Dress up day at school!!!

Corn maze, pony rides, pumpkins and ice cream with Uncle Andrew and Leah!

Nykolas, you're my best friend.....

Fun at Grandmommas....

My grandmother's house backs to the train track which the kids think is the coolest thing. Last time we visited her we didn't get to see the train but this time....oh what delight! Actually, the older two were in the bathtub and Lili was on the floor with only her diaper on....and I hear the train, so I run into the bathroom shout at the kids to get out fast the train is outside, throw towels on them...Nykolas runs out of the bathroom and just misses Lili with a flying leap, Mia is frantically trying to get the soap which fell out of the bathtub back in the bathtub and I shout "leave the soap!"...anyway the end of the fiasco is we got to walk right up to the train as it was chugging past......it will be talked of for years!

Homemade pumpkin ice cream and gingerbreadmen...

Cheerios....

No offense to Mr. Gore but I, personally think that whomever invented the Cheerio should get the Nobel Peace Prize for they certainly add a lot of peace to my life...especially around dinner time with three demanding wee people. We LOVE 'em!

Taking part in the season.....

Pray for the Festival....

Today is the next to the last evening for the Franklin Graham Festival in Busan. I haven't talked to Chad but I know he will have some exciting reports!

To The Love of My Life…..

I am sorry that this is so public….yet maybe I am not. Every now and then one should proclaim one’s love from the proverbial rooftops. With ten thousand miles between us and three little people filling my days, I let our anniversary speed up to me before I even knew it was coming.

Happy Twelfth Anniversary!

Can you believe it has been twelve years? It seems like such a big number and while in some ways it feels as though it has flown by, in other ways I don’t really remember life without you, nor do I even try. I do remember as we were dating emphasizing often, the fact that neither of us wanted mediocrity in our lives, especially in our marriage. From my estimation we have succeeded…. The life we have led, thus far has not lent itself to mediocrity but even in the midst of our adventures you have tenaciously pursued me….always making me feel loved, cherished and the most important person in your life. I LOVE the road we have and are traveling. Thank you for allowing me to be your partner on our life’s journey.

Do you even want to recall our days without our priceless treasures – quiet though they were? You were the one who started us on our odyssey for little ones and how richly we have been blessed! Excursions from Kiev, Ukraine to Dallas, Texas to Busan, South Korea….would we have ever dreamed the literal lengths we were to travel to stitch together our amazing family? Thank you for adoring our little people as much as I do. I am so grateful all three bear so many of your wonderful characteristics.....Nykolas and his boundless energy will go as far as his daddy in this wonderful God given journey, proclaiming his love for Jesus to the nations (he already sings "Jesus Loves You" so sweetly to Lili)..... Mia and her way with words make me laugh as much as you do, not to mention she is your one Texas soul mate (only she will understand that bond you have with the 'holy land' soil).....and little Lilija smiles with the same beautiful brown twinkle in her eyes that you have....I am truly a blessed woman.

I know the days ahead, as the days behind us, will be filled with delights and hardships...I am so thankful to be walking with you. I miss you and am longing for the sight of you soon!

We are praying for your days filled with the Festival in Busan! May our God multiply your labors tenfold with souls ushered into the Kingdom....THAT is what is all about!

I love you.

Reading with Grandan at breakfast.....

Happy to be alive and CLIMBING.....

Fun at Stone Mountain....

Gran and Aunt Libby came to be with us for three days. We all stayed at the old Stone Mountain Inn and were able to partake in all the fun that is to be had at the park. I wasn't sure it was going to be fun, at first, because I had a fever and Mia threw up half of the first night...nothing like having to call the front desk of a hotel to ask for more towels at 3am because your daughter has used all of them....but the GREAT news is - I DIDN'T HAVE TO WASH THEM! Soon the sun came out, there was a wonderful autumn chill in the air and Mia and I both started feeling better.....We had an amazing time. Gran and Aunt Libby were so gracious and accommodating to our nap schedules, eating schedules and early rising mornings, etc...it was so much fun and it will be talked of for months.....sky lifts to the top of the mountain, breakfast on the veranda at the foot of the mountain with gorgeous fall blue skies, the goats and sheep at the plantation, the 'duck' boat tour (where everyone but Gran got wet-way to go Gran!), swimming in the evenings, dinner by the pool, ice cream, and fun surprises bought at every store we passed through.....can anyone say 'spoiled'?!

Overheard....

Nykolas: grabbing her beloved plastic horses
Mia: "Nykolas! No Ma'mam! Don't ever touch my horses AGAIN!"


Also, as I was getting after her the other day for peeing in my shoes....she was clomping around in them...she said "I forgive you mom"

Too cute.....

Lilian and Lilija....

The young man that dad works with had a little girl two weeks after Lili was born....named Lili too! Actually, Chris' mom and my mom went to Georgia Baptist Nursing School together our families have been friends....forever! It was really great to meet his wife Kristin and little Lilian. (really bad red eye.....)

Moutain Picnic....

We took a picnic up to the mountain developement that dad is working on. We had a fire and a wonderful pavilion for the kids to ride bikes around and around and around. The young family dad works with came as well....a long drive but very fun memories.

Apple Farm....