Category: celebrating life

Another Decade Crosser

Today Abi turned 10 and I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. Over the weekend we enjoyed a Star Wars themed party with family.

She was spoiled by family love without a doubt.

Complete with Jedi training course (and Yoda in the backpacks, naturally).
My little Leia may be blinking, but that smile was there permanently this past Saturday.

Today, we celebrated with Aunt Jes, Uncle Nayt and Rori in Minnesota.

We had some great backyard water play.
Later, lasagna was her birthday dinner of choice. (Yay for being in a country with the ingredients this year!)

And who wouldn’t pick angel food cake with strawberries and chocolate whipped creme instead of birthday cake?

Abi,

You are an absolute gem of a child. You love others so well, thrilling in going out of your way to serve them. Whether it’s bringing your almost two year old cousin downstairs to play Baby Shark music and dance with her because you love her squealing excitement or spending your allowance money on this to spoil your sisters, you have such a pure, giving heart. You think so much about others and pay attention to the little things that bless them. You are a lover of bike tricks (28 seconds with your hands off the handlebars in your record), all things Star Wars and Legos. How quickly you run to help and how blissfully you dance to ballet songs and sing at the top of your lungs in the car to the Phantom of the Opera. You are just my chill kid, happy and calm. Your hands are always open to others and your smile is an outpouring of your heart. You’re quick to give bear hugs and the first to share your stuffed toys (even giving one of your four away to someone younger than you because it brings them joy). Sweet girl, you have the heart of Jesus in you and it’s so amazing to watch you learn and grow in faith through your consistent reading of the Word.

Precious, Abi, you are such a sweetheart and I’m so blessed to be your mom. Never stop seeing the best in others, beautiful girl, and know that your mommy is applauding your every dream, every passion and every childhood delight. I couldn’t love you more, beautiful Abi. Thank you for being such an amazing kid. Can’t wait to see what year 10 has in store for you.

Love you, Abinov.

🎉Happy 10th Birthday, Love.🎉

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Eleven

In some ways it makes total sense and in some ways it completely baffles my mind:

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How is this kid 11 today?!!

Rachael,

Your birthday this year was spend decorating your own cupcakes, opening a few wonderful gifts, and going to the local restaurant that has swings for dinner (fries and Fanta, anyone?). It was a simple and joyful time celebrating your gentle, thoughtful, loving self. We adore you, kid, and the joy you bring to our home. Thank you for taking long walks with me just so we can talk about anything under the sun, thank you for caring for those younger than you so well, daring to serve when it’s not easy. It is a joy being your mommy and an utter delight to get to encourage you as you learn and grow. So to my always curious, book devouring, self-motivated, Scripture memorizing, anatomy and physiology study exploring, craft project delighting, ukulele strumming, now harmonica blowing, 10k run conquering, living room dancing, lego constructing, Portuguese mastering, culture crossing, little kid including, patience yielding, heart-felt serving, conversation contributing, smile causing adventurer:

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🎉Happiest of birthdays, sweet Rachael.🎉

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Daddy and I love you so much and are so honored to be your parents.

We cannot wait to see what year 11 has in store for you, sweet girl.

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The Seven Year Leap

How is this gorgeous girl SEVEN years old today?!

Hannah Joy, you are such an amazing blessing in our lives. You are such a delight, child. You are Ms. Energy, Ms. Hilarious Laughter, Ms. Spontaneous Sing and Dance Break, Ms. Toothless Smile, Ms. Ray of Sunshine, Ms. Spunk. Hannah, we adore you, child, and your wonderful, adventurous world. Congratulations on leaping into your seventh year with your usual utterly giggly and playful self. You kicked off your seventh birthday rocking a 1.8k (1.15mile) run with me, complete with skipping and high fives along the way. Then after a great day of homeschool, you squealed over Daddy making nachos, as was your birthday dinner choice. And, naturally, you encouraged us all to dress up in our best outfits for your proper, Queenly (and messy) meal. Chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting, soda on a non-Friday (🎉), and a bag of your own candies made. your. world. Opening a few wonderful presents from overly-thoughtful family who sent them along with us to Africa and you rounded out your birthday with huge smiles and many giggles. You even got to say hello to one of your favorite people, cousin Rori, who you always gush over that, “she is just so cuuute!”

Sweet Hannah Joy, happiest of birthdays, girlie.

We are so proud of and encouraged by the spunky little lady you are.

Love you, Hannie.

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Twelve

Twelve years ago I said the best two word sentence of my life; “I do”.

The greatest adventure of our lives started with those wonderful two words.

Matthew, our twelve year anniversary will be spent for most of the day hours apart; me here caring for our little ladies and you finishing up a training weekend and traveling back. And while our anniversary “get-away” will be celebrated surrounded by our community of little people, it sums up our marriage beautifully. We will always find a way to find us in the middle of all the life happening around us. Albeit an extra hug while my hands are in soapy dish water, scooting closer while we’re both answering emails during a rare quiet moment on the couch, putting my water bottle shot-gun in the car because you are reserving my seat even if we’re transporting someone else who could culturally take that place, or endless other little things you do to love me so well. We find a way to be us. Fight to be us. Together.

It has been twelve amazing years, Love. Four wonderful girls. Four semi-crazy dogs. Eight cats. Six guinea pigs. One turtle. Two foster sons. Living in two countries. Visiting four other countries. Countless hours of sleepless nights, newborn snuggles, toddler teething, growing pains, bad dream comforting and middle of the night vomit wake-up calls. Endless tears of heartbreak and utter joy. And I’d do every single second of it over again just to walk alongside of you through it all.

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You just laying with me to hold my hand on a day I didn’t feel well.

Love you, Babe. Love you so!

And yes, Love, next year in anniversary years we’ll finally be teenagers.

The world can’t handle our kind of cool. 😉 Haha.

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*Happy twelve years, Love.*

Here’s to decades more.

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Yom Kippur

We got the opportunity to enjoy another Biblical celebration that we observed as a part of our homeschooling.

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It was a wonderful opportunity to discuss our need for atonement and redemption as well as forgiveness from God and for each other.

We enjoyed pouring over these topics in God’s Word and sharing in encouraging and praying for each other.

 

My older girls even tried their first go at fasting while we filled our normal meal time praying and reading the Word.

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It was a meaningful observance of Yom Kippur for all.

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