The 102nd Dalmatian

Samuel made an adorable dalmatian this year for Halloween(special thanks to the Hunter/Hall family)! It did take him a little while to get used to having something covering his head. As you can tell, he finally resigned himself to the fact that it was going to be there for a while. Samuel went trick-or-treating with his friend, Hunter. He made a fierce pirate, and even check out those eyebrows! By the time we arrived, Hunter was gearing up for his second round of trick-or-treating. I am so proud of Samuel, he walked up to almost every door while holding my hand. The kids had a great time and got tons of candy! Samuel was so tired that he fell asleep on the way home.

Photographs for Parenting Magazine Photo Contest

These photographs were submitted in the 18th Annual Photo Contest. I am very excited about participating in the contest. Wish us luck!!




These two photos were taken outside, in our back yard. Samuel was playing in my guitar case. They were submitted in the 1-2 year old category.




This was taken at our church playground. It was submitted in the 0-11months category.

Samuel's Super Dad

I knew that when I married David he was amazing. He has continued to show that throughout our two years of marriage. He helps me around the house with cooking, cleaning, and anything else that I may need. Lately he has done an all time high of good work. I have been sick with a thyroid disorder that has made the simple tasks in my life very exhaustive and he has been there for every step. He has filled in for me with Samuel so much, and made it so that he never knew that mama was sick. David has always been very helpful with Samuel in changing diapers, bathing, feeding, playing, and anything else that you can think of while being a full-time seminarian, pastoring a church, and being a husband! I have been feeling much better these past few days, but David still insists on helping with Samuel. We were getting Samuel ready for bed by giving him his nightly milk. I was going to clip his nails, but David offered to do it instead. This is a task that even the best moms struggle with. So below are pictures of Samuel's Super dad clipping his nails!

Happy Birthday!!

I can hardly believe it, Samuel turned a year old on October 3! We celebrated by going to Kangaroo Bob's, and then he had a doctor's appointment. He got a great report that he is doing what normal 1 year olds do. Also for those keeping up with his weight and height...22lbs & 15oz and 33&1/2in. We are amazed at the growth he has shown over the past year. Below are some pictures that were taken throughout the day!




I think that we were more excited about Samuel's outing than he was. As you can tell below, he was very unsure of the inflatables, and that was a pretty big slide!




This is Samuel and his daddy playing before he had to go inside to see the doctor!



Mt. Pleasant UMC threw Samuel a birthday party during our Wednesday night supper. This is the second time in Samuel's life that he has had cake. He cried when it came time for us to clean the icing off of his fingers!

Fun with Grandpa

These are some different pictures of Samuel with his Grandpa. Samuel loves to spend time with Grandpa in his red car. So much that he even burned a hole in his sock because of all the miles that they have made in it!

Samuel's Birthday Party at Grandpa and Grandma's

We had a great time celebrating Samuel's first Birthday with his grandpa and grandma. All of our family was there along with some close friends, and Pop and Mimi. We were so glad to be able to celebrate such a joyous occasion with everyone there. Below are some pictures from the party along with Samuel's weekend stay with his grandparents. As you can tell, cake got everywhere...so Samuel and Camden had to rinse off before he could open his presents!!

Easter Egg Hunt

This is Samuel at his first Easter Egg Hunt in Irwinton. He spent his time around this one Easter Egg!!

Mother's Reflections

As you know, Samuel is four days away from his first birthday! I can hardly believe the difference that one year's time can make. David and I have learned to laugh more, complain less, cherish life, and most importantly...pray together!! Our little boy is no longer crying in the night because he is hungry, or struggling to simply hold his head up. Just today he stood alone in the kitchen for several seconds before sitting himself back down. He calls out "mama" and "dada", and then motions to us with his hands to "come here". My baby is no longer a baby, but has quickly become a toddler. If simple human nature can change a person in such a small time, to be able to be completely dependent to becoming independent, then how much more can our Heavenly Father change within us?! Sometimes I feel as though I am making no changes at all. But when I stop and think about pursuing the Lord, a day does not go by without a little change. Sometimes it as visible as seeing my son give his first high five, but other times it can be found in the subtlety of his understanding visual pictures in his book. Then you realize one day that the dog does make a "woof, woof" sound, and that the cow goes "moo". Life is constantly changing, and when we allow the Lord to do in us a new work we grow and mature just as my almost, one year old son is doing. Growing up can be hard, but it also can be good. As we grow with God, it is important to press into the Goodness of who He is, as He delights over us!

