Coming Soon...

Can you guess what our Christmas surprise was this year??? Holy Cow...

What a Year!

Well, Lainey, we celebrated your first birthday at the beginning of this month. Because you were sick, we kept it short and sweet celebrating with family, chowing down on pasta and pizza.

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One day I hope you truly understand what a miracle you are. Let me tell you about some of this past year's events... look and see how God is using you already in our world and how special you are.

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In the first weeks of your arrival here, you caught a life-threatening respiratory infection. Little girl, what a little fighter you proved yourself to be even as a newborn. You know we see that fight in you today as you try to wiggle free from your big sister... or when you are refusing to eat and passionately throwing (or blowing) the food across the room as some kind of statement... or screaming as loud as you can to let everyone know you are unhappy with whatever situation you find yourself in...and it makes me smile inside. The strong will you are now showing us is the will that kept you breathing through the long, scary nights in the hospital. I don't know why I find it so amazing that the first time you gave us an intentional smile was when you were in the hospital. Your name, Alaina, means "bearer of light". Anyone who knows you can bear witness to that! You're so very special.

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This year has been marked by so much transition for our family and so many huge life lessons.
The Lord proved himself so faithful and that He loves us beyond what our simple minds can imagine. He showed us early on in your life how intricately involved He is in our day-to-day living as we were overwhelmed by love and support from so many people while you were in the hospital. Everything from food to caring for Natalie, He loved on us through so many people in our world.

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The creator of everything and He's loving on us... not everyone can see that so easily and it's because of you we had that opportunity.

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Since your arrival, the Lord has taught us this past year how intentional He is with the children He sends to us to care for. There is a great eternal purpose to the hardships of parenting that each child brings to the table (believe it or not).

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He helped me realize that in such a sweet way one day when I was in the shower... a tennis analogy (I grew up in a tennis family) to demonstrate how kids are designed specifically with their parents in mind: to work that backhand (my weak side) over and over in order to make us strong. THAT'S why he didn't give me a child like "so and so". Another's child couldn't work out my kinks quite like mine do.

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Thank you Jesus for that simple picture. Now I can wrap my little brain around that. And never again will I think "She just THINKS she has it hard with her kid!" The Lord is working her backhand (whomever she may be) the same way He's working mine and I so appreciate His gentle correction. And not that YOU are necessarily hard, I'm just referring to the difficult seasons we go through as parents with each of our kiddos...and that's my disclaimer:)

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There are so many reasons you, Little Lainey, were selected for our family. You and Natalie are both such a powerful display of God's love, faithfulness and presence in Mommy and Daddy's life. We are finding ourselves in Him, our roots are going deep. We wouldn't have this experience if we weren't your parents.

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I pray that one day if you ever question your value or significance in this life, you will be pointed back to the time when God breathed into your little lungs and chose LIFE for you...that means purpose baby, great purpose.

Happy Birthday Lainey Bug.
We love, love, love you!

Little Girl, Big Dreams

One guess what Natalie's favorite

movie (of the month) is...

Thanksgiving 2007

We had a FULL Thanksgiving weekend.

The holiday started off in Oklahoma

and ended at my brother's

house in Dallas.

We love our family.

Bunch of Crooks...

NaNa and PaPa Crook are the best hosts!

And can we talk about NaNa's cranberry salad and dressing??

Holy Cow.

Here we are with Granny and Papaw Dickerson

How awesome that our girls are getting to know two sets of GREAT-grandparents!

TRYPTOPHAN IS GOOOOOD!

Cheetah Girl having fun at Nonnie's

Whose hat is that anyway??

Too bad Kamryn can't crawl yet. She gets stuck in all kind of poses:)

Rhonda, Nana, and Lainey with Kelly

Our other hostess with the mostest!

And that's all folks, the show's over!

This picture really has nothing to do with Thanksgiving, Natalie's just getting so big, I had to add it.

Nice to Meet You...Again.

What a GREAT weekend we had in the gorgeous wine country of CA.

After 7 straight weeks of sickness in our house

and an average of 3 hours of sleep at night during those weeks

Mommy and Daddy wanted to have a little fun...

ok, and maybe sleep some too.

(Enter "wine")

It was such a memorable time

full of good food, great wine, and the bestest of friends.

We highly recommend this trip.

But you must spend at least one night with the Scales Family

and then take the Schlegels with you too, of course.

Oh yeah, and you need a Nana that's willing to give up 4 days of her time!

My mom is the best.

Life-long friends

Reunited, FINALLY!

Ending a long day of travel with a refreshing night of "girl gab" with Jan and the girls.

Frank took us on a tour of K-LOVE's headquarters too. Great night of family fun!

I miss you already!!!

This was the coolest little market we stumbled upon...

and the fastest lunch I've ever (well, halfway) eaten.

Anyone know where we can get some wine around here??

Christian Brothers Monastery next to the Hess Collection Winery.

This was by far our favorite vineyard.

The other love birds.
Now this picture is normal but the Cakebread Vineyard quickly turned into Jamie and Steven's catwalk.

Thanks for all the laughs you two!

Our last day, saying goodbye to the incredible scenery.

Carneros Domain,known for their sparkling wine.

We found this vineyard on our way to the airport.

More Carneros...whoa mama.

So as Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself feeling so full already. How grateful I am for a deep, fun friendship with my husband and to be surrounded by good friends who love God more than anything else in this life. Thank you Lord, the Giver of every good gift. And Kev, it was so nice to meet you...again;)