I could add tons of pictures here and I will upload more I promise...but wanted to start today out with a few special pictures. Today is a VERY speical day. Today is Gabby's 8th birthday and also Gabby and Lily's FOREVER FAMILY DAY! Today, three years ago, in Bogota Colombia, we were blessed to become the parents of two little girls. They were shy, scared, and not exactly sure what these people were doing there. WE didnt speak any spanish and wanted to love all over them. Lily, once she opened up, she wanted to know where Michael, Giovanna and Bella were. The orphanage had shown her the photo album we had sent and she knew who all the members of our family were...and well she didnt see them all there. Smart little girl she is.

I wont even begin to say it was a bed or roses in the beginning but will say, The LORD brought us through it and we love our girls! We are so blessed to be their parents and call it a honor.

THEN TODAY....is OUR Gabby's birthday. She is still sleeping, but when she wakes up, today is all about her! I want her to feel like she is royality...remember she did have a princess party!

Tonight we will celebrate our Family Day with going out to dinner....and at lunch celebrate birthday...so we have a fun, busy day ahead of us..

Thank you Lord for our blessings!

Today is the last day of school for Giovanna and Gabby! They are both sad. I wasnt gonna send them today, but Giovanna insisted she go. They get out at noon so this is a short day for sure.

William and I started setting up their pool last night, but figured we better spend more time on the new one this year than we did last year. WE really needed to level the ground a bit better. I had to go to the store today to buy 20 bags of top soil to hopefully get it all level this afternoon. They are already driving me nuts to get in. I cant wait for it to be all set up so we can enjoy the family times in it again this year. We bought the 12 ft x 30 in deep pool this year. Last yr we just had the 10 ft round one, so this year we get alittle more room...Yippie!

Here's to great family summer fun!!!

These are just a few pictures I took with my cell phone. April did all the pictures and I am waiting on the CD. The girls had a blast. We had 20 princessess join in on the party and they all had a great time. WE started off with doing a princess craft project and games, the on to the food, dancing, musical chairs and gifts...whew 2 hours flew by. We were suppose to do a fashion show and time just got away and I forgot AFTER we already had several girls leave. WE had 4 teen girls come help us and that was a big help.

Giovanna and Gabby were so excited to see all their friends dressed up and dancing with them. What a sweet time. Its moments like this, I sit back and think....where would they be right now at this moment if GOD hadnt spoke to us to travel around the world to adopt them???? Thank you JESUS for calling us~

Happy birthday to our sweet princesses...Giovanna and Gabby

Today is the big day....I woke up feeling alittle better...so the party must go on...I pray I will be able to get it all together and decorated...The girls are so excited!!!

Woke up this morning with a sore throat but pushed on because there is so much to do to get ready for the princess party on Saturday....well by 12 I had sunk fast. By 1:30 Bella and I were in PriMed for the lovely 3 hours all to be told we both have strep throat and she has upper respiratory infection. I opted for TWO shots and am praying that I feel better in the morning. Feeling better or not I must get up and prepare the "ballroom" for the party....


Why is it that adults go down so quick and yet Bella is acting just fine???? Man, to be young again!

Pictures will be coming Saturday night or Sunday...

Im heading back to bed.

If any of you have been following Chrissie's blog you will all know that yesterday she went to dance with Jesus. She will be missed terribly by so many...many who never even got to meet her in person. She has only been joined with her FOREVER family for 7 months (six of those not in the hospital). She will always know the love a family can give her.....Now she will not have to "try" to breath or "cry" silent tears because she is in pain...she will DANCE and sing and wear all the jewelry she wants... and BE HAPPY!

Giovanna and Gabby are having a princess tea party for their birthday party this Saturday...I searched for a pretty wall mural and couldn't find one, so April agreed to help me out! THanks so much April. This is not the finished product but this is what we got done after SIX hours of painting last night. I think it looks cute so far. I started out doing the castle in all pastel colors but it ended up not looking the way I wanted so i went with a more bold pink color. So far it looks great!!! I will upload the finished product as soon as we get done. I cant wait for the big PRINCESS day!

On Friday Giovanna, Bella and Gabby all had a full day of school. Lily only went for one hour and had her awards ceremony. She received MOST IMPROVED for the first grade. We are so proud of her. Way to go Lily!

After her awards day, we took Bella to school and then had to make a stop at WalMart for cupcakes and juice for Giovanna's class for her birthday. She was so excited to see me walk in the door with them! Her class is so sweet and they just love Giovanna to pieces...this makes me so happy!!!

Lily and I then headed to lunch ourselves and did a little shopping. I am desperatly trying to find things for the Princess Tea birthday party for G & G this Sat. Not much luck, so I must keep looking!!!! I know they will all be happy no matter what it looks like but Ijust want it to be cute and enjoyable for all the little girls... I have ordered crowns, wands and other litle things for all the little princesses....

