Blank

Its been blank around here for a long time. 

Not for long....

Time to get acquainted with my blog again.

Soon.....

Lots to say and show.

Actually, excited about it :)

* I can tell you are on pins and needles.  But don't hold your breath or anything, just in case! I wouldn't want to be responsive for your death based on my awesomely blank blog :) *


 

Luke

"And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him."

Luke 2:40

So many things I could say to describe my Luke, my Lukey Bear, my second baby.

My heart still feels like you are a tiny baby, and sometimes it skips a beat when I realize how many years have passed.
 

My Luke has kept us on our toes more so in the past year than ever.  His third year of life has been a beautiful transformation and it has been so fun to see!

The sweet boy who never hardly said a word....now, has so much to say our ears hurt.

Luke is strong willed and determined, knowing what he likes and what he doesn't.

But we find ourselves enamored with his funny ways and sayings, and sometimes forget why he is in trouble...his cuteness works to his advantage.

Luke is full of energy and requires little sleep, and has an imagination to impress even his invisible friends.

Hes' my Buzz lovin', Toy Story obsessed child who wants to rocket to space and explore the world.  


He is always charming those around him and he has them like putty in his hands.  No one can say no. 

He loves his big brother who he calls, "my brudder" constantly and wants to be two steps behind the big boys.  

Everyone get lost in his deep brown eyes and his sweet smile, and although he is shy in public and he loud at home:)

His kisses and cuddles come only when he's ready, but if he's ready.....he's a lover. 

Thankful for my sweet boy who I feel blessed to watch grow into a little boy, right before my eyes.

But most of all.....

I can't believe he is mine:)

*photos courtesy of Southern Bell Photography

He Does This

  He does this...

while he does this....

(*hottest 3rd base coach, ever  --in my opinion)

and.....

finally.....

 he does this!

it's gonna be a fun summer at the ballpark!

 

On Repeat

My dad is a huge baseball fan, so was my grandfather.

We were/are a baseball family, it's a sport we all enjoy. 

I played softball & my brothers played baseball. And I can't begin to tell you how many hours have been spent practicing, pitching, fielding and batting.

As I look back now, I realize how hard Dad worked at the pharmacy, day in and day out.  But it never stopped him from being a "dad".  He would come home (exhausted, I'm sure!) and sometimes never even change clothes; he would immediately go to the backyard to play with us or drive to the ballpark. 

Well, it's happening again.

Time is a funny thing. Sometimes I feel like it is on repeat. Yet, I kind of like it because I see a glimpse of "Daddy" in his new role as "Pops".

However, this time, he's a little less obligated to work and can enjoy hanging on the fence, like my grandad once did, to watch his grandson.  But that doesn't stop him from teaching some fundamentals when he gets a chance.  

So, when Pops is around, this happens:


Just like old times.

and I couldn't be happier to see time on "repeat"...







and neither is he :)

Grow & Go

Today was one of those days that you love and hate.  

One of those days where you pray to see the Hand of God with one outcome,
 and then you see it anyway with a completely different one. 

It's a long bittersweet story, but not mine to share.   

Just know that I saw the Lord work through a friend, in her faith and in her sweet baby boy. 

So today, I stopped and stared at these two faces a little longer & prayed a little louder.

I stopped.  I cried.  I prayed. 

Life is but a vapor and it is never more evident than in the faces of children. 

Babies one day, high school graduates the next.  

One blink and years are gone, right before our eyes.

But today, instead of being sad that my babies are growing up (I should *totally* place a rock on their heads, pronto), today I decided to rejoice in the fact they have a chance to grow up.  The boys are healthy with growing minds & bodies; they get a chance (for how ever long the Lord wills) and the more I understand about this ol' life.....I'm grateful.

They are not mine to begin with anway, they are HIS.





HIS children.

Growing for one purpose: To bring glory to His name, and shine through the darkness in big ways and small.  

So, grow & go, sweet boys. 

.....and I pray, you do.

"He said to them, 

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 

Mark 10: 14- 15

Cousin Comparison: The Three Amigos

Cousins who are born so close together and back to back; it makes for a fairly tale for grandparents and a dream for aunts and uncles.  Danielle and I have thousands & thousands of pictures of the orginial "Three Amigos", Layton, Mady and Luke.  
 
If I thought really hard about how fast time is going, I would curl up in the fetal position and weep....for hours. 

 But then I realized how these sweet ones have blossomed over the past three years; each with their own (very distint) personality.  Love these three (and Collin too!) and I love who they are becoming day by day.  

*PS - Doesn't Collin look exactly like his big sister,  Mady above?? 

Can you imagine what the next couple of years will look like for the Three Amigos...an 8 year old and two 6 year olds?

Oh me.

I might go curl up in that fetal position now.  

Celebrating HIM

What is Easter all about? 

Family, food and really cute kids dressed up to the NINES?

What about the infamous egg hunt that includes monogrammed buckets and kiddos rushing to find that one last egg?


 

or it is about spending time with nephews big and small? 

Or chick shaped cookies (ahem....that we all devoured quickly) or egg dying at it's messiest?

 



What about the adorable cousins lined up in a row, with ties and big bows?

 

What about grandparents with huge smiles and full laps,

And kisses and tickles too?

All good things above, I treasure and it made for the abouslute best weekend, but it certainly wasn't our focus. 

But is that what Easter is all about?


The Cross.

And His Resurrection.


Coloring Eggs, Baskets, and Bunnies come in at a mere second to our Lord and Savior.


That's what Easter is all about.

"He is not here, for He has risen, 

just as He said." 

 Matthew 28:6