The Yaps came to town!!! It was so good to see them. They moved to KC over two years ago and we haven't seen them since! So much has happened. The kids have grown so much and four babies have been born during this time. It was a lot of fun to finally meet Sarah for the first time. Mitch said how fun it was to see Josiah only in pictures and then to finally meet him. Sarah, Josiah, and Lindsey are little bloggy rock stars! Last night we all got to see them face to face. Oh, it was so sweet!
Ali and Sammie are singing Happy Birthday to Juli! How great that we were able to celebrate her 9th birthday!
Here is the birthday girl enjoying her chocolate cake and ice cream.
Juli and Ali
Lukey, Ali, and Juli - Lukey has changed so much! He was three when we last saw him and now he is five! I couldn't stop hugging him and telling him how much I missed him!
Lillian - wow, she was right there with me during all of Josiah's scary events. There is something about Lillian that just makes me cry. That sounds bad, doesn't it? What I mean is that her heart is so genuinely kind and caring that I just unravel. I can't hold it all in when she asks me, "How are you?" I cried on her shoulder many times over the cell phone. I am tearing up even now just revisiting it all! If you know Lillian, you know what I mean. How awesome that she is holding Josiah after all of her prayers for us and for him. What a gift and blessing she is!
Mitch, Sarah, Josiah, and my husband. This is so sweet because it's the dads and the new additions to our families since they moved. Sarah and Josiah met for the first time. Too bad they live so far away. Josiah can't steal all of her cheerios!
She has such a beautiful smile, doesn't she?! Little Sarah in her gold dress dunking already! Daddy, are you proud?
Uncle Mitch! When I say there is something about Lillian...now there is also something about Uncle Mitch! He has a way with kids! Even when Sammie was very young, she would keep going back to Mitch. Even though she was afraid of everyone else, she would go to Mitch. Last night, Josiah did the same thing! He kept going back to Mitch. He would just kind of throw himself onto him so he could be held. We miss you, Mitch!
Here is Juli "bao baoing" Ali! She used to do this a lot when Ali was much smaller. How fun to see that she can still do it!
Amanda, Ali, Nicole, Sammie, and Josiah - We are the locals! We're so glad we have these friends. Pretty soon, Lindsey will be in these pictures.
Such a sweet, heartwarming post Teresa! So much love and joy in these pictures. Shows that even w/distance, friendships can still grow and remain strong. =)
ReplyDeleteawww. thank you so much teresa! made me want to cry. you are so very sweet. i was thinking a few days ago--how i was totally expecting to cry when i held josiah for the first time--just b/c of all he has gone through and all that i have missed. didn't actually cry when it came to it. too much adrenaline, i think. but it meant so much to be able to BE with you guys even if it was for such a short time. the heart never forgets. thank you so much for having us over! just would not have been the same trip if we did not see all of you guys!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gracie! It was definitely from the heart. Our distance isn't that great. We should try and get together again. =0)
ReplyDeleteGreat pics Teresa. Mitch and Lillian sure are missed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joy! Glad you were able to make it that night. Yeah, let's take a trip out there together!
ReplyDeletethese pictures are SOOO beautiful, teresa! and your blog is beautiful. and i totally agree with you abut both lillian and mitch! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing these pictures. makes us miss you guys THAT much more!!! yes, COME VISIT! :)