We didn't get to travel to see family for Easter this year, so we hung out in the neighborhood. Sweet Mrs. Deborah always has the neighborhood kids over to decorate cookies.


























Of course, Mother's Day Out had fun parties, too!







































Then Easter morning candy-fest...

In trying to come up with alternatives to loads of candy, I bought these letter stamps for the kids. I put each letter in an Easter egg and hid them all over the house. It was a hit. It made the morning last longer and afterwards they played with hours with their new stamps. (Mommy relaxation time!)

This summer's garden

Thanks so much for sweet comments encouraging me on our new endeavor and catching up on the blog! I really need the accountability to get my scrapbooking done. BTW, does anyone know of a service that updates your blog and/or can turn your blog into a digital scrapbook for you?

So, I guess I'll start with spring...

Phil got serious about his garden spot this year and built a retaining wall to house his veggies. So when planting season came, he and the kids (and a neighbor's kid) were ready to go!

The girls were ready for some serious work and playing in the dirt.

I think Phil could have done this project in a fourth of the time without all the extra little hands.

...but then he would have been so lonely!!

Here he is tenderly working his soil. This picture reminds me of how peaceful and patient my husband is.

And I love this dirty little hand!

Careful not to over water...

Too late!

My happy Lily getting her fill of quality time...

Lots of critters were found throughout the day.

The almost finished product...














The finished product weeks later! We had a yummy bounty for summer meals and the kids loved picking and eating their own plants.

We have news... (that has kept me from blogging, obviously!)

Phil and I have gotten, shall we say...distracted. We are starting a new venture in life and it has been all consuming. Phil came to me shortly after the girls were home with the desire to plant a new PCA (Presbyterian Church of America for all you non-Southerners) church. The idea took the back burner as we were dealing with too many diapers, too many bottles and too many sleepless nights. Well, in Sept, he brought it up again and took me to a conference for church planters. I felt so much like a fish out of water there. Since before we were married, Phil and I have been about orphans and international ministry...why would be plant another church in Birmingham?! Long story short...we started walking through open doors. The doors kept opening and opening and God kept strangely leading. So here we are...starting a new PCA church in Helena/Pelham, AL. I think there are days where we are in awe and a bit of shock that this is where He has led us. If it hadn't been so clear, we would have certainly turned back over a dozen times. The new church will be called Christ Community Church. It is being planted by Oak Mountain Pres and Altadena Pres. It will focus on discipleship, international ministry (and, of course, mercy/orphans). We will hopefully start public worship in Jan/Feb 2010. We would love for there to be a lot of adoptees running around the halls, so please come and check us out!
Now, I'm going to attempt to catch up on what's been happening otherwise in our family and document the girls' lives before I forget each little thing. If you feel like it, I'd love for you to drop me a comment to let me know someone is still watching! I need all the encouragement I can to get catch up. :)