We're going private!

I know I have been terrible at updating or haven't been able to post any this year!
However we are going private for various reasons so if you want to be invited to stay informed. Please just comment and leave your emails so we can make sure to keep in touch and stay connected. Thank you so much!

My Amaryllis Reminder

My biggest fan and personal cheerleader in life was always my father. He believed in me.
When I was 8 months pregnant with the twins, he made the drive to Florida for a visit. He had dug up some Amaryllis bulbs from his sister Sally's home in Mississippi and could hardly wait to bring them to me. I must admit that cleaning out a flower bed to plant bulbs while 8 months pregnant was not very fun. But, I was grateful for my father's effort and I tried to share his enthusiasm for the project.
When we moved from the townhouse where those bulbs were planted, I decided on a whim to dig them up and carry them with me to our new home. My father had passed, and all of the memories of that hot, dirt-digging day were somehow sweeter to me.
I went outside out house in Tallahassee today, and to my surprise, the Amaryllis has bloomed. This is the first time any of the bulbs have bloomed since they were planted, then transplanted eight years ago. Slade noted that there were exactly four flowers. Tears welled up in my eyes and I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the gift of the resurrection that our Savior has given us. I'm grateful that a loving father on earth brought me bulbs even when I didn't really want them, and I'm grateful that a loving Father in Heaven made those bulbs bloom and remind me of the awesome gift of our Savior's love, atonement, and resurrection. What great peace it brings to my soul to know that because of Him, I can one day wrap my arms around my earthly and Heavenly fathers again and feel their unconditional love and support of me.

Award Winning Girls

Makenzie and Madison received "A" Honor Roll awards as well as Reading Awards and a surprise $5.00 gift each from Mr. Joe Brown for their academic efforts. Madison received February Student of the Month for her class. The girls were most excited about their $5.00. They wanted to immediately pay it all to tithing. They've learned that if they pay their tithing, surprise gifts are often received from Heavenly Father. We explained that only .50 cents was required for tithing and .50 for savings, and that they could use the other $4.00 as they wished. That $4.00 immediately began to burn a hole in their pockets. I explained that my father always encouraged me to save by using a percentage system. If I could save my money for a week, he would increase it by 25%, two weeks 50%, three weeks 75%, and if I kept the money for a whole month, he would double it. Their minds quickly began to calculate and they've set a goal to save their $4.00 for one month. Slade and I promised them we'd double their investment (don't we wish banks offered such deals?). Their plan is to use $7.00 of the increased money for another skating lesson and the other dollar for a drink at Skate World. We'll see how long they can hold on to this $4.00.

Our Yard Has A Magnet

Our yard has a magnet that draws children to it. It's been that way for a long time. Slade's Mom says that all of the children used to congregate in the yard that is now ours because Granny Birdie always had pretty flowers planted and she did'nt want them to get trampled. The kids love to pull limbs from the woods into the yard to "build forts." Slade says that's what his siblings and cousins used to do. We enjoy watching creativity at work. So if you're ever missing a child, just look our way.

The Best Day of Our Lives

We spent last weekend at our Tallahassee house and decided to spend all day Saturday doing fun family things. We were crazy enough to wake the girls up on a Saturday morning to take them for their first skating lesson. Madison ventured onto the slick floor right off. After one hard fall, Makenzie stuck to the carpet for her lesson.After skating we attended Family Fun Day at Chick-Fil-A. We sang karaoke, played several games for prizes, and ate and jumped. Then we were off to the Irish Parade and Festival. We ended the day panning for gold at Natasha Robert's 9th birthday celebration. On the way home from the party the girls said, "This has been the best day of our lives."

"Move That Bus!"

Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Tallahassee last week to build a 3800 sq. ft. home for the Kadzis. This family adopted six special-needs children from China. The big reveal to the family was Friday, 2/27/09. The girls, Aunt Wanda, and Mom were there to shout the rally cry "Move that bus!" The show is set to air on ABC April 26, but good luck trying to see us in the crowd of hundreds welcoming the family to their new home. 

We Are Blessed

One of the greatest blessings and joys in our life is our twin girls. For 13 years we prayed, fasted, and did everything in our power to have children. We had no idea of the depth of love that we can feel in this life until two precious gifts from heaven were placed in our arms. We are having so much fun seeing our daughters learn and grow. We are eternally grateful that we have the privilege of being their parents. Enjoy taking a look at their first seven years.