The Hanks Gang

Christmas #4 - and New Year's Eve! Whew!

2010-12-31T19:23:00.000-08:00

For our last big HURRAH of the year - we meet at Mom and Dad's clubhouse and have Christmas with them. They were leaving the next day for Arizona...but it was so good to get to see them and have Christmas with them before they left.

As a bonus, Jodi and Chad were in from Tennessee. Chad had just had his surgery on his knee...so you know that the trip had to be difficult for him. It was really good to have them all here. Just missed the Collins Crew from out west!!! That would have made it perfect!

The goofballs got the afternoon off to a fun start just being silly! They are a barrel of fun... and keep us all in stitches.

I'm refraining from gift pictures...because there are soooooo many. However, the tongue...I just had to show the tongue.

Our token photo of Briana and McCaleb. We have the opportunity dozens of times when we are all together. This is just one of many....

The kids opening their Hussein money for Christmas. They loved it - it was a hit.

B all cuddled up in his new Michigan snuggli... and looking especially adorable.

Jodi opening her letter from me - in hindsight I should have let her read the note later...and open her necklace now. The Serenity Prayer on a pendant. I am so proud of Jodi - and her accomplishments. She is an awesome, strong and amazing woman.

Awww...it's me and my sweet husband. This was our 13th Christmas together and yet...it's always fun like it's the first one. He is a good man - I am truly blessed.

Whoo hoo! My Ole Miss shirt from JoJo. Now I can wear my Daddy's colors proud!

HILARIOUS! I was trying to get a picture of the two of them... and Chuck throws up his book to show me...right in front of Jamie's face. He's a mess! :)

There she is! Without the book to block her sweet smile! My big Sis. Love her!

I thought this was a super great photo of Mom and Dad. They are so funny. It was a fun day with lots of games and playing, good food...and a lot of laughing.

I think everyone began to wind down a little as the evening wore on. It seems like as I looked around, the kids started to fall over before the adults did.

By the time we got home - all the kids were OUT. Tim and I watched the ball drop, gave each other a kiss and headed to bed. We were exhausted!

2010 was a wonderful year for the Hanks Gang. We hope that you had a wonderful year, too...and pray that 2011 is a blessed year for you all!

Christmas - Take Three...

2010-12-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

Jamie and Briana making blankets for LuLu and Jr! Everyone pitched in to help!!!

The Three Amigos - always entertaining and always keep us on our toes. (You have no idea...)

Daddy, Frances and Kelsey came up the day after Christmas to spend their Christmas with us. It was so much fun! (As it always is...) We had a very relaxing and enjoyable time. I really wish I had some pictures of Daddy sleeping with Ugly Kitty in the basement. ;) Or sitting on Nini's lap... who doesn't like cats at all.

Daddy loved his Saddam Hussein money that we put in an envelope. Sent over to us by our special friend serving in the Middle East. :)

Frances' best (well maybe just ONE of the best...) colors. I love her in RED and BLACK. :)

Since Santa bought the girls camera's for Christmas...they think they can hijack my camera and get photos of me! UGH!! I am always the one that takes the pictures...I'm not in them.

Seriously - this is ALL she asked for. LITERALLY. I have had it for months... and she was tickled to death. I love that girl! She's a hoot!

Voila'! We can't get through a family function with at LEAST one of these photos... or two... or three.....

Yes, two pix of my boy. He's just so cute - ya know?? Besides... I only have the one. I need to get as much mileage out of him as possible!! ;)

I'm sensing a bit of attitude in this photo. Can't remember who said what...but it was obviously met with disapproval from the 8yr old with attitude....

Kelsey's birthday in January - which is only a few days away...so I had her gift ready (for a change) while she was here. Remarkable...I know.

McCaleb had just tested for a new belt in karate - so we got him a belt display case (not really for Christmas...just to keep the belts all in one place).

Christmas Day! 2011

2010-12-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

We are so blessed! Just the joy that these children bring to our lives...is overwhelming. We started out the morning with Miss Whitley's homemade sourdough cinnamon rolls....oh, yeah... we are blessed. :)

Rachel's "big" gift came in the way of a Brittney she named Lilly. (Gotta love that Santa...always bringing gifts that KEEP ON GIVING....)

A very cool music box for Tim in the shape of a phone with little elves on it. It plays a Christmas song... and is really neat.

Lilly Pearl was tuckered out after her long trip from the NORTH POLE. She was just so happy to have a lap to sit in and get all warmed up. I don't think the poor puppy got to walk at all the first day (or week...)

My munchkins by the Christmas Tree...with and without Lilly Pearl. (Like I said - poor pup.)

Even Briana couldn't help herself... and wanted to hold little Lilly. I honestly don't think her feet hit the ground at all Christmas Day.

Our traditional shot of Briana and her little man, McCaleb. I think the puppy got more attention than he did... and I think he was a wee bit jealous.

Later in the day - for Christmas dinner some of our extended family showed up! Kelvin, Donna and RJ came over as well as Shelli! It was a blast. We had our (not so traditional) Christmas Dinner of two kinds of Lasagna, garlic bread, salad, fruit, and plenty of tasty desserts! It was delicious!

And then - to end our night: the annual poses by the fireplace! Which, of course included Lilly. Look! She's on the floor! Remarkable...

We played games, we played Wii, the men talked coffee (and I mean, they seriously talked about coffee...) and we had a wonderful night! Good friends and family, good food and good fun!

It's one of the reasons I love the holidays so much! I love having everyone over and just spending time together.

The best kids in the world!

Christmas Eve

2010-12-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve we went to Aunt Melanie's house to celebrate with the family. We LOVE to get together with family...and this time we had the opportunity to include GINGERBREAD HOUSE BUILDING as one of our activities. (Oh, my!)

The kids did a fabulous job decorating the houses... they had so MUCH FUN!

I think the onlookers got tired of waiting...but in the end it was worth the wait.

Of course, Daddy could not leave the construction to the kids alone - and in jest, I told him I wanted a chalet or a little cabin.

McCaleb said he built an RV for his gingerbread house. It was sure cute! And he did it mostly all by himself.

Rachel really channelled her inner elf... and truly embraced the theory that MORE is MORE. I think she used at least one of everything on the table!

All in all it was a wonderful day with the best part being the time we were able to spend together. Family is so important to us...and we treasure all our time together.

Oh - and naturally... Tim pulled off the best cabin made out of gingerbread ever... and he even threw in the front porch to boot! I love that man!

Christmas with the Combs'

2010-12-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of our favorite things to do....eating and being with friends! Doing them at the same time...is just the icing on the cake! For our Christmas this year we decided to go to Mi Mexico (another favorite) with our friends Kelvin, Donna and RJ Combs. We LOVE the Combs family!! They are the best!

Little RJ is 100% pure sugar. I love that little guy...he is just a doll. And he is soooo funny! I especially like watching him play with McCaleb. McCaleb doesn't get enough "BOY" time...since he is so outnumbered.

These times together are some of the best times of our lives. We don't get to spend the time with them that we would like... but when we do get together it is always a blast!

Boone Tavern and Photo Ops...

2010-12-05T12:28:00.000-08:00

On December 5th we headed to Berea to go to lunch at Boone Tavern. Love that place... but without the generosity of my dear friend, Shelli...we probably wouldn't have made this trip! (Thank you Shelli!!) I decided to get the kids all dressed up for the trip - and it was a perfect time to get their photos by the trees at the Tavern.

Since they were all SPIFFED up, I decided to try and get the Christmas card photo. So I lined them up at the fire place... and began shooting.

There were a lot of great shots to choose from. However there were a few that I personally liked...but didn't think we should use for our card this year.

This was one of my favorites that we didn't use....

Aren't they cute?

One with "Santa"...

But this one was my favorite. :) They are a mess...but I sure do love them.

Be Still My Heart

2010-12-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Ali turned nine in December. Seriously - N.I.N.E. I really can't believe that she is growing up so fast. It boggles my mind!

Her little brother loves her so much...but Rachel idolizes her. She wants to include Ali in everything she does and she is so concerned at all times over Ali and her well-being. It's very sweet. They are two peas in a pod.

Sadly...on her birthday, Sara got mad at her and went to her room. I decided not to spend time cajoling her into coming down to be part of the celebration - so I don't have a picture of them together. It was pretty sad... and Ali kept saying she would wait...but I didn't want her to be penalized on her big day. So we have Ali's birthday, sans Sara. (She ate cake the next day...and was a much happier camper once she realized we weren't going to wait on her for the festivities.)

We've come a long way, baby!

Frick and Frack

So grown up!

But never to big to be held by Daddy...

Ali is quite the sweetheart. Each of the kids is special in their own way...but Ali certainly has the sweetness. She is genuine, through and through. She is very much in tune with people's emotions and can tell me when someone is having a bad day.

It's hard to believe that she is nine... and that soon she will be in DOUBLE DIGITS. Yikes. I am so blessed to be her mom...she has taught me so much. Happy Birthday Alejandra! We love you!

Something To Be THANKFUL For

2010-11-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving we had Jamie's family and Jodi's family over to our house. It was such a fun time!

