honest.

I've been feeling like I haven't really shared my heart on here since we moved to Columbia... so here it comes. Through a blog its so easy to make your life look exactly like you want it to. It's pretty easy to post happy pictures and only write about the good things. I was looking back through previous posts and feel like that's what I've been doing, not on purpose but the fun things are just a lot more exciting to share! and I don't think anyone would enjoy looking at pictures of Reese crying or having a major breakdown because I won't let her watch Super Why on the TV or let her have more cheese or let her wash her hands in the sink for the 50th time. {i know, I'm such a mean mommy} But I just want to be honest. I want to share the goods and the bads, mainly because I would love your prayers.

Residency is super HARD. It's just hard for us all around. {and this is from my perspective. it's even more hard on Marks end!! poor guy works soooo hard} I think it's been particularly hard this month because Mark works from 5pm to 7:30am and we basically see him for 45 minutes a day. but even when he's working a "normal" day schedule it's still 14 hour days (at least) for him and we never know what time he'll be home that night. After talking with several other "dr wives" I have found that this might be the hardest thing - for the rest of our lives. That he has such an unknown schedule. I think it will take a while to get used to. I need to let go of expecting him to be home by 6 and just be excited when he is home and cherish our times together. I was reading another friends blog who's husband is far out of residency and she said their family motto is to WORK HARD AND PLAY HARD. I think this is what we have claimed for ourselves too. When Mark is at work he is saving lives. Literally. I need to let go of my selfishness and see this for how amazing it really is. {great, now I'm crying as I type this ha!} It just really is so neat to know that if I can let go of him for 12 or however many hours a day then so many other people's lives are touched and changed and I couldn't be more proud of him! {and to see how much he is loving what he's doing makes it so much better too} and on the other side, when he's home he is so so good to hang out with us and play on the ground with Reeser and let her put bows in his hair and we go on walks all the time, to the park, etc..... there have only been a few days that he hasn't been able to see Reese because she's asleep when he leaves in the morning and when he gets home at night, so I'd say thats pretty good.

Moving to a new city is hard, too, but actually this has been a pretty easy-ish transition for me this time. Probably because all the people I have met here are so wonderful and we love our church The Crossing and I absolutely love staying home with Reese.

but staying home with Reese has been a huge transition for me too. Maybe I didn't fully take on mommy hood in Amarillo because I was working and I had a major outlet to have "me" time. So now, I really have to make an effort to even get out of the house or even get a shower for that matter. I really truly love it, don't get me wrong, this is a dream come true to get to be home with her. but at the same time it's just hard. right, mommas? I've been going to a Tuesday morning women's Bible study at The Crossing and it's Matt Chandler's study on Phillippians. SOOO GOOD!!! I just feel so encouraged and challenged every time I leave. and I think it's just really good for me to have a 'thing' to do each week and a place to plug in. Yesterday some other moms were sharing about these exact same struggles that I've been having. How to do the laundry, and the dishes, and pick up toys, and change diapers over and over without complaining and how to do it with a joyful heart. yikes. and How do we make time to sit down with Jesus and read the word and just be with Him when it's hard to find time to even sit down at all. Another sweet friend shared a verse that was actually my theme verse when I was in jr. high... "Do not grow weary in doing good for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up!" Galatians 6:9 {so neat how the same verse means something totally different to me yet just as challenging now than in 7th grade} so my goal for the weak is to serve in humility and to do it with a joyful heart.

on another note, sweet loving little Reese has quite an attitude these days. I know, it's true, even she has a sin nature and it is just so horrible to see. Probably 90% of the day she is the most caring, fun, hilarious, excited little thing but that 10% she just wants her own way {don't we all? what a crazy parallel to my life!} So we're trying so hard to teach her obedience from her young little age and she's really good at saying 'no throw' and 'obey' and 'be nice and sweet' {its adorable when she says it} however, at 17 months i'm not really sure she fully knows what this means :) She does seem to understand time outs and sometimes spanking seems to work too (except it of course just produces more crying). She is a very passionate little thing {ironic because that's what her name means :)} and I love this about her, however, if she is doing something she shouldn't be or wants to do something she shouldn't a terrible fit could and likely will occur. Its incredible how easy it is to just give in and let her have or do whatever she wants so she will be happy and I won't have to "parent" but I've found that this isn't what God has called me to do as her parent. He has called me to 'train up my child in the way she should go and even when she is old she will not depart from it' prov 22:6. and TRAINING her sure takes a lot of work and a lot of energy. but thats what I'm here for. That's my purpose these days. That's my full-time job. and I just need to keep praying and asking the Lord for His strength and His energy and His patience.... and I need to find a new word that means 'no ma'am' because I just don't know if I should say it anymore today. haha "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26


ok... there you have it. the truth of my heart these days. but even more truth in my heart is that God is good!!! and he knows the plans he has for us. and He has put us here in Columbia for a reason and even if the only reason is for us to enjoy the incredible fall weather then I'm fine with that!!! {there are tons of other apparent, great reasons we're here too} but I mean y'all, for real, we play outside most of the day these days and it is just the most beautiful temperature, cool breeze, the trees are changing colors, its awesome and we sure enjoy every moment of it! and there are tons of other fun things - our smiles in the pictures are real and honest too. :) but there are hard times in the midst of all that as well. such is life. thats why we need Jesus. I can't make it even one second without Him.

