One Year Together

 A year ago today... The first day with my sweethearts. I knew I'd love them. I knew it would be fun. But. Wow... I had no idea how they would claim my heart... and make everything they touched about my life fill with sunshine. What a blessing they have been since this day, day one...

 

 And now look at them. They are sooooo big! "What in da world?!" 

I just LOVE these little faces!!

 We spent a wonderful, happy breakfast together. Laughing, talking. We used the plates we did when I got to spend the day with Mommy, Stacy, the kiddos, and Abby. What a fun day that was. So much happiness and love shared. I am more thankful for those times than I could ever say.

 I took the kiddos out to eat for lunch. We'd not done that just the 3 of us before. It was super fun. Then we hit a couple stores. Fun talking and laughing... We've come a long way from the diapers, visiting every bathroom, always being in the buggy... to walking along together looking at things we like and singing. Knowing they would listen, come when I called, be helpers.

 My sweet princess. The joy and giggles from this girl make me laugh so hard. She is crazy-awesome. She works to learn so many things every day. She wants to be able to do it all on her own. She is not easily persuaded to do something she doesn't want, but she does love to help. She is INCREDIBLE.

 Two cuties. Two adorable, loveable, amazing, wonderful, precious little people...

"Everything I do, I do it for you." <3

My baby. Super cute, super stubborn, super AWESOME to be around. His laugh is so infectious. When he looks at me and says he loves me, when he hugs me tight with those little arms all the way around my neck. Oh, life just can't get any better. 

Swinging, running, singing... we climbed all over the place today. Talked a lot. I thought so much of Mommy.

The way they say words, the places we've been together, the happiness they bring to me. I couldn't fully express it if I wrote for days. But it has been the best. year. ever.

 Growing in all ways, most importantly learning to love GOD and focus on HEAVEN and the important things in life more, and to 

LIVE IN THE SONSHINE!!!

5 kiddos, 2 days, and 1 major haircut?? Oh, YEAH!

Aunt Shauna hat. Cancer shirt. And a short haircut for me. One day-- we'll all be in HEAVEN together again. I can't wait for that day!!!

I had the most INCREDIBLE 2 days with 5 kiddos. 

My sweethearts, and JJ and Tina's sweethearts. 

First off, HAPPY 20 years to JJ and Tina Shepherd! They've been married almost as long as I've been alive! =D They are a fantastic couple who do so much for their kiddos, for the church, for camp kiddos, for teenagers, for friends... I've not known them for very long, but I can't imagine my life without them now. The first homeschool-get-together I was able to attend was at their house. The monthly Teen Devo is at their house. KONOS days are there often. It is such a fun, welcoming, loving place-- because of the dear family who lives there. Praying for many more happy years of love for the LORD, for each other, and for your family and friends, JJ and Tina-- I so love you both!

So... while they were enjoying a couple days away, my kiddos and I were blessed to have their kiddos stay with us... and let me tell you, we had a BLAST!

LOTS of water!

LOTS of food!

LOTS of playing!

LOTS of laundry!

LOTS of HAPPINESS!

Hot chocolate after playing in the water for hours...

My pretty, lovely girls!

The whole gang. :) Such sweethearts!

The handsome and adorable WYATT!

Doing crafts, enjoying a slow morning at home, singing and dancing around the house....

Really good memories. I kept thinking, "I could really see having 5 kiddos. The kiddos work so well together. They are such good helpers. Super cute and fun to be around. They make me laugh all day long. They love GOD." My favorite time of the whole two days, (And I loved it ALL, so it's kinda hard to pick) was Bible time before movie and bed. We sang songs to GOD. We read and talked about HIS word. These sweethearts have such love for the Father. I commend JJ and Tina for that.

Um. He's adorable!! And a superhero. And he loves my haircut. And he gives good hugs. 

I want one. =)

My sweet, kind, helpful, funny boys!!

Curled up resting before our awesome Wednesday night dinner with awesome aunts, uncle, and loads of cousins!

My sweet, incredible KAYLA! She is beautiful inside and out. 

I am so blessed to have her in my life!!

 

We've been doing a lot of singing lately... What am I saying? We ALWAYS sing a lot. hee hee

Well, one of the songs we've been singing has been, "The sun will come out tomorrow... so you've got to hang on 'til tomorrow... come what may!" 

"We can do ALL things, THROUGH CHRIST!!!"

Never. Never. NEVER give up! =)

"Under the Sea" and soooo many good memories!!

The wonderful Lys and the adorable Jojo... 

Hangin' during Jonna's soccer game. 

GOOD NIGHT!

ART TIME!! Dot paint... what a fun creation!!

My friends, my kiddos, cutest dog, gorgeous day, nothin' but the sunshine to enjoy... yep. 

That's what we call another perfect day down in the amazing lil place I love, 

HIGGINSVILLE!

Ok. Life just DOES NOT get better than sleeping with a 

precious little niece after an amazing day. 

I <3 our little Lucy Kay Cozort!

