Focus on The Family

So as many of you know Focus on the Family holds a special place in the hearts of Eric and I. We have so many fond memories of the friends, places, and things we learn. I was VERY sentimental to go back and take our son with us. It was a really big deal for me. Once we got there, Eric, realized how much that place shaped who we are and what we believe.

We were also able to take John Hunter to Adventures in Odyssey it was so wonderful. God is doing amazing things through that ministry. And JH has loved listening to the books on tape so he loved it. What a great place. One of my favorite memories EVER!

Colorado Recap!

So we ventured to Colorado last week to celebrate the marriage of Sarah (my sister in law) and Greg (my now brother in law). We had a great time and it was WONDERFUL to see family and friends. Eric, John Hunter, and I drove out there and although I was dreading EVERY minute, it was wonderful!. Everyone did gret, no one slept, and the company was excellent! We arrived on Wednesday Morning and hung out and had a great dinner on Wednesday night cooked by my amazing husband and his brother.

Thursday was full of Pre-wedding stuff as well as the rehearsal dinner! Everything was beautiful!

Friday was the wedding day. We did hair, makeup, and even hiked around the garden of the gods! The wedding was beautiful! As it was fun memories!

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Colorado bound

So on Tuesday we are headed to Colorado for the wedding of my amazing Sister in law. I could not be more excited to share in her special day, and we are thrilled to welcome Greg into the White family. I love when a new "in law" joins....

Colorado as many of you know holds a special place in my heart. First and foremost I can truly say I encountered God there. Those mountains and their majesty speak volumes as to who I am today. I also made some life long friends when I was in Colorado. I cannot believe it has been NINE years since graduating from Focus, but the God that brought us together is still the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

One of the more life changing things that happened in Colorado was I met my husband. It was planned, for that matter it wasn't even love at first sight, but we became GREAT friends, fast. We both have great stories about our first impressions of each other, and we both that "places in Colorado" that mark milestones in our relationship. God has been faithful to us in the nine years we have know each other and the 6.5 years we have been married.

I would not say that this journey has been easy, actually I would say the this last year has been the hardest year of my life and our marriage. But daily I am reminded that God is faithful, he delights in us, and he desires a relationship with us. I am thankful for Colorado, and for what it means to our family. And I am tickled pink to take John Hunter there. Stay tuned for updated posts from our journey

And an altar was built

I have been reading a lot on Exodus. There are many reason for my visit to the Old Testament, so rich with history, and so relevant to my life today. One reoccurring theme that i keep seeing is the line "and an altar was built and it was called" I am not sure how much reading in Exodus you've been doing but just take a glance I am confident you will see it!

I love the story in Exodus 17 where the Israelites are fighting, as long as Moses arms are raised they are winning, but if his arms drop, they are loosing. The Elders stand in and help him raise his arms, they use rocks to prop them, and they battle is the LORDS. And then after all is said and done, an altar is built, and they called it "The Lord is my Banner".

What kinds of altars are you building in your life? Not idols, but altars. Webster defines altars as"usually raised structure or place on which sacrifices are offered or incense is burned in worship —often used figuratively to describe a thing given great or undue precedence or value especially at the cost of something else"

So do you have any altars, things that help you remember where God has brought you. For me I have journals, bibles, pictures, or even some trinkets. When I look at them, think about them, or pull them out of storage I am reminder that God has carried me through a LOT in my life. Each season He has been faithful, and continues to be.

Another reason I am loving my time in Exodus is because as you know they are wandering in the wilderness. I would say at this season in my life I have been blessed beyond belief, but I am in the wilderness, a desert so to speak. There are so many reasons for this, and one day I cannot wait to share with you how the LORD has brought my family into the Promise Land! But until then I am confident that God wants me to build an idol for this season. So I build. Something for He and I to cling to and to cherish, something where all the HONOR is HIS and His alone. Something tangible where the generations that follow will look upon that altar and call on the name of Jehovah Jirah ( the LORD provides)

Way too long...

So I know it has been way too long since I have posted, and I am sorry for that! Our lives have been a little crazy as of late, but oh well! I am gonna post in bullet points:

* The BIG surprise was that we went home and surprised my mom by picking her up from the airport after being in Flordia for a week. She was so shocked and we had a great visit home. Thanks to the Stones for letting us crash there. During our visit we also got to meet our dear friends little girl Stella. She was born at 31 weeks and on JH's birthday. We also got to hang out with her brother which was a blessing!

* John Hunter had his first slumber party at a friends house. We have been blessed with great friends and they offered for JH to stay the night while Eric and I went to Cincy for the night. I was so worried because he is not the best of sleepers at other peoples houses. He went to bed at 9:30 and woke up at 9:15 the next morning. What a blessing! Thanks to the Jahn family for watching our little man!

* We carved awesome pumpkins and made pumpkin seeds

* We had a great trunk or treat at church and a great trick or treat.... we have ENTIRELY too much candy in this home. But oh well. I have to say we had one of the cutest little buzz lightyears I have ever seen!

* We are on a countdown to go to Colorado. We are DRIVING there in less than 2 weeks for my amazing sister in laws wedding. We could not be more thrilled!

* And I am anxious to get working on my Christmas cards!

I promise I will get better with the posting... really I will!

SUPRISE!

I hate surprises...I am the person that likes to open gifts at christmas and then wrap them back. I however love to be the one who surprises people! And hold tight friends... I have a BIG surprise for you!

Let's Party Like's He's Almost FOUR!

Yesterday we celebrated John Hunter's 4th birthday. We have a few of his friends over to bounce around. It was so much fun. The highlight of the party was we had the MetLife blimp hover over our house for the party. They were so generous for doing us and it THRILLED one little four year old boy.

I cannot believe my baby is almost four and can't even express how grateful for him and what he has brought into our lives (MORE ON THAT LATER)...

Today we got to have a private tour of the blimp. We had some friends and neighbors join us and it was really cool. We got to go inside and JH even got to pull and tug on it with his friend Gabrielle... which by they way I think they make the cutest pair :)

Also, my parents came up and as always words cannot express how much it meant to have them here. We were so blessed for all the help and effort and playing they put into this weekend. However we did send dad and JH to get balloons yesterday and he came home with THREE cans of silly string... my backyard does not look the same right now:) Thanks Grandad you have made one little boy happy.

Happy birthday sweet JH... we love you!