A letter from your Mama ...

My sweet Josiah Dale ...

Today you are {1} year old. How did this happen so fast? You have already sent us on so many adventures in your short little year, yet it seems like your Daddy and I just made that evening drive to the hospital in anticipation of you making your first appearance. Mama was supposed to be induced the next morning .. but you decided to start things a little earlier. All on your own time ... maybe you'll be just like your brother, in that sense.



I fell in love the first moment I saw you. We all did. Even your brother, I think, once he realized you were actually sticking around, LOL.

You were definately a cuddler from day 1 ... always preferring to be in someone's arms above anything else. The first few months, you and I spent countless hours napping and snuggling in the recliner. Even at night ... you protested when we tried to put you in your own bed. You would have rather just been held all night long, LOL.





Your first few months were a rollercoaster for all of us ... but it just made us all realize how precious our lives are and how important you are to us. Daddy and I would literally do anything to protect you and your brother and make sure you know just how loved you are.

Watching you and your big brother together is about the cutest thing ever. He was curious about you at the beginning ... and you watch just about every move he makes.





Because of your brother, you became mobile very early .. I'm pretty sure in an attempt to keep up with him and always see what he was doing or playing with. Jacob still isn't a fan of sharing his toys with you all the time, so you two have made a game out of "keep away". I'm sure it won't be too long before you grow annoyed ... but for now, it just makes you laugh :)

You adore your Daddy. So much so, that "Da-Da" was your first word.
You love balls and have an amazing arm on ya ... in fact, I am convinced you are going to be a baseball player someday.
You were never a fan of baby food ... you prefer eating big people food like the rest of us. Pasta is your favorite .. but you also love to share ice cream with Mama.
You adore puppies ... Annie is becoming your best friend, and you love to carry Puppy (who you sleep with every night) around with you everywhere.
You give us 100 kisses a day.
You are fearless.

You have been "walking" for a month or two now. You even have the guts to take off from the couch and walk across half the room on your own, but won't quite commit to giving up your crawling all together yet. You're almost there!

You like to dance. All the time. 2 seconds into a song, or any beat for that matter, and your hand goes up and legs start bouncin! You also love to sing along with Mama & Daddy ... and instruments could keep you entertained for hours.

You look like your Mama, but you definately have your Daddy's personality. Fearless, outgoing, and goofy. You love to laugh, sometimes at the strangest things.
You're a boob-a-holic. I couldn't wean you right now, even if I tried. You could be having the worst day ever, and all it takes is a couple minutes of nursing and you're back to your normal self. Daddy calls it the "cure-all".

You have your cranky moments, but then you smile at us, or laugh, or give us a kiss ... and we can't help but melt. Daddy and I love watching every new little thing that you do, and we are so excited to watch you grow ... see what your likes and dislikes will be ... see what you're passionate about. We know whatever you do, you'll do with gusto! You're definately a determined little guy.

We love you to pieces, sweet boy!

Happy 1st Birthday!!

Love, Mama

I don't need no stinkin' diapers!!

Apparantely, this is how Jacob has been feeling lately.

He has always been great about keeping his diapers on .... that is, until recently. I don't know if his curiousity of them has spiked, or if they're starting to annoy him. Or maybe he's trying to tell us that he's ready to really start potty training. Honestly, I'm hoping for the latter.

A few weeks ago, we were all hanging out in the living room after dinner ... and all of a sudden, we both look over at Jacob who's watching TV ....... but his diaper is no where to be found.

Today. I am in the kitchen this morning, taking inventory of what's in our fridge and writing my grocery list. Both boys are hanging out in there with me. Jacob had decided to pull up a chair to the counter and unload my spice cabinet, so I was trying to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn't open any and dump them onto my counter. At one point I turned around to look at him, and there he stands ... on his tippy toes trying to reach a spice .................... diaperless. WHAT?! I guess he had been like that the last 5 minutes ... just leaving his diaper on the couch where he had previously been having a snack, watching Little Einsteins. I put his diaper back on him and explained that it needs to stay ON his body.

A short time later, he decided to throw a fit and was put upstairs in his bedroom. While he was up there in an attempt to settle down, Josiah came over to me to cuddle ... and was out cold on me within 5 minutes. So, subsequently, Jacob was in his room a little longer than I had planned. I went up to get him, and was completely speechless when I opened the door and assessed what he had been doing with all that alone time.

Diaper off ..... and poop ..... in 3 different locations. It seriously looked as though a puppy had been let loose in his room.

So, after sticking him in the bathtub and cleaning his carpet ...... I have come to the conclusion that we are now on active Potty Training status. If he decides to take his diaper off on his own again, he's getting stuck straight onto his toilet.

