My Favorite Season

I love fall. The crisp air, the crunchy leaves, football games, pulling out my hoodies, boots and jeans...and pumpkin. Pumpkin patches, pumpkin carvings, pumpkin candles, and pumpkin baking. Oh, the baking! The kids and I have been hard at it this week. We have made 2 pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin bread pudding, pumpkin spice cake and pumpkin bread. This week, we plan on making about 72 pumpkin muffins to freeze for easy breakfasts...don't be jealous, I won't rub it in, too much...but the only reason I won't is that I have a broken phone and can't take pictures of all the yumminess that is ensuing in my kitchen! Mmmmm.... ;)

What Matters Most

How many of you have a best friend? How many of you have had the same best friend for years? Now how many of you have had that same best friend all your life? I'm talking, your whole life. Like, you don't remember this person not being there...for everything. Well, my best girlfriend and I have only had each other for about 12 or 13 years. We didn't grow up together, but I seriously can't imagine life without her. She is my sister, my confidante, my bust-a-gut laughing partner. We have shared all of life's ups and downs, and I'm a better person for it. But there are 20-some years of our lives that we didn't share... our daughters are the best friends that I'm talking about.



Coco Mae and Molly Moo. Partners in crime, managers of mischief. Through thick and thin, these two have done it all. I can't tell you how many memories that they'll have tied to one another from their childhood - too many to even think of! From camping trips to concerts, they've shared many of life's important firsts together. They are preteens now, and they don't always have the same interests. Growing up and growing apart, unfortunately, go hand in hand for a lot of people. But these two don't give up so easily. When you have a bond this strong for this long, you will always have something to hold you to that person. Tonight definitely reminded me of that.



It was a wild and crazy, goofy night! The girls were so hyper to be going to see Colton Dixon together again (we saw him at Winter Jam earlier this year), their excitement was palpable. Steph and I just laughed and sighed intermittently at them all night long. They can make the most minor thing a major life moment, and I love that about them. Chloe on her own is a boundless ball of energy, but add Molly to the mix, and you get borderline chaos!! But I love every minute of it. I loved watching how they could be so completely silly together in one moment, then so completely caught up in worship in the next that nothing else mattered. Because that's the chord that binds them. Yes, they are both INSANE over Colton Dixon. But they are even more passionate about their Lord and Savior. It's not a night either will forget soon...and this mama won't either. Even at 11 and 12 years old, they know the important things in life are eternal. Glow-in-the-dark shirts and posters will fade in time. But their pursuit of Jesus will grow stronger as they grow older. And I hope and pray that they'll be chasing after Him side by side...best friends forever.

Remembering...

If you had asked me even a year ago what October the 15th was, I would not have had any idea. Yet, today, this year, it has great significance for me. Two sweet friends let me know that they had thought of me today in an extra special way. Today is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day. I can't tell you how many times over the last few months that I've had to mentally shake myself and literally count my blessings - including this sweet, rainbow shaded one I'm carrying right now - just so I didn't break down in a heap and lose myself in grief...as much as I love and feel for and have sincerely prayed for and with those dear friends who have gone through such a loss, I know I never truly understood the despair. The agony. The fake smile below tear brimmed eyes. Until I dealt with them myself. It is an empathy I wish I did not have to have, but I know that God is using me to be a blessing to others through it.

Am I glad we lost Cat? Of course not! But I hold tightly to the Lord's promises. He loves me. He loves all my babies. And He has blessed my life in so many uncountable ways. He is good. It's hard to put into words, but to know that Cat being in heaven with Jesus has given us the blessing of knowing Cadie soon...is beautiful. I will hold Cat one day. I will know her intimately, and we will spend eternity together. Will the pain lessen over time? I'm told so. Will Cadie take Cat's place? Never. But she will always be a reminder that though she is our sixth blessing on earth, she is truly our seventh - number six is in Heaven. I know there will be times (because it's already happened, and oh, the pain it caused!) when I miscount when I am in a hurry to get the kids in the car...1,2,3,4,5,6...who's missing? Oh, wait...she is right where she is meant to be.
So for all my friends who have lost a baby, whether before or after birth, I share your pain. You do not walk alone. We will carry on. We will not forget our sweet ones. But we will live more abundant lives...for them.