Good day y'all... it's hard to put into words the joy that Soren brings us.  She is very vocal and enjoys talking to her baby doll, singing, and cuddling her stuffed beaver.  We are reminded by folks almost daily how talkative she is.  She is a very social (and often loud) little bug!  This last week, she's been very into hitting.  We made the mistake of teaching her how to hit her birthday balloons, which she loved.  She now, apparently, is confusing everything, and everyone for that matter, with her balloon.  So, we're trying not to laugh (and swear) when our faces hurt and food is everywhere!!!  Soren is very happy and loves to squeal and laugh.  She also loves to pretend like she is going to give you something and then at the last minute before you take it, she'll put it behind her back and giggle.  She loves that joke!  She started walking last week - I can't believe it!  This morning at the church nursery, we were told that she has personality coming out of her ears. They said she was a blast and such an easy little girl!   I have to say I was very proud and very thrilled of my sweet pea... not that you're surprised... Jeff and I have a tendency to gush over her!!! I figure if she's not spoiled, we're not doing our job! :0

Here are some pics from the past month.  She's enjoyed hanging out with friends and she absolutely LOVED the Indy Childrens' Museum as you'll see from her mouth hanging wide open as she gazed around!  

Soren's First Birthday!!!

It's official! Soren is ONE today! We had a blast and a houseful to celebrate this milestone. We watched with delight as Soren ripped into her cake...






















We had a ladybug-themed party for 2 reasons (1) we like to call her our "little bug" and (2) I can only really make round cakes as I learned this week. :) Here are shots of her party...


























































Soren also enjoyed opening presents, cuddling, dancing, laughing with friends and playing her own brand new piano from Uncle Stephen and "Aunt" Emily!
































































Although Soren received some beautiful and fun gifts, we also want to teach her about the joy of giving. Soren is sponsoring a child (who is her same age) by giving a monthly gift to support this new friend. When we invited our friends and family to the party, we suggested that if they wanted to bring a gift to consider helping Soren take care of her friend. This relationship will continue until each of them is 18!

It's funny how Soren sees the tiniest little specks on the ground, even after I've swept! I suppose if you live life on your belly and knees, your perspective is different. Soren has taught us to live "on our bellies" in many regards. She has and is changing us deeply. We revel in her wonder and learn (perhaps even re-learn) the beauty of the world around us. We are so thankful for the gift that she is in our lives and we are grateful for those that love her so very deeply and celebrate with us!

Food glorious food!!!

Here are shots of Soren enjoying some new foods over the last weeks... she loves hummus believe it or not, beets are a new fav, the, ahem, powdered donut - I just couldn't resist (don't tell her grandparents who have been trying to force sweets on her against my will), yogurt and fruit smoothies, cheese, pickles, and homemade breadstick/utensils. :)

Birthday...

I'm adding to the blog below... celebrating my 30th has turned out to be amazing...

It started with going to the Sara Bareilles concert (and meeting her!), then a romantic dinner with Jeff another night, another night Jeff hosted a girls' night out including 8 spoons and a bowl of cookie dough, a family surprise party at Bravo (yum!), and Jeff surprised me with an entire home studio - a Mac laptop, pro tools, all the gear to write and record more! What a gift! Yes, I realize I'm spoiled...

Sentimentality

I’m not really one for scrapbooking, per se. It seems like a lot of cutting out flowers and bears, and I’m just not quite that crafty. But, I am into saving memories. I’m very nostalgic and very sentimental. In fact, as I approach my 30th birthday and Soren’s 1st this fall, I am over-the-top nostalgic and sentimental!

When my Uncle Mike (Mom’s bro) – who always hung out with us when we were little - turned 30, I remember crying at the birthday party because I thought 30 was so old that it meant he was going to die soon. Ha ha! Oh my goodness – I’m turning 30 tomorrow!!! On the other hand, my age will finally match my personality. I think I was born 30 in other ways. I’ve always liked talking with older people and felt more comfortable around adults than kids (even as a kid). I’ve always loved MCL, crossword puzzles, studying foreign languages, playing Canasta and Kings-on-the-corner, baking bread, eating brussel spouts and lima beans, playing out of my hymnals, driving around just to look at Christmas lights, and I’ve always been obsessed with typewriters. (All right, so some of those make me sound more like a 75 year old.) Regardless, these aren’t things that kids typically do.

I don’t know if anyone has ever asked you what your oldest memory is, but whenever I’ve been asked, the first that comes to mind is writing my “Goodbye” letters. The first I remember is from my 8th birthday. I had written my “Goodbye 7” letter. As long as I can remember, this melancholy soul has struggled with birthdays. I always cry at the passing of time and the sense of grief and loss that marking time at all brings. I also always write a letter to reflect on the year prior. This has been almost 23 years of letters – I’ve missed a year or two here or there. I kinda wish we didn’t mark time at all. Yes, I know I have much to celebrate – a beautiful family and remarkable friends – but, I feel like I’m getting 2 lines in between my eyebrows and my hands look a little bit older and I’d rather not be aware that as I age, so does my husband, and so do my parents, siblings, children, etc.

So, here it is, not the best way to start reflecting, but…

God has been so faithful to me. I have not been deserted... ever. Lord, thank you for the past year. I’ve seen you in new ways, most specifically through the birth of Soren and the bond that Jeff and I share in her life and our life together. Thank you for the celebration of life with our families. What a tremendous gift to have such beautiful family. Thank you that most of my conversations with friends end with "I love you". What a tremendous blessing. My twenties (ugh!) were amazing and I feel that I know less than ever and that makes me thankful. Lord, foster in me the sense that I don’t have to be right and that I’m willing to consider my paths and willing to be rebuked. I watch folks, especially during the time of the election, who are so sure that they are right. I know that only You are right and the best the rest of us can do is to pray for enlightenment and be open-minded to what you may have. You surprise me. You move me. I pray to be continually aware of Your touch on our lives. Thank you for the gift of another year…

We had a blast last night with Soren's first Halloween. We dressed her up nice and cute and ate all of her candy - aren't we awesome parents? She was Tinkerbell (thanks to GrammyMac's new costume collection she's starting for Soren) and we were (really-bad) pirates. Yes, we decided to dress up very last minute... obviously. Soren (and we) enjoyed Halloween with GrammyMac, Grampa, Grammy, Gramps, Aunt Amy, Uncle Jon, Aunt Suzanne, & "Uncle" Jon. Enjoy!

Honoring Papa

Over the last week, we journeyed back to Texas for Papa's (Jeff's maternal grandfather's) funeral. We had really special family times sitting around looking at pictures, singing hymns, laughing, crying, and celebrating Papa's life and celebrating each person's relationship with Papa. Papa served God, his country, and his family so beautifully and brought much laughter to his home as a husband, father to 4 girls, and grandpa and great-grandpa to many. Jeff did the service and gave the eulogy and I was so very proud of what he said and how he said it. He represented his family well and honored Papa's life. Here are some shots of our travels and time with family.

Daddy & Mommy

Soren, here are some shots of our Mom-and-Dad-time... we led worship for a marriage conference and enjoyed a weekend away. Here we are with the speakers of the event. There's also a pic below of my surprise Jeff/Daddy planned. He took me to dinner and to the Vince Gill concert (which was amazing!!!) up in Wabash. Then, below that is the surprise that I planned for him. It was a vegetarian cooking class at Williams Sonoma in Indy. We went with friends and had a blast!