tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81665209280857310852024-03-04T22:29:18.623-08:00The Jackson FamilyA blog to document our adoption journey.
"ALL CHILDREN COME FROM GOD, FOR SOME THE JOURNEY JUST TAKES A LITTLE LONGER."The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-65114303855984357272013-07-13T13:54:00.001-07:002013-07-13T13:54:23.005-07:00Moving On Up!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are #66! Our agency feels we should receive a referral Dec - Feb timeframe. We are all getting very excited!! The kids had fun coming up with ways to display our new #...<br />
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XOXO,<br />
Jackson FamilyThe Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-31202000598125937232013-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:002013-01-05T14:31:39.422-08:00Officially WaitingWe just got word that we are officially on our agency's (West Sands Adoption) waitlist!!<br />
Woohoo!! The kids are so excited although I'm not sure they realize being #89 still means lots of waiting. But at least we are finally "officially" waiting and that gives us reason to jump!! We are hopeful we'll receive a referral in 2013. <br />
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Happy New Year!!<br />
xoxo<br />
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<br />The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-59214720647299943532012-12-06T17:32:00.001-08:002013-01-05T15:02:13.552-08:00Paperwork done..half-marathon finished!Our paperwork is complete! I'm not sure which was more grueling to finish- the race to compile the adoption documents or the Thunder Road 1/2 marathon full of rolling hills. I have to say much to my surprise the latter was much more enjoyable. The idea of completing a race longer than a 10K has always seemed daunting to me. Although I've always loved to exercise and go to the gym for classes and such, running long distances has never appealed to me. I'm so glad I finally decided to bite the bullet and join the marathon craze. It was so fun to challenge myself and a total boost when I accomplished my weekly goals. If you've ever thought about doing one, Just Do It!! <br />
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So back to our adoption. Our dossier has been authenticated in the US and is now being sent to Ethiopia to be authenticated. Once this is complete, we will be on our adoption agency's (West Sands Adoption) wait list. When we started the process the wait list for an infant was 6-9 months. Now the wait is estimated to be at 14 months or longer! I'm bummed about the increase in time but knowing God already has the perfect baby boy picked out just for our family is comforting.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="versetext" id="ps119-1" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. <b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="versetext" id="ps119-2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="versetext" id="ps119-3" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> That's right - you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. <b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="versetext" id="ps119-4" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span class="versetext" id="ps119-5" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set. Psalm 119: 1-5</span></span><br />
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<br />The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-29840526632013398642012-11-02T14:09:00.002-07:002012-11-02T14:09:46.868-07:00Ordinary HeroTom and I are partnering with Ordinary Hero to raise money for the over 147 million orphans around the World. The statistics can be overwhelming yet we can all make a difference one child at a time. Ordinary Hero hopes to inspire people to do just that.
We will be running the Thunder Road half-marathon here in Charlotte on November 14th as part of the Ordinary Hero team.<br />
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We know we ask our dear friends and family every year to help us in our efforts to give back to Ethiopia. In years past you've helped us build wells and participated in water walks. We thank you for your support and do not want you to feel pressure to give every year. We'd love it if you would pray for this awesome organization and their efforts in changing the world one child at a time.<br />
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You can read more about Ordinary Hero at www.ordinaryhero.org. If you'd like to help us in our fundraising efforts you can give via the link below.
http://www.grouprev.com/ethiopia14<br />
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Love,
Sara & TomThe Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-35762246131925582942012-07-08T17:32:00.000-07:002012-07-08T17:33:37.994-07:00Exciting News!!If by chance anyone stills reads this blog (I'm really going to try and be better about posting to it!), I wanted to post some exciting news.
We are adopting again!! We just started the process to adopt "baby brother" as the kiddos affectionately refer to him as from Ethiopia.
My plan is to create a new blog with a more appropriate title since we will soon become the Jackson 6 so please check back for the new site link.
In the meantime, here are some pics of life these days...dance recitals for the girls, swim team for Syd, dreadlocks for Silas & summer fun at the beach.
