costa rica

i was thinking the other day that i've known my husband for almost half my life. that's a long time.

he is pretty amazing. he won't tell you that....well he may, but he would be joking around, whereas i am totally serious. he has been doing youth ministry since he was 18 years old. that means for half of his life. there are a lot of people that look at what he does and may look down on him because he works with students rather than adults. people that think all he does is go to movies and play chubby bunnies. but i know better.

i have had a front row seat to what God has done through my husband. i have had the immense privilege of watching young men and woman place their faith in Christ. deepening their relationships with their Savior. serving Him sacrificially. obviously not because my husband is amazing but because God is amazing. and God has chosen to use him to be in the lives of these students, and he has been obedient to that. he is so passionate about young people having vibrant relationships with God. what greater calling is there than shaping the future of our church, our country, our world?

currently he is in costa rica on his first global missions trip. they are working with students international doing various projects. you can read their blog on The Well's website. he is with an amazing group of students and it sounds like God is already doing great things. i admit that i am so jealous. i've never been a rough-and-tumble sort of girl, but recently God has been stirring in my heart a desire to possibly participate in some global missions, something new for me. but i will have to wait a few years.... i'm not sure taking a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 5 month old along would really accomplish much! :)

i miss him like crazy. it is so strange to not get to talk. even when days are crazy and we don't get to see each other, i know i will usually get to at least see him at bedtime and we can catch up about our days. being in another country means no cellphones, bad internet, and a time difference. but i know that what he is doing is so important- it makes the craziness of 3 kids for 9 days totally worth it.

thanks to everyone that has loved, supported, and prayed for ME during these days. i have felt covered in prayer and my heart and sanity has stayed fully intact :) i could use another set of hands, but we are good. people have been so sweet to invite me and my 3 crazy children over... i'm not sure if they know what they're getting themselves into!

so please continue to pray for jeff and the wsm costa rica team. pray for our little family that is here. and pray that monday comes quickly for me, but not as quickly for jeff. he has work to do.

the 2010 wsm costa rica team

almost 5 months

tomorrow charlotte will be 5 months old.

i can hardly believe it.

i feel like i was just in the hospital, holding her for the first time. taking in every perfect little piece of her.

now she is smiling, laughing, playing with her feet.... becoming such a baby instead of an infant. there is something so different about raising a baby and knowing it is your last. with every milestone, i realize that we will never again hold a little newborn of our own. i drove past a maternity store and it just hit me that i will never again know what it is to have little feet kicking me from the inside.

something about that changes every part of this experience for me. rather than getting frustrated when having a little baby is hard, i feel like i am just cherishing every single second of charlotte's life. from giggles, starting to put everything in her mouth, spit up everywhere, and being woken up in the middle of the night.... every moment is so precious.

it helps that she is simply the best, easiest baby i have ever met. she is happy, sweet, and just loves you to give her attention. what a precious blessing in our lives.

so, sweet charlotte.... slow down. don't grow so fast. i want to hold on to every little second.

xoxo

mommy

and now.... some pictures!!!

here she is at 3 months... hard to get a smile yet!

at disneyland when she was 3 months... not the best pic, but her outfit was super cute :)

4 months & starting to hold her head up so well!

loved so much by big sister

first bathing suit... gotta rock the bikini!

and that hair.... it is wild!

her smiles just melt your heart

in san diego with our high school students at camp

4th of july with big sister... she slept right through the fireworks!

just today at lunch. love that precious little face.