1 Year

Happy Birthday, goose. You are one year old today. 

Yesterday we found out you have your first ear infection. What I thought would have been miserable went pretty well. You are a trooper in the truest form (you are your mother's son after all.) I love that we spent most of the day cuddling, snoozing and eating plenty snacks. You are my favorite co-pilot (don't tell your dad...yet.) You never leave a dull moment in our day.

Looking back I see you as this precious, miraculous little baby that entered the world and changed our lives forever. You captured my heart, dear one, and continue to every day. I never thought it was possible to love someone so deeply when I had just met you. Thank you for being you.


 
It took us a while to figure out how to nurse, but I'm glad we did. It's been such a miracle. You are a fighter.

 

Your daddy was (and is) caught up in staring at you, admiring you, loving you, cherishing you. You truly have the best daddy in the world. He is such an incredible example of the way Jesus loves you. p.s. I love the wrinkles on your forehead.

 

Your Aunt Mags fell in love with you too.

 

and so did Grandpa

 

and Grandma

and cousins

 

and great-grandparents 

You've already adventured so much in your short little life and I love to see you enjoy it. 

 

I pray you will be bold, my little one. That you will love Christ with all you are. That you will do mighty things for His kingdom. 

You are loved. So deeply and unconditionally loved. 

I can't wait to watch the adventures that you encounter and the friends that you make. I can't wait to see you with your siblings and see you on your first day of school. You have such an incredible purpose here, and I'm so glad I get to watch you explore the world.

Oh, and please don't grow up too fast. 

you Capture - Autumn

This Autumn, Jack experienced his first pumpkin patch. Last year, he was still cookin', but he was there none the less. This year...this year he got to experience it. It really amazes me how quickly time has passed.

This year, Jack couldn't keep his little hands off of this wheel. He spends a lot of his day making car noises. You ask him "what noise does this/or that make?" and he responds with a car noise. He is his father's son.

 

I love our little goose. Sometimes I wonder who has more fun, he or I.

 

The day was priceless (though the kettle corn and entry fee weren't, bummer) Enjoying it with good friends was even better. The day was too short. I wonder what Jack will be like next autumn? 

check out other autumn days here

Thankful Thursday Top 10

Top 10 things I thank Jesus for this week...

1. That last night is over and my little 1 year old, tooth poppin', fever breaking boy is awake and we aren't struggling through sleep anymore.

2. So thankful for friendships, especially with those who have already walked the road I'm walking. Yesterday I saw a dear friend who is a mentor to me and in the rush of trying to figure out what was wrong with Jack and get ready for his birthday party, I asked her if she ever missed this stage of life. She has four grown kids and lives in an incredible home, has a massive garden that she loves and a great job. She looked at me, her eyes filled up with tears and barely mustered out "I miss it so, so much. This stage of life is really hard." To which my eyes started leaking water and we both laughed to cover it up. 

3. Jack's party at my parents. He has an absolute blast and it was pretty entertaining.

4. The drive down to Phoenix with my man. We always have such great conversations and for me it's the joy of uninterrupted conversation (definitely) and some serious quality time.


5. The news that a dear friend of mine is expecting! Such wonderful news!!


6. ...Thankful we got the Landcrusier back from the peeps who were working on it. We are LOVIN' it!

7. Going to a pumpkin patch with friends and that it was actually COLD and windy and just like how a pumpkin patch is supposed to be. Besides the fact that Jack wouldn't sit still on the hayride,  it was so.much.fun.

8. Seeing old friends from Scottsdale and enjoying a cup of coffee and trader joe's raspberry tart (not to mention seeing their oh-so-cute kiddos)


9. A really cute (clearance) tablecloth from Target!


10. A text from my man that reads, "I understand. But this I know. It WILL work out."

Amen and Amen.

Check out what others are thankful for today over at Candra's

Wordless Wednesday

Experiencing a strawberry dum-dum for the first time in his life.

Shutter Love Tuesday - collage

Jack's first birthday.

To live is an awfully big adventure.

go check out other collage's here...

The Day the Javelina's Ate My Pumpkins

As you know, I love autumn.

I love the changing colors, the cooling temperature, the early sunsets and darker mornings. I love seeing my breath in the dark air while roasting marshmallows around a fire. I love snuggling close with my man over an episode of Parenthood. I love eating candy corn (until I feel sick) and making many warm, delicious meals (tonight was tortilla soup...not the best. We'll forget that one happened. Sorry, babe.)

