I'm going to Africa!

I've been praying for over a year for an opportunity to go on a mission trip to work with orphaned children, but the Lord had just not shown me where to go...until now.  I've been following Ashlie's blog for a long time.  As soon as I read on her blog that she was looking for others to join her team traveling to Kenya and Uganda with Visiting Orphans, I just knew in my spirit that this was the trip for me.  Her email quickly confirmed that notion, and I signed up without a second thought!  

"Pure religion in the sight of God is this: to visit widows and orphans in their distress." James 1:27

I cannot wait to leave, but I have to do some serious fundraising first.  The trip costs $3600-3800 per person plus extra contributions to the ministries and orphanages that we will work with on the trip.  Instead of asking for donations through support letters, I'm providing a link for anyone who might feel lead to provide a *tax deductible* donation.  And, for you locals, I'm hosting a Bunco Fundraising night on Thursday, May 24th from 7-9pm.  I'm suggesting a donation of $20 to play.  There will be food, fun, and prizes, too!  If you'd like to attend, leave a comment with your email and I'll add you to the Evite.

Check out my trip!  I am so looking forward to all that God has in store for our team as we serve and the children and nannies who we get to minister to and love on in the name of Jesus!  I'm especially excited to serve at the Amani Baby Cottage, and Isaac is nervous that I'm going to come home with plans to adopt little Ugandans and Kenyans before we even get our Ethiopian babies home:)...it could happen...

Whether you donate or not, please join me in prayer for this mission journey!

March Happenings

The month of March has flown by for us.  We've been working during the week with lots of evening activities just holding on for these blessed weekends.

The first weekend in March we had planned to get away from Tampa...mainly Isaac's office so that he couldn't work on that Saturday.  We got on priceline and got a great rate at the Orlando Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress.  We left Friday afternoon and got to the resort in time to lounge by the pool before heading out for dinner.

We ate dinner that night at Johnnie's Hideaway.  We would highly recommend this restaurant if you enjoy seafood!

After dinner, we headed over to Downtown Disney for Cirque Du Soleil.  We enjoyed seeing the show again, and we were excited to see a couple of new acts.  One of the many nice perks to living in Florida is the FL resident discounts on shows and theme parks!

The next day we laid at the pool for 8 hours...yes, 8 glorious hours of doing nothing except read, relax, and play one round of chip and putt.  After the sun had set, we showered up and ate at the resort's seafood restaurant Hemingway's...also highly recommended by Treesh Cuisine Critics.

Sunday morning we were sad to leave the resort, but excited to go to Gainesville for the UK vs. UF game.  We met up with Donna and Gabe for brunch before the game.

Matt and his dad joined us at the game to cheer the Cats on to another victory!

March 9th, we celebrated Isaac's 31st birthday.  Sadly, this is the only picture I have to share.  We had a few friends over for dinner that night, and I guess I was too tired to take any pictures of the party.  Sorry, babe.  But, thanks Mom for the edible arrangement!  Isaac's mom had sent a lovely arrangement to the office the day before, but my camera wasn't working-sorry, Jan!

I also managed to drag Isaac to another cooking class this month.  We learned how to make pasta from scratch...and that's the last time we'll be doing that...Isaac doesn't enjoy working that hard for his food.

March 23rd, we celebrated my 29th birthday...actually, I mourned over my last year of my twenties.  Isaac did cheer me up with this gorgeous flower arrangement...

And took me to dinner at the Beachhouse Restaurant on Anna Maria Island on Bradenton Beach.  I told him that I wanted to have dinner on the beach at a place with great appetizers...he delivered!...the sunset was so pretty too.

We attended Darren and Ashley Norwood's wedding the following evening.  Ashley and I have worked together for the past couple of years.

Isn't she a beautiful bride?  It was alot of fun to cut loose and get out on the dance floor with my coworkers!

To wrap up the month of March, my friend and sorority sister Stacey and I attended our first Tampa Bay Chi Omega Alumnae event this morning.  We joined other Chi Omegas from the area at the Tampa Bay Museum of Art for the Eleusian Brunch.

The cake was precious.  We had a good time connecting with other Chi Omegas and making new friends.  I was the only Lambda Alpha there...most of the women there are graduates of FL schools, but still so kind and welcoming.  Looking forward to the next event.

That wraps up March!  We made it to #8 on the unofficial Gladney waiting list for infant boys/siblings in our age category!

Hawaiian Luau Date Night

Isaac and I were in serious need of a date night a couple of weeks ago.  Three weeks after "settling" into our new house (if you can really call it that!) Isaac got the call we had been praying for since he joined the firm...

Yes, he got his name on the door and took over an existing office.  A huge blessing and an enormous amount of work!

We went from decorating our house to decorating the office.  Isaac started working 14 hour days and weekends, and I was working my day job and then doing charity work for my hubby at night (not that I minded), and we were just plain worn out.

To add to the recent craziness, our adoption paperwork is all expiring and needs updating.  Our date night started with our third adoption medical exams...our PCP said to us, "weren't you all adopting?"...yes, we still are and we need these exams notarized...again...

Six vaccines, two PPDs, two UA's, two blood draws, an EKG, two complete physicals, and 2.5 hours later, we were bruised and bandaided up and ready for some fun...

Chef Rene Marquis hosted a Hawaiian Luau demonstration cooking class at the Rolling Pin-my favorite place these days and the perfect blend of entertainment, delicious eats, and quality time spent with my favorite person.

