We are Back!

New York was as wonderful as I ever thought it would be! What an adventure! To start, we had to land in Baltimore instead of Laguardia airport in N.Y. due to bad weather. Little known to use we would be at the Baltimore airport until 2:00am waiting for a bus; that were not sure ever showed up! We got together with a couple business guys and bartered with a taxi driver to take us 4 hours back to our hotels. That was a long ride, but we finally arrived at the Waldorf Astoria hotel at 5:00am Monday morning! The hotel was absolute luxury. I've never stayed in a hotel like that before and now I'm spoiled! White robes, down pillows, satin sheets, it was amazing! We got a couple hours sleep and met up with our friends, Derek and Amy Roberts, their hotel was just across form ours and they had free breakfasts for us! (things were looking up!)
Amy and I in front of Rockefeller Center
Daniel and I in Bryant Park
We then set out on our sightseeing. On our first day we walked from 9:00am to 4:00pm across uptown Manhattan. We saw, St. Patrick's church, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music hall, The NBC building, Macy's, Grand Central Station, Bryant Park, Times Square, Toy's R Us (it had a Farris wheel inside it!), and the Empire State Building. We then hopped on the subway and went to Greenwich Village and had dinner at this Jazz club and listened to live jazz while eating great steaks. Needless to say, we were exhausted!

Daniel and I inside the Statue of Liberty, in front of the original torch

Tuesday, we woke up early to catch the ferry to Liberty Island to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. There was so much security to see her we had to stand in line for two hours and go through two security gates! Although after climbing after 156 stairs inside the statue it was well worth the view and the opportunity. we then headed back to Manhattan and went to Central Park, it was so beautiful and covered in snow. We took a horse drawn carriage ride through the park right at sunset. Yes, I ask Daniel to marry me LOL! It seemed the right moment!

After our romantic carriage ride we headed to 5th Ave., its the most expensive shopping in town. Prada, Tiffany's, and such. Yes, of course I went into Tiffany's all three floors! It was amazing! We went to FAO Schwartz, its the biggest toy store I've ever seen. Its the one that has the big piano that Tom Hanks played on in the movie Big. Amy, played it. I was wearing like three pairs of sock and uggs, so I didn't want to remove all that to play! That cold weather put a damper on trying on clothes too! Anyways, we then headed to the American Doll store. And yes, we bought the girls American Dolls! So that was Tuesday and then Derek and Amy had to go back to N. Carolina. Daniel and I had room service for fun, and I guess a $60.00 hamburger and fries is better than a $5 one. LOL! Wed. was my Birthday so we decided to take a subway and just explore the upper East Village and Soho, and yes we got lost and ended up in a very bad part of town...not a good idea in the city. But we found our way and did some shopping. We were Christmas shopping for each other there. When we made it back to the hotel it was time to get ready for Phantom of the Opera. It had started to rain and was about 20 degrees and I was wearing a dress, so we decided to take a cab instead of walk the 5 blocks. But instead we ended up in one of those rickshaws puled by a bike!!! I thought we would die for sure, they are the craziest drivers. But we made it and had time for a quick dinner before the show. The Majestic theatre was beautiful. It was very old and ornate and made the show that much better! So, that concludes our amazing big city adventure! We flew home without incident and our homecoming with the kids was perfect. They missed us, but didn't realize it until we came home! Thank you Papa and Sweetie!

a Night at R.C.

We Love Jaime!

Can I just say I love Jaime Haggard! She watched the kids the other night. We felt very privileged that she is still willing to do this because Noah, Graham and Braxtyn Loooove her! But the other night I guess they had a photo shoot because as I was loading pics onto my computer and these are what came up! No wonder they love her!

New York New York!

Its almost time! Daniel and I leave for New York on Sunday, December 16th! I am actually feeling a little anxious about leaving the kids for 5 days, its so hard to be away from them. However, I can't believe we are actually getting to do this trip, its been a lifelong dream for me to go there. We are staying at the Waldorf Astoria in downtown Manhattan, we are seeing the statue of liberty, all the tourist attractions we can fit into three days and on our last night there (my birthday), we are seeing Phantom of the Opera!!! I am not usually a trip planner. I find a destination, get on a plane without a plan, except to enjoy whatever comes my way:). This trip has been a little different for me however, Daniel and I have so many things we want to see that I'm actually putting together a book on printed out destinations and tourist attractions! This is a big step for me! I even purchased all my show and tour tickets weeks ago...what have I become! Well I don't think I've really changed, I just think this type of trip into the Big Apple requires a little research. Ok, I have to admit, although I feel very prepared, the rush and anticipation of having no plan is kinda missing, but I do believe New York will make up for that. My sister and Bff are probably rolling there eyes right now:) See you do rub off on me sometimes:)

So as I sit here with my NY City guide and various restaurant print outs (yes, so I can make reservations) I am giddy with excitement, hoping I will re-live scenes from Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail and Serendipity. Except, I'm going there with the Love of my life, not in search of him.

