Reason to Rejoice

Eight years!  I think I say it at least 50 times a day but WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!  Brice and I said "I do" eight years ago on August 7, 2004.  In some ways it seems like just yesterday and in other ways it seems like a million years ago.  I do have a hard time remembering my life without him.  We have been through so much together and have both grown and matured more than I even thought we needed to! :)  We went from being two to five in just 7 1/2 years!!  Now our life pretty much revolves around our kiddos but we still have fun and have so much to talk about.  It hasn't been easy!  Marriage is work and commitment.  Aside from parenting, it is the hardest thing I have ever done....be a wife.  Being a good godly wife requires selflessness...something that I struggle with on occasion.  We are complete opposites but that is why we work.  I love the story of how we met, how we came to be and where we are today.  God is writing this story and I am so excited to see

My kids are fortunate (and we are too as parents) to go to a wonderful daycare (we call it school).  They teach godly principles and are really invested in making sure the children are well rounded, educated, and loved. One thing I really love is that they allow the daycare children to participate in their church's Vacation Bible School.  This is so special to me because I have to work and cannot take them to the VBS at our church.  Rachel LOVES learning about the Bible and learning songs.  It warms my heart to know that she gets to participate in this even though I cannot take her. This year the VBS was about praise and traditional Bible stories.  They learned (and Rachel retained almost ALL of it) about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Paul and Silas, and Daniel in the Lion's Den.  She retold the stories like she has known them all of her life.  She has such an incredible memory! One of the days during VBS, the girls got to dress up with Crazy Hair!  Lauren, as always,

I skipped a few months but I will just start here and hope to continue on track!! Miss Hannah!  You are 9 months old??  How is that possible!?!  I just can't believe in 3 short months you will be A YEAR OLD!?  My baby...you are my baby and I want to keep you this age forever!!!  I love this baby stage!  If I could bottle you up right now I would.  BUT I am excited about who you are going to become.  I love you so much! Weight: 21 pounds, 3 ounces Height: 26.5 inches You are 80th percentile for weight and 75th for height!  You are still a big girl!  My sweet, squishy, BIG girl!!!  You still have really really chubby thighs and cheeks!  You are nursing just once..when you wake up in the morning (around 4:30-5:00) and then you take a 7 oz bottle at 3:00 and 5 oz bottle at bedtime. You eat fruit in the morning, veggie at lunch time, and meat/veggie at dinner and sometimes oatmeal before bedtime!  You are a SUPER eater!!  By the end of this month, I am confident that you will