Look Out -- the time has come to get back to blogging

 I am keenly aware that I have not written a blog post for several months. Nor have I written a letter to send out to keep people posted/up-to-date on our lives for many, many months. I have had intentions to do both, but good intentions tend not get the job done. So I'm writing a quick blog to inform you that I will be updating the blog over the next few days... so LOOK OUT!! There's a great possibility that you will see several posts from me (probably short and sweet ones) over the next few days/weeks.
 I'll make this post into a belated birth announcement-
On November 26, 2013 at 10:30 p.m. we welcomed "Gracie Cheyenne" into this world and into our home. She arrived after a 3 1/2 hr. labor. She weighed 7 lb. 10 oz. She is named after her aunts, (my two sisters), Suzanne "Grace" and "Anne". The picture I'm posting was taken in Dec. when she was several wks old. Photo credit goes to Yason Akinin my "nephew to be someday" (hopefully:))

 

oops, she's winking on this one...

 

 

We love her!!

 

Renewed the Vows

  I'm so thankful for 12 years of marriage!! I'm so glad for all that we've learned! It hasn't always been easy, and we aren't finishing learning yet, but- our love is stronger now then it was the day we got married. We have learned so much, matured so much, & grown closer to the Lord (which automatically draws us closer to each other) in the past 12 years.
  Two weeks ago we had the opportunity to renew our wedding vows!! There was a pastor and his wife here sharing w/ the on-site team and we asked them if they would be willing to have a little ceremony with us so we could pledge our love & devotion to each other once again!! Only this time we got to have our children with us which was special. ShaLyn's response when we told her what we were planning to do, "I thought you guys do have a good marriage."
 To which I responded, "This has nothing to do with how good or bad our marriage is. This is just something daddy and I want to know to remind each other that we're committed to the end."
 We wanted our kids to share that special moment with us, to feel secure in knowing that they have parents that love each other. And it really was a special time as we lit the unity candle together.