The Yo-Yo | | Jordan

Jordan has been telling me I need to share this story. He actually told me last night that he would give me $100 if this post gets the most hits out of any of my posts. 

He's a laugh a minute and most of you know him as that. He can make me laugh even when I don't want to laugh. 

We have very little time with two small girls at home to have time alone, especially with Addison still sleeping between us and she stays up until 1-2am every night. (No judgement, this is what works for us.) 

Well, one night a couple of weeks ago he was standing in the living room playing with a yo-yo of the girls. It is one that glows when you yo-yo with it. He tells me to meet him in the bedroom. 

I go get the girls bath started. He said he had been in there for what seemed like forever when I walked back in. He said "I felt like I had been yo-yoing about 10 minutes when you came in. I didn't know if I was going to be able to keep it going."

He was standing on the bed... in his boxers... all the lights off.... yo-yoing. I kid you not!! The only thing you could see was the yo-yo going up and down.

I immediately busted out laughing. I was laughing so hard. He kept on yo-yoing... and saying "Do you want to walk this dog?" and "How about going around the world" (all tricks with the yo-yo)

I laughed until I had tears rolling down my face. I don't know how the girls didn't come trying to figure out what I was laughing at, but I guess they were too into their bath time. 

God knew what He was doing when He brought Jordan into my life. He is such a goof, that we really do laugh all the time. I can be so mad and him make me laugh. 

I even ran across a picture on Facebook today that he took of me when I was mad... and I was laughing. I can't remember what he said to make me laugh but I was laughing. I can't stay mad long. 

He tries to make life fun for me - even in the hard times. 

I can remember when we bought his suit to wear to Emery's funeral and he couldn't remember how to tie his tie when he was trying everything on and he had us cracking up with how he was attempting it. Then he came out in a hat that looked like he was cousin Eddie off of Christmas Vacation. He had us rolling in Belk. 

I'm telling you he keeps me young. 

If you have someone who makes you laugh, ALL.THE.TIME, never let them go. It's pretty priceless. Laughter really is the best medicine. 

There ya go, babe...I shared your story. 

(I shared this story with his permission... and his constantly telling me to share it. After we shared it with one of his friends last night, he kept on about it. I figured it can't hurt and maybe you guys can get a good laugh out of our times together, too.)

Addison | | Baby Emery

Addison, I believe, senses a closeness with Emery none of us else can. 

She talks to her frequently, she talks about her a lot, if she hears me sniffle or even thinks I'm crying or sees me crying she comes to hug me to remind me it's ok to be sad and wants to check on me. She has such a sense of peace and calmness over Emery that I wish I was like Addison on a lot of days. 

Yesterday she sat in the floor playing her ABC games on the computer. I've decided it's really good for her to play these games because I am not sending her to Pre-K. I want her home with me one more year. We did the Pre-K thing with Makenzi and it really wasn't in her best interest. So, I justify it that way and the fact that I need Addison home with me. I don't think I could handle sending her to Pre-K for me to sit at home alone until 2:00 daily yet. 

Anyway - back to the subject I was on - Addison was playing the games and I heard her say "Baby Emery, I don't know how to do this game? Can you help me?" She just says it matter of factly, without even thinking. She can just be sitting by herself and you'll hear her talk of Emery. 

Last night, as my little night owl was running around the house like a mad woman, I ask her if I can take her picture with her sunglasses on. She stops and throws her peace sign up. I thought she moved because I snapped the picture and I saw the BRIGHT WHITE light in it. There was NOTHING there... not my hand or finger.... not her moving... there was NOTHING. We have no explanation for it. NONE! So, we've just kind of laughed it off that it was Baby Emery checking in on us and running around the house with her Big Sister, Addison. 

We honestly don't know where the white light came from... and we are just going to keep saying it must have been our sweet Emery. You know, whatever brings us a little comfort in the hard days. 

Addison has the perfect child like faith. She has a closeness with her sister I wish I could experience some days. She has a closeness with God I wish I could experience. We need to strive to keep that child like faith. 

Matthew 19:14 "but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." 

Due Date

According to my calculations, today should be due date. My doctor had the due date off by one week... I think this was one of my signs that something was wrong. Emery had an extremely high heart rate (which they told me not to worry about, but it was HIGH) and she was measuring a week behind according to my calculations. 

I had been way too sick for me to be as early as they thought I was at the doctor. 

I fought with that the whole pregnancy... I knew I was farther along than they were willing to admit. I heard so many different things - some nurses would say it's better to go by my calculations of my timing and others said the ultrasound was the most accurate. It was frustrating. 

