I've Been...

Painting...



And surprising...


Mom turned 65 this year and Dad thought it would be a perfect year to celebrate and surprise her. About 30 friends and family gathered to celebrate and it was so wonderful to see the joy and surprise on Mom's face.

Visiting with old friends...


And family...


Chris, Kristin and the kids were able to come help us celebrate. They came on Friday and left Monday and truth be told, I would have loved to have them stay a week or more. It was such a blessing to be able to sit and visit and laugh hysterically. I had forgotten how funny my brother is and love every second with he and his amazing wife. The kids had so much fun playing with their cousins and we were all sad to watch them pull away.

Celebrating...


We also got to celebrate our sweet princess in February. Ella is now 5 and was sure to usher in the year with lots of sass and attitude. Thankfully, there's lots of sweetness and compassion in her as well :)


Lots...


We not only had a family party while all my family was in town, but we got to celebrate with all her friends AND again with Uncle Nathan and Aunt Traci.

Laughing...


And crying...


Please be praying for our sweet friends!

In awe...


And amazement...


Filled...


My family brings me such joy and there is nothing better than watching their love tanks get full! Cory has been able to take each of the kids to a Blazer game. They leave so excited and come home glowing.

Running...

I have found a new passion. I started running a couple of months ago using the couch to 5K program. I've loved every second. From the peace and beautiful runs in the country... that leave me in awe of God. To being able to actually complete something... I will NEVER be completely done with laundry. I will NEVER have a completely clean house. My children will NEVER be perfect. I see very little every actually completed. BUT, I can always run further or faster. I can see success in just run. And I'm so very thankful to have friends who will run with me and push me and those who I can run with and encourage.

And raising...


The Lays saying that "no one can eat just one"? Well, with chickens, "no one can get just one... or 10... or even 15. Yes, we are the proud owners of 26! chicks. Addicted much? Maybe. But, I do rationalize by saying the we do go through 5 dozen eggs a week. And because we are who we are, we do not have just one, or two, or even 3 different kinds. Nope. We've got 13... australorps, buff orpingtons, golden laced wyandottes, golden sex links, black sex links, barred rock, white leghorn, california whites, blue andulusions, dark rhode island reds, welsummers, new hampshire reds, and americaunas. When they all start laying, we'll have brown, white and blue/green eggs.

Nursing...



Sweet Caden fell out of one of our trees a week and a half ago. I count it a blessing that he is almost 9 and this was my first scary mom moment with him. He fell about 10 feet and from what we can figure out, landed on his face on a cement block/rock. I imagine God cradleing him as he fell... he did NOT break anything. He did not have a concussion. He walked away bruised, battered and with 6 stitches.

And loving...


Cory took a couple of alpacas to a show and kept them at our house overnight. We loved getting a little taste of what it will be like having alpacas at our house some day.

I have enjoyed every second of this deep breath. Every second of peace. Every second of God's blessings. Of course there are days when I want to run away. Where I can not handle one more scream of my children. One more whine. But, at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade it for anything. My children. My family. My friends... I am blessed beyond words.