My Cutie :)

We were running late getting ready for church this morning (Does anyone else have that problem...it seems like no matter how early I get up, we are always running behind.) and as I was quickly perusing Hannah's closet for something that didn't need ironed, I came upon this adorable outfit with the matching bandana. So of course I took pictures :)



Don't you just love those curls and her big brown eyes?! I know I do :)

We have been so busy!

Wow, I can't believe it has been almost a week since I have posted. We had a really busy week last week, and I felt like I was barely able to get my family fed, and the cleaned up, let alone have time to blog. We did get to go swimming twice this past week, and took Hannah to a petting zoom. She loved the swimming, not a surprise, but did not like the petting zoo. For some reason she is terrified of loud car noises, mowers, the tillers, etc. When we first got to the petting zoo, a tractor went by, and that was the end of that. She wouldn't let me put her down. So no pictures of Hannah at the petting zoo. I would like to try it again though. :) Swimming was really fun! The people whose house we swam t have a really nice in-ground pool, and it even has a diving board. And yes, miss Hannah jumped off. She had her floaties on, and she just walked right off the end of the diving board. I am so glad that she loves the water! Here are some pictures of our week. (There aren't very many, because most of the pictures I took this week have other kids in them, and I don't feel comfortable putting them online without asking the parents first :))

Belated Father's Day

We took, my grandpa, Hannah's great-grandpa, out to luch today for a belated Father's Day. It is so sweet watching my grandpa with Hannah! The baby in the upper left hand corner is my cousins little girl...she is somewhat of a miracle baby...they tried for a really long time to get pregnant, and as you can see, she is beautiful!!

Berries!!

We made freezer jam yesterday..YUMMY!! (Also cleaned and halved some to freeze) Here is the process from start to finish...it is actually pretty easy :) (It took about 2 and a half hours from start to finish, and that includes cleanup!)

Cleaned, cut, then food processed strawberries :)

"Percolating" in the sugar :)

The "fruits" of our labor...Pun intended ;)

STRAWBERRY THIEF!!!
(ok, ok...I may have eaten a few myself :))

Going to the park and the ball game :)

What did we do today? Well, since you asked... We spent the morning with our play group at the park.

First we played on the swings.

Then we moved on to the slides.

Then it was time for our picnic lunch!

And finally, we decided to try out the carousel. As you can see by the look on Hannah's face, and the way she is clinging for dear life, she was not such a big fan!! I guess we will try again another time :)

This evening was spent watching daddy's softball game. Relaxing in the Dora chair with popcorn and milk :)

Sadness

Well, if you have read my blog very often at all you will know that 99% of the time I post about Hannah, and pictures of Hannah. :) Just to give fair warning, this post is not about Hannah. It is about some things that happened this week, that have been on my heart. Some things that I working through, and feeling some sadness about.

The first thing is that one of the little girls that my husband and I sponsor through Compassion decided to quit the program. We have sponsored her for a good six years, and on Monday we got a letter in the mail that said that she was no longer enrolled in the Compassion program. I was shocked. And even though I have never met her face to face I was really really sad. I felt connected to her through her letters, and through watching her grow up in pictures that we got in the mail. I called the Compassion office to see if they had any more information, because the letter that simply said that she was no longer enrolled. The lady that I talked to gave me a little more information, she was in excellent health, she had completed the fifth grade, the Compassion workers had gone to her families house to try to talk about keeping her involved, etc. And then she said something that made me cry. She said that during the program Allison had accepted Christ. I am so so so very glad. I didn't know that before. So even though I know I will never meet her face to face, I know that someday in Heaven I will. And that helps me not to feel quite so sad.

The second thing that I have been processing through is that we got a letter in the mail on Tuesday from our pastor saying that he was resigning. He is feeling called to somewhere else, and we don't know anything more (it is going to be addressed on Sunday), this also made me really sad. I my head I know that a pastor doesn't make a church, but in my heart, I have a hard time imagining my church without Ross. He married Nick and I, was a huge support to us during all the uncertainty of our pregnancy, and he did Hannah's baby dedication. Part of me is really excited about the new opportunities for Ross and his family, and part of me is really sad to think of him leaving. I just need to pray about it, and have some faith. :)

The last thing I want to put in this post is a song that I have fallen in love with. I really like Point of Grace, and my sister in law gave me their new CD last week. This song reminds me of how much Jesus loves me, and that my friends, is definitely NOT sad :)

"Because You Are"
Infinite deity, humbly enframed. In a mortal and breakable body you came.
To rescue our souls from the depth they were in. Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin.
Master and servant together in one. Come to redeem what our hearts had undone.
Savior of all come to gather his kin. Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin.

