Ice Cream! Yous Cream!

So Papa Cain has been gone for a week and we are starting to really miss his face around here. Malakai asks for him constantly. Saturday morning when the girls were eating breakfast they heard Malakai playing with my keys in the living room and started saying, "Hi, Daddy!" over and over again. :(

Thankfully, we have less than a week to go before he rejoins us! yay! In the mean time, we have been able to enjoy some yummy treats thanks to some sweet friends. Seriously, everyone should get some friends like these. They buy you ice cream and bathe your children in their home after eating said ice cream.

Much love to you all!

My Brother

Today is a big day! My brother has finally completed his USMC training and will be reunited with his family after 9 long months! Whew! GO CHARLES!

 Military life is like nothing else. Many people can only imagine the sacrifices that are made on a daily basis to serve our country.  My brother missed birthdays, holidays, vacations & just simply the daily ins & outs of his little guys (if you have children, you realize the changes that happen over 9 months!). He hasn't been to war but has committed to go if called. You guys, that is honorable. 

Unfortunately, my little fam lives 600 miles to far from where they will be celebrating his homecoming. I suppose the least I could do iss publicly announce how proud I am of him & his family! So overjoyed  for them and would be at that cookout in a heartbeat if I could!

Charles & Whitney, 

I am so incredibly proud of you! It has not been an easy time but you have finally reached the goal!! 

Charles, I am so proud of all that you've accomplished during this time away. You persevered when giving up seemed like it would make more sense. 

Whitney, you trudged through day after day, full-time caring for 2 young boys and working a full-time job outside of your home! You are a super mama and don't let anyone tell you different! 

Now you both are able to look forward to your future together- stronger and closer than ever!  Praying for the Lord's abundant blessings on you!

I love you all so, so much!!! 

THE FEW. THE PROUD. THE MARINES.

(these photos are ones that I took at his basic training graduation)

Better Late than Never (July 4th)

So wow, I've pretty much sucked at blogging this month! We've been pretty busy & summer days are quickly slipping away. Many have returned to school (YUCK!) and fall will be here before we know it! Before that happens, I wanted to share some of the fun stuff we've done this summer :)

I'll start with the July 4th party we were so blessed to attend with our family in Kentucky. I finally was able to finish editing the photos so I will now share a "few" with you :)

So, these are all the little cousins that were running around :) Don't we make the absolutely most adorable children???

So sweet! I love these little tunnels! They are so fun for kiddos & super easy to fold up and store away :)

What summer party is complete without a pool? This was a wonderful addition to the annual party! Super fun for the littles & a nice way to cool off!

(top L) Aunt B in usual fashion... isn't it wonderful how little ones are always undressing you in public?

(top R) my parents w/ the kiddies

(bottom L) Aunt Liz & Austin being silly + all the other kiddos sitting around waiting for fireworks

(bottom R) cutie patootie Liam :)

Some super sweet moments :)

<3 lots of dirty little adorable toes :) Who needs shoes???

I love these photos of the kiddos in the boat :) They are just too sweet :)

 

Ever wonder how to get 7 children to sit & wait for fireworks??? 

POPCORN!!!!!

Uncle Charles found a frog... the boys were loving this! 

'

I was really excited how some of the fireworks shots came out! So fun & colorful!

Just a little peek into our family party! It was hard to narrow it down but I think this gave a pretty good idea of how awesome & fun of a time we had! We really enjoy every chance we get to spend with our family!!! 

**Also, be sure to check out my guest post on August 27th over at Krystle's blog 3 Little Men & a Mommy!**

Jesus says you're worth it.

Many of you may remember that I have joined up with a wonderful online community of gospel seeking women called #shereadstruth. We are in the middle of the 3rd study since this all began & my cup is overflowing with the grace & love of the Lord. I just wanted to share a little bit about something that extra blessed me this week.

DAY 7: John 17: The High Priestly Prayer

I discovered a gem. An absolute gem in the Bible. 

Jesus.prayed.for.me. 

What is more beautiful than the Savior of the world taking the time to lift us up to his Father???? 

"[...] that they might have [Jesus] joy fulfilled in themselves."

Did you get that? He wants me to have HIS joy.

“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
(John 17 ESV)

I just find this passage a beautiful expression of the Love of Jesus. As I read it again and again, I can picture in my mind a man- a real man- on his face before God pouring out his heart. Sometimes, in a sense, I forget that Jesus was a man. He was human with emotions & trials & a true heart for his people.

By this,

I am humbled. 

I am excited. 

I am filled with JOY!

How many times have you questioned whether Jesus could possibly love you? How many times have you assured yourself that you are not worthy to walk in righteousness? You question whether he hears or even cares.

 Let me assure you... those are lies.

Jesus loves you soooo much! Consider how you determine the worth of things hear on earth. What is any worldly possession worth? The price someone will pay for it, correct? You wouldn't pay $1million for property you know to only be $60,000 worth of property. What should that tell you about your worth to our God & Savior???? Jesus gave up everything for you! He didn't just die on a cross. He, in perfect deity, came to earth, lived a perfect faultless life as a human & was murdered for me. For  you. He took all the sin of the world on his shoulders. For me. For you. So, yeah, Jesus is pretty much convinced we are worth it so much so that he even talked with His Father about you.

Jesus Christ prayed for this girl!

Maybe this isn't so profound to everyone else but for me, it was eye opening & has increased my faith.