Gift #360- Having a Sister!

Having a sister has been one of God's greatest gifts to me.  Having two has been more than I could have ever hoped for or imagined.  I am so happy that Macy has a sister of her own.

Gift #359- Avery Grace Elizabeth Thomas

September 14, 2013 7:29 am JST

8 pounds 14 ounces

21 inches long

Perfectly Perfect in Every Way

Baby girl arrived one day after her daddy arrived in Yokosuka.  We were hoping that she would come on September 13th (her Nana's birthday), and she did in a way-  it was still September 13th in Panama City!  It was 5:29 pm CST on September 13th in PC.  My family had gathered together at Luigi's to celebrate mom's birthday when Avery Grace did finally make her entrance into the world.  Her daddy delivered her and he did a very good job.  Of course he is a fighter pilot you know.   He likes to remind me of that from time to time.  :)  We had such a wonderful experience with the doctors and nurses and corpsman.  We couldn't have asked for better care.  We stayed in the hospital for just over 24 hours.  We were released shortly after our Celebration Lunch which included shrimp and lobster!  A typhoon was set to come through the very next day so the base shut down completely.  Because of the base closure, we were unable to take care of the details that would allow us to return home.  So we were given an extra day at the Storks Nest to get to know this new little Thomas and to spend the day together being lazy.  We enjoyed it very much!  We arrived home on Wednesday the 18th to pink balloons, a decorative clothes line complete with sweet baby clothes and wooden flowers hanging from our tree branches.  Macy and our very sweet neighbors had decorated.  It was such a happy return!  Avery Grace  brought presents for her brothers and sisters including a chillow for Macy who had been  begging for one all summer since we saw one on an infomercial in Okinawa!  We have been home for a week today.  Avery Grace is 11 days old.  She is fitting right in.  We said goodbye to Mimi and Papa this morning.  It was hard to see them go and I am not sure if we could ever thank them enough.  God has been so very good to us and my heart is overflowing with  thanksgiving.

Every good and perfect gift is from above.  James 1:17a

Gift #358- A Familiar Face

(A "selfy" of the two of us the day Hank arrived)

Hank arrived in Yokosuka! It was so nice to see his face after 11 long weeks apart.  

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10