Lauren's Spring Violin Concert

Friday night was Lauren's violin concert with her Christian School. Playing violin is one of the wonderful things that she gets to be involved in in her homeschool enrichment program . The concert was great and as usual we went for ice cream after. Papa Ron was able to be here for the concert and cousins Sue and Lyle joined us as well. It was a great night.

A House Full Of Laughter!

One of the things I hear people say whose kids are grown and out of the house now is that they miss the laughter and giggles of their kids in the house. I am really trying to cherish those moments with our kids and try to catch some of those moments on video when I can.

Joshua's Last Soccer Game

April 12th was Joshua's last soccer game. It was a really fun season and Joshua had a great time. Of course Brennan's favorite part was getting to eat donuts when the game was at 8:30am. Last Weds. the team had an end of the year party at the park where they practiced and Joshua got a little trophy. He was very excited about the trophy and said he had always wanted one. I have no idea how he even knows about trophies. Papa Ron was in town which was even better, because he got to be there for the party. He helped Brennan climb along this row of rocks about 20 times! Thanks Papa Ron!

You are my delight

I just had to share a precious moment I just shared with my sweet Joshua. Every night he listens to a lullaby CD by Twila Paris and there is a song called "My Delight" on it. He has to have one of us sing it to him every night. He says it is his favorite song. Anyways, I said to him "Joshua, you are my delight". He asked me what delight means and I told him something that makes me so happy and makes me smile. He said "Does it also mean adorable"? I said "In your case..yes..it means that too to me". A couple minutes went by as we were snuggling and he said "Mommy- I know what makes me happy". I said "What"? He said "You...I love you...I don't know why, but I love you more than my friends". It just made my whole day. It was a pretty tough day today-discipline wise...so those precious words just meant so much.

10 Amazing Years!

10 years of marriage on April 4th. I can't believe it! It has been such a wonderful 10 years and I am so blessed to be married to the most amazing man. God is so good. It is so humbling to look back in my life and see where God was preparing me for this place in my life. I always thought I would never marry a military pilot (since my Dad was one), because I never wanted to move and didn't want my husband to be gone all the time. Then....I met Greg and all that changed. I am so thankful for the life I had growing up in the military, because it truly helped me in our military life..ROTC, active duty AF and now the Air National Guard. The military has just always felt like home to me and that is only because of the experience I had growing up with it. I honestly can't imagine life without it...I know that probably sounds weird to those who haven't ever experienced military life, but for those who have...you know what I mean. I am so thankful to be married to someone that loves our country so much and joined the military, because of that love for it. I am thankful for having a mother and a mother-in-law who knew the life of military pilots and could share in this with me. God is so good. I never wanted to marry someone who wanted to be in the airlines.....again...God knows best...preparing me with my Dad. Not that it is not hard when he is gone sometimes, but the Lord has been preparing me all along the way. It is crazy that we have known each other longer than we haven't know each other (we met when I was 14 and started dating at 16)-my high school sweetheart and will always be my sweetheart and the love of my life. I am thankful for the way he loves me and takes care of me and for the incredible Daddy he is...there is nothing more precious than watching him love our babies. I know there are times that I take our marriage for granted and then I remind myself...God has been so good to me...this time is precious. We have watched each other grow up and I love the 15 year old he was when I met him and I have loved watching him grow into the incredible man he is today. I am thankful for the family and precious friends/mentors that have help guide us in our marriage. Marriage isn't always easy...it is work...but it is a covenant that we made with God to make it work. I can't imagine going through life without him and am so glad that God chose Greg for me. I pray that the Lord will bless us with many many more years of marriage together and that someday we will be sitting on our front porch in our rocking chairs..holding hands...drinking lemonade (iced chai tea latte for Greg) and praising God for all He has done for us. OH-the song that is playing is the song we danced to at our wedding.

Joshua is 5!!!

Our sweet Joshua is 5 today! It seems like just yesterday that I was on the way to the hospital to have him. I remember the day that I thought I might be pregnant. I told Greg that I thought I might be and if I was the due date would probably be his birthday. He just laughed and said "You're not pregnant". Well-9 months later-Joshua was born...10 days before Greg's birthday. He was about 10 days early. The labor was so fast! I really didn't think I was in labor, because I had had Braxton Hicks contractions since I was 16 weeks along. When I was on the phone with my mom that afternoon and couldn't talk through the contractions she asked if I had been timing the contractions? Well- they had been about 20 minutes apart, but still I didn't think it was the real deal. Greg's mom had just left about 45 minutes prior to go back to Tulsa( a 2 hour drive from where we lived) to get some things she had forgotten (she was coming out to stay until the baby was born). I called her and told her what was going on, but told her not to worry, because I really didn't think this was it. I also called my sister, because she was going to fly out to try and be there for the birth. 2 hours later they were 3 minutes apart and by the time I got to the hospital I was 7 cm dialated. It was fast and furious after that. I pushed for 30 minutes and he was here....our precious Joshua. He looked nothing like I thought he would. Lauren had blond hair and he had more reddish hair and was big compared to her. He was pretty bruised and purple, because the labor was so fast and he also had the cord wrapped around his neck twice. It was so wonderful getting to hold him right away and just love on him. After having a boy- I see why it is hard for some women and their mother-in-laws (fortunately I have a great relationship with mine). Man-I can't imagine my little man getting married and there being another lady in his life :). It has given me a new appreciation for my mother-in-law. He has been a snuggle bug since the day he was born and I treasure these precious days while he is little. I am so thankful for the gift God has given us in Joshua...he is such a blessing. OH- Greg's mom and my sister didn't make it to the delivery-Lyndia got there 30 minutes after :(.