Splash in the Rain Puddles

The older my boys get the more I understand what a high calling it is.....this journey of parenthood.  God gives us these wonderful little gifts.....He entrusts them in our care.....and asks that we teach them and lead them in His ways.  My first and foremost prayer, every single day, is that they would love Jesus.  I thank Him for the ways they already do.......and pray for the ways I hope they one day will.  Several nights ago after our Bible story we got on the topic of heaven.  For 7 and 5 years old, they have a pretty good understanding that this body we live in now will one day remain on earth and, those who live for Jesus, will receive a brand new body when we die.  But this is when it gets tricky.  "But mommy, what will our new body look like?....will we still live together?.....what will God look like?.....will we have a dog?....will I still look like me?....how long is forever?"  Whoa!  It was so sweet to see their reactions when, after I attempted to answer a few o

There is something beautiful on the horizon.  I can see it coming 'round the bend.  Sweet, sweet spring.  I was beginning to think you were never going to join us.  Yet, here you come.  Just days away.  Can I get an amen!?  The time changes. and instantly I get more sleeping minutes from my boys who rise with the sun in the morning, and more outdoor playtime in the evenings.  What's not to love about that? Welcome spring!!  We're ready and waiting :) This was one happy birthday boy with a football birthday cake made just for him by his sweet Grandma!  As always....simply amazing Mom!! This guy.  he is definitely in the shoe stage.  I remember it well from my other two.  As with everything....this too shall pass.  In the meantime I spend lots of time gathering shoes from various places around the house :)  love this.  Jack is a wonderful big brother to Luke.  And I'm pretty sure he is Luke's favorite person... apart from Daddy.  They are so similar.

March 7, 2015.  Never would I have guessed that I would be looking at several inches of snow outside the window.  It wasn't snowy 5 years ago on this day.  Five years ago on this day I was two days away from my scheduled C-section and determined to make it to that date.  After 3 days of labor with my firstborn I was somewhat grateful not to go through that again.  On the night of March 7, I was trying to convince myself that the gut wrenching pains were not really contractions.  No, surely these were just Braxton Hicks. Oh boy. Wrong!  Away to the hospital we went in full labor.  Call in the doc...prepare the OR....Chase Daniel was ready to make his arrival....by now it was the morning of March 8.  It was a quick surgery and before I knew it I was handed my second beautiful baby boy.  I remember thinking how different things felt the second time around.  Gone was the fear....the fear that I had no clue what I was doing...gone was the complete lack of confidence in going home with a