Moments to Cherish

This was Kennedy's 5 Father Daughter Dance. I get really emotional each year as I send her off. It all means so much to me. Brooke and Boyd started the foundation of "Bethany's Place" in memory of their daughter. I'll never in my life forget that sweet baby. They cherished each second they had with her on earth. I remember just saying over and over how I didn't know how they could handle going through all of that. So each year, as I watch my own little miracle prance out the door with a huge smile on her face to spend a magical evening with her daddy I cherish the moment. I love that one of the things Brooke and Boyd chose to do was a dance for Daddies and their daughters. I can't think of a more fitting way to remember to cherish each moment and just let these little girls know how special they are to us. This year all of the proceeds went to help another very special little girl, Anna Hays. Anna Hays is in Whit's preschool class, she's 3, and battling Leukemia. It made me proud for the Green's this year. The fact that what they have done and grown this to be can go to help another little girl is such a special thing.

I titled this moments to cherish. I think that is the best way to describe this. I hope you take time to cherish your children. It's easy to get caught up int he worldly things, but those moments of calm and quiet, which I know are few and far between, are where I hear the Lord speak so loudly to me. Cherish this. So, I do. I try so hard to. I adore being a mom to my precious babies. I am so thankful for times that we stop to remember how blessed we really are.

COLLEGE??

Our conversation tonight....

Me: I wish you would stay 5 forever. I love you so much!

Kennedy: Mommy, are you going to really miss me when I go to college? (huge grin on her face like she is ready to go today!)

Me: YES!!! When are you going to college?

Kennedy: Not until I am big. Don't worry mommy, it's not yet.

Well, thank goodness for that!

You are too grown for your own good, my kennedy. Way. Too. Grown.

His First Hunt

If you know me at all you know I don't do outdoors things. Now, I love being outside, in my bathing suit by a pool, on the beach, ect, but I don't do hunting, camping, or anything involving wearing camo. But I gave birth to a son, that loves everything his daddy loves. Greg's list of loves is so long. I guess I should go ahead and apologize to my future daughter-in-law, wherever she is, for the extreme amount of hobbies we are teaching him to love. ;) It was the last day of hunting season and Whit begged Greg to take him. He passed on a trip to the clubhouse to go sit in the woods with his daddy. Greg said he lasted about 10 minutes before he got bored. ;) There is always next year! He came home so proud of himself and said, "Mommy, I didn't shoot a deer! I didn't even see one!" Sweet, sweet boy.....I wish I could package him up and keep him this age forever.

A New Kind of Sat night :)

I love having people over. I like to have my house be one that people feel like they can drop by and hang out anytime. We have always loved hosting little get-togethers on the compound. Life changes, throw in a baby or 9, and we still love hanging out with our friends. I laughed when I fixed 8 kids plates and we have three babies in addition to that! Our Saturday nights now are still filled with friends and fun, but they end looking like this. I am so thankful for all we have all been given. If I could write a book about the stories to get all of these babies it might make you cry. It's a new kind of Sat night, but I kind of like it. We are all so very blessed!

Anyone ready for a grown up night next weekend? I am!! :)

Two of a Kind

I adore these boys. He looks like me, but is 99.9% his daddy. :)

You've got a good Daddy, Whit. :) He loves you so much!

A New Year!

I am constantly blogging about being thankful. I know, I know, you probably are tired of hearing me say that. No, I do not spend each and every moment giving thanks for my life. But, when I sit down and reflect on anything I am always overwhelmed with what I do have. I want a bigger house soooooo bad. I want to be able to shop until my heart is content. (that would be a lot of shopping.) Yet, at the end of the day, my little house, which is always a mess due to the people that inhabit it, is just as it should be. It is warm and cozy and full of the people I love. That's all that is important isn't it?

