Goodbye BBBS party & some incriminating videos

I can't believe it but Wendy is moving.. (gasp!). Wendy is Krista's (Hannah's oldest sister) "Big" in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and she is just simply amazing. Wendy & Krista have been matched since Krista was 5 years old. Krista is now 12 so that is a loooooong time. She has helped Krista so much and is just a ginormous part of Krista's life so this will be really difficult to see Wendy go. They will obviously stay close, there are already plans in the works to fly Krista up to visit but it won't be the same as seeing each other every week. Aside from all the good Wendy has done in Krista's life she has also been a "Big Sister" in a way to me, lol! She kinda showed me the ropes when I first joined and gave me great ideas of things to do with Hannah that were free & fun. She showed me how I can easily slip in learning experiences and teach values along the way and she was such a great support and someone who understood the difficulties we face as "Bigs" in the program. She always encouraged me when times were hard or Hannah was challenging and her laid back/calm attitude when we have the entire Flores clan together was always MUCH appreciated. She hosted many a pool party for us and the Flores kids aren't the only ones who will miss her. =(

Wendy & Teresa have landed fancy new jobs up in Boston and we are sad to see them go but excited for the amazing opportunities ahead of them. Teresa has a new job with the IRB up there and Wendy was recruited to keep on saving the world. See Wendy is an all around super woman. Not only is she an amazing Big Sister, she is also a research professor of pediatric cancer and has done amazing things in making strides towards better understanding and eliminating pediatric cancer. She was the program director of the data center for the children's oncology center here at UF and was just so humble. Kim and I had known her I think for a year and half or so before we finally found out just how important of a job she had. She prob regretted us finding out b/c then instead of us going to her for advice about the Big Sister program we also asked for professional advice about our dissertations, statistics, publications, the job market, you name it.. it was open game!

Thank you for all you've done for the Flores kids, for us, and so many children and families with cancer! We love ya Wendy and wish you all the best!

Here are pics from the goodbye party we threw for Wendy & Teresa. We had games, contests, singing, and made our own pizzas and fruit salad together. So fun! The standing on one foot contest came down to Samantha & Teresa and they went on for several min before... Teresa won!!! =) Ha ha! Loved it! That is some serious competition.

The kids love to switch up Bigs so I included some video of Hannah & Kim's dance that Hannah made up (it is classic Hannah all the way), Samantha & Krista's performance, and then....... the best of all.... Wendy & Mark's debut act! Wendy please don't kill me for posting these... I just had to, they are too cute and he was soo happy and you are SOO great with the kids. This just proves my point! I mean c'mon people, she JUMPED off the seat & onto the stage to start the act, doesn't get better than that!

Isn't this picture great?? Where is Mark's head???? Seriously, he looks like a headless boy!

We tried to take Big Sister pics of each of us but my Samuelito was a tad jealous so thankfully Hannah was cool with him joining us... =(
Dance party at Kim's house!!!
Trying to cheer a sad Krista up.. she had a hard time towards the end of the party, please pray for her through this transition. She is such a great kid.

Twister!!! Super fun!!They even let Sammy play, but they kicked him out b/c he cheated, poor little guy.
Samantha & her Big, Kristen.... too cute! They are so perfect for each other!
Serious competition time!
Wendy & Teresa with the gang
Krista and her Wendy, so sweet! Look how happy she was here!!!!

Under the four Flores kids was poor Chris, Kim's fiance' at the time (now hubby!)
What a good sport!
Yay Mark!

Video time!..

Hannah & Kim's crazy dance. I love my Banana, isn't she great???

Wendy and Mark Part 1:

Wendy & Mark Part 2:



Krista & Samantha's Jesus Song

Wedding Pics! Congrats Kim & Chris!

So... they tied the not! Kim and Chris were married on October 3 and we couldn't be happier! It was so much fun and went by entirely too quickly. The theme of their wedding was bamboo and so it was in the bamboo garden at the Kanapaha Botanical gardens and was just so romantic! It is so beautiful there and when the wind blows you can here the giant bamboo knock into each other. Just heavenly. They had a reading during the ceremony about what bamboo represents, how it can bend and touch the ground but it never breaks. It was a very sweet ceremony. Each of us attendants carried parasols rather than bouquets.