In the arms of a Master

As I was getting ready for bed tonight, I really felt pressed upon my heart to write this new blog. I was driving around today and began to think about Paul, from the Bible. He begins many of his letters stating that he has become a bondservant to Christ. This means that he has willingly submitted himself to God adn his authority. How often in our prayer lives and Christian walk do we not allow God to be our Master? It is easy, atleast for me, to say you can be Lord in my life, but not OF my life. When I truly think about this concept, I realize that I do not exuberate the life of a true bondservant to their master. I often want things to be my way and do not trust the gentle leading of my Savior. To really go deeper with the Lord, I must allow Him to be what I say that He is...God, Master, Savior, Friend, Lover. It is hard to be submissive and totally subject yourself to someone or something. But would it not be better for it to be to God, instead of to our jobs, television, debt, or anything else. Paul knew that without God, he was nothing, even if he did not always understand what the Lord was doing. I must go deeper in the Lord so that I can fully trust Him as my Master. I need to have the understanding that when I subject myself to Him, its not just part of the time, or some of the time, it is all of the time...even if I don't like what He is doing. The good thing is that He is all knowing and what better place for me to be, than in the arms of a loving and just Master.

Simple thoughts for today

As I think about the past year and all that it has brought, I am amazed at each of us have grown. David completed his first few classes of seminary, and even taught a year of Spanish. He took his first appointment at a Methodist church in GA, and is doing a great job. Every Sunday the Lord seems to take him to a new place in preaching. It is so exciting to see the changes from week to week. Samuel has done a lot in the past year as well. He went from sleeping all day, to not wanting to take any naps! He is learning to feed himself, but yet still wants to be our baby. He went from barely rolling over, to crawling and cruising everywhere. His cries are becoming gibberish which are beginning to take the form of words. A hug or kiss that he gives now is not out of imitation, but out of love for the one whom receives it. Books are no longer just empty pages, but now they have shapes, colors, and sounds. My little guy is such a profound teacher in the most simplistic ways. Small things are so amazing, like laughter or clapping your hands. He doesn't know about the newest technological advances that seem to cause us to forget about the simple things in life. He is a reminder of the joy that comes when someone just calls out your name. I am reminded of the joy that Christians should take in hearing the Lord simply call out to them. As I become older it is easy for me to forget the sheer pleasure in being pursued and loved by the Creator of the Universe. My son constantly reminds me that God is a loving Father, who knows what is best for me. This is easy to forget as I deal with the whys? and how comes? that life may bring. It is difficult to trust God all of the time, and to believe that prayers make a difference. My family is experiencing this all to well. With a sick father-in-law, and a deceased nephew, it seems that God is not always listening. Quickly I have to rebuke such thoughts, for I know that my God is a good God, and His ways are higher than mine. But even more than that, I know that we do not live in a perfect world, and sometimes things such as death seem to be the best answer. In fallen world, this idea would seem to be heartless and a cope out, but as a Christian there is hope for I see only dimly. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that it helps us learn about God, who He is, what His heart yearns for, and even how it breaks when He has been rejected. I am reminded of the story of David, a man after God's own heart. Because of sin, even this righteous man suffered. The closer we become to God doesn't mean that we will get a "get out of jail" card for suffering, it just makes it easier to understand the Lord and move on from whatever may be hurting us. I am reminded of the prophets in the Old Testament, time and time again they cried out to the Lord on behalf of there city. Prayer changes things but we may not fully know what we are having to pray against. An angel was on his way to visit Daniel, but it was 23 days until he could reach him because of the stronghold that was over the city. I can sit in my own self pity and be offended when the Lord does not answer me the way that I wish or thought was best, or I can trust His goodness and continue to press into Him so that I may know Him more. I pray that the fullness of God would be revealed to you, and that you might know how high, how wide, how long, and how deep His love is for you. Keep praying and keep seeking, for you never know how full the bowl of intercession is before it becomes so full that it overflows!