Raising Arrows

It's officially been 2014 for 12 hours now, and as I sit down to write our year in review I'm reminded, yet again, at how blessed we've been this year & how much I've learned. God's taught me so much about patience, his enduring love, grace & his faithfulness. Nothings in order, there were so many memories this year that our jar was overflowing. So here we go... - end of March, beginning of April: getting settled into our new home & it finally feels like "home"  - May 29th : dinner with the Wilkinsons, Rudolphs, & Morrie - swimming, tractors, lots of kids, late night  - Theo's first steps across living room Nov. 20th (Mom & Dad were in Germany... walked for Nanny) - April 5th : Family night at the park with McD's - slides, sunshine, walks, picnic  - Baking the month of December and starting our own Christmas traditions - chocolate chip cookies, pretzel bark, frosting cookies, lots of music, oatmeal scotchies  ...

After a few failed attempts at getting Theo's 5 month pics - we finally had success. There's been a lot that's been happening in our lives and hearts - God is definitely at work!! (here's a link to see what I recently wrote about - click here. ) But for the day to day kind of updates ... Well for one, Milo's eyes are not as bad off as we had thought. His appt. get great & our new eye doctor is awesome. She's from MI too! (ROCK ON!) There was some change but so little that we don't have to get new lenses unless we really want to or feel need to. So hooray to that one. Theo had his check up (& has another coming up again at the end of the month), but was 17 lbs. and 26 inches. We got a tall kiddo here - he's the 90th percentile for everything i think ... or least darn close. I guess if you're Keith kid, you're bond to be tall. my little man thinking of his momma   The weather has been getting summery ... southern summery...

So I've been feeling guilty lately. I feel like I haven't been true to myself and to you kids. I feel like I've been too influenced by what others may think or do. And haven't taken the what matters most to heart. I searched high and low for how to raise my first baby the "right" way. And have been slowly coming to the realization that nothing beyond the cross and God's glory matters. As I'm realizing it thru my struggles, I'm not completely free of that "What will they think" attitude. But I've been reading an incredible book for mommas called "Desperate" by Sally Clarkson & Sarah Mae. I'm only 3 chapters in and it's hit me hard. I've had an unrealistic view of motherhood & frankly it's interfered with all of me. My spiritual life, family life, emotionally, physically, & how I view myself. In the chapter labeled "Formulas Don't Work", Sally says, "I believe that there...

I know I've been horrible at keeping things updated and posting ... time just slips away from me. We are settling into our "new" home nicely, adjusting to the south & getting into a new routine nicely. There's still good days and bad days for me, but you boys seem to be handling the move with ease. Seriously, as long as you have one another you're great! So to celebrate Mom's Day this weekend I thought I'd post pics of you boys ... the bestest job the Lord could ever blessed me with (also the most challenging at times) : Mom & Wife. :) So glad to hear your sweet little voice, Milo, when you call out to me ... "Momma!!!" & Theo, you light up the room with your smiles when you see me after naps or first thing in the morning. Melts my heart! Thank you for loving me ... even on my worst days. I Love you boys so much!!

We think of you each and every day that goes by, but today is extra special. Today would have been your FIRST birthday!!! Hard to believe how much time has past since you blessed our lives with your tiny self. I laid on the couch today while holding your little brother, thinking of just how much God used your little life to impact ours in such a HUGE way! We now have 2 sons, we lived in North Carolina, we are pursuing a life of ministry, and have even considered being missionaries to Germany!!! All of it is definitely a different life then what I had dreamed or planned - but guess what?!?! It's SO MUCH BETTER!!! And altho you are not here on earth with us (and I still ache to hold or rock your precious little self), I know you are in the best place there is & now have your Grand Nanny to keep you close and look after you. God used you Lil' One ... your life changed our way of thinking. It changed the way I approach every day. And it gave me a better sense as to what is...

Happy Four Months to our little gift from God! :) A lot has happened in those four months and we've enjoyed every moment of them with you! Love You Lots! 

I've wanted to stop time recently. Wanted to capture just how and what life is like for us right now with a 3 month old and a 2 1/2 yr old. So naturally I picked up my camera and began to capture the moment(s). What each of you cute kids were doing, what was laying around the house, what we use a lot of, and of course both of those precious smiles that I can't get enough of. So here are a few collages of just what we see ... (you may click on the photos to enlarge them)