Summa Time

I can't believe summer is almost over! I feel like I just blinked and it's August but when I look back at our summer calendar I can't believe we survived! While summertime is a season when most families wind down a bit a relax, the family of a Student Pastor prepare for the chaos. A quick glance at our summer looks something like this:

May:

• Ben spoke at a family camp in Oklahoma and we were able to squeeze in a quick visit with my parents that included celebrating Amelia's 2nd birthday

• Amelia's 2nd Birthday party with her friends

• a fun visit from Ben's parents over Benjamin's birthday weekend

June

• having a garage sale at a friends house

• A week of Mayhem with a fun event everyday ending in a lock-in

• A fun and busy week long visit from family that included Ben and his brother-in-law camping out at the new Taco Bueno, North Pole Amusement Park, and more! 

• A week of VBS

I guess I should add that we also found out back in June that we are expecting and are due in February 2016! It was difficult at times to hide my morning sickness and fatigue with all these activities, but it did help in some ways to be busy and just have to push through. Our house isn't the cleanest, the laundry is not all clean and put away, and I'm not cooking as much as I usually do (thankful for Ben who is working his tail off), but our hearts are full and we are extremely happy and excited. 

July

• Taking our youth group to summer camp for a week in Estes Park. Amelia and I were able to go for 4 days and it was such fun

• A three-day visit at my parents, followed by a week at New Life Ranch where Ben was the Sr. Camp Speaker

• Amelia went to her first movie in a theater with her buddy, Watson. 

• A fun-filled visit from Benjamin's brother and his family

I look at this list and think two things. 1: No wonder I'm so tired and 2: What a fun, albeit crazy, summer! I love that we get to invite so many kids into our lives during their summer. Mixed in with all these fun events we get to spend some quality time investing in their lives. Talks while we wait in line for a roller coaster, sweet chats over coffee or at a meal together. So many opportunities to speak The Gospel to them and love on them.

When summer is coming to a close it can be easy for me to just look at the calendar and see the summer pass us by and feel a little sad that this time is over but when I focus on the deeper relationships developed, all the extra love and attention Amelia received these past few months, and all fun memories made I don't know that I would change one thing. 

Second Annual Mama + Little Playdate & Brunch

 I want to say thank you to everyone who prayed for us last month. We received many hugs, prayers, sweet words, and truly felt loved on by our friends and family. It really meant so much to us so thank you for ministering to us ~ Thank you

If any of you have had the joy of being around Amelia for any amount of time you will learn that she loves people. Being a youth pastors daughter even in this short amount of time has her convinced she's just one of the teenagers. Trying to convince her otherwise is quite a battle so I usually jump at any chance I have to get her together with her actual peers. Last year she hosted a little Valentine's Day play-date with a few buddies and we decided it would be fun to do it again this year.

2014 Valentine Playdate
left to right: Cora, Adalyn, Titus, and Amelia

You know me, any excuse to throw a party and I'm game. We invited some of her little friends and their moms to come along for a brunch play date and had a blast! 

Any excuse to decorate and throw a party! 

Amelia's little goody bags for her Valentines

Getting a little rocking in before her guests arrive.

Friends who brunch




Friends who potty :)

Good thing she got her rocking in before everyone got here!