Young Life

My girls I have had since freshman year. This is only half of the amazing crew we have today.

Cara and Colby the Young Life "presidents"

I am going to have empty nest syndrome when these girls graduate!

Wow we are going on the 4th year of serving in Young Life. I can not tell you and stress how amazing the last 4 years has been. To see these kids grow and mature spiritually is so unreal. I have truly seen them fall so in love with the Lord. This year has been particularly amazing because God has used my past and some of my crazy life lessons/stories to touch and reach these kids. Who would of thought? I have a girls bible study every Wednesday night and I am not kidding you, I have fallen on my knees and praised God after everyone. We have had so much brokenness and so many girls that have come who are lost and even mad at God. I have seen walls breaking and hearts changing. Also my girls are serving this year. They are leading Monday night club, reaching the freshman, and volunteering in the Young Life special needs ministry. It is so cool to see them in a different role and how God is using him to do his work. Thank you Lord for putting this ministry in our lives.

Pictures from this summer

Here are a few picks from this summer. It was so crazy and fun at times. The fall just started and for us that is Young Life time. Our kids our seniors this year!

Tyler loves to watch the DVD player. I thought I would love having one but I get so sick of Elmo and I hate having him watch this much TV but he yells for it until we turn it on. It has become such a battle.

Tyler wore a suit for Grandaddy's funeral. What a sad day and a sad loss. I am so sad Tyler won't remember this amazing man.

We went to Sea World with my best friend Lindsey and her cute family. Aven (Lindsey's son) and Tyler are best friends. They looooooved watching Shamu. I was crying because it was so cool to see Tyler's excitement.

I can never get him to smile for the camera but he has become a big mama's boy these days.

He only lasted 2 hrs at Sea World. I have never seen this kid just pass out. Thank goodness we had free tickets :)

The good, the bad, and the sorrow

I can not believe I have not written since June.  Life has been so busy and crazy lately.  At the beginning of July I went to Young Life camp and had a cabin full of senior and just graduated girls.  I left Tyler with Aaron for 8 days.  It was hard but camp was sooooo amazing it was worth it.  My whole cabin either met the Lord or reconnected with him.  Young Life is such an amazing ministry.  I had girls that had been sexually abused, had parents that were addicts, girls that were indulging in drugs, alcohol, and sex. I have had such a great opportunity to show and tell these girls how much God loves them.  Aaron took Tyler to his parents and spent some great quality time.  He only came back with one scrape.  It could have been worse ;)

When we got back from camp my 19 year old nephew lived with us for 3 weeks.  We had our ups and downs.  He is a very hard kid with a lot of emotional problems.  He has been on the streets for the past 2 years.  He is addicted to drugs and steeling.  When he lived here he got to here about the Lords love every night because we had camp follow up over here for two weeks straight.  He was participating and sharing a lot.  I miss the late night talks over ice cream we had.  He is such a sweet kid but still has a lot of maturing to do.  I could really see God working on his heart.  It all came to ahead when he decided there were to many rules and his friends were to far away.  He choose to go back to the streets.  Please pray for him.  This was a very sad and stressful month for me and my family.  

We also found out in July that Aaron's territory changed and that we needed to move to Seattle if he wanted to be promoted.  We are excited about the move and love Seattle but don't have any details yet.  I am sure it is going to be very hard selling our house.  I will update everyone as soon as I know more.

We took a few trips (Seattle and Cali) and we took Tyler to Sea World.  It was a blast.  I cried when I watched him clap for Shamu.  He LOVED it.  We got to hang out with our best friends Lindsey, Jared, and their little boy Aven.  Aven and Tyler are best friends.  They held hands, played hide and seek, and ate popsicles together.  It was so adorable.  

To end the summer Aaron's Grandfather passed away last night.  He has been battling cancer for the past three years and now the pain and fight is over.  We are so sad.  Tyler is named Tyler Robert because of him.  He was such an amazing man.  Probably the Godliest man I know.  He is going to be so missed.  The funeral is this Saturday so we will be preparing and hosting all week.  