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...The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-73703086759400125452011-12-14T16:01:00.000-08:002011-12-14T16:46:56.140-08:00Sydney Mae is 6 years old!!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRI5JaczXNDo68c8vKHio8UJvzAoSl3dWIp8FptsPkr5YSmVjX0y8EkflRlQav0lAjTKlvUjykvI21vnK7ZQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-18678007246311055022011-12-11T18:10:00.000-08:002011-12-14T16:00:28.843-08:00Sydney Mae is 6 years old!!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynGWf6J89IG4YYjhtzzw05ue61qLhAg0wFgm6sAml51rvLV7fc8wenJNJlwZSrd4BzBCV2A0T_QHp4iYP-fQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-60224010033854631712011-09-10T05:22:00.000-07:002011-09-10T12:32:47.011-07:00Our baby girl is 8!!!!Olivia is 8 years old today. She is growing up so fast. We are so proud of her sweetness, love for others and her desire to be all that God has created her to be.<br /><br />We love you, Livvie girl<br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz3uuxqUAKXKQ2SH4jSx6JkY-gJ2drb3Jojbn5VOAqmSMMBZEBIqHkF576ddfnfVgJO8RzYeRsDIqXB8pKc5w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-1945356815870804972011-08-27T18:45:00.000-07:002011-08-27T19:02:39.364-07:00School is here<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5vCF1S5F55Pv8uYaT2N5Cyq9eeys-lPMptG-PmxsQO-2-UDSTO8zN7pauhaQQ-tHiF6RZu5mjbclXL_VBiVfjZzQ4zToGel-4XfICtpENZCFXevnCIxqD1fdOq5Phwv8WRQ3bG8mAfXU/s1600/IMG_0910.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5vCF1S5F55Pv8uYaT2N5Cyq9eeys-lPMptG-PmxsQO-2-UDSTO8zN7pauhaQQ-tHiF6RZu5mjbclXL_VBiVfjZzQ4zToGel-4XfICtpENZCFXevnCIxqD1fdOq5Phwv8WRQ3bG8mAfXU/s200/IMG_0910.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645720526764124642" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydbh_K3aA8qzPEr0lJ_Hbwa7NJ7xr5V3e-dmx8U79p0ggyk-g07if6Epc2BQaQERMthiNRTOisuPx96A_nj87VH0Ez7k2PJGoxVo78kewf5Gb8vZHvNa0xQZpibZ3gKasbF6VCL3w32Es/s1600/IMG_0906.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydbh_K3aA8qzPEr0lJ_Hbwa7NJ7xr5V3e-dmx8U79p0ggyk-g07if6Epc2BQaQERMthiNRTOisuPx96A_nj87VH0Ez7k2PJGoxVo78kewf5Gb8vZHvNa0xQZpibZ3gKasbF6VCL3w32Es/s200/IMG_0906.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645720519141868770" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TbitWAECvstE7Snk2r7RjlRvI8n-MWt7fjPgoEF6_H4FmwcFB00c403MYvXmtE2XuxALtgS1n2W5s7JV43kZrivXKoSGw43LdYeqJMy7H_ShRHG44TYE7UOtn06CVUnCoXHDeX6voVSQ/s1600/IMG_0903.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TbitWAECvstE7Snk2r7RjlRvI8n-MWt7fjPgoEF6_H4FmwcFB00c403MYvXmtE2XuxALtgS1n2W5s7JV43kZrivXKoSGw43LdYeqJMy7H_ShRHG44TYE7UOtn06CVUnCoXHDeX6voVSQ/s200/IMG_0903.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645720514442351698" /></a>
<br />Summer went by in a flash and the girls are back to school. Here are their "first day of school" pics....The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-3399544473631513972011-08-17T06:32:00.000-07:002011-08-17T10:26:45.517-07:00Silas is 3 today!!<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxP9UB-e17un1EGIjrwqdsRrFYPREs9B7ygo05p9EeUdLYL3UOp4_mxIcJeJQbV7QUzQEkb6w1dRoj63D7HkQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-8143783579249450792011-06-23T14:46:00.000-07:002011-06-23T16:01:51.035-07:00Summer Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh00duh9knLxtVDijIdAI0DKkhTGJphjC_IfVq4i1Ac13C-tyxR6j6ULYxkbuSNA3GyPQ2QpVbYgE3SOzPzzMcjm1joPTo5Ri3KkR5B-Q-SAKgqn4HwgD0nMg_PAXu8JX3XzJKXy1SfAid/s1600/IMG_1020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh00duh9knLxtVDijIdAI0DKkhTGJphjC_IfVq4i1Ac13C-tyxR6j6ULYxkbuSNA3GyPQ2QpVbYgE3SOzPzzMcjm1joPTo5Ri3KkR5B-Q-SAKgqn4HwgD0nMg_PAXu8JX3XzJKXy1SfAid/s200/IMG_1020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552435443840226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Ioy_RpnDX5L6TGcwyhI-Uj4vElLglf3baV17I3UlPXMX9nMKYxLFD0-TmxYWN55X6UQsoaJhftmW3z3-U7GL39B-8lDm3h13IpMDwN9be5qAR6rO6EP-z7BZ6XwfP3MZa2U-AXzMIPO/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8Ioy_RpnDX5L6TGcwyhI-Uj4vElLglf3baV17I3UlPXMX9nMKYxLFD0-TmxYWN55X6UQsoaJhftmW3z3-U7GL39B-8lDm3h13IpMDwN9be5qAR6rO6EP-z7BZ6XwfP3MZa2U-AXzMIPO/s200/IMG_1079.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552435658978578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcQg4W73uJtypDl74zWGxD1gzVrzSSjhUz89eEhW-qAb80JqYxRGYNMWZPF1l6dnGHoiYPWVbZKELu_bECLI5Ei6hOzZv5MxS_MmShaBpre_lIy_CRM-RGN_bNKEwKL-iXrAXEj5epe8w/s1600/IMG_1039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcQg4W73uJtypDl74zWGxD1gzVrzSSjhUz89eEhW-qAb80JqYxRGYNMWZPF1l6dnGHoiYPWVbZKELu_bECLI5Ei6hOzZv5MxS_MmShaBpre_lIy_CRM-RGN_bNKEwKL-iXrAXEj5epe8w/s200/IMG_1039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552430107632658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DfdetmUnSOyQgYaTuGgVL592WZeVSyfeGvD3y4cKedWMUIrlcxMcPw68X06OSiYiRivfWx0WIYTY6O4oTcdNRWJVsx_mMZ0r_Pp9Yen-XZdDkpJs5UG5xqqdJpmYTOBfpZEUv14GyrqN/s1600/IMG_1004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DfdetmUnSOyQgYaTuGgVL592WZeVSyfeGvD3y4cKedWMUIrlcxMcPw68X06OSiYiRivfWx0WIYTY6O4oTcdNRWJVsx_mMZ0r_Pp9Yen-XZdDkpJs5UG5xqqdJpmYTOBfpZEUv14GyrqN/s200/IMG_1004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621552425034012722" /></a><br />I love summertime. I love going to the pool and loading up on all the fun snacks and treats. I love car rides with the windows down and music blaring. Every summer we have a theme song. This year Justin Bieber's "Baby, Baby" can be heard from all 3 Jackson kiddos at least 20x a day. Hearing my little guy's sweet voice belting out JB's hit song makes me laugh and smile and makes my heart full. He adds so much joy and fun to our days. He has picked up on so many of the girl's sayings with them home. He says "right?" to make sure I am listening and "stop it!" all the time now. I seriously want to eat him up, he is so darn cute.