Samantha (one of my Hannah Banana's sisters) was Kim's flower girl. She was one of Kim's "littles" a while ago in BBBS and Samantha thinks Kim hung the sun and moon so she was beside herself with excitement the day of. She came to our house and I did her hair and makeup and she was just giddy. She giggled and had to stop and look in the mirror every few min to see how she looked like "a princess but kind of a movie star at the same time" in her words. It was quite a challenge to say the least to get myself, Sammy, and Samantha ready and make it to the wedding (prob why my hair looked so horrible). Sam was their videographer, golf cart driver, and had to get the bridal gown there early so it was a teensy bit stressful right before hand. I can safely say I am NOT READY FOR TWO KIDS YET after that whole experience. I thought I was going to have a heart attack the hour before hand. Seriously, if my mom and Richard weren't there to help we wouldn't have made it. That experience definitely set our 2nd baby plans back a few years. =)

Sammy did wonderful and we enticed him down the isle with gummy bunnies and mom surprised him with a new truck (yellow or "yewoll" , his fav color) and stickers. He was promised a second truck if he walked down the isle... it worked!! I was just so proud when he walked down. He was too cute. He went a few rows down then got a little confused so found a strange man sitting on the isle and cuddled up to his leg (???) which provided some laughs of course, the nice man tried to point him in the right direction but Sammy just clung to him. Samantha went down and took Sammy's hand and led him the rest of the way down. Just precious! I didn't get any pics b/c I was already in my place so I can't wait to see the professional pics.

Kim was in a word stunning. She was the perfect bride, just so eloquent and radiant, just beautiful. I was so frantic when we first arrived and was trying to get Samantha in her dress and then I saw Kim and she literally took MY breath away! lol! I can't imagine how her groom felt ha ha. I had to just stop and stare at her standing there surrounded by all the bamboo. She was just so beautiful! I was just so happy for her, words can't express how happy I am to see all her dreams coming true. She was on cloud 9 all night and seemed to have the best night of her life. She shined the entire evening and I hope she felt so very loved and appreciated by all who were there to celebrate with her.

I was sooo scared of the toast. I begged and pleaded with her for months trying to get out of it and she allowed no wiggle room. I protested and didn't write it until the morning of the wedding. I even tried to hide when they called my name to go up and give it but Sam sold me out (uh.. it's called being a team honey..) but it went well. Keith said my little note page was shaking so badly that he almost came up and held it for me. =) I was sooo relieved to have that over with!

All in all it was such a fun evening. We are so happy for you two! I made a slideshow of the pics and for you grandparents.. I included extra tux pics of Sammy at the end. =)

My Wild Child....

Just wanted to post a video from last night of Sammy being Sammy. Sam has been working with his dad in St. Augustine a few days each week and that means we have lots of Mommy & Sammy time! I have been trying to take him to do fun stuff and really soak up the one on one time and we had a blast last night! We went to hike on the nature trail and collected a lot of leaves and acorns then came home and played a little soccer out front. He was sooo silly all night long! He was just wild while he was eating and I had to grab the camera b/c it was too much. Don't worry Mom, after I stoped taping I told him it is rude to put his fingers in his nose. =) I also made him clean up his big mess he made with all the silliness, so all is well.

He was trying to jump up and kiss Juan who was on his balcony

He kept squealing .. "cwunch cwunch" as he crunched the leaves

And then he had to clean up all his shrimp he knocked on the ground...and wipe up the baked beans (he thought this job was especially "yucky!")

I also include a picture of his class this morning. They have been learning about the color orange so they all were to wear orange shirts today. Their Bible story for the week is on King David so during circle time they were talking about him being a shepherd and Sammy got to put the felt sheep on the page in the pasture. He was VERY proud of himself. =)

Sammy's Big Night

We were so happy to be given tickets to go see Sesame Street Live! Sammy is totally Elmo obsessed all the way so we were really excited to take him. He cracked us up. We had predicted on the way that he would sing and dance and burst with excitement. In the car he kept saying "Go see Elmo!" and he was clapping and hugging his little Elmo. When we got there we found our seats and he was really just in awe of how big the arena was and how many people were there. Then all of a sudden he screamed "ELMO MOMMY!!" he was jumping and clapping and laughing. We were so confused b/c Elmo was no where in sight and then we followed where his little finger pointed to and low and behold, up on the second level some kid had a large stuffed Elmo on the floor by their chair. Everyone around us including the usher was laughing and told us we should have saved our money if that is all he needed to see to be happy! =)

We could not have been more wrong in our prediction. This is how he was the ENTIRE show....

