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!

After a little hiatus.....

By looks of this blog, the Berry's have dropped off the face of the Earth. But, we haven't. We've just been so stinkin' busy with all that God has blessed us with! Since my last post in August we've.....

been smiling & growing....

 eating new foods & becoming much more independent with meal time. He loves using a spoon & a fork.

 climbing the steps & inviting everyone else to join in the fun....

 getting the first haircut....

 visiting the zoo for the first time...

 he loved looking at the animals.

 loving on daddy at a family reunion.

 learning to play on his own in the backyard. He loves when the doors are open & he can go in & out.

visiting the pumpkin patch to celebrate FALL with friends!

practicing walking & walking & walking... he's taken a few steps on his own, 8-10 at a time, but he's not in the full swing of walking yet. So hard to believe he'll be ONE next week!

 playing & canning with friends...

 playing with cousins and grandparents...

and visiting the beach one. last. time.

Along with all of these fun adventures, we've started back student ministry for the fall in a new facility with almost 30 leaders & 100+ students. It's been really exciting to see God grow the student ministry at Liberty. John is continuing to lead the worship each week too and has 3 interns. I've started  teaching the highschool girls Sunday school with friends & I'm leading a Women's bible study on Friday mornings. On Sunday nights, we LOVE our small group family time! It's one of the highlights of our week where we actually get to go to church together and we love the people we are "doing life with".

Oh, yeah.....In my spare time I've been growing this sweet thing...

despite how many times I tried & that it's not saved this way, the picture refused to turn.

So, as you can see, we've been quite busy! We're so grateful for all the Lord has blessed us with! Baby Berry 2 will be joining us in April! I will try to keep up better with things! Thanks to all my sweet friends who have been writing me to be sure we are ok and to check up on me due to my hiatus from here!