6 years of wedded bliss

I intended to bring my keyboard to my iPad to type this out as we are on holiday for the weekend but instead I pecking away at the letters so I apologize now for mistakes.

6 years ago today at 6:00 pm, I married my love.  I recently read my wedding ceremony that I put together because I sent it to my dear friend that has always been more like my little sister that was getting married, as I read the words they spoke to my heart just as much now as they did then.  I may have then watched my wedding video and loved every minute of it!

One of the most important things in the ceremony to me was highlighting what a covenant is and what it means to enter into a covenant.  In a society that is trying to take away the significance of promises, marriage between a man and woman, and family, it was so important to read those words to 200 of our friends and family and now live them everyday.  I thought I would include one of my favorite parts today (I wanted to just put the whole ceremony but thought I would be the only one to enjoy it):

"Matthew and Cara, nothing is easier than saying words, and nothing is harder than living them day by day. What you promise now must be renewed and redecided everday. At the end of this ceremony, legally you will be husband and wife, but you still decide each day that stretches out before you, you want to be married.

The world has the idea that marriage is simply a legal contract. But marriage is so much more it is a Holy Covenant.  You are entering into a sacred covenant as life partners in God.  The quality of your marriage will reflect what you put into nurturing this relationship you have the opportunity to go forward from this day to create a faithful, kind, and tender relationship.  

The vows you are going to make and the covenant being made today is a lifelong commitment in:

Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 gives us God’s view of keeping vows:

​​“When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it.  He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.  It is better not to vow than to make a vow not fulfill it.  Do not let your mouth lead you into sin.  And no protest to the temple messenger. “My vow was a mistake.’ Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the works of your hands?”

Matthew 19:6 “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

Everyday, we choose to fulfill the covenant that we made 6 years ago and most days are wonderful doing life with my husband, but there are moments of miscommunication, bad moods, and misunderstandings.  But along with that has to come conflict resolution, forgiveness, and talking.  I can not imagine doing life with anyone else.  I love and respect his work ethic and passion to figure out how to fix everything, his servants heart but most of all I love how he pursues a fervent relationship with God daily.  

Happy 6 years to us. 

Side note: I was telling my oldest 2 that today was the day that we got my married and my eldest, Niah said, "are you going to put on your wedding dress and eat cake?" Yes Niah, when I get home I will be putting on my dress and everyone gets cakes!! (I thought it was funny she knew)

My oldest turns 5

This year is such an emotional year for me.  My baby turned ONE, Malachi starts preschool, and My sweet Niah turned 5 and goes to KINDERGARTEN! 5 is like the monumental age of no longer a toddler, but a young lady! I can not even contain the emotion, the tears are coming from someone that holds it together pretty good (I think anyway).

Just 5 short years ago, I brought the sweetest little Niah home from the hospital and she made me a "Mommy."  I can not explain what a joy it is to be a mom to my 3 kids.  It is a love I never knew was possible.   There is something so incredibly special about that first time though.  I remember that when I was in that hospital bed knowing I was getting ready to push out a baby and my dream of being a mom (since I was a child) was going to be a reality.  They placed her tiny body on me and so many emotions of happiness and joy occurred the only outward reaction was tears.  A bond that will never be broken.

Dearest Niah,

How is it possible that you are already FIVE.  It seems like yesterday we were in that hospital room and now we are talking Kindergarten.  It is such a bittersweet moment because I love to watch you accomplish and grow but I want to protect you and keep you little forever. 

You amaze me with your huge tender heart.  In your eyes everything should be fair and everyone treated right, I hope you never realize that their are people that do not always do this.  You have a love for Malachi and Cora that could not be matched.  You look out for them, protect them, and love them more than a mommy could ever expect.  You are a giver and have such a servant's heart.  You have such empathy and compassion.  You have a little spunk and say the wittiest things.  You may be calm and quiet but when want something you go after it.  You have learned so much about God's word and tell me Bible Stories and memory verses all the time but more than that you are truly learning that we can pray to God and He will touch us.  Your mommy and daddy have made it our biggest goal and commitment to help you to have a strong relationship with God and to put Him first before anything else (sports, movies, friends, and family).  Sometimes we have to make tough decisions but just know we make every decision in prayer and we love to see how you are beginning to realize the importance of having a relationship with God.

You are shy at first but warm up quickly.  You are such a good listener and want to do everything right.  You fight your naps now and usually only take 3-4 a week but when you do go to sleep, you want to sleep for hours!  Your favorite restaurant is Panera for their mac n cheese.  Your favorite stores are Marshals and Tuesday Morning. You love long dresses that touch the ground.

  You are a calculated decision maker and always weigh every option before making a decision (You get this from your me).  You do not like the unknown and like to know all your options. 

You love when I come to school to your class for special things.  You love ballet and gymnastics and have gotten really good at them.  You love to swim and started swimming under the water last summer.  

I truly enjoy being your mommy and know how special you are.  I know God has a great plan for your life! 

Love,
Your Mommy

Cora Faith Turns 1

I realize I am so incredible behind on this but I so wanted to make sure I had this documented. 

Cora is at such a fun age.  She is really coming into her personality of sassy and sweet.  She loves to cuddle with her Mommy, just laying on her with her thumb in her mouth.  That is right, I have a thumb sucker, something I thought I would never have and tried to stop but the stomach bug hit at 10 months and I could not stop her when she was sick.  So hopefully soon we will have gotten rid of the thumb sucking.  She lights up when Daddy comes home and crawls to him.  She is the happiest when mommy or daddy is holding her and does not care for anyone else.  She is a mover, that doesn't sit still, all over the place.  When the girl wants something she lets you know.  She can crawl out of every high chair no matter how tight the straps are.

Cora is great eater and loves food.  Her favorites are chicken, organic hot dogs, bananas, lara bars, and pasta.  The girl is a messy eater and because I do not really use bibs we do a lot of stain treatment on her clothes.  She loves to drink water but will drink so much that she spits half of it out all over her.  When she wants food or drink she will throw what she has in her hand and point and wave her hand towards her until you bring it and if she is ignored she makes loud noises.  If she does not want something she will grunt and move her hands to push it out of the way.

Cora can crawl regular but prefers her fast army crawl.  She hates to walk but will take a few steps to appease me then will stop and want to be held.  She prefers to be held over anything.   She is similar to Niah and does not like toys but would rather play with odds and ends and fiddle with my things than toys. 

Cora is petite and made it to the 11% for height at 28.5 inches and 14% weight at 17 lbs 6 ozs,  She is wearing 6-12 months in clothes and size 3 in diapers. 

She can say:
Niah, Mama, Dada, Hi, that, bye, here

She also has specific words for things she wants but are not real words.

Cora is such a sweet addition to our family and enjoy every minute with her.  She adores Niah and tolerates Malachi's taunting well but they do get along when he is not pestering her.  We know God has great plans for her life and we are excited to be apart of that.  We love her so much