*Mother's Day 2016*

Has everyone given up on me?  I feel like it's been forever since I've updated our blog but for part of the time, it truly was impossible.  We spent 8 week during, February-April attending language school away from home and the internet was not high enough to load pictures.  But we're back how (3 weeks ago - big smile) and I'm going to pick up my one thing that I love to do - blogging - again!

Thanks to the little push from my friend, Mandy, that I need to find/make time for it . ;)

So pictures from the past few months will come, but today, on Mother's Day, I'm going to put pictures on here of my beautiful blessing and the reason that I can celebrate being a momma!

These little people are my absolute favorite in all the world!

12 years ago, God brought a beautiful baby girl into our life and things have never been the same.

20 months after she arrived, God blessed us with a sweet, pudgy baby boy.....

21 months later, a sweet black haired bundle of sweetness arrived and......

20 months later, our little Jeren came.....

16 months later, our caboose came and what a ride it's been.

I wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

Now my babies aren't quite babies anymore and are growing up too fast!  But I often tell them, "You'll always be my baby"

I'm so thankful that God chose me to be the momma of these 5 blessings, but most days I feel completely inadequate for the job.  I'm thankful that God fills in the big gaps that I leave and I pray that they will all grow to love and serve Jesus with all their hearts!

I'm also blessed to have this wonderful, godly man by my side. I'm so thankful that he's the daddy to my children and I wouldn't pick anyone else in the world to go sailing through life with.  Some days are smooth sailing and others days there's some waves in life, but together we've come through all the storms (with God's help) and each one has made us stronger.

On this day, I'm so thankful for my little family!  I'm thankful for my two mom's that have blessed my life beyond words with their encouragement, help, love, support and godly example!  

Happy Mother's Day to all my momma friends!  I hope your day is blessed!

Mother's Day 2015

I had a great Mother's Day this year. I have thought much about this post and I have a lot to say, but they words aren't coming right now.  Maybe one day I can write them all down......

This bloomed on Mother's Day!  A special gift from Jesus!

My darlings scrambled that morning and gathered their special things for me.

Ashlyn gave me a card and a sour cream container filled with tiny bits of shredded paper that she shredded herself - she was SO proud and it made my heart just fill with love for her!

Jeren gave me a card and a book of Guatemala someone gave us before we came here - he was so sweet and happy that he thought of that.  I love it that he was so happy to have a gift for me.

Megan gave me a card and a "massage coupon" for a free foot or hand massage! I just love her heart!!

Owen gave me a card and said his gift was a hug.......I love those kinds of gifts!

Kristyn gave me a very sweet card telling me how much she loved me and then she gave me a picture of a lilly that she drew!  I can't wait to frame it and hang it on the wall.

Keith and I got to go out on a real date on Friday before Mother's Day.  The missionary girl living here with us (Mikah) asked if she could keep all of them and feed them supper.  That was so thoughtful of her and we thoroughly enjoyed being together and riding around Jalapa on the moto laughing our heads off - I'm sure we were quite a sight, but we didn't care one bit!

On Mother's Day we went to the church Sunday morning that they call the "Third Church" and then in the evening we went to "Central Church" across the street and down the block from our house.  There are four Emmanuel churches here in Jalapa.

They honored the oldest mother in the congregation.

They gave each mother a hand made tiny corsage to wear...that was so special.

It was a special day for me.

~Crystal