Goodbye plex, holla foreclosure

Praising God for His provision, driving away smiling 

At the sun illuminating the sky above a place we called

Home for 3 and a half years.

Moving on with a loud yell from the kids and I

Out the window of the Quest

Bye house

Oh the adventure ahead of home ownership.

Bring it.

Thank you, God, once again for amazing us with your goodness.

Our foreclosure home may be a lil beat up

But what can I say?

We're in love.

We'll take it, fix it on up, and call it

Home.

P vex 2013-2014

Dear Polar Vortex

we survived.

barely.

{grace of God prevails}

well that was an experience.

a once.in.a.lifetime one, we hope.

as you can see we gathered some wonderful moments

And braved the freeze and the frigid and thawed in between

so we could do it again.

now once again, you can go and leave us alone.

I don't want to build {another} snowman.

sincerely, 

Laurie for the fam

Triple J turns 11

Happy birthday, Jon!  

Your smile and excitable personality is contagious,

Lighting up a room whenever you're in it.

We love you.

We love you for who you are and all the millions of ways 

That make you, YOU.

Just when we think we grasp what a blessing you are to us,

You amaze us once again with your heart that seems to burst

With the good news of the gospel, the news of Jesus as Savior

And we are thrilled for what He has in store for you.

Legos and basketball and China and Camp T......

Those subjects can always get you talking up a storm these days,

All for different reasons.

Of course, you're always ready for a chat with us

Whether it's in the car ride to somewhere, sitting in the family room

Or around the kitchen table.....

Please never stop all these great chats with us, son--

We love them and we love you.

Here's to 11 being as fun as 10 and 9.....

Let's celebrate YOU!

Caleb Bo Baleb

Oh, Caleb

How we love you.

You brighten up our days with all your wonderful ways.

You are quick with your wit and silly sayings that make us laugh

And quick on your feet, loving to run and run and run

And quick to share all that you have with your siblings or anyone around

Now you are 8

And that is super great

Can you please keep your toothless grin for us to cherish forever??

You laugh and smile and laugh more.

I'm this past year you have gone through some yuck tummy stuff

And you have been so brave and cheerful through it all.

Such trust......in Dad and Mom as we helped walk you through the yuck

But especially in God who heard every prayer you prayed

And every prayer that was prayed for you.

Happy birthday to YOU!

Looking forward to the year ahead and all it holds.

Kids + Christmas

It's Christmastime around here.

So thankful for baby Jesus.

Peace on earth.

fall warm fuzzies.

Marshmallows. with a lil hot cocoa.  

And argyle cardi.....swoon

Fall football.  Intenseness.

Be still my heart, Jon James.  You make your mama coffee and give her sweet notes.

Never. letting. you. go.

The trifecta of James boys have infiltrated Hadfield school and it will never be the same.

Father and son duo.  Middle children from gen to gen.

I sent him to kindergarten and he now he thinks he's a man.  Just 'stache' him.

The girls sometimes visit Dad in his (new) church office when the boys are at school.

Especially Wednesday Bible study morns.

A boy and his guitar.  Someday I am told it will sound as good as this pic looks.

Pastor Caleb brings us the Word on a Sunday morn when the roads prevented us from church.

Mercy.

Double trouble you think?

Carcasonne.  A new family addiction.  Fun times.

That's the fall in these parts.  

{At least all the warm and fuzzies of it.}

My little love

Dear Charity
I'm enjoying all our days together when the brothers are at school ( or 'my guys' as you sometimes call them)
The first day when they left for school you had a mental 'to do' list for us. Play dough, tea party, making cookies, doll house, beauty shop.....by the time 11:30 rolled around we completed everything, you wondered why your guys weren't home yet, and so we snuggled and watched 'Dora' together.
Love.
Love you, love our time together,
love all the sweet ways that are you.