Remembering Texas: The Finale

C.H.S. Class of 2000...Reunited

Wow! Ten years! Crazy the things that have happened in ten years! Never thought I would be married to TORY GIDDENS! (I still have "tory giddens moments", as I call them, to this day. God is so good!) Never thought I would have 3 kids by now, Tory Giddens' kids at that. Never thought I would be staying at home with those kids. Never thought I would be staying at home in LOUISVILLE, KY with those kids. Never thought I would be filling out tons and tons of paper work and saving every last penny to try to get a little girl from Ethiopia home...to MY home. It is ever so crazy to think back on these things and how God has used so many situations, even some tough ones, to grow me in him and in his Word. I sit tonight and reflect in pure thankfulness.

So, on with the weekend. It was FABULOUS!! So fun to catch up with friends and be back together again...laughing so hard like we had not missed a beat...finding out the roads the Lord had chosen for each one. Here are a few pictures...I so did not take enough. Too busy talking I guess. Imagine that.

These next shots are from Brad Hickman's family's ranch.

Remembering Texas - Part 3

The Texas Panhandle: "Where you can look further and see less."

My grandma was so kind to have us out at her place while we were home and let us take the kids for a little taste of what I did lots of growing up. I think I was pretty much raised on these things...work but mostly play.

the real Happy, Texas. where my parents were born and raised.

I still got it.

Remembering Texas - Part 2

P.D.C., aka Palo Duro Canyon

Weirdly enough, I pretty much begged Tory to change our vacation week because I just HAD to take the kiddos to see "Texas". It's a muscial drama in our own little canyon about 30 minutes from Canyon, the place where Tory and I grew up. I probably saw it a dozen times growing up and before we moved. There are many memories in this canyon. Water days in one of the 8 water crossings with the cousins way, way back. Also, one the most fearful nights of my life happened on our "Senior Skip Day"camping trip in this park by some from the class above us. Turns out MY husband was involved in that prank. Still waiting for repentence. Anyway, I won't go into that. You can't take pictures once you get in the OUTDOOR auditorium but you can use your imaginagtion on how very cool it is from the pictures we took driving in and on our little nature hike before the show started. Enjoy!

Luke stayed back with the other grandparents.

On the right, my crazy bro and his blondie in the background. I miss you, Man!

The Wild, Wild West.

Remembering Texas - Part 1

I have had a little delay in getting up pictures of our Texas trip since our return to Kentucky because of adoption paperwork that has had me busy among the other things of caring for 3 children and a home. But I am ready now and hope to fire out some good ones over the next few days. So here we go with "Remembering Texas" - Part 1.

Song and Dance with Uncle Toby...

I was not there for this but heard it was absolute hilarity.

Happy Birthday Day, Nathan!!

Spent the morning with Daddy, Papa, Mama, and Aunt Tristi on the course.

We have done so so much of this the last few days...not the golf part...

...mainly because of this...

We had a Mini -Buzz Light Year party with the grandparents...enjoyed some monkey golf/hillbilly horse shoes/ladder golf/aggie golf (depends on where you live and what your story is)...

Best Buds Forever!

Today you turned 3, Bud! You are absolutely hilarious and make us laugh all the time. You so amaze me at how goofy you can be one minute and serious the next. You have been riding around on your tractor Papa gave you today with nothing but a straight face, but deep down inside you are just bursting with excitement. You are learning that you have the ability to be very very funny. You're timing and approach is almost perfected. We have loved watching you adore your sister and want to be a part of everything she does. She loves you so and will have lots to teach you. And you and Luke have finally bonded and found how you, as guys, can bond...a good chase around the island and an occasional wrestling match, well a big brother smashing really. You recently have started loving the hugs and kisses from your Mommy again and it just makes my heart melt! You look so much like your Daddy so I think you are just out of this world adorable! And because he is probably your most preferred person I pray you develope into an amazing, fun, godly man just like your Dad. We love you, Naters! Happy Birthday.

Strollin'...fun photos

Texas, here we come...

"Don't worry, Pooks, I will take care of you." -Abigail on Luke's first flight

We have been anticipating this trip to Texas for quite some time now. It has been a year and a half since we traveled back to The Great State and for many reasons this one seems like it has the potential to be the best one yet. The kids are what make it so exciting. They have heard us go on and on about our love for Texas and it is neat to see them long for "home" too. Abigail is now old enough to understand that these are her roots. Today we drove her by the home where she spent the first year of her life. She didn't understand why she couldn't go in and see her old room. She is curious and asks to look at pictures of Mommy and Daddy when they were little. We get to watch our own children get excited about the things we loved growing up...nights on the back porch, trampolines, 4-wheelers, sunsets and starry night skies that extend forever, family and friends, a real snowcone, Taco Villa, Tex-Mex in general, the 4th of July festivities. Lots of memories in this small Texas town I tell ya.