one year

Sweet T is turning one today. On October 21 last year,
We didn't know he had been born.

We didn't know that just a few short weeks later, he would need a home.
We certainly didn't know the ups and downs of the Family Court and DHR systems.
We didn't know our hearts could love so much.
We didn't know if we'd have him a week or a month.
We didn't know what taking care of three kids would be like.
We didn't know how hard it would be.
We didn't know how easy it would be.
We didn't know that God would give us the strength we needed.

Well, today, Timothy James (aka Sweet T), turns one.

We don't know where this next year will take us.

We don't know why there are delays and challenges in the courts.

We don't know how our journey will end, but

We DO know the One that does.

We know that He has plans for a hope and a future.

We know that God is causing everything to work together for our good.

We know that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

We know that we are the light of the world.

We know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper.

We know that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

We know that we have been adopted. We are children of God and joint-heirs with Christ!

*taken loosely from "Identity" by Immanuel Marsh



Sweet Princess Laura Grace aka LaLa Belle

four years old

beautiful

silly

sassy

helpful

sister

loving

serious

princess

giggly

dirt-lover

singer

full of imagination

full of energy

Daughter of the King

I love you more and more everyday and we are so thankful that you are our little girl. I pray you have the happiest birthday ever!



oops.

is it bad that i look at my blog and am relieved that it's only been a little over a month since i've posted? :) 

i'm sure that i'm not the only one who is busy right now. we've got soccer and work and birthdays and halloween and adoptions and half-marathons. but, those things are coming up. let's talk about the month that has passed :)

other than training for the half marathon that Rachel and i are running this weekend (omg- THIS WEEKEND!) our September was full of football, soccer, training, tres dias weekends and a quick get away trip to the beach.

we are loving fall. i'm also loving some of the things that have come and gone that i've bene able to check off of our list. josh and i were both very involved with tres dias this last set of weekends. the amount of work and preparation are killer, but always always worth it. obedience brings blessings, right? always! i also had several work trips lined up where i had to be away for a few days for conferences and the like. i am so thankful, not only for a great, flexible, fun job, but also a great family that is able to step up and help when i'm away.

i guess looking forward, rachel and i are running in the 7 Bridges Half Marathon in Chattanooga on Sunday. we've both battling sickness this week. i can hardly breathe, and she's also in some discomfort. please pray that we're able to show up and do our best, based on all the training that we've been doing!

next on tap is timothy's first birthday, laura grace's fourth birthday, a combined birthday party, and an upcoming court date. will you pray? we feel that God is leading us in a direction and we're praying the courts and judge find favor with us. our whole goal is stability for timothy. please pray!

as soon as everything is moving and (hopefully final), we'll share all the details!