We ate too much, played too long, and laughed waaayyy too hard! But it was so much fun to be together and just to relax and enjoy each other's company.

This is the serious picture of the kids. (As serious as they can be...)

This is the "freestyle" pose of the kids.... this is what we USUALLY deal with...

This is the SERIOUS pose for the sisters.... bah ha ha.

We sure do miss having the whole family together. But it was great to at least have these two with me, even if it was just a couple of days. SO MUCH to be thankful for.

Pop's Big Day

2010-11-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

On November 4th, Daddy turned 75 years old! We couldn't be down in Mississippi for his big day - so we traveled down to Nashville on the 13th... and the Southern part of the family traveled up from Mississippi, Alabama and Memphis... and we met for lunch at a steakhouse for a surprise get-together.

Daddy has a BEAUTIFUL family....if I do say so myself! The kids are all so precious!!

Rachel loved giving Jr. a bottle.... she is absolutely a snuggle bug and loves to cuddle.

This is my absolute favorite picture of these three! I LOVE IT. They all look fabulous!!

It was a great day - and such fun to celebrate the MAN in our lives. He is such a joy to be around and is such a great example for all of us of self-less love.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

A Blast From The Past

2010-11-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Some of the best memories I have as a child were the times that we spent as a family with our "extended" family at Cane Run Baptist Church. I don't have a single childhood memory that doesn't involve some (or all) of these people.

Over the years we have all drifted our separate ways...and some of these folks I haven't seen in 20 years!

Earlier this year we lost some of our very dear friends. As we all began to reflect on those years together, Cynthia and I decided it would be a FABULOUS idea to get everyone together for a REUNION! So we planned a super fast, impromptu gathering at our building.

It was a great time to get together, share a meal, sing some songs... and catch up on the past 25 years of our lives!

It was also fun to get all the kids together to meet...there were more kids than there were adults! :)

Here are Mom and Dad with the "YOUTH" that were present.

Here is a shot of everyone I could rally together...sadly I think there were a few more people that already got away! :)

Rachel Turns EIGHT!!

2010-11-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

It doesn't seem possible that Rachel is now 8 years old. She was the "youngest" of the children to come home... only 15 months old at the time. When we first saw a picture of her, she was only 4 days old.

I still can't believe she is 8!! For her birthday we ate dinner at Steak and Shake (her pick, of course!). She was sooooo excited. New jazz shoes and a new leotard. (a little disappointed that this one didn't have jewels on it... but oh, well)....

For her birthday with Mamoo and Papoo, we ate lunch at Joe Bologna's in Lexington. The kids thought that this was super cool. They think that pizza should ALWAYS be served in a church-like setting.

Aunt Jamie, Uncle Chuck and Briana were there - so it was a perfect day! (only more perfect if we had our out-of-towners with us!!)

The food was DELICIOUS! No one will ever be able to say that my kids don't eat well... they are the best!

It really was quite beautiful there! The kids really enjoyed it - and I always love when we can spend time with the family.

It was a special day - to celebrate the life of a special little girl! Happy Birthday Rachel!!

A Trip to Mississippi - October 2010

2010-10-15T18:27:00.000-07:00

In October - Daddy had to have a Heart Cath. He had a few tests done - and the doctor felt this was the best option for him. And the doctor was quite adamant that he have it sooner, rather than later. So the weekend of October 10th (Briana's birthday weekend) we headed down to Mississippi. Jamie, Chuck and Briana had left the night before to "surprise" him. (Keep in mind please... he was having a HEART procedure...so I'm not sure the shock of seeing them show up for the first time in 9 years was a great idea... but HEY - WE LOVE THE SHOCK VALUE IN THIS FAMILY...)

It was a great weekend - and we enjoyed spending the time together with the family.

A night at Osaka's was the highlight of the evening... Briana hadn't ever been before. So we really loved watching her face during the whole experience.

Rachel: Not a fan of Sushi. Ha ha ha ha!

The highlight of the morning was Kelsey being in her first beauty pageant. She did such a great job - she was a HOOT! She lit up the stage with her personality and charisma. Kelsey has been such a light in our lives since the very first day. Just knowing how much she has been willing to TRY and willing to DO. It has been a true lesson to me in my own life - when I feel like I "can't" do something, or I'm too afraid to try. Kelsey has done sooooo much. She never shirks away from a challenge.

And then... to top it all off... my sweet niece, Breelyn, decided to make her big entrance into the world - THE SAME DAY AS BRIANA'S BIRTHDAY! Amazing! We hopped in a vehicle and drove down to Tupelo and I got hold that sweet, precious baby a few hours after she was born!! Such a doll baby. And it was such a wonderful gift for Daddy to get to see and hold her right before his surgery.

But... the ICING on the cake for the whole weekend... Daddy's surgery went really well. He had quite a bit of blockage - but they were able to get that all under control and he has been doing FABULOUS ever since. And sweet little Breelyn has become the apple of his eye... and is spoiled rotten for her Pop!

October 2,2010 - A Little Home School Fun

2010-10-02T18:09:00.000-07:00

Mc Caleb loves his Science curriculum! He wanted to go on a "hunt" for different Biotic and Abiotic items to put into different paper bags. He was soooooooo excited to find a little frog around the Irises that we brought home from DeeDee's house and transplanted at our house.

Of course - I had to dare him to catch it. ;)

This picture is him RUNNING out of the little area when the frog JUMPED! Yes, it was funny. And yes... I laughed!!

McCaleb is truly the sweetest child. And he is so outgoing and fun to be with. He laughed just as hard as I did - once he realized that the frog wasn't in attack mode. I wish you could see his shirt a little better. It says: CAUTION!!! UNSOCIALIZED HOMESCHOOLER

He is so NOT that! Love that little guy!!

Sweet September...

2010-09-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

So...September 4th is not only our (as in Tim/Jennifer "we"...not the dog and me "we") anniversary... it is also Bailey's birthday. :) She turned 1. Funny... I somehow have a photo of me with Bailey...but not me with TIM! Somehow this does not make sense... but (and you can't see it because I have a jacket on) but I am sporting my T-shirt that says "MY HUSBAND ROCKS"... so maybe I can get points for that??

The next day we took the whole clan (plus Laura and Paige) to the Lexington Opera House for a ballet performance featuring the Lexington Ballet Company. Miss Ayako from Town and Village was performing... and she is Rachel's ballet teacher. It was really cool - they also had the Lexington Bach Vocal Choir singing. FABULOUS performance!!

Mamoo came out one day and McCaleb talked her into a ride on the new 4-wheeler. It was great... but my battery died!! :( I am not getting very good marks for camera preparedness lately.

Then it was time for SWEET SWEET Sara to turn 11. I'm not sure where the time has gone. We found out about Sara a few weeks after being home with McCaleb in 2006... so we have "known" about Sara for over 5 1/2 years. I still look at her and think of her as a 6 year old little girl... that seemed so sweet - and yet so scared.

(Banana pudding for her birthday - no cake for this lady! LOVED IT!! A girl after my own heart, that's for sure!!)

Lately - Sara has been having issues with feeling like she is not doing well. She can't do anything... and that she is waaaayyyyyy behind. In a lot of ways, she is. (read: THANK GOODNESS) However... in many other ways... she is far from behind.

She absolutely hates school right now... and sadly since we home school... that's kind of hard for me. However... some of it is because when she came home we started at the "very beginning" and she is behind other kids in her age group. So she is currently finishing 3rd grade.

So I knew she was down in the dumps and all... so I began typing her a list of all the things that she has done since she has been home. "Accomplishments" - if you will.....

I typed her a list of over 3 pages of things... and she was thrilled to death with it. I think it gave her a visual for all the many things that she has accomplished since coming home - and hopefully she can begin to build more confidence and self-esteem. Pray for her... she still struggles. But I must say...she is doing amazing. (even with me as a teacher...) Her English is really SUPER, and she is really EXCELLENT at math. She is almost done with 3rd grade and will begin 4th... completing K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades in her 2 years home. REMARKABLE!!

For her birthday, she wanted to go flying. So that's what we did. And since Laura had never been up in a plane (EVER) she asked Laura to go with her. :)

The kids and I stayed behind and played, ate Pizza... and the kids rode bikes while Sara went flying. I think she liked it... but it was a bit choppy in the air... and the Cessna has not PUKE BAGS on board... so they came back after an hour or so.

Training wheels were taken off the very next day...it was a little bit shaky for a few hours...especially since Rachel just came out of the cast and all. However, they have all begun to figure it out.

A week later it was Yuli's birthday - so Rachel, McCaleb and I drove to Nicholasville for her birthday party. They had a magician... and the kids really loved that!

And finally... as I already mentioned...we home school the kids. It is a FULL TIME job... and I think that most days it is way harder than it would be to send the kids off to school for 6 or 8 hours a day. But wow... it is so rewarding. I honestly can't imagine not being able to spend as much time with the kids as I do now. I love being able to set our schedule... and make sure that they actually "get" things. There are so many other lessons they are learning that they can never get from public school. Being educated at home offers us the freedom to spend more time together as a family...as the kids are often with their father more during the day than they are at night. I just can't imagine only getting to spend 2 - 3 hours a day with them.

