Safety

Around this area we've had a rash of break-ins and murders and it has everyone talking about our safety.  I've been one of the first to get freaked out.  I do a great job of lying awake at night and wondering if every door and window is locked (they always are) and wondering about escape routes, etc.  I'm great at freaking myself out.  But over the past few weeks I've really felt God pulling at my heart telling me that this world isn't where I belong.  So I started thinking today that I don't think we're necessarily supposed to feel safe here.  This world isn't supposed to be easy.  We're here to do God's work, not our own. Yes, it's scary, yes it doesn't always calm my fears in the middle of the night- BUT I know that God is here and He has a plan.  And I'm in His plan.  I'm here to bring more people to him, and to help, clothe, feed and give to others.

Pumpkin Patch

What a fun day we've had!  We spent the afternoon at Knollbrook Farm in New Paris.  It was so much fun and such a nice to day to go.  Tenley loved looking at the cows, carrying her pumpkin (and dropping her pumpkin), and going down the big slide!  Mommy loved taking pictures and Daddy loved the pumpkin launch!

We tried our hand at the VERY large corn maze, but it's possible that choosing to let Tenley lead the way was a bad idea.  We wound up going in circles and after I was satisfied with the pictures I took we had her lead us to the exit.

This was just the kind of day that we needed.  It was so nice to spend time together and hear Tenley's giggles and belly laughs as daddy ran with her on his shoulders.  It's not often that Mike gets to spend a whole afternoon with her because of work so it was really nice.  Here's some more pictures from our day together.

Tenley was in a trance looking at this giant cow!  She didn't quite know what to make of it.

Now it's on to hopefully celebrating an Irish win with some friends and then our Mast Thanksgiving tomorrow!  More pictures to come I'm sure!  We're excited to put her in her cute little halloween costume next week too!!  Look for her toddling up to your front door!

Time Flies

I was looking at old blog posts and exactly one year ago today I posted this:

"Yesterday was a big day in our house!! Tenley smiled at me, intentionally, for the first time! I just about cried I was so excited! It took quite a bit of work (silly faces, funny noises, etc) to bring it out, but I finally got one! This morning she gave one up a little more freely, so I hope that they will come easier! :) I caught a little one with my camera yesterday...

Isn't she just the sweetest!? I fall more and more in love with her everyday.
Annnd yesterday she moved her arm more than ever! Due to Erb's Palsy in her left arm she hasn't been able to move it much. But the neurologist gave us some exercises to do with her and I've been doing them everyday and was getting a little frustrated at not seeing any results. But then yesterday... We see this:


Isn't that fantastic!! I was so glad Mike was home to witness it too. Ps- Please don't judge the outfit! I ran to Target yesterday morning and came home and THAT is what Mike dressed her in. Guess I'll have to start laying out the outfits from now on!
On another note, we have boxes everywhere, we're getting all packed up and ready to move back to Nappanee!"
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Did you watch that video!?  Wow, just to think about how far we've come makes me weapy!!  She couldn't even move her left arm then and now she's running and crawling and you would never even know.  God is so good!!  This is how far we've come -

We can't get enough of this sweet little girl.  Thank you Lord for her and all the joy she brings to us.

"It's only a season"

I feel like I keep repeating this to myself these days.  It's become my mantra.  "It's only a season".  Tenley has started screaming, a shrill happy scream, but when it turns to a whiny I didn't get my way scream, I have to remind myself- it's only a season.

She spits out her veggies and only eats the starches..  It's only a season.

Mike and I just cleaned the house and now because of the busy-ness of all of us - it's messy again.  It's only a season.

We're still renting...when will we own our own house?  It's only a season.

But then, I have a week like this week.  My days off were spent with Tenley who made me laugh so hard, smile so much.  And I'm hit with the knowledge that this too is only a season.  She's going to be grown before we know it and our house won't be so messy with little baby toys or cheerios on the floor and I'll wonder why I wished away these moments, because there's certainly a whole lot of good with the bad.

This is only a season.  And I plan on enjoying every moment.