Big Changes...

There are some big changes coming our way, and we would be so grateful for your prayerful support...

Yesterday, Ben was honored to accept a great promotion with his company as the DMM for the state of Arkansas. Yep, I said Arkansas... The three of us are about to be the newest residents in Little Rock. :) We feel very blessed to be given this opportunity and have a complete peace that it is the right decision for our family. However, it is still very bittersweet and incredibly hard to leave our families, friends, and amazing church here in Dallas/Ft Worth.

Many of you know that we have moved away before - we lived up in Minnesota from 2006-2007 while Ben was in a training program for this same company. Against all odds, we found out in Jan 2007 that we were getting to move right back home to DFW. We had no clue (at the time) how the Lord was providing for us. He knew what we were about to walk through with the infertility and adoption struggles... and His provision of our strongest support system during that time was a blessing beyond measure. We truly could not have made it through those years without that physical presence of love, support, and felt prayers. For that we will be forever grateful. It has been a wonderful, comforting, and refreshing time to be surrounded by so many people that we truly love.

But we also know that the Lord doesn't always allow us to stay in those comfort zones - that there are new challenges and new things to learn to help us grow. And we are again taking a leap of faith and trusting in His provision and plan for our lives. He has never let us down and we are excited about what the future holds.

Ben's promotion is effective as of December 1st (this has been a whirlwind!)... He and I flew out to their regional offices in Nashville yesterday to sign contracts and make everything official. Ben will be commuting back and forth from DFW to Little Rock for the month of December as I finalize things here (selling this house, finding and buying a new home in Little Rock, etc - just the small things. Ha!). Our plan is for Reid and I to be moved and join Ben the beginning of January. I will send out our new address/contact information as soon as we find our new home. The good news, is that we will not be very far away (about 5 hours) and DFW is home base for us so I know that we will be back to visit everyone often.

Again, we would truly appreciate your prayers that everything goes as smoothly as possible. We are so grateful for you and blessed by your friendship.

And... we really hope that all of you have been DYING to go on a vacation to Arkansas...(I mean, who wouldn't?!? Wink, wink.) We will have a room waiting for you!

All our love,

Holly, Ben, & Reid

Western Day

Yesterday was Western Day at Reid's school.... and he wanted NOTHING to do with it! I definitely have a little city boy (just like his Daddy!). Reider wanted nothing to do with the animals... the pony rides... didn't want to wear his new boots... Oh well. Such is life! He sure did make a cute cowboy, though! (He's going to be a cowboy for Halloween, too!)

Mom and Reider

Walking beside the pony...

Not really liking the pony ride...

Nope. Definitely didn't like it. =)

He was pointing to the pony saying "ewww"... and "pew-yew!"

Reid with some of his classmates

He enjoyed looking at all of the animals from the other side of the fence, at least =)

Fine, Mom... I'll pet the pony.

Love these pics of his little class looking through the fence!

Nope... I don't want to pet the goats either, Mom...

And I REALLY don't want to touch the chicken...

...just hold me, Mom... I don't want any of the animals touching me...

So cute!

Perfect picture of Reid's facial expression for the whole day =)

Oh well! Maybe he'll enjoy it more next year! =)

HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, REID!

On October 5th, 2009 we had the great blessing of welcoming Michael Reid into our forever family - it is a day we will always celebrate! For those of you new to adoption speak, click HERE to learn more about Gotcha Day =)

This year, Gotcha Day fell on a Tuesday so I took cookies up to Reid's class at school. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I was too busy playing with the kiddos. Obviously, they are all still too young to understand, but most of them enjoyed the cookies anyway =)

Each year for Reid's Gotcha day, we will let him pick anything he wants to do as a family. We look forward to making this such a special day in his life! We are forever grateful for the sacrifice and love his birth family showed in choosing adoption and in choosing Ben and I as his parents. We couldn't be more blessed! Mommy and Daddy love you so much, Michael Reid!

And... just a cute pic from the other night... Reid and one of his best buddy's, Adalyn (or "Ady" as he calls her!)... too cute!

Quick Update

As usual, I somehow fell WAY behind in blogging. Ugg. Hopefully I'll get better about that soon! I just feel like I looked up and it was already October... crazy how fast time flies when you're having fun! If you look below, I (finally) posted some pictures from our family vacation to Horseshoe Bay from Labor Day weekend. I also posted a short video of the smartest baby in the world... that's right... Reid is now spelling his name and counting. Too cute! Wow, how we love this little guy!

A quick update... Reider has been going to school for almost a full month now on Tuesdays and Thursdays (9am - 2pm) - and he absolutely LOVES it! We are so very glad! He truly enjoys school, learning, and playing with all of his new friends. We are so grateful for the wonderful teachers he has been blessed with, and they are so in love with Reider as well! I can't say enough wonderful things about Southlake Christian. Please let me know if you are interested in more info for your own kids - I would be glad to get some to you =)

And tomorrow, October 5th, is a HUGE day at our house... it's Reid's GOTCHA DAY! It's so hard to believe that a year has already gone by since we were at the courthouse finalizing the adoption of our sweet, baby boy! You can look here for pictures of that special day =) To celebrate Gotcha Day with Reid this year, we will be taking treats (cookies and cupcakes) up to his class at school tomorrow. Then this weekend, we will have a family day and do whatever Reid wants to do (most likely the aquarium or zoo). I can't wait! I will post pictures as soon as I can!

Horseshoe Bay Family Vacation

(WARNING: This post has a TON of pics... lots of scrolling!)

Over Labor Day weekend, our family had a blast as we all took a little vacation down to Horseshoe Bay Resort near Austin, TX. It was Ben, myself, Reid, KK, Doc, Aunt NeeNee, Uncle Craig, Siti (Lea Wildey), and Uncle T (Tyler Wildey). It was so much fun just to get a way, relax, and enjoy each other's company! We spent our weekend by the pools, at the beach club, eating lots of food, and the guys got several rounds of golf in. It was a weekend we will never forget!

Here are some of our favorite pics...

Reid on the beach for the first time - he LOVED it!

Our little fam...

Life is rough... haha =)

To infinity and beyond!...

Doc teaching him bad habits...

Having fun with Uncle Craig... (or "Cra", as Reider calls him)

With Doc and KK

The whole crew eating some of the best pie in the world!

Reider wasn't too fond of the birds around the resort...

His face says it all...

Uncle Craig, Reider, Doc, and Dad

A love for peanut butter crackers was born...

With KK

(Please excuse the way I look... Reid and I stayed in the pool as long as possible and didn't have time to shower) At the Salt Lick with Aunt NeeNee and Doc...

Reid wanted to climb that tree with all the big boys so badly!

Smartest baby in the world!

We might be "a little" biased... but he's a smart little guy! (And pretty darn cute, too!)