Things we are going to miss

Well we are one day away from returning to our home abroad and we thought we would make a list of the things we are going to miss here.

Amber:
- living so close to family and friends
- babysitting Molly
- going to the park with my sister, her dog Miles and the kids
- watching the kids play at Kimberly's house and swimming in the pool
- our back yard
- the Discovery Channel and Food Network
- Blue Bell ice cream
- going to the pharmacy and knowing what everything says and what it is for
- living in a neighborhood
- being able to make as much noise as we want without worrying about our neighbors hearing us
- air conditioning
- the big windows that allow a ton of natural light to pour in during the day
- the squirrels
- resale shops
- flavored coffee
- grilling in our backyard
- making a fire and roasting marshmellows
- seeing stars in the sky
- Red Box
- variety at the grocery store
- the library
- cheaper prices overall
- wall to wall carpet (to a degree- it is hard to keep clean)
- roadkill
-Crackerbarrel because they have such fun merchandise
-Mexican food
- not having the stress of communicating in another language

Tim:
-our family and being so close them
-the new friends we made and 'old' friends we reconnected with
-the backyard and playing out there with the kids
-taking care of the yard, and sweating in Texas heat
-riding bikes in the neighborhood
-the big open sky and starry nights
-BBQ and Tex-Mex
-Country music on the radio
-Summer time fun food; Corn on the cob, watermelon and cantaloupe

Levi:
- my bedroom
- the food here
- the toys here
- our front and backyard
- Aunt Shannon's house
- Aunt Kimberly house
- Mamaw's house
- Nana and Grandpa's house and yard
- going fishing with Grandpa and riding bikes
- Pop and Mawmaw's house
- going fishing with Pop
- going sailing with Pop
- the waterpark
- tator tots
- Check E Cheez

Many faces of Trinity

Trinity's ONE!

Trinity is ONE! We can't believe a whole year has gone by so quickly. A lot has occured in the last year and we have to say that God gets all of the glory for bringing us where we are today. We have been so grateful for this time here in America to bond with family and make new memories together. It has been fun celebrating birthdays here, too.

We love you and we are so thankful that God has allowed us to be your parents. You are such a joy and delight and full of personality. You are quite the talker, too. You say, mama, dada, Jojo, Tiko, puppy, woof-woof, ball, highchair, bath, poop, up, uh-oh, WOW, and baba (your blanket's name).

We love you, Trinity Marie, and pray this year that God will show you grace and favor and he will give you a love for people and a heart sensitive to Him.

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16

Trini, I made you a quilt for your first birthday. I made it with Mamaw's and your great grandmother's sewing machine. The first quilt that I made was for your dad when I graduated from college.
I picked the fabric because I loved the colors - they are happy, joyful colors that remind me of you. It is random and has many oddities throughout which reminds me that we can never reach perfection but that doesn't mean we can't still be useful. As hard as I tried to get things just right in the quilt it didn't happen. God reminded me that being different and not perfect is okay... we can still be used by Him. Only He is perfect. I hope it will remind you of how fearfully and wonderfully made you are and how much you are loved by us and by God.

the party guests!
You like giving high-fives.



Aunt Shannon arrived and brought some balloons and a big box that you enjoyed sitting on.

Aunt Kimberly bought you this push car.
I made lasagna and you ate by yourself like a big girl.



I love that every time you see your quilt you say, "Woooow!". It gives me so much joy that you like it.








The boys dancing to Aunt Shannon's party music.
Molly belly laughing
A baby doll from Mamaw that you gave kisses to and squeezed over and over.

You opened your present form Aunt Shannon at the end and her gift turned you into an instant Diva!
You also got a water nozzle cover for the tub, some rubber ducks and bubble bath.

We had such a fun time celebrating YOU!

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands. Psalm 112:1

collection of events

Trini and Molly enjoying each other as usual.

Mom's elementary school- it looks shut down now- and below is where mom went to day care before starting Kindergarden.


such a serious look.

2nd cousins Liz and Melody came for a visit


Story time


Trini loves high-fives.

enjoying some backyard fun




a new blanket from Ms Peggy.
Trini loves bath time


Pop brought David back on the 12th and then Levi went.
Nana stopped through after visiting Ransom and Aunt Abigail.


Saying goodbye to Levi.




Aunt Shannon stopped by after work and blessed us with an ice cream.



Caught in the act!