Jon's Surgery...On the way to recovery!

I cannot even begin to thank all of you enough for the kind words and compassionate prayers you have prayed on our behalf for Jon' s surgery. I am amazed at the wonderful friends and loved ones that surround us. God is so GOOD! Just the comfort of knowing that we have people in our lives that love us so dearly relieves a lot of anxiety and fear that comes with situations like this. As you can see in the photo, we have a lot to adjust to. Our days of fun and playful afternoons are going to now be replaced with nursing and carefulness. Jon is doing remarkably well. He is able to do more than I imagined and we are very pleased. The girls are adjusting okay too. The help from grandparents is keeping them excited. Again, we just want you all to know nothing can replace what you each mean to us! We love you!

11 Months...

Oh my, how the time has flown pass so quickly and leaves me standing in awe at how you have changed into such a cheerful and loving baby girl. Adelynn, you have a personality unlike your sisters in ways that is difficult to explain. It is almost like you are a perfect mixture of them both. You definitely have the sweet, gentle spirit of Anna Grace but very much show signs of a fun, sassy little spark that draws others to you like Ailee Claire. In the beginning, I started taking these snapshots of you in your rocking chair by your bunny to show your growth from week one to month 12 (which I thought would seem to take a lot longer than it actually has!) However, my favorite part of looking back on these monthly photos is the way your personality has grown as well. The expressions that show through the stages of your first year are just priceless to me. You seem to be able to melt my heart with the energy and love that pours from your precious little face! You have always been able to say so much by your facial language even with your lack of ability to actually speak words to me. I guess what I am trying to say is...I cannot get enough of you!!! I try to savor every second with you and they still rush by like the most rapid of rivers. Ailee asked me the other morning, "Mommy, why do you squeeze her so much?" It seems that I cannot pass you in the house without the strong desire to just lift you up and get you as close to my cheeks and my heart as possible. It also helps that you so freely give out your hugs and kisses to us. I also adore the cute little giggle you let out every time you see your sisters, especially Anna Grace. The two of you seem to have a special little relationship and you already worship her!

This month you have officially sworn off baby food. You love to eat any kind of fruit, vegetable or meat but only if you can pick it up by yourself and put it in your mouth. I would say that your favorite things to eat are yobaby yogurt, bananas, green beans and chicken. You are about 19 lbs or a little over. You have begun to get more and more brave at standing alone. I am sure it will not be long until your first steps. You are sleeping wonderfully at night still and you have already starting weening yourself from nursing. As bad as I hate to give it up, I know you are ready and at some point all things do end. One of my favorite new things you have begun to do this month is to point your little index finger at things you see or want. It is so cute and you look so longing at what you are pointing at to try to tell Mommy what it is you are thinking. When you want something, no matter what it is, you will open and close your right hand why saying "NaNa NaNa" over and over. Oh, and you have stayed the entire 3 hours in church the past 2 sundays!!! Yeah! Although it is not without a little withdraws, it is still better than the full blown fits you were throwing each time I left you. Well, this first year has gone by too quickly and your birthday will be here before I can blink. Please know how special you are to me and Daddy and no matter how many precious, little girls have come before you in our lives, the way you complete our souls is continually amazing to each of us, including your sisters.

Ailee's Back to School...

Ailee, you started back to preschool this week and, of course, loved it! You are such a social child. Most of your friends from last year are going 5 days a week and Mommy just couldn't do that yet. I want to keep you home with me a little longer. You had no trouble making new friends and you love Ms. Brooke, your new teacher. I adore your fun, loving spirit!

With Anna Grace beginning kindergarten, our neighbor's moving (see post below), Jon's upcoming surgery, and Adelynn's upcoming 1st birthday...I have been a little bit emotional. Okay, Daddy is probably thinking VERY emotional but God gave me a little gift early Wed. morning before getting on the run. What a gorgeous sunrise as I woke up to see as I started preparing myself and 3 little ones for the big day!

A Sad Goodbye...

