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Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Emily's Visit, Uganda Dinner by Katie, and Thanksgiving

This was the best 24 hours ... Emily Alexander was in town from TX and I just love this woman so much ... She has become my sister and we have only physically seen each other twice ... I feel completely connected to her ... Her spirit inspires me to dig deeper ... I love you EM (aka Gertie).
Suzanne, Em, Me, and Corrine ... Corrine is the one who connected Suz and I to Em ... Corrine has an amazing servant's heart and is always there helping people and journeying w/ them ... Love Ya Girl ...
The blog world meets ... Kelly, Kristi, Tracy, Me, Katie, Lindsey, Suzanne, and Em ... I meet Kelly, Kristi, and Tracy a few months ago because of our blogs ... These women have amazing faith and amazing stories ... I love hanging w/ them and talking adoption ... Lindsey just got back from Guatemala w/ an adorable little girl ... We just all had an amazing time at Kristi's house fellowshipping w/ Em ... Kristi is way better than Martha Stewart because she is cool, cute, and so much fun to be w/ .... I love all these women and feel so blessed that God saw fit to have them enter my life at this time!


UGANDA DINNER ... We thought it would be a fun experience for our families if we had Katie fix us a Uganda dinner, so our kids could see what her kids are eating ... We just love all of Katie's kids, we have pictures of them, we know their stories, we pray for them, and we just want to understand just a small part of their life as we love them from afar ...

Maggie just loves her Katie ...
Scott loves to mimic Joshua ...
Katie's Mom (Mary Pat), Suz, Katie, Me, and Yolanda
Watch out for these two! They could change the world like Katie if they choose -Mallory & Grace
Anna and Maggie ... Anna is so sweet to my family ... I adore her ... She is like my sister !!!
Katie and her American Kids ... We are sending her back w/ this picture so her Uganda family can get to know our faces ...
Katie and Ben .... Aren't they just the cutest couple ... Young and In Love !!!!
At the table looking at the food !!! They really didn't get very excited about the cabbage, veggies, beans, and posho (flour like tortillas) ...
In the kitchen hard at work ... The kids loved helping out ... Mike is observing !!!
Emily and Mallory ... Precious two hearts !!!
Suzanne, Katie and Me
Suzanne and I were mixing up some nasty stuff .... I don't think but 3 bites were eaten of this cornmeal and water combo ... LOL (notice the diet coke in the bottom of the picture, not sure they get many of those in Uganda, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do ) ...
Please don't burn my kitchen down girls ...

THANKSGIVING
always puts so much in perspective ... I am thankful for many things and my family and friends are at the top of that list ... Lord Thank You !!!!
Aunt Leigh Ann and Emily ... Picture Pefect ..
My Older Brother (just joking Paul ... I am older), and our amazing parents Judy and Allen ... The four of us have endured a lot and so thankful that we have stuck together .... These were the first 3 people to ever love me, believe in me, and encourage me in my dreams ...
Tori and Scott ... I joke that I think Tori was the first child Scott ever feel in love w/ ... She was the cutest little thing ever ... He would call her Mariah Carey as she lip synced the theme to Pocahontas ... Now she is all grown up ... We love you Tori !!!

These two are trouble ... Both competitive to the nth degree ... They have so much fun together and just watching them makes me tired ...
Tori and my girls ... They love using her for a monkey bar ...
My sister-in-law Leigh Ann ... She is one of the strongest women I know ... She serves our country in the Military and has had to move so many times in her life ... I am very proud of her !
My two beautiful nieces ... They are amazing soccer players, but more than that they are kind and beautiful on the inside ... I am so proud of you !!!!
This is Mackenzie ... I call her MINI ME ... I appreciate my sister-in-law having a daughter that looks like me ... You are the BEST ...
Emily, Elijah, and Dailen (cousin) collecting leaves ... It keep them busy for an hour .. It was fantastic ...
Emily and Cousin Rayna (freshmen at Smyrna High School)



We attended 4 different Thanksgiving meals ... This is the one hosted at our house for Scott's side of the family ... We were missing many this year due to travel, work, etc ... We had a great time, but did miss those who couldn't be w/ us ... We are excited to add Stephen to our bunch ... He is Tori's new boyfriend ... He is a Marine !!!!

15 kind words.:

emily said...

It was just the very best! I was thanking the Lord for you today and laughed at the fact that we have only been together 2 times, yet I feel such a deep love and affection for you and your family! What a precious gift.

Moody just said "who is Gertie" and it just cracked me up. So wish I could spend my days with Thelma and Louise- my crew just might push your fellow Target shoppers over the edge! :)

Love you and can't wait to walk the rest of this journey with you!

Kathi said...

I LOVE THE PICURES, Gwen; and I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited to finally see a pic of you and Mackenzie together; OMG, you really do look alike; looking at the pic of Scott and Tori totally made me think of the times at KK and now much fun it was

Tracy said...

Love all the pics! So great to meet Emily--she is as awesome as you said!... and get together with everyone! So amazing how God has connected us all together through the love He's given us for His orphans! So very cool! Love your family pics and the Ugandan dinner looks like something I could possibly get used to!

Musings from Kim K. said...

What lovely lovely pictures. You are certainly surrounded by amazing friends and family, Gwen.

Please know that I'm praying for your family and Maggie's upcoming doctor's appts.

From one SN Mommy to another.
Love ya!!

Kelly said...

Thanks for sharing! What a great group of ladies you have journeying with you! Love how you show your passion for Jesus!

Terry said...

Wow, it looks like so much fun! And Busy! There is nothing like celebrating with sisters in Christ and having family together for the holidays. Your girls are getting so big too. Boy, what a difference a year makes! Blessings, Terry

Kim said...

WOW.. you have been busy , busy, busy....
LOVE all the pictures..
and like I say over and over..
Anyone who meets you and your family are going to fall in love..
You are the most inspiring , loving ,caring, AMAZING family..
Love ya girly...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures! You have such a beautiful family!! Thinking of you.

Take care, Sherri
www.caringbridge.org/oh/kara

Kristi J said...

Love all the family pics!! just too cute! and how cute is Katie's boyfriend?? didn't know he existed. It was a great day hanging with you ladies!!! Simply Awesome sista!! kj

Kim said...

Incredible!

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed seeing the pics of some of my fav peeps ever...The Wrather family :) I do enjoy and continue to be inspired by you and all you do and the other women you surround yourself with...God surely has done his work through you~ Holiday blessings

Debbie said...

The pictures tell it all!! You are blessed indeed!!!

Lauren said...

How wonderful to be surrounded by so many loveley people! Perfect holiday. =)

Praying for Maggie!!

Denise C said...

WOW, what a fabulous time you had with all of these amazing friends!!! I read every word and looked at every pic...and felt like I was right there in the middle of it all!! You have such a special way of making us all feel connected, Gwen....that is one of your gifts! My Mama says you have such a precious heart!!! (Yes, she reads our blogs...hee-hee!!! so cute!)
Ok...girl..I am getting so excited.....in exactly 24 hours..we will be sitting together..meeting for the first time in person....but gosh..I feel like I've known you all of my life! I CANNOT WAIT, girl!! We'll call when we get close to Panera Bread!
Love you tons!!!
Denise

Leigh Ann said...

What a great Thanksgiving we had! Love all of the pictures.

The dinner looks like it went great! I hear Rayna is coming over to babysit...give her a hug from me and tell her to be patient with her sisters:D LOL!!!

Love you!

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