April Fool's!

Alright, people... Please don't hate me...APRIL FOOLS!

Well, in the 2.5 hours that I lasted, we 'fooled' LOTS of people.  And some of you clever ones figured it out right away. 

I am always the most gullible person, so I was excited to have something believable to prank this year.  All in good fun.

We are very THANKFUL for our ONE baby in 2013!  And for Tyndall's cousins on the way. (Yes, the ultrasound picture was Valerie's). 

Trip to BeBe's House

We have just returned from Tyndall's first road trip, and it was truly "Over the river and through the woods... to grandmother's house".

Mom/BeBe has been down several times to visit, but she has been looking forward to having us up there.  It worked out for us to go Sunday-Wednesday of this week.  At first, it was just going to be me and Tyndall, but Matt was able to switch with someone at work so he could go with us.  AND Valerie joined us for a bit which made it even more special.  

We got up there late Sunday night and just settled in.  Mom had just gotten a pack-n-play that she setup in the other downstairs bedroom for us.  Tyndall did well sleeping during the night, but Matt and I are not used to sharing a smaller-than-double-sized bed.  We slept in different beds the other nights. :) 

Unpacking... :)

Monday morning, Mom made cinnamon bread, and we just hung out around the house.  We were putting together a nativity set that she got us in Israel and started organizing her pantry.  We had frozen pizzas for lunch and just enjoyed playing with Tyndall and hanging out.  We did venture out in the cold for a short walk to visit the horse and the goats.  

Getting bundled up to face the cold...

Cute bundled baby

Tyndall not interested in the horse... who looks like the feeling was mutual.

Staying warm with his hot daddy

The goats... Stella, Dot, and Sebastian

Inside working on the nativity set... about to conquer the pantry.

Cute Farmer BeBe :)

Later in the afternoon, Matt's long-time friend Amanda came up from Greer to hang out with us.  She got to meet Tyndall, and we got to catch up.  We took her to downtown Saluda, but everything was already closed.  So, we went back to the house and played cards.   Valerie showed up in the evening, and we were all hungry so found a place to go to dinner.  We went 'down the mountain' to Tryon and ate at Side Street Pizza. Yum!  After dinner, Amanda headed back home, and the rest of us went back to Momma's house.  Matt went to bed early since he took the night shift with T-man, and Mom took care of Tyndall while Valerie and I tackled some Mary Kay business.  We were up late working on stuff and then talking about Baby Goldston!  It was a very special night that I hope to never forget. 

Matt, Amanda, and Tyndall

I slept upstairs with Valerie since Matt was taking care of the baby, so I slept almost allllll night, uninterrupted, which was a glorious, glorious thing.  In the morning, as I was walking downstairs, I happened to witness Tyndall ROLLING OVER onto his stomach on my Mom's bed.  I'm so glad I happened to be walking down the stairs at the time.  :)  I found out later that he started on his side-back instead of all the way on his back, but it was still the first time he had rolled over that much.  Then we talked more Baby Goldston and tried to find where the 'peach-sized' baby is inside my sister.  Whenever we would say "Peachy", Tyndall had the biggest smile... it was so cute.  

Special time with Aunt Valerie

Valerie left mid-morning to head back to Columbia, and Mom went out to babysit for a few hours.  Matt and I watched a couple movies while we watched a little bit of snow fall outside and while I was working on Mary Kay stuff.  I stayed in my pajamas alll day, and it was great!!  We had my Mom's BBQ beef for dinner and then just watched tv in the evening.  We also got the first ultrasound pic of Baby G which was so exciting and got to watch as Val & Zeb shared the news with family & friends through texts then Facebook.  I was a nice evening.  Matt and I switched nighttime roles, so he got to sleep upstairs while I was up with T who must have thought it was daytime. :) 

By Wednesday morning, we were ready to get home and back to normalcy.  We got ready then packed up.  Mom had to be at work at 10:30am (she is a caretaker for a sweet elderly lady), but we went over there to introduce Mrs. Mary to the baby and so Mom could have a bit longer with Ty.  Mrs. Mary LOVED being able to hold and love on a little baby.  I'm so glad we were able to meet her and let her love on Tyndall.  And I like being able to picture where my Mom works too. :)  After visiting there, we got on the road.  

We were going to try and see family in Spartanburg, but we weren't organized enough to pull it off.  So we decided to stop in Columbia and visit the Bethany office.  We got to meet the office manager and put a face to the name and voice we've had so much interaction with over the past 2.5 years.  And it was so great to be able to see Mrs. Bert who is the social worker for Tyndall's birth mother.  We got a little update on how she is doing which was great.  It was a short visit but definitely worth it.  

