Grace is #2

You too...can make this easy, cost effective birthday centerpiece...fill mason jar with M&M's & #candle...go to Dollar Store and buy birthday balloon(s)

Happy birthday girl with her balloon

Tearing into her gifts

Grace did not like the flame on candle

There she goes....she would not get anywhere near it

Mommy birthday kisses

 

My favorite gift this year is my babies and baby accessories...Grace is a great mommy!

Grace Evje (2) & Grace Wingfield (3) ....share the same birthday @Grace Wingfield's Pink Piggie Party

Grace loves Sadie and Tessa

Grace Wingfield's mommy makes beautiful and yummy cakes

We really can not believe Grace is 2! Time has flown by with lots of changes. This is Grace's first Texas birthday. We decided to do a low key birthday with just our little family. We enjoyed our time as we begin to establish our new traditions away from family with Christmas & Grace's birthday. God was so gracious to bless us with good friends & church family to celebrate our Christmas away and provide the peace that only He can give when your heart aches to be at home with your family, truly an answer to prayer. Two weeks prior we sent reindeer cake pops to preschool for a celebration with her preschool friends and teachers. Grace share the same birthday date (12/28) with our friend Grace Wingfield from church who is exactly one year older than our Grace so we went to her party that evening with some of our church family!

Already There

I love how songs/music can meet you right where you think you are. Like hearing a sermon on Sunday and feeling like the pastor was speaking directly to you. I get that same feeling sometimes with music. I got the new Casting Crowns album a couple of weeks ago and have been listening to it non-stop. The song I keep going back to is Track 4 - Already There. How comforting to remind myself that the Sovereign Lord already knows how the pieces of my life will turn out. When I feel like I am going through a season of challenges or trials (my uncomfortable refining process) I am reminded God has a purpose in everything He allows. His purpose is always for us to be and look more like Jesus. In our trials we always have the choice to stay close to God or wander away in anger. Praying in my weakness of personal trials that they produce character and not self pity, perseverance and not impatience, hope and not despair.

From where I’m standing
Lord, it’s so hard for me to see

Where this is going

And where You’re leading me

I wish I knew how

All my fears and all my questions

Are going to play out

In a world I can’t control



When I’m lost in the mystery

To You my future is a memory



‘Cause You’re already there

You’re already there

Standing at the end of my life

Waiting on the other side

And You’re already there

You’re already there



From where You’re standing

Lord, You see a grand design

That You imagined

When You breathed me into life

And all the chaos

Comes together in Your hands

Like a masterpiece

Of Your picture-perfect plan



When I’m lost in the mystery

To You my future is a memory



One day I’ll stand before You

And look back on the life I’ve lived

I can’t wait to enjoy the view

And see how all the pieces fit



One day I’ll stand before You

And look back on the life I’ve lived

‘Cause You’re already there

You’re already there

When I’m lost in the mystery

To You my future is a memory

‘Cause You’re already there

You’re already there

Standing at the end of my life

Waiting on the other side

And You’re already there

You’re already there

Vacation Part Five - Natural Bridge Zoo

Vacation Part Four - Fly Fishing

In my waders!

Bryan guiding me

Bryan and me

Eric and me

I recently went fly fishing for the first time at a Sales Retreat for work. I loved it! I loved the challenge of the art of fly fishing, I loved quiet outdoors and taking in God's creation. My brother and his friend Bryan are quite the fly fishermen so they took me to the Rose River in Madison, VA and we did some fly fishing. I am thankful for common interests and hobbies my brother and I share and I love spending time with him. These days our time together is rare so I take advantage of our opportunities. Eric is extremely talented in so many ways and I have always been and will always be a proud big sister!

Vacation Part Three - Gorgeous Lanscapes

Harrisonburg, VA

Harrisonburg, VA

Jacks Shop Rd

Madison, VA

Ruckersville, VA

Hot Air Balloons in Charlottesville, VA

Vacations Part Two - Exploring....

Strolling through downtown Culpeper

Mommy tried to get a photo op with this wagon...didn't quite work as she planned

Mommy's favorite shop in Culpeper - Pepperberries!

Love my little lady

Turkey Time

Visiting the animals at Yoders...one of our favorite stops

Vacation Part One

We vacationed this year in Virginia visiting my family and friends. It was so nice and relaxing to be able to spend over a week and to not feel rushed. Eric and I really enjoyed watching Grace and Brock actually play with each other and enjoy each other's company. Of course the star of the show for Grace and Brock was PaPa! These two love their PaPa and can not get enough of him. If my dad was not in the room they were both asking, "Where is PaPa?" Here are some great shots of these two sweet cousins. Brock affectionally calls Grace "GiGi." While we are in VA, Grace is GiGi!

The American Dip

Tonight we let Grace discover ketchup. We gave her ketchup to dip her nuggets in. As you can tell she enjoyed it. She enjoyed it so much the papi even got a dip. I can not tell you how much we are enjoying every milestone with our precious daughter!

Favorites

Grace is 20 months old and thriving! With the move and so much going on we made it to her 18 month old appointment yesterday. Grace is in the 60 percentile for height and head circumference and 40 percentile for weight. The doc said she looks great! Below are some of her favorites right now.

• Tomatoes (yes eats cherry tomatoes like candy)
• Rice
• Grapes
• Fruit Snacks (which she calls snacks, snacks!)
• Pacifers (Grace calls papi's)
• Preschool/Mother's Day Out
• Twirling in circles
• Dancing any time she hears music
• Coloring
• Reading books
• Elmo
• Trains (choo choo's)
• Climbing stairs in our new house
• Pool (loves for daddy to hold her, jump in pool and go under water)
• Praying (especially saying Amen!)