Once in a 100 years!

Homeschool art with Ashton's art teacher Ms. Giro

In 1918 there was the Spanish Flu.  In 2020 we have Coronavirus or COVID-19.   Except for grocery markets, most things have been shut down at least for two weeks, but honestly, it appears as if it will last much longer.  China, where the virus originated, is only finally reopening after 2.5 months of lockdown and they are a communist country. With the USA being much more freedom based I am not sure how things are going to go down. 

Before all the closures, we started a search for Lily's birth mom.  She has expressed an interest for a long time and I never got a sense of when the right time was.  Daddy said, let's just do it, so we started.  However, now with the coronavirus worldwide, I don't expect to hear anything anytime soon.  I have been praying for Guatemala and Lily's biological family that God would keep them safe from harm and provide for their physical needs during this time of no work due to closed transportation etc... Last we heard on the birthmother search was that her birth mother could not be located in either of the two addresses I had provided.  No one seemed to know of her in her home village or in the city.  Last Friday they were supposed to get some information about a birth sibling.  But I haven't heard anything since.

I know God's ways are so much higher than my ways and so I need to trust in that, even though it is so stinkin' difficult!

Best kind of boyfriend ever!

So Lily shared last night she has a new boyfriend.  His name is Sean and she has been talking with him since we met him on our Labor Day camping trip near Elkton, MD.  In Daddy and my eyes that is the perfect boyfriend...two hours away!

Class of 2024

Last night we went to Lily's high school orientation at Linganore High School.  I was teary all day!  I can't believe my baby girl is going to go to high school!  I know she is ready and will be amazing.  It's so exciting to see all the opportunities she will have.  I just so badly want it to be an amazing time for her! Full of great friends, exploring new interests, and pursuing hobbies such as soccer and swimming.

2020 here she comes!

Lily continues to be a dynamic young lady!  I am so incredibly proud of her!!!!  In early November, I was invited to our former church Monocacy Valley Church to do a book reading and talk, and one of the questions was directed toward her, and she answered it with such beauty and grace!  Truly amazing!  I think overall she has enjoyed the attention of the book publication. 

Lily speaking

She continues to well with her sports.  Breaking personal records in swimming and constantly improving with her soccer.  She played indoor soccer for the first time.  I think she really enjoyed it!  I know I really enjoyed watching it.  She really wants to make the high school soccer team. 

On Black Friday I took Lily to Ulta to try some makeup. Thankfully she didn't love how she looked in blush, bronzer, and eyeshadow.  The mascara looked nice.  She got some makeup for Christmas, so yesterday she explored using some eyeliner to create "eye wings".  So grown up.  Personally, I think she looks beautiful without makeup, but I know it's the age!  At least it's not bright blue like I did when I was her age!

eyeliner wings

For Christmas, she got the new cell phone she has been wanting and some overpriced "holy" jeans from American Eagle.  I think she was a little sad when her brother got a gift from his biological father for Christmas, so when we went shopping and the expensive ripped jeans with holes from American Eagle were buy one, get one 50%, I figured what the heck... I know she so badly wants us to find her birth family and I so want to do it for her, but I just want to know that it's the right time.  I don't want to cause her any undue heartache.

 

 

 

The much-coveted cell phone

I pray that 2020 is an amazing year for her.  Full of great friendships and a deepening and personalization of her faith.

Non-Stop Action

It's been an eventful couple of weeks!

This past weekend, Lily's co-ed U15 soccer team played in the FSYCL tournament.  During the season their record was 1-6-1, but during the tournament, they really worked together as a team and ended up securing a place in the semi-finals.   During the semi-finals, they played their little hearts out.  And won the game in triple overtime with the first to three-point shoot-out. I was so proud of Lily.  She really wanted it and gave her all on the field.  The coach never took her out!  He must of seen how great she was doing!  The final game was tough, so they didn't win the entire tournament, but they took 2nd place!!!  What an awesome accomplishment!

Champions!!!!

Earlier in the weekend, we had two attempts a trick or treating.  On actually Halloween Eve, they were forecasting nasty storms with threats of tornadoes, so we laid low and simply visited the houses on our immediate street.  Even though she hit up only 3 houses she collected a bunch of loot.  The following evening, we went trick-or-treating with Nanna and her family.  The kids had a great time!  I was wondering if Lily would give it up this year, so I was glad she still went out this year!

My flying squirrel and loot llama

Flying Squirrel

Got Candy?

Fun with friends!

She also went to a Halloween party with her soccer team.  She had a blast!  She looked so adorable as a scarecrow!

Beautiful Scarecrow

We also enjoyed two fall festivals with some friends and family!

Five hands tall at Gaver Tree Farm

My beautiful girl

Hanging with Aly in the Pumpkin Patch

Lastly, the book I wrote for Lily finally became published on November 1st.  I really hope she knows how fiercely she is loved!

Advanced Reader Copies

Getting asked out by a boy!

Earlier this month, on a school field trip, a boy in Lily's class asked her if "she would like to go out with him sometime?"  Too cute!!!  I think she enjoyed the attention, but wasn't quite sure what to do with the question!  Good for us, there was never any follow-through.  So not ready for that yet!

Last year of middle school!

How can it be that I have an 8th grader!!!!  Lily began her final year at Carroll Creek Montessori this week.  She's been rocking the athletic wear look recently so she dressed to impress in her new Under Armour all-black athletic outfit! Of course, her hair had to be naturally gorgeous as well!  I love her confidence! I hope she has an amazing year.

Rocking the sporty look

Loving her little bro

Recently we had to get Lily a dress for her cousin Brian's wedding.  Talk about gorgeous!  But what really threw me, were the high heel shoes!  I am so not ready for her to grow up!

Rocking the dress and heels (with Daddy in the background trying to be silly)

We also enjoyed our bi-annual camping trip with our Guatemalan friends.  Lily always enjoys seeing them. I love these photographs of them!

Are they not the cutest!

The family

The Guate Crew