I didn't have time to add these shots earlier but I didn't want you to miss seeing how beautiful my new nephew is! Here's Tayus...I loved every minute I had with my family.
And let's not forget "Big Brudder" Jomei...he looks just like me; red hair, brown eyes...and adorable! Here's my sister, Auntie Cindi, cuddling with our boy!
Now, back to Tayus...
Today was another emotional day. Ryan and Brianna came to church with both sets of Grandparents and both of their families. They were completing surrounded by family! It was an amazing opportunity for the Bethany Community to come around them and love them knowing it was the hardest week of their lives. We grieve with them and for them. We hope they feel our love and support...we are so proud of them. The adrenaline is slowing and I'm amazed what a fog I'm in. (Lack of sleep does that.) Matt and I are taking it easy and giving each other lots of hugs...and grace. Something tramatic like this helps us realize how much we have and how blessed we are.
This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life. My heart was torn in so many directions. I came back from my vacation late Friday night, unpacked and cleaned Saturday, the Morrison6 were born on Sunday. I was at the hospital Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
For months I have been planning to go to Canada for my sister's 30th b-day party and for the arrival of my new nephew. (Who was named Tayus - pronounced the was its spelled Tay-us...cool eh?) I was supposed to go from Wednesday to Saturday. After being at the hospital on Tuesday with Bennet...I didn't want to go anywhere. Brianna insisted and I left on Wednesday for Toronto. Leaving was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I felt like I couldn't win: being a bad friend for leaving, being a rotten sister for coming with such a heavy heart - and to top it off Adriah bawled when they dropped me off...so I felt like a bad mom too! I cried (really hard) the whole way to my gate...when I checked my luggage, through security and everything. In the end, I knew I needed to let go and trust she was in good hands.Â
Wednesday afternoon (3 hours after I got there) Matt called and said, "I know I said I thought you should go but, now I'm saying come home." I was heartbroken again; for Brianna and my sister.
I came home last night after spending just over 24 hours in Toronto. I'm tired and totally spent - but there's nowhere else in the world I'd rather be. Please keep praying for my friend and her babies.
I want to say thank you to all of Bethany Church...you have been an amazing support to the Morrisons, and Matt & I! We love you!
I wrote this blog right after we got back...sorry for the late upload! We planned our travel perfectly...or so we thought! As most parents of a toddler we plan around naps, meals, and bedtime! But sometimes things are out of our hands. We were supposed to fly direct from Charlotte to Minneapolis and arrive around Adriah's bedtime (7pm)...our flight was delayed because of weather and re-routed to the Raleigh airport and then came to Charlotte, but we didn't arrive home until 1pm! My little girl isn't a kid to curl up and fall asleep on us...so she watched the Wiggles and climbed all over the chairs for 2 hours.
Things we brought to entertain our kid (and suggest for anyone traveling with a toddler):
- New books (with stickers is always great!)
- Mechanical toys that take thought and time to figure out!
- Coloring books or Playdoh
- New snacks (but not tons of sugar cause that could back fire BIG TIME!)
- AND if all else fails...DVD's bring a laptop or IPOD and let it do it's magic!
 Things I don't suggest to bring to entertain your toddler:
- Caffinated drinks or chocolate covered coffee beans!
- Powdered donuts!
- Small animals or worse, your pet fish.
- Skipping rope :)
The upside is that she slept until 10:45am and then went down for her regular nap and sleep another 2 hours! She's a star! And has recovered from our travels quite well.
Matt and I had a little "day-date" on the lake! I haven't been kayaking in ages! It was so incredible to feel the water all around me and be able to glide through it! Lake Wylie has gorgegous homes lining the shore and it's blocks away from John and Amy's home. We walked our kayaks down and walked them back! We've been married almost 7 years and we still enjoy dating each other.
Adriah playing shy!
WOW! I can't believe our 2 weeks has already come to an end! I'm filled with new memories and have the pictures to prove it! Here's one of favorites of Jake! While we were here he kept asking his mom for a pink polo...just like uncle Matt! Here he is sporting his new threads :)
Lots of love for her "Boys." She runs around the house calling for them! "Boys...common."
Here's our loving host...thank you HALEY's for a fabulous 16 days of fun!
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
I don't know if you've heard but the Billy Graham Evangelical Association just opened a library/museum in Charlotte. My brother-in-law, John, is a lawyer there and encouraged us to check it out. It was incredible! I learned so many things...
Did you know that:
1. Billy Graham was an incredible baseball player and turned down that career path for ministry.
2. He's met and given counsel to 11 presidents. (3 of them were present at the library's opening last week!)
3. Took the gospel to every continent of the world. One crusade in Korea was the largest gathering on people ever recorded...over 1 million came to hear him speak.