This post is dedicated to Greg. For those of you that don't know his medical history it has been a long road for us since we got married. I joke and say that I gave him Chrohn's disease because he wasn't diagnosed until we got married. We went through lots of meds while trying to get pregnant, and finally after we found out we were going to have Kennedy, he was able to get on a medicine that worked. This year he had to go off of that medicine and has gotten worse. I have sat countless times with G at the dr, waiting and waiting, where we eventually make a plan to try and pray that this is what is going to work. He had some tests run this week. The dr gave me a report because they had to put G to sleep and he was out of it. I have sat in that office so many times talking to the Dr. This time, he walked in with a HUGE grin on his face saying how shocked he was that Greg was doing so well. Most of his disease has healed. There is still some parts that are diseased, but he was really, really surprised at how well he looked. He said there was no need for surgery, etc, and that we were on the right path. Now, pause here, because here I sit, having no clue I was worried about anything, and was overcome with relief. We talked for a little bit and then they went to get G for me. I sat back down in the waiting room and felt tears well up in my eyes. I think so many times I take him for granted. Yet, at that moment, I knew, in full clarity, how very important he is to my life. Hearing that he is BETTER, knowing full well that it is our GOD that is healing him, brought me to a point where I just sat and let a few of those tears fall.

It's a new year. Last year was so full of worry for our family. This year I claim as the one of healing. I am praying constantly for healing for Greg and Tonya. God's ability surpasses all that I can ever imagine and I love that. I am looking forward to what this year will bring for our family. We Sartin-Olliff's believe in stepping out in faith. My parents have always taught me that. I have seen that as an adult now and I believe in it even more.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Happy New Year to all of you!

Happy Birthday to my girl!!!

Where do I even begin? She's 5?? I still can't even believe I am her mom. She's made me a better person. I longed for her and prayed for her for so long. The moment I found out I was pregnant with her I couldn't wait to hold her in my arms. I just wanted her here on earth. Then began the worry...does she get enough to eat? Enough sleep? Am I raising her right? Do I feed her the right foods? Did she break her arm or is she just still crying because it hurt? (I was wrong about that one...she had broken it.) Motherhood is so much worrying. It is also a lot of praying. I pray for her each day. She said the other day, "Mommy, do angels really wrap themselves around us and and keep us safe?" She pays attention to every detail of my life! :) I just wish she would focus on the good things to repeat all the time.

She's full of spice and energy. She is also full of so much love for her family and friends. She loves with her whole heart. She adores her family. She even adores that little brother of hers. I look into her brown eyes and all I can see if the future. She's going to grow up to be a wonderful young woman. She's going to do something great with her life. I can see it in her eyes. I tell her all the time how much of a miracle she is and how much I prayed for her. This year is the first year she really began to understand what I meant by that. Seeing her grin from ear to ear to hear about how much we wanted her warms my heart. She doesn't understand what we went through, but at least she knows how much we wanted and love her.

My sweet Kennedy,

You were so very excited to turn 5. Everything you did today you informed me that you could now do this because you were 5, and 5 is pretty big. Your heart is so full of love for us. I hope you always love like that. You are a joy to raise. You keep me on my toes at times, but I wouldn't want it any other way. We are definitely raising a little girl that has a voice and a say in things. The things you love right now: ballet and Mrs Helen and Mrs. Ryan, school, your friends, cheerleading and going to my cheerleading practice ( you come home and practice toe touches) spending every spare moment with Drew and Lolly (and Whit too!), movies (you REALLY love movies), you love letters....you'll sit for an hour and write them over and over....right now they don't make words but you still keep writing them :), art....you love a drawing, your bitty baby and your new American Girl, Caroline! Gosh, I could keep going and going about you. Those a few of your favorite things.

We love you so much. Your daddy and I are so proud of the little 5 year old you have become. You make our family a happier place. I say this every year, but I'll say it again. Singing you the Happy Birthday song is my favorite moment of your birthday. It is my day of thanking God for another year for you. I am so glad we had yet another birthday to spend with you. 5 years......I pray for MANY, MANY more full of joy and happiness. Today, you said, "Thank you Mommy, for my birthday." It didn't mean much to you, but to me that is who you are. You are so incredibly thankful for everything. You even took time to tell me thanks. I love you with my whole heart, my precious little girl. Always know that. Happy 5th birthday!

Love,
Mommy