<br /><br /> For someone who normally runs a strict schedule and puts way too much pressure (on myself) to meet meal and bedtimes, summertime is a welcome change of pace. I love not feeling the pressure of the clock. I do need to work on at least fixing a meal. I seriously don't think I've cooked a real dinner in at least 3 weeks..yikes, need to work on that :)<br /><br />But most of all I just love having my kiddos home from school. I love seeing how uniquely God has created each one of my children. Olivia continues to keep me straight and on my toes. For instance, we met some school friends at the movies today. Upon getting settled in her seat surrounded by friends she hasn't seen since school let out, she leaned down the row to remind me to make sure my phone was on vibrate b/c we are using a new sitter for Silas and she might need to reach me. At 7 (almost 8, she reminds me daily) she amazes me with her maturity and kindness. We got home from the pool the other day and before I could get all the stuff out of the car, she had changed herself and had changed her brother's diaper and clothes without being asked.<br /><br /> I love waking up in the morning with my sweet Sydney who still wakes up at the crack of dawn despite my attempt at a relaxed summer schedule. The other morning she was snuggling with me in bed and kissed my unopened eyes and told me she loved me over and over. She proceeded to tell me I was the best mom ever. I like to think she really believes that and wasn't just trying to pry me out of bed for some limeaid!<br /><br />I love how beautifully God has made each of my children. Each unique and perfect in His image. <br /><br />I can't believe it is almost July. The summer is going by way too fast. I pray I will cherish each moment with them. They are growing up way too fast....The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-7696980853395480402011-05-29T05:13:00.000-07:002011-06-03T16:33:10.843-07:00Ethiopia - February 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeRgw5S0SHj6GImxu0Ld7FQ8ah-ux4UQCRrCfC0mYHe_yRAgrrfCqO-HfgWUbNy6ifT6mSP2A0Rdqh_nENl_QBTHWWP_OhZE7zcr_wGWlU9cmVWa3nNsTP7mrzl3K6uqq011FuELNnDbF/s1600/IMG_3358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeRgw5S0SHj6GImxu0Ld7FQ8ah-ux4UQCRrCfC0mYHe_yRAgrrfCqO-HfgWUbNy6ifT6mSP2A0Rdqh_nENl_QBTHWWP_OhZE7zcr_wGWlU9cmVWa3nNsTP7mrzl3K6uqq011FuELNnDbF/s200/IMG_3358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614138799945480354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Bf13635wo0MgQ600azvJMJEyCY_P90uD0_h0yXa5dy54-d3tE52Q3can1O90GCW1KtBFHDeKf3jKcztWLZekZ2aabq44kGy8m70WulDpFkqJNJnGB1MGu9zHhh8gnTHLlGbp8GbPTRq/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5Bf13635wo0MgQ600azvJMJEyCY_P90uD0_h0yXa5dy54-d3tE52Q3can1O90GCW1KtBFHDeKf3jKcztWLZekZ2aabq44kGy8m70WulDpFkqJNJnGB1MGu9zHhh8gnTHLlGbp8GbPTRq/s200/IMG_3374.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614091615952805570" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVWiGRCkYfguJsRPHARrc2t57TYfUxlacsi0mP78WMea__AkbnU8af5f3u7hV2d82QANRI7A2Awch_o0MUAQBsrxToUwM8Ajj65nKxjogcnV9qogkgYTplKctuM9F5mSTdqPfDBAVXM6F/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVWiGRCkYfguJsRPHARrc2t57TYfUxlacsi0mP78WMea__AkbnU8af5f3u7hV2d82QANRI7A2Awch_o0MUAQBsrxToUwM8Ajj65nKxjogcnV9qogkgYTplKctuM9F5mSTdqPfDBAVXM6F/s200/IMG_3209.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614084234079334386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZO7IZ-UYkx7xcOuLQFRRXXK30KvAR8AkP2MCnOw391_j10sw6cIcRcEXAF8yiqfKUzQTMjbDnt01tbZnmnN7U1EebZcOsWpwX0M2BlaAn3TnKR0C7jd9SMqENcwFzdXRYs3vOuhzwn_d/s1600/IMG_3553.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZO7IZ-UYkx7xcOuLQFRRXXK30KvAR8AkP2MCnOw391_j10sw6cIcRcEXAF8yiqfKUzQTMjbDnt01tbZnmnN7U1EebZcOsWpwX0M2BlaAn3TnKR0C7jd9SMqENcwFzdXRYs3vOuhzwn_d/s200/IMG_3553.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614081393848845698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmkTNjNXlqpbKpYJnFzaR-2Sxbf3R3qavLHQxYE1ABLJZi2v3pZDd1vXCYRnPl2IxhcB8YRmYUt_qRhCQt1Grwm7UDKdDgKUx7-LCErPjD7wGPlIVOMhFYMxY6g9ECsoIUQb7MeNbX061/s1600/IMG_2691.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmkTNjNXlqpbKpYJnFzaR-2Sxbf3R3qavLHQxYE1ABLJZi2v3pZDd1vXCYRnPl2IxhcB8YRmYUt_qRhCQt1Grwm7UDKdDgKUx7-LCErPjD7wGPlIVOMhFYMxY6g9ECsoIUQb7MeNbX061/s200/IMG_2691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614078175733106050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzreUQsnVZ7A47zyLXRvWRcPmqaqUPG_fbKQYVi9kfeJxsytwYrlk0iPHvtcD5MM4d-cO6C1ObcH9MIktWwjIC9OxG67JHYGJOk7yEwezj8QM3wMgW8cP1eqAi-k7opPJORAFX1xeU8lc/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzreUQsnVZ7A47zyLXRvWRcPmqaqUPG_fbKQYVi9kfeJxsytwYrlk0iPHvtcD5MM4d-cO6C1ObcH9MIktWwjIC9OxG67JHYGJOk7yEwezj8QM3wMgW8cP1eqAi-k7opPJORAFX1xeU8lc/s200/IMG_3377.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613986040094609266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB9x4uFkU1-KuCKMge2VEf3Xlq35TICrbGQNwPpDIewFN-LAh92e2_9a2p9vB-5nNGcEn6m-1qZPHKf04IjFHxXooQM_aBiwry9hDQXSjruolkl8jCMDe9ev79rAX_o1Hf_hu3IqZr61o/s1600/IMG_3521.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKB9x4uFkU1-KuCKMge2VEf3Xlq35TICrbGQNwPpDIewFN-LAh92e2_9a2p9vB-5nNGcEn6m-1qZPHKf04IjFHxXooQM_aBiwry9hDQXSjruolkl8jCMDe9ev79rAX_o1Hf_hu3IqZr61o/s200/IMG_3521.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613564733291410498" /></a><br />I cant believe it took me so long to post. I also cant believe that it has been three months since I returned from my second trip to Ethiopia. What a blessing it was - every step of the way.<br /><br />Going into the trip, I was hopeful that I would be influential in all of my interactions with the people I met. I knew that I would be influenced, moved, etc. I was most curious as to what the Lord would do on this trip. How would the team members work together? Would we witness spiritual transformation? How was the Southern part of Ethiopia different from Addis? Would we encounter hostility from local Muslims? How well could I rough it? <br /><br />Someone pass the Purell! Actually I took more than I needed (shocker). Anyone I have come into contact with knows I am a germaphobe. I was almost ashamed at my use of the stuff while I was there. <br /><br />Who says being a Christian cant be fun? I think adventures like this is what makes our spiritual journey exciting and wonderful. I felt like I was witnessing the Lord work in all that we did that week.