Like I said, though... it's not for everyone! It's hard... it's a lot of work, planning, paperwork, and trying to figure out HOW to reach them at some points. I spend most evenings doing THAT instead of doing all the stuff I used to do. :)

This particular day, McCaleb and I were learning about Science - and were outside to collect biotic and abiotic items and place them into two bags. He was determined to catch this frog!! (More about the homeschooling later...)

It jumped at him once - and I laughed so hard... he squealed like a girl and ran. He asked me to please not post that photo on here. But it WAS really funny. :)

I personally love his T-shirt - "Caution: Unsocialized Homeschooler". If you know my son, you know that's hardly true.

I am crazy about these kids... and so blessed to be their mom!

A-U-G-U-S-T ...the long, hot summer....

2010-08-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

August was PACKED full of activity. Sometimes I don't know where we find the time to get it all done...but we do. Beth Moore came to Lexington's Rupp Arena. It was a blast! I had a great seat - front row. I was one of the nerds wearing the BLUE Wal-Mart looking vests up front. It was an awesome experience... and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I was humbled by the experience - and encouraged more than anyone that came forward for encouragement. All in all it was a FABULOUS weekend!!

After leaving the Beth Moore Conference - I swung by Georgetown to pick up McCaleb at Karate. DeeDee and Aunt Melanie were with him as he was testing for his ORANGE belt. He got it... and my picture must be on a phone somewhere... I can't seem to find it. However, after we left there we headed out for Louisville and the KY STATE FAIR. Ali was showing her dogs again.

In our spare time we had a little fun on the sidelines... and even managed to cookout for everyone in attendance.

It was Bailey's first dog show - and she did great too... all in all Ali raked in quite a haul...just from the KY STATE FAIR.

Then it was time to celebrate McCaleb's birthday. I can't believe that my baby has turned 6 years old. He wanted to do about 100 different things on his big day - but we settled on about 5. :) He is such a sweet boy!

He wanted to have a pizza party with his friends...and really enjoyed it so much. He had a cupcake cake this year... which was a big hit with him, too...

At home we opened his presents - and he was so excited about everything he got. One of the most special things about my sweet boy - is he is sooooo sweet! He truly loves people and loves to have a good time.

Sisters....bless his heart. Everyone wants to help him read. He is actually doing so well reading. I really need to write a bit about their school... maybe next month.... ;)

The next week - Rachel and McCaleb danced at the Castle for this year's fund raising event for Hope for Tomorrow Children's Home in Guatemala.

It was a beautiful night - and we decided this year to take the entire family. It was wonderful! And as many of you might not know... that is the home where McCaleb lived as a small child before coming home. For more information, you can visit their site: www.hope4tomorrow.net

The kids did a beautiful job dancing... even with Rachel's bad arm... and the night raised about $30,000 for the children's home! It was such a blessing!!!

It was a wonderful night - and we had our lovely niece, Briana with us, too! McCaleb loved that!

Miss Kentucky Latina posing with the kids after a fashion show! She was very beautiful! McCaleb was smitten with her...

Allen, Jennifer and Tim.... what a motley looking crew! Allen needs to bring his daughter Isabella next time! She might like to meet some other little Guatemalan princesses!

Chick Fil A for McCaleb's birthday with Mamoo and Papoo! We love some Chick Fil A... they are building one in Georgetown... WHOO HOO!

John Deere... always a good choice for my little man. He is a tractor loving kid!

And then the end of the month - and the hardest thing yet. My friend Chris moved away to Pennsylvania to be with her daughter Jody...and it was very hard...and very sad. I can't even begin to put it into words. She has grounded me for so long...and been there through so much. Chris is who I called to help me bring 10 puppies into the world...and cried with me as one of them didn't make it. She is the person that I called when I knew it was Molly's time...and I knew she would take care of my kids while I was doing the very hard thing that we all knew was inevitible. She lived with us for a short time - but touched my life in a profound way forever. We miss you, Nana. I miss you BIG.

July - A BANG of a Time!

2010-07-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

So...July began with a Shooting Competition for Cory. It was really a lot of fun to watch. The kids and I drove up and spent the day.. had a picnic there with the Rankin/Stamper/Whitley clan... and then drove home. They were sure worn out from all the fun!

The set-up was a little different than I expected... but it was kind of cool. I guess I thought that he got to stand up there and shoot - SOLO. But it wasn't that way at all. It was really quite intimidating. It sure made me admire him and his concentration/determination much, much more.

That's the million dollar shot...completely turned to DUST. :) And it only took me all day and about 300 shots.

The Fourth of July we spent with Tim's family at Greg and Melanie's house. It was great. We also celebrated Amanda's birthday! :) Things seem to roll around a little faster each year. I'm not usre where the time goes... and why it seems to go by faster when we get older... but it DOES.

The next week Laura and I took the kids and a few of their friends to the Lexington Children's Museum. It was a LOT of fun! Then we walked around Triangle Park, went and had ice cream... and played at the park. By the end of the day we had some tired kids. Mission Accomplished!!

And then there was "FAIR SEASON". Which means that all of Ali's training and hard work from her 4-H Dog Club training. She did really well. She even tried the agility course - fell over... and KEPT ON GOING! Great job, Ali!!

And finally, the kids and I ended the month by traveling to Mississippi. It was a great trip - with only one small little blip. Rachel broke her arm. Other than that...it was a blast.

Daddy took the kids to his school and showed them all around. They loved it! It was really awesome. They were amazed at the facility - and it really is a very nice school. (FYI...they have a Comdial Telephone System... this is the stuff that I notice after 12 years marriage to Tim...)

Daddy's classroom. Note the NAVY poster on the wall - U-RAH! He is such a rebel. I suppose I get it honestly.

AND HERE IT IS!!! THE FATEFUL DAY - RIGHT BEFORE I CLIMBED INTO THE TRAMPOLINE...AND RACHEL ATTEMPTED A FRONT FLIP. ugh.

And here we are on the AIR TRAM going to MUD ISLAND. It was a great day for all of us - but BOY WAS IT HOT!! Rachel was a trooper... broken shoulder and all.

These are some of the most beautiful kids....and I am crazy about them all!!!! And after the hot sun and the River Walk... we went to the Spaghetti Factory! It was soooo delicious! Pop and Nini know the way to my heart. The kids were able to feel Aunt Amy's baby kick... and that was so cool for them. It was just a great day!

Jodi came and spent one evening with us - and we went to Sonic...walked at the lake by Daddy's house... and then watched a movie with Jo. It was divine. A lovely and low key evening. My favorite kind...

All in all July was a very good month. We really love spending time with family - and going to Mississippi was a treat for us. We are very blessed.

Cory

2010-06-12T21:52:00.000-07:00

I knew it was coming....I was in denial all year long. Somehow - I decided that playing "ostrich" was better than facing reality...Cory was going to graduate and leave us eventually.... UGH!

I guess I better back up a bit. Twelve years ago when Tim and I got married, we joined a small country church. Not that many people belonged there - and we were quite a tight knit group. A few years later - we were asked to begin helping with the YOUTH group at the church. One of the first kids to steal my heart away was Cory. He was about 8 when we first met him... and when he joined the Youth Group he was 12. I don't know how to describe him any other way - he was just one of the BEST kids I had ever met. Fun, sweet, kind, a hard worker, honest as the day is long... just an all around great kid.

I remember the days when I was actually taller than Cory... ha ha ha! But those days didn't last too terribly long.

A year or so later, after our girls came home from Guatemala, and my "time" seemed to be consumed with tea parties, coloring, playing on the swingset and reading "Goodnight Moon"...I needed a little help with my outside chores. I love to mow and do my yardwork... but with the girls...I had different things that needed to be tended to.

So Cory began coming to help me out on the farm as often as he could. Bless his heart... he is such a hard worker. The first day he ever mowed for me...I had NO IDEA what a perfectionist he was. I joked with him telling him that I really preferred mowing the place diagonally - then I went inside to feed the girls and put them down for a nap. When I came outside a little later - our 10 acre mini-farm looked like a well manicured golf course - perfectly mowed and trimmed...and all diagonally.

A couple of years later - when McCaleb came home he was afraid of most all men. But not Cory. Cory just has an easy going nature and a confidence about him. McCaleb was fascinated with Cory... who called him "Paco" and treated him like a BIG BOY. If Cory needed to go out on the tractor and work, he took McCaleb right along with him. If he was going to work with the animals, you would go out to find McCaleb tagging right along. All the while Cory would be telling him what he was doing, how to do it the "right" way, and giving him instructions on being careful and safe.

Cory and Kim :)

Cory began to work at Hi-Tech after school... and his excellent work ethic and attitude helped everyone that he worked with. He still managed to keep up his grades in school, keep up the work on the farm for me - and would even help me transport kids to dance, or dog club, or karate...

I don't know when it happened actually - or when I realized how much we began to love and adore Cory. Honestly, I don't think we stood a chance! As much as I felt that my heart was completely and totally wrapped up in my own four children... I realized that Cory has worked his way into our hearts and into our lives completely. He was just this incredible kid, that grew into this wonderful young man... and it has been a privilege and honor to be a part of his life.

