Summertime Cuties

We spent a wonderful summer (and then some) living with my (Holly) parents while in transition between Texas and Tennessee.  We were blessed beyond words as both my parents and Jonathan's mom gave us a much needed time of rest as they gave and gave and kept on giving to our weary family.  Our time at seminary had been wonderful and very full but we were very ready to have the help of willing grandparents to love on our babies and yes, even us :).  Jon Hudson was still nursing when we moved and not even close to sleeping through the night.  Jonathan was jumping full time into his new role as Family Pastor at a local church.  Jackson and Josie were doing their best to adjust to living without their beloved friends from birth in Dallas and finding new routines.  I took some time off from working and we found the slower pace of West Tennessee was refreshing as the summer months past.  OK, not really slower for Jonathan in his new job, but slower for the kids and myself....haha.  For such a huge transition, our family was poured into by our new church family and our parents, grandparents, etc.  How incredibly thankful we are for that precious time.  

Jon Hudson at 9 months

Jackson and Daddy read through the Hobbit over the summer together.

Jon Hudson at 10 months

We spent several afternoons at the lake with some friends.  The kids got to take their first boat ride and it was really nostalgic for me as this was the same water I grew up waterskiing on with my family.

Josie is my little water bug.  She found her greatest pleasures in the baby pool in the back yard.

Summer Wedding

We got the privilege of being a part of Jeff (Jonathan's brother) and Breanna Jones's wedding this summer.  It was quite the experience for Jackson and Josie especially.  

Josie was "all girl" with the ladies at the Bridesmaid's luncheon followed by an afternoon at the salon.

She made best buds with Uncle Paul.

So excited that Uncle D and Aunt Heather got to attend.  We enjoyed the entire family (both sides) getting to be together.

Oh my word!!  I almost cried when I saw this handsom fellow the first time in his tux!!

The hair was a true piece of art.  I had to take a picture! It was a nice treat to get all dressed up.

Beautiful flower girls.

The Bride and Groom were a beautiful couple and had a beautiful day!!

Josie continued to steal many hearts!!

The Best 10 Years.

Jonathan and I celebrated our 10 anniversary this past summer.  Amidst a new job, moving, growing children, and adjusting all together, it was my true highlight.  Ten years ago, I expected and hoped that accepting his hand would bring many joys and a rich future.  I knew that I was receiving an extraordinarily gracious gift from our Father in this great man.  But as the Word says in Isaiah 55:8-13 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish the purpose for which I sent it.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;  the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.  Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.  This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever."  Jesus wants even greater things than I can dream up myself and that is exactly what He gave me in Jonathan....even greater things than I hoped or imagined!!  Our life together is beautiful beyond words, our marriage, our children, our future.  Thank you, Lord, thank you, Jonathan.

Just a Funny

When we lived in Dallas, Jackson always called the interstates where cars were zooming by at 70+ mph the "fast roads" and the neighborhood roads the "slow roads."  The first week in Tennessee we were driving on Highway 45 going about 60mph and Jackson piped up and asked, "Mom, are we on a slow road?"  I laughed and said, "yes."

Just Because

While working on catch up posts (Anniversary, Father's Day, Jeff's Wedding...) these two sweet pictures are everyday moments of how the kids are doing.  Jackson and Josie play together often and Hudson is growing and changing by the moment.  Six weeks ago in Dallas he had just learned to sleep without his swaddle and Nap Nanny (special inclined bed for his reflux) and now he is sitting up and crawling!!  He loves to growl and has a special squealing language he shares with Josie.  Josie graduated to a big girl bed upon arriving in TN and Jackson has joined the Summer Reading Program at the local library. Yes, my 4 year old reads them all independently, and is limited to 10 books a week which he promptly reads in about 1 hour the first day we get home with them.  We are contemplating getting him a Nook or Kindle so that he can check out e books online for free.  It would be much easier than hauling all 3 to the library every other day for more books!! They are precious and I love stopping in the craziness of each day to be thankful for all that God has blessed our family with.

Josie ~ 2       Jackson ~ 4

Hudson ~ 8 months

Saying Goodbye

We said our goodbyes last week in Dallas, such a bittersweet time.  Jackson and Josie enjoyed their last park visits and Friday pizza nights with friends.  Jonathan and I desperately saw as many friends as possible and dined out at the Alligator Cafe about 5 times last week.  I can't really find the words to describe how much we are going to miss our friends (that have become family).  Time in seminary has a way of bonding families, building friendships that can never be broken.  While we are excited about being in TN with family, nothing will replace those we have fellowshipped alongside with during the trials and celebrations over the past 6 years.  We endured school, grew our families, graduated, job searched, and so much more together.  I know theses friendships will continue, no distance too far.  Oh, how we have been blessed!!

Saying hello to TN has been far from boring.  Jonathan keeps saying, "We're not in Kansas anymore."  In the first week,  aside from all 3 kids being on antibiotics, nature has been the focus.  We carefully transported a Monarch butterfly chrysalis via I30/I40 from Jackson's friends at mother's day out.  It opened and we enjoyed a miraculous display of God's beauty.  A baby mole wondered in the front door as I was coming in the house one afternoon.  Jackson was in hysterics watching my mom and I trap and sweep it out.  Multiple lizards live around the house and sun on the brick in the afternoons.  A nest of birds made their home on the front door wreath and the mother bird flew inside the house one day.  And I must not forget the large snake we ran up on in the woods behind the house.  I promptly got a shotgun lesson from Jonathan the following day.  Hoping our days continue to be just as exciting as our first week.

Last day at the park with friends.

Weather Report

Anything electronic has to be limited in our home.  Jackson would never put it down if given the choice!!  So, today when we were driving to school it was no surprise that he asked for my phone.  But instead of asking to play games he asked to check the weather.  Perplexed and curious to see if it was a trick, I handed him the phone.  Sure enough, that is exactly what he did.  He reported not only the weather for Dallas, but also for Jackson, Memphis, and New York (all different settings on the app I have)!  It was all I could do not to crash the car from uncontrollable laughter......and he was so matter of fact.  Who needs the news?  I have my own personal weather man!  

And my own superhero.

And my own pretty princess.

And a whiner.

A growler.

And a screamer!!