Easter 2014

Fun Fact:  Most people experience all holidays prior to their first birthday, but not Lucy.  She is already a big 1-year old on her first Easter because the date changes every year.  In fact, Easter actually fell on her birthday back in 2011, and that will not happen again until 2063, her 50th birthday.  Thanks Kimmie for the Trivia Tidbit :)

We attended "Easter service" at church on Good Friday this year.  I tried for some good honest Easter photos before we left.  Sam thought the tricycle made a perfect photo prop.  I pick my battles.

I love this one…

No tricycle.  No smiling face.  Period.

Lucy loves our "dandelion field" that is our front yard.

I texted the Bunny and asked him to drop by our house a day early since we had to be at church by 7:30 Sunday morning to volunteer.  He brought some pretty great prizes for two very good kiddos.

Apparently, clothing is optional when unpacking Easter baskets.

On Sunday afternoon, we gathered at CedarRock for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. 

Kimmie had the best egg hunt planned.  Color-coded, age appropriate hiding places made for a perfect hunt for every egg hunter.  No fighting or crying; it was bliss.

The egg hunters lined up and got their color assignments, and off they went.

YaYa bonded with our guest "Marley"

Lucy would hunt a little bit, then swing a little bit.  Then repeat.

The boys had to really use their heads.  Eggs hidden high in trees, down in holes.  They really had to think to get those eggs this year.

Egg hunter extroadinaire found himself worn out and needed a quick break.

After all the eggs were found, we sat at the picnic tables to survey the loot.  Some eggs had slips of paper telling the boys to complete and activity to unwrap a big prize from the table.  Clever.

Dance to pick a prize...

Make a funny face to pick a prize...

A short break to swing with PawPaw

A wagon ride around the farm with the whole family

And finally, a "Shine Your Light" birthday cake for Lucy and Uncle Drew, who both had birthdays during the week of Easter.

Cake and icing = happy girl

A Look at Lucy - 1 Year

What a big year, filled with so many firsts!  Time has flown by, as it always does when we're having fun.  Being a girl mom is amazing, and you really balance this family out, Lucy.  I love you and thank God for allowing me to be your momma.  

One-year old pics and stats:

(Pictures taken by the talented Ashley Miller Photography)

Height - 33 inches (95 %ile) Weight - 22.5 lbs (65%ile)

Walking like a champ

Still big-time attached to Momma.

If you're not in bed by 7:00, it's a total pumpkin transformation.

Eating habits: pretty picky.  You would live on bread alone.

Finally coming around to almond milk.

"Dada" is pretty much your name for everything, or "uh-oh."

You will pick up a book and read to yourself; babbling, turning the pages and all.

You call out from your bed each morning, and your brother gets up and crawls in your crib with you.

You're a biter.  You bit three different classmates all in the same day, recently.

Turns out, you are a big fan of cake, but ice-cream, not so much.  

Keeping a bow on on your head for more than 2 seconds is a miracle; you hate them.

Saturday morning pancakes are a big hit with you and your brother.

You love, love, love playtime outside.

And, you made a pretty cute Batgirl at our friend, Kelten's, super hero birthday party.  

Shine Your Light Day

Lucy was born on a Monday evening, April 15th, 2013.  No complications, full-term, smooth delivery.  Her name had been set for months. It was her daddy's favorite.  It means "light."  Family came to visit, and we all took turns holding her.  All was right in my world. Visions of my chubby little cherub had became reality.  She was even red-headed.  Perfect.  My heart was full.  There was no way, in those moments, I could have imagined the difficulty the next days would bring.

I blogged about those days here, but this post is not about reliving those days.  This post is about what I learned through that refinement period and how I plan to REJOICE in Lucy's first year...