If you see my kids next week please tell them I miss them and will see them soon!

New York, here we come!

News from Kenya!

I love to share news about Kenya! Jonah, who is Graham's age is starting school this year! He received new clothes and shoes, shoes are very important in Africa. Shoes are a sign of wealth and are cherished more than clothes. Actually young boys will polish their shoes each night to make sure they look brand new every day. This of course, I totally get, being a shoe lover myself:) Also, Jonah had a baby brother named Brian. He is healthy and doing great, he is the youngest of seven. Jonah's family, the Lotere's are working side by side with The Jamisons (the American Missionarys) on building new church plants in Kitale, Kenya. Please pray for the Lotere family as they do the Lord's work in Kenya amongst such hardships. Please also pray for Brian and Heather Jamison.

Tired of confessing my worry about worry..

I have finally finished Christmas shopping! Tonight, Daniel and I had Jaime babysit while we ran all over town making returns and buying things. I started to get a little stressed, its so hard to pick out the perfect gifts for everyone. I'm not stressed over the money really or the time, the wrapping, its more an inner feeling of excursiveness. I love having a big family and we do draw names, so I'm not buying for each person, however, 26 presents, not including the 12 purchased for the kids (3 from us and 1 from Santa x3) later.... It feels like so much. I actually really love shopping for each person and trying to think of the perfect gifts, I even love the wrapping and putting them under the tree. I listen to Christmas music non-stop from Thanksgiving to New Years, so I'm no humbug! I just can't help but wonder if this gift giving starts to teach our children that we have to have a lot of money to enjoy Christmas, that just celebrating Jesus isn't enough. Noah couldn't even think of anything to ask for for Christmas! Are we raising kids who have need for nothing, who have it all, who don't know the true feeling of desiring something? I remember wanting a huge doll house so badly. We couldn't afford those things, so I made a dollhouse out of cardboard boxes. I thought this was the best doll house ever! I was thinking about a story that I'd heard about people who lived through the depression. They used to make these Christmas cards that were ornately decorated and pass them out. That was their gift to each other. Those cards have been saved and passed on through generations, to remember that time. I don't think my kids are gong to pass down their Power Rangers, or video games, or barbies. I don't think there is anything wrong with gift giving, like I said before, I love to do it. But what are we passing down that we will cherish enough to pass form generation to generation? I'm not so vain as to think my sweet smile and kindness is enough, I think its the sacrificial gifts that are what matter. Think of the lady at the Temple, who gave her only and last coins to the Lord, in comparison to the rich, it was nothing. But her sacrifice, her giving heart was what the Lord cherished. I want my children to learn to give gifts of their hearts. I'm not sure how to teach that. And I hope I don't look back on these abundant Christmases and wish I'd done something different. I'm thankful we can share the gifts with each other, but I want to pass on a special treasured gift that comes from the heart that it is passed down through generations. I'll have to ponder that for next year... Who knows making cards may be all we can do next year. God gives and he takes.

This year has been reflective for me in many aspects, as I've studied the books of Job and Romans. And although I've fought God along the way about change and loss, I've finally released it to Him (well today I'm feeling pretty good about it:)). And you wouldn't believe the stress relief! So I suppose, as I come full circle, being stressed about a lot of giving is just as bad as being stressed about not having enough. DO I always have to find something to complain about??? It is just as easy to sin with worry when everything is going great, as it is to sin with worry when it all falls apart. So as Christmas approaches and excursiveness begins, I will enter it with a thank full heart and joy, knowing that God gave an abundance this year! And then, when things get hard, my children will learn ( a lot faster then me, I'm sure) that God gives an abundance in that time as well. And about giving something that is so important that it will be passed down from generation to generation...well, God already did that. Didn't he?? I guess one less thing to worry about, see what I mean, STRESS RELIEF!:) Posting this to the public is probably stupid, but sometimes it helps to dump my thoughts, read it back and then realize, I am seriously not perfect!