For everything there is a season...

My sweet, precious Papa went home yesterday to be with our savior...oh how I can only imagine what he can see now.  The beauty, the glory, the voices of perfect praise... 

It would be a lie to say my heart is not broken.  Papa walked this earth a witness to our Lord every day.  Even after years of health problems, the man could say a prayer and sing a hymn without missing a beat.  He may have not always been fully aware of life as we knew it, but he knew who lived in his heart and praised our Lord with all that was within him.

In the hours that have passed since I received the news, the Lord has granted me a peace that could only come from Him.  Yes, my heart is broken and it hurts.  But, I am so happy for my Papa.  He is happy.  He is healthy.  He is with his family and friends who have passed before him.  He is walking the streets of gold, singing the hymns he loves, and offering the utmost praise. 

The past few hours have been a mixture of emotions.  I have walked the path of memories that I think everyone does in times like these.  I remember how Papa loved to garden.  He grew the most amazing watermelons...so amazing he set Eric and I up a stand to sell them in the yard.  And then he did most of the work :)  He and Mimi would make us after school snacks ~ my favorite of choice ~ fresh cucumbers.  I remember how he would dip his sugar-free Popscicles in sugar because they didn't taste good otherwise and how he would never eat the lime green ones.  I remember being a clown for Halloween one year and going to the festival at Cedar Grove.  There are even pictures somewhere...ones I will cherish forever!  I remember him sitting on the porch swing teaching me the words to "When the Roll is Called up Yonder," a hymn I will forever associate with him and our sweet times together.  I remember how blessed I felt on my wedding day to have my sweet Papa there to see me marry the man of my dreams.  I remember when he first met Sophia and how he would carry all his babies around like a "sack of potatoes".  And boy, did they all love it :)  Oh how, I wish that my sweet Lilah Bear would have had the chance to meet her amazing Papa.  But I know I will have plenty of stories to share with her as she gets older, and maybe I will teach both my girls the words to that precious hymn one day as well.

Oh how I could go on and on about my Papa.  He has left an imprint on his family that will never be filled by anyone else.  He has taught us how to live by his sweet spirit and gracious, unfailing love.  Yes, he has left this earth, but he is more alive now that he has ever been.  That I know for sure.

So to my sweet Papa...you will never know how missed you are.  You were loved beyond words.  You have forever changed our lives for the better.  You have taught me life lessons I will pass on to my own children.  You have showed me what it means to "finish the good race".  And now, you have received the reward.  I am sure you are already tilling your land, raising crops, and sitting in the light of our Savior.  Enjoy Heaven precious Papa.  You deserve it!

All my love, forever and always.

My Little Farm Girl

Back in January we took a long weekend trip to "the Farmlet" to visit Grandma and Papa John.  And boy does my kiddo LOVE the farm!  Chickens, bunnies, flowers, outside, grandparents to play with, and even a tractor ride thrown in there...what little girl wouldn't be content?!

Soph's first attempt at gathering the eggs.  Sure is a good thing that we had eggs for breakfast the next morning because I'm almost positive that of the three eggs that she "gathered", exactly zero were crack-free by the time she was done.  Guess we need a lesson in being gentle with eggs...hmmm...dying and hunting Easter eggs should be an experience!

Next chore on the list...feeding the chickens.

One of her very favorite things!  And side note:  She has a pretty stinking cute "chicken" sound :)

Can't forget to feed the bunnies!

Day 2 of feeding the chickens...sporting her new Twinkle Toes :)

Notice this time, we've progressed to INSIDE the chicken coup.

Her aim was not that much better inside than it was from on-top of the chicken coup...

guess we will need to work on that too (hint hint Uncle James who picked a t-ball set for Christmas)!

Hanging with Papa

Run Sophie Run!

Tractor Ride...

And yes, I am a worry wart...and yes, this made me slightly nervous!

Even if I did do the same thing at her age :)

Just a photo op Mommy couldn't (or wouldn't) pass up.

I love this little girl and her smile can make even the worst of days beautiful again!

Just see for yourself :)

We are very blessed to have several places our little girls will be able to run, get dirty and experience life outside in the country.  Funny...next time we go visit there will be two little girls to photograph :)  Sort of scary but terribly exciting all at the same time!  Can't wait!!!

