The Lord Answers Prayer!

The other night I was kissing the boys goodnight when Ryan asked, "Mom did you see what I wrote down on my desk?" I hadn't. Ryan: "Trevor and I are going to write down things that encourage us. I wrote, Follow God's footsteps they lead home." The next night Ryan was reading to Trevor from the book, Tell Me the Secrets. Afterwards, I overheard Trevor ask, "So, Ryan what encouraged you in that story?" My heart was melted at both of these instances. One of main prayers through the years has been that the Lord would build a deep bond of friendship between our boys that they would experience true biblical fellowship with one another!

This picture was taken in August at one of our new favorite "family" spots - Kennesaw Mountain. There is a trail to climb, a musuem to visit, an amazing view at the top and you can even drive if you don't want to hike the whole trail. It shall replace the arboretum - our old family hiking spot in Virginia. Sigh. . . a bittersweet thought!

An Addition To Our Blog!

I added music! Whoo Hooo! Take time and listen to this song. I heard it the other night on the way home from work and it truly ministered to my soul. "Just because you love me the way that you do, I'm gonna walk through the valley if you want me to." "If all these trials bring me closer to you, I will walk through the fire if you want me to." "You never said it would be easy, but that I would never go alone." When I can't hear you answer my cries for help, I'll remember the suffering your love put you through" THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST HAS WON US FORGIVENESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT IS NOT OURS AND THE TRUTH THAT WE WILL ONE DAY LIVE WITH GOD FOREVER!!! What trial can compare to that??

Hello!

Sorry for the lack of posts and the infrequency. I hope to do better. As you all know we moved to Georgia six months ago and it has been a difficult journey for me. I am beginning to "feel" back to normal and I love my God more passionately as He has carried me through this time! (see about me) I have truly learned 2 Timothy 2 "if we are faithless, he remains faithful"

Anywho. . . Here are my recent favorite picks of the boys.

Merry Christmas!!

Here we are! I know that a lot of you have been wondering if I would EVER update our blog. Sorry, about the slacking on my part. I hope to do better in the months to come. It has been a difficult transition for me - yes we moved. For those of you that are unaware, we now live in Georgia. I will try to update some time early next year. For now, this is our Christmas card.

Ryan is 9 1/2
Trevor is 8
Anderson is 5 3/4
Caius is 2 1/2

Sorry you won't be getting an actual card from us this year. Believe me I wish you were:) Love to all and may your Christmas be filled with the love, joy and peace of Christ!

The Terrific Twos Have Begun!

As of June 15th, we have officially entered the toddler stage. Our baby is two! His vocabulary has just exploded within the last month. Potty training will be around the corner, as he now tells me when he goes to the bathroom and will even bring me a diaper to change him! Unfortuntely, with all the changes to come in the next several months, I am going to hold off until we are settled. More details to come. For now, let's just enjoy some pictures of Caius Aaron's 2nd birthday!

Ryan's Golden Birthday

Happy 9th Birthday to our dear, sweet Ryan! He turned nine on the ninth and so that is why we say it was his "golden birthday". We did all sorts of fun "9" things. All throughout the day he would get little cards that told him about the next fun thing to do. For example when he woke up there was a card on his doorknob saying happy birthday and asking him if he could eat a number 9 for breakfast. This is what he found:

of course we didn't let him eat all 9 donuts, though he wanted to:)

Then we went to visit our friends: their kids plus our kids = 9!

Grandma and Grandpa Johns were going to take him for "9" holes of golf, but it was WAY to hot! So they went to the Children's Sports Hall of Fame in Portsmouth. They had a great time where they were able to do hands on sports things. Here is Grandpa and Ryan seeing how fast they can pitch the baseball.

For his birthday dinner Ryan asked for crab and shrimp! Just what I would have asked for at his age!

And for dessert, he asked for angel food cake with strawberries - his uncle Ryan's favorite birthday cake. He loves that his birthday is the same day that Uncle Ryan's was and we love celebrating on that day even though Uncle Ryan is not with us. We look forward to birthday celebrations with him in heaven someday! This is Ryan's 2nd birthday without Uncle Ryan and our Ryan misses singing Happy Birthday Ryan & Ryan.

Some other "9" activities were making 9 bubbles with gum, 9 blue & gold balloons, 9 slides down the pool slide and tieing 9 knots on his birthday blanket. Here is Ryan opening his gifts:

Ryan, we love you so much! We are grateful that God chose to give you to us. You are such a sweet boy. We pray that your desire to know God continues to grow through the years and that you would choose to live your life for His glory! Happy Birthday!

Extreme Hair Makeovers

So, I have always wanted to be blonde . . .


What do you think? Be honest!!!!

And for the second makeover. . .

Isn't he so adorable?

Here's the haircut!

Still adorable and much more practical for baseball.