Overall, it was a pretty laid-back trip but wonderful!  It was very cold, but we were able to hunker down in the house most of the time.  I did learn that I need to pack more baby clothes and burp cloths next time.  I thought I had plenty, but learned my lesson. :)  I also wish I had taken more pictures, but my family would probably disagree.  Afterall, who needs pictures when you have a blog to remember every.single.detail., right?! ;)  

P.S.  If you actually read this whole thing, you deserve some sort of prize.  This is definitely one of those posts more for the memory than the newsworthiness. :)         

Lots of Family News!

Each girl in this picture has already had a great start to 2013.  

Here's the exciting news for each!! (left to right)

Laura-- new special guy friend... he's got her all giddy and goofy like a middle-school girl. So annoying cute.  :)

Valerie--baby on the way!  Baby Goldston is due October 8!  YAY!!  On the record, I'm hoping for a BOY!  We found out on 2/17 when Valerie & Zeb gave Mom a birthday card signed "Valerie, Zebediah and BABY!"  AHHHHHHHHHH!

Baby Goldston! 

Me--Well, I think you know what's been exciting around here.  And he turns 3 months old tomorrow! 

Lauryn--engaged!  Randy proposed 3/23.  So excited for them! 

Stephani--baby GIRL on the way!  Baby Peterson is due end of September!  YAY!!  Hailey is going to be a great big sister!  We found out the week Tyndall came home that they were expecting and found out on 3/19 that it's a little girl! 

I don't like keeping secrets... especially wonderful secrets like this.  So, I'm so glad we can finally be openly excited about all these new babies!  And that Lauryn and Randy are officially engaged!  And, well, some things with Laura are still under wraps, but I'm still excited for what's going on with her too.  

Christmas in Saluda, Part 2 (Chameleon)

After the excitement of the goats, we revisited our plans for Saturday evening.  We had originally planned to go up to the Biltmore house and walk around the village up there and eat a nice dinner up there.  Instead, we decided to get BBQ in Saluda and just chill at the house.  

After dinner, we decided to open 3 presents each.  Everything was going well (movies, earrings, etc.) until I went to get a present for Matt and was told he had to wait until last to open it.  Hmmmmm....

When it was Matt's turn, he opened up a background for an aquarium.  It took him a minute, and then he said, "does this mean I'm getting a veiled chameleon!!?!?!"  (He has been wanting one for a couple of years.) 

Valerie promptly produced a veiled chameleon from her pocket.

What!?!?! Huh!?!?  What!?!?!  My thoughts:  Since when is it okay to get someone a PET for Christmas without at least consulting them and/or their spouse!?!?  Oh, the irony. 

I am not thrilled with reptiles.  I heard a story once about a baby getting salmonella from geckos in the house, and I have been opposed to cold-blooded creatures in the house since then.  But I guess it doesn't matter because Matt was filled with pure joy, and who am I to put the kabosh on that at Christmas? 

So yeah, Matt got a veiled chameleon (with a nice hand-me-down cage and light which is the only way the gift stayed remotely close to the price limit that was set for gifts).  For the rest of the visit, the time that wasn't spent with the goats was spent with the chameleon... whose name changed from Rango to Optimus to Gage before we finally settled on Muppet. 

**Side note, can you imagine if we had driven home from Saluda with Us, Zoe, Nala, a pygmy goat, AND a veiled chameleon?!?!  My sister almost allowed that to happen.  Thanks a lot, Valerie! :)

God's Timing!

In case you missed it on Facebook, we heard from our social worker last Thursday, March 1st, that we are moving forward with our home study approval.  We should receive *final* approval this week.  We are currently updating some medical forms and background checks since it was almost a year ago since most of our paperwork was filled out.  

This news made Valerie & Zebediah's wedding *extra* fun since we got to share with so many family & friends our news about 'expecting' Baby Flagler. It seems so much more real now!!!  I even got Matt a "Daddy-to-Be" card and a little outfit for our little one at the store the other night.  I kept tearing up all throughout the day.  I'm sure people in the baby section at Target thought I was crazy!  I wanted to tell everyone!  Providentially, I did run into a friend (and also another adoptive mom) while there.  So neat to have so many people share in our joy during this season!

Thankful Thursday

Recently discovered that I can still use YouVersion without my smartphone.  This is truly something I'm thankful for because I love their Bible-reading plans.  Using that app on my smartphone was really helping me be consistent with being in the Word.  I also loved having Scriptures read to me.  If you have a smartphone, you should check it out.  Even if you don't have a smartphone, you can still use most of their services online.  Thankful!

Pandora.  Wow, I love that it's unlimited again.  Love being able to have songs that point me to Christ playing in my ear as much as possible. (Definitely handy since I work at a desk most of the day.)

