expect it

On Saturday morning I knocked on the door of a home I had visited just a few months before. Things looked a little different this time around. Bellies were smaller, and joy was bigger. And a new breath of life was the reason for both. It reminded me of how quickly time goes by, and how there are so many precious moments in life to be savored. How thankful I am to have been asked to take part in helping to savor a few precious moments in the life of this growing family.

I'm also reminded that being able to capture such moments is a true blessing...and that sharing these moments with others is a major part of that blessing. And so I need to do more of this...the sharing. In many parts of my life. So be patient as I rewind a bit. Because before this baby arrived there was a very important growing and nurturing season certainly worth cherishing.

a new recipe

Before Benjamin. This is how I came to know Laura. A delightful chef with a good spoon. The right spices made her smile and you could see her soul warm with the first taste of a food which had been rightened by the likes of her special touch. She loved friends. And dinner guests. Perfectly, she loved friends as dinner guests. Impeccable playlists would serenade as she dished out the tastiest of meals to us, the lucky ones sitting around her well set table. Good food and good company, making for quite the good life. She could almost fool you into thinking this was all she might ever need.

Until Benjamin. A classy gentleman from the south, who one day caught the attention of this classy midwest gal. It wasn't long before Laura was in the kitchen stirring up new recipes for HIM to enjoy...all the days of his life.

baby, it's been a while...

....but I think you will agree that this baby was well worth the wait! He is my nephew, Colton James Crawford. And while I have many entries to post in an attempt to catch you up on the latest, I must begin with him. I mean, what kind of aunt would I be if I didn't?!

I will never fully understand how we are able to form a love so genuine and pure in what seems like an instant. I've experienced this multiple times now, with the births of each niece and nephew. Your heart just makes room...and it's probably one of the sweetest experiences in life. I'm blessed and thankful that I was able to experience that joy (yet again) while in California this last month. I walked in the door a week after my nephew's birth, held him, and instantly loved.

Making things even better was seeing my oldest nephew love his new little brother so well. How it's even possible, I don't know, but my love for them just continues to grow. And when you see these Crawford boys...you might just understand!

and the big brother....

hayden | erica

These are two of the dearest people you could ever know. They are thoughtful, fun, goofy, loyal, and both have hearts of gold...and both have hearts for God. It pours over in the way they love the people around them. I am so lucky to call them friends, and to have been able to stand beside them when they married almost three years ago. They recently moved away from Houston, but I love that the Lord placed them in Panama City, Florida...just 40 miles from my mom! It was so nice getting to spend some quality time with them while visiting there just a few weeks ago. They are about to celebrate another year of marriage, come 7.7.10. They never had engagement photos made...so naturally, we took care of that! The evening ended with a sunset and a warm visit, over the best dish of Thai food we could have wished for. It's in times like this you have to just stop and soak in the beauty of friendship. And this right here, is the most beautiful friendship.

view more :: slideshow link below

http://ethreeit.com/#/slideshow-hayes/