Busy

Very Busy!

This is finals week for my summer classes.

We move Friday.

It's summer!

All of these things are making it hard to post.

But I'll be back :)  And until then I'll leave you with a great verse!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Swimming, Smart Phones & Sushi

Summer is in full swing around here!  

We haven't had a full summer home since 2009.

  It. Is. Divine.

A few weekends ago we took the boys to the local pool.  Needless to say they loved it.  Here we have Isaac coming off the slide, Landon and Papa cheesin' for the camera, a huge bucket dumping on Papa and the boys, and Landon floating down the river with his Mom :)

And we got smart phones last week.  They are pretty cool.  They are like having a tiny Kindle.  Except I can post to Instagram.  My world has changed!  I haven't picked up my digital camera for days and that is very unlike me. Here are some phone pictures :)

5 months old yesterday.  Not sure how I feel about it.

Looking at the first lightening bugs they've ever caught.

A failed trip to OOF.  It started lightening 10 minutes after we touched the water.  Note to self: check weather before driving to a water park with three kiddos.

A date with the handsome man below.  Starbucks, massages, sushi, cheesecake and a night with Noah and Alex.  Awesome 5 year anniversary.  

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?  "I the Lord search the heart an test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."

Jeremiah 17:9-10

♥ 5 Years ♥

That's how long I've been married to my sweet husband.

This is my favorite picture from our wedding day.  It shows how Chance has always loved me since we met 7 years ago even when I chose not to believe it.  God knew I would need reminding often and Chance is the best at that.

Happy anniversary Chance!

Who would have guessed we would be here today?  Oh wait, you did!  You wrote me the sweetest (literally the sweetest) letter telling me you would marry me someday just 4 months after we started dating and slipped it in my car at 3 a.m.  Did you also predict the three munchkins by now? ha ha.  Our life is crazy right now with all we have going on.  I am so grateful to have you beside me to bring these babies up to be kind and loving followers of Jesus.  I couldn't do it without you.  Thank you for loving me all of the time.  Even through the hard times you have not faltered in your love for me.  I cannot explain how much that means to me.  Thank you for taking care of me (and our little ones).  You do what is necessary to provide for our family and I am so proud that quality in you has led you to the job you have dreamed of.  This next chapter is going to be a great one and I can't wait to experience it with you.  You are 100% without a doubt the exact man God made for me.  I am so grateful for you.

I love you Chance.

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

Ephesians 5:23

*For a recap of our wedding click here.

Throw-back Thursday/Share Your Wedding Details

Linking up with Amy, Melanie and Holly today :)

Chance and I got married 5 years ago B.P.

(Before Pinterest)

But even without that amazing creative outlet, my mother planned a beautiful wedding in about 3 months on a budget!  Nice job Mom!

(All of my wedding photos are on a CD in our storage unit so these are from the blog and FB)

LOCATION

We were married in the church I grew up in.  It is a beautiful baptist church in my hometown.  I had wanted to get married in the church my mother was married in, but they wouldn't allow my pastor or my puppy (it was my grandparent's Lutheran church).  So my church it was :)

 COLORS

Wish I had all of my photos now.  This is the best one that shows the colors.  Coral and blue.  This is my best friend Emilee (MOH) and my flower girl Maggie.  My two besties in one photo :)

BRIDAL PARTY

My ladies included my sister Sara (Matron of Honor), Emilee (MOH), Steph and my sister-in-laws Robbie and Rayna :)  Love all of them.

Chance's men were his brother Ryan (best man), his best friend Noah, Blake, Devin and Michael.

THERE WAS NO DANCING AT OUR RECEPTION :)

But we did walk down the aisle afterwards to our song:

"Home For Me Yet"  By Marc Broussard

Listen Here

HONEYMOON

My parents surprised us with a honeymoon in Branson, MO.  It's close to home, not outrageously priced, and somewhere Chance and I already loved and they knew we'd enjoy it there!  I took one picture on our honeymoon. ONE!!!  We did so much there.  Visited Em's parents at the lake, shopped, Titanic museum, and the Dixie Stampede.  We got to be a part of the show at the DS.  It was the highlight for sure :)

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE

Not much.  I would have loved to do one of those choreographed dances with my bridal party and groom, but I didn't think of it and like I said.  No Pinterest yet :)  But my wedding was beautiful and it was a day that started the best journey of my life so far.  I'm thankful for all the hard work my Mother did in putting it all together and for everyone who supported us and still does today.

8 days until our 5 year anniversary :)

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24

Teaching

This handsome man next to the doting children is now a high school math teacher.

He just went for it and nailed it!

So proud, as always.

Good job babe! 

Our children will grow up in a home full of educators!  Exciting!

Buddy built this church.  Creative little guy!

My Hadley goose bear (yes we call her that).

She is such a peach and I could nibble on her squishy cheeks all day!

