everyones home

we are all home together this week! That may sound like a strange statement I suppose. We are excited to be home together. See during our summers it gets a bit crazy. It seems like every other week Tyler has a trip or Griffin and I have been gone. We are enjoying just being home and enjoying one another as a family.
Griffin has been somewhat grumpy lately to say the least. Pretty sure he's getting some teeth somewhere in that mouth of his, but I can't seem to see any anywhere. He has gotten a bad diaper rash too, since he has been going to the bathroom every hour it seems (teething causes this I'm pretty sure). I'm hoping his little bottom will look better in the morning.
I bought him a new pool today since his other one blew away while we gone. We are going to swim a lot this week since it's suppose to be real hot.
We are looking forward to my mom coming to visit in August and she'll get to hear Tyler preach at The Vine (a church plant in Clovis) on Aug. 1. I counted up today just 3 weeks until she comes!

Quietness

Griffin and I are in Denver City, TX with my inlaws this week while Tyler is on a mission trip. It is so nice and peaceful out here. I love coming out here. There are no car noises, no sirens, no bumping and grinding music- just quietness and stillness. It reminds me that God wants me to slow down and just be still before Him each day. Taking some moments to just praise Him and focus on Him. I am not always the best at doing this. I am praying I will be become better however, for I know it's the best thing for me each day.
Thank You, Lord for Denver City and sweet inlaws that you have given me to come visit.

Happy 4th of July

So I have been missing my family a lot since being back in Clovis. Partly too, due to the fact that I haven't really gotten to socialize this week much with Griffin being sick. And partly because a holiday is coming in two days known as the 4th of July, most people know about it, :) and I wish I could spend it with my family. Blessed as I am, I do get to spend it with family! Tyler's family, which has most def become my family over the last 3 yrs of our marriage. Tyler will be leaving on the 4th to lead a mission trip so Griffin and I are planning on heading to Denver City to visit Steve, Peggy, and Papa Tobe. I'm praying Griffin will be completely well by then. He is doing much better today, but I can still tell his ears are bothering him. Poor little guy. And poor momma, I will say. This week has been a week where I felt like I just really needed my own mom! haha...I just do not like Griffin not feeling well, do not like it one single bit. I hope after this run of teething/sickness that there will a big gap between the next time he gets sick.
Anyways, Happy 4th of July. I have enjoyed watching our American flag I put out blow in the wind this week. It reminded me to be thankful for this country we get to live in each day, and it's just a really pretty flag, ya know?

My sick baby....

Griffin started having fever Tues. morning and has had it ever since. Took him to the doc yesterday and he has a double ear infection. He is also, as the the doc and I discovered, getting two more teeth on the bottom-little red bumps we saw. He always gets fever when he teethes, and now I guess he'll be getting ear infections when he does too. Hopefully not every time though. Our poor little guy. He has been a trooper, however. He tries to play and tries so hard to be happy and normal. He is such a sweet boy. Please pray this fever will vanish soon. Thanks a bunch.
Here are some pictures of him on Monday, the only day this week he has felt good. He loves his hat my mom and dad got him.

Austin

ah I love this picture.

I've got to cover my eyes!
not sure about this..
checking it out while the water is not exploding forth...


being pulled in Eli's wagon by Eli...they loved it!
i just love this picture despite the face I'm making...



eating at the Oasis


me and April
outside the Oasis
I was thinking this is what it would be like to have TWINS!
Can I have this spoon please....


I remember when I used to use one of these, but my thumb is way better...
I'll be taking that thank you very much...
up to no good....

We went to Austin last week for vacation and spent it with really good friends of ours, the Morales family. We had such a good, despite most of us getting sick for a few days. We went to this unique restaurant on Lake Travis, called the Oasis and got to watch a beautiful sunset. We also took the boys including Griffin's cousins, Hudson & Haddon, to an outdoor mall where they have the fountains that shoot up out of the ground. Griffin liked it ok, but enjoyed walking around it really.... he didn't like the water in his eyes. We enjoyed watching Griffin play with Elijah Morales and we enjoyed just hanging out with April and Jerod. Here are some sweet pictures of us in Austin.

HOME

We are finally home after being gone 21 days. I don't think Griffin knew what to think yesterday when we walked in the house. He has been playing with all of his toys like they are all brand new and he has never seen them before. I think he missed them.
It feels very nice to be home. We enjoyed our visits with family friends in east and central Texas. Going to Austin made us realize just how much Clovis is lacking (stores and restaurants), but it was great to have Leal's today for lunch which you cannot get in Austin. :) And I did miss Bahama Bucks of course.
Being gone for so long also made me realize just how much I love being home with Griffin in our home. I LOVE IT! God def built me to be a homemaker. There is nothing better than taking care of my house. That may sound weird to some of you, but I really do enjoy doing our laundry, cooking meals in my own kitchen, playing with Griffin in OUR yard, and keeping our house tidy, warm, and welcoming. Now, my goal is to become more hospitable than I already am and invite families and friends over more. I really desire our home to be a place people feel they can just drop by anytime. I hope it is a place that Tyler enjoys coming home to, a place where he can easily relax after a hard day at work. A place of refuge and comfort. A place where his wife is ready to serve him and love him sacrificially. Lord, take this home, for it is and always has been Yours to begin with, and use it to give grace and love to others. Thank You for allowing me to stay home each day with my son and giving us a home that is just what we need.

I hope you will be encouraged to pray over your home too and make it the place God wants you to make it for His glory.

Like father like son...

shopping in Austin

I love these guys so much.