christmas in kentucky

We pulled it off. We drove all night, literally and landed on Janey's doorstep at 9:30am on the morning of Christmas Eve. She had NO idea that we were on the way, it was an awesome surprise!!!! WE LOVE YOU JANEY!

meet #15

I'm SO proud of my boy. He hasn't ever scored. He hardly gets the ball. He isn't the best player. But he has signed up to try something new and he goes out there and has FUN the entire time that he plays. He doesn't complain about not getting any baskets, and he never complains that he hardly ever gets the ball.

He can't wait for practice each week, and on Saturday mornings he counts down until it's time for his game. I am so proud of him for trying something new and for giving it his all. He truly is a happy kid. What else could a momma ask for?

seasoned traveler

This kid is the BEST traveler a parent could ask for. He has been traveling since he was 2 months old and he has always been so patient ... and always a great sleeping traveler!

life. is. good.

I took these pictures over the summer in 2011 up in Kentucky. I love that life is simple for our son. Love God. Love others. Have fun!

christmas in a nutshell

Christmas at church.

Driving through the infamous Arkansas sign at approximately 11:30pm on the way to surprise Janey for Christmas Eve.

Christmas morning with the love of my life.

freeze!

On our way home from Kentucky in December we stopped for the night in a hotel and

we.

had.

a.

blast.

We pulled out the nerf guns and ran amuck in the hotel room. The next morning we found darts in the curtains, on the a/c unit, in the bathroom ... pretty much everywhere. It felt good to be silly together after being in the car for so long. We love being silly. It is pretty much a staple in our family.

very merry "cousin" Christmas

As usual, it wouldn't matter if we starved to death and didn't have a single present at Christmas ---- just as long as William's cousins are there to celebrate with us. That's ALL he cares about! He loves them so very much, it warms my heart to think about how much he cares about them. We didn't get to hang with all the cousins due to scheduling conflicts but we were able to hang with Faith and Gracie-girl. The kids decorated gingerbread cookies and we played Apples to Apples. Dad was awesome and ordered pizza for all of us so no one had to cook!

As more time goes by, I am grateful for every single family get together because I can see time is speeding up the older I get. It doesn't even matter to me that we don't always get along, I'm just grateful for our time together.

singin in the rain

It started to pour just as we pulled in the garage. The next thing I know, William is spinning in circles on the driveway in 40 degree temps, completely drenched and loving it! I pray to God I never squelch his spirit. He is such a joyful person and I truly love being in his presence.

i miss blogging

I'm not making any crazy goals to blog. But I sure do miss blogging! I'm going to try to get our fun family memories up here again because I love going back to read them all!

I love remembering things like this picture, for example!

brought to you by

This smile brought to you by my dear sweet husband, and our Father in heaven who used my hubby to remind me that being happy and embracing your life situation is sometimes a choice. Yesterday I chose to rise above it all and start my day with a smile. Without the gentle nudging God gave me via my husband, I'm not sure I would've had the oomf to make that choice on my own.

Last night I prayed that God would just hold me - like a father holds his daughter. And for the first time I totally understood this verse:

"And because we are His children,
God sent the spirit of His son into our hearts,
prompting us to call out, "Abba, Father."
Galatians 4:6

Thank you Father for comforting me, anytime I call on you! Thank you for allowing me to climb up into your lap and cry my tears while you embrace me.

oblah-dee, oblah-dah

So I have chronic pain, and have to do things a little different now. I'm over myself. I'm over the shock of the big life changes .... life goes on. God is with me. Always.

good scars

TV is cool.

The wii is fun.

Nothing compares

To a weekend with your son.

Thank you my love for giving our son one of the greatest gifts he will ever receive from you. The gift of your time, wrapped up in an adventure. And he might even have the scars to prove it - decorated like a war hero you know {wink}.

"Every father should remember that one day his son will follow his example instead of his advice." - author unknown

walk in HIS ways, not mine

Over the past 10 months, I have had a lot of ah-ha moments... about myself, my faith, motherhood, ministry work and more. It's amazing to me that God is always at work. Even in the mundane things like going to the grocery store I find that when I am open to what God is trying to show me, I walk away blessed and humbled.

Last week I ran to Kroger after dropping off a co-worker after a lunch meeting. I was doing the typical working-mom thing where I had a list and wanted to run in and run out with as little distraction as possible (well technically I FORGOT my list and my darling husband emailed it to me). See, I was on a mission.

