family loves you very much, and I have no doubt that your day was full of love. I can't wait to get your first birthday update to hear all about your Dol Ceremony (traditional Korean first birthday ceremony) and what you are up to now that you are a big one year old! 

   I love watching how God is intertwining you into our lives already - how your brothers pray for you at night, seeing your picture around our home, planning for your arrival. I love that when we talk about "next year", our plans include you - Next year at Brody's baseball games we will have another little one running around. Next summer when we come to the lake, there will be another little one splashing around. Next time we light a candle to celebrate your birthday, YOU will be here to blow it out. While we still have no guarantees of when you will be home with us, we are praying that it is soon! 

   We can't wait until the day we can get on that plane and fly to your country. How I long to just be in the same city as you. I am so anxious to hold your little hand, kiss the top of your head, and tell you in person how loved you are. You are beautiful. You are special. You are MADE BY GOD, and he is going to use your story and your life for so much good. 

   We love you, Lennox. And we pray that this is the last birthday we have to spend away from you! Happy first birthday, sweet boy! 

Friday Funday

I started off the day wondering what in the world I was going to do to keep my three entertained all day. They were whining "I'm bored" by 8 a.m.  Thankfully mom called about 8:15 to see if we wanted to take the kids to the lake to play for a couple hours. Of course I did! So, we drove to Lake Claiborne and spent the morning splashing in the water, lounging in the sun, reading magazines, and watching the kids catch minnows. It was so relaxing, and the boys were all so good. 

After returning home from the lake, the boys were ready to go to Mimi and PawPaw's to see them, because they were finally home from their 11 day vacation. Pawpaw was on the tractor when we got there, so they stood in the yard waving their arms and yelling until he finally saw them and drove over. He piled them all on the tractor, and they were so happy to see him! 

We decided that we were going to try to catch fish for supper that night, but Dad needed to go check a few wells first, so while Brent and the boys got the fishing gear ready, Levi and I rode with Dad. Levi thought he was so big!

We ended the day fishing on the banks of the pond, and then eating a delicious dinner of fish, fries, hush puppies, and baked beans. It certainly was a fun Friday!

Berry Picking!

Mom and I took the kids to Suzanne's Fruit Farm in Hampton yesterday to pick blueberries and blackberries! They had a blast! We were there for at least 2 hours, and we still had to practically drag them away. Even Levi loved it! We will definitely be back to pick peaches soon!