Halloween

We had such a fun time hanging out and handing out candy to all the neighborhood kiddos! Haley and Josh came and stayed the night. Scott and the kids came over to trick or treat in our neighborhood, so we had a houseful! I made supper and snacks and we had a good time!

The Big Move!

WARNING.....this is a long one! 

Over the past few months, Rich, Lucy Jane, and I have spent the majority of our time in Springdale.  Rich has offices both in Fort Smith and Springdale.  His Springdale office has really taken off and been super busy which is a huge blessing.  He started out commuting back and forth from home (Fort Smith) to Springdale and coming home each night.  By the time he would get home at night, Lucy Jane would already be asleep, so the amount of family time we had was very minimal.  Having your own business and starting a new office takes a lot of your time.  I can't say that I was the most supportive wife during the transition of Rich opening his new office. 

Rich decided that he would get a furnished apartment for us in Springdale so that we could spend more time together. Since I wasn't working, this was very possible.  I FOUGHT the idea of staying in an apartment.  I have already done my apartment time...in college....and wasn't ready to be back in one anytime soon.  I asked many times why we couldn't just move here instead of having a home and apartment.  I spent a couple months driving back and forth every couple days so that I could carry on our normal life in Fort Smith.  The stress of 2 homes was NOT FUN! 

Rich was very hesitant to even think about moving to NW AR because it would be such a huge decision for us.  Both of our families live in Fort Smith and our whole life is there.  It was such a big decision for him to think about all the details that come along with packing up and starting a whole new life somewhere else.  He said we should spend some time DATING Springdale.  Long story short...after 5 months of dating (in this lovely one bedroom apartment) we are moving and both have complete peace about this decision. We are loving it up here!  It is so neat how God has worked every little detail out and started opening doors even before we knew we would be moving here! 

I enrolled Lucy Jane in Kids Day Out at CrossChurch.  She is such a social butterfly and I didn't want to take that away from her. This happened before we ever decided to move.  All the ladies there have been wonderful to both of us!  I started seriously praying that God would provide friends for me or open doors so that I could meet people.  Little by little, I have met a few people in the church.  We found a house in an amazing neighborhood.  We quickly found out about atleast 2 young families with little one's Lucy Jane's age...which is something that was very important to us!  I went to my first day of MOP'S at the church today and met some really neat ladies that I am looking forward to getting to know better!  We have a Sunday School class that we are visiting and going on a get together with them this Friday night.  I am so encouraged and excited about this journey! 

So awesome how God gives peace, opens all the right doors, and makes your heart and attitude open to his will when you are willing to follow.  Why do we try to take control and continue to stay in the driver’s seat when we know God's plan is so much bigger and better than we could imagine.  I am so looking forward to seeing what is to come! 

A few verses that were encouraging to me throughout this whole process.....(about finding friends, being away from my family, the unknown about starting a new church), and everything in general.

"I know the Lord is always with me.  I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me."  Psalm 16:8 (no need to be afraid about being in a new place, God is with me"

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results."  James 5:16 (Pray fervently for friendships and a church home)

"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  In those days, when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me."  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (Duh, he already has my life mapped out...why am I fretting)

"Peace i leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  John 14:27 (God gives peace)

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be THANKFUL."  Colossians 3:15 (Thankful that he gave me peace about the move)

Our friend, Monkey!

I have learned that modeling is one of the best ways to teach a child! haha Well, we have a stuffed animal (which I swore I would not allow in my house) that has come to the rescue!  Monkey is almost as big as Lucy Jane, and Rich brought it home from a roofing convention!  Monkey wears a diaper because we went through a stage where we had to change Monkey's diaper to get Lucy Jane to let us change her diaper!  Monkey does a lot of things first....and then Lucy Jane gladly follows!  Monkey enjoys many meals with Lucy Jane these days!  She will feed the Monkey a bite and then take a bite herself!  It is hilarious!  :)  I caught a few pictures of her feeding Monkey the other day.....they are kinda blurry because they were with my phone!  I will try to be more prepared with my camera next time! 

I found a cute onesie at T.J. Maxx for $3.99 that said, "I love My Auntie"  Lucy Jane calls my sister Auntie.....and I wanted her to have the onesie.  She hasn't worn a onesie since she was only a few months old so it was quite comical as I put it onto her!  Here is a picture of her wearing it around the house.  

She is really into this dressing herself stage.....isn't this a little early???? It cracks me up!  I went into the bathroom a few minutes later and she was playing with my make-up and she had attempted to put her dress on over the onesie! 

Such a mess!  

You can see Monkey laying in the background! haha

I'm loving my days at home with my little sweetie!  

Lucy Jane's 1st little Trim!

I don't even want to call this Lucy Jane's 1st hair cut....so I'm sticking with 'trim'.  This little monkey is growing up way too quickly and I don't think I am ready for her first hair cut just yet!   She was starting to have a little bit of a mullet going on so I decided to have Kayla, my hair lady, give her a tiny trim to eliminate the mullet!  Lucy Jane did such a good job.  She sat still while she was eating her sucker and let Kayla trim her little hairs!  Such a big girl!  :) 

Uncle Josh and Auntie

A couple weekends ago we took a trip to see Uncle Josh and Auntie!  Dad, Haley, and I went to a ball game on Friday night.  It was nice to have a night out with the two of them! 

Saturday morning, Lucy Jane played outside in her pajamas with Uncle Josh before it got too hot!  She helped him water their yard!  I think she had a little fun!

We ran around that afternoon, but came back in time for a short nap and more time outside to play!  Lucy Jane loved playing outside in the water! 

On Sunday, we went to see some pretty horses at Express Ranch.  Lucy Jane would have loved the horses but she slept through the whole thing! 

We are planning our next trip already!  This time is for Fall shopping!  :)

Random Moments With Lucy Jane!

I am absolutely loving my time with sweet Lucy Jane!  I have to admit I have thought about getting a classroom ready, and meeting new students, and writing names on popcicle sticks......but I am quite okay with not going back this year!  I can't even imagine being in "school mode" already what has seemed like a very short summer!  I will be praying for all my teacher friends as they start this week!  You guys have a very important job and it gets more challenging each year!

I love catching random goofy shots of Lucy Jane throughout the day.  Here are just a few I thought I would share.....

Playing instead of going to bed @ 10:30 p.m.

Her response to me asking her to say, "Cheese"

Sitting in her BABY DOLL'S stroller! And yes, she had to have a passy b/c the baby did!

Now they each have their own stroller and passy!

Eating pizza laying in the floor!

Her Cardinal's Outfit my Dad got her!



She had to share her lunch with kitty and puppy!



Trip to Children's!

We have had a trip to Little Rock scheduled for a while now to meet with a Dr. about Lucy Jane's acid reflux and 'throwing up' issues.  We were very excited to meet with the DR to schedule her scope (which is later this month) to finally get some answers for her! We also found out that after getting her shots she came down with Chicken Pox!  They say 1 in 100 contract the Chicken Pox from the live vaccine!  Lucky Us! :) 
 I'm not complaining.  We are very thankful that this is the worse thing we have to deal with while knowing there are others dealing with things so much worse. 
While waiting on the Dr. Lucy Jane was very cranky but managed to have a little fun playing with a few of their toys. 

We go August 24th for her Upper GI Scope and they will biopsy from her stomach and bowels and check for different allergies and ciliac.  Pray for my sweet girl and her momma since she will have to be put to sleep for the procedure.  I know my God is the Master Physician and will be taking great care of her!  What a great peace!