Happy Fathers Day!

I know I'm a couple of days late, but Happy Father's Day! I realize more and more as each year passes how incredibly thankful I am for my own father and his influence in my life. Throughout my life, my dad has been a constant of love and grace. And that's not something many girls can say. He changed diapers and put me to bed, coached little my league games (even though let's be honest, I was terrible), went on school field trips, led me to Christ and baptized me, pulled pranks on my favorite stuffed animal (JoJo!), moved me into college (and several times home and back), gave me away to my precious husband, married Robbie and I, was with us when Parker was born, and as a grown woman with my own family still texts and calls me several times a week. I just adore him. He loves Jesus and has served him his whole life. That's my dad.

And I married a great dad too (I totally knew he would be great!). I love that Robbie is just as active in Parker's life as I am. We are a team. Robbie feeds him, wakes up with him, bathes him (which usually leads to my bathroom floor being soaked), plays with him, teaches him, reads to him, and prays with him. Sorry if I'm bragging here, but that's what your are supposed to do on Father's Day. I just got blessed enough by God's grace to marry this man! We had a really great time celebrating Robbie's 1st Father's Day and spending some time together.

And I have to post these because wherever Robbie or "da-da" is, there is Parker. He watches whatever his dad is doing, especially if it involves power-tools (Robbie is installing cabinet locks in our kitchen since you-know-who is into everything and I cannot bear another ER trip anytime soon). Also note that big boy standing all by himself.





That's what being a daddy is about!

Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy

Over the past few months, we have experienced grief and loss in several capacities in my family. My Papaw, our sweet nephew Mills, and recently Robbie's Pawpaw. All three have been very different experiences of loss. And for some reason God has allowed us to be very up close (more than I ever have before) and intimate with all of these beautiful lives and their deaths here on earth. I still haven't figured out exactly what God is teaching me, but I know one jewel has something to do with this:

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:23-26

I am reading a new book called "I Will Carry You" by Angie Smith. Her husband is the lead singer for Selah, and they lost their baby girl just a few hours after she was born, knowing that she was not well through the pregnancy and choosing to carry her life anyways. She is an amazing writer, but truly captivates me with her up close journey of loss and joy. It came to recommended (by my sister Rebekah of course - the book came out the week Mills died) and it has been a healing source in my own grieving.

Mills would have been born next week - on June 25. That's hard to believe since it seems a short eternity from now since that day in March he was born. Even though the thoughts that we "should" be celebrating his new life next week brings a whole new wave of grief, we can trust that Mills life was exactly the way it "should" be. God had other plans for his life and those 6 weeks of his earthly life were filled with purpose.

Parker's 9 month pictures and updates

Here are a few pictures from Parker's latest photo session for his 9 month sitting. This was our easiest one so far... he did great! He is pulling up to stand everywhere, cruising around all my furniture, and walking behind his little walking/riding toys. And he is a super fast crawler! I can hardly keep up with him anymore, but he is as happy as ever. I seriously think that since this kid was born he has been wanting to get around on his own. And he is totally fearless. I'm worried about this trait. He will head dive off the couch in a second, and of course his infamous "stunt" of climbed out of his crib (since we actually don't know how he got out of his crib, I choose to use the word "climbed" out as opposed to the likely alternative of completely falling out). Like I said, I'm a little worried about this adventurous and fearless side, but as a combination of me and Robbie, I shouldn't be surprised.

And don't be surprised that he looks like a sweet angel baby in these pictures instead of the wild man sky diver I earlier described. He is totally both (and the photographer is paid well). Enjoy!