D' News

While hanging out this gorgeous Sunday morning, I thought it would be fun to update the blog a bit to share a little bit about the D's.

Brody
Brody continues to melt my heart! I just love our little boy. I love how he sings at night before bed, how he says, "Mommy," from his bed in the mornings to announce he is ready to start the day, and how he laughs so sincerely at the smallest things in life. He is starting to understand that Weston is coming. He recently gave him a high-five by high-fiving my tummy and even stuffed pacifiers down my top for Weston to use. I love hearing him say, "Weston" and all he has to say about what he will do with Weston when he comes. He is such a vessel for God's love in our life as a family.

Little Brody D. is not so little anymore. At his 3 year well check, we were told after his doctor remeasured him for exact accuracy that Brody is in the 90th percentile for his height...Clearly a trait from Mike's side of the family. He still is rather skinny, but hey, the boy never stops moving and grooving. He burns off so much so fast. Apparently, this is exactly how Mike was as a kiddo too.

Brody has been testing boundaries with great determination these past few weeks. This means the past few weeks for Mike and I have been humbling and challenging at times, as we have prayed and talked through a lot as a couple regarding discipline. You know what is so wonderful though? God helps us in such seasons of challenge like this. Praise Him! We are feeling confident in our approaches now that we have tested out, failed, and prevailed with many of them along the way. Wow...parenting is hard. There have been times that all we could do was the best we could and pray for God to help provide discernment. God has really opened my eyes personally in the last few weeks to the encouragement He provides and the discouragement Satan brings to my attention when disciplining Brody. Things are never as terrible as I think. An unbalanced viewpoint of how things are going is certainly not from God. Taking an honest look at things, while keeping in mind the great things God is doing in his life alongside so many factors, is important...something I am trying to work on...Kinda like the glass being half full, not seeing it as half empty.

Weston
Weston is moving so very much these days. I am trying to figure out how to scan our recent ultrasound photos of him too, so stay tuned for those. Each doctor's appointment is very basic, which provides very few exciting details...surely a blessing though. As my mom always says, "No news is good news." Dr. Fraser is truly such a sweet doctor, and I love going to all of my appointments, knowing he is so calm and knowledgeable. More to come soon!

Mike and Jackie
For a few months now, we have been attending our new church, CCV. While we ADORE our old church, we both sensed a need for a change. Upon our first visit, we ran into friends from years ago and instantly fell in love with the church, despite it being so big. It has been such a blessing to attend CCV, and we LOVE it! The music is unbelievable, the sermons are solidly grounded in the Word with DIRECT application, and it honestly feels like home there. Our  church offers Saturday night services, which is the highlight of our week as a family. Mike gets home from work on Saturday afternoons, so we have some relaxing family time. Then we head out for dinner usually at the CCV cafe and then go to the evening service...while Brody lives it up in the children's program. It is so adorable too to watch Brody play on the awesome grass areas after church with all the kiddos and Mike. Once Weston comes, I can join in on the fun too!

With Sundays being our one down day of the week, it is so much fun to enjoy Sundays like today as a family. Ahhh...relaxation has been so needed by our family. Another great blessing for us is that we joined a Bible Study on Sunday nights for families that is led by our friend, Regan, who I went to school with for 12 years...small world! So, Sunday nights are our nights for fellowship and Brody getting to play some more with kiddos.

Crazy too how huge CCV is and how many people we consistently see there, who we already knew! On our street alone, 5 families attend CCV, and the hubby of one family pastors a sister church of CCV! It's exciting for Mike and I, because we are really starting to feel connected in a meaningful way with our new church and are encouraged in our faith by so many of those around us. It is especially wonderful too that CCV ignites its attendees to branch out and not just stay in our comfortable, Christian huddles. We are so looking forward to growing in our relationships with God and others with our church providing such a joyful, upbeat encouragement.