Yes, We Are Back!!

Stefan and I had a wonderful time away! Thank you to my Mom who sooo kindly took the kids (all 5!). She did a great job handling and managing all of them. They had a wonderful time as well!! We heard the kids did a wonderful job obeying Nana and serving her.

You know as a Mom, I had always found it difficult to leave the kids-especially when they were very young-under a year. Isabel is 11 months now and takes a bottle wonderfully. She is our first bottle fed baby. Our kids would always want to nurse, nurse, nurse, so of course that would easily put a damper on leaving them with Nana. Yet, I was determined to change that with our last baby and it has worked, thank you Lord!!

Stefan and I never had a honeymoon-we married young, I was 19, he was 21. We had Kayla right away and so began our 12 year, (so far), adventure of marriage and parenthood. Reality had set in!!!

Our anniversary was this past May-so this was kind of like an anniversary gift to ourselves. It was fun to reflect on God's kindness over the past 12 years. We are so amazed at how much we have both really changed. The things we enjoyed at 19 and 21 are definitely not the same things today-I guess it wouldn't be. As a matter of fact, this trip had helped us find out what we like to do together now, at the ripe old age of 35 and 32.

OK, OK, we are still young.

Though it was wonderful to be able to talk and not have to rush a conversation to a rapid close. We knew we didn't have 5 kids to rush back to...yet. We could flow in and out of conversations so easily, without distraction. We learned a lot about each other. We talked about our dreams as a couple. Now there are new things to dream and appreciate about each other that weren't there 12 years ago!! It was so much fun to talk about the future and what we hope for it to maybe look like someday-We talked about retirement years too. Woo-Hoo!! Maybe talking about that is a little premature but it is fun.
We were also able share together ways of how the Lord has been faithful and how He has blessed us richly.


So what did we do and see? Well, we went down to stake out a beach house for our summer vacation. Haven't decided on one yet though. We want to go to Oak Island which will be nice. It's near Ocean Isle and Myrtle Beach. We are looking forward to it.

Though yes we had to come back to reality, we were very grateful to reunite with our babies safe and sound-yet, the sweet flavor of our time spent together is still fresh. I pray for many more sweet times like that with my husband.
Our love for each other is deeper than we both thought, we know that now, and it helps to know that while living amidst our crazy/busy/adventurous/fun life!!

The Lord was so kind to give us time to reflect and focus on each other, to dream and plan together, and to see how the Lord has truly deepened our love for each other over the years. And hopefully there are many more years to come!!!

God is Good!!!!

Our first meal!!!

This meal was worth the trip Stefan said!!!
It was soooo good!!

Our loving "Mug" shot...

Stefan-
Soooo happy
while he is eating his seafood lunch!!!!

Calabash

Oak Island

(Something we both share a heart for...
We really LOVE the beach!!)