Two!

It is hard to believe my Brooklynn is already two! Wasn't it just yesterday we brought you home from the hospital? She has grown and changed so much in the last year. She was barely walking and now she runs, jumps, and talks more than most her age. She is a busy little bee but we wouldn't have it any other way!

We had a Cowgirl party to celebrate her two precious years of life. We are so thankful for her and how she just lights up a room!

Boy oh boy!

Yes its true! A baby boy will be joining our family in March of 2013!!

He was not shy at all! Poor thing has been publicly shown all over the place by now. We are so excited to introduce...
Cameron Thomas Hirth
He shares his first and middle initial with my dad and grandfather (CT). And he shares his middle name with my dad, grandfather and Nate (Thomas).

Little man seems to be just a bit bigger than his sister was. Fun to compare belly pics.

So now we have lots to do... get lots of little man clothes, change Brooklynn to a big girl room, create a boy nursery.... and the list goes on and on. Oh and did I mention that my daughter turns two in less than four weeks??? And we have Thanksgiving and Christmas coming right after!! Lots to do. I am living on lists!

Growing

I have tried to start writing a few times... and never had the words to say. I wasn't ready to share where I have been. Mainly because I haven't been gone. I have been here all along. 


Changing. Growing. 


2012 has been a crazy year. Loss. New and different. Change of location for many around us. difficult choices. It has created a shift in our normal. Change takes time. 


I guess you can say that's where I have been. I'm a change in the making. There's a better version of me, that I can't quite see. (Thanks Addison Road)


We have lost a lot this year. And part of me doesn't know how you ever recover fully from those kinds of loss.You won't ever be the same as you were before. There is an empty that only Christ can fill. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


We thank God for walking along side us in the midst of hard times. When we feel like we can't keep going, He is there. He continues to support and love us. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are thankful for his unfailing love.


As we move forward we look forward to new things. I promise to make a better effort to update!


Stay tuned!

on Loss...

This year has started with the loss of two people I knew. And one I really didn't.... let me explain.


Charles Thomas Barr Sr.
My sweet Papa. He passed away just 8 days shy of his 83rd birthday. He was kind, selfless, calming, sarcastic, loving, gentle, man of God, devoted to his family... The list goes on and on. Right after the new year we found out he had stage three lung lining cancer, told 15 months is the average amount of time. He did ten days of radiation and then contracted Phemonia, which rapidly weakened him, and eventually took his life. We were all able to go to the hospital to say good-bye. All my aunt and uncles, cousins, most of the spouses of those cousins. All of us huddled in his tiny hospital room and surrounded him with prayer, loving words and memories. My Nannie, his wife of 63 years never left his side. You will be forever missed Papa Charlie.


Dr. Shannon Moorehead
My OB/GYN, Dr. Moorehead, just 39 years old was taken far before her time. I feel such a great loss and sadness. She had three small children she leaves behind. My heart aches when I think of them. I think the reason this loss is so different is there is no real answers. Just pain and empty loss. She was one of the most compassionate people I have ever known. She would sit and answer any questions you had. Dr Moorehead genuinly loved her job. You could see it on her face in the delivery room. And when she would do an ultrasound she would get tears in her eyes. I loved how calm she made me during pregnancy. (A task any mother can understand is tough). She will be forever missed.


A sweet friend of mine miscarried. She was in the early weeks of pregnancy. My heart aches for her and their loss. 


We decided to look for a new church. This doesn't sound like that big of a deal, but to anyone who has been in this season, it is HUGE! You feel lost on Sundays. Seriously lost. We have tried a lot of churches and just haven't felt at home yet. We are just looking for the right fit. We aren't there yet.


Two of our best friends are moving (have moved already) far away. Our core friends are/will be far away.


So as a family we feel in a season of loss. We long for community and comfort. We are praying for God's guidance and that He would bring us to a place with community. This years theme verses seems to be:


"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning. 
Great is your faithfulness."
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
therefore I will hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24


Trusting God this year, truly in all areas of life.