My 20 week ultrasound at the doctor's office showed what I had calculated as a due date. She was measuring at what they thought was one week ahead and I was thinking "she's right on schedule." I told my ultrasound tech and she said that my doctor may change my due date based on the measurement of Emery and based on what I was telling her about my timing.

But.... we never were able to have that conversation. I didn't realize I was so close to the end then. I was in and out of the hospital.... over and over again over the next few weeks. I had to move to a high risk doctor, which was a blessing! I wish I had the high risk doctor all along. Even though, he could never find a reasoning as to what was happening... he had a pretty good idea.  

So, this month has really been hard for me. I see so many pregnant women who look as though they are about to meet their babies, I see newborn babies, I see them everywhere... and I long for mine. My heart aches, like it is a physical pain I don't believe I've ever experienced until now, and my arms ache. I want to hold Emery so bad. I want to nurse her. I want to be up all night long with her. I want to hear her cry. All the I wants in the world won't bring her back. 

God's plan! Y'all, as hard as it is... it's better than mine. 

I talked with a friend and with Jordan yesterday about how I felt like I was dying when I was pregnant with her. Jordan even said last night "we laugh about it but we probably don't even realize how close you really were to death." And as I was talking with my friend about how close I felt to death, we talked about God's plan again... He saved me. No, I don't understand it. I really put my trust into Him saving both Emery and me. 

I even said the words "He brought me this far. He let my body carry her as long as He knew it could without me dying and now He's going to bring her through this." 

But... it didn't happen that way. 

Yes, it breaks my heart I don't have my sweet girl here with me. But she's in heaven... and like the article I read last night said she never has to experience the hardships of life and she immediately was able to get what we all live for - heaven!

I wrote most of this last night and I struggled with what to say. I couldn't finish it.

Today, I have finally sat down. I kept Makenzi home from school today, to just rest and relax. I needed it and so did she - even if Addison and her have fought all day long. :-)

I miss my sweet Emery Hope! I so wish daily that we would've made it to her due date to welcome her into our family. We should be enjoying the fun newborn stage right now... all fighting over who is going to hold that sweet girl. But we are missing her something fierce! We will see her again one day and I am so hopeful of that! I dream of heaven with my sweet girl & Jesus.

Until then... I will live my life with my husband and sweet girls with the hopeful future of heaven waiting for us. 

Decorations

Sunday afternoon we went out to the cemetery to decorate Emery's headstone. 

I am so glad it is finally out there and I couldn't wait to get flowers on it. 

I've made it known that I want to be the one who gets the flowers to put on her headstone and I am the one who decorates it. I don't get to dress her or put pretty bows in her hair or do those things that I've always wanted to do with my 3rd baby girl, so I am going to decorate that headstone like I would dress her up. 

I saw some headstones all throughout the cemetery and I kept seeing these bright purple and yellow flowers. I knew I wanted to do something like that for Emery. They were so gorgeous. They were so bright. They just looked great. 

I went to JoAnn's here in town and found the perfect yellow flowers. My purple flowers didn't come as easily, but when I found them and placed them beside the yellow I knew that was it. 

I sat down right in front of her stone. We all cleaned it with a wipe. (Yes, I am cleaning my baby's headstone. I want it perfect all the time). Then Jordan helped me measure the cone to put it in the vase and he started cutting the flowers off the plastic stem so I could place them in the foam. It was team work. 

After we had it decorated we took a family picture around the stone. Oh, you guys, we had big smiles on our faces... and now looking at the pictures I have tears in my eyes. It was not the family picture I dreamed of when I kept pestering Jordan for a 3rd baby. But, so is life. We have family pictures with the actual Emery on the day she passed away and now we have family pictures with her headstone as the center. 

Emery Hope is so loved and so missed!

Jordan told me while we were placing the decorations in the vase that he is so glad I went to get the flowers. He said he had thought about going to getting them while I was away on my retreat so I could have them when I got back to just go decorate. He said he would have bought real flowers and wouldn't have even thought about the silk flowers like I got. Bless him! We have beautiful silk flowers out there now. And now he knows, that if he does go buy them for me to go decorate her stone with he will get silk flowers. 

Addison reminds me a lot that I do still have my baby, she's just in heaven and she is always in my heart. I want that child like faith. I want to be just like her. I want to be completely at ease with not having Emery. I want to feel that closeness to Emery, to Jesus, to God like Addison seems to have. 