4. Was instrumental in helping unity in the south. He wouldn't do crusades unless they intregated the churches and when they did it brought incredible healing.
5. Father of 5 who are all in ministry. I love that his legacy and mission passes to his kids!
AND my favorite FUN FACT: the house Billy Graham grew up in was moved from it's original location; brick by brick they rebuilt his childhood home in front of the library!
You can walked through the house and see how he grew up!
Here's the Library/barn...
My grandma thinks the world of Billy Graham. When I was 19 I helped out with a Crusade in Toronto and I had the awesome opportunity to meet him...I remember telling my Grandma and she beamed with pride.
Here's Grandma Jeanne (Matt's mom) and G. G. - as Adriah calls her...it stands for Great Grandma (Matt's Grandma).
Below: look for Ruth's engagement ring...
More Graham family pictures...
I thought this one was funny. Weird to think of Billy Graham sharing an advertisement with Elvis :) isn't it?
An almost real looking cow is one of the first things that greet you as you enter the library. It's there because Billy's dad was a dairy farmer...and cause it makes kids laugh!
If you're even in the Charlotte area, definitely worth going! AND it's free!
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
My family tree is filled with artists and in marrying Matt Hedrick I've added to my list of artists in acquaintance and wanted to share a few with you! I've mentioned my brother and sister-in-law (Alexander and Tiffany Albojer) and their incredible photography business in Oakville, ON. www.lifeimages.ca
And my father-in-law Tony Hedrick is an incredible watercolor painter...among his many talents!
And Matt's uncle Gary Brown is an accomplished photographer and oil painter.
AND GETTING TO MY POINT...
While here in South Carolina Matt's cousin Aaron Morgan Brown had his paintings displayed at a local gallery and we went to check it out! www.aaronmorganbrown.com
Isn't the detail on the chalkboard incredible? It's a painting that takes you into classroom and makes you feel like you're right there.
Adriah and Jake were keeping themselves occupied!
Daddy kept his daughter entertained by twirling her...she loved the gallery for that reason alone!
The painting below was featured in an art magazine and was one of our favorites!
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
These are three of the greatest kids I've ever met! And I love them dearly! Let me introduce you to my nephews. Joel Alexander - Age 5 and a bundled of joy and energy!
Jacob Matthew - Age 8 and the artist/animal lover of the family!
AND John David -Age 10 (growing on 16) He's the musician and budding photographer!
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
Nothing can prepare you for the beauty and vastness of this gorgeous mansion! I've never been before and it was breath taking!
All eight of us piled in a mini van, four adults and four kids, and we spent the day expolring the house and the grounds of the largest private home in the country...The Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina.
We weren't allowed to takes pictures inside but here's the ones I did get!
My nephew John David is handling my Canon 30D and doing an excellent job I might add!
I yelled, "On the count of 3...JUMP!"Â And they did just that!Â
More of the Biltmore's beauty!
My darling nephews...perfect angels all the time!
My sister-in-law and I did a little "posing" on the most beautiful porch of the Biltmore. (Someday I'd love to shoot a wedding there!) It was a gorgeous day and I have wonderful memories of walking through this magnificent home with my electronic tour guide telling me about personal stories of past guests, secret doors and passage ways, and fine art displayed in every room! I felt full with knowledge by the time I finished the 2 hour tour.
We love this family! Thank you for treating us to a wonderful day!
for more info: www.noemiphotograpy.com
Yesterday we spent the majority of the day on the Virginia Creeper Trail! Matt and I had never been to Virginia before and this was quite a first! I loved every minute. Sometimes I forget how much I love the outdoors and this was the perfect experience to remind me! We rented bikes from the Virginia Creeper Bike Shop and then we were shuttled 50 minutes up the mountain (with our bikes in tow). Once at the top, all eight of us set off down the 17 mile trail...it was amazing. The bike trail used to be the old railroad so you're going over bridges, through the forest, crossing the Appalachian trail, passing other bikers and the whole time you're going downhill...almost effortless! The sites were beautiful.
Here's the crew!
We stopped for lunch at a trail diner about half way down the mountain.
Daddy bought our little girl her two favorite treats: ice cream and pickles. He put both in front of her to see what would happen...she looked back and forth for a few seconds then, confidently went for the pickles! Ice cream followed!
Adriah and Joel! Friends Forever!
You're my brown eyed girl and I love your smile!
Adriah did great! You're always taking a risk with a two year who's never been in bike carrier before! :)
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
There's something so fulfilling in watching your daughter play in the sun: at the beach, at the pool and with her cousins! Here's the pictures to prove it!
My family! Aren't we cute?