May He send you a special blessing today.

goodbye summer

goodbye to my favorite season. goodbye swimsuits and sunscreen and baby swim diapers. goodbye to our favorite lake beach where we played almost every day. goodbye to our backyard pool (well actually we haven't said goodbye to that yet, R still likes to play in it without the water ha!) goodbye 100 degree heat plus crazy humidity. goodbye tan.

hello fall. you're actually really beautiful and cozy and cool and fun here in Missouri. i think we could be friends. time to break out the sweaters, scarves and boots already.

A FEW RANDOMS::

i love this picture of my two loves....

One day a few weeks ago Kara and I took the babies to this cute little town about 15 minutes away called Rocheport. We ate a yummy lunch at a little restaurant and then walked around and played. 

Honey&Pops

so... how awesome am I doing at blogging every day about things that Reese is doing and learning??? definitely failing in that department. the thing is.... we have introduced reese to youtube and let her watch Elmo clips on our phones, iPad or computer at random times when we need something to occupy her for a second.... however, the second she sees one of those wonderful pieces of technology she can't think or do anything else until she gets to see elmo. so..... i pretty much never get on the computer unless i can sneak a peak without her seeing in fear of having to watch this video 600 times.... 

in other news....

Honey and Pops came to visit over Labor Day weekend and we just had the best time with them! It's always a treat when they make the long drive to come see us and we just love it! Reese is really into playing with chalk these days so we left them a welcome sign in the driveway...

They brought her a tickle me elmo and she loves it! She was a little unsure of the whole 'tickling' thing at first but now she just laughs and laughs

she's actually getting pretty good at putting the shapes into the right spots on this toy. she'll usually pick up the circle first and put it in a few spots that don't work and say 'no, no' and then put it in the circle spot and say 'yaaaay!' she can do it with most of the shapes.

itsy bitsy spider with pops

just some leisurely pottery barn reading with honey

cheering for the bears. this was the game when they BEAT TCU!!! so incredible!!!! goal for this football season = teach Reesie boo to say 'heeeeeey sic em bears!'

you can barely tell but the reeser got her first fat lip :( she was carrying her 'DD' aka her blankie and slipped on the kitchen floor and fell right on her face. poor thing. first boo boo and many many more to come...

we took honey and pops to the lake/splash pad where we play

honey and I made some little bows and R wanted to try them ALL on

the next night we switched teams and cheered for LSU

such a little cheerleader :)

nothing better than a pizza picnic in the nude hehe

playing outside after church

Thanks for coming to visit Honey and Pops! We love you! 

We were sad to see them leave on Labor Day but that afternoon we got to go hiking with The Snyders and it was gorgeous!!!! The whole time I kept thinking, 'I can't believe we live here!!!'

Kamp Gigi - Term 2

The last week in August my Aunt Lisa, cousin Becca and Becca's 11 month old cutie daughter, Emery, drove to Missouri and we had second term of Camp Gigi!! It was just as fun as the first term and we loved having so much time with the girls :) Sadly, Becca and I haven't been able to spend that much time together throughout the years, so this was such a treat and we all had a blast! As always, here's our trip in pictures...

Fantastic kiddie pool in the front yard :-) spent A LOT of time here!

reese's surprise face - i think she got excited about eating watermelon

gigi and mimi

emery giving reese night night kisses

little buddies :)

gigi got the girls matching pjs. adorable.

the next morning we hit up the outlet mall. Reese packed up her new purse from Aunt Lisa and was ready to go...

then we came home for more swimming

morning workout ---walking the hills 

Reesie boo is truly OBSESSED with this little people town! She would probably play with it for days if no one made her eat or sleep. its so cute! Emery liked it too - when reese was a good share-er and let her have a car or two. and doesn't em look like a little doll here? she's just too cute!

the girls loved maisy! reese even started saying "mae" when she looked outside and also picked up on "no mae" and still says both things when she sees a dog now

cute cute momma and baby

so blessed to have such a sweet cuz and I'm excited for R and E to grow up together too :)

theres nothing better than bath time pictures :) these two were quite a mess together!

girls will be girls. already putting makeup on each other! and of course more matching pjs. cute cowgirls :)

xoxo

closing ceremonies.... this term both girls got the honor camper award. :) so proud

we seriously had THE best time with all the girls and can't wait to get together again soon! Thanks for making the long drive from Indiana! Next time we're headed your way :)