Maui Onion Dip with Taro Chips

Pina Colada

Lomi Lomi Salmon with Mixed Greens

Chef Rene mixing up the Ahi Poke

Ahi Poke in Radicchio Cup

Kalua Pork with Hawaiian Potato Salad, Fried Rice, and Corn-just like the Luau we attended on the Big Island!

Guava Cake with Haupia

Almost like being in Hawaii...right, honey?  Not quite...but as close as we're going to get for a while.

Cooking 201 Class #3

Here are a few of my Rolling Pin group's latest culinary creations:

Linguini with White Clam Sauce

Port Beef Stew

Citrus Panna Cotta with Seasonal Berries

Created for Care Retreat

I attended Created for Care retreat with my mom, Kelly, and her mom Terri the last weekend of January. The conference was held at the Lake Lanier Lodge and Resort outside of Atlanta. We had a great time together, and it was so encouraging to see so many familiar faces and reconnect with some of the women that I met last year. I made some new friends this year and reconnected with a friend from college too. Many of these women have their children home now, and there were also many like me who are still waiting for referrals. Kelly was the celebrity of our group since she had just received her referral for Silas a few days before. All the AGCI ladies were anxious to see those sweet pictures!

The view of the lake from our room-it was such a beautiful, sunny weekend.

Terri, the proudest grandmother ever, and Kelly with the cutest onesie for Silas made by another adoption mama.

Me and Mom

The first session we attended was about using your adoption blog for God's purposes and to promote adoption and orphan care. I really enjoyed hearing these popular blogging moms talk about their ministries, their followers and stalkers, and the encouragement they have received through blogging about their adoption journeys.

There were several vendors in attendance this year. I particularly loved the Mwana birds and blankets. For every blanket purchased, she sends a blanket to a child in need of a blanket in Africa.

Here's a blurry picture of Andrea, the founder of Created for Care. I loved hearing her testimony of how the retreat came about, waiting for their next adoption, loving her Isaac through his struggles, etc. Thank you, Andrea, for all of your encouragement and for allowing the Lord to use you!

And another not-so-awesome quality picture...this is Dr. Susan Hillis. I just love her. She is a scientist, and she thinks like me! I admire her intellect and love for Jesus. Can't wait to hear her share again next year!

Mom and I with less eye makeup...we all cried all weekend...happy tears and a few sad ones too.

Kelly and Terri-can't you tell that Terri is just having the best time!? We had been praying for healing from her back pain for some time, and she was able to attend the conference and travel without issue-such an answer to prayer! It would not have been the same without her being there!

The PJ Party Panel was the last night of the retreat. We got to ask questions of the panel about anything adoption/raising adopted children. We heard some serious, heavy questions and answers. And also heard some hilarious answers too. And just for anyone still wondering...the correct answer is "other".

Gorgeous sunrise

Mom, Me, Kelly, and Terri

My personal take-away from the weekend was to keep calm and carry on and you heard Me right the first time...I felt that the Lord reaffirmed to me that Isaac and I did hear Him correctly concerning all of the details of this adoption, but it is just simply taking a long time to see this call on our lives come to fruition. I kept hearing Wait on Me. So that's what we are doing, waiting on Him to bring our children home and trying to have some fun while we wait.

Moore Blessings

In order to maximize my trip to ATL for Created for Care, I flew into Louisville where Kelly picked me up in the *pouring* rain to head over to Lexington to see my (our-they are Kelly's too!) niece and nephew. (This also gave me more "Kelly time" in the car on our way from Louisville to Knoxville.) Mark and Traci welcomed Hudson and Kate into their family in December, and I could hardly wait to meet them and give their mama a big hug!

Daddy Mark and Mama Traci with Hudson and Kate-finally a family of four! Aren't they so sweet? I may be biased because I am their aunt, but they are absolutely precious!

Aunt Kyle with Kate and Hudson. Kate was trying really hard to wriggle her way out of my grasp-I had a death grip on that kid! Hudson was so much calmer after Mark took him away from me the first time I tried to hold him-he was not so happy to see me when I first arrived! Mark has become the baby whisperer in my book:)

Aunt Kyle with Hudson and Aunt Kelly with Kate. We have prayed with our BFF Traci for these babies for a loonnnngggg time, and so thankful to be able to physically hold and love on these two blessings from above. And, so excited to celebrate with my friends and call Traci "Mama"!!!

To add to the joyful craziness, Traci and I got to see pictures of our newest nephew Silas in Ethiopia since Kelly had gotten her referral two days before. (Again, I may be biased since I'm also his aunt, but he is incredibly handsome, too!) So excited to one day get to hold Silas and tell him that he is an answer to many prayers!

Wife of the Year Award

I got home last night from the Created for Care weekend in GA (post and pictures coming soon).  My wonderful friend Sam was my chauffeur from the St. Pete airport to our Bible Study Fellowship Ladies' Prayer Night in Mulberry.  On our long drive, I was bragging on my husband that after 3 long years of trying to get him to buy new underwear, he finally found the time on Sunday night to go underwear shopping at Target while I was out of town.  Sam could not contain her laughter, and then it hit me, "Oh my gosh!  He ran out of clean underwear, didn't he?!"  Sam: "Yes!  But he told me not to tell you!"

Yes, this is what our laundry hamper looked like when I got home. Wife of the Year Award, right here!

I guess sometimes you have to leave town and your husband without clean clothes to get your point across...I also think it is time a certain someone learned how to use the new washer and dryer...