other people's kids

Let's face it... I blog about other people's children.
So... here are some shots from a photo shoot that Jamie and Rachel
had in Chicago a few weeks ago with Ava

Jamie and Ava
Rachel and Ava
Til next time... since we're not having kids anytime soon :)

messy Brooke

She's messy but she's cute!

Just had to share this one :)

1st birthday for Ava

One year ago today, this sweet TINY little girl came into the world.
Ava Hope Murray was born 1 lb. 12 oz.

Happy 1st Birthday, Ava!!

Let her eat cake!

Along with her parents, we as aunt and uncle are incredibly
grateful to people who rallied around her and prayed for her over
the past year. She's grown SO BIG and is very healthy!!!
God is soooo good for blessing us with this little miracle girl :)

late night musing

I should be in bed. Aaron is sound asleep. I'm awake though.

Right now I regret the Diet Coke at 7pm with dinner, oops.
So in loo of sleeping, I'll ramble about the life-changes that have
happened and are going to happen before we hit 1-year married.
Past changes since getting married:
1. we got married (big change)
2. finished settling into a new home
3. left a job for a new, unknown one
4. joined staff with Campus Crusade for Christ
5. spent 6 months raising financial support with CCC
6. made the hard decision to leave staff
7. job-hunted (blah)
8. got a new job (praise God! I start Monday)
9. move again (6 days after starting new job)
10. this one is for Aaron: turn 30

Those big changes are all pretty much within the last
12 months (with a few upcoming in the next few weeks)
WOW! How can we have only been married 11 months today?!
It has gone so quickly yet so much has happened that I feel like
we must have been married 2-3 years. How time flys!
In the last year, I've learned much about life.
I appreciate being able to honestly say that I have trusted the Lord
for more in the last year than any other time in my life.
God has shown me much about His own character, about me,
about my relationship with Aaron and others. I've been
refined and broken for the sake of becoming more like Him.
That's great! But I do hope for an uneventful 2nd year of marriage, ha.

This pic was taken as we left the church for our reception 11 mo ago.
It's funny how foreshadowing it is for our first year (happy AND 'yikes')
My crazy life... in the center of the Lord's will. Amen.

taking a hair poll...

I am getting my hair cut tomorrow (short notice, I know)
Should I go: bangs?
or NO bangs?

I need help!

a game, a porch & a derby

We spent the last few days in DM playin games and building porches.
Ava really wanted to play Guillotine with us!

No, actually she wanted to eat Rachel's cards.

Day 2 of the porch project... how to make the gutter fit?

Rachel came out to check out the progress.

I drove to Rochester to spend Sunday evening with friends.
4 girls + demolition derby = loud fun!

Kim, Annette and me (Krista was taking the picture)

Kim's overdue... can't wait to meet that baby girl!

after 2 weeks...

We've been in Des Moines for 2 weeks staying with
Jamie, Rachel and Ava. It's been fun to spend that time
with them and watch the sweet girl grow and learn new things.
It's hard to believe that in a few weeks she'll be 1 year old.

She's learning to play :)

And still sort of learning to sit... little tippy :)

Like I've mentioned before, she LOVES the water!
We pulled up her rash-guard to get the tummy-roll pic!

Special shout-out to Rachel and Jamie for having us
for 2 weeks. We loved our time with you and can't wait to
celebrate the birthday of your darling little girl in a few weeks!