The Pioneer Woman (Wanna-be)...

We have a beautiful apple orchard that sits just behind our property line. The owner has given us free range back there and we have so enjoyed it! Last night the girls helped me gather a big bunch of apples and after some work I made my first from scratch apple pie! I love feeling like Ma Ingalls!! They turned out just OK and I will definitely need to perfect the process, but it was great to make something like that from our backyard!

Catching Up...

There is of course so much life that has occurred since my last post. It was almost 9 months ago! We have been busy as usual and I have tried to highlight some of what we've been up to in these past months. I have been working in Labor and Delivery in a nearby hospital. That has been an adjustment to say the least. It's hard to work away from home when your heart is forever there...Mike has been busy with ministry at CLC and starts seminary in 2 days. He's excited to see where the Lord takes him in this journey. The girls are growing so fast and becoming sweet young ladies. Gracie started 5th grade this year (her last year of elementary school) and Autumn started 2nd. We were not able to home school this year like we had hoped. I'm simply trusting the Lord and His timing...

We sold our little house and moved into our beautiful home in April! We are so blessed to be here and are very thankful for the Lord's provision in it!

I've posted some random pictures of different things below! I hope you enjoy :)

Our new house!

Mike's planning trip with the CLC elders to Puerto Rico in April!

The things our poor dog endures belonging to 2 girls with vivid imaginations!

The cowgirls after their Spring Fling at school!

Playing in a summer rain storm!

Gracie won this water bottle at Movies in the Park!

Mike and I escaped for a few days to celebrate our 13th anniversary! We went hiking at Natchez Trace...

Some of the wildlife at the house! So glad there was a window between me and him!

My MIL had surgery and are thankful things are going so well.

The girls getting music lessons from Daddy!

The tree Mike cut down with his tiny hand saw so he could hang his hammock! I think I'll call him John Henry! :)

An awesome lunch with the elder wives! I love these ladies :)

The first 1/2 day of school! Two beautiful girls, inside and out!

The first official day of school! And it also happened to be Autumn's 7th birthday :)

Autumn J. Jinglesocks Turns 7...

It has become our tradition to have a gift, a balloon and ice cream waiting on the table for birthday mornings! This particular birthday morning belonged to our youngest...

Autumn - I can not believe you are 7 years old! I still remember army crawling out of your room so you wouldn't wake up as a baby. I remember rocking you most of the night and exhausted early mornings. Even then you didn't seem to ever run out of energy! And 7 is no different. You are an energetic, hilarious, sweet little girl! You make us laugh hard at least once a day! You are inquisitive and have a big love for those close to you. You work hard in school and are not afraid to try new things. You have an amazing talent on your "acrobat" (which is your affectionate term for your balance bar). We knew you had something amazing when at 18 months you could hold yourself up on the chin-up bar for 5 minutes, grinning the whole time! You bring sunshine into the room with you and I love that you are still a cuddle-bug...Joye turned out to be the perfect middle name for you! Your deep convictions are inspiring and just stinking funny at times. You would defend your sister to the death on any occasion. And on most days you drive her crazy at least once! You run every where you go and you say more words in a few minutes than most people say in days :) You ride your bike at top speed and that's like everything else you do. You are a very special little girl and I'm so glad you are mine! Your Daddy and I are so thankful that the Lord gave us you. You are the perfect last piece to our family puzzle. We love you with our whole hearts and most of our smiles start with you! Happy Birthday Toot :)

On a very important side note...Autumn received a very important birthday card from these guys...

telling us that we get to be an AUNT & UNCLE again!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!! And so was Autumn, although she was maybe more interested at the moment in the horse picture :)