Matt...need I say more? I think I will. He's the love of my life! :)
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
Captain Adriah is ready to take you where ever you want to go.
Everyone buckled in?
Crossword puzzles are available while you wait your turn!
Now, hold on for dear life! Adriah doesn't mess around :)
Jake loved seeing his uncle flip in the water...hee hee!
Joel was ready for anything! Good times had by all.
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
I found a Starbucks with internet access! So here I am away from my living room but still able to write and upload pictures. Do you ever stop and think about how amazing that is? I love technology. I've been playing with my two year daughter at the pool in 80 degree weather all morning. Our nephews love her and keep her entertained all the time. So far, we're all getting along just fine! Aside from her temporary breakdown in needing to where a lifejacket while on a boat! Yikes!
I'm quickly gaining trillions of freckles...and yes, if I keep going at this rate I'll have an amazing tan one day! It's a joke I've heard a thousand times...It'll never happen.
My husband is amazing. So, patient and delights in following our daughter where ever she desires to lead him. They were having a blast in the lazy river today!
Enough talking, I'm going to get back to vacationing.
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
If you've never travelled to this part of the country...plan to someday! We're visiting my Adriah's Grandparents, Aunt and Uncle and cousins in Tegacay, South Carolina. It's close to Charlotte! Sorry if i'm rubbing it in but the weather has been a perfect 80-85 degrees with a cool breeze. It's gorgeous, green, filled with historic mansions, close to the coast and most of all, here is where are family is! Matt, Adriah and I love to visit! We'll spend the first part of our 2 weeks at their condo near Myrtle Beach (beach living) and then come back to Tegacay (pool and sprinkler living) for the rest of our vacation. It's okay for you to be jealous. I would be if our roles were reversed.
I love the sun...even though it doesn't love me. I burn in seconds (or so it seems) and freckle in minutes! I wear SPF 50 and still get burned but it's worth it cause I love being outside.
Don't worry about your pictures! I'm still working while I'm away!
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
I was at a friend's house today talking about motherhood and was inspired to write. I don't know a lot of things but I know the joy of carrying a sleepy baby to bed when her arms are squeezed around my neck is worth more then anything...it's wonderful. Being a mom makes me laugh at myself; at my need for ridiculous perfection and control, and at "my plan"! My daughter is her own person and she brings out the best in me. My prayer is to raise her in love. I love my mom. We don't always see eye to eye but I know when I'm in her arms...she loves me. She would hold me until I pull away and even then give me one last squeeze. That's the kind of mom I want to be.
I don't have any pictures to relay my feelings. I hope the words speak for themselves.
Thanks for listening.
for more info: www.noemiphotography.com
Adriah just turned two in April and everyday I see her changing before my eyes; new words, lots of emotions, longer hair and lots of saying goodbye to clothes she outgrown! Here's Adriah all grown up with chef's hat and apron...she's cooking for mom!
Here she's just dump out every cooking toy she owns...
And yelling into the lid! :)
And tasting out the fries...
There is nothing like playing with my little girl!
for more information: www.noemiphotography.com
Whenever I see or hear their names together (Jesse and Dylan) I always think they're rock stars;Â they're my nephews, but who knows what the future holds for them!
They love their cousin Adriah and she loves the attention! :)
We had a great time at their house a few weeks back and of course I had my camera close by! These precious moments go by too fast not to capture them!
Below: Dylan is chillin' to Sesame Street podcast...I don't know what they come up with next, but I love it!
for more information: www.noemiphotography.com
This is for my sister Elizabeth who is forever buying cute English outfits for Adriah and I never remember to take pictures when she's wearing them!
Most people say Adriah is the spitting image of her dad or her aunt...but I guess I'm hoping you (probably only my mom!) can see a little of me in these pictures.
If you're wondering how she's sitting so peacefully...it's easy...great parenting! (OR it could be that Raffi was singing on the tv right behind me)
It's hard to believe she's already 2!
I learned about Facebook through my brother and sister-in-law the last time I was in Canada and have loved it ever since! It's a networking, finding ol'friends, locating long lost lovers, and/or keeping up with family website! My sister came across this video and thought of me! I laughed at myself from start to finish! I have poured hours into Facebook and tell everyone I know to join because...I have to have more "friends" then my husband! See you on www.Facebook.com
We have an incredible group of young ministers at our church an I'm blessed by all the ways they serve our congreagation and my family! More than that...they are fun to be around AND passionate about serving our community!
It's not the easiest to capture guys, especially when they're uncomfortable with getting their picture taken, but we had fun anyway! Here's a couple of shots from our freezing photoshoot yesterday morning...
Don't you just love Pastor Matt?
For more information: www.noemiphotography.com
