A Severe Mercy

I am reading my favorite book again. Every time I reopen it, its like revisiting one of my favorite places in the world. The story is completely beautiful on every page...trust me and read it, you will be hooked by page one. The first time I read it, I couldn't put it down, I think I finished it in two or three days. Its been a year or two since I last read it (and I finally got it back after the entire Turek family read it, and loved it) so I thought it was time.... I am completely caught up in the lives of the characters. It is a story of friendship, love, adventure, and the mysterious and beautifully unique way that God pursues us into relationship with him.

Sitting is the new standing.

Two weeks ago, Owen stopped falling when he sat by himself. This has opened a whole new world for us! He used to want me to make him stand pretty much all day, but now he wants to sit and play with toys. (And he absolutely loves touching this tactile blanket his auntie En made for him.) This has been absolutely wonderful for me. Owen also popped his first tooth, and weighs 20 lbs. already. Our favorite things to do these days are going to the park and swinging on the bucket swing, wrestling with dad, and being out and about in any way with my friends' kids.

I love football.

Owen's first football game. Let's go warriors! Please excuse the pictures, but we were pretty excited and wanted to document the whole thing for coach.

Watching the game with Auntie, warriors are looking good. I love it!!! When can I play?

Sporting my Troy hoodie and football shoes. I want to be like grandpa.

3 Years.

This is one of my most vivid memories from our wedding day. I will never forget walking down the aisle and seeing Mark for the first time that day, feeling as if my heart was home. Last weekend we celebrated our three year anniversary... in a really good way it feels like we have been married so much longer. The past three years have honestly been the best of my life; God has really shown me so much about his love through my husband. Mark is so good about intentionally doing certain things everyday that communicate love to me.

Mark and I celebrated our anniversary in the desert, just the two of us. It was our first trip away from Owen, and although I was a bit sad to leave him, it was so good for both of us to just focus on each other. We vegged out by the pool (something I havent done in about a year!), went to the spa, ate an amazing meal together, and slept almost 10 hours of sleep that night! Enough said.

A New Season..

I love the transition from summer to fall. The breeze is different, a hint that change is coming. For most of my life, fall has brought the adrenaline rush of the new beginning of school, leaving behind the spontaneity of summer and getting back to strict routines and disciplines of the mind and body. This fall is different for me... It is a different new beginning, the season of me and Owen. I am now the early morning beach walker I used to jealously pass in my car on the way to work. Instead of stopping for a quick coffee, I make mine and enjoy it while I read and clean during Owen's nap. My after work dates with friends have become play dates with a stroller ride and a trip to the park. My days are simple and sometimes repetitive with Owen, but they are always filled with love and surprise. The new season brings quieter days, and I feel like God is quieting my soul. Im learning to slow down, to love and be loved, to listen, and to trust.

Two peas in a Pod.

Everyday, as soon as Mark is changed out of his work clothes, Owen attacks him. Yesterday, in the middle of a nose-bitting tackle, I noticed they were wearing the same thing... Doesnt Owen have a guilty look guilty on that adorable face?