Monday, December 28, 2009

Birthday, Christmas, Travels & Weddings...

James turned 10 years old on December 25th! We surprised him the morning of the 24th with a gift and a cake... The gift? A Razor (scooter)...

While we went to our Christmas Eve service, "Santa Claus", made a quick drop at our house... (Thanks to Amy & Kelly!) When we returned the kids were hilarious...

While the girls immediately began exploring their doll house, James decided to roll around in his new soccer goal...



Victoria was so excited about her umbrella...
Papaw wrapped up a Red Ryder BB gun for James... Praying he doesn't "shoot his eye out"... :) He was beyond excited...
Christmas morning we loaded up in our van, drove to our friends' house in New Orleans - Page & Ashley Brooks. After a few minutes of fellowship, Page graciously drove us to the airport to catch our 10:45 AM flight to BWI airport. My dad greeted us at the airport with a silly santa hat. After the kids tackled him in excitement, we loaded up and drove down to Stafford, VA through dense fog (couldn't even see the capital or monuments as we made our way through DC!), light rain and snow on the ground... We made it to my parents in time for Christmas dinner... What a blessing to fly direct and be home for Christmas AND a white Christmas at that!
Solomon James Arthur... such a momma's boy...
Christmas at Babushka & Dedushka's house...
Great- Grandma Mathews...
Great-Grandpa Mathews...
David Isaac did not want to miss out on the fun, so cousin Victoria took care of him...

Girls just want to have fun...


Cousins unwinding to Madagascar...
Sons-in-law getting their game faces on...
Rick & Jess...






Grandparents who celebrated 66 years of marriage last September!


Bride & Groom first dance...
Father - Daughter dance...
Grandfather - Granddaughter dance...

Dancing Cousins...
Aunt & Nephew enjoy a turn...
Beautiful, Happy Bride...
Uncle Tone-Tone with Lil' D...
Bride singing with awed niece, Victoria...
Mr. & Mrs. Rick Thornberg...
December 27, 2009
Six years ago Tony and I said, "I do"...
December 27, 2003
God is so gracious to us... I am so blessed to be married to my best friend... may God grant us many more years together for His Name sake...

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Difference a Year Can Make...

Merida/Bond Family Thanksgiving 2008...
Ryan & Lisa (Tony's sister) had just returned from Ethiopia with Mercy...
Merida/Bond Family Thanksgiving 2009...
10 Cousins...


God's gracious gift of our four children...
This Christmas the Bond's welcome two more - Grace & Amanuel!
Welcome Home!!!
(Above: Ryan & Lisa en route to Ethiopia; Below: Simon Derara reunites with his older sister and brother)
(Derara's grandmother and caregiver before America)
(This sign was on the outside of the orphanage...)
The tears continue to roll down my face...
You can read more in the coming days (as they recover from jetlag) on Lisa's blog: www.bringingmercyhome.blogspot.com