Welcome Home

We had a great weekend of visitors this past weekend. It was so much fun to actually have space for everyone. I truly felt like a grown up being able to entertain. It was a laid back weekend, but it was full of laughs, conversation, and dancing... yes, there was some dancing.

After the weekend was over I found myself at the kitchen sink doing dishes. We have this plaque on the ledge of our window by the sink. It says, "Home is where your story begins." How true! Here we have this new home and we are ready for our life to begin. It is fun to think about what is to come, and what these walls are going to see over the next several years. Wasn't there a song or something about that; if these walls could talk or something?

Anyways...Z & I look forward to hosting many more weekends like this past and are ready for the new adventure of life to begin for us. Sam will be ever present in our home. I always tell myself that he has the best seat in the universe to see our home. I know he is always looking down on us, cheering us on.

Here are some other photos from the weekend:

A Friendly Thanks

The past few weeks have by no means been easy. I always used and heard the term, "uncharted waters," but I truly know what that feels like now. Z & I are on this journey of sudden loss & grief. Something that we never thought we would go through. Something that we don't want to go through. There is no book, no right or wrong way, and everyone handles it in different ways. This is something that is so hard to go through and communicate about; especially when we are not even two years into our marriage and have not perfected communication about what we are having for dinner!

This is also uncharted waters for me in the fact I am being challenged in my relationship with God in so many ways. I have conversations and challenges on a regular basis. Some of them being so intense I get clammy hands and a racing heart. It is a personal challenge, something that I cannot even explain what it means to me to do be used in God using me to (hopefully) impact those around that I love so dearly for eternity. It is humbling, because what is so special about little ole me? I have realized I need to lead, step up to the challenge and allow God to give me strength, wisdom, and grace. It is hard to deal with pain and reality, but being challenged in this way. But, I need to step up and put insecurities aside.

Thank you my dear friends for allowing me to scramble on these pages today. Thank you for your support, listening ear, and showering of gifts for us. With buying a new house and loosing Sam has come lots of emotions and feelings among Z & me, and you have graciously listened. I know awkward silence is not fun, but thank you for sitting in it for us. Thank you for your hugs and prayers. I (we) are so blessed to have amazing friends and family to be alongside of us. There is just no way or words to express what you mean to us and how we can show our gratitude.