We Are Family Retreat 2014

We just got back from a great weekend with our church family.  Every year we plan a weekend away for the whole church to attend.  This provides a time for us to fellowship with each other for a nice block of time.  The past two years we have gone to Camp Caraway, which is outside of Asheboro, NC.  The surroundings are beautiful and fall is a great time to go to enjoy the outdoors.

I have to say that some of the best times of the weekend is watching Isaac and Jude playing together.  I love watching their interactions.  While I'm posting this, Isaac is looking at the pictures and saying, "Juuudd"

I am so thankful that these little boys are growing up together!  Makes my heart full!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to a great pumpkin farm yesterday,  Riverbend Farmin Midland.  It was a beautiful day but it is still pretty warm (almost 90* !?!?!) but despite the heat, we had a great time!

A Much Overdue Update

I have been pretty slack about updating the blog this year.  I am very thankful I did the Project 52 last year, so I forced myself to get pictures of Isaac on the blog.  This year... not so much.  When I went to upload his birthday pictures my SD card had broken in the camera and now all those pictures are stuck on the SD card and I can't get to them.  I've got to find a way to read the broken card, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

16 months old

Life is busy but oh so good!  I started a new job in November and I love being back in the design world.  Joe is plugging along at the Lodge and Isaac is a busy toddler!  We are having so much fun watching him learn and grow!

13 months old

14 months old

15 months old

15 months old

16 months old

He has been struggling with ear infections this winter and we have been referred to the ENT doctor so we will see what comes of that.

16 months old

He's loves being outside and on rainy days he just looks out the window and yearns to get out there.  I look forward to summer nights and pool days.

16 months old

17 months old

17 months old

Next month Isaac will turn 1-1/2 years old!  He is talking more and more - although not saying "mama" yet?!?!  Not sure what's up with that!  He's saying "thank you", "more" "done", "book", "shoes" and much more.  He is also doing good with his sign language with is so adorable!

Harvest Time

This past weekend we went to Hall Family Farm for a little Harvest fun! We got to go with these super sweet girls!  They love Isaac so much and we love them so much!!

They are growing like weeds and we don't get to see each other near as often as we would like.  Emily takes such good care of Isaac - she's been enamored by him from the start!  And it pretty much melts me heart!!

Aunt Dewey was there as well although her face never made it in a picture.  I find this highly suspicious.

Isaac was in good spirits considering he was exhausted and wasn't feeling that great.  He is still fighting a tooth or two.  But he definitely enjoyed hanging out!

 This girl looks like she's 15 - when did this happen!?!?!

Such a fun time!!

Mother's Day 2013

I stumbled across this blog and found a post about Mother's Day.  As you may recall, I've struggled with Mother's Day for a while now, but these words were powerful.  And good.  And true.  They tell about a loving God that knows exactly what we need when we need it.  I love that God.  I hope wherever you are in your life, you are able to go to God's House with your burdens and lay them down.  Happy Mother's Day!!

God's House by Mary Martin Wiens

Whether we are women or men, whether we mother children or mother in other ways, Mother’s Day is one of those days that can highlight our needs. You may come to this day with the need to remember. To forget. To be remembered. To be honored. To be comforted. To be forgiven. To be given hope. To be given an “A.” I am more convinced than ever that we are to take our needs and run to our Home. Our Home is within the One who made us and loves us and in that place we are tenderly, intimately cared for like the best of parents would care for a child, but oh so much better. So, I want you to imagine with me that in the MIDST a long journey (perhaps the long journey of parenting, of infertility, of grieving, whatever the long journey of your life is right now) you suddenly arrive at the place where the heart of God dwells. And God, like a Mother—but the kind of mother God would be—meets you at the door with a look of unabashed welcome and invites you in. What might that be like?

When you come to the house of God
With the mud of trying dripping from your sleeves
Covered in cruelties
Your own and others Obscured by false agreements
She cleans your clothes, shakes them out and hangs them up to dry
And you she washes, washes, washes
Like water lapping on rock saying
Let me get that off of you and
There you are and Now do you remember?

So let us run to the house of God

When you come wounded to house of God
She builds a circle around you
She stands guard and houses your pain
She holds your weeping head in her lap and
Whispers, I know Gently, methodically she tends each hurt saying
All is well You will be well
At all times I work to make all things well

So let us run to the house of God

When you come undone in the house of God
She gathers you up She remembers who you are
She breathes vitality back into you saying
Here. Here is your body
Here again are your hands, are your feet, is your mouth
Here is your mind Here is your spirit
Here I am Here you are

So let us run to the house of God

When you are hungry in the house of God
She sets out to nourish you entirely
She satisfies and delights your whole being
She heartens you with substance saying
Take your time Listen to me I have all you need
It is free. Free. Free.

So let us run to the house of God

When you are naked in the house of God
When you stand exposed by the limits of being human
What you can’t make happen
What you can’t stop from happening
What you can’t know

She covers you
She sees you and She clothes you saying
Here is safety
Here is grace
I know how you are made I call you good.  Good. Good.

So let us run to the house of God

And, When the time is right in the house of God
She does a dance; She opens wide the doors
She presents you to the world saying
Here is my Beloved with whom I am pleased So pleased So very pleased

Merry Christmas 2012

What an amazing Christmas we had.  Our first as a family of three.  We had a wonderful time celebrating with family.  It was so nice for everyone to meet Isaac and get to hold and love on him.  We can’t express how blessed we feel!

Our Christmas card / Isaac’s birth announcement

    

     

   

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Growing away

Today Isaac is 3 weeks old!  3 weeks or 21 days or 504 hours…  that’s how long it’s been since this little boy entered our world.  Already he has made such an impression on his Mom and Dad.  His sweet little face just melts us.  We love his smiles – even if it’s only gas at this point.  The “hope” of a smile makes us happy!  Isaac is good boy… he likes to eat and he likes to sleep – a chip off the ol’ block for sure!

And because I know you’re just waiting for the pictures…

 

 

I know, right!?!?!?  Too cute for words!  Love that kid!  Can you believe next week will be ONE MONTH old!?!?!  Wowza!

Introducing…

 

Born 11•21•12 @ 12:04 pm

7 pounds 3 ounces

I do… in Seattle

This past weekend we made our way to the west coast to celebrate a very exciting occasion!  Joe’s brother David was getting married to wonderfully sweet Cortney.  The wedding was outside Walla Walla, WA at a beautiful vineyard at a’Maurice  Cellars.  The venue was gorgeous – you’re in the middle of wine country with rolling hills and mountains surrounding the grape vineyards. A perfect setting to begin a lifetime commitment!

We arrived Friday for the rehearsal which was followed by an amazing dinner at Whitehouse Crawford.

   

Saturday was a beautiful day – sunny – mild temps – blue skies for days.  The wedding was small and intimate. The groom and bride were gorgeous!    

The reception was so fun!  They had all kinds of games for everyone to play:  Life size “Jenga”, cornhole, hoola-hoops, games on each table, etc.  So fun!!

We are so glad that we were there to witness such a special event.  Joe and I both are so happy for David and Cortney and pray that their marriage will be blessed for a lifetime!!