Happy Anniversary Babe!

My life for the past eight years of marriage has been anything but mundane.

Six moves.

Five kids.

The loss of a baby to miscarriage.

Travel abroad

Living in a foreign culture

Multiple major medical crisis.

Ministry

Burnout

Laughter and tears.

Highs and lows!

A friend recently asked me if I had any idea what I was getting into when I married.Truth be told, I did!While I long (as every woman does) to make a home and put down roots and domesticate, I have always known I wasn’t cut out for a “normal” or “settled” life.My “love language” is adventure and God has woven that into every chapter of these last wonderful years as Mrs. Smith.

Dont put us on a pedestal for a moment. A harmonious relationship does not come easily. Our premarital counselors tolds us, and I quote,

“But for the grace of God, your marriage doesn’t stand a chance”.

Weighty words for this young, starry-eyed couple. They were not telling us not to marry. They were exhorting us that we would have to lean hard….very hard….into the grace of God to in turn be able to extend grace to each other. They saw what we have since discovered. That aside from a mutual love for the Lord, we are extremely different.

We were raised in very different families

He’s an introvert, I grew up with 10 siblings and thus LOVE having people around…always!

I am, umm…creatively expressive. C is so tidy, he would make Martha Steward look like a slob!

Southern Belle + California Surfer Dude = incompatible

….but for the grace of God! And for that I am so grateful!

So, shouting from the preverbal rooftop, I love you babe! You are my rock. Unshakable. Forgiving. The fearless leader of this family. Im still giddy to wake and find you by my side. Im so glad God gave me someone with dreams as big as mine. I feel privileged to be walking life hand and hand, leaning hard on the Grace of God and walking this road He has called us to!! Tomorrow we celebrate 8 years. I am a blessed woman!

Then…

And now…

Ode to Josie

I learned much of what I know of being a mother from doting on Josie.

Id sneak into the nursery and pick up “my” sleeping baby and bring her to bed with me.

I learned to French braid on her hair (and to this day she insists that I braided so tight that I gave her Asian eyes).

My mother taught me to sew and I picked out baby-blue fabrics and made Josie’s 1st birthday dress.

Ironic, isn’t it, that 14 years later she is putting my babies to sleep at night, tying bows in their hair in the morning and crocheting a new blankie for Evie?

We have loved having Auntie Jo a part of our family for two entire months this summer! She has helped me corral the kids on the ranch and has been tirelessly patient with these rough and tumble cow-kids! Its been an unforgettable summer sis and I am SO thankful for you!

After living out of a suitcase for 70 days, we are happily homeward bound. Doubtless, I will have stories to tell after the estimated 34 hours in the car driving through Yellowstone and back to the east coast with 5 kids, 4 massive suitcases, 3 nights on the road, 2 exhausted parents and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Overheard

Britain: (in her most dramatic and exasperated tone)

“Isabelle, Im doing all the work by myself. If you don’t help me clean up, we will never get to go to our friends house and bring happiness to the world!”

Doesn’t she just sound like a little ray of sunshine?

________________________________________

Yesteday Izzy piped up from the back seat.

“Mommy, when I can drive?

“When you get bigger”

Izzy: “When I be a mommy and when I have a sweetie?”