I've often wondered what Jesus really looks like, and it was in those days that I found out.  Jesus looks like my small group members and leaders who came to the hospital to love on us and pray for Lucy.   He looks like each of my family members who pulled together and used their God-given talents and resources to meet the demands of our extended hospital stay.  Jesus is our friends, neighbors and coworkers that brought pink boxes from Julia's, meals, and meal cards, so we didn't have to think about food while we were commuting back and forth to the hospital.  He is Missy and Fran and all the other compassionate NICU nurses and doctors who cared for my girl as if she were their own.  Jesus is the complete stranger standing in the waiting room who shared her story and gave me hope. Or Stacy, the hospital chaplain, who found me every day to check on Lucy's progress and pray. He looks like Nikki, the fifth floor nurse that bought my lunch in the cafe', sat with me while I ate, and just listened.  He was with us every step of the way, and he used people to be His hands and feet on this Earth.  To all those people who were faithful to His leading, thank you.  But, a simple "thank you" just doesn't seem to cover it.  It doesn't accurately show how grateful I still am, to this day, for every little act of kindness that reassured me and spoke a message from God saying, "I am with you."  

So, we are declaring April 15th, Lucy's 1st birthday, as "Shine Your Light" day and asking you to join us!

We hope you will prayerfully consider ways you can intentionally shine your light for Him on this day too.  Know someone who needs a pink box from Julia's?  How about buying the person's lunch behind you in the drive through?  Cookies for coworkers?  A handwritten note?  Donations to a local charity? Volunteer work? Whatever your "light" is, SHINE IT.

You may have received cards,  but if not, you can print the image here and attach to your "act of kindness" for your recipient to see.  Hopefully, they will pass it on, and it just keeps going.

 

And, if you have given or received a little extra "light" today, I want to hear about it.  

One day, I'd like to put it all together for little Lucy and show her how her 1st birthday lit up the world!

Shine your light and share your story by:
 *Commenting to this post
*Emailing me here
*Messaging here on Facebook.
*Post pics on Instagram #shineyourlight415

*Send me a letter in the mail.
Whatever your preferred media method is, spread the word! 

Help us celebrate our healthy girl, a God who still does miracles, and the kindness of His people.
You are the LIGHT of the world. Let your light SHINE before others, that they may see your good deeds and GLORIFY your father in Heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

Spring Break 2014

Spring break started with a mid-day training at central office followed by a quaint lunch with Suszane, which is where we planned this...

A "mommas and their boys" double date to the zoo!  

The dino trek was all new since the last time we went, and the boys were a bit reluctant at times because they all seemed so real.  Moving parts, spitting water, roaring, what's not to love?!

The elephants!

Just like out elephant sandwiches we packed for a zoo picnic.

Speak of zoo picnic...

We had all kinds of little visitors come to survey our lunch inventory at this park blanket picnic lunch.

The kangaroo exhibit!
We got to walk around WITH the kangaroos and pet the ones on the path.  We even got to witness and kangaroo stampede, which was pretty cool but very intimidating.

And, what's a trip to the zoo without flamingos!?

Our "moms and boys" date was so very much fun.

The next day involved a quick trip to Birmingham for a little time with the BFF and some outlet mall shopping with Nani.  Sam asked me to take this picture of him after he posed himself with the Banana Republic mannequin.  Love this boy and his sense of humor.  Lucy was just in it for the food and the lego table at Carters.  Love her.

Quick return home just to pack my bags again for a SALT team retreat at New Frontiers.  Midnight mountain climbing (blind-folded), bonfire talks with s'mores, extreme games and giant swings off the side of a mountain.  It's the most experiential way to seek God.  It's scary and awesome and amazing.  That's me (and my climbing partner, sweet Eli) at the top of a 60 ft. pencil pole.  Let me tell ya, none but Jesus could make that one possible.  

Finally, we closed out the week with piles of laundry and some rockin' horse riding lessons.  Sam started off the session with some advanced skill riding, and finally, Lucy joined the club and rode the horse all by herself for the very first time.  She was so proud of herself.  

 

I'm tired but thankful for such a wonderful week.  

Now it's back to work to finish out these last 34 days with style!