Full Days, Full Hearts

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It’s been awhile since I shared photos of our every day life here.

My favorite kind of memories to keep!

The Friday before Christmas all of the kiddos spent the night at their big sissy’s place – which left Blake and I home ALONE.

We had a two second conversation about going out on a date, until we realized how foolish it would be to leave our beautiful nest when it was so quiet!

That night and morning were very refreshing – and our kiddos HAD A BLAST, of course, of course!

Blake and I did make some stock, and some cookies – but did not even make any dinner!

We sat by our beautiful Christmas tree enjoying the quiet.

Even our pups seemed to relish in the change of pace!

The quiet started to get to me by morning!

Blake and I took a Saturday morning date by loading up all the garbage and going to the dump.

We live large, you all!

Then we headed over to Briar’s place to be reunited with all of our people!

Did I say that they all had the best time?!

They did!

So many fun things for the kiddos over Christmas break!

My sister was in Indianapolis for Christmas with my Mom and my brother.

She sent me this photo and I just love it so much!

Christmas break also always brings about some deep cleaning projects – because the Mama of this crew plans Christmas break to be that way!

The storage room got deep cleaned.

We purged, dusted, vacuumed and organized!

The guys moved all the appliances and cleaned them and behind them.

Such an important part of keeping them running well!

Blake also usually touches up paint during Christmas break.

All of our white walls were needing touched up so badly!

Addie Mae made these cakes in a mug one evening.

She made one safe for me too – even though there is a bit of sugar in those chocolate chips – I ate the whole thing!

We played a lot of games over break too!

Blake and I made a couple of changes in some things over break as I spent a lot of time in reflection and prayer about those things that needed changed and then talked to Blake about them.

I ordered a new math curriculum.

Not sure it’s the perfect match, but we are giving it our best shot!

Addie also offered to be our full-time grocery crew for awhile.

Bless her!!

Her Mama needs to be home instead of doing that BIG job every Friday!

I am enjoying this change very much so far.

I also enjoyed a Saturday with the littles while everyone else was away.

It was a BEAUTIFUL 50 degree day!

I am enjoying a new devotional that the USP man (as Eliza calls him!) dropped off at Twin Oaks.

I am missing that beautiful Christmas tree very much during my quiet time though!

We started back to school on Wednesday, January 2nd.

We were excited and ready after a two week and two day break!

A new school week brought a new song to sing during our worship time.

Eliza is learning and growing SO quickly!

She has always loved paper, pens, and crayons – and she enjoys drawing and making notes for people.

Her drawing skills are taking off!

School brought back all of our other “normal” day-to-day things – like visiting the library – which is still a favorite for us all.

My kiddos love books as much as I do!

We started up our weekly lunch and play dates at Briar’s place again too!

We also usually head to Briar’s place with everyone for dinner on Thursdays!!

Being back to our schedule and rhythm has done us all good!

I plan menus once a week and it’s joy to feed this crew!!

Blake and I also have gotten back to our Friday night date night!

I LOOOVVVEEE date night so much!!

This first photo was taken in the car wash!

We live large, remember?!

I think we are all ready to gain some freedom in the afternoons by not having naps anymore.

All of us but this sweet baby – she just cannot make it without her nap!

I love this photo for so many reasons.

Their feet being one of them!

And I was THRILLED to find this photo on my phone!

Nephew, aunt, niece, nephew, and uncle!!

Growing up like cousins and best friends!

This photo is blurry – but what a wonderful welcome Uncle Grant gets when he comes home from work!!

We had a thank you note writing party one evening.

It was sweet to see these kiddos make their thank you notes from scratch!!

After all that yummy holiday food, we are getting back to some basic nutrition that we still love just as much.

I am trying hard to listen to my body right now – feeding it right and resting when I need to!!

It doesn’t take too long for someone to come looking for me though – and it’s usually this cutie!

So many good memories!!!!

I enjoy keeping them here so much!

I hope you all are having a great start to 2019!!

Have a great week as well!!

Family Photo Shoot 2018

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I am not sure how many years it has been, but every fall Kayla blesses me by gifting me with the promise of a family photo shoot!

This past fall was no exception.

It is getting trickier to get a time to get everyone together, dressed up, and all while it is still daylight!

Our first attempt at photos was way back at the end of October!

Grant never made it to the photo shoot that evening, so we knew we would have to try again later – which we did!

Kayla grabbed these photos of Grant at our second attempt, but the photos of everyone else at our first attempt!

We made a our second plan for a Sunday afternoon (just days before Briar was born!!) – but it was FREEZING cold!

We literally ran under a fence and into a field at David and Kayla’s farm, huddled together, smiled, and then ran back under the fence to walk down the driveway a bit for that last shot before we all jumped back into the warm van!

Mission accomplished!!

Our yearly photo shoot is important to me and I am so grateful that Kayla helps us make this happen!

These photos will be cherished!

Thank you, my sweet daughter, for blessing us with this gift!

We are SO grateful for all you do!!

Happy, Happy Birthday, Blake!!

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This past Sunday we all gathered to celebrate our leader!

Monday was Blake’s birthday!!

We all agree that the BEST part of birthdays is the blessing of preparing for someone else’s!

This year I planned the meal for Blake without out even mentioning it to him!

I KNOW.

Shame, shame!!

He is not very good at telling you what he wants though!

We made jambalaya, cornbread skillet, and cole slaw!

All of the party goers enjoyed the party hats as well as the meal!

There were gifts.

It’s tradition!

I love the crowd of little people around their Daddy and G Pa!!

Can you hear River making a truck noise by looking at his face in this photo?!

He is SO cute!!

We had roasted bananas, ice cream and whipped cream for dessert.

My hubby is a steady man!!

He enjoys the same dessert every single year!

At the end of the party it was time for our traditional “it’s-Blake’s-birthday” photo of our original nine!!

This year we added one precious baby Briar to the photo – cause poor David had his hands very full of three other little people while trying to take this!

SO.

About this man we were celebrating.

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

He breaks our hearts in the best possible way for this world we live in – when we sadly realize that all husbands and fathers are not burdened to reflect the very image of God the way Blake is burdened to.

He loves us unconditionally every day in every way – and is continually making ALL of my dreams come true!

He TRUSTS the Lord with the good and the hard, wears his FAITH visibly and openly, and he PURSUES me the way a husband should.

I am just NOT worthy to call this man mine and to be trusted with building our legacy together.

But I am SO, so, so glad the Lord saw fit for this to be so.

Mr. Blake, you are loved.

From the very depth of my heart and soul, I only love Jesus more than you!

Happy, happy birthday, sweetheart!!

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

O Lord, My God, You Are Very Great

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“Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.

They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.

Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.

Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.

The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.

He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.”

Psalm 104 KJV

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