Regional Staff Conferene

We went to Sharptop this week for Trip's Young Life Regional Staff conference.
It's just a time for staff in the Georgia/Alabama region to get together once a year and reflect, be together, and cover business info for the year.
Spouse's and families are invited to go which is nice.
I love the Young Life family,
I really really do,
leaving the week,
this verse comes to mind,

"by this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" John 13:3-5

this is what I see when I am around these people,
people who truly love one another,
and this is why I think they are such an attractive bunch to be around,
because amidst all their faults and all their yuck,
they love Christ and they love others well,
they are the best at it,
it's their job.
I listened to some staff guys share as they were going to be leaving YL staff or leaving to go to a different area next year,
and the hardest part about leaving for all,
is leaving the people,
the family of YL,
it is truly like nothing else I have ever experienced,
there is a unique bond amongst staff and staff spouses,
I love getting to know other wives,
because there is always an instant connection,
a feeling that they know everything that is so incredible about being married to a staff person,
and a feeling that they know everything that is so difficult about being married to a staff person,
I feel like I can quickly go deep with these people,
that the surface level conversation can be skipped,
and depth can occur,
I have seen the way this group of people rallies around YL staff and staff families who have faced loss or tragedy,
I have seen the way this group of people prays and cares for one another,
I know that they will be the first to reach out to my family should anything ever happen,
I know that they will be on their knees in prayer for my family should anything ever happen,
and I am so thankful for it.
These are the kind of people that I want my own children to grow up and be like,
these are the kind of people I want my children surrounded by.

playin' with the big kids, no big deal

little boy staff kids

William and Henry

William and Henry are making great progress!

They have moved to intermediate care in the hospital!

And they are doing so well!
I am so happy that Andrew and Sarah can see a light at the end of the tunnel.
They have had a long hard road but thankfully they are nearing the end.
These two are extra special and I can't wait to see them grow into little boys.
And I am super excited for the day when Brooks can play with them!

I am amazed how they are able to care for premies these days! Thank you Lord!

Some firsts

We had a couple firsts this week for the little man,
One of my favorite things as a mom is watching him experience everything for the first time,
To watch him find such joy in the tiniest things.

He had his first non-family member birthday party!

Celebrating with his best pal, 

Happy Birthday sweet girl,

the Dosters love you!

"hey birthday girl, mind if I sit up here with you while I eat your cake?"

And we got to take little man to his first Braves baseball game!

We went with Sally and Daye and Sal's parents and Aunt Peggy!

It was rainy but we stayed dry undercover which kept things nice and cool!

Brooks, 

your dad wants you to know that the Braves won your first game!

They beat the Mets 14 - 6, and Brooks,

your dad was SO EXCITED to get to be there for your first game!

And you did so well. you far exceeded my expectations,

we made it for 7 innings! 

You really loved walking around and waving to everyone! (which is true most places we go to)

with your first Braves game certificate

trying to get on the dance cam

I am sure this will be the first of many games with your daddy!

Oh yeah, 

one more thing,

mommy accidently bought you a girls Braves t-shirt,

I didn't realize until daddy put it on you this morning and it had a funny cut on the sleeves!

Oops, it did look kinda silly!

Daddy was embarrassed for you!

We'll get you a new one, I promise!

But it made us all laugh!

Kick Ball

We went to our Young Life kickball game last night.
It was so fun for Brooks,
and fun for me,
because it occupied my boy between the hours of 5 and 8 which tend to be the worst hours of our day
Thank you highschool kids and YL leaders for entertaining my child
I say this a lot but it just warms my heart to watch these people love him.

watching the big kids play

learning the game of corn hole

"ok dad, so I put these bean bags in that hole?"

"now how do I get these things out?"

"mom this is SO fun, I just ate watermelon off the GROUND!"

" I just love these big hairy animals, and these cute girls are being so nice to me!"

One of the sweet high school kids came up to me last night as he was leaving and gave me a hug and said "bye Mrs. Doster".

eeeek!

he said Mrs. Doster

eeeek!

Another leader looked at me and said "did he just say Mrs. Doster?"

thankfully I wasn't the only one in awe of this.

I am not old,

I know i'm not old,

but I am starting to feel old at times,

like when they call me Mrs. Doster,

or when I don't know the song lyrics that everyone is singing to,

or when I think some high school fashion trends look stupid,

but even if they make me feel old sometimes, 

I love being around them....

Benji, possibly one of my favorite YL kids of all time! 

And he ALWAYS shows up for everything!

The kid cracks me up

Waddle

I just adore his little waddle. It's so stinkin' cute!

Easter and hand, foot and mouth

We had a great week at the beach.
I just love being with family, and the spring weather, and watching the kiddos play.
This Easter was fun because the kiddos were able to do so much more than last year.
Of course this brought great expectations for this new momma.
Expectations for great weather, cute easter outfits, great pictures, and a beautifully behaved child enjoying an Easter egg hunt for the first time...........
We decided to watch church on T.V. via the computer since we didn't want to fool with going to an unfamiliar church, with an unfamiliar nursery.
Sounds like a great plan right?
Wrong,
trying to cook brunch while we all managed 3 cranky kids,
who unknowingly all had hand, foot, and mouth virus resulted in a very choppy Easter sermon consisting of  us walking in and out of the room trying to console crying children,
and managing food cooking in the oven.
So I can't say that I got much out of our Easter sermon.
And after we "watched" the sermon and ate brunch I went outside to disappointingly try to get some cute photos of Brooks with a mysterious rash around his mouth.
I thought , Seriously? First Easter with Brooks walking in a cute little Easter outfit and he has a rash all over his body,
particularly around his mouth?
ewww,
and he was definitely not his normal chipper self.
but then I took just a second to stop,
put down my camera,
and think,
about what God has done for me,
how Brooks rash on Easter reminds me that
Easter means everything,
without it,
we are stuck in a world with a nasty rash,
in a world with no hope,
no cure,
no relief,
a world where expectations are never met,
but with Easter,
God has interceded on our behalf,
so the little things like hand, foot, and mouth do not have a strong hold,
they don't win,
instead we can have hope,
a promise for a better day,
we have the chance to look to Jesus,
and to know him,

"Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." Romans 8:34

And on another note.........

William and Henry Allman were born!

How fitting that the miracle of these two boys was displayed on Easter Sunday!

New life,

Congrats to Sarah and Andrew and we can't wait to watch William and Henry grow!

and I really was able to get some cute pics!

First time walking on the beach

the fountains were really the highlight of the week!

daddy's

right of passage, eating sand

trying to get a pic of all 3

Easter bunny brought him a lot of his favorite toy, balls

d-daddy putting out the eggs

trying to show the kiddos what to do.....