Just the beginning

Get ready world!  A beautiful new musician is in the works!

Labels

I'm really not a fan.  Not the kind that tells us what sort of ingredients make up the cookie I'm about to put into my mouth, but the kind that we put on each other and assume that they tell us the ingredients that make up the people.  I've always had a bit of an aversion to being labeled.  Remember my fear of being an herby "earthy" girl?  It amazes me to watch Christians drawing sides over labels such as "Quiverfull vs. Birth Control", "Patriarchy vs. Independent Women", "Courtship vs. Dating" etc..  Do I have strong beliefs about such issues. You better believe it!!!  Do I believe pasting a label on me is an accurate way of  explaining to you what it is that I truly believe? Absolutely not. 

I believe what I believe about having children , because of what I believe about God.  I believe "the husband is the head of the wife" because that's what God says.  I believe relationships are blessed when they are placed into God's hands because He is faithful, and I've experienced it first hand.  I don't think any "group", or "way of thinking" can accurately define what I believe other than the Word of God. 

Let's be a little more cautious of getting swept up into a "group" and at the same time, be cautious of being offended by one.  Let's seek God's heart for the way we live, think, believe and train our children.  I'm so blessed by those of you who take the time to really hear out what I believe and who are willing to share what you believe as well. 

Tomorrow!!!

Anyone who's talked to me lately knows that I am incredibly excited about tomorrow.  WE START OUR FALL/SCHOOL SCHEDULE!!!!!!  I was ready to start last July (seriously!) but now that summer madness, retreats and weddings are mostly done with, we actually get to start!!!  I'll be filling you in soon with the details, but please pray for us as we get started.  May the Lord be glorified in all that we do!

8 Months!!!

I still find it hard to believe that another month could pass so quickly!

Ella Joy has finally broken through her first two teeth (in one day), is crawling all over and says Da-da-da.  We are all still completely bonkers over her!

Having Ella in our family still feels like a dream.  How can one little baby add such joy and sweetness?

Cousin Fun!!!!

One of the best parts of the entire wedding trip was getting to live in the same house as our adorable niece for three days!

Talia and Ella are 2 1/2 months apart and really had fun playing and crawling all over each other!

Isn't she beautiful?

This auntie cannot get enough of her! Talia is our only niece so far (but two more cousins on the way!!!).

This was the girls when we last saw them back in May.

They had a much better time together this trip!  I am so excited to watch these sweeties grow up together!

Speaking of cousins, David's cousin is visiting from Alaska and it has been so much fun connecting with her and her little sweeties!  The twins are only two months older than Ella, but watching them together was hilarious!  Could they be any more different?

What a blessing family is!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

What a wonderful weekend!!  On Thursday we headed back down to Redding to celebrate the marriage of David's brother Benjamin and his beautiful fiance Melissa.  It was such a joyous and blessed time!  What a privilege it was to watch the Lord work in their lives, bringing them together and bringing glory to Himself through them. 

Lydia and Melissa's niece, Aleah.  New buddies!

The bride with her sisters and future sisters!

All the nieces and nephews! 

Delicious cake balls!

Good-bye Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin King!

It truly was a beautiful day!  I was incredibly blessed to get to know the Brink and extended family.  I felt like I was saying  good-bye to my own family when it was over. 

Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!  Praise the Lord for proving once again that not only can He be trusted, but that His plans are far superior to anything we could ask or imagine!

You guessed it.....

I've been too busy to blog!!!!  It's always crazy when these times roll around but with gardening, canning, freezing, youth council retreat, wedding trip planning and daily life, my blog has been pushed decidedly to the back burner.

Please don't go too far!  I'm   l o n g i n g  for September 27 when I'm planning on officially starting our fall schedule (of course I don't know how I'm going to hold off next week!).  Blogging is on the schedule!  You will see more of me!  Until then (or sooner!) if you're a summer lover, drink up those last few rays of sunshine, if you're like me, light a pumpkin spice candle and dream of fall!

The best days of all, Daddy Days!!!

This summer has been crazy!  Really, really crazy!  But a couple of weekends ago Daddy decided to take the whole day and take his girls to the coast.  Nothing gets the five girls in this house excited like the idea of spending the whole day with Daddy!

Our first stop was Regatta Park.  I had been here as a little girl, but had forgotten all about it.  This is a really cool place!

This is only about 1/2 of the play structure!

Lydia and Bethany had a blast exploring all of the different things to climb, jump on, slide on etc..

Havilah was a little less than thrilled at not being able to swing the whole time, but still had fun watching her sisters.  "Swing now?"

The rubber bridge cheered her up a little!

The big girls however, never ran out of new things to try!

Finally, Havi got to swing!

Our next stop was the beach!  It was a little windy, but overall a gorgeous day!

"What's the hole for Daddy?"

Havi is the first one planted!

What pretty little flowers!

Lydia LOVED the ocean and would have chased waves all day long!

Bethany however, much preferred to keep her distance!

We went on south to Newport and checked out the wharf.

And of course the sea lions!

And of course, Mo's!

Waiting for food!

Mmmmm! Clam chowder!

Ella enjoyed her crackers!

On our way out of town we had time for one last stop. Salt Water Taffy!!!!!!!

Thank you Daddy for such a wonderful day!!!  It will be remembered for a very long time! We all love you!!!!!