Thank you Lord for blessing us far beyond what we could ever deserve!

A Few of a Girl's Favorite Things!

Mommy, Daddy, outside, "birdies", the zoo AND Harper Anne!  Oh my!!!  What more could So-So ask for?!  Well honestly, I could think of just a few more things, but overall I'd say she had a pretty fun day :)

 Absolutely adore these two precious girls!!!

And, I'm pretty sure they adore each other :)

 I love how So-So is looking at Harper Anne in this photo!  Can you see the love?!

More fun...

How we managed to get such a cooperative and precious photo, I may never know!

But I am so glad we did :)

Meerkats

Playing with the fish!

See what I meant earlier when I said it was pretty safe to say she had a good day?!  Love memories like these!!!  We are so blessed to have such amazing friends for our sweet girl and for Mommy and Daddy as well.  Love this family :)

To My Sweet Little Lilah Bear...

Wow...24 weeks (2/21/2012)!  I can't believe that this sweet time with you is going by so fast.

Some people don't enjoy being pregnant, and I respect that.  I, however, love being pregnant.  No, it's not easy.  In fact, this pregnancy is way harder than the first time around.  I'm more tired than before (blame this one on your older sister).  I was sicker.  My pelvic bone is sometimes out of alignment.  I have heartburn.   Simply put, my body is just not responding as well.  But even all that being said, I love this time with you.  It is a time when it's literally just you, me and the Lord.  I love your kicks, punches and rolls...even when you think that Mommy's bedtime is playtime.  I love hearing your heartbeat at each appointment and knowing that the Lord has entrusted me with you.  I even love all the more painful things mentioned above because it means that you are growing bigger and healthier...each day one day closer to actually seeing your precious face and hearing your sweet cry.  Sweet girl, there truly are no words...my cup overfloweth!

And 3 weeks later!!!  See what I mean by the time going by so quickly?! 

Time is just flying by and each day brings me a little closer to holding you in my arms for the first time...a feeling that I could never even begin to explain.  At 27 weeks (3/13/2012), I am finally feeling REALLY good!  I have most of my energy back and my bad days are few and far between now.  And thanks to that...let the nesting, organizing, diving head first into loads of baby stuff begin!!!!!!! 

This weekend I truly started to get ready for you to come into our home and forever change our lives.  Clothes, bottles, bassinet, swing, bouncy seat, car seats, bathtub...oh, how I wish I could tell you the joy that filled my heart.  It was such a sweet experience to go through your sister's old clothes and remember how tiny she used to be, how she felt that little snuggled up to me and at the same time know that those precious moments with you are getting so close. 

I picture you often...wonder what you will look like, what your cry will sound like, how it will feel when you grasp my fingers for the first time and look into my eyes with that unconditional love that exists between a mother and her child.  The closer we get, the more my heart grows for you.  Your kicks are getting stronger, and I wonder what those little legs and feet are going to look like.  Your tumbles make me wonder if you really will flip out of the breech position or if you too will have a stubborn flare like our precious Sophia.  Somehow I imagine you will :)

Sweet little Lilah Bear, I can't promise you a life of ease because trials are sure to come.  I can't promise you that you will reach every one of your dreams because sometimes God's plans are different from our own.  I can't even promise you that Daddy and I will always make the right decisions...though believe me we will try.  I can't promise you that you won't have your heartbroken, nor can I promise you that life will treat you fair because the truth is that life isn't always fair.  However, I can promise you these things.  The Lord will never leave you nor forsake you.  He loves you more than you can ever imagine...even more that we do and that says a lot.  I promise you a lifetime of hugs and kisses.  I promise to encourage you and guide you to the very best of my abilities,and when I just don't have the answer, I promise to pray with you and support you until the Lord gives us the words we need to hear.  And I promise you this, no matter where Mommy and Daddy are or where life takes us, our arms are always your home and our hearts will forever overflow with love for you.  Try not to fear sweet girl...for where you are, the Lord is with you and you only have to think for a moment to remember that Mommy and Daddy are right there with you too.  For where you are, so is our love. 

Until next time sweet angel!  Keep growing big and strong.  All my love ~ to the moon and back.

Forever and always,
Mommy