Tennessee Trip

Earlier this spring, several of my homeschool co-op friends were planning camping trips for the summer. We occasionally go along as well as we all have a great time together. In addition to camping locally, they also mentioned wanting to go to Tennessee. We've talked about going to Tennessee in the past as I have a dear friend who lives there. My kids also had heard about the Titanic Museum down there as well and really wanted to go.

 So we decided to make one big trip and do it all. We planned to spend 2 days visiting with our friend who lives in Tennessee then head east to the other side of the state to camp with our other group of friends.

About a week before we left, the 2 children of my friend in Tennessee were up here visiting their grandparents and rather than them make a special trip to get the kids home, we offered to have the kids ride to Tennessee with us. I knew my kids would enjoy having friends along to help make the drive go faster. I admit I was a little nervous driving so far with a not yet 2 month old and 2 year old. We've driven to Florida before which is a lot longer of a drive but the kids were all older.

We were aiming to be on the road by 4am (Thursday August 1st). I didn't get to sleep till sometime after 11:30 the night before. Sweet Ava decided to wake at 12:30 to nurse, ha, it would figure!! And of course I couldn't get back to sleep then. Around 3am, I started hauling all our stuff out into the driveway. Packing a vehicle is like putting a puzzle together, I have to see everything that needs to go in the van laid out so I can get it all in just right maximizing each inch of space. If it hadn't been dark out and if I wasn't so worried about staying on schedule, I would've snapped a picture. Because we were staying in a cabin for the 2nd half of our trip and wouldn't have a kitchen, I had to pack a ton of extra things. I managed to get everything in and still had room for the 8 kids. haha Oh yeah, don't forget about the bike rack on the back of the van yet too!!

We got on the road by 4:15am. And we drove, and drove some more. In fact, we didn't stop until 5 hours later in Virginia! The kids all were doing well and surprisingly Ava slept that whole time. So it was a gas/diaper change/potty/breakfast stop all at once.

A quick pic taken with my cell of all the kids. Yes Olivia is still rear facing and will be for quite some time!

We made one other stop around 2pm and arrived at our friends house around 4:15pm (and according to them, we made good time even with our stops!) You are probably wondering if Ava nursed only those 2 times we stopped. Nope she ate quite a bit more in fact:

(that's just my arm/hand in the bottom of the pic, no worries ;)

What nursing mom hasn't ever done the whole hovering-over-the-carseat-thing?? On a long road trip it's just one of those things ya need to do because if we stopped everytime she wanted to eat, we never would've gotten to Tennessee!! (and yes, I tried pumping and doing the bottle thing but she didn't like the bottle we tried to give her and I only had that one kind along).

It was so good to be able to finally spend time with Renee, I only wish it had been longer! We often email or talk about food we cook so it was fun to be able to work together in the kitchen. She tried a few new recipes which is something we both enjoy doing (and they came out great!!! Paleo waffles & chunky monkey muffins, yum!) It was nice to also finally share conversation over coffee as we often have said we would love to do. I so wish we lived close by to get together on a daily basis.

On Friday, we walked to their neighborhood pool for the kids to spend some time swimming. After swimming we went to a local park for the kids to play then afterwards we finally got to visit sweet Weston who helped bring our families together. Often when Renee goes to visit Weston, she walks to the gas station nearby to get some cappuccino and takes it with her as she sits with her precious son. So that's what we did, we all walked over and she treated the kids to an ice cream treat, she got her cappuccino and I would've as well but it was hot out & I was wearing Ava in the moby so I turned my cappuccino into an iced coffee. Then we went at sat by Weston's grave chatting about our boys.

Renee & I with our boys! Still amazing how they brought us together even though we live states a part!

That evening, we had a yummy supper cooked over the firepit outside then made s'mores for dessert! I know we both wished for more time to just be able to sit and chat. Even watch our favorite beloved Anne of Green Gables together. 

Saturday morning we packed up and left Renee's family around 10:15 to head east about 3 1/2 hours to meet up with our friends who had just arrived at the campground. 

I miss you already my dear friend and am so thankful we were able to hang out together for a few days!

We arrived at the campground Saturday afternoon and unloaded everything into our 1 room cabin. Yup, all of us in one room with one bathroom (yes at least we had one!). Friends of our friends who live in the area cooked for our group that night so I didn't have to make supper. We had venison burgers over charcoal, yum!

Sunday we just hung around the campground. The kids went swimming, it was a pretty laid back day. I made pork & veggies kabobs over the fire for supper. Ahhh nothing like food over a wood fire!

Because we were in Tennessee for a total of 9 days, I'm going to be breaking up the posts over the next few days. Next up, our visit to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Cade's Cove & the Titanic Museum!

Bosom Friends

“A bosom friend–an intimate friend, you know–a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my inmost soul.” 

 -Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables

Back when I was in the early days of my journey with Noah, I had 2 dear friends who came along side of me, to support me as they themselves had just each lost a baby prior to Noah's death and understood right where I was at. When I asked them how can I ever repay my gratitude for all they did, they just told me that someday, people will come into my life who will need support, and that I should just take what they've done and pay it forward.

