Old and New

New directions

New joys

New committments

New home

New changes

New, opposite of old

Because the old just can't grow from staying the same.  It will die with no appreciation for what could have been right around the corner. 


Let me clarify, I'm not a big fan of change.  I struggle with accepting "different".  I love things to stay the same.  I shed tears thinking about stepping outside my box.  It's safe, and I like safe. 


But this year has definitely taken me outside the constraints of what I consider to be comfortable for me.  And guess what?  Although I fight it, I am slowing beginning to realize that it is actually a good thing.  The Lord knows whats best for me, even when I fail to see where my next steps my lead, He sees my all paths and directs my all ways.  I love knowing this, because when I feel that it is all up to me, I begin to see that it has nothing to do with me at all.

Tonight, I am excited about the new.........and I'm excited to see where He leads my paths.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, 
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

The MOVE

Our house.
Our home.

I understand the difference, but somewhere the line became blurred.

Surrounded by the packed boxes filled with our memories, I began to feel the heartache of moving.  

Blake and I moved from the house we lived in for 6 years.  As I reminisce about the days when we bought the house - a young couple (26 years old), career oriented, spiritually invested, and dreaming of filling the bedrooms with little ones....it makes me sad to let go.

We began as two and left as four.  So, a little part of me will always be there.

We brought two babies through those doors for the first time.

We established ourselves as a family between those walls.

We painted nurseries and put together cribs in those bedrooms. 

We watched our babies take their first steps on those floors.

We smiled as our boys' laughter echoed through those hallways.

A house became our home.

Leaving was hard.  I cried the moment the moving trucks pulled up in the driveway, until I went to bed that night.

I was sad.  Blake was not.
I was sentimental.  Blake was not.

So, he helped reassure me that the decision was a good one that we had prayed about for years. 

We sold our house and bought a house in the same week. It was just meant to be.  

But moving away from these sweet faces made the transition a difficult one.

I couldn't love them more than I do my own family. 

We walked in those doors as two, 

and we walked out for the last time as four.

Excited about this chapter in our family. 
No matter where we go or what our address is, I realize that my home is with Blake and my sweet boys, and I couldn't be more thankful.

On to new beginnings...

Memorial Day Weekend

Lake. 

Family. 

Friends.

Ahhhhh!  The best start to the summer. Period.

We traveled to the lake house and spent the holiday weekend swimming, sleeping, grilling out, and watching sail boats at sunset:)



Bryson and his two sweet friends who joined him for the weekend.
He actually came with 3 girls...one got sick, so at least he had two left:)

Summer looks good on him:)

And he is having a blast! :)
The lake always brings out the best in him....
can you tell?

For the first time, Layton took an interest in helping Blake tie up the boat at the dock.
  He was all about learning how to tie knots, perfectly. 

Julep, Ross's new puppy, learned about lake life,

and I think it agrees with her:)

Layton jumped right in and went swimming and...

 played in the sand....

Kisses from Grandaddy!

The boy love to take rides on the scooter and the golf cart

(Layton graduated to the scooter this summer!)

While Luke is still enamored with the golf cart.

I think this picture is funny, looks like Luke is driving and Blake is asleep in the back!

My pile of boys!

Going for rides with Grammie :)

And we also got to meet Miss Maddie. 

She and Layton  became BIG buddies - quickly:) 

(don't you just LOVE her Matilda Jane outfit!)

Let Summer BEGIN! 

MIA

Sorry to be MIA lately...it's been crazy busy!

Since Greece, we also traveled to Alabama, then it was finals week at school, along with four birthdays in our family in May, Mothers Day and ---- WE ARE MOVING! It's been extra crazy!

Here's a quick glimpse of the fun lately! :)

We have been riding bikes,

and being silly eating breakfast with one arm out of our PJ's, 

SWIMMING (!),

(my big boy doing so great with swimmies!)

hanging out with friends,

even those from states away,

We attended a dedication for our new Connection Center @ church :)  

And my Greece girls had a reunion dinner,

then I hosted Mother's Day Dinner at my house for the first time,

and the cousins got to hang out together!

Luke had his 15 month check - up....

and he helped me start packing!

Then came the BIRTHDAYS:

Mom's.....

Mine...

 

Joy's too......

We've been enjoying BASEBALL season,  cheering on our little buddies in tee ball.

and Layton is dreaming of his chance to get take the field.  (this fall - yeah!!!)

I had a date night with my little man at the "Mom & Me" Circus @ church,

We've been snuggling and watching cartoons,

and breaking the grill in for the first time!

And learning how to swing Little Brother high~ 

All that fun makes for some dirty little boys who need baths at the end of the night....

and then some little sweet boy melts my heart with grins like these~

I'll be back soon (from our NEW house!) with more detail about all that has been going on................

Summer is HERE!!