I've talked about this some, but I think children have a direct link to God. I love listening to Addison talk about Emery and talking about where she is and talking about how Emery will always be in her heart. That girl is my light on a dark day. She can make me smile even when I'm in tears. She tells me all the time "Baby Emery is in heaven, Mama. We will see her again. We just need to keep her in our hearts until then." 

Wait a minute - who is the adult here? HA! She's such a light! I'm telling you these little children have such a direct connection with God that I know that's why she is more at ease with her sister being in heaven than any of us. 

I know Emery is in heaven. I know I will see her again one day. I know she's watching over me. I know there are days she smiles at the things we do. I know she smiles while I am out there cleaning an outdoor headstone off with a baby wipe making sure it looks PERFECT. I know she smiles as we all run around playing outside laughing. I know she knows I am making it day by day. I know she doesn't want me to cry, and I know she knows how much she is loved. BUT oh my goodness..... some days are just hard! I want her HERE... right here beside me... right in my arms. 

As we get closer to her due date... I am struggling with this more! I see pregnant women and I cry... I see newborns and I cry... I am supposed to be in my last days of pregnancy, they are supposed to have me scheduled for my c-section, I am supposed to be about to meet her and love her forever. But... I am grieving that sweet girl. However, I am so thankful God gave me 23 days to love her and study her every single trait and memorize them. 

For now, I will take my family pictures... with the headstone as the center. She is forever in our hearts, forever in our conversations, forever in our thoughts. She is so well loved I can't even describe it. I can't wait to keep decorating this headstone. I have so many images of things I can do for each holiday, season, etc. I will make sure it's beautiful all the time! 

Psalm 119:49-50 "Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in affliction, that your promise gives me life." 

Chocolate Stampede | | Makenzi

Saturday night we went out to eat at Longhorn's. 

It was delicious. 

Makenzi was determined to get a dessert after our meal. We were completely stuffed but she had seen someone order this chocolate cake that looked HUGE and she wanted it, bad! 

We told her no that no one could eat it and it was a BIG dessert. 

But she kept on insisting - mostly to her Daddy. 

He asked me if I could eat a few bites off of it, and asked everyone around the table if we could at least have a few bites. 

We all agreed that we would try to eat a few bites so she could have her chocolate cake. 

The waiter came back to the table and laughed. He asked her if she would come with him to convince his boss for a raise because she had convinced us to get the biggest dessert on the menu. 

She informed us that the last time we had Chinese her fortune said she would be good at convincing people of things. 

Well, that she is! She talked a group of adults (me, her Daddy, MiMi, and Pa Mark) into having the biggest chocolate cake I've ever seen. 

We tackled it. And you can tell we are a family who loves chocolate and ice cream... we ate it up! I don't know where we put it because we were so full... but well, we found room for chocolate and ice cream. 

If you ever just want dessert.... head on over to Longhorn's and order the Chocolate Stampede. And if you ever need someone to be convincing for you, just call Makenzi. 

Letting Go And Letting God

On Thursday afternoon I left for our church retreat in Franklin, KY at Oasis Christian Retreat Center. 

It was an absolutely wonderful weekend. A much needed get away for me, from the reality of the world.... the busyness of all the things I do. I am Mama and I do all for everyone - literally. Before I left for the weekend, I left Jordan bath clothes laid out for the girls, clothes for them to wear the next day, hair ties, brush, detangle spray, snacks, etc. I wanted to make sure they were taken care of and he was, too. 

I am not used to being away from all my people. If I am away from the girls, Jordan is with me.... if I am away from Jordan, the girls are with me. I have never taken a weekend to be with just myself. 

And not just with myself... I took my mother-in-law, Terri, with me. We both needed the break from the reality of our lives and time with God. 

When we got there Friday afternoon, we got the keys to our lodge rooms and went to check it out. We had a cute little room for the weekend. The girls laughed at me for getting a lodge room and not staying in the dorm - ha. I enjoyed my nice little lodge room though. I'm just not a dorm girl - but I do love all my girls in the dorm. :-) 

We had a big supper... and then it was time for worship and a session with our speaker, Shelley Morrow. When we were walking back to our worship session, I looked over and there was my sweet girl shining through in the sunset. 

Our speaker was speaking on Letting Go and Letting God. It was an amazing time. She told us we needed to let go and let God handle the things he said he would. We had a small skit at the beginning of our time to introduce our theme. It was said that no matter what our "baggage" is, we don't have to carry it alone. God has always said He will help us. 

He has helped me so much through my loss of Emery, I know this is for sure true. 

