Ruby's Prayers

Ruby has the sweetest little prayers. I mean they aren't your typical little kid memorized prayers where they say the same thing every time. They are sincere and thought out. 

Which shouldn't surprise me one bit because that is Ruby's entire personality.

For example tonight we said a prayer with Clint....

Pretty awesome right? Cause he is in Afghanistan!!!!!

He took his iphone and he has the internet so we face time at least once a day most days it is twice. It is so awesome. It really makes a huge difference being able to see him. I think I would be losing my mind if we didn't get to.So for that I am so thankful. 

Back to Ruby's Prayer.....

Ruby has seen me at my lowest point, wanting another baby, going through invitro, getting pregnant, miscarrying, invitro again, and then nothing. She has seen the pain and suffering, so much so that any time that I cry now she automatically gets me tissue and sings me a song. Usually "You are my Sunshine" or "Edelweiss"

She will sit with me and wipe all my tears and usually tell me what makes her feel better when she is sad that she doesn't have a baby sister or brother. 

I mean c'mon is that not adorable?

So her prayers are always full of Thank You's, she even turns her wants into Thank You's 

Like this......from tonight's prayer.

"Thank you that daddy will return home safely from Afghanistan"

or 

"Thank you that I will get a little brother or sister"

When I hear that I just think it's gotta happen somehow right?

Well it won't unless we do something more than we are doing currently. So we can't wait until Clint gets home this fall so that we can start pursuing both options of invitro and adoption and see where each path leads us. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Even though Ruby's are pretty dang cute I think we are going to need a lot more. And if you have any good info on either invitro or adoption send it our way. Mostly adoption since we have been through invitro twice I sorta know what to expect there. 

Lastly in Ruby's Prayer tonight she said

" thank you that Mama and Papa are together again."

Clint's grandpa passed away today and I'm sure he is so happy to be with his sweet wife again. 

He will be missed but from all that I have known and heard about him he was an incredible man and lived a long and happy life. 

We love you Papa

 

The Big Easy

After Clint's graduation we took a quick trip down to New Orleans. Ever since we moved to Alabama I have wanted to go.....I guess we are total procrastinators because we literally left it to the last minute. But it was so fun cause we got to take My Mom and Dad and Clint's Mom and Noah which made it fun, especially for Ruby.



On the way we stopped and checked out the USS Alabama. It really was amazing.
Those ships are like little cities.
It had a butcher shop, a bakery, a tailor and so many other things that I wouldn't have even thought of.  

 

 

The whole gang walking up to the ship I thought this thing was totally cool. It is how they would keep track of who was on the boat

  I thought this thing was totally cool. It is how they would keep track of who was on the boat. If you left the boat while it was docked you would turn your name so it couldn't be seen and that is how they would know who was aboard and who wasn't

 

 

New Orleans was pretty amazing. It is kind of unreal. Like no other place that I have ever been.
There are people everywhere. And we weren't even there at a busy time.
I loved all the buildings. The architecture and all the colors. I just wanted to take pictures of everything I saw.

I did take lots of pictures of doors. I don't know why, but I love doors. 
And New Orleans didn't disappoint. I'll spare you and just show you a few.

 

 

 

Look at all of these doors.
Lovely 

 

 

Ruby even got a mask.
She loved it and of course got the only one in the store with the fringed beads.
No surprise there.
She wore it around like that the entire night

Ruby was super excited to ride the street cars because we told her that it was the same on that Tiana rode in The Princess and The Frog.

Tulane University. It was right along the street car line and It was beautiful

The last stop we made on our way out of town was this old cemetery.
I love all the history you can see and feel in cemeteries. It's almost peaceful to me.
And this cemetery did not disappoint.
Check it out.

I think I might need to hang this one up in my house somewhere. Even though I don't do crosses. So I probably won't, but
I just love the sun peaking over the cross






My cute dad giving Ruby some lesson about the cemetery



So maybe I will choose one of these two to hang in my house.
But then again it might be a little too creepy considering it is a tomb.
But don't you think they look cool.










There was this cute little prayer room there. It looked like a miniature church.
Ruby was amazed by the whole thing.



We loved New Orleans and were so sad to only have a few days there. Especially because we knew we had to get home and finish packing the moving truck and head to North Carolina.
But we were glad we decided to go and so glad that we got to go with family and friends.

The following pictures are all pictures from my wonderful father-in-laws camera. He is great at always documenting everything the family does, which I am so grateful for. Thanks Doug It was soooo much fun when Mama and Papa were up at Mt. Air. We loved being able to see them in just a short 15 min drive up the canyon. This was a rare occasion that so many of us were up there at the same time. What fun memories!

I was so happy to see these pics of Ruby with Mama. She was such a special woman.

Ruby on Halloween 2007




Ruby with her cousin Sophia and Grandpa.
Sophia is the closest cousin to Ruby's age. I'm sure they will have lots of fun over the years.


Ruby wih her cousin Ella on Christmas Eve

Easter at the Chamberlain's

Family party

The folowing pics are of Clint's grandma's funeral. It was a beautiful small graveside service. The entire familiy came to town to celebrate ths amazing woman. Even though I only new Mama for a short 6 1/2 years I grew to love her very much. We will miss you Mama.

Me, Ruby and Holly Chamberlain at the graveside service

Lunch after the funeral with the whole family

One of the many family birthday parties at the Chamberlains

While we were in Palm Springs we headed to the beach for a day and were able to meet up with our good friends Bob and Jen Jackson and their adorable little girl Mary Jane. We had a good time getting dinner and ice cream. Thanks Bob and Jen for letting us borrow all of your beach gear.


Balboa Ferry

In the pool with Carrie and Travis.