sick day

Chan Man has been sick & momma found something for him to do that thrilled his soul!

Spontaneity

I think every mother of small children would say they have lost their drive to be spontaneous, if it was ever part of who they were. Hillary & I would agree! BUT, last week we decided to run with a crazy plan. We loaded the boys up in the afternoon despite the fact that they had not had naps and drive to the zoo and take advantage of a warm December day and our season passes! We giggled the whole way about our excitement over being willing to do something so out of character for both of us. Hillary had been gone for 6 weeks visiting family, friends & enjoying Jake's R & R, so we had lots to catch up on & it was so much fun! She is one of my closest friends & I am so very grateful for her and the blessing she has been in my life!

Recent fun around our home.

Channing saw me at the table the this week making a list. He wanted to sit and write as well. He sat in that spot for 45 minutes drawing!

His first masterpiece....

We went out to a Christmas parade the other night with friends. He was enthralled with the lights and sounds.

An Encounter....

We won't be telling Channing that Santa is real, but he took notice of the fella at the mall the other day. So cute!

Time of Thanks

EPHESIANS 5:20

Always giving thanks to God the Father for Everything... 

We've had a wonderful November celebrating and remembering all that we are thankful for. I want to create something that will be a constant reminder of daily thanksgiving. I'm going to hunt that down. I'm sure PINTEREST would have something!

We had a great time celebrating with our family in Charlotte & in East Bend. Here's some pics. Lots of cousins, family time & growing families at that! Sweet niece number 3, Caroline, will be here soon! Can't wait to meet her & love her like I do Ella & Allie. And our sweet Berry #2 is growing, growing, growing!

 I love these boys! I'm so grateful for John Berry. There isn't enough time for me to list all the blessings that he brings to my life! He's an incredible husband & daddy!

My sister Coley Berry! LOVE HER!

 

Nissi & her grandbabies.

 Our growing bellies! Sweet cousins will be 3months apart.

 B Berry & Papa John

 Pappy, J Berry & Chan Chan

Pics from East Bend visit

Nana...his great grandmother.

 

 Mimi & PopPop

 

CaMpInG...???

It's finally fall around here:

A youth pastor's family always has opportunities for crazy outings ADVENTURES. That being said, one must learn that the youth pastor's wife doesn't always have to say YES!!! This is something that I seem to be learning the hard way. That stubbornness that I see in my toddler...guess he does get it from me! I guess I struggle between wanting time with my husband and attempting to be that adventurous mom of boys that I'm going to have no choice but to be. I've already decided, now that I know I will be outnumbered, that I'm not going to FIGHT them, I'm going to JOIN them! Of course my boys will have times that they will go out & about and do things that Mom can stay home from & enjoy bubble baths and a quiet house, BUT when the opportunity comes I will be ready for some adventure with my fellas. I'm thinking however, that I don't have to be so eager to get started. The time will come on it's own. Channing loved it on the first day when it was warm enough for him to play & run around. That night however, I did something I didn't think I would ever do...slept in my car. Not only that but slept in my car at 20 WEEKS PREGNANT!!!! Nuts, I tell you. I'm absolutely nuts! But, we made it through  and came home the next morning. I MIGHT do it again when it's warmer, but it will take some serious thought before I agree.

Third BOY to steal my heart...

My heart has been captured....

 HE wants to say hi...

his sweet little profile...

 and crossed little feet....

but finally HE revealed himself.

Not only that, but he's coming sooner than we thought. Looks like he'll be an Easter baby due the early part of April. If he's like his brother & comes early it might even be the end of March! My heart is overflowing with joy.



the little lion in our jungle...

hard to believe he looked like this just last year...

a blessed fall day

Today we were blessed with an opportunity to go to the pumpkin patch for FREE...such an amazing word! Actually, John got paid to go! That's even better. THANK YOU, JESUS for free family time & some more provision.

Now that Channing is a little older & walking around he LOVES being outside. Whether it's here in the yard or at church or ANYWHERE really, he is so happy when he's outside! He's got scratches and bumps & bruises already. A real boy in the making for sure! I sure do feel blessed to have this little fella in my life as my son. What an honor. What a privelege, to call myself his mommy. To be trusted with his little life for a season.



Celebrating 1

It's so hard to believe that one year has come and gone....52 complete weeks. 365 days. They have flown by, right before my face and I really feel like I barely had time to blink. When I reflect on the years that it took to get our precious Channing, QUICK would not be an adjective that I would use to describe the grueling time of waiting. But, once he arrived it's as if the hands on the clock started moving at a ridiculous speed. How I wish that I could slow them down.

On Friday, we woke our sweet birthday boy with singing and celebrating and took him out to breakfast. Our boy likes LOVES to eat! I went to lead the ladies Bible study that I recently started and my boys headed over to walmart to play in the toy aisle and find exactly what Channing wanted. I thought it was precious that Daddy did this.

On Saturday, we had a big party planned so Friday was pretty low key. But all the fun was just around the corner. As the year came to a close, I told John that I wanted to celebrate Channing, of course, but I also wanted to celebrate those that had poured into us this past year. The ones that I had called for advice, gotten hand-me-downs from (thank you Lord for hand-me-downs...my kid would seriously be naked most of the time if it wasn't for them), those I called when he was sick & I had no idea what to do. You know, those that had really been through this year with us. I wanted them to know how grateful we were for their investment into our first year of parenting. So we made a list and invited 35 people with adults and kids all together and we were so grateful that they all came! I wrote each family a thank you card and attached it to some yummy homemade caramel corn. I wanted them to know how they had specifically touched our lives throughout that year. And then of course we fed them & entertained their kiddos for a few hours. It was a blast and such a blessing to have all of our "FAMILY", both blood & God given, together in one place to celebrate Channing's year. If there is one thing we have learned, it's that it truly does take a 'village'.

It was great day of celebration. We are so thankful to the Lord for all he has provided us with. Especially this little fella that we love so much!