When Love Takes You In - Steven Curtis Chapman

Finally, a Few Pics from the "Lotion"

Busy. We've been really busy lately. It's hard to believe how fast time is passing by. You see, we're adopting again. Yes, yes, most of you know that already and most understand when we say simply "We've been busy." How busy you ask? So busy, that we didn't even realize that a new month had dawned. It's August, almost time for Austin to start school (and Lily Grace too for that matter). Time for those who follow it to begin boasting of the prowess of their favorite football team (all of mine will likely be mush this year, oh well). Time for trying to figure out what happened to July (and June...).


"June, July, I don't know either!"
I cannot account for the full month of July. I don't know what happened to it, which way it went, or whether there were any innocent bystanders that got caught up in its whirlwind. I vaguely remember that early in the month, right after the Annual 4th of July celebration, we loaded up the truck and headed south for a few days, OK a week, at the "lotion." And when I say loaded up, I mean loaded up. Put it this way, if we'd been required to pull over at the weigh stations, we'd have been assessed an immediate interstate roadway tax and asked to separate our load into two semis. You'd think we were moving! But getting a chance to share pictures of that adventure has been next to impossible. So, finally, here they are.




So, what's this "lotion?" Well, last year was Lily Grace's first trip to the "ocean," but she couldn't pronounce it correctly, so it came out "lotion." We all got a real kick out of that and, of course, the added attention when she said "lotion" encouraged the little English major to work harder on pronouncing "lotion." It was too funny. But now, the English major has graduated and is becoming a teacher of the complex language herself. Why, just the other day, she corrected my grammatical foul ball with an "Actually, it's ... ", with the emphasis on actually. She even told me one afternoon that Lia is not going to understand us, we'll have to teach her to speak! "And I'm just the teacher," she didn't add. Anyway, back to the beach (figuratively speaking).


Thinking we were a long way from having our adoption process hit the final stretch, we decided in May to go to the beach after the 4th of July. Even though I kept telling her that Lia was coming home in '08, Connie didn't think we'd hear anything from our agency this year. After all, we were way down on the list and it had been a bumpy road to getting all our paperwork completed and submitted. There was even a time we weren't sure if we'd be able to continue with Lifeline Children's Services. So, with that background, we made reservations across the street from Pampono Joe's Seafood House in Destin, Florida. Of course, just as planned, we heard from our agency in June and the train had not only left the station - we were on it and it was full speed ahead. But since we had made all the plans were practically packed, we decided to go ahead to the beach (if the condo is within walking distance of Pampono Joe's, Connie's happy all week)! As we waited our turn to sample the cuisine at the fine establishment on our first night in town, we heard for the first time "Green, Party of Five" announced (see next paragraph). Oh, the beach ...



So this year, Austin was given the option of asking a friend to come along with us and he chose his bestest best buddy (and fellow golf teammate) Daniel (his parents call him Landon, we call him Daniel - he answers to both). Thus, we became Green, Party of Five this week and thus the announcement at Joe's. It was good for Austin to have a friend his age to hang out with and to play golf. Daniel's a really good kid and was more than helpful with Lily Grace. In fact, every time we went somewhere, Lily wanted Daniel to help her into her seat and to get her in and out of the car. She even said she was going to marry Daniel!
A crush already!!!! What's this world coming to? Whoa, now. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I wonder if she was just trying to upstage her big brother and steal his friend away for the week! At least that's my hope.


"Can't this elevator go any faster?"
Lily loved the sand and the ocean and, just like last year, she was not afraid of anything. We had to hold her to keep her from running in over her head. And sand? Not a problem. "Cover me up, daddy, like a mermaid!" Lily is so independent sometimes that we forget she's only three. Because of her appearance, her outspokeness (is that a word Ms English major?), and natural beauty, she attracts a lot of attention, which sometimes makes us nervous. But Lily Grace just takes the opportunity to introduce herself and explain whatever's happening at the moment. Stranger? Naaww. Never met one.




Austin and Daniel got to play two great golf courses - Regatta Bay and Shalimar Pointe. Regatta Bay is one of the best manicured golf courses we're ever seen and the boys were so excited to play the course frequented by PGA tour greats. Regatta Bay generally had its way with both of them, but after the initial awe subsided, they both played fairly well (no pun intended). Austin's fairway game is improving greatly and these fairways were like most course's greens.


Shalimar surprised us by offering up a special drink caddy on the 7th, but he was a little slow and forgot to bring the water - he was a turtle! I'm not sure if it means anything (maybe someone could tell me), but ever since we were blessed to be able to adopt Lia Faith, turtles have been showing up. We had a turtle invade our Dragon Boat races in Athens in June, then we had a turtle show up in our back yard (first turtle in four years) while we were cooking out with neighbors, and then, while we were heading up the fairway at Shalimar Pointe's 7, a great big turtle came sauntering out onto the fairway. Check him out in the pictures. I guess we'll have to get Lia a pet turtle.




Anyway, the boys weren't the only ones to play golf. We met my sister and her family at the Track one night for a round of putt putt golf and a night of sweating (thought I was back in Nanchang for a while). Lily played quite well, even making several holes in one (of course she got to pick the tee location!). When we got to number 12, Lily met a new friend. One who, legend has it, that if she kissed him, he would turn in to a prince. I encouraged her to pick him up, just to see her response. And (remember, she's not scared of anything) of course, she grasped the four legged prince wannabe between her thumb and forefinger and began taxiing him in for a close encounter of the lips kind. Austin caught her just in time by telling her that he had germs. I was curious to see if he would actually turn into a prince if she kissed him - I did! Guess I'll have to wait to learn the truth about frogs and princes. Check out the pictures of Lily's curious look at the frog.



Oh, I almost forgot. We managed to get in a little deep sea fishing while in Destin. Aboard the "Little Nemo." Yes, a little kids boat. Basically, the way it works is this. You pay $25 each so that two "mates" get to go fishing. Well, not entirely. At least they let the little kids catch the bait fish. We weren't very successful at that though, so that likely shortened our trip. Not that any of the seasick passengers minded. Check out the king mackerals that we caught. I got to bring in one of them myself, after all the kids and the "mates" tired out! Lily Grace says it was her fish since she did some of the reeling.





The trip was great and was a wonderful way for us to try to relax for a few days, knowing that the train to China was well underway and our tickets were being punched. Next stop, Beijing!

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, Lia Faith (and Daniel, errr Landon)
Green, Party of Five (or six)