The Bennett Trip

In March, I went home to meet Bennett for the first time. I went from cold and brown to warm and green. Ahh, it was great. And, as usual, I tried to soak up every moment with my kiddos. Here are a few pictures from the weekend. This is my home. Anyone wonder why I love it?

Meeting Baby Bennett!

Sibbling picture

The fun with the fireman's hat begins.

"What are those fishies' names?" Lily and Jonathan trying to figure it out.

Who is this little guy?

The twins close in.

Bella was running down the road with the wheelbarrow when I asked, "Bella, let me take a picure!" She stopped in her tracks, swung that wheelbarrow around and posed for the picture. Very funny.

And she's off!

Bennett came for a walk too.

Who could deny this face?

Spending the morning with Minnie Mouse.

April 4th

April 4th is my birthday, arguably the most important day of my life ;) I love April 4th. I love it!! I really love it!! I love breathing the April 4th air, looking at the April 4th sun, walking down the April 4th streets, doing my April 4th work.

It doesn't matter what I do on April 4th, it is always wonderful. There is something about having a day that you let make you completely happy that adds a spice to life.

This April 4th did not disappoint. From phone calls and texts to cake at work and walk through the neighborhood...I loved every minute. Indian for dinner was the icing on the cake.

Wednesday

Last minute tickets to the Phillies, then up the street to Pat's steaks. Best spontaneous Wednesday night in a while. And reason #127 of why I like living in Philly.

Philadelphia Flower Show 2011

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to go the "best in the universe" Philadelphia flower show. It was incredible, stunning, overwhelming! And I got to enjoy it with plant extraordinaire Sarah DeWaters and a my favorite DeWaters girlfriend-in-law, Chelsea.

The pictures imperfectly capture just a few of the beautiful things we saw. I have never seen flowers and plants make such beautiful art work. There was also a section of plants that were judged in their respective categories. Do you know how many cool cactus and succulents there are? And, those lady slipper flowers...incredible! And, to all of those many weird yet beautiful plants that I don't even know what to call you. Where do people find you? Not in Home Depot where I buy my plants.

Have I gushed enough? You'll just have to come with me next year.


This room was spectacular. Enough Said.

My favorite tree of the show. A Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry. With twinkle lights.

A whole lot of roses.

Orchids!!

I think this one was cooler in person.

The table for my next wedding reception when Corey and I become millionaires and we renew our vows in Hawaii.

Beautiful deep purple tulips.

The Flyers

Corey loves hockey. I once considered this a problem. This is totally not acceptable as a sport, something they don't do in the South? For Shame!

It took just one perk from Lincoln for me to change my tune. I got free box tickets to the season opener last year and totally got into the excitement. There is a different energy and pace in hockey that really sets it apart from other live sporting events. On top of that, the fans are the quintessential Philly sports fans. Classy, kind and respectful. Wait, make that the opposite of all three.

So...I thought we should go again while we were still young and dumb enough to spend too much money on a 2 hour sporting event.

We lost, but the experience didn't disappoint.

Ode to Oklahoma

My grandparents live in Olkahoma. My first memories of Oklahoma are puncuated by long car rides. When our family would arrive Ben and David would run laps around the house to pay for rowdy car behavior. We would walk in the door to an always extra excited Aunt Cathy, the clicking of Lady's feet on the kitchen floor, Mom Skaggs in the kitchen, a house full of life. After a few days we would leave way before daylight to make the long ride home. I remember driving away one year after Christmas, staring through tears at the muli-colored Christmas lights lining the roof as we were pulling out of the driveway. I didn't want to leave.

Well, I'm older now. And while the visits looked a bit different, I still kept going back. One year I visited alone, I dressed up in Aunt Cheryl's old prom dress. Then Mom and I had a tea party on the deck. She made tea sandwiches and we wore hats. I went fishing with Dad Skaggs on the lake. It was peaceful and quiet. I played in the snow with Micayla. I traveled through their home on the way to see Corey when he was training. I bought my wedding dress there. I went on my first motorcycle ride in Olkahoma. While on the bike, we saw a thunderstom from miles away across the flat land. We heard the thunder, I was in awe. I found my favorite Mexican Restaurant. It is named Ted's and has the best cheese dip and tortillas...ever. I have had hours of "girl talk" in the car with my mom and her sisters. But I never really thought of it as home.

On a plane now. I'm sitting by the window approaching OKC. I'm coming to visit my grandmother. She is battling ovarian cancer and just finished her last treatment. As we get closer, the land starts to look familiar. My mom and aunt Cathy are on the way to pick me up from the airport. For some reason, I start to tear up. After 25 year of coming to this place, this time I feel like I'm coming home. I'm truly filled with joy.

I went on to have a perfect weekend. I arrived at the hospital, happy to find Mom Skaggs as pretty as ever with her same spunk. I realized that Dad Skaggs reads my blog, he got me my favorite tea ;) We laughed....we laughed a lot. I got to eat my Mexican food at Ted's. My mom and I got lost driving through the city. We laughed about that too. I went to the house, the basement too and breathed deep the smell of so many memories. The room I stayed in, surrounded same familiar things I've grown to love over the years. I realized, this place is a part of me.

On the plane back to my Philadelphia home now. Oklahoma, Mom, Dad, I'll be back soon!

Welcome Home, Bennett

It is official, I am an aunt five times over! And number 5 is pretty special. Bennett has been my nephew since November 27th but we just didn't know it yet. Over the past weeks as Ben and Abbie prepared to bring a new child into their home, I have been in awe and at times in tears at the beauty of adoption. As all acts of love are, it is an extension, an outpouring of the love God has shown for us. But Bennett isn't the first adopted child in our family. We all are.

I stumbled upon this verse the very week that we knew Bennett would be in our family.

"Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure."

Ephesians 1: 4-5

Watching Bennett's story unfold pointed me to the Father in a new way. He adopted me when he didn't have to, but he wanted to. It was a source of great joy for him! And in our small human way, I have seen so much rejoicing and celebration over Bennett's life. I thank God for his adoption and mine.

I feel incredibly blessed to be in Bennett's family. I can't wait to hold him, tell him I love him and watch him grow up.

Welcome to your family, Bennett. I'm glad your are finally here.