Big Oops!

I did the ultimate oops... I fell over in the pool...

HOLDING THE CAMERA!

I can't believe that I did this.

I was at the bottom of the slide, with the camera, waiting to catch Meredith, with my arms and with a snapshot. 
She had just shocked us with the announcement that she was going down the slide

BY HERSELF...

then she shot out of the slide like a rocket and I reached for her,
reached too far, and

splash
oops

I just can't believe that I did it.

We got the memory card out and the pictures are saved, but I'm not sure that I can say the same for the camera.  It's still catching it's breath from the dip it took. 
I feel so stupid - Just can't believe it...

****Sigh****

In other news, we have left our happy place in Naples and we are now at another happy place, Patrick's brother's house.  We are relaxing with movies, fishing, Xbox, more swimming, sleeping and being with family.  We have the rest of today and then get packed back up for our trip home tomorrow.  Our vacation has been so wonderful.  It will be hard to say goodbye. 

Lastly... tomorrow is my birthday.  My favorite day!!  Really - I'm crazy about my birthday.  Hee hee.  I get warm fuzzies when I hear the words June 9. They make me smile because I know that it's my very special day.  I have been known to sing Happy Birthday to me.  Silly, I know.  But once a year, maybe it's just okay to be silly. 

More Than...

Ephesians 3:20

Now glory be to God!

By His might power at work within us,

He is able to accomplish infinitely MORE THAN

we would ever dare to ask or hope.

Yesterday afternoon, Marky and I were floating in the ocean and I was overcome with the emotion of gratitude.  Gratitude to the Lord for His blessings and His provision and His love for me.  Ten years ago, I would have never even thought about going on a vacation.  Much less an enjoyable one. Eight years ago, drowning in fear and sadness, there was never a thought of a vacation.  I was raising my two daughters alone and taking life one day at a time.  It was a good life, getting better day by day, but it wasn't a "going on vacation" life.  Then, the Lord brought Patrick into our lives, and brought us into his.  Patrick was God's MORE THAN for me, for Marky and Maddie.  And shortly there after, God brought another two MORE THANS in the people of Meredith and Michael.  He made the 6 of us a family.  A very happy family who is on a vacation together, experiencing MORE THAN 

I would have ever thought was possible in the form of a relaxing, fun, adventurous, luxurious, happy time away from home. 

We are making memories, we are having fun, we are enjoying life together.  

It's MORE THAN I could have ever dared to ask or hope for.  

Praise you, Father,

I give YOU glory for all of this.   

June 3

Our little Meredith Grace turned 6 today.  She has had the best day ever, celebrating in many ways.  She has been sung to a few times, opened some gifts, eaten yummy treats, played hard, and been loved on by her family.  My birthday is also in June, and as a kid (AND as an adult!) I had many birthdays while the family was on vacation.  So, I learned from my mom (the queen of all things celebratory) the art of making sure that your daughter feels special and celebrated on her birthday, even while not at home.  Meredith was pretty surprised when I pulled out gifts that I had wrapped (thank you Sarah!) and stowed away in my suitcase.  We had her birthday dinner at Chili's to ensure a noisy, racous, off-key birthday song to end the meal.  Following the song, she got a yummy birthday browie, which we all helped her devour.  Add to this fun day swimming, and more Disney channel, and you have one happy six year old. 

Tonight,  I asked Daddy what he remembered about the day that Meredith was born.  We both recalled eating blueberries while I was in labor, my mom and our doula being at the delivery, he remembered the warm blankets that the nurses kept bringing him (huh?!). We talked about the head of black hair that Meredith was born with, her dark skin, but most memorable of all, the look on her face as she stared up at him, her daddy, when she graced the world with her adorable presence.  This is a look that marks her sweet little face on a daily basis.  She was literally born with it.   

Happy Birthday, dear girl.

You are one of a kind

and we are blessed by you every day.