Celebrating 50 Years...

When we went home in July we were there to visit family, but a large part of why we went when we went was to celebrate my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

50 years of marriage.  Isn't that amazing!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how thankful and blessed I feel to have parents that love each other and are committed to each other.  Talk about security and a great example!  

Their marriage has been such a godly example to me of God's design for marriage.  

One man.  

One woman.

Sacrificial.

Loving.

Faithful.

Committed.

Respectful.

Trusting.

So in celebration of this grand event we did what most red blooded Americans do and we threw a party!

Me with my parents, and siblings...

Cousins...

Tons of friends and family stopped my to celebrate the happy couple...

My sweet friend Lindsay- was so good to see her!...

Thank you Mom and Dad for allowing me to grow up in a home where I knew that my mom and dad loved each other and were committed to the vows that they made before God and one another. I'm sure there were times when it would have been easier to throw the towel in and call it quits, but instead you made a decision to remain committed and faithful.  Thank you for respecting the importance and the permanence of marriage.  

Marriage is magnificent and glorious and often mysterious, and I'm so thankful you showed me the importance of fighting for it and enjoying it as the special gift from our loving creator that it is.

Blessings,

The Lake...

While we were back home back in July we were able to go with Nolan's grandparents and that side of the family to the lake for the day.

It's always so much fun spending time with them.  They laugh, play games, tell stories... it's a blessing, and we are so thankful for each of them.

While at the lake we were able to swim (at least the kids did, because it was cold and rainy), ride jet skis, and ride behind the boat on tubes.  Here's our day in photos...

The Kane-man was a little bent out of shape that I made him wear a life jacket for swimming... sorry dude...

I think she gets cuter every day...

Ruthie...

She's so pretty- inside and out.

Grandpa Doyle and the Henry-man are big buddies...

Cousin Landry is tons of fun!  She loves our babies and I miss her loads.

These two on a jet ski together is scary I'm not going to lie.  They like to live on the edge... I do not.

She thought she was so big getting to ride a tube.
I thought she was to little to be riding a tube.

Obviously I was outvoted.

 

*insert eye roll...

My one request about riding the jet ski was to ride but not get wet.  We got too far out when a storm came up on us.  I was pretty sure we were going to get killed by lightening out on the water.  My life flashed before my eyes.

Ellie might as well be a professional cake decorator.  I mean who doesn't love all their sprinkles in one, giant, pile right in the middle of their cake?

We love us some family and had a blast hanging out.

We are blessed with so much family.  They all love us and bless us each in their own ways.  I wish we were able to see them more often, but now that we live away it's just not possible, but the time we do get to spend with them is all the more sweet and special.  God is good and he went above and beyond when he blessed us with family!

Our summer was busy, but oh so good!

We are almost done with our first week of school!  I can't even believe it!  Pictures of that to come!

Blessings,

Not A Morning Person...

So apparently there's a limit to most things.

That includes Little Miss Thing's joyful, upbeat, happy personality.

From the hours of asleep to not fully awake there seems to be a window when frumpy and moody reign.

Somebody's apparently not a morning person.

P.S.  All of these pictures were taken in between her telling me to get off her bed so she could go back to sleep.  Whoa girl.  Keep it together.

Even cranky and bent out of shape she's so cute.  If she doesn't want me hovering over her trying to take her picture, bright and early, while she's still trying to sleep, then she needs to reign in the cute- Seriously kid...Sheesh.

Don't worry, within minutes of these pictures she was wide awake, in the kitchen, climbing on the counters, helping herself to the bananas, back to her usual happy self.  All was right with the world.

Blessings,

Summer Dayz...

In an attempt to get outdoors this summer despite the south's heat and humidity I talked the hubster into getting a pool membership.

It's been totally worth it.

The kids are getting some exercise, playing with other kids, getting some vitamin D, and becoming better swimmers.  We've met new people, had some great conversations, and enjoyed each other as a family.

And I've totally mastered packing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  So there's that.

This girl is so funny.  She has met more people at the pool than the rest of the family combined.  She just walks right up in the middle of groups, introduces herself, and makes life long friends.  She's the best.  I've said it before and I'll say it again-  I hope she stays this personable and friendly forever.  She challenges me to be a kinder, friendlier, more joyful person without even knowing she is.  Love. Her.

Dives are being mastered...

Boys...are weird, but I just love him so much in spite of all the weirdness.

Did I mention that half the time we're the only ones there?  So it's like having our own personal pool that I never have to clean or manage... It's the only way to go.

Never leave your camera lying around...

He'll regret this picture when I show it at his wedding someday.  #paybackbymom

Other than swimming not much has been going on.  The kids have been reading and playing piano.  Kane's become a master lawn mower- Yay for that.

Our sweet neighbor surprised Ruthie with a Fairy House hidden in our yard the other day- so fun!

We've been taking care of babies- our own and fostered- diaper changes, bottle feedings, and nursing, baths, and cuddles...it's very glamorous.

Our sweet little, foster baby is beautiful and sweet.  Please continue to pray for her and her family.  We've been so blessed by the outpouring of love that's been shown to our family since bringing her home- meals, gifts, friends coming over to hold and cuddle babies and the big kids while I shower and get some things done.  We even had a group of ladies we did not know bring us a weeks worth of meals and buy us some groceries.  It's been challenging to say the least, but already the blessings have outweighed the struggles. God is beyond good!

Happy Summer and Blessings,

Summer of Awesome- Still Awesome...

H-man is getting so big.  

He started crawling over the past few weeks.  Eight months old.  I can't even wrap my mind around it!

He is so cute and funny.  A mouth full of teeth and the worst napper on the planet...not cool.

His big brother spoils him rotten and is turning him into a spoiled monster who thinks he has to be held around the clock.

But that face though...

Little Miss Thing is into everything.  Why do they call it the Terrible-twos?  It should be the into everything and too much energy Threes.  She's so funny though, and might be the friendliest child ever.  I hope she stays that way forever.

Those eyes...

Love her...

Why is he wearing this vest?  It's like 100 degrees outside.  So strange.

I took this girl for ice cream the other night and it basically took her like an hour to eat a bowl of ice cream that was about half the size of mine.  I asked her why it was taking so long and she told me she wanted to savor every bite.  It's like she's her father in a female, younger, smaller body- bizarre.

He just crawls around making messes the whole way.

Summer of Awesome is turning out pretty awesome.

However, I'm not actually getting any of the things I originally set out to do done.

We finally got certified to Foster and we've had three babies all under three weeks old in our home over the last few weeks since summer started.

Right now we have a sweet baby girl.  Please pray for us as we walk this path God has brought us to.

Pray that:

-We will be the family she needs right now and love her the way God has called us to love.

-Her family will receive the help that they need, and that hopefully we can love on and encourage them in the process.

-For her to continue to be healthy.

-For our own children to embrace her and to love her without any holding back.

-Most importantly- For God's will to be done and for us to obey and trust that His plan is always best no matter what.

So obviously Summer of Awesome has taken on a different look than I originally planned- Less reading and sewing and more diaper changes and bottle feedings.  But ultimately I hoped that this summer would be Summer of Sharing the Gospel.  What a better platform to open conversation with tons of people- than when they look at me like I'm crazy for having two babies under the age of one and three others for a total of five kids.

"Hey person- it's a God thing.  Let me tell you how awesome He is."

Blessings,