<br /><br />I will spare you the details of the travel, other than to say that the direct flight from Dulles to Addis was wonderful and easy. <br /><br />We arrived in Addis and were greeting by Joe and Kay Harding. They are both Ethiopian "natives" - Joe grew up there and Kay was a missionary with SIM and intitially was in Kenya before marrying Joe and heading to Ethiopia. I believe they spent 20 plus years there - raising their children and serving the Lord. It was comforting to say the least having them leading the group. They are officially based in the U.S., live in Charlotte, and members at Church at Charlotte. They make several trip each year to Ethiopia to lead church groups.<br /><br />Getting to the heart of the matter, I was definitely moved on this trip and felt like I learned a lot about myself and evangelism in general. I knew the Ethiopian people would be smiling, happy, and generally wonderful to be around. What I was unsure of was how I would behave given my goal on this trip was to serve others versus the adoption journey that Sara and I were on last time we were in Addis in June/July 2009. I decided to follow the others on this trip that had been to Camp Langano multiple times. I was with a group of veterans that knew the lay of the land and how best to serve these wonderful folks. <br /><br />Camp Langano is five hours by van from Addis. After a four hour drive on decent roads, dodging goats, donkeys, camels, and other vehicles, we turned off the paved road onto a dirt road. This road would lead us to Camp Langano - a soccer/sports camp established by SIM (Serving in Mission) many years ago. Within the past five years Church at Charlotte has poured financial resources and multiple trips to work on building a sustainable sports ministry to children from all over Ethiopia. The Camp also helps serve the local community through a free medical clinic and s school. <br /><br />My tasks while at Camp included helping build a barn for the donkeys and building/pouring a concrete foundation for a local Muslim community (for a non-local teacher's home). The goal was to have the locals see us serving them and for them to feel the love of Christ in the process. Only the Lord knows if our efforts were successful. <br /><br />A moment I will most remember was the worship service at the local Church. The people were definitely there to praise God and worship. There were no pretenses - no one looking to see what outfit someone is wearing, no one concerned about someone hearing their crappy singing voice, and no one worried about or looking at folks coming in late. The worship was pure and awesome as people came humbly before God. <br /><br />Another moment was hearing the testimony of the SIM missionaries from Texas that have given up life in the U.S. to serve the Lord and the people of Ethiopia full-time at Camp Langano. With three kids in tow, the husband helps manage the Camp while the wife runs the local clinic - delivering babies and trying to take care of everything an American hospital would tackle. They have two beautiful daughters and one adopted boy from Africa (Zambia) - eerily similar to a family I am a part of!!! Watching them devote themselves fully to the Ethiopian people was inspiring and certainly made me look inward and question - am I doing ALL that I can? <br /><br />Lastly, I was moved by a little girl that decided to leave the local village (along the dirt road close to Camp Langano) to move to Addis. Her mission (at probably 11 years of age) was to help care for an elderly woman in Addis (the mother of one of the SportsFriends workers at the soccer camp). The girl came with our group as we left Camp to head to the capital city to prepare for our departure back to the States. It was her first trip in a car and the first time she had left a 3-4 square mile radius of her home. It was the first time she saw a paved road. It was the first time she saw a market, or a city, or anything other than a hut, goats, and a small piece of God's creation. I was most impressed and moved by her courage to leave her family (her mother had an illness that took her life years earlier) and take the next step to find opportunity. She planned to learn Amharic (he native language is not spoken in Addis) and go to school in the big city. She was basically taking on life on her own, with no parental influence other than her new relationship she would be establishing with the woman she would be caring for. At just 11 years of age. <br /><br />I am excited about what God is doing in Ethiopia. The Muslim influence is extreme, but the Lord is revealing himself to the local Imams. Conversion experiences with the Imams have been plentiful (claims by the Imams that they have literally been told by God to follow Christ) and have led to massive conversions to Christ in the Langano communities when the Imams share this with others at the mosques.<br /><br />I look forward to heading back - what a wonderful country with great people!<br /><br />TomThe Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-18666765399856504322011-02-09T18:15:00.000-08:002011-02-09T18:19:07.233-08:00Water for Ethiopia - A Glimmer of HopeWe are raising money to build 3 wells in Ethiopia!! <br />Please check out our campaign <a href="http://www.ourglimmerofhope.org/campaign/water-ethiopia">http://www.ourglimmerofhope.org/campaign/water-ethiopia</a>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-14236223264729352122011-01-15T08:17:00.000-08:002011-01-15T09:47:24.072-08:00Hole in our GospelOne of my New Year's resolutions is to read more. And not just the mindless fiction I normally like to nod off while reading, but "meaty" and challenging books. <br /><br />So far I've read Mary Beth Chapman's "Choosing to See" and "One Million Arrows". I highly recommend both. I am currently reading "The Hole In Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns, the President of World Vision. It is challenging and a must-read in my opinion.