Holy unbreakable infinite God. Ever unchanging in all that you are.
Light of the world and the sun and the stars. You are I AM and I am because you are.

Shepherd and pastor to wandering sheep. Gave up his life so our own we could keep.
Solider in battle for souls he might win. Because of, in spite of, to cover my sin.

Holy unbreakable infinite God. Ever unchanging in all that you are.
Light of the world and the sun and the stars. You are I AM and I am because you are.

Humbly forsaking his heavenly seat. Beaten and bloodied and washing my feet.
Opened our eyes to what love really means. The blood on my hands is what washes me clean.

Holy unbreakable infinite God. Ever unchanging in all that you are.
Light of the world and the sun and the stars. You are I AM and I am because you are.

WWWAT




The theme for this weeks WWWAT was vintage. I choose to take pictures of a vase that my mom gave to me. This vase was given to my maternal grandma by my great-grandmother. My grandma then passed it down to my mom, who then passed it down to me. Each woman who has been given this vase, is the second daughter in the family. I remember how special getting this from my mom made me feel, and I am looking forward to passing it on to my own second daughter someday :) I know that it is not worth a lot in the monetary sense, but it is worth millions to me. :) For more WWWAT fun visit Rachel's blog!

Softball buddies :)

I am not sure if I have mentioned this before, but my husband is a twin. Him and his brother literally did everything together growing up. They shared a room from the day they were born, all the way through high school, and were roommates all through college. They had the same major in college, and after college they got an apartment together (separate rooms though :)). Since they had the same major in college, they did an internship at the same place, where they both got jobs after college. They both still work at the same place, and do they exact same job (they are computer programmers). They also play on the same softball team. Not the same position though, in case you are wondering :) This picture is from after the game tonight. Hannah and my nephew Cadeon are in the middle. Can you tell which one is which?

Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day Nick! You are such an amazing daddy to Hannah. She loves her daddy so much, and is so lucky to have you :) Thank you for loving her (and me) so unconditionally! We love you so very much and are so blessed and proud to call you daddy!

We are back!!

We got back from our vacation last night at about 5:30. I have to admit, I wasn't really ready to come home :) I love the beach, and I love just sitting with my feet in the water and reading a book! We had a really great time. Hannah absolutely LOVED the water. She would wake up each morning saying "Mommy wawoo (Hannah's version of water)." We would spend the mornings at the beach, then come back for lunch and naps, and then spend the afternoon/evening at the pool. I got her some of the water wings, she kept calling them bubbles, and when we would get in the pool she did not want any help. She would push me away and say no if I tried to help her get around. She wasn't quite that brave when it came to the ocean, but she did love floating in her life jacket in the waves. We were really lucky, the water was really gentle every day except one. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week :)

Vacation!!

YAY!!! In approximately five short hours we will be leaving for our family vacation!! An entire week spent relaxing at the beach :) I was going to take a picture of the van crammed full of stuff, but then I realized the camera was in there too, and there was no way I was going to dig that out :) Opps! I won't be blogging while we are gone, as we hove no internet access where we are staying, but there will be lots and lots of pictures when we get home! Have a great week blogland!

Going for a walk

Hannah was determined to be the one "walking" Maggie on our walk on Sunday. HAHA!! Anyone who know our dog, knows who was really walking who :)

There is a playground really close to our house, and so we made a detour on our walked, and stayed and played for about an hour :)

Daddy's helping their little girls :)

Finger paints :)

WWWAT



The theme of this weeks Wordless Wednesday With A Twist is "uniform." This one had me a little stumped, but I think I like what I came up with. These are pictures of my hubby in his softball uniform. He plays on our church league softball team, and he really LOVES it!! Softball season officially started this past Monday, so I thought what better way to kick off the season with pictures of the hubby and little miss Hannah (pics are from a tournament last fall, that is why Hannah looks so much younger). :)Check out the guns...sorry ladies, I have to brag a little bit :)

There is another "uniform" in my life that belongs to someone very special, who I am very proud of, so I wanted to take the opportunity to "brag" on him too!

This is a picture of my brother and his wife at their wedding. Steve is an MP in the National Guard. He is IR right now, so no weekends or anything, but none the less I am so so so proud of him :) I love you buddy! (And isn't my sister-in-law gorgeous) (Just a disclaimer, I did not take this picture, it doesn't count for WWWAT!:))

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!!

A glimpse...

Of our weekend...

Helping Mommy make cookies :)

Enjoying cookies made with Mommy :)

Talking on the phone to auntie Stephie...(see you soon auntie :))

Going "night, night" in the doll bed :)

Playing in the sand box at Nate and Julia's at small group last night. :)

A fun and relaxing weekend :)