I don't think he ever even blinked. There were two songs he kinda sorta shook his bootie to but that was it. He did come alive during intermission and had a blast dancing with the other kids. I had to post this video that captures his sheer excitement and amazement of the night. He was dancing and then Elmo's voice came on to announce we the show would start in 3 min so return to our seats. You may not be able to hear but Sammy turns to me and just says "Elmo!" "Elmo!"with his awe struck face that so perfectly captured his entire night.

Yes that is a giant puddle of drool about to fall on Sam's lap if you were wondering... so gross!

He was VERY unhappy that at the very end confetti fell from the sky and made a "big mess!" "No no MESS!" he did NOT like the mess one bit. Um, can we say Sam DeLucca for real? Could not be more like his daddy in that respect.

This last video is just super cute. This is him dancing with his little girlfriend he met. We have no clue who she is but I would like to think that this could be his future wife!! How romantic would that be. They met at a Sesame Street Live showing, their shared love of Elmo joined them together and they shared a few sweet moments of crazy Elmo dancing then she was gone. Fast forward 40 years (that is how long it will be before I can think of him getting married) and they happen to meet again... their shared love of Jesus brings them together, next thing we know wedding bells! Later as us moms are talking about childhood we recall we were all at Sesame street live..... =) OK enough procrastinating. Time to study quals. See how much I hate studying?

Family Pictures/ 18 month pics.... finally!

Well here ya go.. now that Sammy will turn 2 next month I am finally getting around to posting some of his 18 month pictures. We had just SO much fun doing the session and Amy our photographer was so amazing, who knew we would make a great friend along the way? She is phenomenal! We have been just so impressed with her and HIGHLY recommend her. Here is her site http://www.thepolkadotdaisy.com/. She even took a few of Samuelito and his Mimi that are just precious. We went with the CD option and are printing ourselves so fyi family members.. you can expect some in the mail soon. Yay! (we have black and whites too if interested)

I want to say thank you to my Mom for these awesome and amazing pictures! This is by far the best gift you could have given and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. They mean so much to us and we will treasure them always. You are so generous and giving and we just love you to pieces.

For those of you who get these blog updates via email... click at the link in the bottom of your email to check out our actual blog, I have updated it with a new look for fall. I guess this is a close as I will get to scrapbooking for now. =) I sure miss that!!!!

Check out some of our favorites! I love this first one, he looks like a little angel!

For those who haven't seen this in person, it is him being an airplane. He LOVES to do the airplane and even has sound effects, I am SOO happy she caught it on film! We had no idea she got it so it was fun surprise to see! I am sure in a few years we will forget some of his signature "moves" so glad to have the memories on film.


LOVE this one!!! Now are my Sams handsome or what???? I'm one blessed lady for sure!

Sammy sure loves his Mimi, can see it all over his face, so sweet!

Thanks again Amy, they are beautiful!!!!! You are one extremely talented lady!

She stepped out in faith....

I wanted to repost something from one of the amazing blogs I follow. This is from Katie's blog, she is linked on the right side of ours. For those who are not familiar with her, she is an amazing young woman of faith (20 years old!) who lives a life of obedience to God and truly inspires me to step out in faith and trust in His plans for my life, not my own. She started Amazima ministries and in addition to taking in 14 orphaned children and raising them on her own she feeds, teaches, and ministers to many in Uganda. Reading her blog is like reading an adventure book, I couldn't imagine doing some of the things she does on a daily basis, just exciting stuff going on. I have been meaning to repost something she wrote in August that captures her call to this ministry. It is simply beautiful. I hope this will inspire some of you to follow her story, God's story, and pray for her and her family daily as they really need our prayers now.

Here is a pic of Katie and her girls! JUST BEAUTIFUL aren't they???

It is my 16th Birthday and I am eating sushi at my favorite restaurant with my parents when I tell them that I would like to explore the possibility of taking a year in between high school and college to do mission work. This is unheard of in my family and they say they are not sure and will think about it. I am nervous, but somehow I know it is right. He changes their hearts.

I have just turned 18 and find an orphanage online. I beg my parents to let me visit over break, just three weeks. A month later I am on a plane. I am so excited. I am so scared of being, but I know He is going with me. I fall in love.

