Easter Sunday

I am so thankful for a Risen Savior and the opportunity to worship with our little family!  We had a great Easter Sunday, filled with worship, great food, and family.  I couldn't have asked for more!

Every Easter, the church where I grew up asks people to bring flowers for the "Flower Cross" it is always so pretty, and naturally I wanted to take the boys picture in front of it.  Our littlest had other plans!

Take 1:

 Take 2: "oh there are flowers back there!"

 Take 3:

 Take 4: "Let me OUT of here"

 I wish I could say that my plans to get Easter pictures went better once we were back at my parents house, but it didn't get much better!

 And this is what real life looks like :) Koen's face cracks me up!

I am so glad we serve a Risen Lord.  Sometimes I am guilty of going through the motions and Easter is always a good time to reset and renew my thoughts and focus, for that I am grateful!

Dinner at Mimi and Pa's, Catch, and Egg Dying

Each time we visit, my grandparents cook dinner for us and we love spending time with them. Their stories never get old, no matter how many times I hear them.  This trip was no different!

My grandmother already had out all the toys she has saved over the years, some are as old as my dad! We always say that she never throws anything away (and she really doesn't) but anytime we needed anything hard to find, we knew who to call!

 I remember playing with the same cow when I was younger!

 The boys played some catch in the backyard while dinner was being prepared.

 This is a view that I always took for granted, now that I don't have the pleasure of such a view I try to soak in as much as possible each time I am back home! Our God is an amazing artist!

 Following dinner my sister took on the challenge of dying eggs with John Thomas, it was quite a sight and he was covered in dye!

 After egg dying, we decided it would be easier to give him a bath than to try and clean his hands!  It is hard to say how many bottoms have been bathed in this same sink!  I would say little man enjoyed all the attention from his onlookers during bath time!

We are grateful for each time we can be together!

Easter in North Carolina - Day 1

We spent a great week with our family in North Carolina for Easter.  John Thomas and I spent a week, while Kris and Koen joined us for a couple of days! 

This time was a totally different experience because it is the first time we have been there since John Thomas started walking!  

We spent lots of time outside and I don't think there were many days that went by that he didn't help Papa J feed the cows.

 He was completely ok with the cows until Papa held him close.  I love his little hand clinging on!

 Koen loves to drink the water when we go visit, it comes from a well and he swears it is better.  Honestly, I do too! There is also a fresh spring in land behind my parents' house, he gets a drink of fresh spring water every time we are there!

 Koen challenged me to a little rim hanging, and surprisingly, I was able to compete!

Rock N Roll Half Marathon

A couple of weeks ago I signed up for another half marathon.  I didn't really train for it, but figured I had ran with girls who had been, so I thought it was worth a shot!  Turns out, it was my fastest ever!  I don't know that I have ever felt more accomplished and proud when we crossed the finish line!  I never, ever thought I would be a runner, so I am still shocked each time I tie my shoes and head out!

Leading up to the race, we were all looking forward to it, thinking that the weather would be really nice, not too hot, not too cold.  We were very, very surprised to find out that it was going to be extremely cold and windy!

Kim and I before the race TRYING to stay warm, it was freezing!

Sarah and I heading to our corral before the race

There were several of us that signed up, all different paces, but my friend Sarah and I usually run together and are close in pace so we had planned to stay together. Our goal was to finish in 2:10, which would be a 10:00/mile pace.  We started out around a 10:00 mile, a little over, thinking we would keep it there and then pick it up towards the end.  The course until mile 9 was a steady incline, so we wanted to make sure we didn't tire before the last downhill stretch.  However, our pace quickly turned into sub 10!  I was hoping to be able to finish strong and felt pretty good until around mile 11/12, at that point I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep up, but I had a great partner and we actually finished sub 9!

Close up of my watch, average pace of 9:14/mile!

I am so thankful for the encouragement I get each week on our runs. It is so nice to get up before the sun rises and share our joys and struggles.  We encourage each other physically and spiritually, and I am so grateful for the friendships running has provided!

Outside Fun!

Texas weather is so crazy that sometimes in March it is warm enough for shorts, T-shirts and lots of outside fun!  A few weeks ago, we took advantage of the warm weather and spent a lot of time outside. 

Granna and Pappy got a water and sand table for John Thomas and he LOVES it!! Every day it is warm we go out to play, and even on days when it isn't so warm, he stands at the backdoor and points to it! 

This day, our good friend's and neighbors, the Alexanders brought over an addition - Goldfish!  So we put them in and John Thomas had a great time chasing them around the water.  Needless to say, they didn't last very long, but he enjoyed the short time they lasted!

I love his determination and the way he studies every little thing!  He is turning into a boy before our eyes!

Precious Moments

Words can't express what this picture means to me.  I love the way John Thomas has his little hand wrapped around my Grandmother's finger.  They sat like this for a long time and he was so at ease (a rare sight!) sitting right beside her.  Reminds me so much of growing up and nestling in right next to her while we would read books or watch TV, I am so glad he gets to do the same!

Baby Dedication, February 2, 2013

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The most special part about John Thomas' first birthday was that following his party, we had him dedicated at church.  I wish I had more photos from the actual dedication, we did get a DVD with the service, but I forgot to ask anyone to take photos!

My sister in law snapped this one right before we walked out the door to go to church.

As part of the dedication service, we were to choose a verse that will be his life verse.  We chose one that is special to us, and hopefully will be to him as well.  Kris and I are devoted to raising our children in a Christ centered home, and are humbled that He chose us to be their parents.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3: 5-6