Priceless memories

A little look into our lives the last few months...

Yummy rice krispy treats!

"The heavens declare the glory of God..."

My sweet little cutie! Yellow is one of her colors. ;)

We had David and Luke (cousins!) over one night and had lots of fun!

Yes, we are always silly

Love our walks!

Box time!

Minnie Mouse (with crooked ears, of course!) and Superman!

We went to "Trunk Or Treat" at the church again this year -  a great little thing if you don't want to go door to door. And we saw our friend Alyssa! She was a cute little kitty! 

And a sweet one!

Gotta rock the sunglasses while you watch t.v. This girl is every bit of a girly girl. She loves to accessorize!

Puzzle time!

We just had some fun one day and made a monkey. :) 

Yes, I finally gave in to extensions. I have literally been trying to grow out my hair for years. I have a hard time staying away from scissors though. Can't decide if I'm going to go crazy and wear them every day yet. Kinda thinkin not. ;) They are a great accessory though.

Daddo is a great horse. Just "be careful, Daddo!" (as K would put it)

K decided that underwear made a great hat. Had to take the pic.

He is so smart. Thought of this all on his own.

"Popcorn" He tries to feed it to me daily.

One day we got creative and made an alligator. :)

Cousin Timothy's first birthday! :) Love how we have an excuse to party all the time!

Ice! Even though it wasn't "snow," the kids LOVED it! They cried when they had to come in.

IPad time. I think he may be ready for his own. (LeapPad, that is, or something like it.)

And...she already has the diva stance down. She's so funny - just recently, when she meets someone for the first time, she'll do the whole "Talk to the hand," thing. Really have no idea where she got this! 

GG and Grandpa time! Not quite sure where Nana is at this moment, but I need to get more of her in the pics! :) 

"Fixing" it. He is always, always fixing something!

Sand and sun and swing time! 82 degrees, anyone, in December? Sure! I'll take it!

This is his other love! Building his RC airplane! He is amazing with it.

This is Mr. Matthew, whom we recently got the pleasure to watch while mommy and daddy got to go on a much needed date. Love him to pieces! He is so mellow and sweet.

Gingerbread house in the making!! 

He loves his elf hat.

Dislike. Major dislike.

Singing Christmas songs at the library. Thanks, Oma for taking this sweet picture. I am so proud that she got it - he didn't stay in this position for very long!

Thanks to our sweet neighbors, our son is dressing in pink glittery heels. :) Our sweet neighbor brought over a box of dress up stuff for girls (used to be theirs). He tends to get into it from time to time, and I never know what he'll be wearing. We seriously need to get the poor boy a few super hero suits.

Family pic! A huge thank you to Aunt Deb and Uncle Jeremy for taking these! This is one of the few that everyone is smiling in and not jumping, or moving around, or crying. ;)

Her "Talk to the hand," pose. See? She does it well.

Silly faces. I love that I have a daughter and a son who like to be silly with me sometimes. :) 

Finished house.

Oma and K and cousin Isaac at the Christmas concert tonight at their church. :)

B and Miss Abigail, sweet cousins

Me and cousin David

I always wonder if people make it to the end of my pictures! :) 

I understand if ya'll don't...I include every one of the ones I consider "keepsake worthy". 

So, I have to be honest here. I am so thankful for these sweet memories we are making, and the pictures I am able to take. I am so incredibly blessed.

Tonight, while I was rocking my baby girl to sleep, (yes, I still rock her to sleep - I am THAT mom!) I treasured every breath she took, in and out.

Ya'll, we just never know. Life is like that.

You literally never know how long your loved ones have - or that you have with them. 

Treasure. Every. Moment. 

Tomorrow, my brother will have to do probably the hardest thing he has ever had to do in his life, and that is to bury the love of his life. He will attend her funeral, and say goodbye to her one last time before her body is gone forever from his sight. A week ago, she was still breathing.

Seriously, treasure your time with your loved ones. You just never know.

I am sorry to be so somber. But it's really just difficult to understand right now.

I have questioned God, "Why?" 

Why, my brother, of all people, who is so sweet, who can hardly harm a fly?

Why did she have to die now? Why not at 85, like so many other people in this world?

He informed us this past weekend that he had been thinking of proposing next summer to her. Now that dream is gone.

We will never understand, fully, the reason behind her sudden, early death, leaving behind a man who loved her so much.

But right now I am trying to lean on the things I do know. 

And one is that our time is short, and we never know how long we have.

And that we serve a God who knows best, and His timing is always perfect. 

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

He knows my brother's pain better than anyone else on the planet. He knows how to fix his heart. And I pray he does, as only He knows how.

And I lean on his promises. They are true, they are holy, and they will never, ever fail. 

Satan's plan is for our death and destruction. Jesus' plan is for LIFE, eternal. Praise Jesus that...