This week we experienced the beginning of a great hole in our lives. Our precious neighbors have officially moved to Florida. Although we have known about the move for months and we actually are planning to move across town too, we underestimated the giant loss we would feel. They moved here about the same time we did 5 years ago. They have been like adopted grandparents for you girls and one of the first things you would do each morning as you woke up was to look outside to see if they were on their front porch. We had MANY evening porch meetings where we would just talk for hours while you girls would eat popsicles and play in the yard in between running up to sit in Mr. Randy and Ms. Sally's laps. They were always so sweet to go out of their way to make us feel loved and special...treats for you each on holidays, babysitting when I was sick during pregnancy, meals, assistance during water problems, and the list goes on and on. I never felt alone when Daddy traveled knowing they were so close by. They helped us welcome home new babies and poured tremendous amounts of love out to each one of you and Mommy and Daddy. Sally and I enjoyed sewing talks and Daddy and Randy truly enjoyed each others company and Mr. Randy was such a great model for Daddy. The past few days have been difficult and the pit of my stomach aches when we pull in our driveway each day. I cannot even look in the direction of their home. Only minutes ago, Anna Grace looked out the window with sad eyes and asked what that new addition to the sign in the yard said...SOLD! It is real and they are gone. We miss them DEARLY and the girls cannot wait to visit VERY soon!

Just a few memories...Ailee's first Halloween and Anna Grace's favorite place to Trick or Treat.

and our first visitors to welcome home Adelynn from the hospital!

Such a special couple and part of our "family" that we will never forget!!!!

Sweet Prayers, Ailee Claire...

As I tucked the girls into bed tonight, we kept with normal routine of taking turns saying our bedtime prayers together. We finished up and Ailee said she need to say one more thing... "Dear Jesus, can you please just come down and see me? I REALLY need to give you a kiss. I love you, Jesus!" The longing in her voice to just see Him face to face was so amazing to me! You are a precious little doll, Ailee Claire. I appreciate you sharing your heartful prayers with me each night.

On the Creekbank...

This afternoon, we spent a wonderful evening with some dear friends on the bank of a creek while the girls had some fun fishing time with Daddy. The idea first came about as a way to help Anna Grace cope with one of her fears for beginning "big school." She worries that she is there "all day" and when she gets home there is no time to spend with everyone as a family before preparing for bed. It is one of the hardest things for me to adjust to also. As a stay at home mom since she was born, I am accustom to spending many hours a day with her. It is SO terribly hard for me to know that someone else is with her most of the day now as her primary role model. It is very important to us to make sure the hours we do have with her each day are spent together as a family experiencing things that keep us close!

Even though she had to wear her skirt and jewelry, it did not at all interfere with her ability to catch a fish, hold it, handle the worms, and make her Daddy proud!

This by far is one of my favorite captured moments of the evening...Ailee Claire, you look as interested in fishing as your mommy!

Anna Grace, I am so impressed with how you just jumped right in and found a love for fishing. You were not impatience, restless or moved by the fact that it did not all happen right away. I can learn many lessons from you.

God has really been speaking to me on some things this week that are very prevalent for this stage in my life...Time management. As I am trying to process the "job change" I am experiencing as Anna Grace begins Kindergarten, I feel pushed for time...time with her, time at home with the other two girls, time in the car dropping off and picking up, time to run, time to sew, time to journal, time to spend with my Father, time to rest, time for chores, etc. Even though this is my BIG battle right now, I was still surprised to open up my devotion last time to find the title "Plenty of Time." HA! Does He hear me...can He see my mind jumping from place to place while my feet try to keep up. YES!... and He wants to offer me peace. It is my job to accept His offer and move ahead with a new understanding. I also was presented with this quote in my reading last night just following my devotion (the two books have nothing to do with one another and I love how He used them to both speak straight to my heart last night).

There is an art of leaving things undone so that the greater thing can be done. Jill Briscoe

This is my new motto! I love it! It says so much to me about my daily struggles and in the end leaves me with the reality of what truly matters.

