Slow Down

Today my mom and I went to the commissary to grocery shop. We forgot it's the Saturday before Super Bowl Sunday and were completely unprepared for the masses of people present at the store. It was chaos and we forgot a few things on our lists, so while she stood in the line that had begun to back up down one of the store aisles, I ran back to the front section for some Parmesan cheese. On my way back to the cart, bobbing and weaving through the "traffic" at a nice clip, an elderly lady flagged me down at the end of the aisle. I almost passed her because I was moving so fast. I wasn't even sure if it was me who's attention she was trying to get. All she needed was help getting a bottled drink off of a high shelf. She was so sweet, and gave me a good reminder to slow down and look for opportunities to help others. 

Along the same lines... Today I said these words to Carter:

"Carter, don't run, you'll fall."

Never saw it coming :) Time is flying by, and my boy is showing me his strength and resilience each and every day. We're starting a small group that's focusing on parenting, and I'm very excited. At the moment, Carter has been in bed for over an hour, and is still fighting bad guys... Which could translate to fighting sleep. Parenting is hard. Parenting boys is really hard. And parenting boys like Carter seems to be the hardest! I'm looking forward to gaining insight from other seasoned parents, and learning how God wants us to grow our kids. 

30 Pound Lesson

Today was my first day serving on the Dream Team at COTH. As fate would have it, I was also playing single mom since Josh was at work. Props to all the single moms out there doing their thang... I almost cried in the church parking lot twice today. I was running late, had to park wayyyy out, no parking team since it was between services so no beloved "rides" - those are SO helpful when you have a 30 pound 3 year old that doesn't walk well - plus I was hauling my laptop and sporting a super cool IronMan backpack. I hustled upstairs to check in with my coach, and then had to wait for a while before I could check C in to Highlands Pre-school. He was hyped because he knew he was getting pizza for lunch today. All of that disappeared when I found my seat in service, and as always worship was moving. The message was spot on with the process that I'm already focusing on to narrow down the important priorities in my life and focus on building and nurturing relationships that are meaningful and not harmful. 401 was an awesome experience and I loved meeting so many new people. We put 86 people through 401 today - praise! My team was one of the last to finish and I was able to see the process beginning to end, which was encouraging. Carter was the last kid left, and he was being so good. I love our pre-school staff. The Barden's helped me get C down to the ground floor since I had a newly acquired filebox to tote along with the previous load. It took us a good 15 minutes to get to the car, and I had a moment. In the middle of the parking lot, C stopped because his legs were hurting... He doesn't walk long distances often and he had taken many more steps than usual since I was unable to effectively carry all of our baggage. I was close to tears and managed to get him to the car when one of the younger girls that serves in the pre-school saw me and approached us. She told me that she loved serving kids with special needs and kids like Carter that have medical needs. She said she loved Carter's spirit and the fact that despite his complications he always is smiling and happy. And there it was. All of the affirmation and love that I needed in one statement. That's why I do what I do. Why I go out on a limb and haul him to service by myself. Because he needs to know that he can do anything and doesn't have to be limited, because there are people there that care about him, and because he blesses people with his presence. Praising God tonight for this precious boy he blessed us with who brings life lessons such as these. 

2014: Looking Forward

2014 is going to be a great year for the Piatt family. We've paired down our efforts on a lot of things, and are looking to make changes in many areas of our life. Kristen at When At Home said it best in her blog post "Live Intentionally":

I don’t want to get to the end of this year and look at [Josh] and say, “What just happened?” I want to say “BOOYAH, 2014. The [Piatts] happened to YOU this year.” And that will be all.

The following are some areas we're focusing on, and the goals associated with them.

FINANCIAL:

We started the year off with the Financial Freedom conference through our church and got a big ol' eye opener of how terrible we are at saving and how much debt we really have. We're already taking steps to fix these issues and are well on our way towards our goal. Feels so good! We're also being more intentional in our giving. I've always been quick to give, but now Josh and I are on the same page about it after hearing the sermon series "Generous." We're experiencing financial peace by staying on top of our budget, intentionally saving, giving, and paying off debt, and communicating about what money is going where, and what our needs and wants are.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  

I Timothy 5:8

PHYSICAL:

Carter is 3 years old. We have a full-fledged, walking-around, talking-like-he's-grown toddler. On the medical side, we've gotta get this iron/anemia situation figured out pronto. Also on the list is to discuss with Ortho the long-term effects of Carter's hips going uncorrected. We plan to discuss with our urologist what our next move will be with Carter's urine output, since he's becoming more and more curious about the potty and his various body parts... plus, diapers are EXPENSIVE y'all!

