Magical Princess

Last weekend I walked by Lily's room and found her all dressed up in her
butterfly wing princess dress that her aunt and uncle gave her for her birthday.
 I decided to snap a few pictures to capture the moment (even her mischievous little grin).

The light pouring into her room was a welcome change to the rainy, cold weather we have had in recent days.  

She kept waving her wand around saying "magical princess...magical princess".  

I pray that she will always embrace this spirit of freedom and joy to be all that God has created her to be. 

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."  Ephesians 2:10

Forever Family Day...3 years later

When we met Lily on March 14, 2011 she held an apple tightly in one hand and a sucker in another. They were her sense of security when her world was changing upside down.

I ran across the sucker recently as I was looking for something in our attic. I was amazed to find it exactly as it was the day we met her. The wrapper slightly torn...half way open...covering the sweet treat hidden inside. An interesting analogy to the gift we were handed that special day. Our little girl...broken yet full of sweet joy beyond measure once we began to unwrap the layers of her personality over time.

These are the shoes she was wearing...in perfect condition...purchased just for her to wear to meet her forever family. An act of love and thoughtfulness on behalf of those who cared for her.

It is amazing how time heals and changes our perspective on life. As I reflect on this pivotal day, I am humbled by the beauty that continues to rise out of the brokenness...out of the hard places we have walked. So much joy...so much gratitude...so much hope fills my heart. Our daughter, chosen from the beginning of time, is a beautiful reflection of God's grace.

I love these words to Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Only One and Only You".  

 Happy forever family day Lily Grace! You are God's masterpiece and such a blessing to our family.

A little fedora love, smiles and a beats pill...

I am WAY behind on posting pictures to my blog and plan to catch up in the near future but for now, I wanted to share two of my favorite valentines with you.

These two certainly have enough love and joy to go around and their smiles can light up any room. A few weeks ago we got a break in the weather and headed out to have some fun with our Valentine props Lily helped me put together.

Spencer is always a good sport but I'm sure the fact that I promised to take some pics of him with his new beats pill (a portable speaker) was an added incentive :))

Spencer was playing his favorite songs (to which Lily knows most all of the words) and she had a ball dancing around to the music.

They both are looking so grown up in these pictures and it reminds me how quickly time passes.  

Spencer is counting down the days until he gets his driver's permit and Lily becomes more independent daily.   

My heart overflows with love and gratitude for these two blessings God has given us and we wait with expectation for the little one God has chosen for our family.  Wouldn't that be a great Valentine's gift to receive today?    

Earlier this week I was soaking up some quiet time studying God's word and writing in my journal.  

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."  Colossians 3:2

Easier said than done in this world where so many "things" can easily distract me and take my eyes off course.  Life has been a little crazy lately and it's been awhile since I have stopped to rest in God's word and let His truth wash over me. 

When I make time to silence the noise of life I am reminded that when I invest my heart and my time in eternal things, I experience more of the fullness of God.  

Our family verse for the month is a great reminder of this truth.  

Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."  Proverbs 4:23

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love isn't love until you give it away...who will you show some love to today?

A few of my favorite moments from 2013

As I was looking back through all the pictures to make our 2013 blessings video (you can watch it here), I realized there are so many pictures and memories that never made it to the blog.  

Maybe I'll do a separate post with some collages to document those stories but for now enjoy  

 a quick year in review highlighting some of my favorite moments from the past year.

Giggles from a morning spent together reading books under the tent we made in her room.
{january}

Reading on the ledge in our hotel room the day we arrived in Little Rock
for her yearly follow up visit with the amazing cleft team.
It was a bittersweet trip as we said goodbye to our favorite nurse Emily
who was God's angel to us during all of her surgeries.
{february}

   A freedom project Spencer helped me complete for my online photography class.
{march}

Taking in the beauty of the thousands of tulips that fill Cheekwood gardens.
{april}

Chef Lily taking orders to cook up something sweet.
{april}

Our little princess running carefree in the field of dreams.
{may}

Sunset on the beaches of Pawleys Island.
The expression on their faces say it all in this one...this is my favorite picture of the year.
{june}

Some fun cousin love at sunset on Grayton beach.
{july}

Sweet smiles on a hot summer day.
{august}

The serious side of our fun-loving girl.
{september}

Our annual night out together (per his request) for some photos downtown.
Hard to believe this is his last year in middle school.
{october}

Our little butterfly musician taking flight.
{october}

Another one of my favorites from the year...love the way she looks up to her big brother.
{november}

Our annual Christmas Eve tradition in downtown Franklin.  

Praying that next year two little girls are snuggled up in Spencer's lap :))

{december}

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  

Lamentations 3:22-23

Happy New Year!

I've got more than I ever thought I would...

It's been refreshing to have a little down time the past few days to reflect and remember all of the blessings God has so generously poured out over our family.  I had fun looking back through all of our videos and pictures from 2013...and if you know me, there are just a "few" to sort through!!

I am working on a post featuring some of my favorite highlights from the past year but for now I wanted to share a video that gives a glimpse into our year together as a family.

Michael recently found the song "Good" by Dave Barnes and the words hit home with me the first time I heard it.

There was a time in my life that wasn't filled with joy or hope, but with a lot of tears and sadness.
I wasn't sure I would ever have a family of my own or experience the blessings and joy I have been given.
Friends would assure me that life would change but there were days when I was alone in my apartment that I questioned...I wondered...I poured out my heart to the One who has always proved faithful.

And that He did...almost 10 years ago I married my amazing husband Michael and I never would have imagined that life could be so good.  Yes...we have our challenges and heartaches together, but at the end of the day we look around us and can honestly say we have more than we ever thought we would.

As the year comes to an end, I look back with a heart of gratitude for God's favor and provision that  has exceeded our expectations.  And as another new year dawns...we look forward with anticipation to what lies ahead as we continue to watch the story He is writing in our lives unfold.

Happy New Year!!

Make a joyful noise

Spencer recently started taking guitar lessons again and it has been fun to watch him grow.  

He has a natural talent for memorizing and learning new songs with ease.  

I love listening to him practice while I'm making dinner or playing with Lils.  

It also keeps her motivated to practice her violin so that she can get "better and better".  

Lily is also a big fan of hanging out in his room dancing around to all his music.  

We met someone recently who didn't know either of them but immediately noticed the unique bond they share.

Sometimes it is easy to take that for granted so it was a great reminder of how truly blessed we are.  

He is makes her laugh and be silly.  

And she looks up to him as if he hung the moon.  

I cannot wait to see another little one join our family and experience the love they have to share.  

Do You Believe?

"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. 

 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

What keeps you from Bethlehem?

For me...it is the business of this season and trying to check of the "to do" lists that never seem to end.
 If I allow it, this can easily take me away from the truth of that holy night.

The lyrics of my favorite Christmas song this year, Carl Cartee's "Do You Believe", says it well...

If God became a baby, to take the sinners place

to be our salvation...think about the meaning of that day.

Do you believe he made the world?

Do you believe he changed the world?

Do you believe he saved the world?

Oh, the meaning of that night...

The hands, that placed the stars in the sky, wrapped tightly around Mary and Joseph's fingers.

The voice, that spoke the world into being, cried out in the stillness of the night.

The love, poured out for our sins on the cross, reached into a mother's heart.

The light of the world became flesh so that we might have life. There is no greater gift.

Thank you Jesus for your love and pursuit of me even when I stray off course with the distractions of this world.

Oh that I may return to Bethlehem daily to be reminded of the never ending, all consuming love
that entered into the world that Christmas night.

Let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Praying your Christmas was filled with the awe and wonder of the gift we have in Jesus.