back after a long time...

It's been a LONG time since I've blogged...I actually sat down several months ago and wrote a "good-bye" post thinking it was my last time writing...but thankfully Kaz encouraged me not to post it. Over the last few weeks, the Lord has been giving me little "signs" of encouragement to start writing again. I've missed it. He confirmed it last Monday. I went down to Charleston for a few days for some bridal sessions. My 1st session wasn't until Monday afternoon, so I had several things I wanted to do that morning, one being running the Ravenel Bridge. This bridge is very special to me...After our first failed adoption, I started running the bridge every single day. It took me 35-40 minutes to get there, and 35-40 minutes to drive back home, but that didn't matter. It was my "special and favorite" place to talk to God. I prayed for our child more times than I can count on that bridge. The bridge always reminds me of a hard time in my life, but it also reminds me of God's faithfulness to me and our family. 

So last Monday, I was so excited to run the bridge again. I constantly kept checking the weather, hoping it would be sunny. I drove to Mt. Pleasant, parked, got out my car, stretched, and in my mind, I was going to conquer the bridge...but the Lord had other plans. I started running the "up hill" part of the bridge and felt great maybe the first .3 miles, then the wind came. It was so strong it pushed me back and literally made me stumble several times. I kept going and then the rain started...it poured. I kept going and could barely keep my eyes open. It was miserable, so I turned around halfway up and ran back down. The whole time I kept thinking of how I quit. So at the bottom, I turned back around and ran up for the 2nd time. It was no different. MISERABLE. Pouring rain, strong winds, and a lot of strange looks from other people coming back down the bridge. I'm sure they were thinking, "Why in the world is this crazy going the opposite direction of this monsoon." BUT I kept going. I couldn't run uphill the whole time...the wind was too strong. I walked at times, barely moving, but after awhile I reached the top. When I finally got to the top, I turned around and started down hill. It wasn't easy, but got easier the farther down I got. By the end, I was in a full sprint. I had different plans for that run...I thought it would be fun and relaxing, but the Lord used it to remind me of the storms in life. It's not always easy. We aren't promised an easy life...but when the wind and rain come and almost knocks us down, He IS faithful. When it's hard to keep our eyes open or focused on Him, what He wants and requires is that we keep moving towards Him one step at a time. And when the storm passes, our view looking back is a beautiful reflection of His FAITHFULNESS. 

The Lord encouaged me so much on that run, and it is definitely the most memoriable I've ever had. He not only used it to show me truth, He used it to encourage me to write again...

I'm thankful for each of you who have followed our journey over the years, and who have encouraged us so much! The girls are growing up so fast...faster than I would like. AND we started the adoption process again last year, and have been on the waiting list since October 2014. So we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for our family:)

october...

A lot has happened in the last few weeks...

Maggie turned 1! I honestly can’t even believe how fast this first year has gone by. She is such a sweet baby! She LOVES to eat, play with her baby doll, call for papa, and EAT, EAT, EAT. She’s so curious, which has been a completely different change from Annie Rice who wasn’t curious at all. She loves playing with Annie Rice, and when I hear their giggles together it makes me so happy. 

Kaz and I ran another half marathon! It went so well! I trained the best for it, that I have out of any half marathons I’ve done. It was a lot of fun. 

My sweet friend and good buddy Mr. Billy passed away. He’s been apart of my life since high school, and the girls loved going to see him so much. After his passing, we went to see his roommate, and our other good buddy, Mr. AP. Annie Rice told Mr. AP that Mr. Billy was with Jesus. 

A few pictures from our October:)

swinging and nose blowing...

I can’t believe it’s almost September..I can’t believe we’ve lived in Hartsville now for 6 months...I can’t believe in a month, my sweet little baby Maggie will be 1 year old. Life has just flown by lately! It has been a busy summer. 

Back in June, I took over the coordinator position for MOPS of Darlington County[Mother’s of Preschoolers]. Our year starts next week, and I have been so busy all summer getting thing ready for the year. The Lord has been working in so many ways in this ministry, as well as my own life, and I’m really excited to see what the Lord does this year in the lives of so many moms. 

A few weeks ago, Kaz and I spent the weekend in Asheville. We had such a good time! Even though I grew up and now live in the country, I am not an outdoorsy person. I rarely like walking in the grass, I don’t like bugs, etc. Everytime Kaz has asked me to go for a hike, I have started, and let my fears stop me before getting probably 50 feet...BUT I promised him I would go for a hike with him in Asheville. He told me the hike would be 3 miles. Ok, I can handle 3 miles..We started and about 45 minutes into it, my sweet loving husband informed me the hike was 3 miles both ways! I wasn’t happy during, especially when he took me through snakesville USA, but he pushed me to conquer my fears and we had a great time on the hike! The view at the top was beautiful!

Annie Rice and Maggie are growing way too fast. I can’t believe that in a month, I will no longer have a baby. I thank the Lord everyday that I’m able to stay at home with them. 