Aye, yi yi. Always an adventure with this one ............

Donations for Joplin.

For those here at Fort Leonard Wood:

ACS is starting to accept donations for the tornado victims in Joplin. Starting at 1300 hours today, the collection point will be the basement of AMCC (Audie Murphy's Community Club). Please go around to the back of the building.

The hours today will be from 1300 - 1630 hours and starting tomorrow the hours will be 0730 - 1630 M-F.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED!

Items needed are food / clothing / blankets / toys etc....

***Paul's Furniture in St. Robert is also taking donations!***

There will be a day.

So it came to my attention today that people are predicting doomsday on May 21st, 2011.

Now, while I don't believe this one bit (seeing as how Mark 13 says NO one, not even Heaven's angels, know the date) ... I do know that, one day, Jesus will be coming back for his people ... and everything stated in Revelations will come into play.

But don't get me wrong - all these natural disasters lately ... they're all signs:

"For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines and calamities. This is but the beginning of the intolerable anguish and suffering [only the first of the [birth pangs]" (Mark 13:8)

Lord I'm ready now
I'm waiting for Your triumphant return
You're coming so soon
This world has nothing for me
I find my peace and joy solely in You
Only in You

I want the world to see that
You're alive and living well in me
Let me be a part of the harvest
For the days are few
He's coming soon

People get ready
Jesus is comin
Soon we'll be going home

People get ready
Jesus is coming
To take from the world His own

There will be a day
When we will be divided right and left
For those who know Him
And those who do not know

I know I'm ready .. and I know I'm going to a place of peace. No pain, no torment.

Are YOU ready?

I need a appointment book.

It's funny. One week, I could have absolutely nothing going on. The week drags on, and Friday feels like it will never come.

This is not one of those weeks.

This morning alone I've had so much going through my head, I know that unless I write it all down I'm bound to forget something. Prep for graduation shoot bright and early on Thursday morning. Josiah's dr appointment on Thursday afternoon. Get to the bank to sign papers. Run to WalMart. Laundry. Find a camera bag. Mail package back to DirectTV. Run by Baker Theater and check out the auditorium. Laundry. Vacuum. Clean up toys. Laundry. Spa appointment on Friday. Not to mention the flowers in my garage that are dying, as I keep forgetting to get outside and spray weed killer. I'm also just now reminded that Friday is payday, so over the next day or so I have to make a budget and grocery list. I seriously don't even know where to start. All of this, while working around the boy's naps and David's working and gym schedule.

I need two of me. And an appointment book.

April 20th.

I've been neglecting this blog of mine for quite awhile now. I've been wrapped up in all aspects of getting my photography business up and running and ... well ... keeping up with these 2 little goobers of mine.

It seems as though these last 5 months have flown by! I seriously don't know how we're already only a couple weeks away from May. Aside from the horrible tornado outbreaks that this month has brought to the south, I am loving having the warmer weather around. Before I know it, June will be here - and we'll be celebrating our littlest one's 1st birthday!! Now that's insane!!

Speaking of our littlest one ... oh my gosh, it's crazy how fast this kid learns!! He watches every move his big brother makes, and of course follows him around everywhere (which Jacob doesn't appreciate too much just yet). It's been awhile since his last doctor appointment so I can't give you specific measurements, but he is definately sprouting up fast! I'm sure it will only be a couple more months before he is taking his first step! He wasn't too keen on baby food for very long, so he's been a pro at eating solids for quite awhile now. He'll pretty much eat anything we put on his highchair tray!! :) Veggies and pasta are his favorite ... just like brother! He loves to throw a ball around with Daddy, chase the puppy, and bang on anything with Mama's spatulas!! We're also less than 2 months away from accomplishing a whole year of breastfeeding! At the beginning, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it this far .... but now, I'll never do it any other way.

I've noticed Jacob has been sprouting again lately, too! I think he has officially left his baby/toddler days behind and just looks like a big kid now! He is still being stubborn with talking ... but thankfully, we have had so many other parents tell us that their little ones did the same thing - just talked in their jibberish until one day, bam! Words! Both David and I are, admittedly, yearning for that day to come along ... but until then, we're just trying to be patient and continuing to encourage him to use his words. I tell ya, if I walk away from this whole parenting journey learning only one thing ...... it will be patience. Talking aside though, Jacob is an extremely smart kid ... he's a fast learner, just like Josiah. We have to be careful what we let him see (i.e. childproofers, etc), 'cause he only has to see the secret once to know how to get into it! He adores being outside, at the park especially ... and we are beginning to see his fearless side. He loves going to Sunday School, and I cannot wait for the day when we're driving home from church and he tells us what he learned about Jesus that day! :)

As most of you have probably read here and there over the last couple months, I am in the very early stages of building a photography business. I am trying to use this time here in Missouri as a learning experience, and a chance to build a portfolio, so that by the time we leave next year, I am atleast at a level of knowledge and experience where I can begin to bring in some income. Photography is an art I have always had a passion for. It doesn't seem like work to me. I would love to eventually, one day, be at a place where it brings in financial support enough that I could focus on it solely ... but, that's in God's hands.

