What a Reunion!

OK, I've really fallen down on my blogging job! Sorry, but the last week of my life has been a real blur to say the least! We left last Thursday for Montgomery. Will's baseball team was playing in the sub-state tournament. Our boys from Glencoe made us really proud! They played their hearts and souls out for Glencoe and made us proud to be Yellow Jackets. We really wanted to win and advance to the state tournament in Greenville but God had a different plan for us and He touched his with a sweet, sweet story. Let me share it with you... We played five games from Thursday night to Saturday. The 1st game was Thursday night. We had a rain delay and didn't start playing until almost 10 p.m. so the game wasn't over until after midnight. Our team did great- had a big win! So, we played again on Friday and won. We were supposed to play on Friday night but it was rained out so we had to start playing on Saturday morning. We were facing "THE GIANTS" of the tournament- Opelika!!! Our boys have a history of being intimidated against some teams, so we were really encouraging them to give it their best. Well, they made us proud. They gave it 110% and should've won the game. I know, I know- you don't want to hear bad umps but guess what? We had some really, really bad calls. In fact, I bet if I had checked the umps driver's license it would've said Opelika, Al. If you've ever spent anytime at a baseball park you've probably heard the phrase "home cookin' " well, we went to Grandmother's house for lunch that day! LOL! Anyway, we lost in the 6th inning. We played another game around 11 and lost that game in the 6th so we had to play another game at 3:30. It was about 100 degrees in Montgomery with a heat index of 300 degrees so we were all zapped. We had to play Crenshaw Co. and that was the same team we had played on Friday and beat. The game was back and forth but one of our boys hit a homerun and we were up 7 to 4 so we were thinking we had this one won. Well, remember I said earlier that God had different plans? A player for Crenshaw Co. got up to bat and hit a grand slam! Yes, a grand slam which made the score 8 to 7 and they won!!! We quickly started hearing people say "oh, my goodness he's never hit a homerom much less a grandslam!" We were all down and upset and then we heard this.... That little boy lost his 17 yr. old sister in a car accident two weeks ago. He told the coach when he stepped up to the plate that he said her name and this one's for you and he hit a GRAND SLAM and WON THE GAME!!!!!! Wow, who can say there isn't a God? He is everywhere ya'll- He was even in Montgomery, AL at a Dixie Youth Little League game! God does care- he cares for all of us. So, like I told Will on the way home.... we were all winners Saturday. No, we didn't advance to the state tournament in Greenville but what an awesome memory for a hurting family. God is so good.... ALL the time!

So, we came home Saturday night and prepared for the reunion on Sunday. Family and friends started gathering for Mia's arrival at the Birmingham Aiport Sunday night around 7:30 p.m. Their plane was supposed to land at 8:18 p.m. We got there and found out it was a little ahead of schedule and would be there at 8:07 p.m. When we saw Ashley, Griff, mom and Mia coming everyone started clapping and cheering. What an awesome moment! Cameras were flashing and tears were flowing. You could tell they were exhausted but the boys ran to their mom and it was such a sweet, sweet spirit there. Guess what? God was there too! We could feel HIS prescence! Prayers had been answered. Ashley, Griff and Mom had traveled around the world and now we were actually able to touch that sweet little girl. They got everything loaded up and headed home. They're still recovering from jet lag and having a new 18 month old around but overall, I think they're doing really good.

We've seen Mia a couple of times since Sunday. We ate dinner at my Grandmother's house on Monday night. Mia let me take her outside and hold her, kiss her and feed her egg drop soup that Aunt Kay had brought. On Monday night, we went swimming at Mom and Dad's house. Mia LOVED the water! She laughed and giggled and even put her face down in the water. So far, she's really attached to Ashley and Cole but she's warming up to all of us. I think she's gonna like her new family! We just praise God everyday that he chose us for Mia and I hope we can raise and teach her well.

Well, I've gotta get going. I'm going to school today to plan a workshop that we're doing on August 2nd. It's almost time to go back... I can't complain, it's been a great summer. I'm kind of looking forward to school starting back and Fall. I love the fall- the leaves turning, cool days, pumpkins, Halloween and most of all AUBURN FOOTBALL!

Enjoy this beautiful day God has given us and remember to count your blessings!

Allison