August is almost over?!

Do you have a month in your life where it's full? I'm not talking about busy (because what month isn't, right?). Rather, it seems like big things happen in this month more than any other month of the year? That's August for me. No, it's not my birthday month (eek...in one month two days I will be 30!). It's a month where spread over the past 8 years things have happened that changed my life and future.

August 5, 2000...I married my best friend.

August 15, 2000...Jesus welcomed my dad into his Kingdom (Matthew 25:21).

August 23, 2004...I became a mommy!

August 10, 2008...We sold our first home!

So before you turn the calendar page over to September, look back at the little blocks of August and remind yourself of God's faithfulness in every month of your life!

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

(Thomas Chisholm)

And I thought it was impossible!

Yep, that's right...a picture where all my children are looking at the camera with halfway decent looks on their faces!! Since this does not happen often, I thought it must be shared!

Do they at all look alike?

The Pool Party

For Annika's 4th Birthday we had a little party at our community pool. Last year we did this too and it was so cold! Thankfully, this year it was a nice and warm day. We had a fun time celebrating.

How we TRIED to keep Taryn contained...it worked for a little bit!

It is so fun to look back at pictures of past birthdays and see how much these sweet girls have grown!

Gigglely Gogglely Girls!

We had cupcakes that looked like Ice Cream Cones. They were yummy and very easy to make!

I think the crew enjoyed them...however, I think they all licked the frosting off first! Afterall it did look like an ice cream cone!

Sweet SG came a little late. Of course being a good friend Annika couldn't let her eat a cupcake by herself! She needed to eat another. Hey, it was her birthday!

Someone is turning 4 today!

Little did we know how much our world would be turned upside down!!

First Birthday

Number 2

Turning 3

And here she is at 4!!

My, how it all flies by!

A little Shout out...

...to one of my favorite mamas floating out in the Pacific. My dear friend over at The Farmer Files has been chronicling her little guy's fourth birthday. It reminded me of a picture taken 4 years ago.

This picture was taken at a Texas Hold 'Em tournament on July 31, 2004. We were both expecting our first at anytime. Of course we had to make it a competition! (The prize was just not being pregnant anymore!) If you know anything about R is that she is a bit competive! She did "win" the race and her first son showed up exactly 1 week ahead of our Annika.

Happy Birthday to you Big J!!

There are just some days...

...when pictures tell more than any words can!

Maybe someday (when they are all over the age of 16) I will get a picture where they are all looking!

Our little man...Thanks to Uncle Mark and Auntie Michelle in SoCal for the fun shirt! Unfortunately, the t-shirt speaks the truth!

At least they were playing nicely together!

It's Finally Happening!!

No, not the fact that I am finally starting a blog, but this is the year that we knew would eventually come and now it's actually a reality. We always said we would like to move closer to family, and now the time has come.

In the middle of September, Lord Willing, we will be digging up our roots from Northern Virginia and moving out west to the Kansas City area. I thought this would be as good of a time as any to start a blog for those curious folks out there who may be interested in our life and to keep you updated as we start our new venture in the Plains of America.

Now all we need is a "SOLD" sign!

After weeks of prayers by us and others (you know who you are, thank you!!), we sold our house last week. This process could have been a lot more painful than it was. But, God continued to show His hands in our lives and for that we praise Him!

We came home from church on Sunday just as the buyer and his agent were leaving the house for the inspection. He is a single guy who is very excited about our house. I shook his hand and had to hold back some tears. This is the man who in a few weeks will move in and start making memories in MY house! Our home that Dan and I bought together. Our home that we painted and repainted (sorry, babe, for the bad color choices!). Our home that we poured sweat and tears (just a few) into. Our home where we celebrated 7 Christmas's and New Years. Our home where we stayed up way too late with dear friends and family playing cards and laughing out loud until tears rolled out. Our home where we brought our babies home from the hospital. Our home where we celebrated first steps and first birthdays. Our home.

If these walls could talk what would they say (other than why did you paint me that bright blue?!). I hope they would say that the family who lived here loved a lot and loved well. I hope the memories that man makes are as sweet as the ones we will be taking with us.