My personal physical goals involve something like: run a real 5K, finish the Smolov Jr cycle, actually become somewhat proficient at pull-ups, and snatch 100 pounds. Getting in the garage two times a week is still tough... so we'll see :)

Josh's probably include: CrossFit 7x a day 10 days a week, advance to Regionals, beat Rich Froning in one thing... SOME thing... 300 pound snatch, 400 pound clean & jerk, and walk on his hands for more than 10 feet. No, but seriously, I know Josh has goals that he keeps to his quiet self in his quiet little head, and I want to make sure I'm supporting every decision to get him there. Every workout session in the garage or at the box. Every PR. Every competition. Every training course or certification. Every session he coaches. I'll stand behind that, because I know CrossFit is his passion.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.   

I Corinthians 10:31
 

SPIRITUAL:

This year we want to get fully involved in our church. I start serving this Sunday (eek!) as part of the Administrative Team, AKA the A-Team! Carter's still too young to have anything really going on, but he does love to be in Highlands Pre-school and it warms my heart that he begs to go to church. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they feed him pizza when I have to stay late, or that he gets stickers... :)  We're excited about the upcoming small group semester, and I've been looking and praying and pondering which one we'll attend. We want to go to every single conference, serve day, or class that is opportune for us. I want to read the Bible more, remember to pray FIRST in every situation, and memorize scripture that will encourage me in everyday life. This year is all about focus in the right direction - on the eternal.

And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24 

EMOTIONAL:

This is something that shouldn't be overlooked when planning goals for your family. Our society can force us to become so busy that we completely tune out what's going on inside our heads and hearts. I'm the world's worst about getting too involved and deeply immersed in a passion or hobby and then letting it dominate the better part of my thoughts or actions. I tend to like responsibility a little too much. A friend gave me great advice not long ago, "You should still be involved, just as an Indian instead of a Chief." I plan to enjoy more time with my family and by myself instead of being the uber-socialite that I sometimes tend to be :) I want to have more quiet time in my home, read more books, do more yoga. I want us to take our first real family vacation now that Carter is big enough to enjoy one and travels more easily. I want us to unplug more - we're now a 1 laptop, 2 tablet, 2 iPhone family - and spend more time playing, eating, and conversing together.

 

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Colossians 3:2 

Overall the goal is to have a great year TOGETHER. Even if these goals aren't completely met... like.. *cough* that pull-up... as long as we've spent good quality time growing together as a family I'll chalk that up as a WIN. I'm looking forward to the challenges presented - bring it, 2014!

A Year in Review: 2013

Josh:

Josh has really flourished as a person. He's still pretty quiet around people he doesn't know well, but coaching has really brought him out of his shell. 

He also got a brand-spankin'-new truck this year. 

Josh put a lot of work in this year. We went to 8 or 10 CrossFit style comps, an Outlaw Training Camp, and his first USAW sanctioned meet. He finally saw the podium at a team competition, Deprivations Doomsday, where he, Jake, and Christian completely dominated. He podiumed again at his weightlifting meet, taking silver in clean and jerk and total for his weight class. 

He put Christmas lights up! He talks about it every year, and he finally came through. 

Carter:

He turned two!

Medically, this has been our absolute best year with C. He has had ZERO surgeries in 2013, and ZERO hospitalizations! We've had several UTIs, but overall he has been a healthy boy. We're still struggling with low iron levels after many infusions during the year. Hopefully 2014 will be the year we kick anemia. From the PT side, he took his first steps and never looked back - boy is a walking machine now! He's finishing up the year with the Early Intervention program, and will transition to the school system PT when he turns 3. 

We had Carter dedicated on Mother's Day this year. I'm so thankful we found a church like Highlands to raise him in. He loves it and begs to go!

We got rid of the bottle! Carter finally started eating pretty well, so in October, we decided to lose it. 

Carter LOVED Christmas this year. We had a blast with our Advent calendar and made so many memories. The first photo is last year, second is this year. His personality has really bloomed! Lol

Me:

I cooked more this year than I probably ever have. I've really enjoyed experimenting with whole foods and new recipes. 

I ran my first 5K. Props to Amanda McQueen for getting my butt in gear for the event, and sticking with me on the course. 

My best friend got engaged AND married! I loved being a part of the process and the big day. 

