PC Graduation - TOMORROW!!

Tomorrow night, Nate will graduate from Sovereign Grace Pastor's College ...

I am in COMPLETE amazement at how quickly this 10 months has gone by. But even more than that, amazed at ALL that has taken place in the midst of this 10 months. It seems like 10 years of growth happened while we were here in Maryland. I have said this many times, but this TRULY has been one of the most challenging, but also one of the sweetest years of my life! In fact, I would even go as far as to say possibly the best year of my life so far.

There is so much that I want to write right now, so many things I want to testify of, but I don't even know how to articulate them all at this point. Maybe I will have to do some flashbacks when I get home and settled back in to our little house on North Bay Drive :).

Thank you Oasis Church for sending us here ... tears ... I am overwhelmed by your generosity and selflessness. That you would allow us to have a year such as this ... my marriage will never be the same ... the way I parent and love my children will never be the same ... by God's grace I pray that I will be a better friend and servant to you all through what I have learned and observed in the lives and teachings of these precious saints & brothers and sisters here. I have learned to trust Jesus more, seeing his sovereign plans for us and this SPECIFIC year. How at the beginning it didn't make sense, sending me, 7 months pregnant with 2 very small children to the other side of the US, to make a new/temporary home for 10 months. To give Nate to a rigorous school schedule during one of the most intense seasons of my motherhood. But I now see. My faith has been strengthened and I have seen afresh God's kindness and goodness, the PERFECT plans that he has for his children. Plans for good and not evil. The scripture from Ephesians 3 just came to mind and I think I shared this the Sunday we left. And 10 months later it holds so much more weight than it did then. My affection and desire to be with you all is greater and my view of the vastness of God and ALL that is provided for us through His Son and the gospel is even deeper. So I will leave you with that, because who can say it better than God Himself? :)

Ephesians 3:14-21 "14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Big Boy with the Big Blue's

Some recent pics I shot of Cal. at 7 and a half months old, he is wearing Chason's 12 month clothes, even some clothes that Chason was wearing when we first moved here to MD!

As you can see, he's not a big chub, just really long and sturdy. He is FINALLY sleeping through the night and he's been army crawling around the house for about a month now - the other kids weren't mobile till 10 mos! He's a fun dude. Pretty demanding still, loves his mommy that's for sure, but I am learning to savor that a bit more knowing that soon he won't want me holding him, he'll just want to be running around with big-little bro, lol, and sissy.

Strawberry Picking @ Larriland Farms

Strawberry picking ON Memorial Day in 90 degree heat! Needless to say, our visit only lasted about 20 minutes before Chason started to loose it, but we did get a couple cute pics :).

Sophie turns 4!!

Look who turned 4!!!

These pictures are random since I STILL don't have the hang of posting pictures on the blog and moving them around without loosing them ...

So because Nate graduates on Sophie's birthday and it's our farewell morning at Covenant Life Church, we decided to have a birthday day for her today. We started off with donuts. Then we dropped off the boys and she and I headed out on a shopping extravaganza! It was a blast! We tried on lots of clothes, went into fun accessory stores, played at the park in the mall, ate McDonalds for lunch, got candy out of the candy machines and played the quarter games in the food court - and even won a plastic dinosaur (which she is sleeping with at this moment). Then we came home and had pizza for dinner and cupcakes that she picked out for dessert. After that she headed out with daddy for some time at the park.

What a special, special girl she is. It is tremendous the changes that have taken place in her even from age 3 to 4. We stopped for a potty break before we headed out of the mall and as we were exiting a woman saw us and said "ohhh, she reminds me of my daughter when she was that age ... now she's 13 and doesn't like me very much." That made my heart so sad. Lord by your grace, let each year bring more affection and fondness in my daughters heart for me, and I for her. Most of all, let that affection and fondness be rooted and overflowing from a deep affection and love for your son Jesus.

Chasey Boy Turns 2!

I can hardly believe that my little boy is growing up so fast! We celebrated Chason's 2nd Birthday on May 28th. I can't describe the joy that swells up in my heart when I think of how much I love this little boy! I am realizing more and more how special "sons" are. My friend Emily would always tell me, just wait till you have a little boy, there is something so special about a little boy & his mom ... now I know :). We love you Chason!

(Baby Chason)

(Chason & his watermelon face after his birthday dinner)

Arlington National Cemetary

Birthday/Mom's Day weekend

I had a wonderful 31st. My dad was in town visiting, so though Nate had school, it felt like we got to celebrate all day. He and Sophie made me cupcakes & we took the kids to feed the ducks at a favorite spot here in MD called The Rio. Nate grilled steaks for dinner & he surprised me with a beautiful birthday cake made Moriah Dufrin (i've talked about her before, she is our friend's the Dufrins 14yo daughter. She babysits the kids. She's been taking cake decorating classes this year and does fabulous cakes!).

Since dad was here, he also watched the kids Saturday and we drove to DC for a post birthday dinner at "Founding Farmers" - delicious!

Then 4 days later was Mother's Day, we had a fun time celebrating at Famous Dave's - a taste of MN here in MD :). I picked it because Sophie LOOOOVES ribs and it brought me joy to watch her eat them, ha! It was the perfect birthday/Mother's Day weekend.

Dad/Grampy's Visit