reflect

What a month.

This summer has been packed full of joys and sorrows, endings and beginnings, loss and change and joy. Lots of joy and lots of laughs.

I wish I could summarize it adaquately, but that might be a bit too personal for this 'ol blog.

I will share, though, about particular days.

This was the best monsoon of the summer. Complete with intense hail!

 Zoey is growing and changing every day. She loves her daddy.

And our Zoey bird just turned six months! This was her at five months. What a little gem.

//

 My dear friend/room mate from Bible School came to visit! We've been so fortunate to see her nearly every summer. Not often more than a couple of days, but my heart rejoices that I've actually been able to see her at all. She's a dear soul sister in Christ and I am so thankful for her. I miss her so.

 Love this shot.

Kate and her dear road-trip friends. Two of the four summers I've seen them I've been pregnant. How fast life goes, man.

Last week Zoey's torticollis came back, this time with revenge. It was rough to see our sweet birdy have such a hard time with her neck. But after many stretches and extra tummy time, she's back at it and stronger than ever. So incredible how the body works and what growth spurts do to us. In her case, a physical growth but, but I can feel the inner changes during an adult-growth spurt. Equally they're not fun, but oh so worth it.

My Grandpa passed away a week ago. It was a bittersweet time as family gathered from all over (including my dear brother, his wife and their little Junebug!) It was so wonderful to see all of them, though sad to sad goodbye to my dear grandpa. He's the first relative I've lost in my adult life and death is a tough one. There's great joy knowing that he's with Jesus, but it's hard to say goodbye.

Grandpa's legacy. And there were even some missing.

Cousin friends! They're only two weeks apart. Loved meeting Junebug. Can't wait to watch her grow!

LOVE this shot.

Jack gets in on the fun.

Grandpa and three of his five grand kids.

My cousin, Mandy's little girl Elly loved holding Zoey. It was so precious.  The two of them were like baby-twins and I can already see that their disposition is similar. So amazing to have cousin's kids look similar! 

Ender, another cousin's kiddo. So cute in his little pants!

 Cousins and toys and legos. Oh my goodness.

The girl's crashed. That was a rough weekend on little babies. 

Cousins and Uncles looking through pictures of years past. A favorite pastime for most of us.

Leslie and Ender. Such a dear friend and fellow dreamer.

My cousin Mary and Elly. (p.s. those are the best cookies in the world. Mmmm..)

Aunt Connie, Mandy and Abbie. Abbie has perfected her smile-from-the-internet. LOVELY!

As if to bid Grandpa a good farewell a beautiful monsoon made it's appearance with fierce winds and light rain. We ran around in the grass to try to take it all in.

My sister in law, Mel and Juniper.

Abbie and Andy. 

An attempt at a family picture. I'll try to work it with it to lighten the orange, but that was the only one where I didn't look pregnant. Sorry, mom! ;)

And to polish off the weekend we celebrated dad's 60th birthday early (since everyone was there.) It was complete with a chocolate cake and Olive Garden takeout. So wonderful.

More pictures to come...and more thoughts. But for now, my little two year old is holding onto my arm after waking up from a good nap.

...'til later.

hot cross buns

On Easter Sunday I went on a vigorous search for hot cross buns. According to the baker at Fry's grocery there were none in our tri-city location. Seriously. What was I doing searching for the buns on Easter morning? Traditions a little too late. Next year, I'm makin' 'em on my own.

 
Oh well, I did find a Thomas pez for Jackboy and he loves it. I have a special place in my heart for Pez dispensers and was so excited that Jack can share my love for pez and their dispensers.

My man also surprised me with some of the most colorful flowers in all the world (courtesy of dye. and love.)

Sunday we celebrated Christ's resurrection and it was a beautiful day. John's sermon was incredible and God used it in some awesome ways. After church I brought Jack home and we got the car ready, munched on peeps, packed up food, cameras, Easter baskets and trains to make the treck with John down to Grandma and Grandpa's. With them, the celebration continued and we caught up with family we don't see often enough and enjoyed an incredible lunch. Jack played in the yard with Gracie, chased her with the ball (but not realizing she was chasing him to get the ball out of his hand.) Jack played with his older cousin Andy and with trains all day long. 


This Easter I was reminded of/experienced a new truth of God and the reality that He knows the pain of losing a child and has experienced it himself. Not only did He lose a child, but a grown man, His only son and it grieved Him to do lose him, but He did it for our sake and so that we might live. That fact blows my mind. Having lost two wee ones, I know He has experienced that same pain, but I didn't lose those kiddos so that others might live. If I'm really honest with myself, I'm not sure I could do that. As a mama, I would die for my kiddos, but don't think I could let them die so others could live. It's the greatest sacrifice. It's mercy in all it's greatness knowing we don't deserve it, but He did it anyway. 


I read this article a few weeks ago and was so touched by the truths in it. 


So thankful for Easter and the mercy that it holds. That we don't deserve, but He gives it freely. So thankful Jesus lives so we can have a personal relationship with Him.

 I would like to be able to leave out the part about how Jack was the most restless sleeper on Easter night and that he was up by 5:30am after barely sleeping that night and playing hard all day and runnin' on a one hour nap, but I can't. Because he ate too much candy. Because that's how that night went and I felt like I had a newborn come Monday morning. Where did my toddler go? Praise Jesus he returned Monday night and slept strait until 7:30. That-a-boy.

 reconnecting and sharing old stories. 

 my grandpa. such a sweet man. 

 I love how Jack is leaning in to Andy in this picture. So cute.

Maggie is truly a beautiful lady. I love sisters and the unique relationship that they share and I especially love seeing Maggie as she nears graduating from high school. I'm so proud of her and woman that she has become. I can't wait to see where her life leads to.

Seeing my Pops with his little grandson really warms my heart. Not only do they look like twins, but he has such a deep and unshakable love for babies. And Aaron's blue eyes, omygoodness.

Easter has come and gone and next is Mother's Day. In other news, my plants are really growing. I'm excited to see what the end of the summer holds! Thanks to dear friends with years of experience and helpful tips, we might just be able to eat some of the fruits of this labor.