For other friends who are adopting.  It means so much to be able to follow their stories and read about how God is writing their family stories.  It helps me remember that He's in control of ours too.  


Our church.  Though we have had to miss gathering with our community a lot lately, I'm so thankful for friends who pray with us, encourage us and challenge us to be more like Christ. Recently, I was having a rough day and a good friend popped in to love on me and helped me out in very tangible ways.  I also love that the sermons are online so I can stay connected to what God is teaching us as a body. 


Wedding weekend!  My sister and Zebediah are getting married this weekend.  I'm so excited to see so many family and friends.  And I'm excited to celebrate with them as they enter into marriage.  

Speaking of marriage, I am beyond thankful for my husband!  He serves me, challenges me and loves me so well!  God definitely knew what He was doing when He gave me Matthew.  I can honestly not imagine life without him. 


Cares.  Thankful that this is how we can serve right now.  Thankful that we get to meet so many new people and for the way we see God working in so many lives. 


Focus Roommate Reunion.  Starting one week from today, I get to start welcoming in friends who started off as my roommates at Focus on the Family Institute in Colorado.  We were there together for a semester in 2003.  We haven't all been together since August 2003 when Serena got married.  Soon, everyone else is coming to Charleston, and we get to catch up!  I'm so excited about this.  


And there's so much more, but I'll need to save some things for another post, right? ;)

Happy Birthday, Valerie!

1986

 

 

I don't remember the day that Valerie was born, but it was definitely a day that changed my life--the day I became a big sister.  

Since that day, Valerie has become much more than a sister to me- she is a great friend!  There were many years when neither of us would have believed that was possible, but it is.  Through God's redemptive work in my life and in hers, we are able to love each other as sisters in Christ as well as real sisters.  

2004

Whenever Valerie and I reflect on our childhood, we recount horror stories like the time(s) she chased me around the house with a hammer or knife.  We jokingly remember the ONE time that she and I ganged up on Laura together, which ended in utter disappointment.  We talk about the D~R~A~M~A of teenage years, which we could go on for hours about.  We lament about sharing a bathroom... We usually don't have any FOND memories of each other until college years.  

2007-one of my Maids of Honor

Until recently.  Not too long ago, I remembered how Valerie got me out of trouble one day.  She took the blame for something that was my fault.  She knew how badly I wanted to celebrate a friend's birthday on a trip to Columbia, so she took responsibility for something that mom had grounded me for.  She made it possible for me to celebrate my friend's birthday.  THAT picture of Valerie is most like the sister I have today.  Self-sacrificing.  Considerate.  Generous. 

I am so proud of my sister, Valerie.  She's getting married in a couple of weeks, and she is going to be an amazing wife. (Not to mention one of the most beautiful brides you've ever seen!) I have learned so much from her over the past few years, and I'm so thankful God has given her to me.  

2011 with her soon-to-be-husband.

As we celebrate your birthday today, Valerie, know how much you are loved!  As we celebrate your wedding in a couple of weeks, know how much you are valued!  As we get to live the rest of our lives together, know how thankful I am to be your big sister.  

Happy Birthday, Valerie!  

I love you!

Valerie & Zebediah

This past Friday, I finally got the phone call I had been waiting on for quite awhile... Valerie & Zeb are engaged!  

We're very happy for them and know God will be glorified in their life together.  

We like Zeb for Valerie because:

1) He loves Jesus.

2) He loves Valerie.

3) He is confident in who he is. 

4) He's a good guy. 

We look forward to getting to know him even more now that he'll be officially part of the family!

Congratulations & Best Wishes!

Bridal Brunch Memories

4 years ago today was one of the funnest days of my life.  It started off with the Bridal Brunch that was thrown by all of my aunts... thank you Aunt Ann, Aunt Betsy, Aunt Karen and Aunt Kim!

Laura, Valerie, Lauryn, SaraBeth, Julianne, Jeannene

I loved the Bridal Brunch because it officially meant the start of the Tyndall/Flagler Wedding Extravaganza, but it also was a sweet time for me to honor a lot of special women in my life.  I have truly been blessed to have so many close friends, and the Bridal Brunch was a wonderful time to be able to share with so many women exactly what they meant to me. 

Lisa, Emily, Gail, Aunt Karen, Megan, (back of Debbie's head)

 The location was perfect: the Old Village Post House in Mt. Pleasant.
We had the upstairs room which felt just right for our group. 

Gifts for my bridesmaids were very fun: necklaces and earrings made by myself and my mom's friend Mrs. Judy. 
My friend Kristin helped me pick out the beads and make the prototypes. 
They also got nice flip flops and some body lotions and scents from Victoria's Secret.

