The eight hardest reasons to move...

are right here in this photo... For the past 6 years these seven gals have been my parenting champions, marriage mentors, real life Barnabus's, pool buddies, playground companions... I have no clue what I will do without them! If there was ever an example of direct answer to prayer, and God's timing... these girls are it! They are soooo amazing and would drop anything to help a friend out and have been known to cancel plans, rearrange schedules, make spontaneous rescues and answer middle of the night phone calls! I LOVE them and I know God will provide new friends but there will never be a cooler, more awesome group of women to share life with then the ones sitting around this table!

Lela: You get the credit for being my my first HC friend (and self proclaimed sister). You are beautiful inside and out. To think when we met, you weren't married, I was pregnant (now there are 4 kids, 1 dog, 1 ca, 2 fish and a hermit crab between us!)God was preparing us for lifelong friendship and I am forever and ever and ever grateful. Totally undeserving but grateful! Too many memories to even list and too many tears I'm not ready to shed.

Jen: My first HC friend with kids! The day our boys had their first playdate was a joyous day for me. I then knew I was not alone in this place and God was showing mercy on me. Thank you for always being encouraging, for paving the way as a mommy-ing veteran, and for being completely accessible!

Heather: The day we met in Deb's bible study was still, in my mind nothing less than miraculous! How is it, that we we had 2 year olds and were expecting little girls named Lillie/Lilly on the same day?!?!?! You are fun, thoughtful and the best sport(remember the summer we went to every single park in Louisville, trying to (unsuccessfully I might add) find the prefect playground for our kiddos.. or the time we got stuck at the pool during the tornado?) Thanks for sticking with me thru thick and thin and laughing at the unlaughable. Prayer Warriors til the end...

Daphne: I can still remember spotting you and Bella in the library and thinking, "Now, I can be friends with her!" You were looking for a children's bible and had only been living here for 3 months so I felt an instant kinship. What fun having a friend live just 6 miles away (that's practically next door in the country!) Thanks for busting boredom with us. Thanks for all the fun Goodwill finds. There will never be a more sophisticated bargain hunter than you! Your generosity supercedes and I am indebted for all the clothing, shoes, toys and furniture you have "passed on" to us! Thanks is not enough~

Corey: You are an amazing woman! As a mom, you are patient and loving and oh soooo wise! As a wife you are supportive and loving. As a friend you are fun, laid back and thoughtful! I am soo thankful for every opportunity I have gotten to spend with you. To think Claire and Parker were Lillie's age when we met... Oh, how the time flies! Your love for Christ radiates from you ALWAYS!

Shannon: We are more alike than I think we even realize. It's what makes our convos so deep and meaningful (even in the midst of kids yelling and splashing us with icy cold water) our concerns and anxieties are very much the same and I love just chatting it up with you. I will most definitely miss our pool talks and watching our sweet Kylie and Parker play so compatibly and Bella and Lillie try and play.

Melanie: You smile and laugh more than anyone else I know. AND it's contagious. Just being around you, makes me smile and just "chill out". You have had the craziest year and yet, everytime I see you, you are content and happy. Your emotional strength is unmatched and you are a testimony to how God never gives us more than we can handle.. even if we don't know it.

Joanna: My newest friend, yet no less signficant. You are definitely my suprise friend too. Once Trev and I decided to move back in February, I had made up my mind to not make any new friends and start easing away from my current friends. Well, God had other plans. He introduced us and it could not have come at a better time. After talking with you at Claire's b-day party I felt such peace about our move and felt so encouraged that we made the right decision. Peace surrounds you. I don't know how with 3 small children, but you are the most peaceful person I know and just being in your presence is calming. What a gift!

May God bless you gals abundantly and your friendships with each other. Our lives are forever intertwined. (just don't forget about me when hanging out at the pool, Chuckie Cheeses, library and each others houses)

Home IS where the <3 is....

Well, this is it. Our last week in our first home. I do not consider myself an overly sentimental person but for whatever reason, this move has brought it out in me. Memories from the past 6 years keep replaying in my head. It was a gift in itself that Trev and I were able to purchase this house at the time. But then to think about bringing our kids home from the hospital to it, repainting every square inch, recarpeting every square foot, running around on every square yard, having to mow every square acre... the things that frustrated and worried us about this place in the beginning, now seem like blessings. It's in the middle of nowhere which early on, was lonely. But I can now see God preparing me and teaching me about patience and depending fully on him.

Love builds a home. Cliche, I know but it's true. Our house is nothing impressive and neither is the small country town we live in. But the people. Now they are something to be impressed with. Hard workers, kind, friendly, helpful... Living here has been one of the greatest life lessons for me and I am forever grateful to God for sticking me in the middle of a corn field and cow pasture and giving me the tools to "survive". I am grateful my kids had the opportunity to enjoy country living to it's fullest and socialize with people whose lives are simple and embrace relationships. Growing up in NY, I was not aware that there were places where people still stopped for an afternoon glass of sweet tea, dug for worms and frogs for fun, and drove tractors to school instead of cars.

After 6 years my culture shock has finally worn off and all that's left is a deep heartfelt love for a place that we made home and for the friends we call "family".

Firsts, Fishing and Fun!

