Middle School small group paint party

Youth small group paint party/sleepover was a blast!  We ate junk food, had a devotional, danced, ate and slept very little (not that I would know I went home around midnight ha!!)

I met Kirk Cameron!

I got to shake his hand and take a pic with Kirk Cameron!  We had a great time at his "Family Reboot" session tonight at church.  I respect he and his family so much for the stand that they take and for the integrity that they demonstrate.  It was fun!

This day five years ago in 2014 changed me.....

This day five years ago changed everything about us. 

With children ages 9, 7 and 4, we had sold everything we owned and packed what we had left in the bags behind us and transitioned to another continent, another country, another language, another people group among another religion and we started over.  

It was a calling, a desire, with a goal in mind and we trusted in the ONE who promised to never leave us or forsake us.  And we expected big things.

It wasn't easy.  It was really hard actually, but worth it.  Because proclaiming His name among a people group that has never heard was totally worth it.  

The 4 years we lived in Turkey changed us.  We learned how to trust, to really trust that what He says is true.  We learned how to literally place our days in the hands of the One who created the universe.  We learned what it means to miss, to really ache for the family we left behind.  We learned that living simply is better than it seems and often preferred in a lot of cases.  We learned that relationships improve with time spent with one another, both with family and friends.  We learned how to speak another language, some days enough to get by and some days proclaiming truth in the best broken language we could and expecting God to do wonders with it.

We look back on our days there with love, a heart full of memories and stories of how God taught us more of Himself in our deep need.  

We left part of our hearts there and will never forget the second home, country and people group that we left behind.

Then there were three.....

Happy 7th Birthday cousin Brayden!

Belated Christmas with the cousins...

We loved getting to hang out with the cousins and Nason family tonight!

Happy 1st Birthday Duke!

We are thrilled to celebrate our Duke today on turning ONE!  

We didn't get him until he was about 3 months old and 3 lbs. but he was born on January 5, 2018.  We never knew that a sweet first pup like Duke could change the dynamic of our home.  We were happy before him, but now we can't imagine life without him.  He has brought so much joy to our family and the kids absolutely adore him!  We were skeptical that the kids would help take care of him, but they have completely surprised us.  They are great with him and help take care of him every day.  

Happy 1st Birthday Duke!!!

Click below for lots of Duke pics!

A different kind of paint....

The girls got to help Sydney color my hair tonight.....

My heart in one picture......

There are so many things that this picture represents that makes my heart skip a beat! 

I love looking at pics of the kids when they were little, such innocence in those onesies, bed head and baby teeth.  But to see their daddy opening scripture for them on Christmas Eve brings tears to my eyes.  

This might be my favorite.  Ever. 

If only I could kiss all those precious toddler cheeks again.....

A New Year's Resolution

Well, today we did a thing.

We joined a gym...for the first time ever.

This year I turn 40 and I refuse to be in 40ish shape when that birthday rolls around!  I have always loved running but I go through spurts of running at times and haven't stayed consistent.  So I have decided to run a 10k (in May) and possibly a half-marathon (St. Jude in December) this year.  

My friend Tracy and I started training yesterday for the 10K which should take 14 weeks or less.   We are pumped and excited!  I am thankful for the accountability while running which is something I haven't had in years!  

Today we joined Bartlett Recreation Center as a family and look forward to getting healthy together!  

Now you guys help hold me accountability for those races this year!!!!