We had an eventful summer but I have to admit I am so glad it is almost over.  I am ready for some new chapters in my life.  I am so thankful for our Lord's grace and mercy.  I am so thankful for the family and friends he has blessed me with.  I have lived by the quote "when times get tough, kneel." 

In him

More updates and pictures to follow. 

We have been busy folks!!  Tyler is into everything and loves to do everything I don't want him to do.  We hung out with our good friends Lindsey and their son Aven.  The boys had so much fun together.  They even kissed each other.  It was so cute. Also one of my Young Life girls painted a jungle mural in our playroom.  It is amazing.  She is so talented.  Here are some cute pictures.

Here is a quick picture of the murals

They had to learn how to take turns

Tyler pushed Aven around!  It was so cute.

Summer is here!

What a crazy month.  We have been so busy.  We had a couple of birthday's for Tyler and they were so much fun!  He still runs around the house saying birthday!  We have had family in town a lot!  We love them though so it is fun.  We just had our last Young Life party of the year.  It is funny our kids are growing up so fast.  I think they finally have grown out of all these little parties we throw them.  They are so sweet though.  I truly think they come so they don't hurt our feelings.  We are not pulling any new kids in so I think we are going to stop doing the parties for awhile. We are now gearing up for a busy June and getting ready to be camp counselors at a YL camp in Colorado the first week of July.  I am leaving Tyler for 8 days.  Thinking about it makes me sick.  We have been working on our back yard some.  Tyler loves to play out there so it has become my get away place during the day to calm him down.  As it gets hotter more and more I wish we had a pool.  Tyler is growing like a weed.  He is really starting to talk and he has gotten the walking thing down!  He is so much fun.  It is getting harder for Aaron to leave on his weekly trips because he misses him so much.  

I am on a diet!  I have a hard time sticking to it but I think I am finally motivated!!  Getting old stinks sometimes.  I remember when I could lose 10 lbs in a week in high school. Here are some of the latest pics from the past few weeks.

Tyler at his ball themed birthday party!

The amazing cake my aunt made

My best friend michelle

Daddy loves to play and Tyler loves to be rough housed!

We dressed alike for memorial day.  I am such a cheesy mom.

Happy Birthday Tyler

It is Tyler's birthday today.  Wow I can't believe a year has gone by.  We had a little party for Tyler at my parents on Sunday.  It was so much fun!  He has more toys then we know what to do with.  His main birthday party is this weekend.  I can't wait!!  Here are 12 things I love about Tyler.

1. I love the way he grabs my face to give me kisses

2. I love the high pitch of his voice when he says ball.

3. I loved that at 3 months old he loved standing (supported by us)

4. I love the hugs he gives when he is in a good mood.

5. I love that when you laugh he laughs because he thinks he is doing something funny.

6. I love the way he feeds the dogs the food he does not want to eat.

7. I love his almost curly hair.

8. I love how he sits in my lap with his legs crossed when he watches Elmo.

9. I love that he likes the car now!

10. I love that he is finally one and I don't have all these things I can's give him or do until he is one.

11. I love that the dogs finally love him (I think it is because he feeds then allllllll the time!!!)

12. I love that he is my son!

Leaving Tyler for the first time!

This past weekend we went on a trip to San Diego.  Aaron's wonderful company does quarterly incentive trips for the top producers of the company.  Aaron won last quarter and it was amazing.  We had such a relaxing and great time.  The only thing is I had to leave Tyler.  My parents stayed with Tyler at our house.  I called at least 4 times a day.  He was great for them.  They did not want to leave this morning.  He learned so much in 4 days.  I came back and he is practically walking.  He even stands up on his own now.  He also says Na Na and Dog now.  He is mimicking like crazy.  I went to get him up this morning and he was so confused.  Then he smiled like crazy for hours and kept giving us hugs!!  I think I can leave him again and it will a lot easier.  Here are some picks from our trip.

Me throwing Aaron's crackberry I mean blackberry overboard

Aaron's Co-workers