There are times as a parent when "the firsts" are so overwhelmingly joyous and exciting that it is hard to describe in words. Saturday was one of those times. Trev's grandparents (aka: Greatpa and Greatma) took our kids on their first pontoon and fishing adventure. It was a beautiful summer evening and it was probably the most fun we have had all summer. It really is about the simple things in life. They dug for their own worms and then watched as Greatpa cut the fish and fixed them to be grilled up. Anyway, since words cannot describe the fun, photos will have to suffice.

Who's teaching who?

While eating her cereal this morning Lillie let out a pretty good burp for a little girl. Parker was pretty impressed and exclaimed "Wow Lils!!! That was even better than Daddy and mines burps! It was guyish! Can you do another one and teach me that trick?"

Somewhere along the way, Lillie has grown up and is no longer the imitator and Parker the teacher...this could get interesting.

Trading (more than) Spaces

We have spent A LOT of time and energy making sure our kids are good sharers. We have tried to teach them that everything we have really belongs to God and that because it is a blessing to have lots of clothes, food and toys, that we should share everything we have. Well, I think maybe Lillie has taken this sharing thing to a new level, one that would make Jesus chuckle.

While taking Lillie and Jovey to go potty at lunch, Jovey looked down and saw that Lillie had Zoe underwear. In her excitement, she pulled down her shorts to unveil Dora underwear! Well, the next I know I hear Jovey proclaiming "Lillie!!!You have Zoe!!!!!!!!Let's share!!!" and Lillie yelling, "Share Dora and Zoe..pleaseeee!!!" and VERY enthusiastically trying to pull hers off to "make a trade."

Okay, so on the running list of nonsharing items are toothbrushes, lollipops, icecream cones and now undies...

Thank you Lord for my sweet natured kids and their generous spirits even at this young age. Please continue to grow them and teach them to be more like You. And me too as I am in need of their selflessness as well. AMEN

Boredom Buster

We were stuck inside for most of the evening due to stormy weather. The boys (as in Trevis, the responsible adult and Parker, the 4 year old brother) got bored and well, let's just say Lillie was a glutton for punishment. First they tied 2 pillows to her and told her to fall down. Then, Parker pretended she was his pet turtle. Trev then preceeded to pretend that she was a sumo wrestler... you can either choose to feel bad for her, since she was part of the boys "experiment" or you can laugh along with her, since she loved every second!

Small talk

Yesterday afternoon I unfortunately had a bunch of errands to run. The kids did great and were so fun and well behaved. I gave out a cheer when we arrived at our last and final errand: Walmart. As Parker jumped out of the van he says to me grinning, "Mom, we're like... your little people. We go where you go and do what you do and have lots of fun."

Yup... my little people for the next few years or so. Then they are my bigger people(sigh), then my adult people (tears)... why does the time go by so fast?

3,285 days

OR, 9 years of marital bliss....

In that time we have moved a few times, changed a few jobs, had a few kids, lived a few adventures, and had more than a few laughs!

Thanks Trev for being a Godly man in this ungodly world and for surpassing all expectations I had about marriage, family and all the "stuff" that comes along with it. Happy Anniversary~

Headcase

Today while playing with Lillie, Parker had a "little disobeying incident". I told him he had to get out of the pool for 4 minutes and take a break and think about what he did. Around the 2 minute mark I looked over at him and noticed he was staring straight ahead with a very blank look on his face. I waited until his 4 minutes were up and plopped him on my lap and then asked him what he was thinking about during his time out. He looked at me and very seriously said, "Oh, I was having a tantrum in my brain. That's ok right?"

haha... a mental tantrum. I have them ALL the time...I just never thought of them that way!

Postcards from Home

In 2 weeks we make our anticipated move and as excited as I am, there are days like this one, where I will definitely miss the serenity of the country and cannot believe we had the opportunity to call this land, "HOME".

Rude awakening

As any mom knows there are a few select phrases that can make you run lightening fast to where the action is. A few of them are "Uh oh", "Oops", and "Fire". Whenever these words are mumbled, screamed, and even whispered we have been known to hurdle coffee tables, rocket over lego towers and jump out of the shower naked and dripping wet to get to whoever and whatever needs our immediate attention. As was the case this morning at 6:53 am when I was sleeping peacefully and over Lillie's monitor I hear the words, "Oops... poopie!" Proceeded by "Tis otay... just poop!"

WHAT?!?!? HUH?!?!?!? I immediately jump out of bed (conjuring up all the icky scenarios that could result from those words) and in 3 swift steps I am standing over Lillie's crib asking her if she had "an accident". In my urgent and sleepy state I must have been a little abrupt and suprised the poor girl b/c she looked quite alarm. After a few seconds of staring at me, she held up her baby doll and very quietly said, " My Beebee... poop. Sorry." The baby doll pooped??? I had to laugh and then Lillie giggled and all I could say was that's the best kind of dirty diaper there is!

FREEDOM

The fact that I am sitting here blogging about my life and other people are blogging about whatever they what, is in part due to the amazing men and women who have fought for our freedom, continue to fight for it, and will do so long after my blogging days are over.

I am in awe of those who choose to fight for our country and the freedoms that come with living here. You are most definitely true heroes and "thanks" is just too small of a word.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!

Do you know this duo?