Change of Plans Part II

Hey Cats,

So lists serve me well, and there have been so many ups and downs in the last three weeks that making one is probably the only way for me to make any sense so here you go:

1. As you know my sis went to tour with The African chidlren's Choir. beofre that we went to visit both sides of my family. We spend tomse time at my mom's house over Mother's Day. It was a lot of fun and my best Mom's Day so far. It was so fun to have all my sisters and mom together. I have no idea the next time that will be able to happen.

2. From there we went to my dad's house, land of dogs, horses and alpacas. Again, it was a fun visit. It is so funny to see my little sis pregnant! I sware she never stops eating, it is pretty funny! We found out she is having a girl! Big surprise? Not at all. That is what we all thought it was. We were right. Imagine that!

3. Next we headed to Disney for a fantastic but totally rainy vacation. Much needed time with my sister and my husband and kids was spent over 7 days of much fun. Disney really is magical, even for those who don't care for such or think it is just a bunch of hype. I don't care who you are, Disney is just so much fun with kids. We shared so many laughs. It was the perfect ending of an era with my sister.

4. Over our vacation it was also our anniversary. Daniel took me to the Melting Pot and we had the best dinner i have ever had. It was perfect. During dinner Daniel went to the bathroom and i was checking my email on my phone. Long story short, our birthmom decided to move to Alabama to live with her dad. At first she still wanted to do an adoption from Alabama but then felt and open adoption from there would be too difficult. I totally agree and also felt that when she moved to Alabama 2 weeks earlier that things would probably come to this point. I don't really regret anything, i feel like we were obedient in the role we were supposed to play in the time she was in Knoxville. You probably read the email i sent, but although it was disappointing, i feel like God has something in mind for us and we just need to try to be patient until he reveals it to us. We both want more kids but more than that we want God's hand and timing to prevail.

5. So we came home and then my mom came down to help us see my sister off at the airport. We spent a lot of time together. It was a rough day the day we saw her off. Just a lot of emotion and the feeling that it is the end of a four year run of having my best friend, back up girl and emergency contact literally no further than a mile away. It will be a long adjustment i feel like. I just don't have that kind of relationship with anyone else, i mean i know she is my sister but, it is hard to find someone who can see you naked in more than one way if you know what i mean. So, praying for peace and strength on that subject.

6. We hird a new staff member for TRH! Thank the LORD! I don't know how we could continue to grow and do what we are called to do without some extra help. Our new Family Advocate is amazing and has her Master's in Social Work! So glad to have actually have someone who knows what they are doing!

7. My kids are so much fun right now! I can't believe Atley will head to PreK at CAK in the Fall. Ness, Donna Hardesty will be his teacher! I am super excited about this. He will go Mon-Thurs 9-noon. He isn't ready for Kindergarten but i think this is the perfect move toward that next year.

8. Although my kids are a lot of fun, they are also very exhausting. No napping is definitely a change to adjust to! Ava still is a complete and utter pill to get to bed most every night. Tonight i was at my witts end! I feel so guilty after getting so angry with her, it is like the never ending battle. Lord help me is all i can say. I feel like i have tried everything at this point. But, i hoping that three weeks of traveling is what made things so bad the past few days. Tomorrow we will start the regiment over again and see where we can get.

9. The following is NOT a lie, i promise it is true. I am on a rowing team. It is just a one time thing, we are in a race for charity. It is called Knoxville Dragon Boat Races and the race raises money for Knox Area Rescue Ministries. If you are interested in sponsoring me let me know. :) I am a little nervous about it, i am in the best shape of my life, but a rowing race really? Who do i think i am? Just hoping i have the stamina. We have our first practices coming up. I am looking forward to challenging myself...and maybe praying i don't get pissed and tip the boat or know my opponent out with a paddle. ;)Fun mental image huh?

10. I have also been doing some other things you would never think of me doing like planting a huge veggie garden, making freezer jam and Klepper, if you ever read this I did my flower beds up full of flowers, have a basil growing in it AND drum roll please....have hanging baskets of flowers on the porch! They were a gift but still!

Well i guess that is all for now. Would love to know more about how everyone is doing! Please follow suit. I will try to do better. We should keep up with each other better!