Right now David and I are somewhat back to square one in deciding where we'll be heading when we get out of the Army next spring. Some family members are relocating to Phoenix, and we would like the opportunity to be near them again ... and for our kids to grow up together. Ultimately, before we can make a final decision, we have to wait until this coming winter when David can sign up for National Guard and make sure there is an opportunity in Phoenix ... but, other than that, all signs are pointing to Arizona! :) Until then ... we're just praying for God's will.

That's pretty much our life in a nutshell right now. I'm going to try and keep up with this blog a little more often ... so please keep coming back!!

xo

Proverbs Thirty.One Photography

Please take a look at my new page, Proverbs Thirty.One Photography!!

If you're in the Fort Leonard Wood area, please spread the page around - and contact me to book a FREE session!!

Proverbs Thirty.One can also be found on:
{Twitter}
{Facebook}


Thanks lovelies!
{Sarah}

Love Letters.

Love letters were how we spent the first year of our relationship. They traveled nearly 4,000 miles one way, sometimes taking 3 weeks to reach each other. Receiving one single letter in the mail would make my entire week. I'm sure I read every letter 50 times ... memorizing every word ... his handwriting.

Over time, the letters were replaced by email, messenger chat, webcam ... but even now, 7 years later, I still have every single letter he mailed me kept in a special keepsake box next to my nightstand. Every once in awhile I pull one or two out before bed and read them as a reminder of how things were when I first met the man I knew I was going to marry, only 4 days after we "met".

We "met" on November 11, 2003 ... hours after I had broken up a previous relationship. I was in no mood to converse with anyone, so I don't know why I went into a chatroom ... I was "hopping" from room to room, when I got his message. "Hi". I ignored it, closed the chat screen, and went on my merry way. But the messages kept coming. Finally, I gave in and started talking to him. The relationship I had just ended was with a guy who grew up with a Mormon belief. It was a stupid relationship for me to get into in the first place, and it ended pretty badly. Point being - if I was even going to talk to this guy - I wanted to know right up front what he believed. "What faith are you?" I asked. Not exactly the first thing you ask a person, but I didn't care. "I am a Christian", he replied. I think initially I was a little shocked - somewhat shocked by the fact that he even answered the question - but mainly shocked that he and I actually shared the same faith. So, the conversation continued.


For 3 hours.


Before it ended, he asked if we could talk on the phone later that night. We did - for another 4 hours. As quickly as it may seem, I knew that night that something different was happening.


The next night, we spent another couple of hours on the phone. Shortly after our conversation, he would be boarding a plane for his 1st deployment to Iraq. Before we said goodbye, he asked me a question:


"Will you wait for me?"


I said yes. At the time, I wasn't sure why. I just knew I needed to say yes.


A few months later, shortly after Valentines Day (February 24th, I believe it was) ... we met face to face for the first time. He was returning to Washington for R&R, and I went to the airport to pick him up.


I don't think I had ever been so nervous in my entire life. I didn't take balloons, or a sign - or anything that would give away the fact that I was welcoming a hero home. It was just me ... in my blue jeans and flip flops. I got to the airport early and sat down to stare at the flight arrival screen. My heart about stopped when the status read "Landed". As the passengers finally started trickling through the security gate, I studied every single man that approached, hoping I would recognize him from the few pictures he had sent me. It seemed as though the entire plane had passed by me. Then I saw him ...... I recognized the huge smile on his face. The minute he wrapped his arms around me, it felt strangely new, though strangely like we had known each other forever ... and I kissed him. I felt no hesitation and no doubt.


I remember asking my sister, before David and I even met, how you know when you've met "the one". She answered "you just know". I completely understood that answer when I met David. There's really no other way to put it - you just know.


For the most part, the love letters have faded over the last few years. They have been replaced by taking care of each other, helping each other ..... being able to say "I love you" face to face every night, enduring numerous deployments, and coming out stronger in the end.