<br /><br />One of my all-time favorite musicians, Bono from the band U2 is quoted in the book. His words:<br /><br />15,000 Africans are dying each day of preventable, treatable diseases – AIDS, malaria, TB – for lack of drugs that we take for granted. There is no way we could conclude that such mass death day afer day would ever be allowed to happen anywhere else. Certainly not North America or Europe, or Japan. An entire continent bursting into flames? Deep down, if we really accept that their lives – African lives are equal to ours, we would all be doing more to put the fire out. <br />We can be the generation that no longer accepts that an accident of latitude determines whehter a child lives or dies – but will we be that generation? We can’t say our generation didn’t know how to. We can’t say our generation couldn’t afford it. And we can’t say our generation didn’t have reason to do it. It’s up to us.<br />-Bono<br /><br />If it was happening in our community we would take action. If one of our friend's child was dying of AIDS and needed life-saving medicine, we would do whatever we could to ensure that child received the medicine he/she needed. Wouldn't we?<br /><br />So why are we able to look the other way? I think we become paralyzed by the overwhelming nature of the statistics. 26,575 children dye EVERY day from mostly preventable causes related to their poverty. That is overwhelming. <br /><br />One death is a tragedy; a million is a statistic. - Josef Stalin<br /><br />Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything. - Bob Pierce<br /><br />So where do we start? Stearns concludes chapter 7 of his book by saying <em>"Why did God make me? To love, serve , and obey Him. </em>Very simple, yet extremely profound. If we all woke up every morning asking, "How can I love, serve, and obey God today?" it might change everything - it might even change the world."The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-8799562003668665852010-12-13T12:57:00.000-08:002010-12-17T15:16:34.887-08:00Sympathy is no substitution for actionThis quote was on a church sign near our home last week. It has stuck with me because isn't this how most of us live our lives? Most people feel sympathetic to those in need and might even think about doing soemthing to help. But if you are anything like me those thoughts rarely get put into action. <br /><br />My goal for the coming year is to put my sympathetic thoughts into action more often.<br /><br />I started this post a few days ago and then today saw the video below. Powerful. <br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/UWHJ6-YhSYQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/UWHJ6-YhSYQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-7170649282485835552010-12-10T05:10:00.000-08:002010-12-10T05:32:06.897-08:00The Joy of Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthoG0NtHtYBG7ltzRAG63d9x3nceFVeJiCCswwe07yebpndV5yBZUslB4c6ooswVwOUR0-Rhg4VvXTuD9csosbSRPvrqp8iwiIrFyjdm8rbkWqJ2Y54aV6k-wZEGWy5nOlLk5aK5yXw6n/s1600/dec+2010+008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgthoG0NtHtYBG7ltzRAG63d9x3nceFVeJiCCswwe07yebpndV5yBZUslB4c6ooswVwOUR0-Rhg4VvXTuD9csosbSRPvrqp8iwiIrFyjdm8rbkWqJ2Y54aV6k-wZEGWy5nOlLk5aK5yXw6n/s200/dec+2010+008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549040973693066450" /></a><br /><br /><strong><strong><strong>Every YEAR 2,102,400 more children become orphans</strong> in Africa alone</strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>Every DAY 38,493 children AGE OUT of the orphanage...they will be turned out into the streets...with NOTHING</strong><br /><br />Staggering statistics, seems hopeless, yet we can all make a difference.<br /><br />I love this time of year. The lights & decorations, Christmas music blaring through our home, all the extra cookies & goodies....lots of excitement each day as we approach Christmas day. Such a joyous time for us yet a lonely time for so many. <br /><br />I pray this season we will remember the true reason for the season and share the joy and hope of our Savior's birth by helping or loving someone in need.The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-53698898052648127702010-11-12T17:51:00.001-08:002010-11-12T18:02:49.948-08:00The Superheroes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzNMOYdtpfi7G1eU29RIYs3oj6GLagqBtk6P4yD1B-8YjzI62BvPuYCP1ehceeOM-7PEjTiUglqnLudmtcks-Oq4dJBTSkPdbJuFuOz8tn4KiWJtUUULZ0X4HoEP4xB31qmoeVdWX3Mr0/s1600/FAll+2010+081.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzNMOYdtpfi7G1eU29RIYs3oj6GLagqBtk6P4yD1B-8YjzI62BvPuYCP1ehceeOM-7PEjTiUglqnLudmtcks-Oq4dJBTSkPdbJuFuOz8tn4KiWJtUUULZ0X4HoEP4xB31qmoeVdWX3Mr0/s200/FAll+2010+081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538848892037882354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE6k96QWaIEyuhQyX7ffmrrpP6Mm6muxNeIOjcceSINwGcW0g4mAuN22-xXZpfHgEfJdLCwWZ9n0YB33pFXQ1IB5hb0UxRBso6apaMjMGXvGVesp1kkkh26q6vXOQQNZsH28WpjEPiLwN/s1600/FAll+2010+061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaE6k96QWaIEyuhQyX7ffmrrpP6Mm6muxNeIOjcceSINwGcW0g4mAuN22-xXZpfHgEfJdLCwWZ9n0YB33pFXQ1IB5hb0UxRBso6apaMjMGXvGVesp1kkkh26q6vXOQQNZsH28WpjEPiLwN/s200/FAll+2010+061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538848889052902018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBHKrvnzdbLIM1b6eWtCRlihdqVR7pJ8YCDd8uxlSpZ7oPF1T_2p8NXE8aOW5OPsLPdeXwfcHDoNS0fhp6GigG2YqU-KxSeidFdKJN9Wv0psMZZ7x0KWur79dPJ6rMoxw3FdeTkc_e-ae/s1600/FAll+2010+047.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyBHKrvnzdbLIM1b6eWtCRlihdqVR7pJ8YCDd8uxlSpZ7oPF1T_2p8NXE8aOW5OPsLPdeXwfcHDoNS0fhp6GigG2YqU-KxSeidFdKJN9Wv0psMZZ7x0KWur79dPJ6rMoxw3FdeTkc_e-ae/s200/FAll+2010+047.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538848878697140738" /></a><br />Spider man, Bat girl, and Super girl to the rescue...