We enjoyed some time of fellowship before we headed to bed. 

Friday morning came bright and early for me. Breakfast, a session with Shelley, and some quiet time. 

I think my quiet time was my favorite part of the weekend. I studied His word by myself with Terri beside me. I prayed and I like to journal my prayers a lot. So, I wrote down a prayer of surrender... asking God to help me let go of some things I need to let go of, asking Him to continue to work on healing me from losing Emery, asking Him to keep carrying me. (Check out the view of my quiet time)

We had lunch and then an afternoon of free time. Terri and I sat and talked for a long time. It was so enjoyable. We don't get to sit and talk for hours without someone interrupting us. We mainly talked about our quiet time, our sessions, even some bible verses that we had both been thinking about how hurtful people have used them that we had never thought about before. I'm going to share a few with you - 

I follow pages I probably shouldn't but I do. I see people share bible verses all the time about how God answers their prayers. I believe with all my heart He does. But as hurtful as it is, He answered mine, too. 

Matthew 21:22 "And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." 

Let me ask you this - do you think I didn't have faith? I had all the faith in the world that God was going to bring my Emery through it. I asked more prayers in her short 23 days than I probably ever have in my life. And whatever I asked - He answered. Did I get the earthly answer I wanted? NO WAY! Did I get the heavenly answer? YES I DID! He healed my Emery, He made her happy, He made her not hurt, He made her not cry, He took her HOME. 

I didn't get the earthly healing I desired for so much! I still wish I had her here with me... but that wasn't His plan. But it hurts me to see people use these bible verses in their happy times... would you use them if you had times like me? I firmly believe without a doubt that God answered my prayers and He knows I have the faith. So, if you had something like losing a child happen, that you had prayed so hard for, would you use the same bible verse? Would you see it like I do - that he did ultimately answer the prayers I prayed? 

Do NOT get me wrong... there are days I struggle with the answer to my prayer. But.... I know He answered it. It just wasn't what I wanted. I want to pitch a 2 year old fit some days that I didn't get to keep Emery. 

After quiet time, it was supper time. Y'all, I feel like all I did was eat while I was there. I'm even struggling today... I feel like I need a detox from eating. HA! I don't eat like that. 

We went back to our room to get our coats because after our nightly session we were going to be outside for a while. When we were walking back to worship, the most electric sunset happened. I wish pictures did it justice. It was pink, purple, blue, and so BRIGHT! Terri had me snapping pictures in a million different directions. It was beautiful! Oh my sweet girl!! 

We had our session with Shelley, where we surrendered our things we needed to let go. We wrote down some of the things we need to let go of - anger, resentment, disappointment, control, 

fear, frustration, - and wrote them on balloons. I wrote a short little prayer on my balloon tag. We walked outside in the dark, with a full moon, and as we held our hands up, we let our balloons go. We were surrendering to God. We were letting it all go. Then we sang "I Surrender All" as we watched our balloons float away. It was a powerful moment. I have chills even now thinking about it. 

We were paired up with prayer partners, so after our session we went with our prayer partners to talk. I was paired with our pastor's wife. You guys, I couldn't have asked for a better prayer partner. I needed her! I know I didn't let her talk much... but I think in my group of women, they knew what was going to happen if they got me. I couldn't even get out what I needed her to pray for me about... and I was sobbing. I need help grieving. It's so hard. I shared a lot with her. I shared with her the things God told me while I was carrying Emery, the bad feelings I had that I wasn't ever going to be able to keep her. She shared how she had similar feelings at times. She shared things about being Mama's and how we are. She helped me. And she knew some of how I was feeling because her daughter had gone through what I am going through right now. We talked a lot and she let me just get it all out! She let me bawl my eyes out. I am talking I was sobbing, snot pouring from my nose, and tears just flowing from my eyes. I probably haven't cried that hard in a long time since she left this Earth for her heavenly home. I think I held it in for so long, I needed to let it go. I try to be so strong and to be honest, I am not. I just can put on a face but as soon as I speak Emery's name, my eyes fill with Tears. 

Phyllis prayed the sweetest prayer for me. She included in it and it made me feel better that we know I won't ever really "get over" losing Emery, but God will help carry me through this time. He will help make my days slowly get some easier. 

After our prayer time, we headed to the bonfire. It was so nice. We all laughed and talked around the fire for a while. It was such a beautiful night. We enjoyed it so much!!! 

