Happy Birthday Haven

Our sweet little girl is 2 today. I was looking back at baby pictures of her and admiring what beautiful little girl she is. She was a beautiful baby and every year she becomes more beautiful. Her beauty is seen on the inside as well. Daddy and I get to witness almost daily her compassionate spirit and loving heart.

Haven loves people. She already amazes us in her ability to connect with other children and form friendships. The way she cares for that person and plays with them. One of our prayers for her from the moment we knew we were having a girl and named her was God to make her a compassionate friend to those around her. We already see this being answered in her.

We can't wait to see how she continues to grow into a young girl and the things God has planned for her. However, I also want to enjoy her as she is now and wish time could slow just a little. I want to enjoy her more now before she does grow into a young girl.

Haven, you are a joy and you bring laughter and that girliness factor to our home.

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy, Jadon & Jude

Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day here was rainy so we waited to visit Karis' grave on the following Friday. It was a nice day and Todd and I took the kids. Jadon helped put the flower and butterfly picks beside her headstone. Afterwards they both sat beside the headstone. At one point they were sitting there running their little fingers over her name. It brought tears to my eyes watching them. This year she would have been 5. It is so hard to imagine us having a 5 year old, so many times it seems like it all happened just yesterday.

Everytime we go visit her grave Jadon spends the next couple of days talking about her. I am always amazed at how his little mind works.

More Pictures

I hadn't had a day in a while where I just carried my camera around and took pictures. I'm still trying to learn all the cool things I can do with it. I'm really hoping to get lessons soon with a friend who is a photographer. Here's some pictures of our day on Friday.

Haven is helping me work in our flower bed in front of our house. We had many weeds that needed to be pulled. She enjoyed shoveling the dirt for me.

Jude was laying in the floor and Jadon went and layed beside him. Jude kept grabbing his ear and laughing.

After playing hard outside they were rewarded with pop-ices. This was Haven's first one, I think she enjoyed it.

At the end of our day I went to check on the kids before heading to bed myself and this is how I found Jadon sleeping. His "string" laying across his face. He was so tired that the flash from the camera didn't even stir him, and I took several.

He's on a Roll

Jude has been rolling over now for a little while. It never gets old when you get experience these "firsts" with your children. Seeing Jude roll over is as exciting as it was to watch Jadon roll over for the first time and watching Haven do all her firsts were equally exciting as well.

Today I got to document Jude rolling over with my camera. I had a few minutes with just him after I layed Jadon and Haven down. Thanks to my new camera I was able to catch it.

You're So Funny

We have arrived at the stage where my Jadon talks non-stop. I mean we get in the car and it is continuous talking until we get to our destination, Nana and Mema can second this. If he can't think of anything to talk about he starts asking what the signs say. "Mom, what does that octogon say?" or "Mom, what does that arrow say?" or "Mom, what does that triangle say?" Any sign he can find he likes to say the shape and ask what is says. Then comes all the why questions. "Why is the sun following us?" (I remember thinking that as a child, but I don't think I ever asked that question out loud.)

This summer Todd and I are going to go to Denver with Global Encounter. The kids and I will be riding with Donna and Todd will meet us there a couple days later. I can only imagine all the questions and signs we will see in the 15 hour drive. Lord, please help me.

Another Jadon story, he is becoming so smart. We were at the mall on Saturday and a boy walked by in his baseball uniform and Jadon look there's twenty five. I look and oh my goodness the number on his jersey actually is 25. He's also been learning addition and is quite proud of his math skills. I pray he does not struggle in math like his momma.

And I have to add one more cutsie story, this one about Haven or Have (long A sound) as Jadon likes to refer to her. I was really tired last night so Todd (the most thoughtful husband every) offered to take care of dinner. I asked Haven what sounded good for dinner, here's our conversation:

Me: "Haven what sounds good for dinner?"

Haven: "Ummmm, (pause) hicken."

Me: "Chicken?"

Haven: "yeah."

Haven: "hegg."

Me: "egg?"

Haven: "yeah."

Daddy: "which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Haven: "the chicken." (there you go folks, the answer to the question everyone's been asking for decades, the chicken did come before the egg.)

Haven: "ummmm, hahun."

Mommy: "bacon?"

Haven: "yeah"

Mommy: "So for dinner you want chicken, an egg and bacon."

Haven: "ummm, yeah!"

Just so you know she did get the chicken, but she got apples with honey instead of eggs and bacon.

Happy Day

We are officially done with Pleasant Hope schools. My sister graduated on Sunday. It is so strange to think that she will now be a college student. I am so excited to see what God is going to do in her life as an adult. She is planning on going to Uganda this summer with the college group. I know she would appreciate any prayers for the trip, they leave August 1 and will return the 17.

Congratulations Sis!

I LOVE YOU!

Blessed Be The Babies

We have been blessed with babies this month. Yesterday another one of my sweet friends and bridesmaids in my wedding had their first little boy. It was a wonderful delivery and both are doing terrific. I was so excited when I got the call she had went to the hospital, he and Jude will be exactly 3 months apart. Blessings on their sweet family.

Another precious little boy.