<br /><br />And yes, sweet Silas T got a new hair do. Isn't he handsome?!The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-34948836749847515812010-11-12T17:03:00.000-08:002010-11-12T17:51:13.602-08:00NYC Girls Trip<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWu8iCpOz8o3P8xVVnMBYIJhZl96kgiEmLMs0zZaLMd8Gr_UPzrHeuq9EXO-HIfzcY7iugdNkK_YQeGQqWednQ8_Sx6k0KnVJigmF2GO9QTVQk1E2yZ2ReaDStOBWzXzenkAL6M9yG69D/s1600/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWu8iCpOz8o3P8xVVnMBYIJhZl96kgiEmLMs0zZaLMd8Gr_UPzrHeuq9EXO-HIfzcY7iugdNkK_YQeGQqWednQ8_Sx6k0KnVJigmF2GO9QTVQk1E2yZ2ReaDStOBWzXzenkAL6M9yG69D/s200/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+214.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538845395343353506" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6j_KYVD0HmV62SSdyLkFmqLEmMmEoPmRcelqn_tBNFYST0wkY2IMyHvgcImqEEJrI6keoizWyJRcIiSudX-4d0KqWvhDpaGHkuwyUGQ3VKp7ZCKdZcCbMrOFTmhhf3ot9Ndl1u2SVqw/s1600/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+135.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS6j_KYVD0HmV62SSdyLkFmqLEmMmEoPmRcelqn_tBNFYST0wkY2IMyHvgcImqEEJrI6keoizWyJRcIiSudX-4d0KqWvhDpaGHkuwyUGQ3VKp7ZCKdZcCbMrOFTmhhf3ot9Ndl1u2SVqw/s200/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+135.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538845392633394642" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu3VHc-X4qfXqnhEC-iSIFxTPDXd7HCx09Jkhz5VKQHXKRq8DZYbjWNoU8sG98ddghGb_O4mzxS6BR-JGfagEog8Xk1nwf9Y0VGGmwJplrZRJ_Cks5MiJJkUkyftFl00fgcvyJ3cQVuqR/s1600/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+122.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu3VHc-X4qfXqnhEC-iSIFxTPDXd7HCx09Jkhz5VKQHXKRq8DZYbjWNoU8sG98ddghGb_O4mzxS6BR-JGfagEog8Xk1nwf9Y0VGGmwJplrZRJ_Cks5MiJJkUkyftFl00fgcvyJ3cQVuqR/s200/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+122.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538845381855862930" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBoctE7Oti72j-rBCatMeT2vbtNBOsLbDBFZCxMc72ot2-CFRC3or5qsP2tQLAxDvjI8KSwgRWArCz7pBf8yWVsJw5VFXB3u4uIC5BBeL2X4fmBji4su1302JYng9VRczjczt_dgEpUVx/s1600/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBoctE7Oti72j-rBCatMeT2vbtNBOsLbDBFZCxMc72ot2-CFRC3or5qsP2tQLAxDvjI8KSwgRWArCz7pBf8yWVsJw5VFXB3u4uIC5BBeL2X4fmBji4su1302JYng9VRczjczt_dgEpUVx/s200/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538842831752086562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOIcUzmgbNR7NULlmj0Q8DpiGNBCbqu-SvDJdHHu3oH1WSKgGSu6zsXVexckdB53wOSWYbq6Ap29LH1WS3KFcns4U6zbNPb33jv8vey8rARng_M3TVbxj-4wRaO-dXVOTUdU7Ar0CXqtp/s1600/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOIcUzmgbNR7NULlmj0Q8DpiGNBCbqu-SvDJdHHu3oH1WSKgGSu6zsXVexckdB53wOSWYbq6Ap29LH1WS3KFcns4U6zbNPb33jv8vey8rARng_M3TVbxj-4wRaO-dXVOTUdU7Ar0CXqtp/s200/NY+trip+and+Halloween+2010+013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538842827934944194" /></a><br />My mom, the girls and I had an amazing trip to NYC!!! It was so much fun and the girls were so good and loved the big city. We saw Mary Poppins, went to The Plaza, did a carriage ride through Central Park, ate at Serendipity, FAO, had dinner at American Girl Doll Store, took the ferry to see Statue of Liberty...a memorable trip I will cherish forever!The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-78773466224323823212010-09-24T14:10:00.000-07:002010-09-24T14:17:13.618-07:00Another first tooth....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx3gc93BE407oU0aaIBfL7usPl8EVEFGxuakyXLwrMTumnjyV4jDZE_GzXEWc3hXTcDIkNJSFG20W036KUKw3BpvxUYcCRdacpM0hfDpPOlvimNROjqwCAozXa8icF8iD1jhzbgkwalKs/s1600/silas+lost+tooth+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsx3gc93BE407oU0aaIBfL7usPl8EVEFGxuakyXLwrMTumnjyV4jDZE_GzXEWc3hXTcDIkNJSFG20W036KUKw3BpvxUYcCRdacpM0hfDpPOlvimNROjqwCAozXa8icF8iD1jhzbgkwalKs/s320/silas+lost+tooth+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520591255085636114" /></a><br />a few years too soon...but Silas lost his first tooth!The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-85846554427694428572010-09-21T17:33:00.000-07:002010-09-21T17:52:10.810-07:00All Grown Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyNfZhjKRcnTmmh7p_grtO9_LAxGP6yu-daX6rsuPZmg-sBSJcZy5KVeSbIXLNVH-WOPDaNGFBocnjTVTDbOJDJYcV7_-3V3I_IpqnwEMMBSS28l6KAYTF0AUzDPl0ShkVAKRPnsV14Y4/s1600/Liv's+7th+party+031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyNfZhjKRcnTmmh7p_grtO9_LAxGP6yu-daX6rsuPZmg-sBSJcZy5KVeSbIXLNVH-WOPDaNGFBocnjTVTDbOJDJYcV7_-3V3I_IpqnwEMMBSS28l6KAYTF0AUzDPl0ShkVAKRPnsV14Y4/s320/Liv's+7th+party+031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519532665928377266" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_-OR1l-5t15_gqmQp_9iI2Lp2HjieWU2T11dYeUOiz84ESjEG6jrKPlSnAsZrnt2tvEHwygEuf_2vOX9OwjMsZrA2hPYm8JJ6ysUGgssVahIcAIPeAEjT0iBwt8G4hq1A827cjc_FjVQ/s1600/Olivia's+7th+bday+185.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_-OR1l-5t15_gqmQp_9iI2Lp2HjieWU2T11dYeUOiz84ESjEG6jrKPlSnAsZrnt2tvEHwygEuf_2vOX9OwjMsZrA2hPYm8JJ6ysUGgssVahIcAIPeAEjT0iBwt8G4hq1A827cjc_FjVQ/s320/Olivia's+7th+bday+185.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519532651411985714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhCOCx_TQedqzdAT_aYtNIITh5nmBbyLJ6YMLcaP1GpCee7SPy5YHWtk5d6tSJZVb1pPd_F4rrrem4Wex5Hb9CZTVx21OVXgkSa2rEt7VKGGIQZlbmllBEXmJ9etNOrb1A8s0G1dS6x3S/s1600/Olivia's+7th+bday+093.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihhCOCx_TQedqzdAT_aYtNIITh5nmBbyLJ6YMLcaP1GpCee7SPy5YHWtk5d6tSJZVb1pPd_F4rrrem4Wex5Hb9CZTVx21OVXgkSa2rEt7VKGGIQZlbmllBEXmJ9etNOrb1A8s0G1dS6x3S/s320/Olivia's+7th+bday+093.