Y'all I am feeling your prayers. The Lord is so good and faithful. We have been busy enjoying all Calgary has to offer and I have even made an American friend!! :) I am just as excited to eventually make Canadian friends but it is really nice to connect with someone who understands the differences and has the same heart for "home"

We have been on some fun play dates and were invited to a church that had an amazing message and the kids loved their children's program. :)

Whit Grace spent a week at gymnastics camp and LOVED it! She made some little friends and is excited to take classes there this year! She is such a tumbler! :)

We have been spending lots of time outside riding bikes...Mal Pal almost has it mastered!! She is so close :) Just like her mama, a little cautious and late to learn due to fear of falling! ha!

B keeps us on our toes...not much new there ;) He is hilarious...his vocabulary is doubling every day. He make us laugh out loud with some of the things he says...and cringe sometimes too...he totally absorbs everything the girls say and repeats in context...lately he has been loving telling us anything but Bob the Builder or Thomas the Train is "a booo-ring show" thanks for that one Whit ;)

And...he apparently is ready for winter...he wants to wear his snow boots all the time...even with shorts in the 80 degree weather...

We had our first visitors...Scott's parents came to visit. The kids had tons of fun, sewing, playing games and get time with their grandparents. We made our first trip to the mountains while they were here. It is very serene and picturesque. Its about a 2 hour drive to Banff and then another 30 minutes to Lake Louise. We all enjoyed seeing it. Once is probably good but I am glad I can say I checked it out ;)

While Scott's parents were here we had some nice weather and were able to enjoy our lake community a few times. The kids had lots of fun "fishing" for the little tadpoles...and B had some really crazy sunscreen/bedhead hair going on ;)

We were also able to catch a nice cool overcast day to check out a place called Heritage Park. Sadly the zoo was flooded out right after we bought passes...but the other summer places around offered 1/2 off to zoo members...anyway we thought we would give something else a try. This was place was totally unique, cute and fun! Its a little historic village with rides, food, a steam engine (that we took a ride on...B was over the moon) the staff is in costume/character for the time period. It was really fun!! It was nice that we were able to take the grandparents along!

Over in the village they had the Mounties and the jail...sadly Whit and B were to scared to enter...its really to bad because that would have been a framer for Uncle Bench ;) Whit was all excited to go in and take a pic for Bench and then she saw it and panicked....a bit too realistic. But Scott and Mal hopped right in ;)

Scott and I were able to go on a date night!! It was pretty exciting!! We have loved every minute of our family time but getting out for just adult time was a-mazing!! Of course it would have been perfect with a glass of wine...but I will take it for now ;) hahah!

Love my man!

Scott's parents are en route back to Kansas as I type. We appreciate them making the long journey so much. We hope y'all enjoyed your time here! :) 

Psalms 89:15,16
"Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

Perspective and Prayer Requests

Sometimes I really need a perspective check...while sitting in church service on Sunday I listened to the pastor preach a sermon on perspective. I just wanted to jump up and shout "AMEN" as he was preaching. I keep hearing his words in my mind...he was speaking to how we tend to beg God, pray to God to get us out of a situation we don't like...and in reality... The Lord has placed us in that place to walk THROUGH it not get out of it. He desires for us to walk through the plans he has for us, good bad, ugly, and glorious. This particular pastor liked to raise his voice when making a point...not usually my favorite style of preaching...however when he started raising his voice saying...no matter what The Lord God Almighty has chosen for us to walk Through...he is already BEFORE US and BEHIND US...and there is no where we can go that he isn't already BEFORE US and BEHIND US...talk about an "Ah Ha" moment. I had goose bumps thinking how real "before and behind" is for our family. I need to look through these experiences they way the Lord wants me to...he is here with me. He was here before he placed me here and he is where I am going. I serve and Almighty God and that is something I stand strongly on. Solid ground in new and unknown places.

Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Savior as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.

