We have been enjoying life around here -- to the fullest! Here is a little update, accompanied with pictures, on what has been going on in our world!

For starters, about 3 weeks ago I was driving my car and as I entered the on-ramp a deer (doe) ran into my front right passenger headlight and then ran back to where she came from! I was accelerating to get on the freeway so I was probably going about 40-50 mph. It scared me b/c I did not see her coming at all, which was best case scenario. If I had seen the deer then I would have probably swerved and it would have been a lot worse! Anywho, it just jarred my car a little bit and that was it. Lincoln was with me and after that he just kept starring at that side of the car like "what just happened?" Luckily we got it fixed pretty quickly, but here is a picture of what it looked like before it was fixed.

Three years ago next month we moved to NWA and bought our first home! I remember seeing this home on the internet and I truly felt as if God was telling me that we needed to buy that home. One night after Cory got off work we drove three hours to look at it and both decided it was the home for us! We returned the three hour trip that night to our duplex and made a crazy offer that the builder accepted. Our real estate agent told us it was one of the best deals she had ever seen. It was truly a gift from God. Little did we know how perfect this house would be for us. The perfection does not lie in the bricks and mortar but in the location and the friends he has given us in this neighborhood. In fact, the biggest blessing about our home is in our next door neighbors.

I remember one October Sunday afternoon Trey and Christina were leaving from spending the weekend visiting and going to a Razorback football game with us. We waved goodbye and came inside our home. We had only lived here about two months and the loneliness had begun to set in. I sat down in our living room and through my tears told Cory how I missed our old friends and I was ready to make new friends and find our own community here. After an hour long conversation (or more with my reputation of chatting) we decided to go for a drive. We walked out to our car and there we met Justin and Erin, our neighbors! Our paths had not crossed in the two months that we had lived there thus far. We struck up a conversation and discovered that Erin and I work for the same school district and Justin is on staff at the church we had been visiting. From that point forward we were fast friends! We enjoyed game nights at each other's houses, an occasional movie and frequent dinners at our favorite local Mexican restaurant!


Little did we know that soon Erin and I would both become pregnant and both due in September 2009 just days apart. I miscarried at 6 weeks and Erin miscarried at 12 weeks. I cherished her friendship during this season of life. Its not often you know of a friend going through a miscarriage at the same time who lives next door! Soon after this Erin became pregnant with Will and was due in January and I became pregnant with Lincoln due in February! It was so fun having a friend pregnant the same time as you! We would go on walks and talk about our sickness, swollen feet or cravings. In fact, Erin was the first person that I told when I found out I was pregnant.


On December 17th , Erin was rushed in for an emergency c-section due to her blood pressure being high! I'll never forget Will's birthday because it was my grandmother's birthday and the anniversary of mine and Cory's engagement! When Lincoln was born Erin arrived at the hospital with a basket of snacks and goodies that was much needed after 16 hours of labor! She also arranged for dinners to be brought to our house by our friends. I could go on forever. What a sweet friend she has been to me, Justin has been to Cory and they have been to us as a couple!

Last week we went to their house for dinner. Both boys were awake and it was the first time (sadly) that we got their picture taken together! Will and Lincoln are exactly 8 weeks apart!

The boys checking each other out.

Sweet boys.

Lincoln grabbing Will's bib.

It's likely we won't always be neighbors but I truly hope we are friends for a lifetime!

Today I got a surprise visit by our sweet friends -- the Andersons! They live up north in the great state of Nebraska and they were driving through to spend some time with their family in central AR so they stopped in for a pit stop and to meet Lincoln. I love this family to pieces. I have known them for at least ten years and Cory has known them a little longer. They have been a huge influence in our lives and in our marriage. And now, with our own little one I know they will be a great help and resource to us as we raise our son. Their kids are simply a joy and by far some of the most well behaved and fun children I have ever met! (Well, besides my perfect nieces and nephew!) I always enjoy seeing them and today was no exception! Christina held Lincoln while Brantley and Cerra looked on with great interest. At one point Brantley proclaimed "I think he likes me!" So cute. Cerra was extremely interested in Lincoln and stared at him until the moment they left. I cannot say enough sweet things about this precious family! Thank you Andersons for coming by to visit and meet Lincoln! He says he can't wait till he gets older and can play with you all!

Our crew got together two weekends ago for a reunion. We are trying to be diligent to see each other often and hang out when we can. We all live hours apart so it takes lots of planning to get us all together. But well worth it because we had the BEST time!