I exercised a lot less. With furloughs and the dismissal of our Wellness program, along with occasional laziness, or just unavoidable scheduling, I rarely made it to the gym. My parents invested in some equipment for Christmas for us to have a garage gym. Here's to hoping 2014 brings a healthier me!

I've had a very introspective year. I dug deep to find the source of my stress and anxiety and realized that I'm very unfulfilled in some areas of my life. I'm praying hard that 2014 will be a year of new beginnings, balance, memories, and maybe some risk-taking. 

Thankful for technology

We really do live in an amazing day. I'm so thankful for the many avenues of communication and functionality technology has provided us with. Some of my favorites:

- This blog. I'm able to archive the most beautiful moments of our life, and also share them with our family. All while venting my creative outbursts.

- Facebook. I have groups for my CrossFit family to socialize, our OEIS support group is organized through Facebook, and I can keep up with family, friends, and children who's medical stories I'm following. FB is definitely my social media of choice.

- Skype. When my aunt and uncle lived in Germany we would Skype with them. It came in REAL handy when my mom went over there and my brother was missing her.

- GPS. Could we get anywhere without it? I think not.

- Banking. I love being able to transfer money back and forth, check my balance, and look through my history online. I haven't ventured into the "photo check depositing" zone yet. Some day.

- The Google. I Google everything. Seriously. One time I Googled why roaches always die on their backs. Do it. The Google knows everything.

- Church. Our church has an online campus where you can watch past messages, read the One-Year Bible, search Small Group options, and find basically any information you could ever want to know about Church of the Highlands. They also broadcast one message from the Birmingham campus out to all of the other campuses live. They're even in 8 prisons throughout the state!

Technology has it's pros and cons, but I believe God gave our generation these tools to better society and use it to spread the message of the love of God. There is hardly any area that can't be reached with the gospel in this day and age. The internet has boundless resources, including the ability to translate into any tongue for any nation. Use it for good!

Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

- Psalm 96:3

Thankful for kindess

Today I'm thankful for kindness in the world. While in Birmingham today for the BHAM Games competition, Carter and I walked a few blocks to Moe's for lunch to get out for a bit. The lady in front of us paid for our food and left us one of Church of the Highlands "Acts of Kindness" cards. We just finished a series on Generous (you can watch the archived messages here) and they gave out thousands of these cards and asked members to bless others in the name of Jesus. There are countless stories of changed hearts and lives just through these random acts of kindness. In a world that can seem so dark sometimes, it's nice to see that good people can still make a difference. Time to pay it forward!

Be the Good

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

- Ephesians 4:32

Thankful for Greyson

I'm thankful for my little brother, Greyson. For those of you who don't know, my mom had Greyson when I was 15 and it rocked my world. I'd been an only child my entire life. In some respect, he gets to be an only child, too. He also became an uncle at the ripe age of 8. Carter and Greyson love each other, and when they don't see each other for a few days Greyson is begging mom for a visit. I'm thankful that Carter will have another male influence that's closer to his age, and that he can relate to and talk to. Greyson has the sweetest spirit, and I hope that Carter favors him as much in that aspect as he does in looks. I love you, Grey!

 

 

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

- I John 4:20

Thankful for aunts

I'm very thankful for the female influences in my life. Most of those came in the form of aunts. My mom has three sisters: Melanie, Melissa, and Heather. (My mom falls between Melanie and Melissa.)  

Left to Right: Melanie, my mom, and Melissa

 

My aunt Me-Me (Melanie) lives in Lake City, FL. She's been a nurse basically her whole life, and has a true servants heart. She has two boys, Landon and Jordon, and I spent many summers at their house since Landon is only a year older than me. We almost lost her in October of 2009. She contracted H1N1 and went through months of treatment and therapy. She was one of the most critical cases to come into the Orlando hospital, but the prayers of many were heard and she was restored to full health. When I found out about Carter's complications, I knew immediately that I wanted her here with me when I delivered. Landon's wife was pregnant at the same time, and she delivered Nathaniel on January 5th, 2011. They scheduled my induction for January 10th, and my sweet aunt Me-Me left her brand new grandbaby to come take care of me and put my mind at ease. She was an absolute blessing, keeping me and my mom calm and advocating for me to my nurses and doctors. I'll never forget that, and will always be grateful.

