the bema...

Last Sunday I sat through a very powerful message.  It was only the first half and the second half will be this weekend on Saturday evening and two services on Sunday.  I would like to encourage you to watch the video (I think it will only be online for the weekend) and if you live in the Dallas area to attend the second part in person at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship.  More information should be on the website:

http://www.thebema.org/#/resources then click on the link that says CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE BEMA PART ONE.  I think it's close to an hour, just so you know.

Isabella came home with Mark on her heart. The project for the dads got her thinking a lot about her Papa. But she dealt with it so well! She really amazes me. She told me how she did a project that says Papa and there is a picture of her to put in the word. She seemed a little sad at first, and then she decided it would be a great idea to put the project in the playroom with a picture of Papa in it. How amazing is she? She also came home and drew a picture of our family and Mark with angel wings and a golf club.

I picked her up today by myself so that we could spend some alone time together. What a great day I picked! I think she really needed it after today.

She also mentioned to me that she heard Marks favorite song on her teachers phone...I don't know if this is true but she said it was amazing. We always find ways (and God always send us little signs) that Mark is with us...

We went to get a dessert at La Madeline and then went to pick Anna up so she could see her school.

Anna had been waiting for me for a while and was sitting on the teachers lap when we went into the classroom. I let Bella walk in without me and go up to her and you should have seen Anna's reaction...I really wish I had video of it because you would think that she had not seen us in a year...it was so heartwarming to see Anna get so excited and with tears in her eyes hugging her sister because she could not belive Isabella was in her school! Then she saw me and kept running from Isabella to me yelling our names and tearing up. It was one of the sweetest moments of my life....I can only imagine what it will feel like to see Mark again. I find peace knowing that at the end of our wonderful life here on earth we will have reunions like this in heaven with all of those that we have lost and love so much.

us...in a nutshell...

Last March Patrick and I realized that our friendship had the capability to blossom into something great.  He decided to book a flight from Australia to Dallas over the Easter holiday and then we flew to Birmingham to visit some of my friends.  It was important for me to see how he would interact with Brooks and vice versa.

 

They loved each other.

After spending more time together in Dallas I knew that the Lord was blessing me with the chance to have a traditional family and experience love in a way that I thought was gone.  I called Keith's mom around the first of May to let her know that I had found someone for Brooks and me and that it was serious.  I hope anyone in a similar situation is as lucky to have such a solid response given as the one I received from her.

In June I went to Australia for three weeks. 

We had a blast...

 

and fell in love.

He flew to Lake Tahoe in July to join my family for a week-long family vacation.  His parents flew in for the weekend and everyone enjoyed meeting and spending time with one another.

Patrick helped Brooks with his golf game...

took him fishing...

and we all just enjoyed being together.

On this trip, Patrick spoke with my dad regarding our future...

so we would like to let you know...

that we're getting married.  :)  Yay!