Crooked Creek

We made it,
Sunday was a long day,
but the boys did really well.
Ford only fussed a little on the plane,
and Brooks was squirmy but thought the plane ride was awesome.
Considering the time change and the schedule being thrown off,
they have both handled it well so far.
It's so refreshing to be in Colorado,
I love it here.
It's good for the soul.
It's a lot of work to get everyone packed up and relocated like this for a long time but it's so worth it.
Camp is beautiful,
I am excited for the rest of the assign team to get here tomorrow but it has been nice to have the place to  ourselves the last couple days.
I'm trying hard to unplug here and just be present in the moment.
So far we've seen some deer, a moose, a couple fox, and lots of chipmunks :)

visiting the horses

home for the next month

What more could a little boy ask for? Baseball field with this view ain't bad!

running the bases with dad

random haircut in winter park

waiting to get on the big airplane

checking out the new head phones

happy boy

push ups with Allen

traveling is exhausting

Summer!

Summer is here!
My favorite part of Young Life,
is camp,
nothing like it,
I am thankful for the way God chooses to use camp to draw kids to Jesus,
We are headed to this place this year,

Selfishly I can't wait to see what God has for me at Crooked Creek Ranch,

I don't want to miss it,

While I know that the ultimate goal is for high school kids to experience a week like no other and hear a clear presentation of the gospel,

I know God is waiting there for me too.

I pray for sweet reminders of why we do what we do,

Young Life is hard,

it's a hard job,

it's an amazing job,

I wouldn't have it any other way,

but it comes with it's challenges,

so I am hoping that the beauty of camp brings me back to the simplicity of the mission of Young Life.

Brooks has been very excited about getting to ride on a big airplane!

I will feel very accomplished once we arrive at camp,

packing up for a month is no easy task,

especially when dealing with this..........

decided to unpack his bag that I already packed during his nap time!

More to come of our time in Colorado!

4 months

4 months old and such a grinner
Ford had his 4 month appointment last week
Height- 24 3/4 (25-50th %)
Weight - 16lbs 13oz ( 75-85%)
Head- 41 3/4 (50th%)

He's doing great, so thankful for a healthy, happy baby!
The way to his heart is simply giving him a little attention, just give him a glance and he'll smile at you like you're the best thing in the entire world!

We are getting ready for our summer assignment at Crooked Creek Ranch!

Soooooo pumped!

Can't wait for Colorado!!!!!!!!

Brothers

I was so thrilled when Ford was born,
because I was excited that Brooks would have a brother,
a buddy to play with,
to do boy stuff together,
I wonder how their relationship will grow over the years,
I can't wait to watch it unfold,
I know they will fight and argue like brothers do,
but I pray that they would be great friends as adults,
I pray that they would learn to respect one another and embrace their differences.
I pray that their future spouses may get along one day,
I pray that they might even be best friends,
I pray that they would enjoy each others company,
that they would make each other laugh.
I pray Brooks would set a great example for Ford,
that Ford may look up to his older brother to make good choices.
Perhaps my expectations are too high but I can always pray big right!
I love these little guys so much!

3 months (overdue)

Ford's 3 month pics! (posted a few weeks late)
This sweet little guy is doing great!
Sleeping on his back, sleeping all night, eating lots, naps in his swing, loves the bouncy seat!
Can't get enough of his sweet smile!

Ready for church!

hanging out at Young Life kickball

date with sweet Blythe Goodhead

date with baby Lucy Longo

4 Years

Another year down,
Our 4 year anniversary is today.
4 years and 2 kids later and we are going strong.
I think since we have added kids into our lives,
we are learning the commitment part of marriage.
I think we will be learning this part of marriage until death do us part.
We are learning that love is a choice, it's not always based on feelings.
The times that we don't "feel" like serving one another or putting the other before ourself,
we have a choice,
a choice to uphold the commitment of our vows,
a choice to give up ourself so that we may serve each other like Christ does for us.
It's hard,
we are so selfish by nature,
it's easy to become complacent,
but I am so thankful to have a partner that loves me enough to work at it.
He loves me enough to choose love and sacrifice when he may not "feel" like it.
We both fail,
we both choose ourself time and time again,
but we are trying.
We are mindful,
I don't know for sure,
but I think we may be in the toughest stage of life right now as far as maintaining a healthy marriage and raising young kids.
I'm just assuming this is true because kids are so physically needy in this stage of life.
They can't dress themselves, they can't feed themselves, they can't reason with you,
they can't totally talk yet, they can't get in their own car seat, they can't potty themselves or wipe their own butts for goodness sake!
The kids needs always seem to trump everything else.
So while this time is awesome, it's hard.
So how do you love and care for your spouse well during this time?
That's where we are at,
we are learning,
communicating,
and trying to figure out this thing called life as we go.
I couldn't ask for a better partner to figure it out with.
I am confident that he will always choose to commit to me and our family.
I pray that our marriage would continue to stay rooted in Christ and we would be committed to God's plan for us as a couple.

I have such great memories from this day!

Easter and Athens

We have had some great spring time at the beach!
It's my favorite time of year down there.
I could have stayed all month.
Brooks has had so much fun playing with cousins all day every day.
I'm thankful for my time there.
I realized this Easter that it is really hard to explain the meaning of Easter to a 2 year old.
I think that's ok, he'll get it eventually.
Got some cute pics this year!

He really got the Easter Egg hunt this year, he found the eggs so fast!

This guy is creeping into my heart with his big grins!
He's such a sweet boy and loves any attention he can get.

Trip took Brooks to Athens for the first time for G-Day. I stayed home with Ford, part of me wanted to go and see Brooks see it for the first time but I also love that they got this special day together, just the two of them. Because I know going to games in Athens will be a fun tradition for Trip and the boys. When they got home Brooks gave me a big grin like he knew that the day was special, that it was unique and exciting. I am amazed at how much this kid

knows and understands at 2 years old! I love that Trip has sons to share this Georgia love with him. 

And Ford is getting so stinkin' cute with his smiles, he's such a happy baby! I am loving it!