a weekend in San Diego...

This weekend I had the joyous opportunity to spend a LOT of time with my M-Girl. I can’t believe that she is already 22-months-old and will soon be turning two. She has 7 teeth now (5 on top and 2 on bottom) and a mullet of which a comparable one would most likely be found in Texas. I still remember the day she was born – the moment I found out she was here – the text I received including her first picture. TEARS! I love that sweet baby with all my heart. I didn’t get to San Diego until late on Friday night so I basically pulled in (I stole my sister’s spot behind my dad’s truck since she wasn’t home from babysitting yet! Ha!) and then hopped in bed. Saturday M came over and I saw her ride her bike with Grandpaand then we blew bubbles together (I’m thinking that is a GOOD birthday idea for her! SHE LOVES BUBBLES!) before Mom and I left for a bridal shower for my friend Amber. The shower was lovely and it was fun to catch up with all the oldies from Gateway Church where I grew up. M was still at my parent’s house when we were done with the shower, so we played a bit more, and then I went to Anna’s to visit, catch up, and celebrate her 25th birthday. There is a part of me that still honestly can’t believe that we are 25. It was REALLY NOT 20 years ago that we celebrated our 5th birthdays by sharing the chicken pox. Ha. Anyways, after hanging out with Anna for over 2 hours (which is an amazingly impressive amount of time given that she is a med student and really NEVER available) I went home to have dinner with Mom and Dad and M since she was still around. Madeline is getting really good with her words. She asked me specifically for more noodles and more chicken during dinner on Saturday night. She is definitely not a baby anymore – so sad – the baby days went SO quickly! In the picture below M is running around in my high heels. She has a moderate obsession with shoes and being cute. she also has her "beads" on in this picture. I am so happy she is a girly girl! ha. ps I was the one in the family that swooned over shoes as a small girl - hopefully that is an indication that M is going to be just like her Aunt Shell...that would make my heart EXPLODE with joy! She is my girl! Sunday I went to Gateway Church with my family. Mom, Kevin, and I all sat together. There is something about being at Gateway that always touches my heart. It even brings tears to my eyes from time to time. It is just overwhelming the “family” that I have there even though I haven’t attended regularly since I moved away to college almost 7 years ago now. They will forever be my amazing support system and I have so many that would do so much for me. That is a tremendous blessing. Sunday afternoon we celebrated my little sister Julie’s 20th birthday.My parents are officially old – their kids are 27, 25, and 20…NO MORE TEENAGERS! They’re celebrating their accomplishment with an Alaskan Cruise this summer – quite the reward! (They are also celebrating 30 years of marriage - that is REMARAKBLE!) It was fun to celebrate Julie and spend some time with the family. My Grandma (who is 92) and my mom’s sister Sandy came over along with my brother Kevin, his wife Jamie and my little M-girl. I can honestly say that I respect and appreciate my family more now than I ever did. They are a gift. After Julie’s dinner dad and I ran off to the Children of the World Concert sponsored by World Help where I cried for over an hour as I watched these precious children sing and dance and praise their Savior. I wanted more than anything to adopt them all on the spot.It confirmed in my heart ever so much more that I want to adopt international babies when God provides that opportunity for me. I cannot wait to have a family that is comprised of His children that are entrusted to me to love and care for. What an amazing testament to His work in my life. Monday I had a furlough day – so I spent some additional time with Madeline. We had lunch, watched the Jumpitz video, rode her bike, played with toys, took naps, went to the park and fed the ducks and rode the swings. Before we knew it, Mom was home from work and we were off to have dinner together. It is so fun having Madeline recognize me and want to spend time with me. It warms my heart in a very special way. After dinner we ALL (all Mom’s kids and her one grandbaby) went to support my Mom as she directed the school program: It’s Cool in the Furnace. She did an incredible job and the elementary school kids were darling. Mads had a hard time sitting still and enjoying the performance – but she was worth the hassle. After the program I jumped in my car and headed for Orange County (I got home just before 10pm) and upon my arrival promptly put myself in bed. It was a long but wonderful weekend…let’s see if the week can even begin to compare…