Joy in the Journey: 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

And Hello To The Palmetto State...

We began our 8 hour drive to South Carolina on December 14th! Thank you Mimi for coming down to help us make the drive! Jeremy drove the big u-haul and I drove the babies...and Mimi...

We drove 5 hours and stayed the night outside of Atlanta. Then, we made the last 3 hour drive to Columbia the next morning! We were greeted at our door by a cute little Christmas tree...and a welcome banner! YAY! We made it!

Several friends from our new church came and spent the afternoon helping us unload the truck. SUCH a blessing! Jeremy and I spent the next couple days working, working, working to get everything set up and unpacked while we had the extra help of Mimi to watch the kids!

We enjoyed worshiping together in our new church, Gateway Baptist, Sunday morning. Jackson was too interested in his shoe to smile...

This is our new neighborhood playground where we've already spent lots of time...

Life is busy, busy...but I will do my best to update soon!

Good-Bye Sunshine State...

We had so many little good-byes...that it's impossible to capture all our friends with the camera, but I wanted to post just a few. Our student ministry leadership threw us a sweet good-bye dinner party. It was so fun just fellowshipping together and reminiscing on all the memories we have made together and all the youth trips and retreats that we have survived together. :) They gave us a gorgeous painting for our house...I will have to post a picture as soon as it arrives in the mail! The student ministry threw us a surprise going away party complete with food made by the students, videos etc...such a memorable night together. Then, we had a packing/loading the truck party at our house on our last night. We had probably 30-40 people over...our little 1500 sq ft. house was busting at the seams with all our dear friends! With 10 pizzas and lots of helping hands, we had our truck loaded in no time at all!

Here are a few of our good-byes...

Brandon and Jackson
(Brandon has had a "fear" of babies...BUT we have changed that! He and Jackson have developed a special little bond. :)

Bella's last day at our favorite park! Check out that static electricity on those curls!

Casi was a 6th grader when we first started at Olive...we have grown so close to her and her precious family. She came over and had a slumber party with Bella...and gave her a little "I love you" necklace....

Last afternoon with Kelsey! I've enjoyed seeing Kelsey grow from a high school student into a beautiful wife and leader in the middle school ministry.

Liz was in 6th grade when we moved to Pensacola...now she's an Auburn Tiger...all grown up!

Sarah and Bella enjoying apples on their last play date!

The Taylor kids...we sure will miss them! Before we had kids, we had many, many fun double dates with their parents...forever friends. :)

Our precious, precious neighbor Maddy. Her family will be forever missed!!! They are truly the BEST neighbors anyone could ever dream of!!! I am serious! Maddy was always willing to lend a hand with the babies...and her dear mother has helped me in countless ways...I couldn't even list all the ways she has helped me. I will miss the cups of sugar, missing ingredients that she quickly ran over, hugs on hard days, relaxing afternoons in the yard when I needed to get outside...encouragement on many sick pregnancy days, dinners that were brought over "just because"...we sure love them!!!

7 months...

Our little handsome is now 7 months! What in the world!? Where has time gone!!! Jackson is as precious as ever...he loves life and his little giggle is contagious to all those around. :)

He loves swinging at the park with his sissy...

We tried introducing cereal around 5 months...but he would have nothing to do with it. His little chunky self just preferred mommy's milk. We tried again at 6 months...and it was still a "no-go." So, here we go at 7 months! He loves avocados, pears, bananas, oats, apples...and we are going to try sweet potatoes this weekend! Bless his little heart...his "system" is a little slow-moving if you know what I mean. SO, needless to say we had to stop the bananas for a while! He still isn't an aggressive little eater like Bella was...but he will take a few bites here and there.

Doesn't he just look like a little man!? This picture totally captures his his little personality..

He thinks it is so fun to enjoy the sunny, cool weather while watching his big sister run crazy at the park!

