strawberry nutrigrain bar = YUM!

seriously. i know i am biased but come on! she is so stinkin' cute!

Simeon & his crazy curly hair

Simeon's hair grows like crazy...I cut it often & probably should more than I do. I love his curls. Here he is before...

and after...

cutie pie

this one is for Gram...all the way around the world...we miss you!

8 years and the stomach bug

Our anniversary is June 21. Planned to have a little 8 year anniversary post but instead got hit by the stomach bug on our anniversary. Not great fun. So instead of living the day up with my sweetie I spent most of it sickly and in bed. Despite it all he reminded through his selfless acts of service and love why I am so unbelievably thankful to have married him 8 years ago. He is sacrificial in love and deed, he is caring beyond measure, he holds my hair back when I am...well, you know, and he always brings me lilies.

A friend asked me if this is what I thought our life would look like 8 years ago. Easily I could say no but wouldn't want it any other way. We watched our wedding video with our kiddos for the first time and it was so fun to tell them all about that day. I am so blessed to have Andrew to walk through this life with. He makes everything better. He strives to know and follow Jesus more daily, to lead our home in marriage, parenting, and everything else, and to be humbly led by God wherever He may have us go. Love love love my wonderful husband and deeply thankful to our God who faithfully guides us and deepens us in our walk with Him and each other. We would utterly fail without Him.

A little 8 year recap:
Year One-I finished up school while Andrew worked for a friend's law firm. We had the incredible blessing of living next to our best friends and sharing food, playing late night games of basketball and Settlers of Catan, softball, and living life together. It changed our lives. Still love living life with the Schwartzmans!

Year Two-We moved to Africa for 6 months and God rocked our world on our perspective on missions. Then we loaded up a van and moved to Boston with no job, no place to live, and no money. It was a blast!
Year Three-First year in Boston and I had a crazy job with kiddos with special needs while Andrew went to grad school. God gave us an incredible church and group of friends who taught us what community looked like. Love the Sherrills, P Scotts, Greens, Kottmanns, & Boykins!

Year Four-This was a big year of transition...moved back to Fayetteville to start Andrew's job at Lightbearers and saw our first ultrasound of our little girl! I started working again with Potter's House and we began going to New Heights Church. We also moved into what would be our first of 5 houses over the next 2 years. Did not love moving so much.

Year Five-Busy year with the addition of Madeline Grace Brill to our lives! She was a very sweet, easy, wonderful blessing and I can't fathom life without her! Andrew also went on his first of many overseas trips with Lightbearers.
Year Six-Moved in with the Schwartzmans for 4 crazy fun months and began the adoption process. Loved living with our friends but a little too crazy with babies sharing rooms.

Year Seven-Another big year of transition...moved again, and then again. Cyrenthia moved in late fall, we found out we were pregnant about 2 weeks after getting our referral and then brought home our sweet Simeon in December. Also bought a house and a mini van. Phew. Can't say enough about our fantastic community of friends who surrounded us and served us this year...thanks to the Davidsons, Heimers, Mooneys, Baxters, Walkers, Phelans, Walkers, & Robinsons!

Year Eight-Looking back this has been a fairly calm year for us. No big transitions, moves, purchases. We had sweet Anna in July and have pretty much enjoyed hunkering down at home and managing our little clan. We took a little staycation in the fall, loved it, and plan to do it again!

Wow. That's a lot...and it covers so little. I know I can say without a doubt or hesitation that this Scripture has been true for us these last eights years... through the joys and pains of life,

"The Lord has done great things for us & we are filled with joy!"

Tom Addington married us and he shared this Scripture as a prayer for our marriage,

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." Romans 12:2

We got it carved into woodwork by a man in Africa and keep it up in our house always. I know I will keep praying this Scripture for our marriage, friendship, parenting, home, and future.

if you don't like words like breastfeeding...don't read

This morning Madeline walked into Anna's room with me to get her up. We were talking with her and what not when Madeline climbed up in the rocker and, while lifting her shirt, said,

"Mom, give her to me. I have nickles, I can feed her."

So. much. fun.

Also, another random funny...Simeon has picked up from somewhere this phrase (say it with a little Simeon growl in your voice if you know what I mean).

"I'm gonna eat you for breakfast!"

distinguishing marks

"Moses said to the Lord...if you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you...The Lord replied, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' Then Moses said to him, 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?

What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?'

And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.'" Exodus 33:12-17

Love this conversation. Absolutely love it. What else can be said? Lord, may you be the great distinguishing mark in my life.

my next 90 days

My mama in law gave me a read-the-Bible-in-90-days Bible. 12 pages a day. About 30-45 minutes. If you know me you know I hate starting something I can't complete and correctly at that. So posting this is allowing for a little more jump in my step as I attempt to read through the Bible in 90 days and to actually learn from it as well. :) Ask me when you see me. Thanks!

Day One: CHECK!

Interesting question coming from reading Genesis-who were the sons of God marrying with the daughters of Adam? Seriously asking.