My aunt Melissa passed away on December 14th, 2012 while still living in Williston, FL, the city where they all grew up and my grandparents reside. My favorite memories of her typically involve animals. Over the years she had many interesting pets: two Persian cats (Murph and Butler), a snake, a horse named Dino, and the living legacy (who my mom inherited) Boo. She worked at a vets office for a while and I loved to visit and color with her. I lovingly referred to her as "Uncle Lissa" when I was little. She loved children but was never able to bear any. She led a much different lifestyle from the rest of her family, and ultimately ended up on a bad path of prescription drug addiction. She fought hard to battle it, and went through many ups and downs in the process. Many of us became very frustrated with her decisions, and began to limit our exposure to her. Her cause of death was an accidental overdose (a bad combo of medicines) while receiving treatment for her addiction. Our avoidance of her over the years leading up to her passing caused a lot of emotional grief and a tremendous amount of internalized guilt and regret. This experience taught us all that FAMILY should always be there for each other, no matter what the situation. Not to become enablers, but just to be a constant encouragement in their life, giving a steady stream of love and prayer. We're coming up on the anniversary of her passing, and I ask that you'd please pray for our family, especially my grandmother.

Heather and her husband John

 

Heather married into an Air Force life and currently lives in Ellicot City, MD. She has lived all over, and I've been lucky to visit most of the locations she's lived such as: San Antonio, TX, Colorado Springs, CO, Greenville, SC, and Ocean Springs, MS. My mom was lucky enough to visit them at their most recent location in Germany (I'm not bitter). Heather is by far the aunt that I'm closest to. She lived with us for a while, and I even became extremely jealous of her since my mom's attention was divided between us (little did I know Greyson would come along...). Some of my favorite memories with Heather include me biting her nose because she was aggravating me, crying because she "said I had a turtle neck" (I was wearing one), and her gesture/explanation of what the male genetalia looked like. She has two children, Ryland (who is a little older than Grey), and Ella (a little younger). She's always good for parenting advice - one of the most helpful things she told me was this: "Don't let him determine what you're going to do. He'll adapt." I was always impressed at how GOOD her kids were for a shopping trip or a day in town, and it's because they were always on the go. She refused to sit at home and let life be dictated by feedings and naps. As a result, I've instituted the same with Carter, and he LOVES to go, much to Josh's dismay :) That's probably why he's awesome at competitions and can snag a nap in the midst of chaos!

The Fill-In

 

Kelli, lovingly referred to as "KK", is Josh's aunt (his mom's sister) and she lives in Millbrook. She is the perfect fill-in for an aunt when my blood is just too far away :) She's always good for a laugh (or a SNORT!) She recently became an animal lover and has a cat named Roxie, for which Josh loves to tease her. She works with kids through the National Guard, but doesn't want any. She's one of the most independent women I've ever met and I truly admire that about her. She recently switched to our church and started CrossFit, and we're loving the extra time with her. 

We love because he first loved us. 
- I John 4:19

Thankful for food

Today I'm thankful for an abundance of food. I woke up bright and early to make two giant green bean casseroles to take to our Thanksgiving Feast at work. The amount of food that was brought in was astounding, and of course delicious :) We take for granted not only the sheer amount of food that is made available to us as Americans, but also the nutritional value that we can afford and acquire when compared to other countries. Hunger is still very real in many countries, and sometimes even in our own. School systems have made it a priority to provide hot, wholesome meals to children because it may be the only one they get that day. There are many organizations world-wide devoted to ending world hunger - do some research to find one that supports your beliefs and ideas most closely, and give to it if you're able. As a family, consider participating in or leading a canned food drive for your local food pantry, or serve at a soup kitchen. "Find a need and fill it; Find a hurt and heal it."

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
- Proverbs 19:17

Thankful for down-time

I'm thankful for down time with my family. Tonight I skipped the gym to get home early, and Josh, Carter, and I spent time together. I cooked dinner last night, so I didn't have to rush to get that done. We played outside for a little while. We cleaned up the living room and started a donation box with some of Carter's old toys to make room for what he may get at Christmas. We watched Superman and played in the floor, and we went to bed early. I love slow evenings like this, and wish we had more of them.

Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry.
- Jeremiah 2:25 

Thankful for public servants

I'm thankful for every man or woman that has a heart for service. Specifically, our public servants. For most, it's just a job. For many, it starts as a job and becomes something more. For the few, they choose the job intentionally for the service. Firefighters and police place their lives on the line every day, work complicated schedules, and spend time away from their families - all in service to people that they may not know. I'm extremely thankful for the firefighters and police in my life, and am very proud of Josh for excelling in his career as a firefighter and for his selfless service to the citizens of Montgomery.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

- I Peter 4:10

Thankful for Charlie Jean

Today I'm thankful for a community of athletes that came together to support a family in need. The story started like this: Josh has competed with Brett at a few CrossFit competitions over the past couple of years. Some of our Facebook friends were circulating a page for a little girl that had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer. Her name was Charlie Jean. Josh finally made the connection that Brett was her dad this summer some time. I began to follow her page fervently for updates and progress. Late one night I was browsing Facebook and came across an update - they had been admitted at Children's for nearly a month, with no sign of "home" in their near future. Charlie Jean was very sick as a result of some of the treatments they were doing, and had developed a liver disease. If you know me, you know I have a huge heart for children with medical complications and families that are stuck in the hospital. Josh was at the station and I was just laying in bed crying and praying, so I texted him to ask him to do the same (pray, not cry... that rarely happens). The next day he talked to Jake (our friend and owner of CFI) about starting a donation bucket at the gym for the members to contribute if they felt led to do so. That night, Jake and Mandy decided that we'd host an event and take up donations to WOD and invite all of the local boxes. That week, I created the event on Facebook, and the response was overwhelming.

We ended up with 55 athletes as well as some spectators. Almost every box in the area came out to support. My favorite part was that Brett was able to come into town to participate, and to let everyone know about Charlie Jean's progress and their hope for future Charlie's Angels events to benefit neuroblastoma research or Children's hospital. This family has BIG faith, and it's so encouraging to see their continued diligence in spreading God's love through Charlie Jean's story. Please take a minute to like Charlie Jean's page, and keep her (and her family) in your prayers as she continues to fight.

Thankful to run

I'm thankful for my ability to run. It sounds basic, but today provided me with an opportunity to test myself physically and mentally. Put one foot in front of the other. Go fast or go slow. Walk a little. Run a little. The Color Vibe 5K was a great "first" experience for me. My friend Amanda made it so much more tolerable. She's an "expert" runner in my opinion and she really motivated me to keep going. We had a blast getting color ALL over us and spending time with our CFI family.

  

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
- Romans 5:3-4 

Thankful for motherhood

Tonight I'm thankful that my child obviously loves me. We had our first "homesick" experience tonight. He was supposed to spend the night with my mom so I could get up early to head to the Color Vibe run tomorrow. He was fine when I left, basically shooed me out of the door so he could play. At about 9:30pm mom called and he was wailing in the background "I want my momma! I wanna go home!" So I loaded up and headed to her house and we're ALL having a sleepover :)

I guess this more or less boils down to the fact that I am so thankful that I'm a mother. Anyone who knows me can tell you that I NEVER wanted kids. God had other plans. I'm not sure if I've ever divulged this on the blog... but I completely panicked and used Plan B at his conception. Obviously, it didn't work, and I'm thankful for that every single day. When we learned of his defects in-utero, the doctors at UAB gave me the option of terminating the pregnancy. This also makes me thankful for that motherly instinct that God placed in me - I already loved that little life inside me... how could I end that? I can't imagine my life without this little muffin. He's rocked mine and Josh's world, and we're much better for it. He's taught us faith, hope, and love in his short lifetime.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- I Corinthians 13:13