Well William is trying to get our dishwasher fixed and put back together..I havent had the dishwasher in over a month and i sure do miss it!!! We then finished off the day laying a half pallet of sod and will finish that today after church. The front yard looks so good after the retaining wall and new sod we did a month or so ago...

well that is a quick catch up from the last few days...

have a blessed Sunday!

Well we are home from the beach. We went to Gulf Shores/Foley area and stayed at the Perdido Beach resort. The girls loved playing in the pool and walking/running on the beach. William had a meeting for work so the girls and i tagged along and enjoyed a few days of fun in the sun.Here are just a few pics of the trip.

THANK YOU all for the wonderful Mother's Day messages. I had a wonderful day. We had a great service this morning, come home to flowers delivered from my Lyndsey, peach park with 5 of my kiddos and hubby, a little shopping and a quiet time in the tanning bed...now off to pack for the beach!

This is Thursday night....saying our goodbyes! It totally sucked! That's the only word I can think of to describe it!

Our beLOVED pet Sydney
1999-2010

Yesterday was a VERY HARD day for William and I. We followed through with the decision to put "our baby Sydney" to sleep. She has been in congestive heart failure for a while now and the meds just havent been working so well lately. She was on the MAX amount of drugs she could be on and it still wasnt working. I have cried and cried and it doesnt help. I love her so much! I miss her so much! I cant believe we went through with it, however I know in my heart that this is totally what was best for her. The vet even said so.
When William was getting ready to leave, I took her to the car. I held on her, cried over her, told her I loved her and that I was so so sorry for doing this. I know she didnt understand me, but I felt like I needed to tell her anyway. She is such a good dog and companion. The girls loved her so much!

This morning, out of pure habit, I come downstairs to let her out of her cage..well as I approached the cage it hit me......she is no longer here!!!! Then after breakfast Isabella found a flashlight and started looking for Sydney. You see Sydney loves the flashlight and will follow you everywhere barking up a storm....she couldnt find her! I told her Sydney was in heaven....she wanted to go! This stinks!!!! Pray for me...I am just so upset about my girl...I will miss her dearly for a long time!

Life is too short to wake up with regrets.

So love the people who treat you right.

Pray for the ones who don't.

Believe everything happens for a reason.

If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.

If it changes your life, let it.

God never said life would be easy,

He just promised it would be worth it.

Please pray for sweet Sophia today.

.... she is having a heart cath done this morning at UAB.
My friend and her husband, here in town,
adopted her and another precious girl from Ukraine back Aug of last year.
Both of them have Down Syndrome and heart issues..
and this is yet another step towards getting everything looked at and fixed if needed.

Giovanna....

Today I took Giovanna to the Dr's because she woke up with TWO ears full of "YUCK" She is once again the owner of a double ear infection and sinus infection. She acts fine but will tell me every now and then...:"look momma...hurt" and pull back her hair.

She is now on another antibiotic, higher allergy meds, and ear drops....oh the lovely part of spring! NOT!!

William had to go to Nashville today, he has a meeting in the morning. I just dont like him going away for any length of time...I know that sounds weird but I like to know he is HOME!
Sydney is still with us for a few more days. We didnt get to take our pictures last night like we had hoped and william had to leave for his meeting so he didnt take her today...I just keep praying she will "snap out of it" and will be fine....HOWEVER I know this isnt possible and I just dread the day for him to take her and we say our goodbyes. This is going to be so hard for me...please pray for me!!!

This weekend Mike is coming home and if it doesnt rain...he wants to take William SKYDIVING! William asked me to go, but I would need an adult diaper, because I think I would pee all over myself...LOL

Monday we are (at this point) heading to Perdido Beach. He has a annual meeting/conference there each year that the whole family can go to...this year I dont know how much fun its gonna be if we are litterally looking out our window at the beach and dont get to go....This oil spill is getting so bad!!! Lord, please send help!

I am so so sad. Our Syndey has congestive heart failure. WE have known this for about a month and a half. I had to take her to the emergency vet on a Sunday afternoon because she was just way not herself. We have her on meds, heart and lasix, and she just has begun to slowly slip back into her "sick" way. I made a phone call today that I DREADED making. I called the vet to talk to her about Sydney's symtoms and to talk about putting her to sleep. I cried like a baby!!!!
I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why oh WHY???? I know Death is real and everything has to go through it....God gives us life and we all must die.. I know....but...noone like to see their pet.......or LOVED ONE go through sickness and ultimately death.

William will be taking her this week to the vet to be put to sleep. He will stay with her while they give her the shot , something I KNOW I CANT DO! We are going to have her cremated and put in a small urn with a paw print, lock of hair and photo.

She has been our baby for 11 years. I love my sweet girl. I am going to miss her so much!!!! I love you sweet Sydney....you have been such a sweet, loving companion for so long our family loves you and will miss you terribly!!! I hope you keep all the dogs in line and run on those beautiful streets of Gold....

Well here is the new member of the Andrews Family...