My little man and me in a bubble at the awesome Kansas City Aquarium-- 

we had a big homeschool field-trip. 

SO FUN!

The BEST part was getting to touch the cool little critters!

Feel like a fish!? =D

JELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLYFISHHHHHHHHHHH! 

My absolute FAVORITE part. 

So relaxing... So beautiful... So amazing...

Running through the fountain outside the aquarium and Crown Center was just as AWESOME! We are soooo going back! =)

 

Sundays are awesome days, though I miss the time with my sweethearts, the time with my congregation and my friends in Higginsville is great. One of my VERY favorite parts of a Sunday is Stacy and my afternoon walk. Lots of memories over this year walking that one path. We are so creatures of habit. We notice animals, people, plants, houses... we talk about everything. And we "solve the problems of the world." ha =)

Mondays have been BRILLIANT days of the week alllll fall and winter. We've been able to share them with Daddy-- tennis lesson, then picnic lunch with him. For a few months now Aunt Chas and the girls have been coming, too. The girls are amazing at tennis. Carter makes me laugh. I get to visit with my super cool aunt. Our Cancan comes along often, too. Darren is a fantastic teacher. We love being at the club. Everyone is so friendly. We'll miss being there as much through the summer... busy, busy schedule for Daddy this time of year.

  Yep. That's my girl. Aunt Chassy is showin' her who's boss. =D

McKenna wanted to be chased! hee hee. 

I'm telling you. This family is the COOLEST!

"Life is full of beauty when your heart if full of 

LOVE!"

May Merriment!!

This month is flyin' by... wow. We're already to the last week... 

To recap-- Drew and I went roadtrippin' to Illinois to see the Bradds and preach Sunday morning.

It was an awesome time of fellowship and new sights, sounds, and a VERY COOL treehouse. I love how I had kiddos to spend time with from the moment I woke up and started getting ready-- it was just like home! :) Also loved the time to talk, sing, laugh, and dream with Drew... <3

Family FUN Nights-- our Thursday nights are, even after a year, something that I get so excited about I could (AND DO) do a happy dance about EVERY SINGLE WEEK! How I love and adore my family! What a blessing they all are to me!!

Drew and his fanclub. =)

Great friends... held together with the goal of Heaven, the hope of a home together in an even better place than this lovely little piece of Heaven on earth that we have in the country, more gorgeous than a sunshine, sweeter than our Lucy Kay... a perfect place with no more sorrow. *happpppy sigh*

My sweet, beautiful, hard-working, ever-giving, spunky MM, with our Sweet Pea.

We are a family who LOOOOVES not only each other, soccer, and parties-- but also

MEXICAN FOOD!

Meg. She fits in just life family-- why is that?! Because I have the BEST family about making anyone feel welcome, at home, and loved-- and because my MEG is the best person in the world! =) Who wouldn't like her?!?

Oh, my sis. My sweet, funny, lovely sis. Giggling and talking and singing and dancing and dreaming and crafting with you has got to be the BEST things ever... 

Thank you for bringing so much sunshine to me!

Ok. These are just GORGEOUS, aren't they?! 

They say-- "We are pretty. God made us. BE HAPPY!"

One of my favooooooorite pics eveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer! =)

There have been many deep talks with my babies this month. They are growing too quickly!

Many deep talks with my parents, Heck and Leonard parents... always trying to learn and grow. Give the best to my kiddos, make sure I'm pleasing HIM in all that I do. Looking for the silver-lining like my Miss Helen and my Tina always do. Praying, waiting, working. You know, if you'll pray and work, you will NEVER be bored... and life will always be ok.

Worshiping at our little Jamesport-- how I love this place! So happy to be able to share a Sunday of it with my Meg, even though my poor dude was super sick, he did a fantastic job! Meg and I went for a walk, we never run out of things to look at or talk about when we're together. Just like my Stacy. :) My Cancan... all my best friends. Jamesport is a little congregation we go to preach at on the 2nd Sunday of every month. I'll really miss it when Drew goes to preaching school this August. The members there have really touched my heart. I plan to always return. The love and encouragement they have given us will always be remembered!

Calvin in a very special dude. He is strong, funny, extremely nice, and cute! 

He did a GREAT job testing!! 

My kiddos love Calvin. He comes to spend days with me "at work"-- they are priceless to me. He plays with them and they totally enjoy it, but the example that he is to them is what I really prize. He is 13. He could do so many things that would be "cooler" than hanging with a 21-year-old girl at "her house" doing jobs and school and being crazy with (granted the kiddos are SUPER CUTE) a 3 and 5-year-old... But he does it. And he is so good to them. Wow. Every day I realize again how blessed we are. How GOD hands up just what we need, JUST when we need it. 

Take the time to thank HIM for everything-- the little things-- are big. Not a moment of life would be possible without HIS power, HIS love, HIS mercy. We owe HIM everything. =) May has certainly been awesome, faith-building, and full of merriment!!