While doing a couple devotional a month ago, we each wrote a new love letter to each other ... making new promises at this new stage in our life. I took pieces from our old love letters, and our new love letters .... pictures from when we first started dating, and now .... and made them all part of the Valentine gift I created for David. Well, for both of us. It's a reminder for both of us - that no matter what our day to day lives bring ... amongst work, the boys, school ... we'll always remember how we felt those first few months of our relationship. Two crazy kids who fell in love in the strangest of circumstances.


And in case you're wondering ... I kept my promise. The entire year he was in Iraq - I never even considered dating anyone else. I knew it the moment I heard his voice on that first phone call - he was it for me.


He still is.

Plans & Heart Shaped Brownies.

"If you ever want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans"

When we walked into our house just before 10pm last night, the heart shaped brownies and other Valentine goodies that I had set out the morning prior were still on the counter ... uneaten. We hadn't planned to being gone, practically all day.

I planned to start preparations for the Valentine dinner I had planned for David as the boys went down for their naps .. so as soon as they woke up, we could make the 4:00 appointment we had in Rolla ... but instead, we decided to get them ready and head out as soon as David got home from his class. I'm glad we did.

We arrived at the car dealership at 2:15pm .... we finally left at 9pm. 7 hours of applying, waiting, negotiating, more waiting, walking, more waiting, signing papers, more waiting. Finally, at the end of the day, we said goodbye to the little red Corolla that has gotten us through numerous road trips, babies, snow, Nebraska monsoons, and a deer accident ... and became the proud new owners of a much needed (and way roomier!) 2008 Chrysler Town and Country LX. Yes, a minivan. We are officially a minivan family. But y'know what, that's alright with us.

We have been trying to obtain a bigger vehicle, pretty much since we found out Josiah was on his way. Especially with the desire to have baby #3 (who is atleast a few years away, I hope), we knew we needed something with 3rd row seats. Finding that, and in our budget, was difficult. After a few failed attempts over the last year or so, I started getting a little pessimistic on what kind of vehicle we would be ending up with. One attempt in November 2009 had us driving off the lot in Denver and back to Colorado Springs in a somewhat older Chevy Trailblazer. No 3rd row seats, a small dent in the back bumper, and some wear and tear in the dashboard area. But that was okay with us - we were just thrilled to not be in our tiny Corolla. However though, that is not the vehicle God wanted us in. Apparantely, although we were told we had 100% bank approval, they came back and said "Sorry, nope - you'll have to bring the car back". I was disappointed - but I kept trying to remind myself that this simply wasn't the vehicle we were meant to have. God had everything under control.

So for the last year ... we prayed, we continued paying off the remainder of our debts, and we waited. Waited for God to say "Okay, here you go". He did that yesterday.

It was amazing to me how smoothly the day went. It seriously seemed as though God had his hand on every part of the transaction. The boys even did amazing!! (As to be expected, there was some minor fussiness here and there ... but I mean, a 2 year old and an 8 month old stuck in a car dealership for 7 hours?! They were troopers!!). Even the guys working there commented on how great our boys were doing!! :) The whole process just seemed to have God's approval ... and we drove away with a vehicle far exceeding our expectations.

Jacob and Josiah both racked out on the way home. Jacob stayed asleep as Daddy carried him inside, and was so tired that he didn't even want to have to get into his pjs. Josiah went down about a half hour later, and only woke up once to nurse in the middle of the night. Needless to say ... they were exhausted!!! LOL

David had told me before we left the house that I should be expecting some flowers at the door at some point in the day, and wondered how that would work if we weren't home. I told him they'd probably just leave it at the door. We got home ... and nothing. No note, nothing. We decided to sit down and watch the new movie we bought a couple days ago. A few minutes in ... the doorbell rings. I told him I was going to be shocked if flower companies delivered at 10:00 at night, LOL. It was the guy who lived on Turner Street, not Turner Court - they had delivered to the wrong house, but he wanted to make sure I had my Valentines Day flowers :) That was just about one of the sweetest gestures I've ever seen in my life. I opened up the box to find some gorgeous pink and white lillies from my love.

So the brownies went uneaten (aside from the few I'm eating for breakfast as I write this post), the special dinner will have to wait until tonight, and the day didn't go exactly as I had planned .... but it went perfectly as God had planned. He blessed our family with a gift and showed us just how much He loves us, and is watching out for us.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future"

Jeremiah 29:11

***Smartphone Privacy Leaks from your camera***

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2vARzvWxwY&sns=fb

Please take a look at this news story - you and your family's location and privacy could be at risk just from uploading a picture from your Smartphone.

Also - you can go to www.icanstalku.com to learn how to disable your phone from giving away your location through pictures.

So, so scary!!