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519532640558439746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhNQYnVf6p6gWfMxcF9DdrZPDXwMpowkt31B6xnDEMXwupXOVORUSWHqrWzeyIenqQPKxnXbhSYWd3td5JtmlCzuywcyPyltJBMlOSaOdJfpbSQ8EKWlt5V33JCmDw79iK0aItWV-fLmE/s1600/Liv's+7th+party+037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhNQYnVf6p6gWfMxcF9DdrZPDXwMpowkt31B6xnDEMXwupXOVORUSWHqrWzeyIenqQPKxnXbhSYWd3td5JtmlCzuywcyPyltJBMlOSaOdJfpbSQ8EKWlt5V33JCmDw79iK0aItWV-fLmE/s320/Liv's+7th+party+037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519532636307199314" /></a><br />Two days before my first baby turned 7, she lost her first tooth! We had an Almost Slumber Party to celebrate her birtday with friends and it was so much fun. The girls played musical sleeping bags, had sleeping bag races and giggled and laughed for 3 hours!! <br />We've had a crazy, fun start to the new school year....wanted to post a few pics from Liv's birthday, first tooth, bird day & school fun. Also, a sweet pic of our boy in his Etiopian outfit.<br />xoxo,<br />SaraThe Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-44012173620526010082010-08-26T04:46:00.001-07:002010-08-26T04:49:56.865-07:00First Day, Finally...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz84_hCI1PkL4ZdYWLHh2EQo9TYJkXzWwWu78YGTNb98pW6SOP8nR9ijGdGBIJPDqAFVCywlS5EfGiFvxd3kjq_T0O5dRbq3beruvzOsytP1_tSZ7iq2nRW-qi7rqe7_cl1EW_7-FNC1nM/s1600/first+day+of+school+2010+004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz84_hCI1PkL4ZdYWLHh2EQo9TYJkXzWwWu78YGTNb98pW6SOP8nR9ijGdGBIJPDqAFVCywlS5EfGiFvxd3kjq_T0O5dRbq3beruvzOsytP1_tSZ7iq2nRW-qi7rqe7_cl1EW_7-FNC1nM/s320/first+day+of+school+2010+004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509684301677914658" /></a>The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-54431447897594023682010-08-24T17:46:00.000-07:002010-08-25T16:24:54.104-07:00Back to School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B-xROtg0pYoWibcQ_CpMCflUglM5CTL2WtkapnSlRwx067ZD0JJzEHcyVcA6Wf_uZAigkYvborRZkLk6LTSi6wjDR69C95F83LrgUNoU3HKDvq1m4GZMcCGVjrKO6o0_LYCHyPc05ufc/s1600/first+day+of+school+2010+005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9B-xROtg0pYoWibcQ_CpMCflUglM5CTL2WtkapnSlRwx067ZD0JJzEHcyVcA6Wf_uZAigkYvborRZkLk6LTSi6wjDR69C95F83LrgUNoU3HKDvq1m4GZMcCGVjrKO6o0_LYCHyPc05ufc/s320/first+day+of+school+2010+005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509148513200431938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEdvvXOZxUw_TxOAv0ifdVnsPftE0pNHt8kFblZpUDe4NUxNzNOmXr7RH-58vCopfe7TmQFydwzMEhYgz9CIxG5nsq5R-rmoUlkFt1bXZIaSw3PEwwzdRMYutqUlJjDTH-ihKfTxvEH10/s1600/olivia+1st+day+of+school+2010+002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLEdvvXOZxUw_TxOAv0ifdVnsPftE0pNHt8kFblZpUDe4NUxNzNOmXr7RH-58vCopfe7TmQFydwzMEhYgz9CIxG5nsq5R-rmoUlkFt1bXZIaSw3PEwwzdRMYutqUlJjDTH-ihKfTxvEH10/s320/olivia+1st+day+of+school+2010+002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509148510478967682" /></a><br />Olivia started 1st grade last week and Silas even started preschool. Sydney was supposed to start today but ended up home sick. Poor thing was the last one to have her first day and my child who is never sick wound up ill the night before her big day. I'm praying I can post her "first day of school" picture tomorrow. <br /><br />I had not planned to be home today cuddling with my sweet girl, making sure she had medicine & holding her while she was sick but I was so thankful I was able to do just that. To think there are so many moms who can't comfort their children when they are sick is heartbreaking. Can you imagine having a child who is sick, even deathly sick and not having access to the medicine that could save his/her life? It is hard to grasp such circumstances when we are so very blessed here in the USA. I pray that we will care for those in need just as we've been commanded to do.<br /><br />1 John 3:17-18 "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees hi.s brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth"<br /><br />James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.<br /><br />Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required"The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-11377433343787427902010-08-16T06:42:00.000-07:002010-08-16T12:39:03.192-07:00Happy Birthday, Silas T!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4giuodiQt4FYxKMfagcFkVG7L4eMs9wb2_dkW2D2t7275N94djcEYWatfoNfayQMLFHVR_WY7G9Y9uH6C2ieWqowNPLRKlZE-tqwaNtVgwSaG8MMSmCVknxtsJ6cdsH5N3fEqnDrmISi/s1600/Silas+Bday+2010+052.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4giuodiQt4FYxKMfagcFkVG7L4eMs9wb2_dkW2D2t7275N94djcEYWatfoNfayQMLFHVR_WY7G9Y9uH6C2ieWqowNPLRKlZE-tqwaNtVgwSaG8MMSmCVknxtsJ6cdsH5N3fEqnDrmISi/s320/Silas+Bday+2010+052.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506084911448931938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsVtYwUwVc4NgTQyRXX4jM9xTS1PCbNoOgxXfwPfEnx9RCcUWZ09tR61yDdwbLFQbGP-uLFrdc8XC8Cw3g8TV3LsrO4dt7p7ZO0JMgLHr_eAGUej6qflhn6c2WP__WgwwFD_c7adlt1NA/s1600/Silas+Bday+2010+024.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsVtYwUwVc4NgTQyRXX4jM9xTS1PCbNoOgxXfwPfEnx9RCcUWZ09tR61yDdwbLFQbGP-uLFrdc8XC8Cw3g8TV3LsrO4dt7p7ZO0JMgLHr_eAGUej6qflhn6c2WP__WgwwFD_c7adlt1NA/s320/Silas+Bday+2010+024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506084898891374354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3_6AkF7PdkC9ylSqi8vydeUg9rRwg_eQY7EHvF7Nxuiv8K5EO9BRVf_q7O0utC96lydWieywtxnep0ru5tDmEzPfmc_WC7b1TR0QsExRg3Lk33PyKi6TLJ-ZHh-7plMXSUCmfVxyfSbC/s1600/Silas+Bday+2010+025.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3_6AkF7PdkC9ylSqi8vydeUg9rRwg_eQY7EHvF7Nxuiv8K5EO9BRVf_q7O0utC96lydWieywtxnep0ru5tDmEzPfmc_WC7b1TR0QsExRg3Lk33PyKi6TLJ-ZHh-7plMXSUCmfVxyfSbC/s320/Silas+Bday+2010+025.