We have been in the US for 2 months now! Wow!!! We have had an amazing time visiting with our friends and family. We've ran here and there and everywhere it seems. We do not have internet at our house, so my time on the internet is quite limited. Here's a little of what we were up to our first month here! You also can check out my instagram pictures if you're just dying to know what we're doing. I'm able to post on that pretty frequently through my phone.
It was INSANE and so surreal to watch our chain disappear each day!
We left our home on February 5 to begin our journey to the US.
The plane rides were good, long, fun, exhausting, and long, but overall, we had an excellent trip!
Wint in the London airport.
After getting all of our stuff, having our shoes sanitized (our packed shoes, that is. I know...weird!),
the kids and I came through to see Gray's family that picked us up.
It was a funny moment because our overloaded stroller tipped right over.
That threw me off, and it was weird to have to deal with that knowing they were all RIGHT there!
There is so much that was going through my head that moment. I can hardly remember clearly all the emotions. Plus, I was exhausted! But, I remember seeing Will first and talking to him first, and he said, "Hey, Aunt B!" and that was a sweet moment that got me! It was like...I am his Aunt B even though I haven't seen him in 3 years and vice versa, but we are still us and family. I teared up, and we just picked up where we left off. It was sweet and special, and that was the first of all the sweet reunions and catching up with family and friends. I've felt like that with most everyone....I can't describe each reunion. 3 years is a long time to not see almost all of our family and friends....with the exception of our sweet visitors in India. But, it's like we just pick up and keep going and it's been pretty sweet!
Gray and his brothers
Andy sporting a crazy, ugly stash--sorry, A. ;)
We had no idea Andy and Lauren and Ben would be there.
Sarala said, Uncle Andy has a mustache!!!....
my mind, working slowly, finally realized they were there too!
What a treat to be with all of the Gainor crew!
What a treat to be with all of the Gainor crew!
Sweet cousins at the airport, waiting on the cars.
All but Sarala, she was helping get the car.
The kids all did so well with jet lag. All the cousins helped out so much!
We spent the first couple of days with a FULL house of Gainors....lots of action!
There was still a lot of this at the craziest times.
and this....
I've really been enjoying the Gainors' fireplace every time we're at their house!!!!
We had some family photos made just after a couple of days of being in the US.
Craziness, but I think they turned out pretty good!!!!
Christina has posted more on their blog. Check it out!
After the weekend with the Gainors, we went to visit with my family.
We stayed with our cousins,
and they welcomed us so well with signs and gifts and yummy food stocked in the kitchen for us!
I really should have taken more pictures!!!
I really should have taken more pictures!!!
My cousin has a beautiful home, and when we woke up to this,
Gray and I just sighed and were so thankful to be there!
Those tiny specks far out in the fields are turkeys!!!
These two girls worn out after a day of playing together.
Parks is spoiled by his sweet cousins!
Check out this beaver dam--so cool to see!
Exploring out in the country
Sarala learned to drive a 4wheeler!
All the kids got scooters from Papa and Nanny!
What a treat to have while in the US!
Wint playing with my dad's hat
At my mom's house, my kids got to play with lots of my old stuff....fun!
Like this visor I made :)
Puzzles I worked years ago
My mom helping Jackson.
I remember these puzzles being so hard!!!
Hanging out with my papa and his wife was a special gift I am SO thankful for.
Introducing him to two more grandbabies was icing on the cake.
The house we're able to stay in is amazing and we have so much beautiful land all around us.
We even got to see huge snowflakes fall.
Though they didn't stick at all!
It's fun to play around on this piano and teach the kids a few tunes!
Sarala and Parks sleep together and they are cute in there.
She does so well with him and even reads books to him sometimes....sweet, sweet!
We're staying in the upstate, somewhat near Crosspoint Church in Clemson. It has been so wonderful to worship with them, and see so many sweet, loving, familiar faces. We've already met so many new, amazing people too! We're really loving our time with them.
After getting settled, we got together with our dear friends from Crosspoint, the Finleys and the Chasteens. It was so fun to get together and catch up!
We now have 14 kids in our 3 families, and you can imagine this photo opp!!!
I love these ladies!
Cayce, me, and Liz
One free Saturday, we wanted to go exploring around the upstate--there are so many beautiful places! We missed our road, and kept driving an extra 30 minutes just into NC...it was a bummer, but we found SO much snow just over that hill. We were thankful for our little detour because we got to build a snowman!!!!
After building the snowman and thawing our hands, we still made it to the beautiful twin waterfalls.
We are loving these beautiful nature days!!!
We got to hang out with the Burns family one day!
If you can't find one of our kids in a public place...
check the nearest water fountain before calling the cops!
Sam turned 5!!!
I got to go to one of Sally Clarkson's MomHeart Conferences.
I also got to meet her and sit this close to her and hear her share from her heart!!!
Our kids participated in a wonderful festival, celebrating the work we do!!!
Catching up and hanging with Mary!
We go to spend a few days with the Kulps! Sweet!!!
Our boys can be found sharing beds all around the southeast!
Amy, we totally thought of you when we saw this!!!
We have little sweet reminders of our great team even in the US.
We miss you all and love you!!!!!
Parks took his last round of antibiotics the first week of March!
What a long road! What a victory!!!!!!
We finally finished our last pack of Parle-Gs.
This is Wint's favorite Indian biscuit (cracker).
I think he was sad, and I wondered why I didn't bring more with me!!!!
They are cheap and awesome and he loves them.
We miss our little things like this from India. :)
About 100 yards from our house, there is a train yard!!! A mini train yard! Now, Parks LOVES trains, and he asks to visit these little choo choos EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.....even when we are not at our house! These mini trains run on a track around this yard. It's just an amazing hobby and ministry this family does for kids....for fun. What a treat for Parks that we live so close!
Sarala turned 8...and we celebrated in Disney World.
WOW...Disney was amazing....and I'll post about it next time!
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