My boys are on the farm

Last weekend felt like one long day. Tony and I drove the boys to Paducah, KY to meet my parents, and pass them off to spend a week on the farm.... without us. It was an 11 hour drive for us from NC, and then a 4 hour drive for them from IL. How did that happen you say? I was sort of having a mommy moment when trying to figure out a place to meet them and decided that the closer we could get them to the farm the better. Isn't that silly!! What makes it really silly is that next weekend we are all meeting back in Gatlinburg, TN for a big family vacation-- I think they will need to drive more than just 4 hours to get there!!

Anyway, since we were staying the night in Paducah, I made everyone go downtown to see the floodwall murals. I have heard they are beautiful and we weren't disappointed. I let Isaac have the camera and he had fun. Here are some of our highlights:

My boys with Nana and Papa (isn't that train HUGE??!!)

Wyatt and Sam in front of the Coca-Cola mural

This mural is of one family--4 generations-- that all did the swim across the river together (this is an annual event in Paducah, every summer during their summer festival--the swim is over a mile long). It was one of my favorite murals

Me and my Dad

We just happened to be in Paducah during their annual summer festival. Neat bands, lots of bouncy toys and good food. This is Isaac on the bungee bouncy thing (very technical name, I know) He went high.

Wyatt was really concentrating hard.

More murals:

I feel a bit lost. I do have projects I have to get done while the boys are gone-- I want to surprise them with finished rooms. Today I fought with yards of curtain material and went for a run too late in the morning (7:30am) and was exhausted the rest of the day. I hope tomorrow goes better! Meanwhile, the boys are having great fun. Wyatt already crashed the Mini-Baja (a small motorcycle my dad bought for them to play with on the farm)-- he assured me he is "perfectly fine". They went swimming out at my grandpa's lake and their Aunt Emily borrowed a wii from one of her friends for them to play with all week. Sam asked me on the phone tonight when I was going to come back to the farm to get him-- he's my baby, and Tony and I knew that he didn't grasp the timeline or fully understand just how long he was going to be at the farm without us. At least I know I'm loved :D!

I miss my boys!!!!

Grace and Peace,
Shari

PS... The courts are getting ready to close in Ethiopia for the rainy season (August-October). There are several families I know-- both in our agency and with another agency, who have one last opportunity to pass court tomorrow before everything shuts down. If not, they wait until after October to pass court and travel to get their little ones. Please say a prayer for these families. Pray that the judge shows favor to them, that ALL the right papers are there and that at the end of tomorrow, these families get to hear the words, "YOU PASSED!!!"

I will try to remember to talk more about Ethiopia and the court situation for those of you who may read my blog and don't understand what this is all about. But for now, I must go to bed.