Our Aweful Beautiful Life

As with everything Emmalyn, her second birthday was truly an adventure! We kicked off her birthday weekend by going to the doctor because I was just SURE she had an ear infection. She, of course, checked out fine and we were sent on our way. Grandma & Grandpa Stockment came down to help Dad in the barn, so Em and I grabbed Take and Bake pizzas for a 2nd birthday pre-celebration! Grandma Jacki helping EM to blow out the candless. Windbags thought he could help better! :))  Em played fine all evening, but woke up Saturday to some vomit in her bed and a grouchy, runny diaper little girl. We got her cleaned up and she feel back to sleep. After a little rest, she was running around playing, which is the hard part about toddlers....are they really sick, or did something just strike them? Do we keep the party going or cancel the party? After two good naps, and some time playing outside, and none of the rest of us feeling badly, we decided to proceed to party. Everyone was t...

Tonight, I'm sitting on my front porch, relishing the peace and quiet of the country. I've got my feet propped up in a porch chair and am watching the sunset behind the trees to the west. I hear the occasional movement from the cows as the find a place to rest for the night. Ava's propped up right in front of me, doing her job -- making sure that all in our home are protected and safe. It's funny -- in the last two years, I haven't taken time to stop and "smell the roses". I haven't taken 15 minutes to sit down, enjoy this view and realize just how much God has blessed us with. Tonight...I'm counting those blessings. We have two beautiful, happy, (fairly) well behaved, healthy kids. They would rather play outside than watch TV. They love climbing on the mower and being in the barn with their Dad. Going to the creek and fishing for "creek chubs" is an exciting adventure. Eating on the porch or in the back of pick up out in the barn a...