getting excited!!!

A certain someone has a birthday coming up in 2 days, and that means there is a party on the horizon.  We are getting pretty excited!!!

I have been busy, busy around here planning and finishing up details for little miss's party, and I am having a blast doing it!  Who knew that planning a one year old's birthday party could be so much fun?!?  We are doing a lollipop theme, and here is a little peek at her invitation.

I had great inspiration for the whole party, particularly the invitations, and I really loved the way they turned out.  I cannot wait to see everything put together, but more than that, I cannot wait to celebrate Micah!  I really cannot believe that my BABY is going to be ONE on Thursday. 

Check back later this week/weekend for updates about our little one year old, her one year letter, and her very first birthday party!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so many things for which to be thankful.

I am thankful for the best husband in the world.  He serves, respects, and loves me like I could never have imagined.  And, on top of that, he is an incredible father.

I am thankful for my precious daughter.  She is the most amazing miracle I have ever been a part of, and my life is about a million times richer because of her.

I am thankful for my family.  I have an awesome family who is always there for each other and can be real together.  I love that.

I am thankful for Chris's family.  They don't feel like in-laws and treat me like I am one of them.  I couldn't ask for a better family to have married into.

I am thankful for my sweet friends.

I am thankful for Mercy Project and the purpose it has given to me and my family and many others.

I am thankful for so many things today.  I have been able to really reflect on the blessings in my life this year like I never have before.  In the midst of a lot of craziness in our house the last week {we put on a Turkey Trot 5k and 1 mile fun run today to benefit Mercy Project and had 450 runners...crazy goodness!}, God has really spoken to my heart in powerful ways about all the many ways in which he has provided so unbelievably for me.  I really hope that this spirit of thankfulness doesn't disappear with the holiday, and I hope that the Lord will continue to convict me of my ungrateful spirit.  My prayer for myself is the same prayer I prayed over Micah last night and that is that Thanksgiving would not be one of the few times a year that we take time to be thankful.  My prayer is that we would be a family that consistently reminds one another of all the ways we are so blessed. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  I hope today was a blessed day and a reminder of the goodness and faithfulness of the Lord.

loves

Micah loves a lot of things right now at 11 months and 2 1/2 weeks old.  Here are just a few of them!

She loves playing with her daddy, especially when he pulls her on a blanket on the tile.  Oh the squeals of delight...so precious!

She loves momma's cell phone and really enjoys "talking" on it.

She loves pulling all the DVDs out of the rack.

She loves standing up all by herself. {And, yes, that's my cell phone she has.  I told you she loves it!}

She loves that baby doll and will carry it around wherever she goes.  {check out that hooded little cutie...too much!!!}

She loves walking around the house with her little "mower" with her mouth open just like this.

She loves her new sippy cup {with a straw} and drinking her water and milk from it like a big girl.

She loves putting everything in her mouth.  Watch the progression below.

Oh, look what I found.

I wonder if it will fit in my mouth.

I know I can do this.

Success!

There are so many things that Micah loves these days, and I love watching her learn all about her world.  Here are 3 of the things that I love about her that this picture captures so well.

1.  those sweet little barely-there curls in her hair right above her ears

2.  those preciously long eyelashes

3.  those cheeks, oh those cheeks

Be still, my heart!

we've moved

For those of you who don't know, our family of 3 moved from Rowlett to College Station on October 24.  We have not yet sold our house in Rowlett, but we were graciously given the opportunity to go ahead and move into the house that we will buy once our house sells.  {Prayers for the perfect buyers to come SOON are welcome!}

As we prepared to say goodbye to that house, my mind was flooded with moments from our time there. Here are just some of the many memories I will always cherish from 7314 Centenary Drive:

*This was the home that got a very large labor of love from Chris, me, his uncle Randy, and many other friends and family as we made it perfect for us.
*I carried Micah in my belly, and she developed and grew inside of me for 9 months.
*We shared many meals and great conversations in the rooms of this home.
*We had the most incredible neighbors ever.  Seriously, they are amazing!  It's not often that you have multiple neighbors that you would consider great friends and whose doors you can knock on anytime you need them.
*We brought our firstborn child home in this house.
*I spent countless hours in that rocking chair in her nursery, just holding my sweet child. And snuggling up in blankets with her when it was cold!
*Micah smiled for the first time, laughed for the first time, sat up for the first time, learned to crawl, stand, and cruise in that house.

