Daunting TO DO Lists

WELP (as Bryce would say) I've been putting off blogging for no reason other than it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of my seemingly endless and daunting To Do Lists.  Although this is true, I do realize the importance of prioritizing this blog … mainly because it is for my children.  Every few weeks (or months) I put up my favorite pictures on our shared google photos.  I hope that one day when my kids say "mom, what was my childhood like?" I can point them in this direction.  I also believe it is so imperative to teach your children to live in the present, therefor technology gets pushed to the side (hence not blogging).  Anyways …. here's a tad bit on self care.  

Self Care: I've been taking time to work on myself since the passing of Avyn.  I've always been good about taking care of my body physically by working out but I missed the bigger picture by a long stretch.  I can now own up to some of my vanity.  I've grown through this process to realize that nothing really matters at the end of the day except you relationship with the Lord, your spouse, and your children with the immediate family and spiritual family following after.  It is so imperative to take time each day to focus on your personal relationship with Christ.  Only then, will His true will be revealed.  Although His mercy is never ending and His graces flow abundantly, He calls us to be His servants through daily actions and words.  He calls us to love like he loves. I'm slowly learning to love myself through spiritual, physical, and mental "self care" but always welcome prayers as my journey continues to work through the muck that's staring me down!

We have had a healthy number of events in the last 6 months, including:

- Avyn's Interment at the Aggie Field of Honor in College Station

- Trip to the horse barns

- Celebrating Dublyn's Second Birthday

- Dove hunt in Lampasas

- Finishing out Wrigley's soccer season

- Clemson vs A&M game in College Station

- Road trip to Destin, Florida with the Sours Family

- Thanksgiving in Dallas

We are excited as we await Jesus's Birthday!  May the joy and peace of the Advent season bless you and your family.

Another blog to come after the New Year (if we are lucky) .Click HERE for more 2018 pictures.

I forget how tall Chad is!

Destin, Florida road trip

Thanksgiving in Dallas

Kids of the 'hood

Good ole' fashioned game of Hide and Seek

"I have called you by name, you are mine." - Isaiah 43:1

We welcomed Avyn Joelle, a few days before her due date, on Friday, May 25th.  We had some labor and delivery complications that resulted in her born not breathing.  The doctors immediately tended to Avyn and Life Flight took over, bringing her to Children's Memorial in Houston.  By Saturday afternoon she seemed to be doing much better in the NICU.  After being discharged on Sunday morning from Katy Memorial, Chad and I were able to go to Children's and spend some time with her.  However, by Monday afternoon (May 28th) things took a turn for the worse and later that evening she was called home to be with the Lord. 

We want to thank everyone for your outpouring of prayers and support through the loss of our daughter.  We also want to express our gratitude and appreciation!  God is steadfast in joining Avyn’s soul to all the Angels and Saints in Heaven.  We know that God wants to use us as vessels through this process, as examples of faithful servants; for others to know that no matter what happens He is in control and our job as His servants is to invite Him into our hearts every day.  He is so merciful and loving that the only way to look at this is as a blessing.  His love has redeemed us in so many ways!  We have been holding onto Philippians 4:6 which reads “Be anxious about nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Avyn was cremated with a Memorial Mass held in her honor at St. Bartholomew's in Katy.  Please continue to pray for His will to be unveiled to us all through this process and His love and mercy to shine through our hearts.  

In the past few weeks, we planted a "tree of life" in our backyard and have been reveling in the church community's gracious gifts.  We have been restored by our spiritual family, the Bride of Christ, blessing us in this time of need.

So, anyway ....

Sorry it's been such a while since I've posted.  Life has been crazy busy but it's a good kind of hectic.  We have blazed through a few months with soccer, tae kwon do, swim lessons, catechesis, the usual gym happenings, Easter with family, a trip with friends, fishing, birthday celebrations, weddings, baby showers, and all the other blessings that have come along the way.  I welcomed the busy to keep my mind off the pregnancy BUT am at the point I would equally welcome a bit of calm before the storm these next few weeks as we await the newest lil' addition.  The kids are growing like weeds ... more mentally, spiritually, and emotionally rather than physically ... and have had a great start to 2018.
Bittersweet moments over the last few months were sending off family overseas.  Kristina and I are officially the last women standing, since my mom is a world traveler and lives out of her suitcase (occasionally coming back to the house we grew up in to check the mail and make sure the grass isn't 10 feet tall, ha!).  The Madden's have wander-lusted back to Anguilla where they reside permanently AND The Rolling's have officially completed their world tour on the way to a 3 year stint in The Philippines where he is an Attaché Pilot for The Air Force.
On the horizon, other than the sheer elation of Avyn & the tears that will be shed once I lose my biggest helper, Wrigley, to Kindergarten; Chad and I plan to do a South Pacific tour on the way to spending time with my brother and his family in The Philippines Summer of 2020.  I have to keep my passion and first love "travel" (sorry Chad) brewing... it's imminent. 

As for now, enjoy some pictures from January - April and click HERE if you'd like to see more.