her space at 12

 .... so we will remember!!

Toby turns 11

This boy. How we love watching him grow. 

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

O LORD of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!"

Psalm 84:11,12

her first homecoming

catching up ~ October 11, 2014

I think this title should more appropriately be titled "OUR First Homecoming."

Sweet Ellie was asked this past year by a kind boy (named Drew!!)

to attend homecoming with him. She (and I think all of us in the family :)

were flattered by the invitation.... and immediately anxious, with thoughts like

"what will the evening look like?" "what will I wear?" "will he pick me up?"

There is a first for everything, and I have to admit looking back, the Enemy

had me (her Mama) tied in knots of fear about this big first. 

I wish I had done so many things differently, and I wish I had trusted Jesus more!! 

I am prone to anxiety as a Mama.... and it has simply gotten more intense as my kids

have moved into these hormonal teenage years. I'm so thankful for what Jesus has

been doing in my heart since this October date. I feel in many ways like He has 

been pouring on the grace, giving me new eyes to see, and a willingness

to let go and let Him have His way in my kids' hearts and lives. 

When I let Him do this, things go so. much. better. between us. 

Sadly, I think I stressed Ellie out more than necessary about this event,

and for that I'm so sorry. BUT, she got through the evening. Drew's parents came

with him to pick her up (I think they were as nervous as I) and boy....

She looked BEAUTIFUL!! 

Lord willing, next time it won't be so painful

... for any of us!! 

the skate park

Catching up... these were taken July 16, 2014. The day before Toby's 10th birthday. 

The "trick" shooter was one of his birthday gifts! He still asks to go to this skatepark.

(We went there this past week :)

capturing life

 

I've been using my DSLR camera once again….. can you tell? For my birthday, I took another class through The Define School called Auto to Manual. I've known for the most part how to shoot manual, but there were some holes in my understanding. This class was so helpful. It tied up loose strings in my mind and actually helped me to understand my camera's settings better than I ever have before. My confidence has been boosted and my desire to capture real life has been renewed. 

Soooo, here ya go. I want to document my family's life because I forget VERY easily. I want to stay connected with my family in San Diego, in Georgia, and in Lynden and I want them to feel connected. Taking pictures is my creative outlet and my gift to my dear family… and I guess to myself. One day, I'll look back on all of these posts and remember. The images will bring me back to this time and remind me of God's faithfulness throughout the years. 

This past week, my kids found their baby books. As they were looking through, Whitney picked up her's and guess what? It was for the most past blank. She mentioned to me that the other kids had some other albums as well, but her's was empty. When I told her that all of her pictures were on the computer, she actually had no idea. Talk about making a Mama's heart SAD!! We quickly went over to the computer and I began to show her all the pictures I had taken of her. We began choosing pictures to have printed out at Costco to fill her baby books. It's been so cute watching her decide which ones she wants as she looks back on her short life. I'm so very thankful to have these memories for her. 

We will have quite the summer project working on her albums!!