M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

You know the song...

And so does Brady! He started singing it today for the first time. :) I grabbed the camera, he stopped, but after a little prompt, he was singing again!

Home Sweet Home

We're moving back to the states in August. Buck will be an OC (observer controller, for you non-Army speaking friends) at Fort Polk. We will be there for at least 3 years. That's the longest we will have been in one place in the 6 years we've been married. So, we decided to build a house.

Actually, we're not building it since we're still in Germany, but my mom, who is THE most amazing, wonderful, beautiful woman in the entire world, is overseeing the project for us. Because of her, when we arrive in Louisiana, we will have a beautiful, brand new house to call home. It is already proving to be quite the project since we have to communicate via email or the telephone so we can choose all that will go inside...flooring, paint colors, countertops, cabinets, fixtures, hardware, etc., etc., etc....But, she is doing it all without complaint and out of love for us. How lucky are we?!?!

The lot was purchased some time ago, but it took us a quite a while to choose just the right floor plan. We finally found one that had everything we wanted and construction began last week.

I realize that these pictures probably won't look like much to you. But, to me, they are the making of a dream. Our dream. Our little piece of the American Dream.

When I look at that dirt I see a home that will be filled with family, friends, love and laughter. I see precious memories being made and milestones being met. I see the yard in which Brady will probably learn to ride his bike and in which Noah will learn to walk. I see the smile on my boys faces and hear their laughter as they run through the sprinkler; their little cheeks red from the hot summer sun. I think that of all of the things about this house, I'm looking forward to the yard the most. Brady so loves being outside, so it's been hard here in Germany with the long, hard winters and not having a fenced yard for him to run and play in. Now, in just a few short months, he'll have plenty of room to roam!

When I look at that slab of concrete, I see the patio on which there will be many backyard barbeques for the neighborhood and where many family dinners will be enjoyed. I see the kitchen where I'll sit at the table across from my Mom or Dad and enjoy their company over a cup of coffee. I see the rooms where Brady will sleep in his big bed for the first time and where Noah will sleep in his crib for the first time. I see the place that we will bring home our third child, God willing.

For me, this is a dream that I've had for a long time. But, with moving so often, I never knew when, or if it would come true. Now that I see it finally coming together, I realize that it was well worth the wait.

Tulips and Windmills -- Mother's Day Weekend

This Mother's Day was very special indeed! Not only did I have two beautiful boys for which to be thankful, but I was able to see a beautiful part of God's creation. We spent the weekend in Noordwijk ann Zee, a wonderful little seaside town in The Netherlands.

I have always wanted to see the tulips in the spring. From all of the photographs I've ever seen it just looked like a little piece of Heaven here on Earth. And seeing it in person left me more convinced than ever that it is indeed! God's hand was evident in everything that I saw and smelled and touched.

I took many, many photographs and thought I'd share my favorites with you.

It is quite difficult to get a 2 month old and a 2 year old to look at the camera at all, let alone at the same time. This is the best we could manage. :)

This picture is a bit out of order, but I didn't want to go back and upload all of these again, so here it is...This is Keukenhof. The 2nd largest park in the world and 3rd most photographed. It's not hard to see why. There are millions of flowers here!

Not long after crossing the border into The Netherlands we started to see windmills. I know this isn't the greatest picture of one, but cut me some slack...we were driving 80 mph on the Autobahn. It's a wonder I could even get it in a frame!

Our hotel, the Hof van Holland. It sat on a beautiful, quiet street. I loved the streets there. It was like stepping back in time to the 1940's. We saw many families riding their bikes with woven baskets on the front.

The rest of the photos were taken at Keukenhof. They are simply amazing!

...And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:13

I Was Here

Today, as I was scrapbooking, I was listening to "I Was Here" by Lady Antebellum. I'm sure most of you have heard the song by now. In case you have not, here is bit of the lyrics ...

You will notice me

I'll be leaving my mark, like initials carved in an old oak tree

You wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote

Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh

Cure the common cold

I do not know, but I'm ready to start, because I know in my heart

I want to do something that matters

Say something different

Something that sets the whole world on it's ear

I want to do something better with the time I've been given

I want to touch a few hearts in this life

And leave nothing less than something that says I was here

There was a time that I felt lost. I was searching for my purpose, wondering why God put me on this earth. I spent my days and nights asking, praying, hoping I would find my passion ... or at least a way to feel that my life meant something to someone. A few years ago, maybe I would have heard this song and wondered what I would do to leave my mark on this world, but not anymore.

I do not need to write like Twain wrote, or paint like Van Gogh. Michaelangelo's got nothing on me.

Just look at those two little faces. They are my David, my Mona Lisa, my legacy. They are my mark on this world. Because of them I have done much more than just pass through this life. Even if no one else in this world remembers my name it does not matter, they will.

When I look into their precious faces this life becomes crystal clear. They are my reason. And long after I'm gone little pieces of my heart will still be wandering this world.

There's not a day that goes by that I do not praise God for the blessing of my boys. Being their mother is the greatest honor I could ever receive.