After the brunch, most of us went to a nail salon for manicures and pedicures.  I love being pampered, so that was a really nice treat after the brunch, especially since I got to go with so many women I love! 

Valerie, Laura, Ginger, Stephani, Debbie, Emily, Megan, and Lisa: thank you again so much for being such a huge part of our wedding.  It still means so much that you would stand with us and support us on that day and in our marriage ever since.  Some of you I am much closer to now than I was then; others have drifted further away.  But you are and will always be so special to me! 

The Gospel

My sister shared this video with us on Easter. But I didn't watch it then because I figured it was the normal kind of "Easter" video. It's not.

I wrote something on the private blog about what God is doing in my life right now, and my sister wrote me again and asked if I had watched this video. She said it echoed some of the things I am learning. So, I watched it. And it is amazing. At times, it's a little cheesy and loud, but the message is powerful. More accurately, the message is Truth.

Please take 11.5 minutes and watch this. And let us know what you think. Especially about the last few minutes. That's what I'm learning about now.

Christmas Photo Shoot

Valerie has a good friend who has started doing photography. If you've seen any of Valerie's fun 'Diva' pictures, they're done by Melissa Breeland. I love her stuff because it's so different.
Well, she is getting started in her business so did a special of holiday photo shoots for $35. Matt and I got to do it on Wednesday night. It was fun but a little bit awkward as photo shoots normally are. We had some cute outfits for Nala, but she didn't cooperate very well. She was a little distracted by the new environment and the dog that she could hear on the other side of the studio door. :) Anyway, wanted to share this video that Melissa made of the best pictures. I think it's cute though there are a couple of pics I would have left out. What do you think?

Matt and Tricia 2010

And I'll put some of the fun pictures up. Which one do you think should be the Christmas card picture? If you are local, you should definitely check Melissa out! She's super fun and easy to work with... and makes it as comfortable as possible.

Catching Up: Tyndall Gals' Birthday Celebrations

Valerie kinda got the raw end of the deal this year. Because of schedule conflicts, breakfast was the meal out that she got. And because her birthday was on a Sunday, lots of the local places we like were closed... so, we did a birthday breakfast at IHOP. That was a first. She was a good sport about it, though, and definitely earned an extra special celebration next year for her 25th! :)Mom's birthday was different as well. We spend the morning (and most of the afternoon) moving Dan's furniture out and loading his truck. Tons of people showed up to help (even without being asked and even with very little notice), and one neighbor described the day as very 'cathartic', with which I completely agreed. But the people showing up was just another testimony of how much my mom is loved, which I think was special for her as well.After moving for hours and hours, Mom and I spent some time looking for the slide show we made for her 50th birthday, but we couldn't find it. Sad. We did some other browsing and laughing and playing around online. Then, I went home and got ready, and we all met up at a semi-fancy restaurant on Shem Creek called Water's Edge. (This was also where Matt and I had our rehearsal dinner and neither of us had eaten there since then.) It was nice to be dressed up and pamper Mom for her 55th birthday. We got her a couple of little gifts, but her big gift was a very nice amethyst ring (her birthstone) that Valerie actually cut part of. Val has been learning about cutting stones from a friend of hers, so this made it extra-special for mom.Mom's friend, Teela, helped with moving and also joined us for the birthday dinner. :)

My sister's so smart...

Valerie just sent me a text that said, "Thankfully, I don't have to look so forward to a new year because I get a fresh start every day!"

It reminded me of Lamentations 3:22-23.

Amen.

Special Anniversary Date

We had planned to go downtown for a nice dinner for our anniversary, but the 'donation' to the SPCA and a surprise vet trip for Nala curtailed those plans. (Another good example of how we are trying to make wise decisions.) When I was stressing about the cost of a nice dinner out, Matt kept saying, "trust me...don't worry about it", but I wouldn't leave it alone. Finally, I figured out that someone was cooking dinner for us instead of going to a restaurant. I was more excited about this than going to a fancy restaurant anyway.

So, at the appointed time, we arrived at my Mom's house and went through the back gate to the back deck. It was beautifully decorated with white lights, candles, and flowers. The small table was set for two with nice linens, silver and my mom's fine china. It literally took my breath away.

Valerie put a lot of effort into making it a beautiful evening. She had made personalized menus, prepared a wonderful 6-course meal, and treated us like royalty. Though it started raining around Course 2, we were able to stay outside and enjoy it still because the outside umbrella kept most of the rain off us. Eventually it got too cold to stay out there, but we definitely enjoyed it while it lasted!

Thank you, Valerie, for all of your work to make our 2nd anniversary a very special celebration. We love you and are so thankful for you!Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, we did not do cards/gifts for each other this year, so there were no matching anniversary cards this year. :)