"Where, o death is your victory? Where, o death is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

One day we will all face death. We may not all die at the same time or place, but - we will die, and it could be tomorrow. That's a reality that we cannot escape. 

Enjoy that precious time with your loved ones, ya'll. You just never know.

Rest in peace, sweet Megan

My heart hurts. 
Monday was a day I don't want to remember. 
My brother wishes it was a bad dream.
But he hasn't woken up from that dream yet. 

On Monday, he woke up and made breakfast for his girlfriend, Megan, took it to her, and found her dead.

It has been a tough week.

As the tears well up, I cannot imagine his pain. 

He and Megan had been dating for a year. He had known her since elementary school.

She literally was his everything.

She referred to them, when I talked with her, as "two peas in a pod."

She was really his other half. 

This is hard. 

This Monday will be her funeral, and my parents will go with him, then he will be alone in Washington state. 

He is going to need some serious prayer.

She does have some very good family, whom he has become very close to, and he will probably spend the holidays with them, and he is also going to stay with a friend during this time, so he doesn't have to be in the house too much for a little while. That would be a bit too rough.

She leaves behind a sweet little four year old, Trent, as well. He doesn't understand where mommy is right now. 

I am so glad I got to know Megan though. 

She and Phil (my brother) came down to visit us this summer, and I felt an instant connection to her sweet spirit. We had some weird similarities - such as her love for Sour Patch Kids (lol!) and keeping her house clean! She was so easy to talk to, and she even called me to chat. I felt like I could talk to her about anything, really, and instantly understood why my brother loved her. 

I thank the Lord for her spirit, and pray for her family right now - for their comfort, for answers, and so much more.

Megan,

I thank Jesus for your brief time with us. 
I am so sorry that I was not able to get to know you more. Oh, how I wish I could have sat down with you and spent quality "sister" time with you. I looked forward to our sisterly times together so much. 

I was so excited for Phil when I found out he had found such a sweet girl - someone I even felt close to, after just a brief time of knowing you.
You were funny, and sweet and a very good companion to my brother, and there is a reason you were in his life - I know this. 

I don't understand why you had to go so suddenly.

Or why you left us so early.

But we will rest in knowing the God of the Universe is good, and He always knows what He is doing. 

Many people who knew you now say what a good mommy you were, too.

Although I didn't ever get to meet your son, I can see why they would say it. You took care of our two children during my grandfather's funeral, and you were very good with them. 

Sweet Megan, you left us early, but you will never be forgotten. 

Thank you for gracing us with your presence during your short time here. We look forward to meeting you on the other side, where you can greet us with that beautiful smile and sweet spirit once again. 

Rest in peace, sweet girl, and I love you, sister. 
Always will. 

Love,
your sis,
Amber

"You call me out upon the waters...the great unknown, where feet may fail. 
And there, I find you in the mystery, in oceans deep, my faith will stand.
And I will call upon your name.
And keep my eyes above the waves, when oceans rise.
My soul will rest in your embrace.
For I am yours, and you are mine.

Your grace abounds in deepest waters.
Your sovereign hand will be my guide.
My feet may fail when fear surrounds me.
You've never failed.
And you won't stop now.

So I will call upon your name.
And keep my eyes above the waves
when oceans rise.
My soul will rest in your embrace
for I am yours, and you are mine.

Spirit lead me when my trust is without borders.
Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior..."

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) - Hillsong UNITED 

http://youtu.be/dy9nwe9_xzw

Happy Fall, ya'll!

Hello, fall, and hello all!  :) 
So...this fall, is such a turning point in our lives. The kids have been saying and doing some really cute things, lately, and I wanted to write it down before I forgot.
A few of the cutesy things they have done/said, lately are, (and this is only what I can think of off the top of my head!):
Kaleb - 
*I recently got my hair cut and colored reddish brown (for fall - I'm crazy like that!;) and when I got home, Kaleb was like, "Momma, you're brown!" and he came and gave me a big hug, and said, "I like brown," and started petting my hair. Guess he was happy to see me! Now, a a little over a week later, he's still petting me sometimes, and saying, "I like brown." I think it's his love language! Makes me smile, anyway!
*Today while I was mixing something up in a bowl for dinner that I let Kaleb play with often, I was letting him stand on a stool and watch. When he got up to look, he said, "Momma, my helmet's all dirty!"...Usually when I let him use the bowl, he puts it on his head as a "helmet". :)
*Yesterday while on a walk, we passed by a truck that was parked outside of a closed garage. He said, "That truck is waiting to go in." And then a few moments later, we passed by some pumpkins on a bench, and he said, "Those pumpkins are sitting down on that bench, momma." Cute!
*Brookelynn loves to sit in my lap! I laugh at her a lot because she is just so cute, and sometimes she'll look at me and start giggling back, and we just sit there and laugh at each other. 
*B also loves to hug me and watch the mirror while she does it. She just loves being snuggly, and the mirror just makes it more fun, I guess! 