So why was I shocked when graduation time began to roll around?? Why was it so difficult for me to think about him going away to college?? Why did I tear up and almost cry each time Kim (his mom) and I met on the road? We mostly just rolled the windows down and said... Two more weeks....sniff sniff... I know....sniff sniff....and then we both choked up and drove away.

You see, Cory only lives up the road. I pass his house a few times... a DAY. So it isn't like I'm never going to see him again. I knew this. But things would change - and that was just so sad to me.

You spend years investing your time and energy in young people's lives - hoping that you have an impact on them. You pray for them and cry for them. You talk to them... you cry with them... and in the end, you hope that you have made an impression on them. You hope that they will take with them a little piece of you and your "wisdom" and that somehow you might have influenced their lives in a way that might point them to the right choices later in life.

It's a sobering thing, however, when you sit back and realize the impact that the YOUNG PEOPLE have had on your life. When you realize that YOU are the one that is blessed for having known these young people, and that your life would not be as rich or as blessed had you not spent the time with them.

That's how it is with our Cory! Our lives will never be the same - because it is much richer because we've known and loved Cory! And not just him... his sister Katie... his cousin SWEET SWEET SHELBY (who also works with us at Hi-Tech when she's not away at college...), Shelby's sweet brother Little David (who Ali plans to marry...) and then of course Cody and Jacob. They are just the very best of the best... and we are so blessed to have them all in our life!

Cory however, will always hold a very special place in my heart. He went out of his way to take care of me and the kids. He would check in with me each and every day after school before doing anything else to be sure that I didn't need any help or any errands run. I would come home to find that the dogs were fed, the horses were fed, the fields were mowed, trash was up at the road...and most of the time he did all of this without ever being asked.

If he knew that Tim was working out of town, he would check on me during the evening or before he went home for the night.

He also came to Rachel's Friday Night performance at her recital when he found out that no one else had planned to come that night. He sat with me on the 5th row - through 2 1/2 hours of kids dancing - to watch her in her three routines. Afterward, he waited out front for her... and when he saw her and she went running to him - he swooped her up in his arms and headed for the door. They were going to McDonalds for sundaes. :) Made my heart melt.

He taught my son many things... some of them not so good... ha ha... but most of it was amazing. Most of all - he set an example of what a good "son" does, as McCaleb saw Cory take care fo his mother and sister, especially after his dad was hurt so badly. I can never thank him for the wonderful example that he set for all my kids... and I laugh a lot about the many things they picked up from him that he doesn't even realize. ;)

To get back to the "point" of this story... GRADUATION time had arrived. It just seemed like it came soooooo fast! However... for us it was even sooner, as the college that was recruiting Cory to be in their Trap Shooting Team - wanted him to report the very next week. YIKES! (Did I mention that he was an incredible Trap Shooter?? Championship level...seriously!)

So Thursday night was Baccalaureate...I didn't cry at all. I was so proud. :)

Friday night was his graduation party at the house.... and I didn't even cry then. I waited until we got home. Saturday was the actual graduation - and we didn't go. We had family in town - so we skipped that. I saw him again on Monday...and on Tuesday he headed up to Illinois to go away to college.

A chapter in his life is closed...and he is on a new and exciting adventure. We are so proud of Cory - and so honored that we could be a part of his life these past 10+ years. Our lives are much fuller and blessed for having known him and for having him in our life! Congratualtions Cory! We love you!!

Oh - and as for me? Well, the first two weeks he was gone, I broke the weed eater, ran out of gas in the tractor, broke one of the fence planks, flattened a tire on the small mower...screamed, cried and stomped my feet a lot... but we got by. (It doesn't look nearly as good... and it CERTAINLY isn't mowed diagonally...) Yep - we sure do miss you Cory! But not just for those reasons... we miss your smile!

Martin Family Reunion - Memorial Day Weekend 2010

2010-05-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

It was that time of year again....our MARTIN FAMILY REUNION. (Every other year to be exact...) So the kids and I headed down to Union City for the fun and festivities. The last time we went - Sara had only been home a matter of weeks... so I was excited for people to get to see how much she has changed.

Mom had already been to the cemetary - so Jodi and I just drove up to take pictures. The kids love walking around and reading all the names... and it always brings back so many memories for me.

We got to see Kobe again... he is such a great kid! The kids really enjoy him so much!

A picture of most of the kids... we had a few that had already left. But they are ADORABLE!! However, there were a few that we didn't get to see... maybe next time??

Ahhh... here's ALMOST all of our family. :) Jamie and Chuck couldn't come. Again... maybe next time??

Mom and all the Martin Cousins. A Motely Looking Crew... but we love them all.

And a crowd favorite.... OTHER ALI!! The kids adore her!! Actually they love all the Martin girls and boys... and men...ha ha ha.

Seriously - there was so much food.... and everyone kept sending things home with me. It was UNREAL! YUM YUM. Delicious.... as always.

So until next time.... Memorial Day weekend - 2012.

May Day! May Day!

2010-05-22T20:56:00.000-07:00

May was a busy, busy month! We had the end of dance, recital, karate, graduations, and at the end of the month - a Family Reunion! I am still not certain how we managed to pack it all in... but I do remember being very tired. :)

And yet we still managed to have some down time - and time to play. These two are like two giant magnets...completely attracted to each other - but once they get a LITTLE too close... they repel each other. HA HA HA.

McCaleb and Alex tested for their first belts in Karate... AWESOME JOB guys! They really enjoy it - and McCaleb is really quite good at it! :)

The HI-LIGHT of recital for Rachel was getting to dance the Hip-Hop routine this year... they danced to a couple of songs, one of which was a Laura Bell Bundy song. (Town and Village alum....) On Saturday night - Laura Bell jumped on stage and danced and sang with the kids. WOW! It was so much fun to see how excited they all were! And little Rachel was able to get her picture with LBB afterwards! It was so cool! Something that she will remember forever!

Recital week is pretty intense. We were there EVERY day - until late each evening... and by the end of the week... we were exhausted! I didn't get to spend a lot of time with McCaleb... since he was in the "MENS" dressing room... but he had a grea time as well!!

Leono's breadsticks... literally ate them every. single. day! YUM. So recital week is a little tough... we have to weigh the pro's and con's....

Yes. He is the CUTEST thing ever... I know. But in this little outfit... ADORABLE!!

Yep - that's her backpack... and I was making her finish her homework. I am a mean mean momma....

Rehearsals.... did you see Miss Bell doing the splits up there?? Awesome! She made McCaleb look bad! He still hasn't gotten his...

Rachel teaching Andrew how to do the Hip-Hop routine in the backyard after Amanda's graduation. This was priceless....

Amanda and Tim. Graduation from University of Kentucky College of Nursing!! Way to go Amanda!!!

The Lucas Family! I finally got a picture where I am not getting a hand up - and a "Jennifer! Don't take my picture!!" Wonderful!

All in all - May started out CRAZY! This wasn't even the whole thing... we are onlyinto week 3 at this point! ARGH!! When does life begin to slow down again....?

April...Showers... and Showers...and Showers....

2010-04-30T20:07:00.000-07:00

I have been putting off the blog... for a long time. Mostly because I knew that eventually I would have to get to APRIL. And April...April was no fun.

I remember so well the day I asked Tim to get me a puppy for my birthday in April of 1999. We hadn't been married that long. But we had only been in our house for about a month. I had Hunter... Tim had JD... and we honestly had the CRAZY idea that they would love and adore each other just as much as we did.

Boy were we in for a rude awakening.

(The Family: Grace, Sunny, Molly aka Mom and JD aka Dad)

I actually remember a day when I called my mom and could NOT go to work because I had been up crying all night. Just waiting for the two dogs to fight - and poor Hunter dog to be dead. It was AWFUL. So my solution...get JD a puppy. Maybe he would then leave Hunter alone...

We began to read the papers and look for ads... my birthday was only days away. Oddly enough I found a listing for a litter of pups in Scott County - out Pratt Lane. It was a beautiful drive... and I was so excited. We drove up to the house... and three puppies came bounding out... with this ENORMOUS and very regal looking male black lab. (Buddy - the daddy) The man that met us at the car had one of the dogs behind him, and she kept peeking around his leg and looking at me. It was love at first sight. I was smitten.

Tim on the other hand... being the super careful and hyper vigilant consumer that he is... said "Thank you for your time. We have several other litters to look at. We don't plan on buying the first dog we see. (smile) We'll be in touch."

HELLO!?!? Had he not seen that precious puppy?? Had he not seen the connection that we made - the "moment" that we had?? Her sweet face?? How could we "shop around" for true love - complete devotion - and loyalty??

