Friday, June 16, 2017

Celebrating 6 Years Together

When we celebrate Gotcha Days... typically we spend it as a family doing something new... but sometimes it's tough to do, especially if it falls in the middle of the week. We decided since Daddy had to work, that Charlotte could play hooky from school. We stopped for a treat to picnic with at a new to us beach. We actually have ventured there before, but the tides were so high, we weren't able to explore it to it's fullest... but we totally did this time. TONS of driftwood to climb, rocks to pick up, and of course we had to take full advantage of the swing.



















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Wednesday, June 14, 2017

So Much New

Dear Charlotte,

And another year passes... Happy 6th Gotcha Day! How is it even possible that another year has come and gone? Somehow it has... and I feel like this year, has been the biggest year of change that we've seen in so many ways, which is probably why it flew by. We moved to a new home in a new state, added 2 more tiny people to our family... new school, new church, new gymnastics place, new glasses... so much new.
















Your hair has grown out from your horrendous attempt at a haircut last year, your freckles have multiplied, your legs are even longer (just when I thought they couldn't get longer?), your sass has doubled and slowly you're starting to realize that sarcasm is the way to our hearts... you're turning into quite the little lady. If you told us years ago, that this is who you'd be today... we'd have laughed. You totally have blown us away... and continue to daily.
















You are our biggest helper... there's NO way we could do life without you... especially life with two extra babies. For the last few years, you have graciously shared your time with Mommy and Daddy with all these new sisters and brother that we've added along the way. You were BORN to be the oldest, to be their little leader. You might go overboard with that leadership role from time to time, but we are so amazed at how well you handle the responsibilities that come with being the "oldest". You do it so well... We don't ask it of you often (because you're a kid and you should be having all the fun in the world right now), but you jump in willingly, and that's something that you've done all on your own. Your heart, is still that sweet big heart that we met 6 years ago.
















Mommy might not have carried you in her belly, but we have labored hard for you... our Charlotte Wray. Adopting you was one of the best decisions we've ever made... it was totally not "the easy route" like some might think. It was for sure, a difficult one... a journey we are so thankful to be on...

You are such a blessing to us... keep celebrating life precious child,

Daddy, Mommy, Marley, Finn, Josephine and Mable

Check out Gotcha Day 5 here
Check out Gotcha Day 4 here
Check out Gotcha Day 3 here
Check out Gotcha Day 2 here
Check out Gotcha Day 1 here

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Thursday, June 01, 2017

3-5

I love this quote from Shauna Niequist. She said, “The world is alive, blinking and clicking, winking at us slyly, inviting us to get up and dance to the music that’s been playing since the beginning of time, if you bend all the way down and put your ear to the ground to listen for it.”

I made it to 35... and it feels pretty good. I don't know why, but adding years when you're younger always feels so daunting. At the ripe age of 20 (when I said farewell to my teen hood) I told myself that it would be nice if I had completed my family (marriage and children) by this age. That goal, now that I look at it, seems so futile... yet here I am, married with 5 children, and am feeling pretty complete. Complete, not in the "final" sense... but more in the content sense... yet, there's still so much to live and experience... my work does not feel done. It's only just begun folks... watch out world.













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