Turning 30!

Goodbye 20's!  As of yesterday, I joined the 30 Club!  I have had some friends who were really sad about turning 30, and I am not sure how I really feel about it.  I am not really sad, but I guess I am not jumping up and down for joy either.  I think I just kind of feel like, "Well, another day older!"  In a way, I am just thankful.  I am thankful as I think back over the past 10 years and all that has happened.  And, I am also thankful as I think forward over the next 10 years as I know God has great and awesome plans in store!

Looking Back....

The 20's were really quite good to me!  They started out at UGA with my bestest friends in the whole world.  I was just a college student, dating a wonderful guy, wondering what my life would be like in 10 years.  They ended in Savannah, with a husband (that same wonderful guy) and two precious boys, with many dear friends, and looking back thinking, "God has surely blessed me over these past 10 years."

Some highlights from my 20's-

-Graduated from UGA
-Worked in full time ministry for a year at PABC with the college ministry
-Married my best friend and love of my life
-Traveled to Colorado, New York, Honduras, Barbados, Washington DC, the Bahamas, Boston, Maine (and some other more local trips)
-Worked as a college intern in full time ministry at PABC in Athens (probably my dream job)
-Got my first job as a 4th grade teacher at Blandford Elementary
-Got my Master's Degree from Nova Southeastern University in Brain Based Learning
-Moved 3 times and bought 3 houses (with my husband, of course).  This 3rd house, which we just moved into it, is hopefully where we will live for a very long time.  I hope there is no more moving in this next decade!)
-Got pregnant twice and had two, beautiful, baby boys
-Became a stay at home mom
-Became an aunt to my precious niece, Jaymie

I have so many things to be thankful for!  It is hard to believe that 10 years have come and gone since I turned 20.  In so many ways, it feels like such a short time ago, but then again, so much has happened!  Of course, there have been down times too...times where loved ones have passed, times of fear of the future, times of family members being sick, times where things weren't going the way I had hoped.  But, I praise God for His faithfulness to me and to my family!  I praise God for His many blessings that are far more than anything I deserve.  Yesterday, our family was visiting a local church in Savannah, and we sang a song called "Always."  Every time we sang the chorus, I had to stop singing because I kept tearing up.  After just coming through a trying season of clinging hard to God's promises, these words mean so much to me.  These were the words to the chorus:

"Oh, my God. He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always."

So, in reflecting on my 20's, I praise God that He is constant.  In this crazy life full of ups and downs, trying times and good times, fearful times and thankful times, He remains the same.  His timing is perfect, and He will not delay.  He is ALWAYS true to His promises, and MY God will come through ALWAYS, ALWAYS!

Hello, 30's!  Bring it on!

16 Months

On the 11th, sweet Brooks turned 16 months!  This little guy is on the go these days!  He is a professional walker now, and he just wants to be down and exploring all of the time.  He has become very opinionated lately, and believe me, he makes his opinions known!  He is a loud little thing.  Brooks is also a dare devil, and is not afraid to dive into new things and literally, climb to new heights.  This is much different from his more cautious big brother, Reives.  This month, Brooks has grown alot of blonde curls all over his head, picked up speed and is walking everywhere, and has probably at least doubled his vocabulary.  He is really beginning to communicate to us with his words.  For instance, when he wants milk instead of water he will say, "nilk."  He is also beginning to say "please" sometimes when he wants something, and just yesterday he started saying "thank you" when you hand him something.  He also loves to wave and say "bye bye" alot these days.  He is still a pretty laid back little guy, but he has had some rough days lately as his eye teeth are coming in.  They still have not broken through his gums, but they are coming any day now.  Brooks has become a better eater this month, but he is still pretty picky at times.  He loves the pool, playground, and we also discovered that he loves cats (thanks to living with Grammie and Grandaddy for 6 weeks.)  He is a bit scared of dogs these days, but he will chase after a cat in a heartbeat.  Brooks and Reives area really starting to play and laugh together lately.  They have been doing this for a while but you can tell that Brooks is interacting with him more and more.  I love listening to them laugh and play, until is turns into pushing and crying and squealing (which is usually the case.)  Brooks is still obsessed with cars, trucks, and tractors!  He pushes them EVERYWHERE!!

Other things about Brooks:

-loves cookies and crackers (definitely his favorite foods)
-has made the transition to 1 nap a day
-LOVES cold milk from his sippy cup and it pretty much acts as his coffee in the morning (bad mood until he gets it)
-saying alot of words and even some phrases.  This morning he said "rain coming down" as clear as day when we were talking about the rain
-starting to try and sing some songs like "Old McDonald."  He loves making animal sounds
-loves to climb on anything and everything
-would probably jump into the deep end of a pool if he could
-loves going on slides
-does not like sprinklers or showers
-his feet have had a huge growth spurt lately and he is outgrowing his summer shoes
-just as sweet and cute as ever!
-has become a bit rude to people lately.  He will turn his head, squeal, and hold his hand out when people try to talk to him sometimes (embarrassing!)

 Our fearless little baby!

 Brooks, the climber

 Love his blonde curls!

 Visiting with great grandparents!

Me and my handsome snuggle bug on my 30th birthday!