Landon.  He is still 2.  But look at him here.  He looks so angelic and sweet.  Sometimes he actually is those things.  Oh how I love him!

My God has been so faithful.  I am grateful for His love and I will continue to praise Him forever!

I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Psalm 119:75

Father's Day

I have so many fathers to be thankful for today and everyday.

My heavenly Father, earthly Father, my children's Father, my Father-in-law and my Grandfathers have all been solid rocks in my life.

To my Daddy:

Thank you for being the best Dad ever.  Seems cliche but that is truly how Sara and I feel about you.  Besides being the most giving man I have ever met, you love our babies.

All papa's are fun, but you take the cake.  Our babies can't wait until the next time you'll be around and love to see you pull in the driveway  They know fun is about to begin.  Thank you for being an amazing example of God's love for us.  We love you!

To my children's Daddy:

Where do I begin?  You are an amazing man you loves his babies more than life itself.  You have and still do whatever is necessary to take care of our children (and me) and that is something I will always admire.  You are so involved in making sure our kids grow up to be loving, disciplined, God-following people.  I couldn't ask for anything better in a Dad.  Thank you for being you.  Your three kiddos and I love you more than anything! 

Rocking A Baby...

...feels so good.

Most nights I tuck the boys in bed, kiss them both and then leave the room.  Gone are the days of rocking a baby boy for hours.

I am blessed with this third piece of heaven to rock at night.  Most nights this is how she falls asleep.  Safely cradled in her mother's arms.

I am sincerely trying to enjoy the growing up of my babies.  It is so amazing to see them get older and become big kids.  But sometimes my heart breaks for the same reasons. Time is passing so quickly.  It's not slowing down no matter how hard I try.  I don't always think this way, but sometimes I cannot help it.

I do not think I could make it through each day without the hope I have in Jesus Christ.  I am extremely grateful that He holds my forever and holds my babies.

If I do nothing else with my life, I pray that I show Isaac, Landon and Hadley who Jesus is and teach them about the gift of life He so selflessly died to give us all.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100:4-5

A Great Weekend

We had a fantastic weekend at the lake.

So relaxing.

We literally sat around and did a whole lot of nothing all weekend. 

And it was AWESOME!

It rained Friday night and our air mattress was messed up so we slept half the night on gravel & the other half in the truck.  Memories :)

Saturday we ate breakfast at the marina and spent the rest of the day on the boat.  I caught the only fish, but he was too small to keep :(

Alex and I doing some floating to and from the bank :)

Chance and Noah, Noah and Alex starting the boat with a rope and my sweetie :)

I hope we get to do it again next year!

Five on Friday

Happy Friday everyone!

Oh this is a happy Friday indeed.  The first child-free vacation since our honeymoon starts this afternoon :)

So I'm linking up with A. Liz Adventures (and some other awesome blogs) to tell you about the goodness around here!

1.

Sweet baby Hadley had some sleeping issues last night.

We survived the first 7-8 weeks of her life where she woke up every hour our two to eat, but one bad night after almost 2 months of sleeping 10-12 hours kills me!

She's worth it though :)  Obviously.

 2.

This guy melts my heart (and the hearts of his grandparents).  Isaac was mentioned in our Church's newsletter by a youth worker as someone who stands up and isn't afraid to share how much they love God.  When these moments arrive I can't help but shed a tear and know that he really does listen sometimes.

God is good and my buddy bear knows it :)

 3.

Attractive picture huh?  Well this has been his mood lately.  My cuddly little Landon has been stressed out recently.  Constant screaming and fit throwing.  Some days it feels like he's growing up too fast.  Other days I want to plan his 3rd birthday party.  Oh two year olds :) 

 4.

I get to start working on my degree again.  I'm taking some online classes this summer and in the fall the real fun begins.  I've been working on my degree since 2007.  I took a lot of time off for kids and switched majors twice.  It was definitely worth it.  Now in a few years I can be a teacher.  It will be grand :)

5. 

How fun is this guy?  Ha!  Who wouldn't want to go to the lake with a dude this handsome and serious about a game of wiffle ball?

Less than 10 hours!

(6.  I'm losing weight {hooray!} and documenting the journey at:

Being Their Healthy Mom)

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 

WILW

I love doing these Wednesday posts with Jamie!

Go join in the fun!

I'm loving these three cuties!

Have you seen the pictures on Pinterest where they re-create a photo like 20 years later?  I like this one for that ha ha

Here my dad and Chance are comparing knives.  Men.  

But I'm loving the time they're spending together :)

I'm loving that Isaac has conquered his intense fear of bugs.  

I on the other hand have not. 

Glad I have one more guy to squish them for me :)

Two more days and I'm going to be loving a peaceful weekend here... 

...to celebrate (early) 5 years married to this handsome man that I love!

 Happy Wednesday Everyone!