#lately

A little glimpse of our life lately... in #hashtags... because isn't everything more fun with incomplete sentences?

#quotes #seminar #army #yellowribbon

#austin #texas #love 

#nature #walkswithdaddy #kentucky

#haircut #curls #selfie

#wewearredfriday #yellowribbon #remember #merica #soldiers

#warriordashkentucky #mud #mykidswouldntletmetouchthem #strong 

#visitors #family #friends #leaving #600miles

#ducklips #avoidinghernap #goodthingsheiscute

#cousin #deck #summatime #bikes #cute

#family #goodmen #generations #sweet #appeasingthewomenfolk

#twins #cute #avaandlilly #fountain #kentucky

#momma #kisses #fountain #pleasedontgetmyhairwetmomma #lillyquotes

#misskelly

#besties #coffeemate #kentucky #woodfordreserve #loveher

#bestbuds #poppop #woodfordreserve

#barrels #funpics #awesometour #woodfordreserve #kentucky #bourbon

#justbecause #heisakeeper #headphones

#nature #siblings #dontgetwet #okaygetwet #kentucky

Yes He Does

So today my girls decided they didn't want to nap. 2 hours of trying and I finally just told them to get up. Whatevs. It happens. But then of course, they WERE tired and they went from one thing to the next... driving me just a bit more towards insanity. Fighting, spilling (aka- intentionally dumping drinks on the floor), screaming, crying, temper-tantruming. You know- normal tired 2 year old stuff. 

And then...

I had a weak moment. 

They broke me with colored bubbles. OhmygoshCrayola. I hate you. My carpet and knees hate you. The grout between my tile hates you. And did I mention- mykneeshateyou. Please take your spill "resistant" bottle & SCREAMIN' GREEN somewhere hot. Also, whoever gave me those- don't ever admit it. I might share them with you. 

::Enter:: Momentary freak out.

As I threw MY threenager tempertantrum... my girls repeatedly told me, "it's OKAY momma!"

I assured them it is definitely "NOT okay"

As I threw out my "not okay's," Malakai pulled out the big gun...

"But Jesus still loves you, Mommy."

Oh man. Kicked in the throat by a 4 year old. 

::deepbreath:: Yes He does.

For the Journey

Only a few short weeks ago we packed up all of our stuff & headed to Kentucky. As confident as I was /am that this was/is absolutely the right thing for our family, I was left with a big fat hole in my heart. The feelings of loneliness and sadness that filled my heart kind of took me off guard. Thankfully, I had people speaking truth to me AND the assurance that this IS the right thing. "bloom where you're planted. bloom where you're planted. bloom where you're planted." Okay! But how??? I felt lost. And forget blooming- I just wanted my coffee partner back.

This past week Michael left for his first week of pre-deployment training. I felt pretty anxious before he left but after the first night, I knew something had to give. I had to stop living in self-pity & get things together. Starting point? Get-in-the-Word. And just in time for a brand new study, I hooked up with #shereadstruth again... "Women In the Bible Part II" It helped. A lot! I was able to fill my journal with truth instead of songs of sadness. That's not to say it completely ended my complaining but at least gave me a refreshed perspective.

Enter Sunday morning. I have been really praying for community. Friendship+. For just a brief moment, I looked around the sanctuary and wondered when it would feel comfortable again. When I would walk in and remember people's names... Have connection with them besides just hearing the same sermon that week. It seems weird to even be admitting this... but surely other's have felt this way before. And it isn't so much a feeling of if I would make those connections but when. I don't know, it's all just so weird. And the sermon was all about God as Father. Our perfect father who cares for all our needs.

Fast forward to the afternoon. I began writing some of my thoughts down to clear my head before I got into a devotional. I had skipped a couple of days so I started on what should have been Friday's devotional. Quickly, it became evident that God was showing me- I AM his child. He really does care about me and all my needs. He WILL provide everything I need and more than I could ask for. As I began to read about Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, I was encouraged that God brought Elizabeth & Mary together for a significant part of their pregnancies. During this, what I can imagine to be, difficult time in their lives, he brought them together. Mary to help care for Elizabeth & Elizabeth to impart wisdom & I can only imagine how my they just enjoyed being on the ride of their lives together.

Click this image to read the devotional post

So here I sit, praying for vision, connection & purpose. And I am confident that the Lord who made the way, will continue to lead me & guide me. In this, I have peace & joy looking forward to what is to come.

And here are some (unrealated) Playing in the rain photos :)

'Murica

That would be Lilly taking a gutter shower- ew.

**Small edit- I want to make sure to mention that there ARE in fact wonderful friends & family here in Kentucky. Please, KY peeps, do not think I do not value or cherish my relationship w/ you all <3 **