In.

Out.

Done.

With as little human interaction as possible.

Once inside I ran into a long time friend whom I hardly ever have the pleasure of catching up with ---- it was a welcome distraction and we planned a coffee date. It put a little pep in my step and forced me to breathe for a moment, recalculate what was "really important" and finish my shopping at a normal speed, not a mad-woman speed. I finished my shopping with a smile and calm spirit.

So after I shopped and got out to my car is when it happened. The moment that God needed me for. I got in my car and took a deep breath and started to check my email on my phone because it had been dinging like crazy the whole time I was in the store. I felt a little overwhelmed and put my phone in my lap and just sat there in the parking lot. One row over I watched a man trying to push his grocery cart and then load his car. He was missing an arm and one leg was in a soft cast from his toes to his mid-thigh.

"I should go help him." I thought.

God said to wait.

His cart rolled away from him while was loading the car and I unbuckled my seatbelt.

God said wait.

"Ok I'll wait .... but I should offer to put his cart away."

God said, "yes - go now."

I walked up and said, "man, I was in a walking boot for an entire year and it was miserable, I commend you for making it all the way out here and getting your groceries loaded --- and I would love to bless you by putting your cart away for you."

His smile said it all. He needed someone to care for him, not feel pity for him. If I would've rushed to his side immediately, it would've been because I would've "felt bad" for him and his situation. Winded, he thanked me and said that it would be crazy helpful to put his cart away. As he was getting into his car he said, "the arm happened a long time ago in a war, but the leg has been an ongoing issue for months and months - the tissue is diseased and I'm praying it doesn't take my life."

I asked him if I could pray for him - and he said he would much appreciate me praying for him. I got his first name, and as I walked away I fervently prayed for this man who clearly still wanted to be dependent but just needed a friend.

Makes me wonder how many times I've rushed through my day, missing God moments left and right because I'm on my path and not His.

Deuteronomy 11:22

“Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.

bleeding heart

This is my friend Tami and her beautiful family. Baby girl #6 is in Tami's tummy. This family was handed a serious blow in mid-January. Jeremy's entire body unexpectedly filled with blood clots and after numerous strokes, he passed away. It all happened in a matter of 2 1/2 days. No one saw it coming, and there was little that could be done to save him.

So now what? Well, now Tami is raising five children on her own and is expecting #6 in about 3 weeks. What breaks my heart? Well - watch this video that Cristen Ransom Photography put together for the funeral and you'll see what breaks my heart. Look at how Jeremy loved his family. Look at how his children looked at him.

Jeremy's Celebration of Life Video

Now do you see why I have a bleeding heart? Jeremy is so missed. The hole he left behind is like a crater. Would you please join me in sending aid to this family? You can go to any Wells Fargo bank and make a donation to the Jeremy LaChausse Bereavement Fund.

$5 covers a breakfast or lunch at school.

$40 covers a doctor copay.

$100 pays a monthly water bill.

$300 will make a car payment.

$400 will feed her family for about 2 weeks.

Numbers 6:24-26 (New International Version, ©2011)

²⁴ “‘“The LORD bless you

and keep you;

²⁵ the LORD make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you;

²⁶ the LORD turn his face toward you

and give you peace.”’

big deep crazy love

I'm in love with my husband.

The man works his tail off to provide for us and on top of all of that, he is so incredibly supportive of my job and the way it keeps expanding, taking away more time from home but also opening my eyes to the world of ministry work. He has filled the gaps ten fold.

I won't list out every amazing thing that he does, but I met with one of our Team Members from church today and her story both broke my heart and made me want to be like her. She is strong, courageous and her tenacity in doing the right thing for her kids no matter what --- blows. me. off. my. feet.

So how does this relate to my husband? Well, since our sweet friend Jeremy quickly and unexpectedly passed and moved in with Jesus (I bet they have a SWEET diving board in heaven!), and after hearing this lady's story today ---- my appreciation for what I have right here in front of me is billowing. I would be ridiculously stupid to ignore this beautiful man who is both in front of me, next to me, and holding me all at the same time.

Oh AND ----- he was nominated by his peers for supervisor of the year, and then he was chosen by a panel and he won the award. That's my man.

And I love him.

Yesterday, today, and forever.