 

This morning when I opened our front door to let in a cool breeze and a little sunlight I discovered my two pumpkins I JUST bought on Sunday were GONE! It was as if they were never there. Looking closer I found tiny remnants. I quickly ruled out teenagers (they would have left behind something) and that meant it could only be an animal. Javelina's. Arizona's squirrel, if you will. They come to destroy and be a pest. Annnd eat pumpkins. My 3.98 pumpkins, too. In Scottsdale it was too hot to leave pumpkins outside and here it's too dangerous to leave them outside. I think I will put them outside 8am-7pm and then bring them to the garage, kiss them goodnight and keep them safe. Just kidding, of course.

this is all that remained of my pumpkins

I got my Canon Rebel back. It had been 2 weeks. It's like reuniting with an old friend. It's fun, but different. It takes a few days to find the groove and be yourself. 

Jack had Cougan over for a little while today. It was delightful. The whole way to our house they sat in the back seat giggling at each other. So, so precious. 


By the way, my screen is seriously broken on our door there. How does one fix that?


I have so many pictures to share, so much I want to capture and create to be set as memories for Jack to sift through when we're old and aging. That reminds me...

Last night on the drive home John and I were talking about the strange reality that we will most likely be alive when our parents pass away. My mom is already concerned about "what will happened when..." and trying to plan ahead. But, how do you plan ahead for something that is so beautiful and natural, yet so painful? How do you plan ahead in the reality that you might not being able to care for yourself anymore? When you can't remember where you put your shoes, car keys, or if you ate your breakfast or took your medicine? How can you plan for that? While we were driving I let it really sink in to my brain for a brief moment. I let the thought take off it's shoes and settle deep into the lazyboy of my brain (maybe I'm the only one who doesn't think about this sort of thing on a daily basis.) and it was a startling reality. Honestly, if I think about it too long the whole thing freaks me out.

I haven't lost a lot of loved ones in my life. John has experienced losing both of his grandparents and his great aunt. Both sets of my grandparents are still alive and I'm not sure how it will be when they pass away. My heart rejoices with them because they will get to meet face to face with their Savior, but the pain that will reach my parent's hearts goes deeper than my pain. I'm sure it's a different kind of pain. The truth that it will one day be my parents who I'll have to say goodbye to is a very scary and shaking fact.


As the moment passed on our drive home I decided to settle into the present and the time I do have with them. We're not meant to live forever, and this moment isn't forever (however blissful it may be.) It's meant to end and we're meant to grow older and one day pass away. I'll focus on today. On enjoying and loving them for as long as God wills it.

Flashback Friday

Browsing through October pictures from the last 3 years I came across these. All of them were taken towards the end of October and all of them were in such different stages of our life. In 2009, we were about to welcome our little one into the world. In 2008, we were preparing to move to Prescott in a few weeks, and in 2007 we were newly married, newly introduced to the world of each other and struggling through the early-hood of being married. If I could tell the 2007 Melanie what the 2010 Melanie knows now...man. I guess I wouldn't be who I am today if I had known all those things in the first place. Ha. Thank God for the journey of life.


and p.s. I realized my hair style hasn't changed in the last...oh, say, 6 years. Oh, well.

Love

I drove along an open, empty road this morning. The clouds cascaded the sky like a blanket and occasion sunlight peaked through. There were dark, bloated clouds, ready to burst with rain. There was haze, fog and occasional sprinkles. It was beautiful. The mountains of Prescott constantly amaze me.

As I drove this song came on the ipod and I took a breath, chewed on the words for a while and prayed each word quietly as Jack slept behind me.

And the problem is this
We were bought with a kiss
But the cheek still turned
Even when it wasn’t hit

And I don’t know
What to do with a love like that
And I don’t know
How to be a love like that

When all the love in the world
Is right here among us
And hatred too
And so we must choose
What our hands will do

Where there is pain
Let there be grace
Where there is suffering
Bring serenity
For those afraid
Help them be brave
Where there is misery
Bring expectancy
And surely we can change
Surely we can change
Something

The sky kept changing, the clouds kept moving like melting marshmallows and my heart kept getting nudged. I prayed that He will teach us how to be love like He is. To love the way He does and with humility yet consistency. How to love even when it's hard and especially when we don't feel like it. To love by His love and not by our own strength. What does that even look like? It's Him. All the examples in the Word of how Christ loved and loved enough to die for us. That's what it looks like.

You Capture - Orange

Although it feels like gray is the dominant color surrounding us, there is plenty of orange to go around this autumn month.

 Jack is getting ready to go trick or treating next week (maybe.) He looks so cute with his .99 bucket. Well, I'm not sure what's cuter. His little strut, or the fact that he's carrying a pumpkin bucket.

and let's not forget his little smoochin' with his pal Ellie. Last night was a girl's night (with John at an elder's meeting.) It was so refreshing and freeing to just be. These two kept us laughing most of the night.

Have I mentioned I am still really missing my Canon Rebel? Boy, do I sound like a true American. My cell phone (and editing apps) do the trick, but I still miss the 'ol Rebel.

The fall is here. It's down to the 40's at night. Pumpkin carvings are coming next week. Pumpkin patch this weekend. This is my favorite time of year. 

Check out other orange colors captured at Beth's place!