10 Month Catch-up...

Life has been really crazy the past ten months and blogging got left behind. But, now that I have finally come up for a little air, Drakesinthedr is back! (even though we aren't even in the DR anymore). Here is a recap of what we have been up to....

We felt the Lord was calling us something "new," so in January we began the process of selling our things in the DR and preparing to move back to the states. It was VERY hard to leave and say goodbye to so many woooonderful friends that had become so dear to us over the past three years. They were three hard, challenging, and stretching years, but also three fruitful, FUN, and adventurous years! Our life in the DR was full of so many blessings and we

experienced the Lord in new and fresh ways being outside of the comforts of US living.

Saying goodbye to Marlene, her husband Paco, and their kids Drelin and Paco Jr. I met Marlene on my second trip to the DR when I was 12 years old!

One last trip to the Santo Domingo Zoo with our friends the Salmonds.

The Women's Bible Study I was so blessed to be a part of.

These ladies truly showed love to me and accepted me as I was. It was so wonderful to be a part of a group of ladies that were of all ages and from all walks of life.

Saying goodbye at the airport to our dear Ana and her daughter Tata. Their family became a part of ours and my heart aches each time I think of them- I miss them so much.

We arrived in Orlando to stay with my parents on March 19. I was 8 months pregnant. Elliott stayed a week and then had to return to the DR for a month to finish up some final work. We missed Elliott ALOT while he was gone, but we also managed to have some fun... :)

We went to the beach...

we went to the park...

we swam in the pool...a lot...

and Avery baked with Mia!

Elliott joined us on April 19!! We were SOO glad to be reunited as a family of 3 (almost 4!).

Happy Easter

Avery loves bubbles.

Then on May 19 at 6:11am Lucas Elliott Drake was born. He weighed 6 pounds 7oz. He came 8 days early and I had a relatively quick and easy labor.

Avery came to the hospital with her Big Sister shirt on and was VERY excited to meet her brother "Lukey."

On June 4 Avery turned 2. We had a simple little party for her with my family. My sweet grandparents and aunt drove down from north FL to celebrate Avery's life and meet Lucas.

Avery loved her new Elmo camera.

Elliott's mom, DD, came to visit us in Orlando and meet Lucas.

John and Kate came to town and we got to spend the week together at New Smyrna Beach.

We officially became "mini-vaners"

We found this "choo-choo track" in the neighbors trash a few days before we left Orlando and it quickly became Avery's new favorite past time.

On August 5 we celebrated 5 wonderful years of marriage!

On August 9 we packed up the van and drove to NC to spend time with Elliott's family.

Grammy got the family together for a Clam Bake!

We left NC and flew to Colorado to attend a Debriefing and Renewal program at MTI, where we did our pre-field training in 2008. It was a wonderful week of processing all that we learned and experienced in the DR. It was so refreshing and "validating" to be with others that had lived and served all over the world and were going through many of the same things we are.

Lucas was a little more excited about the flight than Elliott.

And last but not least, we are now in Lookout Mountain, GA for the next 3 months.

Making cookies with the kiddos.

Lucas loves it here!

Hopefully the next post will be ALOT shorter and sooner :) Thanks to anyone who actually made it to the end.