So...we left. I thought about sulking. I considered tears and crying. However, with my man, there was only one other tactic. I grabbed a paper and began making furious notes... listing all the numbers on paper and once my list was complete, I tore it out and handed it to Tim. He read it over, looked up and said - "What's this?" I very bluntly said... "Those are all the places we need to go and the dogs we need to see so that we can go back and get THAT ONE." (smile)

We drove back out to Pratt Lane the weekend after my birthday to pick up my sweet Molly dog. I wish I could tell you that she was as sweet and loyal and committed to me from day one. Mmmmm... no..... she was JD's dog all the way. She liked me OK... but she adored JD. I never trained her to do anything. JD did all of that for me. She was wild as a banchee - and she could run like the wind. She was regal and beautiful...and a nervous nellie to a degree. She totally took the heat off my Hunter dog... which was a blessing. Hunter was sick - and I had no idea at the time... so Molly allowed me to spend the time with Hunter that she needed up until the end. And an amazing transformation took place the day that we had to say goodbye to my faithful friend. That day, while waiting for Tim to prepare the place for Hunter to be buried...and in my saying goodbye... Molly came over, laid down next to Hunter and me...and when she got up, she was a different dog. I never again went without her at my side. She was a constant companion. Each morning when she would go out for her morning walk, she would run to the kitchen door and wait for me to come down and let her in.

She had a quiet way about her, and despite her size, she was as gentle as a kitten. She would sit in the car, refusing to leave, until she got a ride around the block...and this stubborn streak of hers was equally as funny when she would try to "hide" under the table...despite making the entire thing move as she tried to cower beneath it.

She was a TERRIBLE mama...and I say this in the most loving way possible. She had T-W-O puppies. TWO! I think she was as shocked to have puppies as we were...we had tried artificial insemination several times, to no avail...another story all in its own... but 60 days after the big ice storm... and a few weeks after I had put her on a diet...she was the proud mama of one very cute black lab and one very cute yellow lab. Grace and Sunny. She had to have a C-section ...so she layed around moaning - not very happy about nursing them at all. She tolerated the puppies...and I am giving her a hard time. She was a pretty good mama. :)

(I loved the way her paws looked as if they had been dipped in gray hairs...She was perfect in every way.)

So then April. It has alway been my favorite month. Spring Break (growing up)...my birthday....sping in general...and as far as April's go, this one was shaping up to be a pretty good one. Sadly, I can't tell you many things about it now. I can tell you that I was on a bit of a high that weekend. I had seen Sarah Palin in Louisville. I had seen Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W Smith in concert. But when I arrived home, I found my sweet Molly was not well. Not well at all.

I happen to be a firm believer that God cares about all things in our lives. The big things, and the small things. He cares about anything that is going on - especially if it is something that we are concerned about. This was one of those days.

We called my dearest friend Chris to the house to stay with the kids so that they wouldn't be afraid when they woke up. Tim and I drove Molly to the vet. I rode back in the back with Molly, holding her.

I prayed the entire way. I just wanted to be sure that I made the right choice - the best decision for her. I knew when we got there and "ran into" our usual vet and very dear friend at 5am, that it was God's way of letting me know what we needed to do, and that He was sending his own "angel" to help us get through this thing that I absolutely wanted to refuse to believe.

We cried and cried... the tears just didn't seem to stop that day... and they still come. But one things that I know more than anything else - and that I will always be certain of: I did right by my dog. She had loved me completely, totally and unconditionally. I did the hardest thing (for me) and yet the best thing - for her.

You might think that with 7 other dogs here to love and take care of...who would notice one missing? She left the biggest whole in my heart - and in my home. 7 dogs seems like such a small number - because I am missing that ONE that meant the most to me.

But the memories...I have so many and I am so thankful. My Sweet Molly... exactly 11 years after I drove you home to be mine... I had to let you go. Thank you for loving me and making me feel as if I was the ONLY ONE you had eyes for.

Rest in peace Sweet Molly - 12/28/1998 - 04/18/2010.

DON'T CRY FOR ME WHEN I'M GONE

Three score and ten are given to men,

But ours is a much briefer span.

So, though I give you all my heart,

The time will come when we must part.

But all around you, you will see,

Creatures that speak to you of me;

A tired horse, a hunted thing,

A sparrow with a broken wing...

Pity -- and help (I know you will)

And somehow, I will be with you still;

And I shall know, although I'm gone,

The love I gave you lingers on.
(-author unknown)

March...where did you go...?

2010-03-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

The month of March seemed to fly by. I can't even really figure out where it went. To begin the month... here is Molly. Isn't she just the sweetest - and most PETITE thing?? I personally think she was a beautiful dog... and love the way she grayed. Here she is on March 3rd... posing for me. Her little paws looked like they had been dipped in gray... I miss my dog.

Later in the month, Tim was in a wedding for our friend Tyler. He married a WONDERFUL girl - Amanda. And it was a beautiful wedding. Amanda sang to him. I wish someone would have told me sooner. I cried like a baby.

Then we celebrated all the birthday boys' birthdays over at Greg and Melanie's house. Andrew, Shearle and Tim. All birthdays in March - all within 6 days of one another. It was a great time!

The month ended with "visitor's day" at Town and Village School of Dance. :) We watched Rachel and McCaleb in their different classes doing their routines. It ws so cute. McCaleb sure does love TAP. He isn't as excited about ballet - but let me tell you... that kid can stretch!!

He also loves his teachers. He had Miss Kitty, Miss Bell and finally Miss Amie. He really enjoyed it...and is signed up again this year.

Rachel still loves dance. Here she is in her tap routine in Miss Laura's class. She really enjoyed it a lot this year! I hope that she keeps her passion about dance. It has been fun to watch.

And that was March - 2010. In like a LION - and out like a LAMB. I am not sure where the month went... but I'm pretty sure I passed my time on the road....

POWER! POWER! POWER!

2010-02-14T20:09:00.000-08:00

The first year that Tim and McCaleb went to the Farm Machinery Show/Tractor Pull...McCaleb told me it was just "for boys". Maybe that's what Daddy told him to get him to go with him... or maybe he jsut decided that all on his own. But this year he came to me and whispered... "Mommy...there were girls there! You can go, too!! Daddy even hugged some of them...."

So cute!

At any rate - we loaded up and spent the day in Louisville enjoying tractors of all kinds and sizes. At the end of the day... the truck and tractor pull!

What a treat! They have this new GIANT hose that they hook up to each tractor, and all the exhaust is pumped right out of the buidling! WOW! I'm not sure that without that headache that you get from all those fumes the kids were really able to enjoy the tractor pull as completely as we did growing up... but they sure did have fun! ;)

Forever Family Day - February 2010

2010-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

So each year this day rolls around and I can't even believe there was a time in my life that these girls were not a part of it. It seems as if they have always been a part of our lives - and yet they have only been home for 6 years.

Such a short time in some ways...

Such a long time in others.

The blessings that they have brought to our lives completely erase the pain that we endured waiting for them to come home.

Happy Forever Family Day, Ali and Rachel. We love you so much!!

January 2010

2010-01-31T13:44:00.000-08:00

The new year began with a "family" lunch at Cheddar's in Lexington! Aunt Carol and Unlce Joe drove over from Louisville to see us. We sat and ate...and ate...and apparently had several glasses of iced tea. I think all I did that meal was run kids to and from the bathroom! It was a nice visit - and gave us a chance to say goodbye to Mom and Dad before they headed back out to Arizona where the WARM weather waited for them. Apparently this is about the time I lost my memory card... because after January 1st, I don't have any more photos until February. Either that.. or we were snowed in.....? At any rate...this is my way over due January post. :)

Year End Shots

2010-01-01T13:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the end of 2009! They are mostly family shots... but I had to include one of my dear Sweet Molly in here as well. Her last birthday phot with me...she turned 11 on December 28, 2009. If I had known that this would be our last real photo together, I would have made her pose a little. She was such a nervous Nellie - and the cat was in the house.

My neighbors (who I always defended to Tim and Cory) have ruthlessly told me how vicious this sweet dog was. If they had only known...... Molly was afraid of Picabo, Rocky (our rabbit) and especially Bob! Maybe if they had known - they would have been fonder of her. Who knows?

When she passed away, Tim and Cory and I debated long and hard about where to bury her. We ended up settling on a space outside of the dog pen, close to Jodi's Sweet Shelby. Her head and heart are facing towards the house...

Her rear end...?? Well... it's pointed towards the neighbors house! ;)

'Nuff said!! (Don't judge me... I had to find whatever humor I could during the time. This was my form of dealing with things...) ;)

A Little Something: Blitz to the End of the Year - 2009

2009-12-31T20:37:00.000-08:00

Shelby left and went away to college...and McCaleb turned FIVE!!!

And Rachel danced at Castle Post for the "Hope for tomorrow" Fundraiser

I have started this post about 100 times over the past few months. Honestly...I really have. But I've just never gotten around to finishing it. ;) (As I sit here now writing... it is actually 05/18/2010...wow.)

I stopped blogging after Cooper's visit. LAST YEAR. Not because he wore me out...Cooper is a doll baby!! I just honestly made a very deliberate effort over the past year to put down the laptop and stop letting it take up so much of my time. I think that during the adoption process of waiting for Sara to come home... I became OBSESSED with being online each and every night. I wanted to know where everyone else was in their process, how their cases were going along, did they visit their child... were their pictures on their blogs to see?? Then I began a facebook page... and it just seemed to snowball.... I didn't want that. I don't want that. So... I put the laptop down.

I don't want to feel like I am spending time with a machine, when I can be cultivating my relationship with God, my family and my friends. So I put the laptop down - and I really spent the last year investing in better priorities.

