Judson-11 Months

Yay, Judson is going to sit still for a little picture shoot.

Not. That thought only lasted a moment!

Mommy tells Judson to sit still please. Judson laughs at her like she is a crazy mommy.

Another QUICK moment before this little body was all over the bed.

Judson pillow climbing.

He has conquered the peak!

Life at 10 Months

Judson, without even realizing it, has started to hover without holding onto anything for a few seconds at a time.  He has went from starting to pull himself up on things to cruising from thing to thing.  He is even growing brave enough to take a few steps only holding one of our hands.

We usually sing a few songs to him before bed, and he now lays his head on our shoulders and hums along.  It is so sweet!  He is also realizing he can groove along with music by bouncing up and down and making noise.  Let's just say he is enjoying Sunday worship at church!

He is also getting more teeth!  I've lost count at this point.  :)

I got Matt this balloon which turned into a great toy for Judson.

One of Judson's favorite drawers.

Mommy caught me chewing on the freezer.

Every once in a while I will find Judson with his thumb in his mouth.

Favorite past-time: Shredding magazines

Passed out on daddy!

Look mom, I can now reach this!

He has taken up teaching himself the piano.

Birdy rides

I love to snuggle this boy!

I think Judson's big smile comes from his daddy.  :)

Jam session

When daddy dresses me I usually wear K-state.

Chilling with his daddy.

Judson figured out a good leg rest during stroller rides.

Papa let me get behind the wheel of his truck.

Backyard fun!

We have started the soccer lessons young.  ;)

Crazy driver

Spending time at grandpa's wearing his neck pillow and in charge of the remote.

Big smile from daddy but dimples from mommy.

Thankful for the life of Judson.  We are blessed with the responsibility to raise him to fear and love the Lord.  It is such a huge responsibility, yet an amazing one that pushes me to lean on Christ.  It seems like the older Judson gets, the more attached to him I become, the more my fears for him grow and multiply.  May I continue to depend on Christ and cast my fears of raising him at the cross!

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 

Camping, Guests, Baptism...

We had a packed weekend last weekend.  We kicked off the weekend Friday afternoon by heading to our churches family camp.  It was a quick camp experience, but we got to enjoy spending time with great friends, being with the body of Christ, and be challenged by Luke 14:25-34 where Christ lays out the cost of following Him.  We were challenged to examine our hearts to truly see if Christ really is the one we love the most!  The lessons were convicting, sobering, and what I needed to hear.  

26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Am I willing to forsake all and bear my cross for Christ? 

Honestly, it's a continual struggle, and much of the time I do not.  I'm humbled as I look at my life and see the comforts that I cling to and the "stuff" (husband, son, shopping, self-image, safety. etc!) that can replace Christ in the forefront of my life.  This continual struggle drives me to the Gospel in praise of Christ for being my advocate!

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. Jude 1:24

Until that day comes where Christ presents me blameless before the presence of God's glory I will continue to fight against my flesh to make Christ my all! 

Here are a few pictures from our time at family camp.

Can you find Judson?

Last time we came to camp Judson was in my belly and we had 2 foster children with us.  Lots has changed!  Something that is still the same-our amazing friends!

Judson chilling with his cousin, Ian.  

Picture stats: 

Judson almost 11 months

Ian 2 1/2 months

Judson=Shrimp

It was fun to be together as a family!

I can never have too a many pictures of these two.  Love them!

We left family camp after lunch on Saturday because we had company coming overnight.  We got home and unpacked and did some much needed unwinding and got ready for our company.

Here is Judson unwinding on daddy's lap.

Our guests for the weekend were the Havenstein family.  We have just recently gotten to know them.  They have served as missionaries to college student through Navigators for 18 years.  God has been working in them a desire to make His name known among the unreached peoples of the world, so they are getting ready to move over to Malaysia to continue their college outreach.  Matt and I get the honor of being a support system to them as we lead Northridge's home team.  We truly enjoyed having them in our home where we could get to know them as a family and hear more of what God is doing in their lives.  We hope to go to Nebraska and spend another weekend with them before they leave for Malaysia.

On Sunday afternoon we went to Kansas City to witness our niece Tristan's baptism.  It has been special to see Tristan grow in Christ and be able to witness her public profession of Christ.

A 50th Surprise!

My mom turned 50 on the 19th of this month, so my sisters and I decided that we would get her good and show up in Quincy to surprise her with our lovely presence the weekend before her birthday.

Ashely, Alex, and Aubrey all car-pooled to Quincy together.  Since I am (what feels like) living on the opposite end of the world (KANSAS) I was not able to join them in their adventure. 

We all made it and had just a couple hours to set up our surprise before she got off work and headed back to her apartment. 

Let the frantic decorating begin!

This is my attempt at streamers.  My sisters gave me an ''F" in the streamer department, so I left those up to them and took on other projects.

Those streamers look much better.

Done!

Whew!  We decided to snap a quick sister pic before "the mom" showed up.

Blooper

Here is the moment before mama opened the door.

SURPRISE!!!

Mom wanted to document us and our efforts.

Yes, we made her have a good-cry.  (I think we all seriously were hoping she would ;)

Gift time.  The grandkids gave her a necklace that says: Nana.  I'm sure she will wear that proudly!

I had to assist her in opening her gift from us.  A coffee maker that grinds the beans right before brewing.  Just what she wanted.  I think she likes it.  :)

The after party picture.  Love all 4 of these gals!

The next morning we had breakfast together at one of our favorite Quincy breakfast spots: Thyme Square.

We also took some time to go visit my grandma and see her new apartment.  Dad came with me to Quincy to spend some time with his mom.

That evening we all met together for some pizza.  This is a rare moment having all of us together.  Feels kind of weird without our spouses and kids.

Mom, you have sacrificed so much for us girls, and we are so thankful!  You have had some tough years, and our prayer for you is to continue to learn how to more and more make Christ your all!

To my sisters:  You girls rock!  Thanks for what each of you did to make this happen....especially Ash!  Seeing this picture makes me miss each of you dearly.  Love you!