I want to say thank you SO much for all the kind words and messages from my last post. Y'all made me feel very loved. Yes, we are planning to be home for the birth of the baby. Several of you have asked if its okay with me to add my name to prayer lists. The answer is a resounding YES :) Please add my name to any and all prayer lists you are involved with...our number one priority is for the baby and myself to be healthy. From there we ask prayer that I have a very healthy and uneventful pregnancy that would allow me to arrive home October 23rd. Any and all prayers for that outcome are so appreciated. I did meet my OB here in Calgary yesterday. It was okay. The doctor was very supportive of me delivering at home and hopes to help get me to that goal. One prayer request I have is for my front lying placenta. That is normally not a big deal but since I have had 3 c-sections they will be watching to make sure no complications arise with my scar tissue. I would love prayers that nothing abnormal would develop. I appreciate being wrapped in prayer more than I can express. The power of prayer is an amazing thing and knowing people I love are praying for me and our baby is so humbling.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 15 Years!? I must forget to age myself because I can't wrap my mind around the fact that 15 years ago today my man and I went on our very first date! We were 17 years old. It was the summer before our senior year in high school. Scotty worked at the concession stand with some of his buddies that summer at the local softball field. I was out at the fields a lot watching my sister play softball. I was not as outgoing then as I am now...my mom knew I would never have the nerve to head over and talk to the cute guy I was eyeing. So, great mom that she is, she gave my baby sister one dollar to head over and say something to him for me. She apparently said, "My sister thinks you are cute" and Scotty replied, "Who is your sister?" I mean come on a 17 year old boy working at the girls softball field all summer? I am sure he was keeping his eye on the ladies ;) One thing lead to another and a few days later we went on our first date. I can close my eyes and see him standing on my doorstep like it was yesterday. The rest is history...stolen heart. Love of my life. 5 years later after finishing high school, the time of our lives at Pitt State, teenage/early 20 dating ups and downs and College graduation, we walked down the aisle at our beloved Christ Church and said "I do". I thank God every single day of my life that I married this man. 

 Homecoming 1998

Engagement Photo

Rehersal Dinner (it was a Luau)

Our wedding day!

Sadly, I haven't unearthed my photo boxes yet since the move a few weeks ago. I wish I had because we have quite a few photo gems from high school and college...so many favs...I would really love to show the ones from costume parties! Its totally fun to get Scotty to dress in theme with me ;)

In honor of 10 years of marriage I have compiled a list of the top 10 reasons I love you!

(this was super hard to keep it to just 10)

1. You make me laugh harder than anyone I have ever met!

2. You put our marriage and our children in front of everything else.

3. You are the best daddy and I can't get enough of watching you laugh with the kids!

4. You shop with me and can even pick out cute things you know I would like ;)

5. You encourage me in all things but especially in reminding me you think I am a great mom.

6. You still do things you love, you just remember to clear it with me first ;) That is the best!

7. You are the hardest working man with the best attitude towards your work, whatever it may be.

8. You make the hard stuff so much easier. 

9. Your support and love is unwavering and amazing.

10. You are taking me home to have our son! No words...just an example of your support, love and understanding that stops at nothing.

Baby, who knew that 10 years would go so fast!? 6 moves, 4 babies, more adventures, vacations, laughter and fun than I could ever count. Right when I thought I couldn't possibly love you anymore you showed me unimaginable heart and compassion caring me through the near loss of my sister at the end of last year. I will never forget those days. Never. You kept me going, kept me breathing, kept me believing. You literally held me up when I couldn't stand another moment. I have lots of fuzzy memories of that time. I remember you driving mom to get some sleep and then coming back and sitting with me until late in the night as I sat and watched Steph sleep. I don't like to think about those days but I am so glad the memories are in my heart. You complete me. You know me better than I know myself. I am thankful for every moment of the last 15 years and I can not wait to see what the next 70 years brings us.

I love you!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.