SEVENTEEN!!!

Okay, I admit it. I spent the day on the verge of tears watching our gorgeous, amazing, precious oldest child turn SEVENTEEN right before our very eyes.

 

In fact, I'm going to have to restrain myself even now from too much elaboration on my thoughts regarding this day. Watching my oldest child grow into a young adult is difficult to put into words. The words get all jumbled and then the tears start to form and well, tears + keyboard = wet short circuiting mess, right? Yeah, let's not go there.

 

 

I was able to write this up a few nights ago: Our baby girl!! I've been walking around in tears all day. See that beauty there? That's just a glimpse of the true beauty within. Elizabeth's love for the Lord and God's word shine. She amazes, humbles, and challenges me daily. I truly never grasped how grateful I could be for the privilege of being someone's mother. God has been so gracious to give us this precious girl.

 

When Elizabeth was dedicated as a baby we chose this as her life verse. Just imagine how much more that means to us now, looking back all these years.

 

"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him (her) to the LORD; as long as he (she) liveth he (she) shall be lent to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:27-28

 

For Elizabeth's special day we enjoyed a quiet breakfast with just her and David and I early in the morning. Then we picked up the rest of the gang and headed to Kittery Trading Post so she could pick out her gift, a new bow for our lovely Medieval Princess.

 

We stopped for a special lunch out at one of her favorite restaurants (really, one of the only restaurants she likes to eat at) where she studiously kept at her schoolwork so as not to get behind.  She's a keeper, I tell ya'!

 

Dinner with the fam that night was her pick of Curried Rice with Carrots and Chickpeas and a large salad.  Almost no one in the fam really likes curry besides Elizabeth, so this was a real treat for her.

 

A yummy, simple dessert of Apple Nachos topped with peanut butter-date drizzle and a heart shaped raw brownie made everyone smile. Yum!

 

I'm watching this young lady grow and bloom before my eyes. I am in awe.  I think of the words to the song, "Sunrise, Sunset" from one of our favorite movies, Fiddler on the Roof:  "I don't remember growing older, when did they??"  That's how I feel when I look at my precious baby girl. 

 

 

Yet, I do know that I have become so much more from the gift of being her mother.  I'm so grateful to the Lord for choosing this journey for me and blessing me with such a person to learn with and from along the way.

 

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; They will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate." Psalm 127: 3-5  

Happy Birthday, Josh!!

Joshua turned FIFTEEN this summer!! It's amazing, crazy, and wonderful all at once.  On his birthday we celebrated with friends, pizza, and cake before he headed out for his Alert Cadet meeting. 

The following week we took the fam to a local Go Crazy place for a night filled with go cart racing, laser tag, video games, and mini-golf.  We had A BLAST.  Bummer for us (and you) that we forgot the camera.  You'll just have to trust us that our very cool son had a very cool birthday with his very cool family. :)

Josh and the long bow he picked out for his birthday gift.

BabyKinz Is Two!

It's so hard to believe our little Kindred Promise is two years old! Her birthday brings a close to our spring birthday season. I'll admit that I was ready for the grand finale to come.  We packed up a picnic supper and headed to the park all those things that two year olds love best. Swings, slides, sweets, and playing with sibs.

 

 

 

I can't even begin to tell you how much I love to squish and love on this adorable, yummy little baby doll.  The only problem is, I often have to wait in line behind the rest of the family to do it!  As Kindy begins to work on talking, playing, and joining in on the family fun and work around the house she keeps us all laughing at her sweet two year old ways. We love you, BabyKinz!!

Miss Verity Turns Six

We took Verity's birthday on the road for some fun fishing at the lake. We figured it would be the perfect place for her to try out her new fishing pole.

A picnic lunch, presents, hunting for snails, and a little goofing around made the day a lot of fun.

 A medieval gown made by big sister, Elizabeth.

 

 

We headed home to make Verity's cake. Another watermelon tiered cake that she loved decorating herself. It turned out so pretty, just like her. :)

Watching Verity grow and change this year has been a delight.  Though we are working on some things, she is becoming a sweet young girl that loves to learn, help, and be a part of what everyone else is doing.  Her imagination is vast and she loves to become whomever and whatever we are reading and learning about.  It's a treat to be her mom and enjoy all her adventures with her.