Come climb the hill with meCome and be still with meCome watch the sun sink awayIf you will with me Come watch the garden growDown by the gravel roadCome warm your hands in the goldOf the afterglow Into the peace of these wild thingsInto the wild of this graceInto the grace of this blessingSpeak in… Read More Cooper Mountain Family Photos
Living far from grandparents means that our kids don’t get much one-on-one time with our parents. Because we want to foster a bond between the kids and their grandparents, we’ve sent each of them back to Indiana to hang out with Grammy, Grampy, and the fam. Cooper led the way, and then Silas took a… Read More Brynn’s Indiana Adventure
I was a little sad to see school end this year. We’ve absolutely LOVED both of the kids’ teachers! Mrs. Nelson is the magic fairy of kindergarten teachers with her love, patience, and wonder at the small humans she’s teaching. Mr. Kelley’s fun personality and zest for learning were contagious for Silas this year. Seeing… Read More Out for the Summer
One of my joys is watching Stephen as a daddy. Seeing him become. Stephen’s always been very involved in the practical, emotional, and spiritual care-taking of our family, but this season has deepened that. With my pregnancy taking such a toll on me, Stephen has jumped right in to the shoes of a stay-at-home dad… Read More Fatherhood Moments
Brynn Kathryn turned 4 on the 4th. This little ray of sunshine continues to light up our hearts. She’s spunky. She’s smart and creative. There’s nothing she won’t try, especially since she has to keep up with her brothers. I love the songs she composes and her dancing performances. Brynn is forever telling Stephen and… Read More A Golden Birthday
As life goes on, I’m more aware of its complexities. Mother’s Day used to be a simple day for me–I celebrated my mom, and then eventually, I celebrated being a mom myself. But as wiser friends have taught me, Mother’s Day is both joyful and painful. There are friends I love dearly who have not… Read More Thankful for These Children
We finally decided to chop off Brynn’s baby curls. After nearly four years of no haircuts, the tangles won, and we admitted defeat. I took Brynn to a kiddie hair salon called Pigtails and Crewcuts. She loved it! Nothing like sitting in a fire engine and watching a movie while getting a hair cut. Afterwards… Read More 1st Haircut
Cooper was the “star student” early in the school year. So fun to see what he and his classmates say about him. Brynn has really been liking taking pictures of me–which is kind of nice since I’m always behind the camera. These two play so well together–lots of imagination and common interests. Us in… Read More Just Some Pics
Stephen finished the front siding project this past fall, and I’m so proud. He re-sided the three walls of our garage. Since it happens to be the most prominent part of our home, I’m happy it’s beautiful now. He widened the pop-out window above the garage to add trim around the window. He hung new… Read More Accomplishments
It feels like we can start breathing again–now that we’re nearly half-way through October. These days are flying by! So many things begin in September that it’s perhaps more of a “new year” experience than January. School has been the easiest transition. We’re so proud of Cooper taking on the challenge of kindergarten, navigating… Read More The September Sprint