Is Charlotte growing up?

Usually I leave the posting up to Nicole, but I thought I'd share one of my most recent encounters with the city of Charlotte.

I had a very late meeting this past Wednesday that lasted until after 9pm. Afterward we went to Carpe Diem (Elizabeth Avenue near Presbyterian Hospital) to process through some of the agenda items. As we were walking out of the restaurant a guy walked right up to Joe and started asking him for money. As we walked he kept the conversation going while Joe politely declined his requests.

The point of all this is that this is happening more and more in Charlotte. Charlotte is becoming a bit city with all of the perks (plenty of entertainment) and consequences (poverty) included.

What should be our response? These events never happen when you have 45 minutes to spare. They seem to happen when you are exhausted, late for work, when it is raining, when it is freezing cold, and you don't have any cash. I don't know about you, but I never have cash. Just 15 minutes earlier, when we were settling our bill, we remarked how none of us ever has cash.

Can't wait to hear your responses!!

DeJaVu...

(Ok first let me say I don't know how to spell the title...)

Seems like I've made this post before...probably about a year and a half ago. I did...here it is. We had to buy another one.

I did some research. I drove to Target. I put it in my basket and then I paid for it. I brought it home and put it together. The difference is we spent more money this time...it BETTER last longer that the one we bought last August! It's a Bissell Healthy Home Vacuum.

Overcome with emotion...

I've cried at least once everyday since late last week. Some friends of ours in Texas have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first child. But this delivery was not the "conventional" delivery. They've tried for many years to have children of their own and the Lord has chosen not to open their womb. It has become more clear than ever to them just why He chose this path for them. They began pursuing adoption. I don't know all the details of how this came about or exactly how long it took to find a birth mother. But the main thing is they did find a birth mother about 5 hours away from their home. Over the last few months they have been traveling to visit this birth mother and even go to doctor's appoinments with her. This young mother requested that our friends be in the delivery room with her when she had the baby. This Monday, the 18th, she was induced and our friends were right by her side. Reading all the updates has been the sweetest thing and has so touched my heart. I just cannot imagine how hard it was for this mother to make this decision...to first choose life for her unborn child and second to give this child to another family. Before I had children, I thought about birth moms giving up their children for adoption but I don't think I really ever thought about how incredibly difficult it has to be. Thank you birth moms who choose life and choose to allow your children to be adopted. What a blessing you've given their adoptive parents...my friends in Texas, especially!!

Wanna buy a house??

'Cus our's is FOR SALE!! No, really...it is!! Our Realtor is bringing the sign for the front yard this afternoon. We've wanted to move closer to the city for a long time, mainly to be closer to Jonathan's work. We found a house we like and have made a contingency offer. Even if we don't get this house, we are going to leave ours on the market and conitnue looking. Click here for the listing. And if you don't want to :-P , here are some pictures that are with our listing...

Hard to believe...

that Kate is already 1 month old!!! She had her one month check-up on Friday. After all the worries, she's in the 50th percentile for both weight and length!! YAY! She weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and was 21 inches long. :-) Emma has never been in anything but the 0-5th percentile! I'm not going to know what to do with an average sized child!! :-P

The last few days...

You've probably noticed I've been a little silent the last few days...which, now that I think about it, isn't all that unusual for me, so maybe you weren't wondering! LOL!

Emma went home with Grammie on Tuesday morning so Jonathan and I could do some much needed organizing and cleaning out of our house. It's needed some TLC for several years now!! This is the first time Emma has gone on a trip without us. It was bitter-sweet. While I knew she needed to go so we could get work done, I knew I would miss her terribly!! Tuesday morning while I was getting her things together and getting them packed, she said, "pack Kate things?". I told her she was going to Grammie's all by herself like a big girl and that Kate was staying here with Mommy. Then she asked if Mommy was going. So again I had to explain that she was going by herself. She wasn't sad, just a little confused. But I did think it was the cutest thing that she asked if I was going to pack Kate's things! She's already showing great concern for her little sister. I look forward to how God will grow that relationship over the years!! Emma comes home on Friday. Jonathan and I both are looking forward to seeing her!

Her daddy's daughter...

This is a picture of Jonathan when he was 4 days old.

And this is a picture of Kate at 4 days old.

What do ya think??

Just checkin' in...

Well, my mom left today. Our neighbor took her to the airport so I wouldn't have to get out so early with both girls. It would have been a challenge to get Kate fed and Emma up and around by 7:30am. We could have done it if we'd had to, but we didn't thanks to my neighbor. (Thanks Monica!!) I found myself crying as the car left. I wasn't crying because I didn't think I could do this by myself. I was crying because I really didn't want her to leave. I really enjoyed her being here. I also enjoyed my dad being here. It's hard to say goodbye when you don't know exactly the next time you will get to see them. We're hoping for spring break, but it could be this summer. Being so far away from my family is hard. We love Charlotte, but it is so far from my family.

That being said, Kate, Emma and I had a really good day on our own today! I even ventured out with them both to Target. Emma was great today. I know we will probably still have some of those days, but today was good and I'm grateful!! Barbara/Grammie comes tomorrow for a few days. But it's good to know that we can do this by ourselves!!

Here are a few pictures:

Kate's first bath...

My big helper...

Emma has really been helping us with Kate... :-)

Emma and Daddy playing...

My mom and I went out to run some errands this morning. This is what Emma and Daddy did while Kate slept...