MY CREEKBANK...am I so involved and focused on what must be done in my Mommy and wife roles that I completely forget to care for my soul? I am like the water in that creek we visited tonight. I rush through each day trying to conquer it ALL while my sweet Savior is left on the bank. I try to soak in the sunlight as I speed past but never get the full warmth that He is offering from digging into His word daily.

Dear Lord, please help me internalize the words you spoke to me through the devotion last night. I know they were written in years past but they came fresh to me as I read them and I know you showed them to me at the perfect time. I want to slow down...take each daily task as you give them and not try to complete my lives work in these few short years. Help me go to bed with a dirty house and piles of laundry so that I may spend time with You each day, pray with my children and show them Your love, snuggle with my man and find out about his day and rest! I love You and long to truly fellowship with you each day without a "flash by" type quiet time! I know You appreciate those, too, but help me to slow down and enjoy all You have to offer me!

I love how you girls didn't mind getting in the worms. I remember those Saturday nights when I was your age at Granny and Pop's when we would race down to the edge of the garden to dig for the worms we would take to the lake fishing that evening.
I love these faces!




"I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thou counsel..." Psalm 73:23-24

We were pleased that Whitley and her parents were able to join us on this adventure. While the two big girls hang out, Ailee is content just getting the attention from Ms. Deena and Mr. Robbie.

This photo of Whitley and her Daddy is so sweet to me!

AND, finally...the big Catch! Eager and curious the girls wanted to know about how to get the fish off the hook and, Anna Grace, you couldn't wait to hold it!

Very proud of your catch!

And, all the while, Baby Adelynn was once again along for the ride. You are such a sweet baby and I so appreciate your willingness to just go with us on so many things that I am sure leaving you wondering...

"I am not sure what this big world is all about but it sure looks like lots of FUN!"

~Mommy/Toddler Moment~

I must add a comment Ailee made today about our experience at my annual exam with my doctor. Due to lack of childcare, the two younger girls were going with me and it was fine because I am accustom to taking them everywhere with me and they are usually very welll-behaved! As Ailee was in her chair working away on her pack of goodies, she looks up at me and says... "Mommy, why are you wrapped up in toilet paper? Where are your clothes?"

As if the experience is not bad enough, a toddler adding her viewpoint is definitely not any more comforting!

The Sweetest Sound...

Anna Grace received a new children's camera from her Grammy and Popa for beginning Kindergarten. Her dream is to be a photographer one day. (I know, it is a shock since most of her life so far has been spent near a camera!) She has had the BIGGEST time with it. It also records videos and I was so touched when I heard this video she made of our dog, Riley. It just shows how loving and kind-hearted she is. I just adore her sweet voice. I could replay it a million times. My Big Girl is growing so much each and everyday!

You must scroll down and press the pause button on the playlist to better hear her precious conversation with her doggy!

Anna Grace's First Day of Kindergarten...

Well, the day I have dreaded for since her birth has finally arrived and we all survived. Anna Grace loved Kindergarten and has a precious classroom full of adorable children and loving teachers. She picked this dress out to wear months ago and was bopping around the house all morning. She did have an episode during lunch where her tummy hurt with nerves and tears came. I am sure the overwhelming atmosphere of an elementary cafeteria took her a bit by surprise. That was the only part of the day that I was concerned over. Daddy thought I was being overprotective but I knew that would be the one area she would struggle. However, tonight she was happy as ever and ready for another day! Daddy was the first to show signs of sadness this morning but when she explained her tummy ache to me after I picked her up my heart just broke. Tomorrow will be tougher than today for me I think.

(In this photo below, you will see your friendship bracelet given to you yesterday by your best friend, Whitley. You guys have been together since 2 year old preschool. She is going to another school and when you both hugged bye as we left the pool yesterday and wished one another a great first day at your new schools, it was so sweet and brought tears to Mommy's eyes. You just had to wear your bracelet to school today. I guess as your security!)