He babbles all the time...there's been several instances where we wonder if he's saying dadda or mamma...but not sure yet! He definitely looks toward each of us if we say "mamma" or "dadda."
He is going longer stretches at night (I think the food is helping). He loves when we go in and get him in the morning...he snuggles up in my neck and giggles. He spends his days jumping in his exersaucer, rolling around trying to keep up with his sister, sitting and playing with toys, going for rides in the stroller and trying his best to defend himself against his "second little mamma"...Bella boo. =)

Here are his stats:

Height 27.25 inches 60%
Weight 18 lb. 14 oz 65%
Head 45 cm 50%

His schedule these days:
7 Wake/Nurse/1 oz pear juice for constipation...poor guy/Solids (fruit/cereal)
9 Nap
10 Nurse
12 Solids (fruit/cereal)
1 Nurse
2 Nap
4 Nurse
5 Solids
7 Bath
8 Nurse/Bed

Monday, December 3, 2012

Jackson's Dedication

We dedicated Jackson the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Jeremy's mom was able to come over for the weekend and share in the special night with us. It was also an extra special time because he was dedicated alongside two of my close friend's babies. We were pregnant at the same time, "showered" each other and then have been able to walk through this newborn baby stage together! =)

Before the service, we went to our favorite park and Jeremy's mom took some pictures for us. I love this precious boy!

My laid-back, easy going little handsome!

My little charmer...I wonder what goes on in that little head of his...

My handsome little man!

This night will always be remembered as we made a public commitment to faithfully love each other as Godly parents and as we commit to raising Jackson on the truths of God's Word. From the moment the Lord gave Him to us, he has been a precious blessing. He is such a loving little fella and is always full of hugs and kisses. He rarely ever causes an uproar...unless his belly gets empty. =)
He is such a sweet little cuddle bug. We've taken many a nap together. He loves to be cuddled close and he especially loves to be sung to. I've prayed from the moment I knew I was pregnant that the Lord would have His hand upon this child and that this sweet baby would come to know Jesus as His Lord and Savior at an early age. I continue to pray that He will grow in wisdom and knowledge of our Lord. I pray that He will become a strong man of God who will lead others in the Truth. I pray that this gentle, loving little guy will touch many lives as He uses His special and unique gifts for the Lord. I know God has such wonderful plans for little Jackson Samuel's life. It is truly an honor to be his mamma.

The Lord knew Bella and I needed a more "chill" person to spend our days with...(sometimes we get wound a little too tight!) Hehe =)

We love you handsome man!!!

Jackson, Polly and Julian =)

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

A New Journey to...

South Carolina!!!

Eight and a half years ago, we began our life as newly weds here in Pensacola. We lived in our little one bedroom apartment and pretty much had a kitchen table, 2 couches and mattress! Jeremy was in seminary and teaching music lessons and I was beginning my teaching career. As I reflect on these past 8 years, tears well up in my eyes...a foreign city has become home, a community where I knew no one has now become family, a home that was tiny and sparse is now filled to the rim with babies, furniture, toys and lots of memories!!! After moving here, the Lord soon opened up the opportunity for Jeremy to serve at Olive Baptist as the Middle School Minister. The Lord stretched him and grew him in so many ways...preaching, teaching, leading worship and "pastoring" the 120+ middle school students. Over the years, we grew so close to those precious students. Countless sleepovers, weeks at camp, pizza dinners, lock-ins, beach trips, mission trips.....lesson after lesson and Bible study after Bible study...we became attached very quickly. In 2008, the Lord opened up the door for Jeremy to step in as the high school minister. Such a neat privilege to be able to walk through high school with the students we started with in 6th grade. =) We walked through some of the toughest times of our marriage while leading those students...as we experienced the 2 miscarriages. And, we were able to share in the most exciting times of our lives as we introduced baby Bella and then a few years later baby Jackson to the students! Throughout our time at Olive, the Lord has given Jeremy such amazing opportunities through leading students but also outside of student ministry. He's had the opportunity to preach on Sunday mornings, lead worship services in our church and beyond. All through the years, we continued to love our church family and truly ceased every opportunity to invest where the Lord had planted us. Over the past several months, the Lord began stirring in our hearts...we weren't quite sure where or what the Lord may call us to...but we prayed that we would be diligent where we were serving here...until the Lord led us elsewhere.

