Happy Birthday to YOU!

One year ago today, I was walking around the birth center, convinced you were never going to make your appearance. I worked long, hard hours with the hope to seeing and kissing your little face. I about broke your daddy's neck in the process, but at 2:40 in the afternoon, we finally got to hold you.




















Over the past year, you have grown, little girl. Grown to be a sweet, cuddly mommy's girl who loves life and loves to sleep. You love to suck your fingers and loved it when we gave you solid
food. We could tell you were going to make friends easily and would love unconditional

With that sweet nature came a vivacious, strong willed, curly haired little monster. You love to scream, just to be heard and you will do anything to make your big sister laugh. You hold nothing back as you express your emotions and tell us exactly how you feel. Every family needs one of you, I like to say.





















Today you are one year old, eating cake and sitting in a big girl high chair. I can't even believe it.

Although I find it hard to keep up with your exuberance for life and your strong personality, God has given us a gift in you, Peyton Layne. While you can be quite loud and persistent, I know God will use those inate qualities as you grow and mature into a godly young lady. You strength will allow you to never be afriad to stand up for what you believe in. God has given you a strong voice to be used to yell from the rooftops of the gift of God's love in a world full of chaos and confusion. Yet he has given you the gift of compassion and encouragement to lift the spirits of others while pointing them to Christ.

So keep that stuborness going. Scream at us all you want (just not at the dinner table). And continue giving us lots of hugs - God is preparing you for the future, baby girl. A future in which you will change this world for Christ.

Lord, begin preparing Peyton's heart for the day when she will accept you as the Lord of her life. May she use the talents and abilities you have given her in a way that will bring glory and honor to you. Amen.

Keep up the good work, Peyton Layne. And keep your eyes on Jesus.

Happy Birthday, my little one year old - Mommy loves you.

A New Beginning

I have sat down to write this post a number of times, but have found myself unsure as to how to convey just the right words on my heart.

The past few weeks have been a blur of emotion. We were filled with excitement and joy as we spent two glorious weeks on vacation. Ben and I spent much needed alone time talking and discussing our future.

We have also been filled with great anxiety and trepidation as we have felt the knocking at our heart for sometime that where we currently reside is not to be our earthly home anymore.

You see, first and foremost, our ministry is our family. After our relationship with Jesus, my relationship with Ben and our relationship with our children tops the list. While we have wonderful friends here, none are family, and it has been difficult raising our girls in a place with no extended family. Each time we have visited both my and Ben's family, we have left overjoyed with the love and unity we felt while there, but sad that it isn't is our lives always.

We have also felt for sometime that our church's vision and our vision have been pulling further and further apart. Our priorities are unaligned with theirs and Ben and I cannot achieve the ministry we feel the Lord has called us to in this type of environment.

Oddly enough, Ben has been approached by three different churches over the past month about positions opening in which they are highly interested in him - all of which are located in the area of family.

Don't ever say my God doesn't know. Don't ever say my God doesn't care for us. Don't ever say that God doesn't know the desires of our hearts. And don't ever say he doesn't wipe each tear from our eye. My God is great, He is powerful, He is gentle, He is compassionate, and He is directing my steps each and every day.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "It is the Lord who goes before you, He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear."

Ben and I are taking a leap of faith as we leave this place of familiarity, comfort, and longstanding friendships, but are trusting that the Lord has gone before us and will never leave us. We are excited about what the future holds - whatever that may be.

Please be in prayer for us as we take flight on this adventure. We don't know where our next paycheck will come from; we don't know if we will be able to sell our house; and we don't know where the Lord will take us. And for a mommy, its a scary ride, but I know we are in the hands of the Father, and there is no other place I would rather be.

In closing, I want to say that I love my husband more than I did yesterday. The faith and strength he has exhibited for his family over the past two weeks has been nothing short of amazing. In all my fears, he has continually pointed me back to Jesus and his promises to me in the Word. He has had to take strong stands for his family this week - stands that weren't easy, and stands that cost him greatly in the world's eyes; but he will be greatly rewarded by the Lord for his obedience. God has great things in store for my man and our family. I can't wait to watch them unfold.

I'll keep you updated on our move, as it begins this week. Be in specific prayer that we can find a renter for our house and that I can find the right birth option for baby #3. Thanks in advance for all of your prayers and support.

Watch out world, this family is coming home!!!

Our oasis.

Oh what fun we are having in Florida. We wake up when we want, eat when we want, and spend the rest of the day at the pool or on the beach.

God Bless vacation.

This is what we had for dinner last night...



My family has Cadillac taste. You are feasting your eyes upon nearly 15 pounds of yummy crab legs (there were 13 of us eating, I swear). We let Ellie Kate try it out and she wasn't so interested - thats fine, more for me!

I also wanted to show you the true beauty of our surroundings. Not to make you jealous or anything, but just so you can truly appreciate the beauty of God's creation. Well, a little gloating might be in order....

This is the view from our master bedroom outdoor balcony. This was the best shot Ben got...



Outside our dining room balcony is this view of the pool. Ellie Kate's new nickname is Nemo. She has spent nearly every waking hour in this salt water pool, and she is becoming quite the little swimmer.
Peyton mostly stays inside and enjoys the air conditioning and toys. Both girls have slept so well, and while a few hours of crankiness have been endured, I have decided I can do anything while looking at the Gulf of Mexico.

This place is full of memories. I spent every summer here with my own family, Ben and I honeymooned here, and it is so awesome to bring both my daughters here for the first time. No longer will I leave my memories at the beach - I get to take my memories home with me, and that is worth every vacation dollar we have spent.

It's a .....?????

So what do you guys think?

Have I put you through enough stress?

You think you are anxious? Try holding on to a sealed envelope that you know contains a life altering fact and not opening it for four days!!!

Well, to be quite honest, I wasn't intending on putting you guys through so many days of unknown. In fact, we had planned on opening it Monday night, as soon as we arrived in Florida. But of course, after a five o'clock wake up call and six hours of flight time, my girls were exhausted! There was no way and no how my once adorable daughters were going to sit through a nice seafood dinner. So, Ben and I voted for Tuesday night.

It was the plan to let my parents open the envelope. They had no idea we were bringing it and were shocked to hear the unexpected news.

So, you wanna find out what the envelope contained?

Watch the video and see....





Sorry for the now crick in your neck!!!

PS. We couldn't be more thrilled. :-)