K. Morley – 8lb8oz 20in. DOB 12/08/14 5:24pm. Mommy, Daddy, and sisters are very excited to have him here. He was well worth the wait!
So Much to Rejoice
Very blessed to watch my girl sing her heart out about the true meaning of Christmas…her little sister watched with a smile on her face, I with tears in my eyes, and Killian danced in his cozy place….oh and the husband and 4 grandparents were also there for encouragement.
Happy Anniversary to my one and only!
11 years with this stud! We have been through ups and downs (as in any relationship), all which have made us stronger as individuals, husband and wife, and parents… we have accomplished much…but I must say, our biggest success is our beautiful children. I wouldn’t change a thing…we may not be rich in the world’s eyes, but we are rich indeed through the blessings that surround us. How are we spending the day…well, we started off by saying “oh, it’s our anniversary, isn’t it”…then a simple hug…soon we will be walking to a local coffee shop with the 14 year old….hopefully, I can make it there and back (think lance wants to meet his son soon)….then, we will get the little ones and do something outside because it’s beautiful out there…in the afternoon, we will surround ourselves with family in celebration of the union of lance’s cousin, we will say farewell to the 14 year old and happy bday to the mother in law…it may not be a campfire or a cozy secluded cabin for two, but it’s life…and who knows…maybe our simple list will be interrupted by one of life’s little surprises…and that works too. Happy anniversary to the man I love…the one who will probably not ever see this post… Now, to start the day with a long walk….wish me luck!
Firefighter Wife
What do you do when you have been cooped up all week because of fear of spreading germs, are already ahead on school, and have extreme cabin fever? You visit 2 out of 6 grandparents, lock your keys in your car, have a teenager back into you, eat some pizza and Shirley Temples at Fleur de Lis, have your kid run into you and knock your phone onto the floor and slightly shatter the screen… After all of that (and a few other things), it was still a good adventure because we were able to visit daddy and his big truck! Some people think that fire fighters families visit the station often… Unfortunately, I don’t think I have any previous pictures of Roo at the fire station, and she will be 4 next week… and for that matter, don’t think I have any of Iz and she is almost 6… bad mommy… bad wife… Roo wanted to sit with daddy in the truck (where he sits)… and Iz wanted to see where the other “firefighters” sit, but had no interest in the drivers seat.
Feeling very blessed. I had a bright idea late Sunday night to build a dog yard while Lance was out of town to surprise him for his birthday by taking something off of his plate. Thankful his trip got pushed back a day because it gave us a little more time to work. This may not seem like much to most, but my gift to Lance (and the gift from those who helped out), was not only a mostly completed fence… it was the gift of time to spend at home with his family. He has been working every second to pay for baby King, and feels frustrated that he can’t get all the projects done around the house. We already had most of the materials since before we even moved here to complete the project… but we lacked the time. So in 3 afternoons (and until 2:30AM on Thursday morning), with a little determination, this pregnant lady, her 5 and 3 year old, my in-laws (one who recently had knee and shoulder surgery), and friends- Dan and Cole – we mostly completed the project. Lance was very touched… as was I… I think I even shed a couple of tears because I felt so gracious and blessed beyond measure… maybe even still shedding them -I honestly don’t think it is the hormones 😉 Now, today I get to be lazy – baby King and husband’s orders. Thankful for those that God has put in my life… for my husband, family, and friends… and for the many ways He blesses me each and every day!
Faith Like a Child
Today, I felt so blessed to sit in church and watch the girls sing songs of praise with the other 3-6 year olds. Isabella is usually reserved, but when it comes to worship, she is ALWAYS singing songs “about Jesus”, most which she makes up. Today, I just reminded her if she felt afraid to remember that she was singing for God and he was there listening, so she need not worry. Roo in the front row and Iz a couple of feet behind her, sang from their hearts, and even I could hear them loud and clear. It wasn’t a time for me to a be a proud momma, but I was… but I was also humbled and two verses came to my mind…
The first verse:
Luke 18:17 “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Unfortunately, I think most of us fall into this category from time to time. At least I know I do… My faith is tested. I often let doubt, worry, anxiety, etc. take over for a short time…and it is only the Holy Spirit that reigns me back in. Thankful that I don’t have to travel alone on this road.
The second verse that came to mind…
Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Lance and I try to share with the girls the important of Christ on a daily basis… we try to teach them manners… we try to pray and read the Bible with them, we try to speak with a soft tongue…we try to teach them about acceptance and not to judge…we try to lead by example… Unfortunately, in this area, we again fall short from time to time. As I said earlier, thankful that I don’t have to travel this road alone and that I have the Holy Spirit to put me in my place…and sometimes even on my knees.
Thankful for all that I can actually learn from watching my Children as they grow in their walk. Blessed by my kids everyday.
Happy Fathers Day
Good fathers leave a legacy for their children. It may not be the worldly riches that most desire…but I am blessed to have a dad that I can be close to…one that has taught me much… One whose legacy is still imprinting my heart.. .I believe his legacy was left to him by Paw Paw, who now looks down from above and thinks to himself, “that’s my boy…carry on…carry on”. Blessed to have my dad…wouldn’t be who I am without him. Some may say that I am the oddball in the family…I say, “yep, I had a good role model”. Love you, dad…more than any words can ever express.
What is Community?
The article below shows so much perspective on life… and the story is one that I have already heard twice this week. I never knew many of the details – only the small details that Lance would take home from Ruthie’s husband, Mike, while on shift at the fire station.  Community is something that we have been searching for for a long time… and we too have moved around locally and not so locally to find what “community” means to us as a family and as individuals- and we are blessed to say that we finally feel at home (even when things fall apart around us) – We are strong… we are family… and we have roots here… and we are making the commitment to grow these roots deeper – so that our girls may grow up with a firm foundation.
Click the excerpt below to read the article:
Finding Hope in the Hurt
Attached is a song that has gotten me through loss in the past, and also the meaning behind the lyrics. Perhaps you will listen to it, and it will take its own shape for you and your circumstance (past or present). Now for my own advice – Hold your babies close… remind your spouse daily how much he/she means to you…call your best friend and tell them how much they mean to you, don’t take your parents for granted (the little things they do often go unnoticed)… if you still have grandparents, visit them. For all of my family and friends, thank you for being a part of our lives.
Click here for the story behind lyrics.
“Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member, yet we lead our daily life too often as if we take our family for granted (Paul Pearshall).”
Beyond the Elm 