Beautiful Colorado

After visiting with Grandma and Grandpa H G and I split ways- he traveled up to Denver to spend some time with his eldest sister while I stopped in Colorado Springs for a mini college roommate reunion.  

These girls are a few of the most special and influential people in my life.  They have loved, prayed, laughed, and cried with me, for me, and at me.  I am so thankful that God has put such amazing people in my life and it was a huge blessing having a few days to catch up with them.

In the time since we were all last together two have gotten married, and two babies have been born.  We have all moved (some more than once) and gone through plenty of highs and lows.  And yet, through all of the changes our friendships have endured, and for that I’m truly grateful.  

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humansofnewyork:

I asked his favorite thing about his son, and he replied: “That he’s very loving.” Hearing this, the boy asked:
“What about basketball?”
The dad answered: “I like that you’re good at basketball. But my favorite thing is that you’re very loving.”

As seen on one of my favorite blogs:

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This is how my sweet little niece used to crawl. I just love that little monkey!

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My all time favorite noise…

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Off to the desert

Our next leg took us to Glenn’s mom’s home in New Mexico.  Devon always loves being with his Grandma and Grandpa Jim.  We went on a bunch of fun little adventures this time around.  We did the aquarium…

…an oasis (you know you are in the desert when some grass and a little pond qualifies as an oasis)…

…and a baseball game.  Which Devon LOVED.

It is always great spending time with family! Just wished we weren’t so far away!

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San Diego!

My best friend from high school got married in May, so we flew out to San Diego for the wedding.  It was a great few days- and the wedding perfectly fit the personalty of Rebekah, the bride.  I just love when that happens.

A couple nights before the “big day" the bride and groom gathered a bunch of their friends together to play broom ball.  It is kind of a crazy game where huge groups of people run around in their sneakers on an ice rink trying to to kill each other while whacking small, hard plastic balls with small, harder plastic sticks.  It’s probably not the smartest game to play right before half of the attendees are about to take photos for a once in a lifetime event, but it was pretty fun nevertheless.  And to top it off, everyone came dressed up in a tacky theme.  I’m not sure if we pulled “tacky" off, but it was definitely a little wacky, and that’s all that matters.

The bride and groom

You know, that wasn’t the first time I dressed up a crazy person around Rebekah.  We have a long history of making ourselves look a fool together.  

Like on this night, for instance. (this is before we picked Rebekah up)

We really had no reason for such shenanigans, other than we were young and vibrant and full of joy and could care less about what anyone else thought about us.  

It’s kind of a feeling I strive to capture every day.  

Here was another fun night.  We found these ridiculous sparkly dresses and put on knee high boots and went to some high school dance thinking it would be hilarious.  Turns out people thought we looked quite stylish and we got a ton of complements.  I guess the joke was on them!

But I digress…

Isn’t she stunning?

The bridesmaids (except for me)

My friend Nikki with her husband and son.  

 I am so excited to see how God is going to use that dynamic couple. 

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Devon didn’t just learn how to walk while we were visiting Jon and Ashley, he also learned how to drive a four wheeler.  And boy I tell you what- he sure did love it!

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Little Man accomplished a huge feat while we were in Delaware.  At 12 months our boy finally took his first steps!  I credit Reed with finally getting him to do it, Devon didn’t like not being able to keep up with his buddy and so finally he just started walking!  

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A carriage ride

So here’s a little something you don’t see every day:

Jon and Ashley’s neighbor just so happened to be a collector of dog carriages (or sulkies, as some call them). While walking her dog one evening she offered the Little Man a ride, and we obviously HAD to say yes, if only to get this exact photo.    

People really do have the strangest hobbies, don’t they?

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Next stop: Pennsylvania Delaware

After seeing a few friends and family in DC, we made our way up to the Pennsylvania/Delaware border to see some of our closest friends: Jon and Ashley.  Their little boy, Reed, is only four months older than Devon, so it was really fun to see the two of them chasing each other and playing like only two boys will.  

Ashley was eight months preggers when we arrived, so of course we had to take a bunch of maternity photos.  (I was privileged to photograph not only her maternity shots when she was pregnant with Reed, but also Reed’s birth- which was pretty amazing.  You can see those maternity shots here) 

All in all, it was a great visit.  It has been too long since our families have lived side by side, but I love how time and distance are meaningless when you are with true friends.  We are so blessed to have them in our lives.

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I came across this poem this morning and just had to share.

"i am a woman"
by christianna reed maas

"My willingness to carry life is the revenge, the antidote, the great rebuttal of every murder, every abortion, and every genocide. I sustain humanity. Deep inside of me, life grows. I am death’s opposition.

I have pushed back the hand of darkness today. I have caused there to be a weakening tremor among the ranks of those set on earth’s destruction. Today a vibration that calls angels to attention echoed throughout time. Our laughter threatened hell today.

I dined with the greats of God’s army. I made their meals, and tied their shoes. Today, I walked with greatness, and when they were tired I carried them. I have poured myself out for the cause today.

It is finally quiet, but life stirs inside of me. Gaining strength, the pulse of life sends a constant reminder to both good and evil that I have yielded myself to Heaven and now carry its dream. No angel has ever had such a privilege, nor any man. I am humbled by the honor. I am great with destiny.

I birth the freedom fighters. In the great war, I am a leader of underground resistance. I smile at the disguise of my troops, surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, invisible yet tangible, and the anointing to alter history. Our footsteps marking land for conquest, we move undetected through the common places.

Today I was the barrier between evil and innocence. I was the gate keeper, watching over the hope of mankind, and no intruder trespassed. There is not an hour of day or night when I turn from my post. The fierceness of my love is unmatched on earth.

And because I smiled instead of frowned the world will know the power of grace. Hope has feet, and it will run to the corners of earth, because I stood up against destruction.

I am a woman. I am a mother. I am the keeper and sustainer of life here on earth. Heaven stands in honor of my mission. No one else can carry my call. I am the daughter of Eve. Eve has been redeemed. I am the opposition of death. I am a woman."

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