Wedding Shower

On Saturday evening while Ryan was was taking the Birthday boy and Georgia Kate to Main Event for some more Birthday fun, I got to sneak away for a special evening with my Mom and Family. I loved this time with some of my favorite people. 

My Cousin Claire had her very first Wedding Shower on Saturday in Houston, and I loved it was so close to home. This is the Wedding that Ty and Georgia Kate are in. It was so fun to be apart of this special evening with two of my Aunts and two of my Cousins. We are so excited about all the fun Wedding festivities ahead.

Every detail that went in to the Shower was so perfect and fit Claire so perfectly. I am so excited about her special day, and I love how she is involving my family.

 I will always cherish special time with my and Mom, and adding in more family is a double blessing.

Football Camp

Our district hosted a two day football camp, but Tyler was too young to attend both days. However, this morning they had a punt, pass and, throw competition that they opened up to age 7. We made the cut! Tyler was a little nervous at first, but he starting warming up once he saw a few familiar faces. Ty ending up having a fun morning and loved getting out there and trying his best. 

 We are all so excited about this year and especially football season. Lots of fun and exciting changes ahead. Falcon Pride!

Happy 7th Birthday

Tyler officially turned 7 on Saturday. We have been celebrating him for the past 2 weeks, but the day that our biggest has been waiting for all month was finally here. It was perfect day filled with lots candles and singing. Not only to Tyler, but Georgia Kate.  We could not leave little sister out. I have a feeling we sang more and lit more candles for GK, but who is counting. Never to early to start preparing for her 3rd Birthday. 

Ghee came in on Friday to be here for Tyler's big day. We were so sad that Poppy could not make it, but injury and trying to close up on  house kept him in Temple. We were beyond thankful to have Ghee here with us. I simply adore when she is around. We always have so fun and Tyler gets to sleep with Ghee when Poppy doesn't come. His favorite thing to do. Tyler woke on Saturday morning to a floor full of balloons, and after that it was time for birthday donuts with a special 7 candle. After swimming it was time for birthday cake with 2 friends. We ended the day with laser tag and video games. Whew! What a fun filled day celebrating our favorite 7 year old.

We are so proud of you, Tyler. We hope that you have a wonderful year filled with numerous blessings and absolute joy. We love you!

Special Delivery

One of the hardest parts of our move for me was no one really knowing our story, and would I ever find special friendships. Well, God has worked through all these fears and anxieties.

The past several months God has been placing some of the most amazing women on my path, and how these friendships have lifted my heart and made this move even more special and doable.

This special delivery to brighten my week and the couple of bittersweet days ahead filled my heart with so much joy today. I was brought to tears by this beautiful gesture and remembrance by these new and special friendships. It makes my heart soar that our precious Landry and our story made an impact on their hearts.

 I will always love sharing my littlest with others. I am just touched by the love an generosity of special new friends. My heart is aching tonight, yet at the same time it fills full. 

These Faces

I love how completely opposite and unique these precious children are. They both have my heart and my, how I have been holding them a lot tighter this week.
Tears have been at the forefront all week as I miss our precious littlest during his Birthday week, but I am so thankful for that absolute joy that can be found through the faces of Landry's Brother and Sister.

The Rest Of The Trip

I have always loved San Antonio, but I love it even more after this trip. They really have a lot to offer families. Of course we toured the Alamo, went to the Hemisfair, lots of swimming in our Hotel pool, and a stop at the Children's Museum. We had done this before, but it was a great spot to beat the heat on Saturday. We of course ate lots of great food and had lots of singing Happy Birthday to Tyler. His favorite by far was the special Mariachi Band that sang for him. on our first day there! What a great way to set the tone for the weekend. We went back to that Restaurant on our last night just for dessert in hopes the Mariachi Band would there... no such luck.

So thankful for some much needed family time. This summer has been super busy for Ryan, and he has not been able to take much time off so this time away was cherished and needed. Can't believe how fast our summer is coming to a close.

Sea World

The main reason we went to San Antonio was for Sea World. This special trip was Ty's special early Birthday trip, because he has been so anxious about going back to Sea World since he did a report about about Killer Whales this spring at school. We even invited Ghee and Poppy to join us, per Ty's request.  This was our first time to the San Antonio Sea World, and it was a hug hit for Tyler and Georgia Kate. We saw lots of fun shows, and the kids got to feed the Sea Loins. Tyler of course loved Shamu. We also found some fun rides, too. Ty even got Poppy to ride one with him. Thank goodness there was a carousal for Georgia Kate to ride on. She loves, might possibly obsessed with carousals. She rode twice, and probably would of rode again if time allowed.
We had a fun filled day at Sea world, and Tyler thought this was the best birthday, ever. He said that last year, too. :) And, it is not over.... yet! Love celebrating our almost 7 year old biggest!

