Boys of Summer

Who doesnt love watching baseball? It is one of my absolute favorite summer past times. I loved watching Blake play growing up and spent many, many hours at the fields, and now we get to do the same with Jake. I hope Preston loves this game, too!

Kate and Pres had made all of their favorite baseball boys (Jake, Uncle Brett, and PopPop) a baseball with their fingerprints as the laces. Kate delivered hers to the dugout at one of Jake’s games.

Jake looks so big to me in these pictures. I really cant believe my baby is taller than me (and Luke too!)
Serious player:
 
Then he spotted his the camera: 
So serious!

Pres also loved playing with a rogue ball with his Daddy and Uncle Blake during the game.

Kate enjoyed coloring with a new friend :)

Some say our national pastime is baseball. Not me. It's gossip.
Erma Bombeck

Summer time Fun

We have been making the most of ever day this summer! Kate has loved dressing herself, and she would wear cowgirl boots everyday if I let her!
I had an absolutely wonderful Mother’s Day. The past two years, it has fallen in the middle of exams which means I barely got to see Luke that day. This year, it was the day after graduation, and Luke made up for the last two years.
Traditional Breakfast in Bed
Luke also surprised me with an Ipad! We usually do sentimental gifts (ie whatever the kids make), so this was a HUGE surprise!! We have loved playing on it!
Trying to get  kids in a pic is always funny to me.
Freeeeeedom!
We have also enjoyed a bunch of lazy days at home,

Celebrating 1st Birthdays,

enjoying the zoo,,
keeping KKs pool full of friends,
& beating up a worn out Daddy!

Sassy pants! 
Pres loves his Uncle Jakey!
Last day of school BBQ treat!
We also are the proud owners of a new (to us) vehicle! My PT cruiser (that Luke’s mom gave us after the wreck..Thank You!!) died the week of Luke’s graduation, and we had to have another vehicle with the way our schedules work out and the fact that we live out in the middle of nowhere (a “suburb” of a one stop sign town :) Anyway,since we have been married, I had driven 5 different cars. We are huge Dave Ramsey supporters, but I put my foot down and said No More DR Cars!! So, we now have a real car note for the first time in 4 years! Boo…but I absolutely LOVE my new van. Fell free to make fun of me, but I love everything about it! The space, the doors, the functionality….I could go on and on. It is a white Honda Odyssey, and I will hopefully be able to drive it until it dies…like my other 5 cars!

Bye Bye Cruiser…Hello Mini!

“I'm not against people having new cars. I'm against them having you. We spend a tremendous amount impressing somebody at the stoplight who we'll never meet. It makes you broke and keeps you broke.” Dave Ramsey

3.1 Miles of Color Awesomeness

Yall are amazing! We have the largest team right now for The Color Run...48 people have signed up!! My goal was 20...I am completely blown away and absolutely cannot wait for October 13!!! If you still need a tshirt or to sign up for the race, please do so below. It is gonna be colortastic!!

Remember, you have to sign up for a tshirt after you register for the race!!
Sign up for a tshirt using the paypal link below.

Sizes

Small    Medium    Large    XL

Ok, I had some friends get on to me for selling the tshirts so cheap. If you would like to donate to our baby in addition to or in lieu of a tshirt, feel free! We hated to raise the price because we want people to participate! How awesome will it be to show Baby C how many people brought him/her home?

If you live in another city that is doing The Color Run, we would love to have you on our team too! Buy a tshitrt to wear in your race and send us a pic!

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky. -Rabindranath Tagore

Scars

"I drive like a Cullen" bumper sticker from my mom from Christmas '10...a little foreshadowing!

It is hard to believe that one year ago our fairytale world was changed forever.At 11:58 pm a year ago, Luke called hysterical after he and another car had hit head on.
 I had no idea what kind of ride we were in for the next 6 months. As I have gone through today, I have praised God over and over for not only healing Luke physically, but healing him mentally, and healing me alongside him. We sat on our front porch for a few hours last night just recounting last summer, and I am so thankful to be on this side of it (obviously). I am so glad we are not still living at The Med. I am so thankful we were able to move out of my parents house after six weeks. I am so thankful for parents who let us move in and took care of me and my babies. I am so thankful for a sister and BIL and the love they showed my babies when I couldn't. I am so thankful for supportive friends and Luke's family who have helped us every step of the way. I am thankful that God opened my eyes to the needs at The Med. Most of all, I am thankful for a loving God that promises us eternal life.

I hate these pics from the hospital. Luke's eyes are so "not him."

I don't think any of us are the same as we were before the wreck. The scars that are left changed me in ways I cannot describe, but I know that there is a more abundant life after this world is over and I am eternally thankful for that. There is an urgency in my heart. God tells you to adopt a baby? Now seems like a good time. God tells you long term missions are in your future? My friend, Nicci, has said yes! I know everyone has scars from this world, and I pray that I use mine for God’s glory. Luke sometimes still has a little bit of a hitch in his step when he was been sitting too long or used his left leg too much. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I am thankful for that physical reminder that God is good and our time on earth is limited.

 How far we have come in a year!

We celebrated Luke and Blake’s graduation with a delicious dinner last week.

I am so thankful that Luke continued on his school path and never missed a beat. It is so hard to comprehend that he was in a coma in June, a wheelchair in July with a crazy nerve disorder, and back in law school in August (and still the cutest boy in the world). Not only that, he graduated Magna Cum Laude. What a miracle I have gotten to witness from the front row!

The whole fam!

We ALL fit in my new van!!

 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10