Annie Rice loves watching Adventures in Oddessy, puzzles, and playing the “smart game”, aka Brain Quest. Maggie is standing on her own and cruising along furniture. Before long, she will be walking;/ Time slow down. 

 Her new friend, "Mr. Benjamin." She always calls him MR. 

 First time EVER, wanting to swing on a swing set! The Lord has brought her so far in her physical development. 

Maggie's new thing...LOVE it. 

my most important role as a mom....

Being a mom, has been one of the most wonderful blessings the Lord has ever given me. I love my girls more than I could ever express. Sure, I have my moments of frustration over disobedience, melt downs, etc but being a mom brings so much JOY to my life. In our struggle to start a family, I never really thought much about the day to day life as a mom....I wanted a child. I wanted a family. I knew how we would raise our children, but I never gave much thought to the day to day living until I became a mom. I think any parent wants their child to be “smart”. As a parents of little ones, most moms teach their kids the ABCs, colors, shapes, etc...It’s easy to get caught up in if my child is “educationally” where she should be. We fill their minds with books and games, and shows that they love but also that helps teach them. We teach them about animals, the sun, moon, trees, etc. I’ve done the same thing. Annie Rice loves to learn and we spend time each day working on these “education milestones” to ensure she learns them....but lately, I’ve been realizing that there’s something so much more important that I want to tell her about everyday. As a mom, wife, and woman the most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ. I’m not perfect and I mess up and make mistakes everyday. There are days my time in the word is so good, I wish I had more time...then there are other days where I have 2-3 minutes...then unfortunately, there are days where my time in the word gets pushed off, BUT I’m thankful that no matter how much time I spend in the word each day, the Holy Spirit is there to guide me throughout the day in prayer, christian music, and how he even works in my life through these little miracles called children. Yesterday, I was reminded of sometime so simple, yet something I forget so often....

We were walking down the isle in Wal-Mart. Annie Rice and Maggie were both in the buggy, while I was looking in the craft section. I was in deep thought trying to find what I needed, when Annie Rice yelled, “Look mommy, there’s a cross.” Normally, I probably would have said, “you’re right, that is a cross” and started back searching for what I needed...but hearing her voice, her excitement, I simply couldn’t stop there. I looked into her big blue eyes, and said Annie Rice, “what does the cross mean?” She said, “It means Jesus died for me and I will never be sad again.” Again, I could have stopped there but I couldn’t...I said, “Annie Rice that’s right. Jesus died on the cross for you, me, Maggie, and everyone you see because He loves us so much”...I continued to tell her how when we disobey or have little attitudes, those are times that make God sad because we are sinning. And the reason Jesus died, was because of our sin. She looked up at me giggling saying, “Mommy, Jesus loves me SO MUCH.” I said, “He sure does sweet girl. He sure does.” Annie Rice is 3. She knows the ABC’s, her colors, the spelling of her name, etc. She can learn anything someone teaches her...I strive everyday to teach her the things she needs to know..but I was reminded yesterday in that 5 minutes conversation that the most important thing I need to share with her on a daily basis is the gospel story. I am CALLED to do this. It’s not her sunday school teachers responsibility, or her VBS worker, or anyone else. It’s my job to teach her about Jesus. Not just the bible stories we read at night, or the children’s songs that we sing about Jesus..It’s our responsibility as parents to teach them the GOSPEL on a daily basis. In every way we possibly can. I’m thankful that the Lord promoted my heart to not just pass that moment by because so easily I get caught up in what I’m doing in the moment, that I miss or just hear “the words” she is saying, without truly listening. PARENTS, MOMS...LISTEN to your kids. Look for opportunities to share the message of the cross on a daily basis. It’s not just a one time conversation. It should be a daily conversation in our home, in some shape or form. Not only do her little hears need to hear this, but my big ears need to be reminded of this simple truth EVERYDAY. 

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 

summer has been busy...

Well, I’ve been away for awhile..I honestly needed a little break. With the move and the busyness of life, I felt like my “creative juice” just wasn’t there, BUT it’s slowly coming back! Ha! 

We’ve had so much going on the last several months and this summer has flown by for us. We recently celebrated Annie Rice’s 3rd birthday! Our little tinker bell wanted to go to Bojangles for her birthday breakfast dressed as tinker bell. The old men eating breakfast loved flirting with her. Hartsville recently opened up the Splash-pad, so we’ve had a lot of fun going there. Annie started taking swim lessons and she is slowly getting used to the water:)

Maggie is growing so fast I can’t keep up. She started crawling at 5 months and hasn’t stopped! She is so fast and will be walking very soon I’m afraid. I just can’t believe in less than 3 months she will be 1 years old. Time goes by too fast...

We have been spending the last few days with Kaz’s brother’s family. We spent the weekend at the beach[which was a lot better than our last beach trip..it was full of sickness and the stomach bug]. The kids loved playing with each other and Maggie thought the sand was food so she ate enough to keep her full all day! 

Here are a few pictures from our last few weeks...