As I sat rocking Micah for the last time in her very first room, I got a little teary.  We are so thankful to be close to family, but that house in Rowlett will always be near to my heart.  It holds many memories of Micah's first year of life, and it's the house in which I learned a deeper meaning of love.  I know that a house is just a "thing," but the memories made while living there are what makes it a home.  I will never forget that home for many reasons, and I cannot wait until Chris and I get to tell Micah all about the things we did together there.

Orphan Sunday

I am a little late in posting about this, but it has been on my mind and heart to write about all week. 

"Father to the fatherless, defender of widows--

this is God, whose dwelling is holy.

God places the lonely in families.

He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy."

Psalm 68:5-6

This past Sunday was Orphan Sunday for many churches around the world.  Chris and I were able to visit a church that was participating in this event, and I was blessed.  In the past couple of years, orphans have begun to be particularly close to my heart.  It all began when Chris and I were struggling to get pregnant, and we were exploring the real possibility of adoption and LOVING the idea.  Then, Chris went to Ghana 15 months ago, and our world was completely rocked by those sweet, sweet children working on Lake Volta.  Not all of them are orphans, but they are lonely and at least temporarily fatherless.  So, when I knew that Sunday was Orphan Sunday, I was beyond excited. 

And, my expectations were blown away by the Lord.  Funny how he always seems to do that.  He spoke powerfully through the pastor, and I found myself humbled by the task which the Lord has set before us.  If the nature of the Lord is to care for orphans and I am made in his image and to be like him, then it must also be in my nature to care for orphans as well.  One thing that truly convicted me was when the pastor boldly reminded us that there is no one in line in front of us to make sure these children are cared for.  WE are the line.  WE are responsible.  We cannot wait for someone else to do it for us.  God is waiting for us to step up and be his hands and feet in this world.  My mind immediately flew to these sweet faces.

I am so thankful that the Lord worked on our hearts in a way that we are answering part of the call to rescue some of the 147 million orphans in the world.  My prayer is that we are able to restore many of their relationships with their families.  And, for the ones we cannot reintegrate with their families, my prayer is that some of the Jesus followers in this world will be the families in which God will place these lonely children.

However, I am not sure if our work with Mercy Project in Ghana is the only way that God is calling our family to care for the orphans in our world.  I am confident that Mercy Project is a HUGE part of God's calling in our lives, but I have a feeling that there might be something more that he wants from our little family, not from our organization.  We don't know what that looks like.  We know we want to adopt, but we don't know when or how many children.  We don't know what that means for how many more biological children we will have.  All I know is that I am ready to pray a dangerous prayer.  Honestly, it scares me a little bit or maybe a whole lot.  But, I am praying that God will make his plans for us known and use us for his glory and his kingdom.  I am praying for an open heart and mind to whatever that plan is.  I am praying for boldness in caring for these children of his.  And, I really, really can't wait to see how he answers it and blesses us in unimaginable ways.

In the words of Isaiah the prophet, "Here am I.  Send me."

a house divided

All year long, Chris and I cheer for teams together - the Aggies and the Sooners.  

But, when they play each other, we are on opposite sides.  

He grew up loving the Aggies, and my Oklahoma roots run deep when it comes to college football.  

We are {almost} always nice about it, though :)  

I sure am hoping that the Sooners can make a come back here in the second half.  

But, I know that my hubby would be oh, so happy if the Ags could pull out a win.  

Here's to some football rivalry fun!

 

eleven months

My sweet Micah,

How can it be that you are only one month away from being a one year old?  Where has the time gone?!?  I remember this time last year feeling so anxious to meet you and to know you.  I could only imagine what you would look like, smell like, feel like in my arms, and what your personality would be like.  There are 2 words that come to my mind today when I think about those things:  JOY and LOVE.  You are my joy every single day, and you have taught me how to love without boundaries.  This past month with you has been no exception, and I find myself smiling just thinking of you and the bundle of fun that you are.

