first day of school

How did this day come about so quickly? There we were this morning with our backpack, lunch box and nap mat.

And Daddy and Jude. How wonderful to have our whole family together for this momenteous occassion!!

I didn't cry. It was too exciting. I may cry later...

This is how we found him....
He had a great first day and Momma's heart is full!

welcome home, daddy!!!

Two weeks ago I boarded a plane with my two littles and we flew to North Carolina. I wouldn't get on a plane with two littles for just any reason. You see, my man was coming home. But can I just tell you that these little boys are the best plane travelers ever! Seriously. I would fly with them any time.

What a year. How can one year be so sweet and joyous and so long and lonely at the same time? I'm not gonna lie; it wasn't easy and I'm glad it's over. It could have been so much worse and I'm thankful for how God grew me through it.

We spent several days at Bragg with friends. I wanted to be there early in case the redeployement got moved closer. We had fun with our friends. For a minute I wondered if we'd made the wrong decision in moving back home. And then I remembered my family and how this year would have been horrible without them. Silas got to know his family and I'm glad we had this opportunity for that. It's been lovely to watch him love his family. And on more than one evening when I thought I couldn't do it another day, my sister would show up "just because". Thankful.

We had several days with Marshall and enjoyed every minute. Families are meant to be together, you know? Now we're back home and awaiting block leave so we can be a family for a little longer period of time.

Praising God for the deployement that Marshall's unit had. I was recently reminded of how devastating it can be and currently is for a lot of Soldiers. War is hell and I'm not ashamed to say that I'm ready for this one to be over. That's probably not the popular Army wife thing to say, but I'm just being real. I'm used to not having popular opinions. ;)

Now for the pictures....
What do you get when you mix a 2.5 year old with a hot airplane hanger, loud PA system and the Army band practicing? See above picture.


Things turned around when we went outside and saw planes, lots of planes. And then...Daddy's plane!!


Bless you Jude, for falling asleep. Notice Silas' fingers in his mouth? Top two 2 year molars screaming their way through his gums...

Remeber, Jude was 5ish weeks old the last time Marshall saw him.


My vanity prevents me from posting the family shot. Anyone who's been to the Green Ramp in July understands how I went from put together to a sweaty, deflated mess while waiting on my Soldier. Here's one from another day:
Look at Jude. He's thinking, "What a bunch of freaks!"

Picked up right where they left off...

Love my boys.

Welcome home, Chaplain. We missed you a whole heck of a lot!!!

dear jude

Dear Jude,

You, my sweet baby, are 5 months old now! You're getting so big. You will crawl any day and are teething like mad. You are the first thing your brother asks about each morning and you think he's pretty awesome too.

I'm writing this entry to apologize for the lack of posts detailing your every move. It seems like I don't have as much bloggy time as I used to. I didn't want you to look back at this blog some day and be upset that your momma was a bad blogger right about the time you were born. There just aren't enough hours in the day and quite frankly, I would rather roll around with you on the floor and make you giggle than sit here and type it all out.

I love you brother bear!

momma's day

I am truly blessed with these two little guys. Mother's Day is such a wonderful day...we got a front row parking spot at church, Silas made me a flower pot in Sunday School and Marshall sent me a sweet card and ordered me a necklace I not so subtley hinted about. My wonderful sister gave me flowers and kept Silas so Jude and I could take in a movie. Lovely!

I think Mother's Day will always be a little bittersweet for me. There were lots of Mother's Days that weren't so thrilling. It really got old to go to church and not get to stand up and get a rose or carnation. Even when they try to include you...it just hurts. I longed to be a momma for a lot of years and I'll never forget that feeling.

This morning I couldn't stop thinking about those that have lost their moms, those that don't have great memories of their moms, those that have struggled with infertility and those that have lost children, both unborn and born. I know someone in each of those categories. Some that fit into more than one.

I am blessed with a wonderful Mom. We talk about 17 times a day. Really.

Today I'm thankful. Really, really thankful.

strawberry pickin'

Or if your name is Silas it's strawberry picking and eating...all the way down the row. ;) I think he ate his weight in berries, stems and all, yesterday on our trip to Sweetberry Farm in Marble Falls. Such a pretty drive and a fun outing.

We had a ball picking and eating berries, feeding goats, eating a picnic lunch and homemade strawberry ice cream that makes you want to smack your momma. But don't smack her...it's Mother's Day weekend and all. And she might smack you back.

Jude was a trooper and I have a new respect for women around the world working in fields with a baby strapped to them. My back is a little sore today. Wimp.

He had just woken up after the back breaking work was over....

Back to that strawberry ice cream. Silas and I shared one because he never eats too much of anything and it would have been wasteful to get 2. Then I tasted it and wished I'd brought a cooler with ice in it to take some more home. Once we got loaded into the car with our friend and her son, Silas asked me for the ice cream. He never gave it back. And he ate every last drop even drinking the last few drops. By then it was too late. We were on our way home. But...we'll be back for blackberry picking soon and I'm getting my little guy his own ice cream!

And here's one of my chunky monkey, Jude, just because. Precious baby!! Soon he'll need his own ice cream too!

must read

I realize this blog is sorely lacking. So sorry about that! These boys are keeping me hopping. I feel like with Jude being 10 weeks old (how in the world did that happen?!) we're getting into a routine and constantly moving at the same time.

I think I last left you with the news that Marshall was home. He was really here!! That seems like a long time ago! We had a wonderful time with him. We vegged out, caught up, went to the zoo, shopped and stop the press...went on a date! I don't have pictures of the date. :)

Since then we have planted a garden, joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), neglected this blog, enjoyed the Texas Bluebonnets,spent too much time on Facebook, enjoyed the bluebonnets again,celebrated Easter,played at the park and daily enjoy a fantastic life.

Not to be a downer, but while I'm enjoying the many blessings of my life, I can't shake the burden for those less fortunate. People just like me except they have no access to clean drinking water or if they get bitten by a mosquito they may die of malaria or they don't know where their next meal is coming from or they're in a nursing home and can't remember the last time someone visited.

And I can't shake the Scriptures about how as a Christian, it's my responsibility to care for and about these people. Jesus loves them and so should I. If I was orphaned wouldn't I want someone to adopt me and become my family? He (God) did that for me.

I have seen poverty up close and personally and I have no excuse not to act. Once we know, we are responsible.

I'm reading this book and I think you should too. The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, is rocking my world and I hope you'll let it rock yours too. We can make a difference. We HAVE to. Especially is we claim to love and follow Jesus.

If you say, "But we knew nothing about this,"

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who guards your life know it?

Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

Proverbs 24:12

Go get that book and let me know what you think! Or if you've already read it, give me your opinion.

he is HOME!!

No words needed, just look at those faces...

Praying for the slowest 2 weeks in history!

good morning

Now one of the sweetest moments of our day is first thing in the morning. Jude and I go in to Silas' room to get him and he loves for his brother to lay in his bed. This morning Jude got some love from Bubba, Silas' other baby.

oh, brother

Jude is three weeks old already.

Time flies, even when you're sleep deprived...