Here is our little girl-all grown up now! As of January 10th, Cailyn turned 1. They are so many things that she can do. Yet, I'm starting to feel overwhelmed about my responsibility for teaching her everything.

This is what Cailyn is up to these days:

1) At 11 months, Cailyn started walking. She picked it up really quickly, and is now practically running. Last week she learned how to walk backwards, and she thinks it is the funniest thing ever. She also tries to run in circles.

2) Cailyn's favorite word is dog, but most of the time the 'g' is silent. She also says mama and dada.

3) She eats mostly fruit, yogurt, and macaroni and cheese. We tried giving her milk when she turned 1, but she wasn't used to the taste. So, we've been mixing formula and milk together. In about a week, she will only drink milk, and I won't have to buy formula!!! Yeah!!

4) Cailyn loves to kiss and give hugs. Her favorite thing to kiss is Aunt Alana's tummy. We ask her where baby Isaiah is, and she lifts up Alana's shirt and kisses her belly. Alana is due on Feb. 11, and we are excited to see if the kissing will continue. My guess is the jealousy will be too much for her little heart.

5) Her favorite toy, as of right now, is baby dolls. She loves to carry dolls around. She is even willing to throw a fit to keep others from taking her babies. Two things about this are strange to me: first, it is crazy to me that God puts the desire to mother and take care of others at such a young age for little girls (for the most part, you don't see little boys carrying around baby dolls); and secondly, I am surprised how early children learn to take toys and not share with others. I'm hoping that we grow out of this at a young age, but I'm not counting on it.

Well, Cailyn does so many other things, but these are a few of the newer ones. We love her and she is such a blessing to us. We are excited to see what the next year holds for a little girl!

The Testing of My Faith

Buying a house is not an easy process!  We found out this week that we have to lower our price on the house we are selling, and that it could be February 6 before we close.  Every week we have found out something new and frustrating about this process.  At the beginning, it was simple things like we are going to close this week, or maybe it will be next week.  And this week we found out it could be another month and we are losing money.  

Throughout all of this, I've been reminded of God's goodness and faithfulness.  My "problems" with buying a house are so miniscule, but at times they consume my thoughts and prayers.  To some extent, I've been begging the Lord to make this all work out and to do what's best for me.  Yet, it has taken me the last 3 months to understand that the Lord is doing what's best for me and that through these trials he is teaching me, guiding my walk, and showing His love for me.  

A couple of nights ago at house church, I was reminded of a verse that Caleb is always sharing with me.  In James 1:5 it says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."  Three years ago when I was convinced we needed to move because we lived in a bad neighborhood, I would have never understood this testing.  I wouldn't have understood how it could be considered "pure joy".  But now, I consider myself blessed that my struggles, in my own mind, seem minor and trivial.  It has been a good process--without trying to buy a new house, I would have been robbed of time with Isaac and Alana before baby Isaiah comes, and so many other blessings that have come our way.  The Lord is good and knows what is best for us.

How blessed I am that I have the opportunity to buy a new house!  How blessed I am that I have family that will shelter my family in the cold!  Oh, how blessed I am...

The Purpose-Filled Blog

Over the last year, I have had a few friends that keep me updated on their lives with a blog. I love reading their blogs, and at times they bring me to tears and other times I feel encouraged and excited for them. So, as part of a my new year's resolution, I have decided to write a blog.

The purpose of my blog is to keep friends and family up-to-date on my family, specifically Cailyn. I am sadly aware of how unimportant Caleb and I are, in comparison to Cailyn of course. I also think that this will give me a template for thoughts and ramblings that I have, but don't necessarily share. My assumption in writing this is that I have something to say...now, let's see if that's correct.

God bless and happy new year!