This month you have really, really started to respond to your daddy and me like you totally understand what we are doing.  I love love love the way you will smile, literally with your WHOLE face, when we come in to tickle you or react to something funny you just did.  You just scrunch up your little nose and get the biggest grin possible on your face...so precious.  You will look at us when we are talking to you, and I feel like you are really beginning to understand.  I love that!

Your newest trick is dancing, and it has got to be one of the best you have learned.  It all started when your daddy and I were trying to keep you calm in the car and turned on "mmm bop" by Hansen {yes, we are those people}.  We were being silly and singing and dancing, and all of a sudden, you started waving your little arms in the air to dance with us.  Now, anytime music comes on, you will dance but only for a few seconds.  You can dance on command too!  It always puts a smile on my face.  You also learned what a cow says and will respond with "mmmmmm" when asked.  You are too smart :)

You still adore being outside, and I think you would be perfectly happy if you were outdoors every waking moment of your day!  We spent a week at Mimi and Pappy's house while daddy was in Ghana, and you went on MANY wagon rides.  It is a guarantee that you will always calm down if you are outside.  You love to look at and hold grass, leaves, sticks, rocks, anything!  You also went to a pumpkin patch and had lots of fun.  You were happy as could be the whole time!

You haven't taken any steps yet, but you are cruising on the furniture like a pro.  You have a toy that you have just started to push around the room.  Your balance is getting better and better, so I am sure that your first steps are not too far away.  You still crawl at lightning speed on all fours, so even though you aren't walking, your daddy and I still spend lots of time chasing you around.  You love to play with your toys and especially love putting them in and pulling them out of containers.  It's so fun to watch as you discover new things!

You are becoming a bit of a picky eater, which I am not so sure that I like.  You refuse most vegetables these days, and the ones you will eat only last for a few bites before they are rejected too.  You still like most of your fruits, and you LOVE goldfish!  You also really like to play with your food, take it in and out of your mouth, or throw it on the ground {that is also reserved for the food you don't like!}.  Your daddy and I are working with you on this, but I know it's just a phase.  No teeth yet for you sweet girl.  You seem to be in no hurry in that department!

You are becoming more vocal and seem to talk to your toys a lot more these days.  You also love to get a cell phone, or anything that remotely resembles one, and hold it up to your ear.  When your daddy was in Ghana, you LOVED hearing him talk to you on the phone.  You would grin so big and start babbling away!

I love the way your hair is starting to really fill in.  It makes you look more like a big girl, and I dream about the days I get to put it in pigtails :)  I love the way you play with my hair when you get sleepy.  You just reach your little hand around my neck and rub my hair in your fingers.  I love it.  I love the way you start smiling before your daddy even comes close to tickle you.  I love the way you know who your daddy is when I ask you.  I love the way you get a big grin on your face when you see Wrigley coming toward you.  I love your sweet waves and smiles when you see us open the door to your room after a nap or in the morning.

I love so many things about you, and it would be impossible to write them all here.  You had a busy month...you got sick for your first time, you spent a week in College Station while daddy was in Ghana, you played with lots of different people while momma and daddy packed our house, you moved to a new house, you spent a week with grandparents before we could actually move in, and you had your very first halloween as the most precious ladybug ever.  You are such a trooper, and we are so blessed by you.  We thank God every single day for the blessing of you.  You are our joy.  I am so proud to be your momma.  Thank you for making me a better person.  Happy eleven months, Micah Elisabeth!

I love you, to the moon and back.

Your Momma

happy halloween...

...from our little ladybug!!!

Micah had so much fun trick or treating for her very first time.  She was a total ham and kept smiling and laughing and dancing as we pulled her around in her wagon.  She didn't even mind the costume!

Chris and I had a blast taking her and meeting our new neighbors with our sweet ladybug.  What a fun first halloween!

Thanks to Mimi, Pappy, and Leelee for joining us :)

Hope you all enjoyed your halloween as much as we did!