Memories. . . . and New Life

March 23 is a day full of emotion for me.  Today it has been 7 years since I lost my mama.  I can't believe it has been that long.  And I cannot believe that a person who was such a large presence in my life and in the lives of everyone around her is gone.  And yet - her presence remains with me in so many ways - in my sisters, in my children, and in the way that she taught me how to live. 

I love this picture because it reminds me of how much fun she always had.  To me, life at the Thompson house was always a party!  She lived each day with joy and laughter.

My mama loved the beach. We went out to the beach early in the morning and stayed out there until late in the evening, so that we could soak up every bit of fun from our vacation - - - even at nap time!

This one is from one of our many New Year's parties.  I was (and still am) such a homebody!  Most people wanted to go out for the holiday.  I just wanted to stay home and do stupid stuff like shoot silly string in the basement with my parents and their friends!

One of the greatest gifts my mom gave me was that she went to summer camp at Carolina Cross Connection with me every year.  That is where I learned so much about faith, about service to others, and about living life with the purpose of serving God.  It is where I met my husband and so many of the friends that I have to this day.  She loved working with teenagers and serving others.  She was an example to me and to so many others of a life well lived. 

Along with faith and fun, family was of the utmost importance to her.  This is what we looked like when she passed away 7 years ago. From time to time I wonder if she can see us now. . . . . 2 more sons-in-law, a grandson, four more granddaughters, and two more grandchildren on the way, and I find it hard to understand why we lost her so young.  

The reason this day has so many mixed emotions for me is because a few years later - - - - this sweet girl was born on March 23.  It seems so strange to me that she was born on the day that my mama passed away. But Emma seems to have inherited her grandma's sense of fun!  She brings the party with her wherever she goes.  

Happy Birthday to my dear sweet (crazy) Emma!!!  You bring joy and laughter and fun into our lives every day!  

New photos!

 Our travel date is quickly approaching. I think I am getting a little overwhelmed with getting everything ready!  In the last couple of days, we received our travel itinerary, ordered travel insurance and an international phone, paid for our in-country adoption services, worked on childcare plans while we will be gone, went to a school student/faculty basketball game, took Emma to see "The Lorax" for her birthday, and on and on and on. . . . .  During that time we also received new photos and measurements for Drew!!!  And realised that the 18 month clothes that are filling his drawers right now are probably going to be too small.  So today Katherine and I spent the morning bagging up tons of cousin Cole's hand-me-downs and pulling out the larger clothes (Thank you Kristi and Meredith!).  How can Drew be outgrowing his camouflage overalls before he gets to wear them?   Here are a few photos.  We are getting so close, and we are excited!  Please say some prayers for our family and for my stress level as these weeks fly by!

Travel Approval (and change)

So. . . . . . I showed my new blog to my family.  While my husband is proud of my new technical skills, my 10 year old daughter is not so impressed.  She has been mercilessly making fun of my lack of posts and pictures, (How is it a blog if there is only one thing on it?) and the name (What in the world does "Seek Ye First" mean?)  So, in an effort to defend myself - - - - -

The most exciting thing that has happened since my first post is that WE HAVE TA!!! Our agency sent us an email on Friday notifying us of TA a couple of hours after I started my blog.  TA means travel approval.  Meaning that we will travel to China within the next 90 days.  While I have been anxiously awaiting that email, actually receiving it threw me into such a panic that I could not even look at the computer until the next day.  I made poor Joe (my very sweet and patient husband) read the email to me while I took some deep breaths!!!  I do not always do well with big news.  Or change.  Or airplanes.  Or leaving my 3 kids at home (with very capable family and friends, of course) for 2 weeks.  Ahhhhhh!

But I am excited and happy, to say the least!  We have been waiting for a long time. We should know definite travel dates in the next week, I think.  And in the next month or so, I will meet my son.  Wow, that sounds strange.  And I will finally know what it is like to have a little boy in the family.

In answer to Katherine's second question - What in the world does "Seek Ye First" mean? - I think that one will have to wait for another day.  I only have so much time between putting my crazy girls to bed and getting my own relaxing nightly bath!  But it has something to do with Matthew 6:33.  And Jesus.  And also with a song I learned at a summer camp that I went to as a teenager.  One that Jesus used to change my life.  So I guess sometimes, maybe even a good bit of the time, change is a really, really good thing!

Intro from a Clueless Mama

I am so new to the blogging world!  I have never created a blog before!  At this point I am lucky that I figured out how to turn on my computer. . . . . .

My family and I are getting ready to travel to China to adopt a little boy, so far known in our house as Baby Bo Shi.  I am creating this blog to capture our journey, and hopefully share it with our family and friends.  That is - if I can figure out how to find it again once I log out of my computer!


Bo Shi - AKA Drew - is waiting for us - - - - although I think we may be more anxiously waiting for him!  We are hoping to soon hear about our Travel Approval to travel to China.  Hopefully in the next few minutes!  But it could be several more hours. . . . days. . . ..  or even weeks. . . . . . . can you tell I am getting a little impatient?  My only true objective today was to think of a blog name (a major challenge for me) and to post a picture of our little boy for those who have asked me to do so during this journey.  We are almost ready to travel - - - - so here it is!