Saturday, we ended our time at Oasis. We had one last session with Shelley on the freedom of letting go. We had a prayer circle then packed up to head back to our realities. I am so blessed with the best church family ever. These women right here are such a blessing to me. They love me, they accept me, and they are all about lifting me up. They don't care if I am a sobbing mess, or smiling. I needed this weekend so bad. 

We made it back home and I couldn't wait to see my family. Makenzi ran and jumped in my arms with legs wrapped around me, Addison gave me a big hug, and Jordan told me when he saw me that if he could've tackled me he would have. It is so nice to be missed that much by my family. I missed them, too. But I enjoyed my time with my ladies, my wonderful mother-in-law, and my Lord! 

We Have A Stone

I have such mixed emotions about this. 

Emery now has a stone out at her spot in the cemetery. 

In a lot of ways in brings me ultimate comfort. It is such a beautiful memorial to my sweet girl. And then in other ways, it is just another reminder that my sweet girl doesn't get to grow up here on this earth with me. 

I miss her with every fiber of my being. 

I wish she was still in my belly like she is supposed to be. I wish even if she wasn't in my belly she was still in the NICU. But... that's not the reality of our life. She's in heaven walking the streets of gold with Jesus. 

She's got the better life I guess. I just wish I was able to have her here. I am selfish. But you know what? I know God is ok with that. I am human and He knows that. 

I was doing my bible study today and it was one that I need a lot in this time in my life. The bible study talked about experiencing God's presence. 

I have felt His presence more than I probably ever have in my pregnancy, Emery's short life, and NOW grieving her. You guys, there are days I feel I can't even get up to do anything... I know for a fact it's HIM carrying me through. 

My bible study today said "Christ does not always immediately calm the storm, but He is always willing to calm His child on the basis of His presence." I've felt that calm. I've felt that presence. Now.. don't get me wrong.. I cry A LOT. I miss her so much! But I know He has me. He promised He would never leave me or forsake me. And I believe that 100%. 

Another part of my bible study today talked about how God doesn't always bring physical healing. "Sometimes He heals physical sicknesses and sometimes He chooses greater glory through illness." That is exactly what He did with Emery. We are still giving Him the glory, but He chose to give her healing in Heaven not here on this Earth. 

Some days I am ok with that and other days, I'll be honest with you, I am flat out mad about it. I can see other people's posts on Facebook or wherever of these babies that have dealt with what Emery did and God has answered their prayers. I wonder why?! I wonder why me? Why my baby? It's a hard fine line. 

Isaiah 43:2 "When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." 

God doesn't promise us there won't be hard times... He just says He will always be with us. 

Isaiah 40:31 "but those who HOPE in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." 

Those two bible verses in Isaiah have brought me some comfort through all of this. He is always with me. He is always with me even when I'm mad at Him. He is ok with me even when I am broken hearted because she isn't here. He hasn't left me yet. He just continues to throw scripture out at me when I'm reading to calm me. He continues to carry me through my days when I don't know if I can get up and go. 

I am so thankful for my Lord! I am so thankful of the promise that I get to see my sweet Emery again one day.

So, this stone... it's precious to me. It really defines her. Her tiny feet were my favorite part of her and to have a little poem on her stone about how her though her time here on this Earth was short, she left such an impact on all of us! Emery Hope, you are one amazing baby girl. 

The girls were so proud of their sister's stone. They loved it. They shouldn't have to be visiting their sister in a cemetery but they enjoy it. And now that there is a stone out there, it makes them so happy. They kept telling me how beautiful it was and how perfect it was for her. Makenzi even kissed it before we left and told her we would see her again soon. (We are going this weekend to take her some flowers for her vase... when I get home from my church retreat.) 

Jordan & I wanted our names on her stone. I asked them just place our names on the back stating she was the "Daughter of Jordan and Skye McCants." They sent me this image they wanted to put on the back and I was blown away. It is absolutely gorgeous!!! 

Since feet were our thing with Emery- we sat down in front of her headstone and put our feet up against it. My girls feet up against her stone just brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. My girls love their sister more than life. 

And butterflies are our thing with Emery, too. She was in the butterfly room in the NICU, and Makenzi always drew her butterflies when drawing her pictures so it has kind of stuck. I had them put butterflies on her headstone. They turned out absolutely perfect!!! 

So, in a lot of ways just seeing a stone out there with her precious name on it brings me comfort. I don't feel so empty when I'm sitting out there. When I went out there Monday, I rubbed my fingers over every single engraving on her stone as I was talking to her and crying. (Yes, I talk to her when I am out there.)  It really did make us all feel better seeing a stone with her name on it. It's final, yes, but she now has a beautiful memorial. 

