Our Family's Hero

This picture was taken on our wedding day. My white knight in shining armor...and he still is. Daniel and I met in high school and dated a little over 5 years before we were married in January 8, 2005...that means we will have been together 10 years this January! What a gift from the Lord it is to be married to my very best friend. As a husband, he is loving--constantly and consistently. He is gentle and strong. He is patient beyond belief. He is an incredible leader and loves the Lord in such a real way. Daniel is and has been my hero for nearly a decade now.

And now I get to watch him be our sons' hero. Daniel Isaac adores his daddy tremendously. He wants to dress like daddy, shower like daddy, shave like daddy, swim like daddy, be strong like daddy, grow up big and tall like daddy, work like daddy, etc. The list goes on. He is so amazed by his father and so blessed to have a father on this earth who loves and ministers to him so much like our heavenly Father. I get to witness Daniel's love and patience with Daniel Isaac day in and day out. He teaches him, and Daniel Isaac learns. Daniel is absolutely 100% Daniel Isaac's hero.

Noah David is also discovering Daniel as his hero. He responds to Daniel's voice with a huge grin...eyes full of excitement. Daniel is so loving and gentle with Noah David, rocking, bouncing and swinging with him to comfort him. Noah David especially likes Daddy's whistle and lights up like a Christmas tree when Daniel whistles for him...he only does this for Daniel's whistle. Daniel is teaching Noah David that he is there, he can trust him, he will take care of him...just as our Father in heaven does.

How thankful I am to have such an incredible leader and best friend. Daniel is our rock. Our boys are so blessed to have him as their role model and as their teacher and shepherd. I am praising our Lord for the gift of Daniel and the hero he is to our family!

Daniel Isaac's First Day of Pre-School!

Daniel Isaac had a wonderful first day of school today. He calls it "Sunshine High School"...it's actually Sonshine Preschool at First United Methodist Church. Daniel Isaac felt the need to sport his official Sonshine Preschool t-shirt, and we're in the process of explaining that while it is a t-shirt with his school's name on it, he does not in fact need to wear it every day to school. He has two really sweet, loving teachers and a classroom full of fun boys and girls. He was very proud of his lunch box and the ability to wear his own back pack. He is also glad that Barney is a part of his classroom and talked to him the entire way to school this morning. (It's actually just the Barney stuffed animal with me doing the Barney voice and DI carrying on a lovely conversation with him...can we say imagination?) I am looking forward to seeing my sweet boy continue to grow and learn.

A day at the doctor...whew!

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

Noah David had his first doctor check up yesterday. He is doing GREAT. He weighs 12 pounds and 8 ounces and is 23.5 inches long! He's gained 4 pounds since birth and grown 2.5 inches, and he has really good head control. He also shared some if his delightful, toothless grins with her and showed off his sweet ability to follow voices with his big, bright blue eyes. What a joy he is! Brother Daniel Isaac came along and "helped" Noah David understand what all happens at the doctor. Daniel Isaac explained to Noah David as the nurse was taking his temperature, "Noah David, that's a thermometer to take your temperature. It doesn't hurt; don't be scared." Daniel Isaac also felt the need to be completely involved in the examination and in the blood extraction from Noah David's heel during his PKU test. Thankfully, we have a very wonderfully patient pediatrician and nurse who helped and tolerated all the input. Sweet Noah David did not appreciate the one shot or heel prick, but after some nursing with mama, he calmed down. He fell fast asleep in the sling on our way to check out.

I had requested Daniel Isaac's immunization record that's required for him to start "school", only to find out that he was behind on several of his shots. SO, since he'd been for his 2 year check up in February and it was somehow overlooked, they agreed to just give him the 3 shots while we were still there. Noah David in tow in the sling, and my large (32 pound), very energetic Daniel Isaac who'd already been at the doctor for an hour and a half returned to the waiting room. Thankfully, Daniel Isaac didn't ask why...as he is very tickled by the oversized "funny chairs" that he was counting. I sent out a text to several to PRAY for DI as he was about to get shots, and boy was the Lord ever so present! The nurse was AWESOME and really quick. She did great at being discreet with the needles. Daniel Isaac didn't even shed a tear...he only poked his bottom lip out and said to the nurse and to me, "I didn't want the doctor to do that to me." He was SO big and so brave. He was rewarded with peppermints, lunch at CiCi's (his favorite), and Daddy brought home a rocket for him!

God is so good to us...all of us. I was a bit concerned at how DI would do at the doctor all morning with Noah David in the first place. But the Lord TOTALLY took care of that and worked in Daniel Isaac's heart. He listened and obeyed and was so sweet and well-behaved. I was then really nervous about Daniel Isaac's reaction and how I would be able to really comfort him while Noah David was in the sling right there with us. The Lord did it, though...He totally filled Daniel Isaac with courage and held him for me. Why do I waste so much time and energy worrying about if and how the Lord God will take care of us and meet our needs? He had it all worked out and all planned, and I need only trust Him and His provision...whether or not I can "foresee" how He's got it all worked out. Thank you, Father, for always taking such good care of us and providing for all of our needs. Thank you also for Noah David and Daniel Isaac who are growing so healthy and strong!

A few of my favorite things...

If you've ever been to our home, you'll notice our walls are splashed with the brilliant, bright colors of some very special art work. A very dear friend of ours is an incredible artist and has shared some of his work with us. It's hard to capture it's full beauty just from taking pictures of it and posting it on a blog, but I hope you can get a glimpse into all the life his art captures!

Rainy Day Adventures

It's pouring down rain outside, and I'm home all day with a really sweet newborn and a really sweet, energetic 2.5 year old...what to do?  I know!  Build a FORT!  We had a GREAT day last week inside all day long!  Daniel Isaac's imagination is in FULL SWING, so it is quite compatible with our rainy day adventures!

Special Friends, Special Time

Race, Heather, & Baby Eli



Eli's christening was last Sunday, July 27 and was so special. Sweet Eli was his bright-eyed happy, delightful self as usual. A special song was sung by the congregation just for Eli after he was baptized. All of the precious "Cannon Balls" (Caroline, Pierce, Holt, and Eli) were dressed in all white and were beautiful. We are so thankful to be a part of these precious children's lives (and their parents aren't so bad either...) Thank you, Father, for the beautiful masterpieces you have created in children!

Fishin'!

Daniel Isaac, Daniel, and Papa all went fishing together for the first time Saturday.  Daniel Isaac caught the only fish and was so proud!  Three generations of good ole Saturday fishin'!  My little boy is growing up way too fast...