I mostly worry about her innocence and her mind being exposed to so many new things. I have to find assurance that her foundation is strong and trust our loving Father to keep it from becoming shaken in a fallen world. Jon and I prayed over her and the school following open house and I asked God to let her eyes and ears soak in all the useful and meaningful knowledge while letting the things that are not of Him flow quickly in and out of her mind. Also, to cover the school with His presence and bestow blessing upon those students, teachers and administrators. It was so hard for me to leave the school grounds today but I had a peace about it. I knew she was in the right place and she was surrounded by His great love. I packed the front pocket of her backpack full of scriptures and I felt confident she was in His arms while I was leaving her in a new, strange place. She surprised her teachers with a candy jar for their desks with a handwritten note attached saying "I am so glad you are my teacher! Love, Anna Grace" Of course, Mrs. Fields and Mrs. Andrews loved them and she was so happy.
This was on the way out the door for open house! Can you tell that you were a tad bit excited about big school, Anna Grace?

Our 9 year Anniversary...July 22

I am still amazed at how God plants people in our lives and we have no idea how that seed will grow. I will never forget that night in Athens when I met Jon for the first time at a UGA baseball game. I just remember how his bright, blue eyes shown out from under his ball cap. It is crazy for me to think of how time has flown by and how many wonderful blessings have been added to my life since that fantastic spring evening. The road has been long, curvy, and sometimes uphill but the climb has been SO worth every mile. Thank you, Jon, for the life you have created with me. Everytime I look into the eyes of our two blue eyed girls, it takes be back to that spring night! I hope Ailee's big brown eyes bring back amazing memories for you as well. One thing about being your companion is...you make it exciting and I love it!

We had a very fun and calming 9th anniversary at Barnsley Gardens. We spent the afternoon riding horses (such fun!), relaxing in the spa, a special dinner and a night of dancing under the stars at the ruins. It was neat to relive where we have been and where we are going and offer a prayer of protection and guidance for the road ahead.

10 Months old...a little late

It seems like I have not posted in a long time. And, I haven't! Our computer crashed and we had to have a brand new tower built. I was smart and saved all my photos and things so that was a blessing!

Wow, what a difference one short month can make! Adelynn, you are such fun right now. I adore your sweet, little voice as you are learning words like Ra Ra (riley, our golden retriever), "ah oh", Hello (as you put the phone up to your ear), and, the greatest of all, Na Na Na Na, which Anna Grace is convinced means "Anna." (mostly you are looking toward her when you begin saying it, so she is probably right) You weighed a little over 18 pounds at ten months old~25% weight and 75% height. You still seem really tiny compared to most of your little friends. It helps make you look younger that you lack in the hair growth department. AND, everyone thinks you look just like your Daddy (which I think is mostly due to the hair, too, but the smile you both share is undeniable, as well) You are still so happy but you are becoming frustrated that you cannot get around quite as fast as you would like. You are a great cruiser on the furniture and a super fast crawler. You have learned the word "No" and, mostly, steer clear of anything I ask you not to touch. You are still sleeping wonderfully and, sadly, you are starting to wean yourself a little bit from nursing. Still my most favorite thing to do with you is rock in your rocking chair and pray your bedtime prayers over you each night. You worry Daddy with all the girly tendencies you are picked up so quickly living in this house of girls. You immediately put a comb or brush to your hair and begin brushing (something you definitely witness through others because Mommy doesn't need to brush yours yet), you know to put lipstick on your lips, you are quick to put any circle on your arm like a bracelet and you LOVE to clean like Mommy! You are a very rotten baby for Mommy and not a Sunday morning worship passes that my pager does not buzz. I don't mind because I know all too often this will pass and I will be dropping you off at Kindergarten (another subject all together concerning Anna Grace and I cannot even go there right now!) You will crawl up next to my feet and look down toward the ground while resting your right arm on your head and opening and closing your hand (the hand signal is a sign I taught you for "please" to try to keep you from squealing when you need more food or anything for that matter). I know you need to be picked up and then you spend the next few minutes (or hours) on my hip as I wander through the house doing chores, etc. Would I trade any of it... NO, you are a blessing beyond my greatest imagination! I am so thankful for this family of five!