HOMELESS....

We have yet another answered prayer!! As I type this, I am so humbled by the mercy that God has shown our family. We are such IMPERFECT people but yet God chooses to pour out His blessings on us again and again! As of July 9th, we will no longer be home owners in Memphis! Our house has been on the market a little over a month and we now have a contract on it! Such a GOD thing! Thank you for the praying that you have been praying doing for us throughout this transition. We can really feel God's favor in our lives.

So the question everyone has asked is "Now What"? I still don't have an answer for that. Things are going well for Lucas and his job in NYC. His time there is not over yet. As for me and Layla, we are enjoying the family time in Murfreesboro. Layla is loving all the attention from grandparents and great grandparents. Obviously, we are anxious to be back with Lucas, but we are waiting on the Lord to direct our steps. We have a few options as to where we can settle for the next 6 months or so, but are not going to jump into anything just yet. The great thing is now we have the freedom to explore our options because we are not tied to a house in Memphis. Our end goal is still Atlanta but it is not quite time for us to head there yet. We are very thankful, and have a peace about waiting....

Walking in Memphis

Layla is finally WALKING!! But in Murfreesboro, not Memphis :) She actually took a couple stepps on her first birthday and then a few days later took about 4 steps. Then last Saturday when she was playing with her cousins (Reese 6, Gavin 2.5) she started taking about 8-10 steps. I didn't want to say anything because Lucas was in NYC and I wanted him to be surprised when he returned home. Layla is now walking from room to room and will intentionally drop a toy, bend down to pick it up and keep walking. It is so weird to see her walking!! Layla has also started doing a couple of animal noises...She can moo like a cow and bark like a dog :)

Last week was also a pretty miserable week for Layla. She started all of the teething symptoms again (runny nose, cough, and drool drool drool). I was pretty much giving her Motrin every four hours during the day. This week has been much better and the mortin is no longer needed. Her gums are swollen all the way across the top and I actually think she is trying to cut all four of her top teeth at the same time. I guess we will know soon enough!

Lucas got home at noon on Saturday and Layla saw him coming up the terminal at the airport and recognized and reached for him immediately. It was SO sweet. They were so happy to see each other. He brought her a stuffed monkey. She loves it and it is very fitting since we are always calling her monkey. We are enjoying our time together while he is home! He even took initiative to change a dirty diaper! Our week filled up very quickly but we have reserved Tuesday night for just the 2 of us. We are leaving Layla for the first time over night and heading up to Tim's Ford lake to spend the night at a lakehouse. Looking forward to some "adult" time! His work in NYC is going very well! Keep praying that God would open up doors for more work so that we can be back together as a family ASAP! Although it is hard to be apart, I know this is a necessary time and Lucas is learning so much about his work. We are still waiting on our home to sell in Memphis. We have had some interest and just believing that it will sell by the end of the summer.

I haven't been doing much while Murfreesboro. It has been nice staying at my parents since laundry and house keeping is pretty much taken care of :) I have been running, trying to train for the Middle Tennessee Half Marathon that happens in October. I was having issues with my knee a few months ago, but it had not been hurting me while running until our long run last Saturday. I got a brace today and just praying that it will help with the problem and I don't have to see a doctor! Running is addicting and I hope that I can continue with minimal pain.

God is good and blessing us in more ways than we deserve!

1 Year Olds are Smart!

After Layla's first birthday it is like a switch was flipped! All of a sudden she is a big girl! She has started talking alot and using her sign language. And without a doubt she is understanding a lot of what I am saying. I love watching her take everything in and then respond. She is also loving the pool. I put her in the float and she gathers all the balls that we have in the pool and just entertains herself! With her first birthday she also became a picky eater. She LOVES yogurt and would live off that with fruit if I would allow it. She pretty much refuses any green vegetable and if I start her meal with bread she will not try anything else. She is still napping twice a day, usually about 2 hours each nap. She has been sleeping a whole lot lately. I think that she is getting ready to finally cut her top two teeth because we have started the excessive drooling and clear runny nose again. She is having a time adjusting to the nursery at our church here. She did so good in Memphis but this is a new atmosphere and it has thrown her for a loop. Atleast here she has Granna or Aunt Abbey to occasionally come to her rescue! I am looking forward to a fun summer with her. She is at such a great age!

New "words" she is saying:
Hey
Thank you
Hey Lilly (the dog)
Kitty
Nite Nite
Bye Bye
Yes

Of course none of these words are as clear as you or I would say them, but she is repeating me and using them in the correct context.

Of course