Our Weekend | | Downtown Edition

Friday night when Jordan got home from work he asked if the girls and me wanted to go with him on Saturday downtown. 

He had to work but the girls and me can tag along. We don't do that very often but I thought since it was going to be a beautiful weekend we would go. 

The girls were completely intrigued listening to their Daddy for a little while. That was until we were drenched in sweat. 

I found us a table out of the sunshine. Addison sat and watched videos on the iPad for a little while. Makenzi ate some chips and queso while watching Daddy. She sang every word to a few songs. It's so sweet to look over and see her singing along with the songs she knows. She told her Daddy before he started playing he better be practicing "Chicken Fried" because she was going to get up there and sing with him later. 

After we sweated long enough... about an hour and a half... we decided we would go walk around downtown for a little while. 

I don't know if I've ever had so much fun with my girls. We walked outside down the road to the Walk of Fame park and ran around in the grass. 

We sat in the shade and talked and put on make up.

We played some more. 

We walked to the Schemerhorn to see the fountains. 

We walked to the pedestrian bridge.

And then we walked back to the Walk of Fame Park to play some more. The pictures I took when we got back are special to me. The girls decided they needed to take their shoes off to rest their feet before we went back to Rippy's. They were so happy to have their shoes off. They were laughing and so happy. I got up to take their picture and as I was taking their picture the sun hit them just right. It looks as though Baby Emery is shining down on both of them. I smiled real big when I saw the picture. My three girls smiling! Melt me! Sometimes I see Emery in such little things - just like this! 

We took a bathroom break at the Hilton because well, those bathrooms are much nicer than Rippy's. HA!

While we were out Jordan sent me a picture of his view from the stage - not every day you see a baby doll that's "napping" in a chair, a baby bottle on the stage beside your drinks, and a purse and diaper bag. Life with little girls! 

And then we headed back to watch the last hour of Jordan's show. Where Addison decided to take a nap that left us both completely drenched in sweat because we were sitting in the direct sunlight on the rooftop of Rippy's. That's a Mama's love right there. 

I was fanning her with a  diaper when a guy walked over to me with a menu so I could fan her. (I was fanning her with one of Emery's diapers from the hospital -- the teeny tiny ones -- and then found Makenzi's baby doll diapers which are bigger and decided that would work better). Thankfully, this man brought me a menu which worked better fanning both of us to keep her cooler. 

While Addison was taking a little nap, Makenzi got up on the stage with her Daddy to sing Chicken Fried. After she finished Chicken Fried, she decided she was going to stay up there with them. She thought everyone wanted to see her. She was so cute the way she clung to her Daddy... and Tera Lynne... and Brent. She loves the attention.  

 Makenzi sat in Tera's lap to sing a few songs with her.

Addison woke up from her nap and we went to find air conditioning before they finished. Makenzi stayed with Jordan on the stage. HA! 

They found us after in the cool. The girls were able to help count tips. They thought they were such big shots! Tera Lynne gave them each a little bit of the money she made that day. The girls were on top of the world with their "tips!" Tera, you made my girls day!! Thank you for including them!!! 

After tips, we walked up to the car.... We were hungry, tired, and hot! Makenzi walked hand in hand with Brent the whole way up to the garage talking his head off.

Brent invited us to eat at Chuy's and we were able to enjoy Chuy's on the patio before heading home. It was such a beautiful day and night. I'm so glad we enjoyed the whole Saturday enjoying the sunshine. 

We got home and everyone got baths. And went straight to laying down, chilling out! We had a busy, enjoyable day!!! 

Sunday morning was church - Addison was still worn out from the day before and fell asleep curled up with her Baby Emery in church. It was absolutely precious. The way she clings to the bear makes me happy. I pray nothing happens to our Baby Emery bear. She's become a part of our family. She is our Baby Emery since we weren't allowed to keep our Baby Emery here on this Earth with us. 

After church we ate lunch at Cheddar's and came home to spend the day outside. 

The girls asked their Daddy if they could play with water guns in the cooler - redneck water park. He filled it up for them and they played hard in the water. 

I caught them laying in the warm water on the ground talking at the end of the day. It was precious!!! 

We had a fun, busy weekend. It was enjoyable and much needed for us all to just be together the whole weekend! I have a feeling this won't be our last weekend staying this busy and going to work with Daddy.

Thanks for hanging around and listening to all of that - hopefully, I didn't bore you but I didn't want to forget the details of the day. :-)