However... I have to say... since I was sort of using this blog to "chronicle" the adventures of the Hanks Gang... I am a little sad that I didn't do a little something.

Hence... my post. This is a "little something" about the end of our year: 2009.

I will hit the high spots - maybe a few low spots... and round out the year with a photo montage. Looking back... I will at least know that I spent my time the best way I could... which is with my family. We are so blessed...and as I sit here tonight... to finish this out... it's 08/19/10....I realize that I have to get started on my 2010 blitz....but I better pace myself. ;) I don't want to overdo it.

Cooper

2009-08-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Cooper Alley - the road beside our office in Georgetown!

One of my very favorite things that we were able to do this summer... is have one of our little friends come to visit us for almost three weeks. My friend Jane let us bring Cooper home with us from a visit that we had with them in July. Cooper lived in the hogar in Guatemala with Sara...and we had visited with him several times when we were there visiting Sara. Since coming home the November after Sara (who came home in April of 2008) we have met with their family once or twice a year for little road trips. This time, however, we decided to bring Cooper back to Kentucky for a visit. It was a blast!

If I had a dollar for every time that he would say, "Hey, Miss Jen!"... well let's just say that I could RETIRE!! He was so funny! He was so happy! He was so curious! and boy, was he FULL OF ENERGY!! And occasionally... and only just a wee bit... he was a stinker. But let me tell you what... he was the cutest little stinker (besides my own little McCaleb). Those two were the dynamic duo and they were into everything!!

The kids completely embraced having Cooper visit us... and I honestly think that McCaleb loved having a little brother here. He has said numerous times since that we need to adopt a little boy "next time". ;) I have to admit... that having Cooper here made me ready to go back and do it all over again. He was such a joy to have here... we can't wait until this coming summer in hopes that he might come back for another visit.

Everyone that met Cooper was charmed by his sweet smile and those incredible dimples. As if that wasn't enough - they were impressed with his very good manners and "Nice to meet you!" as he would shake their hand. He wormed his way into not only all SIX of the Hanks'. hearts... but each and every person that he met.

THANK YOU FOR COMING TO VISIT US COOPER!!! We can't wait to have you come back.

Tabitha

2009-07-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

The rest of JULY, Tabitha was still here in Kentucky. We have really enjoyed these past two summers... having her here for two months! It has kind of spoiled us.

At any rate - here are some of my favorite pictures of her visit. At the end of July, Jean flew out to spend a week or so and took Tabitha back home to Arizona.

We wish that they were closer! The kids love seeing their Aunt Jean... and they truly adore their cousin Tabitha.

It's The Big 4-0!!!

2009-07-07T18:15:00.000-07:00

This year - my little sister turned 40.

Somehow - that doesn't seem possible, being that I'm holding steady at 29..... but math has never been my forte'. ;)

Chad decided to throw a surprise Birthday Party for Jodi - and so we headed down to Memphis to sneak into town. She called me twice on the way there... and I finally had to lie a little and tell her I was trying to park at Fayette Mall...and I had to go. (She should have been suspicious right there... I hate shopping.)

We all met at Osaka's and waited for her to show up! I think she was really surprised... and it was soooo much fun!

Afterwards, we went to Jodi and Chad's house and waited until it got dark enough to go watch fireworks.

On Saturday - the kids were able to swim a while - and then we had a cookout at Jodi and Chad's (which included Cyndi's famous baked beans...). YUM YUM. The kids had a blast - and we had even more fireworks there.

The next day we had to head out to come home - but FIRST we met up with my sister Amy and her family... to meet my newest niece... LuLu!! (Her name is actually Brooklyn Laura Lorraine...but we call her LuLu). She is such a doll baby!

It was a busy, busy weekend... but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. We had a blast! Happy Birthday Jodi!! We love you!! On the upside... we brought home those two handsome Hudnall Boys and had the honor of keeping them here in KY for a week....

I love my family! I feel very blessed!!

Team Smash and Team Agassi

2009-07-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Ali and Rachel began tennis lessons a few years ago - and they loved it. So this year when Miss Julie was beginning a Quick Start Tennis Team, we signed up right away.

Ali and Rachel were able to be on the same team - but Sara had to move up to another team - which was a little nerve racking for us all. Older kids for her to play with - and yet they had probably at least SEEN tennis before. It was a great experience for them all.

The girls really loved the game - and while they each were able to play individual matches, it all got lumped together within their teams and they won or lost based on what the team averaged out for each session. It was a great way to learn to cheer each other on as a team - and still develop some of their own skills.

We love Miss Julie and are so thankful to her for her patience and the wonderful way she has with the kids.

Tabitha's Visit

2009-06-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Tabitha has been coming to Kentucky for the summers for the past two years. It has been such a blessing for the kids to get to spend time with her... and to know their cousin! They really love having her here!

This is the day that she came out to the house for a short visit.

For the short amount of time that she was here we managed to work in some horse rides, playing with the puppy, swimming in the pool - and some WATERMELON. Yum Yum.

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Father's Day 2009: I think we finally felt as if we had hit a "groove" as a family. All four children home, and as of this date we still have not begun any new adoption processes. Tim has GOT to be feeling a little more settled. ;)

This year we decided to meet Mom, Dad, Tabitha, Jamie, Chuck and Briana at Cheddars. Mom and Dad just returned from Arizona with Tabitha and Briana... and they had to be exhausted. But they were good sports about the whole thing and met us for lunch.

Afterwards, we dropped by Mom and Dad's house. I had been telling the kids all day that Mamoo had a new pet bear and that they needed to be very careful, bears have very sharp teeth. :) I'm so sweet.

They were all so excited to meet Little Bear, Mom's new puppy. He is very cute. It was also great to get to see Tabitha again. Two times within two months... the kids are beginning to get "spoiled". We sure do love family time!!

May Comes To A Close...

2009-05-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

Seriously...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. :) Getting caught up on the blog has been a trip down memory lane - and yet it makes me a little sad to see how fast our summer went by. It's a bit of a reminder how quickly our lives can get away from us.

This last post from May is a personal favorite of mine. It's kind of one of our more "typical" days. We hang out a lot - just our family... and lots of times with our friends. We seem to find so much fun in the simple things in life. The kdis are such a blast - and it's great to watch them enjoy simple things. Even when it's "work" disguised as fun.

This particular day we are washing the Cessna after it came back from some minor repairs and being serviced. The kids had a blast - and were completely involved in all aspects of the "helping".

Rachel's Recital

2009-05-21T20:13:00.000-07:00

For Rachel's birthday last year - we gave her dance lessons. She has wanted to be a ballerina for a very long time. She LOVES her dance classes. She loves them so much that instead of walking through our house - she will instead

Chasse' her way from room to room - with a periodic Grand Jete'. As she is sitting in the house reading - she will have her legs split - reading up against the wall to strectch and work on her splits. (ouch) And getting dressed takes about 4 times as long as everyone else each morning, as we have to plie' and releve' about 50 times. My personal favorite - is watching her make her bed, whilst doing her balance' back and forth. Like I said... each task takes about 4 times as long.

Finally it rolled around to RECITAL TIME. Anyone that knows much about me - I am not a girlie girl. My favorite cothes are a pair of jeans... ask anyone that grew up with me. Dressing up was for church - and that was about it. Rachel is my girlie girl - and I was WAY out of my league with the whole recital thing. :) But...we managed.

You have no idea how much goes into each of these routines... as well as the performance. I was in awe of the shows that I have seen in the past... but WOW to be behind the scenes and to see what is involved....I have so much respect for all the dancers, teachers and the people that put all the work into the show.

Her dance routine was absolutely adorable - her class were all dressed up as brides and the song was "Get Me To The Church On Time." It was so sweet. She worked really hard - and they did a really good job.

The dance school does and excellent job with the girls - and it was a wonderful show. She had a blast... and we were all very proud of her!! She had quite the following...and it tickled her to death that so many people turned out to support her. (WHO had my camera and took pictures afterwards...? They cut Uncle Chuck out of the photo... and Rachel ADORES her Uncle Chuck!! oops.)

I think the entire show was fabulous - and while I would like to think that the performance that Rachel gave was the talk of the town... I think there were a few "sinlge ladies" that really stole the show. The last picture is for them - a little blurry ... but you get the idea. ;)

Some People That We Love...

2009-05-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

I am often in awe of God and the way he works things out in our lives. I have found so many times that there are things that I find so coincidental at the time... and later I realize that God was working things out for my good all along. It's amazing.

Like friends - for example...

I have been blessed with a few friends in my life that I have had for a very long time. Tim has also been blessed with a few wonderful lifelong friends. My longest (I prefer not to use the term "oldest"... ha ha) and dearest friend and I met when I was 10 years old. Oddly enough, Tim's oldest and dearest friend (see... I don't care so much when talking about the guys... they age so well) also met when they were about 10.

Along the way - I'm sure that we all "planned" our lives out with what we felt was a suitable and very comfortable plan for how things should go.

Life is funny that way. Things just don't work out the way "we" want them to go... but they always work out according to God's good and perfect plan for our life.

Tim and I have traveled the road of adoption - and while initially we began this journey because we wanted to have a family... it has truly become a calling for us and a passion.

