Happy 1 month Birthday to our Little Princess!

Philippians 4:11 says
"...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances"

A hard lesson I have had to learn over the past year is thankfulness. True, hard, in the will of God thankfulness. It's an ongoing process and lately has been a common theme everywhere I turn. A few weeks ago I mentioned a book, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. I have been reading it with an amazing group of women. We are reading it slowly. Soaking it all in. I am just about to start the third chapter this evening. The author discusses being content in your life right where you are. Seeing the beauty that God sets before you daily.

Yesterday at church we had a guest speaker named Scott Rigsby. Let me just say, WOW! He is a double amputee who became an ironman in a very short amount of time, beating all sorts of odds. His testimony is awesome! He is content and thankful despite his "tragic" circumstances.

In Sunday School yesterday, our teacher had us in Colossians 1. Verse 12 says, "...and giving joyful thanks to the Father." JOYFUL thanks. This wrapped me right back around to my book where I have been reading and praying about joy....chara.

This past year has been full of the unexpected. Anyone who knows me well knows I am not a big fan of the unexpected. Stirs up a little anxiety. I have learned more and more this year that when we walk by faith, we have nothing to be afraid of. My life has undergone more changes than I can count on my hands in a pretty short time span. Many of those changes were sad, one was down right tragic, and more recently one was over the moon, click my heels together happy! But the Lord calls me to be thankful in ALL circumstances, not just the happy ones. We must draw the good out of everything. Even if you have to look really hard for it, it is there. Even if you don't see it right away, you will.

So join me if you will. Think about all that YOU have to be thankful for.

I absolutely LOVE this child and his amazing heart

Today I had to take the kids out in the cold to get the Princess weighed. We were driving down the road near the cemetery and Jaxon leans over to Jossalyn and says, "Joss, did you know you have another brother? You do! His name is Jordan and he lives in heaven. You'll meet him one day."

Speechless. Tears flowing. So sweet.

Bootcamp Baby!!

The 5 of us started bootcamp at 5:45 this morning! Yep, I'd call that motivation!! In 8 weeks you"ll get another picture! Let's hope I can move tomorrow!

playing catch up ;)

So, this is definitely blog worthy, so I am coming back to it! When we arrived home last Wednesday, my house was CLEAN! Yes, Daddy-O cleaned the entire house! He even cleaned out the nursery which was a m-e-s-s! (She still doesn't have bedding but that's ok since she sleeps in our room for now!) He also had a surprise for all of us! The boys had a Star Wars toy to share, Jossalyn had a cute pink hippo, Nana had a sweet card and I had a sweet card AND flowers! What a man I have!! I was so ready to be back here and see him, I don't think I would have noticed if the house had been turned upside down...ok, so maybe that's not 100% true...hehe!

While in Orlando, Christy's baby sister Lisa, who is a budding child photographer in Florida, offered to take some photos of Jossalyn. I sort of thought Jossalyn was a little insubordinant during the whole process but my, oh my....this picture is breathtaking! It's my favorite so far! I can't stop looking at it! Those eyes! Anyway, just wanted to share the beauty ;)!

FIRST FAMILY PHOTO!!!!

Here we are! All together! FINALLY! Now, granted this picture was taken at nearly midnight last night but I think it's a GREAT picture, myself!
I apologize for the long time between posts! On Monday we started heading north. We stayed with my long time bff from way back in the day, Christy, in Orlando. What a blessing she and her fiance Sean were! We were able to stay there 2 nights before heading to Jacksonville! Yesterday we drove to Jacksonville, stopped for lunch and sure enough got our CLEARANCE call! We drove all the way through and got in late last night! Jossalyn was a trooper in the car!
I will add a slide show soon of the last few days....right now, I am off to enjoy some family time!