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
- Jeremiah 29:11 

Thankful for Maverick

I'm thankful for my beast of a dog, Maverick. Josh can't NOT have a dog. He had a bull mastiff named Bella when we started dating, and she was his pride and joy. She ended up with an injury from being hit by a car, and never did heal well, ending up with other health issues. We had to put her down in December of 2009 after a couple of months of trying to get her well, and Josh was pitiful. By late January 2010 he was already itching for a puppy. He came up with the notion that he would get me a puppy for Valentine's Day... "Do you want a German Shepherd or a Rottweiler?" I really wanted neither, especially not a puppy. We'd been through two litters, a total of almost 24 puppies, in Bella's short life and I'd come to the conclusion that while cute, they're disgusting and messy. However, he was relentless, so I found a litter of Rotts in Montgomery for a decent price. The owner is a breeder, but doesn't breed often, and this litter was an "accident" in which he didn't know which male was the father, so they were unable to be registered. His honesty was compelling, and we couldn't wait to meet the little bears. There were three puppies left when we went by. Two females, one male. He brought mom and one of the prospective fathers in for us to see... at which point Josh sat on his hands (he's scared of dogs). We loved on the babies and watched them for a while to see which one we wanted. The male was such a little fatty, and he kept pulling a blanket off of the ottoman. Josh was drawn to his destructive behavior (go figure) and said he wanted that one. I was game, because I didn't want to fool with the prospect of ever having MORE puppies. He HATED being crated and fussed for almost a month straight every time we locked him up at night. He would shred anything in his path. Toys. Shoes. Clothes. Pillows. Blankets. EVERYTHING. One time he managed to pull an entire pillow through the slats of his crate and destroy it - stuffing everywhere when I came in the next morning. He was absolutely the CUTEST puppy, though, and it's a good thing, because it kept me from killing him some days. He grew so fast, and was so awkward during his growth spurts. I had never had a puppy before - I'd only had one dog my whole life, and he was much older when he came into our family. He and I bonded since we were home alone the nights that Josh was at the station, and he's my baby. He had to become an outside dog when we had Carter, mainly because we were gone from the house for a month. He doesn't get nearly the attention he deserves, and I'm trying to work on that. Carter is leery of him since he's so big (Mav weighs nearly 130 lbs...) but I'm hoping in the next year or so he'll start getting more comfortable with him so we can spend more time around Mav. He's my protector, and our entertainment - we call him the Sandlot Dog... our neighbors kids lose more footballs and frisbees. I'm thankful Josh ignored my pleas and pressed the subject - I can't imagine our home without this brute.

Little Bear - he was maybe 3 months old here... 

and had torn up that fleece from a blanket

I was very pregnant, so this was winter 2010. 

He never has been able to grasp that he's big.

Both of these were taken in the past year or so. Both of those footballs came from the neighbor kids. We never buy him toys anymore.

O Lord, You preserve both man and beast.
- Psalm 36:6

Thankful for small group

Today I'm thankful for our small group, Strong in Faith. We have a wonderful group of men and women that meet at CFI on Wednesdays as part of the Church of the Highlands small group fall semester. I'm always sad when I miss it, and I'm refreshed when I make it. "Hump Day" is the perfect time of week to hit a workout and then fellowship with believers that will encourage you and lift you up in prayer. I'm thankful for every one of you, and super proud of Jake and Mandy for stepping out in faith to lead this group.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
- Matthew 18:20

Thankful for home

I'm thankful for our home. It's not perfect. It's not huge. But it has everything we need. We didn't house hunt for long, and after seeing this one it was love at first sight. The kitchen sold me, while the location sold Josh. The backyard is huge and perfect for Maverick. We have just enough room (as long as no more babies are in our future...). I fuss about not having enough wall-space, and the layout of some of the rooms, but those are minor issues. Most importantly, our home is filled with LOVE.

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
- Proverbs 24:3-4

Thankful for our Veterans

Today I'm thankful for our Veterans. Land of the free, because of the brave. Pray for our troops.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Matthew 5:9

Thankful for medical advances

I'm thankful for medical advances. To put it quite simply - if it weren't for medical advances, a few important members of our family wouldn't be with us today. Carter, Brenna, and Evan were all given life through medical advances, no matter how basic. Evan's NICU stay was very typical of most preemie twins - helping his lungs grow and develop through treatment and time while limiting his exposure to other sicknesses. Carter's care involved surgeries that made his body compatible to life - he needed an exit for bowel so he could eat! Sweet Brenna - the medical advancements of our time, a doctor in the delivery room that had her diagnosed almost immediately, and the absolute blessing of a specialist in her area, have led to a THRIVING toddler. I can't imagine our lives without any of these miracle children. I thank God that he's given doctors and scientists the ability to provide healing to his creation.

 O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.
- Psalm 30:2

Thankful for Josh

Today I'm thankful for my husband. We spent the entire day together as a family at his first weightlifting meet. I'm so glad that his hobbies are something that we can all be involved in, and that are overall a healthy and productive addition to our lives. Josh did a great job, and took silver in the clean and jerk and the total for his weight class. Carter had a great day watching the event, playing with new friends, and even taking a nice nap on the floor of a super-loud room - I don't know how he did it! Josh is the best dad EVER - hands down. He's been involved in every aspect of Carter's care since day one. It pains him to leave him at school when he's home, and they have the most epic play time ever when he finally gets him in the afternoon/evening. I've watched Josh transform over the 6 years we've been together. He was WILD when we met. He became a father the instant he found out I was pregnant. He's continued to change as he becomes more social through his love of CrossFit and weightlifting. His heart is changing daily as we get more involved in our church and in service to others. Everyday I'm thankful that God put me in his path - I love you, Josh!

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
- Colossians 3:18