Much Love,
Meow!
Mandycat

Glad you are thirty Liz, so happy you are preggy, and sorry your plant is not blooming! I love you all. I am tired...
Vanessa

5 things to know

Cats,

1.  I'm 30 now--Kleppy, thanks for the card.

2.  I'm preggy and due 12-21-09, Merry Christmas!

3.  I don't understand why the blog has been a flop lately.

4.  I've decided that I could probably kill my own chickens if I lived on a farm.

5.  My peony plant, affectionately named Mrs. Eubanks, is not blooming this year--saddness.

L

Hey kitties--wanted let you know we are having a baby girl!! not sure on any names yet, maybe Lydia. If anybody has any suggestions let me know! Hope everyone is doing well!
Vcat

Plans

Okay ladies, I was talking to Byrd last night about our little get together. Obviously she is extremely busy right now. At this point we are probably looking at a weekend in June- or if everyone is available even during the week. I don't know what commitments everyone has. Ness, not sure of your exact due date and when would be too late for you to travel. I know Fulty said June was probably out for her- are there any days in there that could be a possiblity Fulty? Also a place to meet??? If Fulty was in, I was thinking Cincinnati, if not would Lexington work- not sure how far that is for Ness and Liz?? Okay so if we really want to do this, let's pin down a weekend and place and we can go from there!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying gorgeous weather like we are today in Knoxville!
Love you all, Betsy

Just When You're a Little Bit Comfortable...

Hey Cats,

I am so sorry it has been so long indeed. However, whoo! Hopefully you have been getting my emails and are aware that we are having another baby boy in August, or at least receiving one. It completely threw us for a loop. However, we are excited and things are continuing to look good. It is just a day by day journey, one day at a time. I will say however that we really want what is best for the birthmom in this situation and if that means we have another baby then great, if not, we have two amazing kids. Please keep praying for us on that front though.

I registered Atley for prekindergarten at CAK this week. Ness, Donna Hardesty will be his teacher. I can't believe he will be goint to "real school." But i really feel like this is what he needs before going full speed ahead into kindergarten next year. He will go Mon-Thurs 9-noon. It will also help me get used to having 3 i think. :)

In other news, my sister Shelly has been in the process of leaving to tour and chaperone and teachas a choir administrator with the African Children's Choir. We thought she would likely be leaving sometime in June or even as late as September. We found out this week that she will be leaving in May!!! We are all shocked and in turn scrambling to try to find time to spend all together with my mom and then also with my dad.

We also had a Disney trip planned for Sept. When we found out about the new baby, we decided that taking a one month old to Disney sounded more like hell than vacation so we moved our Vacay up just a little to like one month from today. With going so early we decided to Shelly should go with us. THEN she found out that she was leavin the week after getting home from Disney. Just a little nuts! But we are very much looking forward to it!

So that is some of what is going on with the Watson fam in the nutshell. With all that said, Cats i just dont think i can handle planning or even leading the planning for a cat get together. I think i am out of the picture unless we decide to plan something for the summer. I will be not at all offended if you plan a get together without me. Just decide something together and i will see if i can make it.

I love all the new photos of memory lane being posted. Good times. That's all for now.

Love you cats.
Meow.
Mandycat

Happy Easter

Hello Dearest Kitties

Klep--thanks for the sweet memories and the pictures.  I love to see pictures that you guys have because they offer a fresh perspective.  If we all end up getting together soon I'm going to make a mandate that we bring old pictures to share with everyone.  

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Easter.  We did.  Eli has been off since Friday.  This morning we went to the church we've been going to recently--the same place where Scott and Mindy Heller serve.  It was such a joy to sing my little heart out.  The church was so alive with praise and song and I truly knew that it was a place filled with worship for our Lord and Savior.  I could have sang all day.  And the sermon was packed full of truth, conviction and passion.  It was a blessing from God to be part of such a vibrant service.  

Plus, I've been hanging out a lot more with Mindy and that too is such a sweet blessing.  I have felt for a long time a deficit of sweet friendship and I'm glad to be able to spend some time with her and find some things in common.  The new year and new life of spring have truly brought around some new blessings in my life and I am thankful.  

Please let us all know the blessings that you guys are experiencing.

Love

Lizzy