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506084895355588946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij13jsTPJPxpouXrqhwpfRNm_EPlqJnLDm9E0Z7NyEA2nxLGzwIb5HuROykXEb9d3ciB2fPV-j2F6EieU1MnMVf3SFl5DgWJlawe4KmQyG5644oj5hPVqweRg7xwCbmRSKumWupWLUR6Zu/s1600/Silas+Bday+2010+023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij13jsTPJPxpouXrqhwpfRNm_EPlqJnLDm9E0Z7NyEA2nxLGzwIb5HuROykXEb9d3ciB2fPV-j2F6EieU1MnMVf3SFl5DgWJlawe4KmQyG5644oj5hPVqweRg7xwCbmRSKumWupWLUR6Zu/s320/Silas+Bday+2010+023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506084887747000514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tzo6C8-nbUFbelDBS-YnabpXIWUAFcK7wKf4My5ymQMXsGWcmSjGNlqb4fhRKZ5YP3NOn3c8dWWUHKo7fVUJ3D73qnuV9EUDZb6uib88nYmQHTyMOJpCDAMM45VW3ee3UXZc-1hM6dD-/s1600/Silas+Bday+2010+032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tzo6C8-nbUFbelDBS-YnabpXIWUAFcK7wKf4My5ymQMXsGWcmSjGNlqb4fhRKZ5YP3NOn3c8dWWUHKo7fVUJ3D73qnuV9EUDZb6uib88nYmQHTyMOJpCDAMM45VW3ee3UXZc-1hM6dD-/s320/Silas+Bday+2010+032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506084885472662114" /></a><br />Our little man turns two years old tomorrow on the 17th! We celebrated over the weekend with dinner at the Ethiopian restaurant in Charlotte, Meskerem. <br /><br />Silas refused to even try any of the food but he sure enjoyed that ginger ale in his big boy cup! Olivia tried everything and loved it. She says that means she gets to go on our next trip to Ethiopia. And it sure did make me want to go back. So many memories came flooding back, seeing all the pictures and memorabilia from Ethiopia and the beautiful Ethiopian women who served us. I swear they are the faces of the most beautiful people in the world and have the most beautiful spirit. I truly can't wait to go back. <br /><br />We love you sweet boy and are so thankful you are our son. You have added more joy to our lives than we ever dreamed possible.The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-60107326891592157882010-07-16T16:03:00.000-07:002010-07-16T16:46:21.914-07:00Uncle Sam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq55bloMkcKnUs5EPIBdDmBHHFdWj3baI4xqnCfk1j8Cc8SQyKloKeL_qRTvqmDr-DBf1ZG-AO46WuyOIQHsWagAtkfJGD_I0mIrZZIq-EKqvcHN6RsA1jBEFrxJqzyzeovo_S5S2L-xQ/s1600/July+2010+090.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBq55bloMkcKnUs5EPIBdDmBHHFdWj3baI4xqnCfk1j8Cc8SQyKloKeL_qRTvqmDr-DBf1ZG-AO46WuyOIQHsWagAtkfJGD_I0mIrZZIq-EKqvcHN6RsA1jBEFrxJqzyzeovo_S5S2L-xQ/s320/July+2010+090.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494645049354469490" /></a><br />Oh the fun!! 2 weeks at the beach was just what we needed...SO FUN!<br /><br />Here is Silas as Uncle Sam for the 4th of July parade at Fripp. Could he be any cuter?The Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8166520928085731085.post-50096388418436194872010-06-16T13:43:00.001-07:002010-06-16T14:34:01.569-07:00Summertime is Here!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFspsc9pLsSK-trLWZJMdxzhW1cB2K_SJsKeMZvuUJ3kfPBGT9zErQa3r-mgRCUgdZVSlOcYnXX34U-DXt6B8ERdnrynxO2JXTu_xSz-HuWhOsRLSkanMjbsa_S5PXr5kHMnrQVW1TzawN/s1600/june+2010+068.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFspsc9pLsSK-trLWZJMdxzhW1cB2K_SJsKeMZvuUJ3kfPBGT9zErQa3r-mgRCUgdZVSlOcYnXX34U-DXt6B8ERdnrynxO2JXTu_xSz-HuWhOsRLSkanMjbsa_S5PXr5kHMnrQVW1TzawN/s320/june+2010+068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483481189473991874" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ1yPIPfKY4XPIkdAhpcd1tJz84aUIbXaqAjwzYCYWNxC805F1JLl8WigDVNmgGZh8dpb_sfUxJFSV6zAU_SkiWBh3wdA_wcZLSqZ6RM7-E1FKusOE0uhHEDKowwOeXjQVDBmjiNXtGXX/s1600/june+2010+097.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZ1yPIPfKY4XPIkdAhpcd1tJz84aUIbXaqAjwzYCYWNxC805F1JLl8WigDVNmgGZh8dpb_sfUxJFSV6zAU_SkiWBh3wdA_wcZLSqZ6RM7-E1FKusOE0uhHEDKowwOeXjQVDBmjiNXtGXX/s320/june+2010+097.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483480253070047778" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfGRPauymhTjnN7F63pvfSSZBXW-PTHONxYWJM8wOj3Fiodj8-dwIdkw1p1PD-NyMV0wy-t3wshbUDdKIw3lGiCA5zGlsvN5rY7Ho30FHgLvWIooAEgNNqCp78Gr-El1mHsgOIEm45S9M/s1600/june+2010+108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfGRPauymhTjnN7F63pvfSSZBXW-PTHONxYWJM8wOj3Fiodj8-dwIdkw1p1PD-NyMV0wy-t3wshbUDdKIw3lGiCA5zGlsvN5rY7Ho30FHgLvWIooAEgNNqCp78Gr-El1mHsgOIEm45S9M/s320/june+2010+108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483480242698145410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbmkuv2F4bnPJTQEMUSb_evt84-I0Ms5QPUm3eZ9edTuA1vwyhPqDIKGAR_vi_u7G-7ANEhn9VJ3CYnG6lYhHtV_pLb0-Z1yPBjDiKZwtcc9G7aqu0yRWh3jrbwmeUgHySZD4SDaOrLE6/s1600/june+2010+158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbmkuv2F4bnPJTQEMUSb_evt84-I0Ms5QPUm3eZ9edTuA1vwyhPqDIKGAR_vi_u7G-7ANEhn9VJ3CYnG6lYhHtV_pLb0-Z1yPBjDiKZwtcc9G7aqu0yRWh3jrbwmeUgHySZD4SDaOrLE6/s320/june+2010+158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483480232677338978" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g2SCcIJfTfOwAYcE-24GAy-cLfEJhE6qHFMugGbkK7SW5iH5BRukKOtpeXrGSfD1cAE-SQplbWKPJGmn7UMCKv-MT9nszYWVScS4B-jR_ZE181m8EQE2Bt31g1yz2nFivmuhkM9Y6Miq/s1600/june+2010+071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g2SCcIJfTfOwAYcE-24GAy-cLfEJhE6qHFMugGbkK7SW5iH5BRukKOtpeXrGSfD1cAE-SQplbWKPJGmn7UMCKv-MT9nszYWVScS4B-jR_ZE181m8EQE2Bt31g1yz2nFivmuhkM9Y6Miq/s320/june+2010+071.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483480225784139858" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnEpkg8Ym9u14pOWbGaKiZnmLu3q2gC16ENIIE97jHgVL0QmXQGdI_f_J-rOfNMvihxi921ND3phbLF_emOuzWk4c3fgRT7RV2S05H_LcqDOJrQ5U5CmMP7tmPe7JF2UCqLUymRLmpks8/s1600/june+2010+014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnEpkg8Ym9u14pOWbGaKiZnmLu3q2gC16ENIIE97jHgVL0QmXQGdI_f_J-rOfNMvihxi921ND3phbLF_emOuzWk4c3fgRT7RV2S05H_LcqDOJrQ5U5CmMP7tmPe7JF2UCqLUymRLmpks8/s320/june+2010+014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483480221486245842" /></a><br />It's been quite awhile since I've posted so I decided to post pics from our Spring (prior post) and these pics from our start to summer for an update. We are loving summertime!!<br />We had an awesome trip to Florida to celebrate Doc's retirement (unfortanetly no good pics on my camera from that trip), trip to Mimi & Pop's, Liv's Kindergarten graduation, trip to Athens to visit our dear friends Em & Anabel, Liv is enjoying swim team & girls' dance recitals. <br />Hope you all are enjoying summertime!<br />xoxo,<br />SaraThe Jackson 5http://www.blogger.com/profile/07308267687666357182noreply@blogger.com0