Perfect

Ever have a picture that perfectly captures how much you love someone and why? This is mine. My boy. Wow! My heart overflows with love for him just looking at this. Be blessed and enjoy your kids today!

Marcus' Birthday

Marcus turned one. Here is a glimpse into his birthday.

Happy Birthday to You

Not too sure about cake.

Alright it's good.

Too Good

Opening Gifts

Why won't they sit still for a picture?

That's better. Happy Birthday Marcus!

Good Times with Old Friends

On Friday my parents came in for a visit for Marcus' 1^st birthday. Their visit happened to overlap with some good friends from our last base.

It is amazing how life goes on when you are away. I know my kids grow and change, but how quickly these things take place is evident when you see people you haven't in 2 ½ years. The last time I saw my friends their boy was not even two and there wasn't even a thought about having a daughter.

I am so blessed to have been able to get to visit with our friends again. I wish I could see all of our friends again.

Changing Seasons

Tomorrow my baby turns 1. This is something that is so very bittersweet for me. I am so incredibly blessed to have been given 1 full year of love, laughter, crying, frustration, laughter (I said that already I know), snuggling and playing. The first year goes by so fast doesn't it? It seems like no matter how hard I try to slow time down to fully enjoy every second of it, time slips away in the blink of an eye. This has been the most interesting first year of all three of my children's lives. First the Post Partum depression really affected my ability to enjoy my older two children during the first few months before my diagnosis. Then my husband decided that it was time for our family to be complete and had a vasectomy. I was extremely opposed to his decision and had to constantly take this to God. God made it clear to me that he is sovereign and that he guides Jeff for the best our family regardless of my feelings. That gave me peace and now brings me to the end of this season of life, baby season.

It is hard to believe I will never carry another baby in my belly, nurse, bathe or simply just smell my own newborn again. If I dwell on it too long I could become disappointed, but rather now is the time to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter for our family. We are moving forward into a life not tied down with napping and nursing schedules, that can include more time going on adventures (whether they be family walks or vacations), that we can all participate in. Already all of the kids can play together nicely (for the most part) and as they become less and less dependent on me I am going to have to find satisfaction in their new independent accomplishments.

Now it is time to fully embrace the new season of life that I am in, child training season.

"Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
~ Proverbs 22:6

"Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."
~Ephesians 6:4

Evidence of Change

by: Nancy Leigh DeMoss

"Come on, kids. I really want you to eat your vegetables. You want to grow big, don't you?"

When a child is growing, you usually don't see evidence of it day by day. But eventually, you do notice.

"That's strange. It seems like none of your pants fit anymore. Have you had a growth spurt?"

The same is true of spiritual growth. From day to day, it might not seem like you're getting much out of God's Word. Sometimes it will seem like you're forcing down vegetables. But if you keep it up, you'll look back over months or years and see how the Word has shaped and molded your life and how you've grown.

"Come here, sweetie; let's measure you here on the doorway. Wow! Look how much you've grown!"

Some days the words of Psalm 119 will seem especially real: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Other days will be more difficult. But if you're faithful, you'll be sure to see long-term results.