Since then, I have had the honor of being in touch with many sweet moms who have lost babies. People in real life, and people who have stumbled across Noah's youtube video during a google seach and/or those who have found my blog. I keep in touch with several of these dear ladies via email. Many miles, even countries set us apart but there is a special bond & connection between those of us who have lost babies. Those miles don't even matter because of that. We can still share our feelings, fears and even shed tears together even though some of us may never meet in person on this side of Heaven.

A few months ago, I asked for prayer on my blog for my friend Renee who was facing the death of her newborn son Weston. She was one of the people who had come across Noah's video, then my blog and then contacted me shortly after she got the Potter's Syndrome diagnosis back in December. She lives in Tennessee and I live in Pennsylvania so unfortunately I could only offer her support from a distance. 

Her contacting me and our friendship certainly was not a coincidence but a God arranged friendship as we eventually discovered. Only He could've worked out the specifics of our friendship long before either of us even knew who the other was.

You see, Renee's husbands family doesn't live very far from us. In fact, they only live the next county over and her family comes up this way from time to time to visit them.


Imagine our excitement when we realized all of this and that they had a trip planned to come up to Pa in June to see family, just 2 months after Weston died. After emailing, texting and phone calls for 6 months, we were finally going to be able to give each other a hug in person instead of virtual hugs. 

Renee had said that she wanted to be able to go to Noah's grave during their visit with us. Then she suggested since Noah's place is along the way they'd be traveling to our house, that we should have our first face to face meeting at Noah's grave since he was the reason we came in contact with each other. I loved this idea!!!

So about 10:15am this past Wednesday morning, the kids and I were all at our church waiting for them to arrive (Kevin was also meeting us there from work). Her husband no sooner had the car in park before she came running out with tears and we just stood there hugging and crying. What a precious meeting it was, there are just  no words to describe all the emotions!

I should add that it wasn't just me who had been reaching out to Renee in support but my kids also reached out to her kids by writing letters and sharing their feelings about their journey with Noah. So not only was I highly anticipating our meeting but it's all the kids could talk about. They were thrilled to finally get to meet their penpal friends. So while Renee and I were embracing, all our kids were giving each other hugs and hit it off right away as well. Even our husbands got along really well and had plenty to talk about as they have similar jobs and understood each others "technical talk".

We spent almost an hour at Noah's grave, talking about our boys, releasing balloons for Weston & Noah and taking pictures together.

Our precious 9 children

Releasing the balloons

Afterwards, we headed for our house where we spent the rest of our time with one another. We had lunch & dinner together, we did some baking together, Renee jumped in and did the dishes just as if she were at home lol, we simply enjoyed each other's company and conversation. I couldn't even begin to sum up our time in words. It was such a wonderful day! 10 1/2 hours together went by in a blink.

(And I have to add that we even got to taste some cannoli's and lobster tails from Carlo's Bakery, aka Cake Boss for those who watch the show. Her family went there the day before visiting us. Both treats were amazing!)

Their family blended amazingly well with our family, it was as if we've always known each other. We have so many similarities, not only Renee and I ourselves in our interests & personalities, but also in our parenting, beliefs, we've even done the same types of vacations, etc. Our kids even have a lot in common with each other not to mention they are similar ages. There is no doubt in our minds that God brought our families together for a special purpose. These type of friendships are very rare! I am beyond thankful for and cherish this dear family that was placed in our life. We share an unbreakable bond that is rooted in Jesus and we look forward to journeying life with our beloved friends.

Our darling boys that brought us together. I have no doubt they were looking down today cheering that we finally got to meet after they've spent the last 11 weeks together in Heaven.

Renee & I with our boys at Noah's grave

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

-Proverbs 17:17

My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one's life for one's friends.

John 15:12-13

"Friends are relatives you make for yourself"

-Eustache Deschamps

And yes, we both love Anne of Green Gables hence the quote above! ;)

Update on Renee's family

Thank you to so many of you who have been keeping this family in your thoughts and prayers. Renee called me yesterday afternoon with an update.

They were pleasantly surprised that their baby came out a little BOY!!! (they had been told a girl but due to the condition, Dr's weren't 100%).

Weston Aidan made his grand appearance at 8:10am CST. He weighed 3lbs 2 oz and was 16" (he was 5wks early). The family got to experience eyes open, noises, his little fingers grasping theirs, etc. Weston went home to Jesus at 10:45am CST.

Blessed my heart how Renee told Weston about Noah waiting for him. I have no doubt Weston gave Noah a special "high 5" when he saw him yesterday. Ironically, Noah & Weston share the homegoing date of the "14th", yet another neat bond between Renee & I (one of many!)

We received a special sign from Noah yesterday, gave us chills but I have no doubt there was a reason. Maybe sometime I'll elaborate more on it.

Please continue to keep this dear family in your thoughts and prayers. Renee has the added difficulty of recovering from a c-section ontop of all the emotional things to face.

We look forward to meeting Renee's family in June and are thankful to have been blessed with this sweet family's friendship! Until then Renee, we continue to send you our virtual hugs & prayers!! <3