Traveling

Well we have officially been away from home for six weeks now. Just today I started to realize I'm getting ready to be back. Assignment was wonderful-we couldn't have asked for a better time together as a family and our vacation to St. Louis has been busy and blessed. There isn't a day that goes by that we don't look at Jackson with complete love and appreciation for who he is.

We spent the last week of camp just enjoying all that it had to offer-mostly just enjoying being with the people we were with. We couldn't have imagined a better group of people to spend a month with. I was doing Life Signs the last two weeks so it kept us a little busier but it was great to feel more connected to kids and to the camp itself. When camp finished we drove to Columbus to spend some time with Susan and her family (Michael's sister). We saw fireworks and went to a festival in the park with big blow up equipment. Then on Monday we drove to Dayton and spent the night with Jon and Becca where Jackson became obsessed with a bubble gun. Tuesday we woke up and headed our way to St. Louis where we have been busy visiting with friends, hitting up the Magic House, Raging Rivers water park, the zoo and we even managed to get in a round of golf while my cousin watch Jackson for us.

Jackson has done incredibly well considering he hasn't slept in his own bed for over a month now. I can't imagine what he will do when we go home and see Cooper. He continues to increase his vocabulary every day. We estimate he can say up to 250 words. Here are some more things he is doing.

• He associates people with activities they do with him. Nick-waverunner. If he sees a guitar-he says Jake. Etc. Etc.
• He LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the water park. Big slide mommy? Went down it with us and wanted to go again and again...
• Likes everything BIG. BIG rock. BIG car. BIG truck. Etc. Etc.
• Is very strong willed. :)
• Loved the fireworks. Did sparklers at camp and loved those. Watched the fireworks and said Boom Boom when they went off.
• Is very social. He would walk around at the fireworks and talk to people he didn't know around us. It was hilarious.
• Loves to give kisses.
• Snuggles with his blue blanket at night. He has definitely become attached.
• LOVES Lightning McQueen.
• Is getting to be finicky with his eating but that might have something to do with all the traveling!
• Sweats little beads on his nose when he is hot.

Today I turn 30 years old. I don't know how I pictured my life at this point but I don't know if I could have imagined it better. I still yearn deeply for more children and know God will bring them when it is the right time-but I look at the beautiful family I have and wonder why I get to be so lucky? We are so rich with friendships and experiences that shape us and make us so thankful for the life we have. Thirty isn't something that is difficult for me because I feel like I have lived so much and have had so much. What a blessing to not fear this milestone but only greet what is ahead knowing that it will bring us more incredible experiences and memories. Praise God for all those in my life that have helped to make it as wonderful as it is.