I graduate high school having made the commitment to teach Kindergarten for a year at a school in The Middle of Nowhere, Uganda. In August I get on the plane. I’m apprehensive and I cry most of the way because I miss my Mommy and my boyfriend. I am eager, but so uncertain. I trust Him. I teach 138 children how to speak English and to love Jesus.

It is October and I am just not sure I can do it anymore. I live in the smallest room I have ever seen in the back of a pastor’s house. I am more uncomfortable than I had bargained for. No one understands, not people here, not people at home. I am tired. But I am prideful and I am not going to quit. I don’t like this. But I know He has a plan. I learn, I grow, He is there.

It is December and God has spoken very clearly about opening a ministry that sponsors 40 of the orphaned children in the village where I am working. This involves moving into a different house, ALONE. It is big and I cannot imagine how God will fill it up. I am lonely and I am anxious. But I am still trusting. He fills the house, and we now have 400 children sponsored.

It is January and I am looking at a little girl, crushed under a brick wall with no one to care for her or her younger siblings. I offer to take the three home with me until we find them a better placement. I am not really sure what to do with them, but I know they are God’s children. They stay.

It is three days later and the littlest looks at me and calls me mommy. My heart might break in two. Something clicks. I am even more scared than I was the day I stepped on that plane, but I KNOW. Today I have 13.

I have to deliver a baby, give a boy stitches, pull a tooth, give and injection. I am petrified. But no one will do it if I do not. He is present, He holds my hand, they are all fine.

It is August and I must get on a plane back to America to go to college, as I have promised my father. I do not remember how to be a teenager or what it is to be normal Brentwood, Tennessee. I will have to leave my babies. I will have to make new friends. I am sad and I am terrified. He wraps His arms around me. He puts just the right people in just the right places, and they help me and they make me feel at home.

First semester is over and He speaks clearly to me that I cannot serve two masters. “Go HOME,” He says, “and stay.” I am uncertain, but I want to be obedient. He squeezes tighter. I am thankful.

I have to look at my loving parents who have given me everything and tell them that I will not go to college right now, because I feel God wants me to be in Uganda. I know how disappointed and how angry they will be. I am more scared than I was when I got on the plane and more scared than I was when I took my first children. But I know that this IS the Plan. They love me anyway.

It is February and my daughter’s biological father comes to take her away. My heart breaks in half, and I am not sure I will ever be able to get out of my bed again, let alone foster another child. I am more than devastated, but I want what is best for her, what He wants for her. She comes back and her biological father learns about Jesus.

It is March and a lame little girl is brought to my gate. She is undoubtedly mine, but I am still anxious. What if I can’t do it? I don’t know what to do with a special needs child, especially as my 13th child. I am criticized and ridiculed. I wonder. I trust and praise God for her sweet little life. She starts to walk.

I find myself in a village full of starving people that for some reason seem to want to kill me. God says to serve them anyway. I am not sure how it is going to work, or if it is safe. I can’t figure it out, but I know He can. 1,200 Karamajongs, the poorest of Uganda’s poor, are now served hot meals daily.

We keep taking in more children until there are 400 in our program. There is no way we will raise enough funds, but by now I have stopped worrying. He has always provided. Blessings rain from the sky, and all 400 children go to school.

I am 20 years old and have 13 children and 400 more who all depend on me for their care. Who are all learning to love Jesus and be responsible adults and looking up to me. The reality of it all can be a bit overwhelming at times. However, it is always pure joy. There is a common misconception that I am courageous. I will be the first to tell you that this is not actually true. Most of the time, I am not brave. I just believe in a God who will use me even though I am not. Most mornings, before I even get out of bed I am overwhelmed with His goodness, with His plan for my life; I stand in awe of the fact that He could entrust me with so much. Most days, I don’t have much of a plan. I don’t always know where this is going. I can’t see the end of the road, but here is the great part: Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step. It is about Peter, getting out of the boat. I do not know my five year plan; even tomorrow will probably not go as I have planned. I am thrilled and I am terrified, in a good way. So some call it courage, some call it foolish, I call it Faith. I choose to get out of the boat. To take the next step. Sometimes I walk straight into His arms. More often, I get scared and look down and stumble. Sometimes I almost completely drown. And through it all, He never lets go of my hand.

by Katie Davis, http://amazima.org/blog.html

Amazima Ministries International http://amazima.org/history.html