catching up . . .

here are some pictures of memerable moments during our family vacation to port aransas. (it is a small island just off the coast in the gulf of mexico)

nathan wanted to sport his sunglasses as we got ready to head out to the beach:

nathans first time in the gulf:

they had free concerts in the park at the waterfront, so we brought some toys for nathan and some chairs (he even had his own little lawn chair) and made an evening of it. it was really nice to sit and relax and hear the music with the waves in the background - and to see the sunset - it was beautiful :

when we got home, we just had water and water-fun on the brain i guess. so we went to the sprinkler park. nathan and i have been there several times this summer, but this was our first time to take richard with us. we had a great time. it is so much fun!

nathan likes to share his toys with his cousin kaleb:

one sunday, i was getting nathan dressed for church. i realized that he was probably just about grown into some shoes that we had received as a gift several months ago. these shoes would go so well with what i had put him in, so i decided to give it a try. don't you know it - they fit. *sigh* he is growing up so fast. then as we proudly went to show da-da our new shoes - he (da-da that is) read a postcard we had gotten from church in the mail. "this is graduation sunday - all children in the nursery/childcare will be moving up to the next class." ( i don't know if 'graduation' was the actual word used, i think it was 'promotion' or something like that.) *WHAT* the next class?!? surely he was ready for it b/c he is so darn smart and plays so well and . . . but really? now?

well, that was it. new big boy shoes AND moving up to the big boy class! now this was a picture taking day!

all of this to say that we are continually being blessed. our family is all doing well. God provides! richard is blessed with a job that he enjoys, provides, and has time to spend with his family. i am blessed with a husband who loves me and the Lord and does his best for our family. we have enjoyed God's creation, our community, extended family, and watching and training nathan as he grows.

not every day is "peaches and cream" actually, no day is totally peaches and cream - not a single one. but even the really hard days are bearable knowing that God has a plan for us and that He will, no matter what, provide for us. sometimes in a very unlikely way - that we can't even imagine. even when all seems to be going wrong and when i feel like i really don't deserve it - even then He loves me, and He loves us.

PRAISE GOD