nine thank you's

Ella, my dear,

today is your day.

you're the last of the stephens seven to have a birthday in 2017.

here are nine thank you's for being just who you are...

thank you for donating your hair to help someone else

thank you for being a gift giver and always wanting to bless people

thank you for your love of acting

thank you for always asking me to snuggle ("two g" as you would call it) at bedtime

thank you for being cai's other momma and helping me teach and train him

• 

thank you for singing throughout the day

thank you for all the times you rub my back when we talk

thank you for your heart of safety...whether it be that everyone is buckled in the car or that the front door is locked so cai doesn't happen to go out 

thank you for listening with your whole heart anytime i talk about God. i know you're taking it all in and one day you'll be so on fire for God that you won't hold back

we love you.

we're grateful for you.

happy 9th, sweet girl!

love, mom

Eleven thank you's

happy birthday to you, carson. 

today is your day.

here are eleven reasons we think you're one of the best.

thank you for always being adventurous and just going for it, brave one

thank you for your kind heart towards others

thank you for your quirkiness and wittiness

thank you for being so outgoing and always wanting to be around people

thank you for never raising your voice and showing anger towards people even when others make you mad

thank you for being so goofy at the most random times

thank you for using big words and saying phrases that we've never heard

thank you for always being a good sleeper and being one of my easiest babies

thank you for catching on so quickly to anything I ever taught you 

thank you for coming back and making it right with me when you make bad choices

thank you for being uniquely you. 

we wouldn't want you any other way.

have the best of birthdays!!!

I love you more than you'll ever know.

love, mom

leaving home. going home.

a little more than two years ago we left everything we were familiar with in america

we left the special place we had always called home

we left all the precious people we loved

and we began a new season of life in an unfamiliar land...wales

that move was the scariest thing we've ever done together

but it was also the best thing we've ever done together

before we left america, we told our kids God was taking us all on an adventure
and the past two years have been nothing short of the most amazing adventure ever

fast forward two years and here we are again
in that all too familiar season
the one where God is saying, "go"

so we'll go

we'll be leaving a special place we call home
we'll be leaving precious people we love 
to begin a new season...again

 please pray for us as we've already begun to say our goodbyes
in less than two weeks we'll take our family of seven and board a plane
back to tennessee with our hearts more full than we ever could've imagined

i'll be forever grateful for the people we got to know, the memories we made, the obstacles and challenges we overcame, the lessons we learned, and the time we spent in that beautiful place we will always call home.
forever thankful. forever grateful.

seven years with this girl!

seven years with this one in our family!

i'm so grateful!

seven reasons we appreciate you:

*you are the most independent little girl i know

*you're a little bit sweet and a little bit sassy all in one

*you have a love and a passion for music all day every day

*you stand up for yourself and believe in your abilities

*you know what you like and walk in confidence

*you're a girly girl, have good taste, and a good closet is your favorite

*you value friendship and spend so much time talking about others who are important in your life

lily, we've learned so much from you already.
always be who God created you to be. 
stay bold. 
stay confident. 
show that smile. 
let Him stir up more passions and giftings within you as you grow. 
we'll always cheer you on. 
happy 7th!!

three years old today!!

Three things we love about him...

1) This little guy is quick to say, "I'm so sorry!" 2) He loves to act silly, run fast, and play hard all at the same time. 

3) Batman and Paw Patrol are his current favorites. 

Cai, thank you for being the perfect ending to our family. Happy 3rd birthday!!!

We love you!

thirteen thank you's

happy birthday to this one. 
my oldest.
my first born.
today i celebrate you.
all thirteen years of you.

thank you for being my first baby.

thank you for somehow inspiring me (long before you were born) to read all the parenting books and for motivating me to be the mom/keeper of my home that i am today. 

thank you for all those memories long ago of just us two in the house during the daytime. i remember so many sweet times together with you. 

thank you for being patient with me when i was a new mom and especially now as i make mistakes as a more seasoned mother.

thank you for making me laugh and making me cry.

thank you for achieving so many great things throughout the years and making my heart swell with pride.

thank you for learning to be the oldest brother of my five. it's tough at times, but you're good at it.

thank you for trusting me when you wanted to disagree or when you thought you knew better and your way was right.

thank you for adding such a unique dynamic to our everyday.

thank you for your organization and tidiness. it's a blessing.

thank you for all the passions you've had over the years...acting, music, reading, drawing, running, soccer, and exercising.

thank you for your courage and bravery in tough and hard situations. i look up to you.

thank you for being you. God knew what He wanted when He created you and i wouldn't want you any other way.

i love you and i'm so very grateful
for you. 

happy thirteenth!!!!

love, mom

lily's 6th birthday

july 2016

christian's 12th birthday

March 2016