New Beginning...

I can't believe it's been over 2 years since my last post...I have missed writing so much--SO much has changed in the last 2 years....We are now a family of 5! Can you believe it? Our journey to starting a family was so hard and dark, but the Lord had a perfect plan laid out for us that we just couldn't see at the time. The newest member of our family since my last post is our sweet little boy, Finn(18 months). He is the sweetest little thing ever! I'm in love with his red hair and secretly pray it stays red. He smiles all the time, makes monster sounds constantly, has a mouth full of teeth, and loves his "blanket". 

Life is busy-Some days feel like they will never end, but yet when I blink, we are in a different week, month, year-Time flies. The girls are growing up SO fast. Annie Rice is 7! She is Miss Personality, doesn't meet a stranger, and has such a sweet spirit. She is so much like me-She cleans just like me and loves to make up beds. Actually, she doesn't even sleep under her sheets because she doesn't want to mess them up! I call her my commercial queen. Earlier today, I was scratching my arm and she said, "Mommy, you need some gold bond relief. It's supposed to be the best for itches."  She literally memories commercials and when we are grocery shopping will fight me on the brands I choose to get:) 

Maggie will be 5 in 2 months! She is my mischievous, curious one! She can be very shy around people, but when she finally talks, she TALKS! She keeps me on my toes constantly but is also my snuggler. She loves to hug or be next to you. Sometimes she will say, "Mommy, I just want you." It doesn't get better than that:)

I feel so blessed to be a mom to these 3 sweet kiddos. Some days are hard, some days are easy, some days I cry, some days I can't stop laughing...each day is different and we are constantly going through different seasons as they(and I) grow and change. The path the Lord has laid out for me with homeschooling/parenting isn't easy and some days I want to throw in the towel, but I'm thankful that His grace gets me through each day. Writing has always been a huge part of me and it's made me look at things in a different light than when I just keep it inside. I'm not sure where this blog will go, the topics, how often I'll post, etc but I'm thankful for this outlet. I'm thankful for each of you sweet readers, who even when I stopped writing, still reached out to me, followed me on Instagram or Facebook. I'm looking forward to this 'New Beginning'. 

PS-Kaz proof read this and said I was rusty and that I still had a "country grammar" 

Ha! I'll get better;)

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:)

updated pictures...

I recently took Maggie's 1 year smash the cake pictures. Even though she won't be 1 until October 1st, I wanted to take them before she started walking[she's close to it]. I'm seriously in love with these pictures. It's going to be hard to decide which ones to frame. 

I took a few of Annie Rice first and I can't get over how grown up she looks;/ My girls are growing too fast!

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. 

these 2 girls of mine...

These are a few of my favorite videos from the past few weeks...

Maggie starting to army crawl..although, that only lasted about 2 days before the full on crawling started! Annie Rice was watching Princess Poppiseed[VeggieTales] in the background.

This was a BIG moment for Annie Rice. It was her Easter party at school...BUT what's so big about it is her JUMPING! We worked on her jumping in therapy for a good 3-4 months and she can finally do it! 

 Princess Annie Rice playing soccer. She set Kaz straight and told him that in soccer "We use our hands". Ha! 

One of my favorites. Annie Rice singing(yelling) Hosana! One of her favorite songs! 

the last few weeks...

Life just hasn't slowed down...I THINK, I'm finally almost settled in and getting used to "normal daily" routines. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! I've felt like all I've been doing is unpacking, cleaning, laundry, changing diapers, making bottles, sleeping, and repeat. 

These 2 girls of mine are growing entirely TOO FAST! I can't even believe that Maggie is almost 7 months old and Annie Rice will be 3 soon! Maggie started crawling a few weeks ago and hasn't stopped! She's getting into everything! Our first project at the new house was going to be the kitchen, but because she is full on crawling, we had to change that to built ins in the living room to hide all the cords! Annie Rice is learning so much every day! We pray over the girls at night for their future, relationship with the Lord, future husbands, etc...We constantly pray that these girls will come to know the Lord at an early age. Lately, Annie Rice has asked to hear about Jesus. Melts my heart every time. I'm so thankful for these opportunities to share more and more with her, and pray that continues. They are both such a blessing! 

We are going on vacation next week to the beach for a week, and I can't wait! Annie Rice has been asking for the last 2 months if today is the day we are going to beach! She will be so excited when she ask that question and I actually say yes to it! 

Here's a few pictures from the past few weeks as my way of "catching up".

 We love being right across from the lake! 

 Visiting our 2 favorite men at the nursing home...Mr Billy and Mr AP. 

 Annie Rice loves being so close to her 2 cousins. 

 Kaz working on the built ins. 

 We love lunch dates with aunt Chris and uncle Ryan. 

 Annie Rice went skating for the first time this past weekend! The skating rink was my favorite place growing up! 

 Maggie has 2 front teeth coming in! 

 This one will eat anything and everything! She wants to eat so much baby food, our pediatrician told me to cut her formula intake in half and give her as much baby food as she will eat! She LOVES to eat!