What A Week

Cousin Camp 2014 has come to close, but what a week we had. The boys started their mornings bright and early and kept going until dark. We had full days of bowling, laser tag, lots and lots swimming, kick ball, basketball, bike rides, jump zone, boys and girls club, parks, and a fun visit to the Houston Aquarium. Ryan had to work everyday last week on top of a board meeting on Monday evening, but he took a half day on Wednesday so he was able to join us at the Aquarium.
Sure some of the moments were filled with picking on one another and fighting, but through it all these cousins had fun. And at the end of a long day that is all that matters.

Rainbow In July

So thankful that after a storm a beautiful rainbow will always appear. This rainbow made my heart smile as it shone brightly for all to see.

Psalm 145:14 The Lord uoholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Cousin Camp 2014

On our way home from our long weekend in San Antonio we gained two extra kids for a week. This week is is all about Cousin time. We always enjoy some special one on one time with Cousins during the summer. We are ready for a fun filled week.

My Favorites

My heart was in need of a long weekend away with my favorites. So thankful for this weekend and the opportunity to celebrate our biggest a little early! 

Finding Beauty

July. Some of the days during this month just sting, and leave me feeling broken and bruised. The past two days I have just wanted to straight up hide and wallow in my sadness with a bag of Peanut M&M's and Starbucks coffee. But, then I was gently reminded that I don't have any M&M's and there is not a Starbucks in our town.... that is a whole other sadness.
July days can catch me off guard at the slightest thought and reflection of Landry, and the precious boy he would be growing in to. I simply yearn for him just as I did four years ago when we were hoping, planning, and dreaming about our littlest and all he would be and become. The memories are still very fresh and can leave my heart aching.
However, while that hurt can still be present and creep in with out warning, the hurt will always heal with time. I can say that I am marked and bruised, but over time God has taken my hurt and hard days, and made me happy again. He has taken my sorrow and made me smile. God has allowed me to see what He sees. He has shown me that when things are not always perfect or easy, they can still be beautiful.
God makes things beautiful in time. We must just hang in there and walk this road with patience, and when we do, we will see that pain has been replaced with absolute hope and joy.

" He has made everything beautiful in its time. " Ecclesiastes 3:11

4th of July

This Fourth of July was all about exploring and creating new memories. I will admit I was thankful to have a full day with my family,  but part of me really missed Temple and our traditions that we had formed while we were there. So, I think this year was sort of bittersweet for me. 

We started the day with donuts and taking the kids to see How To Train Your Dragon 2. Nothing like starting your day with donuts and popcorn! After a local Fire Department in Katy was hosting an Open House. Tyler has as a huge love for anything involving Fire Stations and looks up to all Fire Firefighters. He has had this admiration for a while. Both Ty and GK had a great time exploring.... even in the heat! Well, we lasted about an hour. We left covered in sweat, so a trip to sonic for Happy Hour was a must. 

We were going to venture back out for Fire Works, but Tyler was complaining of is head and tummy hurting. He took a 3 hour nap in the early evening, which is not like him.... but woke up feeling so much better. I think he was tired and in need of some rest. Thankfully, we could see the fireworks from our backyard... they were far away, but you could still get the effect and the kids thought it was fun. 

Even though bittersweet this year, I am so thankful for the memories we created this year as a family. That is what this move has been about. One new memory at a time.

Summer Love

Yesterday we were invited to a fun pool that had so much to offer. Tyler and Georgia Kate both loved exploring this new pool. There were four water slides, and that is why Tyler is not in this picture. Between the slides and diving boards Tyler was occupied. This summer, Tyler has become very independent and simply loves all the new things we are experiencing this summer. I love my days with him and Georgia Kate. I thought I would long for our Temple summers, but there is so much to offer here during the summer that we are all having so much fun.
Georgia Kate loves the water and sun. She also had so much fun with her friends sliding over and over on the frog slide, and running through the pool splash pad. Just so you know, Gk saw her BFF, Charlotte getting her picture and she had to have one, too.
So thankful for these summer days even when the rays of sadness leave a mark on me as I remember back to 4 years ago. Thankfully, those marks of summer sadness are filled with absolute hope that we will all be whole and together again in Eternity. This month I cling to the goodness that Landry brought our family. This month we choose joy.

Nine Years

July 2, 2005 was the day I said, I do I am beyond thankful for Ryan, and I simply love and and adore walking this journey with him. I love you so much, Ryan. Thank you for simply being the best. I am looking forward to the next nine years with you, and all that God has in store for us.