My best friend Cynthia has also traveled this same path, as her family was also formed through adoption - and has two beautiful girls that were born in China. It's something that I have not only been able to share with her on her journey, but I have honestly been able to relate to her about things that sometimes other people cannot inderstand. She has two fo the most precious girls... and Keegan and Romy are two of our very best friends!

A few years ago, Tim's best friend Allen and his wife decided that they also were going to adopt - and we were able to share in that amazing journey of watching Isabella come home. She has three older brothers that adore her - and she is such a sweet little girl!

In May (keep in mind how far behind I am...) Allen and the kids came over on a Sunday afternoon and ate with us, and we gave Isabella and Alex their first horseback rides! They had so much fun! Isabella got on Tony and immediately said "Yee Haw Horsie!!" It was precious! These are just a few pictures from the day.

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-10T08:09:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that I have no photo to post of me and my kids on Mother's Day... but sadly I was so busy taking the pictures that I never got IN ONE. I also never took one of just the four kids alone. What was I thinking?? Oh, well.

I also failed to get a decent shot of the kids with DeeDee.... and again - WHAT WAS I THINKING??

We spent the day with DeeDee (Tim's mom) up in Stamping Ground - and it was a blast! I had seen some cans of Silly String when I was at Wal-Mart and I thought to myself... hmmmmm .... that could be fun. It really was.

The kids love their cousin Andrew... and he was at DeeDee's too, along with Amanda, Aunt Melanie, Unlce Greg, Aunt Beth and Uncle Shearle. They had a blast running and chasing each other - and squirting entire cans of Silly String all over the yard. Even cleanup ended up being a game - and I somehow lost the photo I took of the GIANT SIZED BALL of string that they amde once they picked up all the Silly String from the yard.

I also managed to get a few good shots of the Grandkids for DeeDee by her Koi Pond. They are a silly bunch that really loves to get together and laugh and laugh and laugh..... well.... you get the idea. (See how Rachel had to be moved to the "other end" of the line??)

Using My Time-Out Wisely

2009-04-27T22:16:00.000-07:00

Recently - my very sweet son has been getting in trouble. Sometimes, even back-to-back trouble where time outs can get a little tedious, and pretty boring.

At the office today - he was on a roll.

However, in true Hanks Fashion - he used his time wisely.

He taught himself to tie his shoes. He is 4 years, 6 months and 11 days old.

The youngest one to do it... and proud to rub it in.

What a boy!!!!

The WILD, WILD WEST!!

2009-04-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

I lost my memory stick about 4 months ago. When I found it - I began to catch up my posts. However...when I got to this particular post, I created a very detailed account and included over 70 photos of our trip to Arizona.

It's gone. It just went blank and "saved" before I could stop it... ugh.

So in an effort to get this posted and keep this up-to-date for the kids...I am going to post a new/abbreviated version. ;) I sure wish I could figure this blogger thing out - there has to be a way to recover (from) your mistakes.

*******************************************************************

When my Mom and Dad decided to move to Arizona for six months out of the year, I was really happy for them. They have waited a really long time to be able to finally live in Arizona - even if it was only for part of the year.

However, I have to admit... it was hard. So about March - Tim and I began to try and make plans to sneak out west. We picked a few dates - and sadly, Hi-Tech wasn't really in a position for Tim to be away for over a week. So we found some tickets for the kids and I to make the trip.

Now... my friend Krystal knows almost better than anyone how I enjoy a surprise. When she, Ali and I flew to Guatemala in January 2008 to see Sara, we didn't tell Ali until we were picking up Miss Krystal where we were going. It was funny. Ali was on cloud nine.

This trip just for kicks - I decided to see how far I could go before they figured things out. It was hilarious. They were clueless. (They were really pleased that there was no customs... they even asked why we didn't have to go through customs. Such world travelers!) The flight attendants were also getting into the action... asking the kdis where they thought they might be going... who they might see. It was really cute. I honestly thought that somewhere along the way one of them would figure it out. Three of them can read... but they never made the connection between "Phoenix" and Arizona where Mamoo and Papoo were living. They did finally "get it" when we left the moving sidewalk in the airport terminal and they saw Mamoo and Papoo waiting to greet them! It was priceless.

We had a really nice time... we went to the museum, panned for gold, went to the zoo, had a picnic at the park, rode rides and played outside, went to the pool ad Chris and Jean's house, went to a small water park, shopped Fifth Avenue shops, rode the light rail into downtown Phoenix and took in the sights... and even managed to have those one or two "lazy" days at home!

When we left Lexington/Louisville it was 60 degrees. When we arrived in Phoenix... it was a chilly 63. (By Phoenix standards...) However, things quickly turned the corner and it became a sweltering 105 - which is pretty hot for April out there. It was a tough adjustment for Ali... and you can see it sometimes in a few of the pictures. She was a trooper about it... but she made a point to tell me not long ago that she liked Arizona "OK" but she was glad we didn't live there. "Too hot!"

We really had a great time - and seeing Chris, Jean and Tabitha was very special, too. Sara had met Tabitha - but had not met Jean or Chris yet. So it was a wonderful chance for her to meet more of her family.

The kids did great - they are such wonderful travelers. They wondered why there was no "customs" that we had to go through when we got to Arizona... how funny! But they also missed their Daddy... and have decided no more trips without him! :) I couldn't agree more!

It was a great trip - but we were glad to be home.

Easter 2009

2009-04-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

Easter this year was full of so many blessings! Sara was home - so instead of an Easter Basket that was sitting untouched... we had all four of our children home together to enjoy this special day.

It was also a day for explaining the Easter Story...in a new way. It's still sometimes difficult to remember that Sara doesn't just KNOW everything that we already know and understand. But on days like today I have to remind myself that despite the fact that it feels like Sara has been a part of our family forever - we still have to explain some of what we might think are the "simple" things.

The kids enjoyed a lazy day at home after church - and we had our own family Easter Egg hunt. It was a bit chilly - but the sun was shining and it was a beautiful Spring Day!

Sara Lynn Hanks

2009-04-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

When we came home from Guatemala with Sara...we decided that just like each of the other children, we would file for a "re-adoption" here in Kentucky, and we would also legally change her name at that time. We knew that technically it wasn't necessary... but we had done this with each of the other children, and we like to keep things consistent. :)

Our process was interesting, to say the least. I will refrain from naming names of any other attorneys (Guardian Ad Litem...)or the exact details. However, I will say that it has been a joy to go through this process with an attorney that has been through an international adoption personally. Jimmie Orr, our attorney, has a daughter named Molly that was also born in Guatemala and has been home for about 6 - 7 years now. So he can not only appreciate the frustrations that we have experienced with the entire adoption process, but he is intimately aware of the circumstances that are unique to Guatemala.

Our judge this time was Judge Tamara Gormely. She was very kind, and when the process was finally complete - she brought out some really nice blankets that some of the ladies at the Methodist Church in Georgetown made for each child adopted in her Courtroom. Judge Gormley was kind enough to allow each of our 4 children to select a blanket that day, making it a truly special day for Sara - as well as each of the other children.

Sara was given the option of keeping her name exactly the way it was - or selecting a new middle name. In the end, true to her sweet nature, she decided to take her Aunt Jamie's middle name. (what a brown-noser....) It's very fitting since her final adoption day is also Chuck and Jamie's anniversary date. (Last year on this day I think Rachel was having her surgery... whew!)

So as of today, April 9th, 2009 she is officially and forevermore:

Sara Lynn Hanks.

Mother of the Year, I am NOT.....

2009-04-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Wow. As I sit down to write this... I hope I can remember everything that has gone on the past six (yikes) months. It is currently September 19th. However, I am going to back up to April... and fill you in on what's been going on. I am so excited that I have finally found my lost memory stick. I was sure that I had lost it forever... and it had pictures from all kinds of significant events - one of which is Sara's 1 year anniversary of her Forever Family Day!

I honestly can not believe that it has been a year since Sara joined our family forever... but it was April Fools Day of 2008... and here we are a year later! In many ways - we can't remember life "before Sara"...

For her special day - Sara wanted to go to Build a Bear. We had gotten certificates from Dolly, Unlce Chad, Austin and Bryson for Christmas... and we had set those aside. I had totally forgotten about them... but Sara doesn't forget much of anything. So she asked to do that for her special day. We went to Fayette Mall and had Chick-Fil-A for lunch... and then set out for Build A Bear to pick out the "animals".

Sara has done really well this past year. She has learned to read and write, as well as speak English quite well. She loves Math - and drawing is still a passion for her. She is happy and easy going - and while I think to a certain degree she still keeps a little bit of a wall up with her brother and sisters... she is learning more and more to open up and trust them to not "hurt" her. It has been a very big year, full of many transitions, and she has weathered them well.

She is still as sweet as ever. She loves to experience new things and has not turned her nose up at a single thing that I have tried to feed her - EVER. She is really very easy to get along with (unless you sleep with her and try to steal the covers....ha ha). She has been a blessing and a challenge all at the same time. I knew that there would be issues with bringing home and older child - but honestly I can say that God really helped prepare her heart so well. She has had a few issues with opening up and trusting us... and yet she feels safe enough with us that she will put on her happy face for other people but let us know at home when she is unhappy about something. I have seen so much growth with her even in the past month. She is maturing more and more each day.