So, that's just a very short list of course, but I may update it. :) 
Other updates...Lately, our weeks, since the fall season has begun, have looked a bit different than they were in the summer, and I LOVE it! This is such a new "season" in our lives, and I am taking full advantage of it.
I now take Kaleb to Library Time on Mondays, and B stays with either Daddy or GG, since the one on one time with K is best (it's easiest that way, getting him to sit still!). He is doing amazing, and I am so proud of him. At first, I was a bit nervous about taking him because I didn't know how he would do. He's still a bit "new" at the sitting down thing for long periods of time, and being still. But, it's just his speed! He sits down for longer than I've ever seen him sit still during the story. And, when little hand motions or body motions go with the story time, he participates so well, and I'm just a proud momma right now! I have a feeling I'm going to LOVE the age of 3! ;) Sigh...FINALLY. His attention span is ALL boy, and up until very recently, he couldn't sit down for anything. But lately he has started settling down a bit and I am SO enjoying this stage! Anyway, off my rant, now! ;) 
So, yes, Mondays are library days, then Tuesdays I go to a bible study in the evening at church. It is awesome, and I love it. Just a bit of "me" time, and I have enjoyed it immensely! ;) Being a full time mommy is great, trust me, but a little time away is definitely needed. Justin has been amazing in telling me he doesn't mind that I go and leave him with the kids when he's off, and he'll feed them dinner while I'm gone. Such a sweetie, he is. I couldn't ask for someone better...I really couldn't. Okay, I'll stop, again! :) 
Wednesdays, I do a bit of "school" with the kids, or a project, or whatever. Lately we've just been doing projects again, which is great. I haven't worked on the letters with them or the tot school trays in quite a while, but we've been doing other things! :) I plan to continue, though! Just been busy with other things!
Thursdays, we go to bible club in the park, where we play on the playground a bit, I hang out with other mommas, and then we sing songs and hear a short bible story. It's great - a bit of me time with the other mommies, and the kids get to play! And, just recently, I have taken both K and B again. Last year, because K just was SO active, I could only take one at a time, to focus just on them. I even stopped going for a while, because K just had such a hard time sitting still! He is just such a smart boy, and always needing to be busy! Anyway, so, last time I went, and took both of them, was remarkable. BOTH K and B sat nicely in their seats and sang. It was music to momma's ears! :) Like I said, I am loving the age of 3...Friends of babies this age and older have told me this would happen (that he would start settling down), but I really wasn't sure...So far, it is proving to be true. Praise the Lord!
Fridays, I plan to go to MOPS, but haven't gotten back into it yet. I was going to go today, but wasn't able to. But I do plan to get back into it. It's great, also for the momma's and the kids. 
Saturdays, we just hang out, of course, and get ready for church on Sundays.
We go to this great church that I have begun to love, and the people are precious.Not only do I attend the bible study there on Tuesdays, but I have also started singing on the praise team, and it is such a blessing. Lovin it. 
This season has been a season of change so far, and I am so excited to see what happens. I am excited to meet more mommies this year and get more involved than I've been the last couple of years, because the kids were so little. And B is a very easy little girl - she is pretty laid back. So I'm not really concerned about her 2's and taking her places. But - that said, she has had a few more "episodes," lately, as far as tantrums go, so we'll see. She's not 2, yet! ;)
But anyway, I feel change in the air this season. Loving it - bring it on! :) 

Here are some more pictures from this fall so far...

Pumpkin painting! :) This didn't last very long, but it was more fun for me I think than it was for them!
  

 We went to White Buffalo Days this year (something our town does every year - they have concessions and music and a few animals for the kids!) and they got to see their first buffalo close up. VERY! B was afraid, K just watched it.

 Pictures with my best friend. She really is.

Pretty fall sunset! Got this on the way home from bible study one night. Jesus never ceases to amaze! :) 

Our "train ride" with the Burks!! We went to the Abilene Zoo recently with them and it was so fun!

Just a fun shot of us on the train.

And...the babies on the train!

This snake was interesting - it had a pot it was slithering into, so we had to get a shot of that. There was already a lot of snake in the pot...Eeeewwww, yuck.

 
This snake was, for some reason, rather friendly, and would follow the kids back and forth as they moved. Yep. Scary. And their faces were right.next.to.it. Again, ew yuck. But, on another note, B, for some reason right now, is fascinated with snakes, and she loves to say, "Nake." So, couldn't resist a shot of her with Mr. Friendly Snake...or...not so friendly, depending on how you look at it. He may have been hungry for a bite. Ya never know.

B with a pretty friendly giraffe.

These cranes were dancing. Yep. Dancing. Kinda fun!



And, that's all I got for ya. Wasn't quite as long as last time, was it? :) 

Happy Fall, ya'll!! Here's to new seasons! :)