Raising Arrows

Merry Christmas from the Keith Family!  We hope everyone has a great Christmas ...  and we are praying that Theo decides to come out so very soon!  Milo with cousin Nadia

So I've been thinking a lot lately about all the big changes on the horizon and want to capture this moment in time and seal it up. Not that I'm opposed to all the fun that lies ahead for our family, but just the simplicity of our lives now. It's got it's crazy times and days when I want to hide away but I know that simple and what most would call “easy”... and I LOVE IT! The fun mornings with Daddy, the nights spent rocking with you, the evenings of watching you chase and play with ZuZu girl , it's the little things that fill my mind and put a smile on my face. So before things start to change too much and we welcome baby Theo into the world... hopefully soon, I wanted to take a few minutes and capture one of my favorite “routines” of this moment. Bedtime. It started off as a way to get you to realize it was time to relax for the night... back when you were like oh I don't know a month old. But now, oh now it's something I love in our daily ...

11 days to go!! Our countdown is getting closer … and altho we have plenty of time, it seems as tho it's taking forever! Between fake contractions and real contractions that won't stick longer then 2 or 3 hours at a time, little Theo is just prepping us all and making sure we are completely ready for his arrival I suppose. Altho, in these last few weeks as the Christmas bug is catching on and the songs, stories of the Nativity, & pictures of the manger start showing up everywhere, being pregnant takes on a whole new look. I keep picturing her, Mary, at such a young age preparing to be a mother. And not just a mother to anyone, but the mother of the Jesus!! I do remember the scare of the unknown of motherhood, and the questions that kept coming when we found out about Milo. And I still have plenty of questions with the second child … but I just can't imagine knowing that the child I would give birth to is God's son & God had chosen me to do...

You got new glasses!! and I haven't quit gotten use to them yet. They're not a big change, just the shape ... they are rectangular and make you look like 3 years older. Seriously, you look like you're ready for school! It's amazing the change on you … you look so adorable still tho, as always. :) We have our christmas things up … I didn't put a whole lot up this year. Our tree, some white lights, a few random decorations here and there, but most of it is in our living room. Oh and of course our nativity. :) We had a rough start to our decorating day and it ended up for both our sacks that I did most of the decorating with Nanny while you napped. But the look on your face when you saw all the white lights and pretty tree, that was priceless. And I love that you ask for the “pretty tree” when we get home from places. And you LOVE seeing the outside lights when we are traveling at night. We took you down to Plainwell's Tree Lightening this past fr...

This December marks the start of our 4th year in our old, cozy home. It's this time each year I begin to think of all the hard work that was put into making this old farmhouse our home. It took months of work, (mostly time of Grandpa Keith's), and lots of imagination. I remember when Daddy took me thru the first time, the place was SO dirty, run down, and in dire need of some TLC!! But the little details and charm of the place got to me and I knew we just HAD to live here!! It was perfect. I fell in love. It had so many “old” things and so much history to it; from the kitchen cabinets, to the door knobs, & who doesn't just LOVE the hand crafted cabinets?! And it wasn't just the house, it was the surroundings. The fields, farms, country way of life, and of course the location... so close to our families! Beautiful spring/fall flower collection  The wheat fields This is our road ... down by the river. BEAUTIFUL during sunset!  The beau...

  This year, as many years before, there's SO much to be thankful for. Seriously tho, the list goes on forever. God blesses us so much every year and sometimes I think we take that for granted. His mercy and grace alone are enough to make Thanksgiving day full of overwhelming hearts and thankful spirits ... but He blesses us with SO much more. It's incredible. Not only does God forgive me and rescue me daily from my sins, He gives me a beautiful little family that loves me for me. A husband that is devoted and dedicated. A very cute little guy (that's you Milo Man!) that loves his mommy dearly and makes life so much more adventurous. Another cute guy that will be arriving oh so soon (hopefully). And parents that still take care of me, even when i least expect it.  These are just a few of the wonderful things that I am thankful for this year.  My salvation in Christ has taken on a new meaning in the past year; helping me to realize there's not much more in life that ...