So many people have shared stories with me of the many scary things that can come along with adopting an older child. I have to say - that while it has certainly been challenging... the blessings far exceed anything that I could ever have imagined. Each "first" for Sara is so much more significant... and to watch the wonder that she experiences is so humbling. Just thinking of the many things that she has probably seen in her short lifetime - wondering what she really thinks of her life here.

We are so thankful that God has allowed us to be the Forever Family for Sweet Sara! She is such a special girl!!

Marching On...

2009-03-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

I don't think it's possible to journal each and every thing that has happened in the past few months since Kenneth passed away. But we have managed to move forward and find our footing... and make some good memories. It's just "different".

February ended with a lot of activity centering around helping get things resolved for DeeDee. We did a lot of "dividing and conquering"... and put a few things on the back burner at our house. It created new opportunities for everyone... even the first ever sleep over for Rachel and McCaleb at DeeDee's house (with Daddy, of course). They had a big time!

We dog sat for my friend Shelli, when her mother was in the hospital with a serious illness. Most people take food and sit at the hospital with you and keep you company. Not me. Don't misunderstand. It's not that I wouldn't do those things... it's just that I am GOOD at pets. I love animals. Because I love my animals so much... and I know how much I worry when I am away... I know that offering to help take care of someone else's pets is a way that I can HELP... and show my friends love at the same time. That way they don't have to worry about their pets...because they know that they will be here and be given lots of love and attention. Seamus was a complete JOY to care for. He is a 100 pound Old English Sheep Dog... but so gentle and sweet! He might be just a tad bit spoiled... so it got a little crowded at bedtime when he was trying to sleep between me and Tim in the bed. (we have a full sized bed...) He was tickled to death that Tim finally got up and went to sleep with Rachel for the night. He stretched out, laid his head on Tim's pillow, sighed a very contented sigh... and snored the night away.

Later that month, we also lost our "roomies" when Chris and Zeke moved into an apartment she found! She had been looking... and we knew it wasn't going to be a permanent thing having her here... but WOW was that an adjustment!! Zeke was a little shy when he first moved in. He kind of kept to himself...and stayed in his room. As you can see from the photos... he warmed up and quickly made himself at home!!! After they left, I think I suffered from empty nest syndrome. I can tell you right now I'm not looking forward to the house getting any quieter... I am a chaos person. I love the chaos. I am also not a person that embraces change - so once again I had to get used to another "change". UGH.

Before we knew it - it was Tim's birthday. Gee, it seems like those things roll around a lot faster each and every year. I took the kids to the store to shop for Daddy. They are sooooo funny. They picked out a couple of movies, and some socks, and new underwear! Ha ha ha. They are my kids, that's for sure! Practical gifts... that's my motto.

The end of March brought with it some tumultuous times. Ali had a bad reaction to the new medication that the doctor was trying - and we had to make some drastic changes. Medication changes are, as a rule, never fun. More change - more adjustment. We also found a new person to hire at the office for Sales... so there would be more changes for us at work. However, with our last hire of an office manager - we totally hit the jackpot and found someone that is great with the customers, great with the other employees, and a true joy to be around! So drawing from that momentum... we made another hire. Our new employee would start at the end of the month. Here they come...changes....

As March drew to a close - I can honestly say that looking back - the 6 weeks we just lived were the most emotional and difficult that we have lived as a family thus far. April...can't get here fast enough!

Saying Goodbye

2009-02-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tim with Kennth, Marty and Dale at Marty's wedding

It's currently May... but I am backing up a bit to try and catch up the blog. I'm not sure why I feel the need to do so...maybe it's because our lives have changed so drastically. Or maybe, I think because I desperately want to "catch up" our lives. Mostly I think that we experienced something so shocking to us... that we somehow lost our footing... and I feel the need to get us back on solid ground. If I can do that in some small way by keeping the blog up-to-date... then I feel that at least it's a start.

Last minute advice for Marty, no doubt...before he walks the aisle.

February started off busy already - with the girl's Forever Family Day, and then dealing with the loss of Millie. Nothing could have prepared us for the sudden loss of a loved one.

February 9th, just like many other nights, Tim was working late. Most nights I try to wait up for him... because if I go to bed and fall asleep... when he comes home...I'm up the rest of the night. Knowing I had to go to the doctor the next day - I decided to go on to bed. Sometime about 3:30am, Tim called me and said he was on the way to the hospital. His mother was on the way there with Kenneth. He called back less than 30 minutes later. By the time he arrived - it was too late.

To lose someone like Kenneth from our lives is still difficult to believe. He was a big man with a booming voice. But his personality was also larger than life... he commanded all attention each time he was present in any situation. Even now when we are down at the farm - I expect him to walk in and begin picking on me... which seemed to be a favorite pasttime of his.

The rest of that week is still a blur to me. We had visitation and the funeral. The kids did great...I think it hit Sara and Ali the hardest. Sara has had so much to deal with - and still hadn't been home a full year. It's a lot to deal with - even for the grown ups!

On Saturday following the funeral, the whole family gathered together at the farm. The ice storm we had a few weeks before had left the farm with quite a bit of damage. Everyone pulled together for a work day to help clean up and clear away all the limbs and trees that were down. I know that it was a big help to Ellen - and honestly everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I think that in some way - it helped to start the healing process and give everyone some normalcy back to a week that was so surreal. But more than that - I think that Kenneth would have been so happy. Happy to see everyone taking care of Ellen... happy to see that the mess was being cleaned up... but mostly happy to see us - there all together - and doing it to honor him.

Millie : The One-Eyed Wonder

2009-02-02T18:38:00.000-08:00

We are a rich family. Rich with pets, for one thing. Mostly of the canine variety... but we also have the equine variety, and the bunny...is that the rodent variety??? Even at the office we have some inherited fish that "just keep swimming".

Each of our pets - however small - is still a part of our family.

Millie entered our life early in our marriage. I was visiting Daddy in Mississippi. Millie was a gift from one of Daddy's hunting buddies in Kansas. With one small mishap - she got out his yard, ran several miles away... and Daddy and I had to head out in two different vehicles to find her. When I left to come back to Kentucky, I loaded her up in the truck, and brought her with me. At that time, her name was Molly. Since we already had a Molly, we changed her name to Millie. She got out of the car - and like and good bird dog, took off for the woods! Her little nub of a tail was wagging up a storm.

Also like most bird dogs, Millie was a little high strung, and a little nervous. She immediately found her place within the "pack" flying mostly under the radar and stirring up as much trouble as possible.

Along the way - she had a few obstacles to overcome. She had a good case of heartworms - which is common to dogs coming from the "delta" region. More mosquitoes = better chance for heartworms. We put her through the vigorous heartworm treatment - and then kept her still and quiet for 6 weeks. Not the easiest thing for a bird dog to do... but she did it nonetheless.

Just a few years ago - she came in the house after being outside on a windy spring day. Fine that morning - it now appeared her eye was cloudy. We spent over a month trying to heal her eye from whatever injury had occurred - but in the end she was blind. With an eye that was swollen and sore, and with 8 or 9 lab tails wagging at her eye level... it was better to remove the bad eye than to leave her in pain. It broke our hearts - but she got along great!

I remember introducing the girls to Millie. I was so nervous. I figured that out of all the dogs... Milile was the one that I had to keep my eye on. I was so wrong. She truly loved the kids. Rachel immediately claimed her as her own - and from that day forward they were fast friends. Rachel could rub her belly, roll her over, play with her feet... even feed her by hand. It was amazing. Not one time did she ever offer to snap or growl at any of the kids.

We noticed that Millie was beginning to lose weight. She was also acting as though she was having trouble getting around. She was getting older. Thirteen. So, because of her age we decided that we might need to fatten her up a little with some better food. But after a few weeks of trying dozens of different dog foods...the last Monday of January we took her to the vet to see what else we could try. There wasn't anything at all... she had cancer... and it was everywhere.

We took her home - and decided to make her as comfortable as possible until we knew it was time. It would give the kids a chance to say their good-byes. That week we had the ice storm - so with Millie curled up in the kitchen floor (or on the couch, where she actually preferred to lay) we spent the last week of her life.

Rachel must have known the time was coming - because on Saturday night she asked if we could sleep downstairs with Millie. So Rachel got her sleeping bag - and Mommy got a pillow for the couch, and the three of us had a slumber party on the family room floor/couch.

Millie was a tough dog... she never once let us know that she was sick. Even up until the very last day she never whimpered, never complained and never slowed down. When it was time to go outside, she got to her feet and ran out the door all by herself. She had a really good last day - with all four kids surrounding her the whole day with love and kisses.

Millie was truly loved by everyone in the family - and we all miss the jingle of that blaze orange collar with all the dog tags on it... as she would run all over the yard looking for birds, chickens or even the occasional rabbit. She was such a good natured dog. She might not have been a lab - but I don't think that she knew it! She was loveable, easy going, and like all good labs, just a smidge bit spoiled.

We miss you so much, Millie! You have a special place in out hearts that will never be filled!