About 2 months ago, Jeremy received a call from a church outside of Columbia, South Carolina. This pastor had "accidentally" stumbled upon Jeremy's brother's name while pursuing to fill a Worship Pastor position. Jeremy's brother did not feel God leading him from his church but just mentioned that Jeremy loves music and leads worship while serving in ministry. So, that pastor contacted Jeremy. Things have moved quickly since that first phone conversation...many skype dates, phone interviews and 2 plane trips later...Jeremy accepted the position as the Worship Pastor at Gateway Baptist Church in Irmo, South Carolina! God's timing in our lives could not have been more perfect. They have been without a Worship Pastor for nearly 2 years now BUT if they had contacted us earlier, we would not have been at the place in our lives to be able to leave. With Jeremy's dad passing away last fall and my pregnancy, the timing would not have worked. We continue to be amazed at the Lord's perfect, sovereign hand who is working in the details of our every day life. He is a great God! The Lord has continued to confirm His calling to South Carolina in our lives through His Word, our prayers and through the Godly people He has surrounded us with the past few months. So...in 3 weeks a chapter in our lives will close and new chapter will begin!

I'm sure there will be more blogging about our new adventure...but for now I just wanted to share the news! =)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, it was our turn to spend Thanksgiving with my family! So, we loaded up and headed to Franklin to celebrate Turkey Day! =)

It sure is a fun and busy house with all three of us girls, husbands and babies! We had a blast! Bella is 2.5, Sadie is 1.5, Jackson is 6 mo. and Houston is 2 mo! Fun...fun!

Linz, Bella, Sadie and Jackson giving each welcome hugs!

We had so much fun at Monkey's Treehouse! For those of you who aren't familiar it is heaven for toddlers and moms! Pretty much it's a huge room filled with a playground (treehouse), toys, kitchen sets, legos, coloring table....and more! The girls loved it and us moms enjoyed relaxing on the comfy chairs! =)

Mimi happily volunteered to help the girls down the slides! Good ole Mimi!

Jackson just loved all the extra attention! Auntie Linz is full of cuddles. =)

A Boyd holiday would not be a true holiday if we didn't all wake up early and head out to run a race together! So, we all enjoyed the local Franklin Turkey Trot 5k! Once again, Mimi cheered on the side with the babies while Dad, Jer, John, Linz and I ran!

My sweet boy was full of hugs as soon as I crossed the finish line! =)

Yay!!! Linz and I were proud of ourselves...no record times (although I think we both PR'd for 5k times since birthing children!)...we both felt strong and healthy! Lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! =)

Love this handsome boy....and his Mimi!!!

Here's the crew! We'll get to drag out the Moore clan next year...we gave them the year off since baby Houston is just 2 months old! =)

Cheering with Mimi!

Lots of smiles for such an early morning! =)

Sweet girl!

My cute little turkeys! Best cheerleaders there!

Quick little nap before enjoying the festivities of Thanksgiving Day!

The handsome "boy" cousins...

My precious babies! Blessings overflow...

Wearing Pappa's "helmick" (helmet)...

Practicing riding her tricycle...

Handsome boys cuddlin'...

Cute little nephew Houston...

We all loved preparing Thanksgiving dinner together! Many, many memories are made in the kitchen together!

We celebrated my Grandma's 88th birthday! Family all piled in town...20 of us total to celebrate sweet Grandma's birthday! This picture captures four generations =)

So much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving....God is good and His love endures forever!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Pappa the Ironman...

Is headed to KONA, Hawaii!!!

We had a blast cheering for my dad, "Pappa", in the Florida Ironman a few weeks ago! He had his fastest ironman swim yet, a speedy bike ride and a strong marathon finish! He placed 2nd in his age group which landed him a qualifying placement for the World Championship Ironman race in Kona, Hawaii! Here are some sweet memories I captured throughout the weekend!