First steps, giggles and fits

It's official. I have a full blown toddler now. What an adventure! I can't even explain the joy I feel in my heart when I see her get up and toddle around. We have spent the past month in Australia, Dubai, Turkey and Germany. It has been such a blast bringing Keturah to these countries and introducing her to new cultures, new food and new friends. With as much time we have spent out of the country during her life, it was so fun that she took her first steps in Turkey. She is 14 months old and has been standing on her own for 2 months. I was starting to think that she would never start walking...it's almost as if she was waiting to be in Turkey because she took her first 2 steps at the Istanbul airport during a layover. Then, just a few days later she was walking across an entire room... and once she figured that out...she was off.
With such pride;). (literally cheering herself on by chanting "Turah Turah Turah")
I have a walking toddler. Bye bye baby, hello miss independent. With this independence, came a new facet of her little personality. Now she can dance standing up, which she has wanted to do for a long time now;) She also has the ability to disobey on an entirely different level. Quite a challenging stage..although most of the time her tantrums or disobedience is hilarious and I have to look away to laugh until I cry...and then discipline. Her new routine is: She looks at me while touching somthing she shouldn't, I discipline, and she has a tantrum... then In about 5 mins she is walking around giggling and toddling over to hug my legs. It's the sweet giggles and hugs that fills me with grace to handle the fits. Although I'm still trying to figure out how to handle those outbursts of dramatic emotion. I've heard consistency is the key. Workin on that;) I have a new respect for mothers. Especially for mothers who have sweet, well behaved children.
Another new facet of Turah is: she is a sponge. This can be good and bad. She is so aware of everything going on and picks up on pretty much everything and anything a child does. I am faced with this in an intense way because I am constantly with people. She is constantly watching, and I am amazed at how fast she picks things up. Sometimes I pray she forgets some things as fast as she learned them;)
My little adventure is the best thing to happen to me and I love learning about her and how to love and raise her...now I need to go catch up with her! Bye for now...

Gettin caught in the rain.

Yesterday, our little family embarked on a family run here in Antalya Turkey. Well, kinda. We all went running at the same time as Sean and baby were NO where in sight because of his LONG fast legs. We actually got about 3 miles and then the rain came. hard. The rain was POURING, and we had our sweet baby 3 miles away from a warm, dry house. We borrowed a jogging stroller that had an amazing feature. The umbrella of the stroller was able to be pulled all the way down...covering her whole body. Sean and I were getting POURED on, completely soaking wet, and she was dry. All of a sudden the reality of 'hiding under the shadow of his wing' became real for me. In the Bible, it doesn't say that we are never going to "get rained on"... it actually says "though we walk through the shadow of death"... it never says that because we are christians that we are saved from all the rough stuff. BUT it does say " Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust......” ps 91

During our run, we didn't make the rain stop. We did pull her hood over her head, pulled her umbrella down and let her rest in the dry stroller.

This season that Im in, I feel like in many ways I have been CAUGHT IN THE RAIN. It is pouring down all around me....but I really feel like the Lord is pulling my umbrella down over me and all i need to do is REST. I have been trying to climb out and run from the rain. Only to get completely drenched. Yesterday I learned : JUST REST in the shadow of the Almighty.

It truly is the simple things that happen in our day that the Lord can speak to us through. We just need to stop and listen.

A parent... learning how to parent

My daughter is a lovely 13 months old. I feel as though for the past 12 months, my role has been mothering and nurturing her. In the past couple of weeks I feel like the parenting part of being a parent is really starting to kick in. Only problem is : I have never been a parent. I have watched a lot of parenting and *confession* have made a lot of judgement on the way many people rear their children... but i am quickly learning that it is a whole new ball game actually being THE parent. Especially to a super sweet and super strong willed baby who is exploring her power and new independence. I have been praying for keys and wisdom into how to be a 'good awesome great' mom. Unfortunately there are no YouTube how to videos or blogs that tell you exactly step by step how to raise awesome children. My desire is for my children to have so much to give the Lord and people they come across throughout their whole lives.
This brings me to my newest discovery or revelation. While I was in Australia my friend recommended a personality type book. As I began to read it I was freaking out about how Sean and I were fitting into personality types to the T. It was giving me so much insight and freedom into why I am the way I am. The 'pros' about me as well as the wonderful 'cons' that somehow pop up quite often throughout my life...Then the book began to talk about how important it is to parent each of your children's personality. If you are in relationship with any person, it is very apparent that each of us are created so differently. I want to understand and celebrate each of my children's personality, at the same time not allow a lack of character to mature due to the 'cons' of their personalities. For example: my personality is very laid back. This is a huge 'pro' in my life with our hectic schedule...but that also works as a 'con' in many of my days because it also translates into procrastination. I could legitimately blame my personality for getting things done late OR I can admit my tendency and find strategies for myself to be able to get things done on time. If I always blame my personality, my character truly is rubbish. Character is vital and is now the new bit of wisdom I'm asking God about. For myself and how to raise children to be confident in who they are along with possessing good character. With those two things, we truly could be raising up history makers. This is my passion. So im pretty thankful for this small nugget that is effecting me so much. I love being a mom and look forward to learning so much along this amazing journey of parenting. It really is the simple nuggets that are so important...

Perth Australia // soul refreshing

It's been a while since I have blogged, but I am excited to start again...I am so privileged to travel all over the world, meet beautiful people and see beautiful things of God and I want to be able to share these memories with my friends and family... So here we go;)

We are in Perth Australia for a week and a half. I know- crazy to come all the way to Oz for a week ...by the time our bodies adjust to the time change, we will be on a plane back to the US... That's how we roll;) we love it in Australia! To be honest, it is one of my most favorite places to visit! We normally come for 3 weeks and travel around the whole country and see so many of our fav people...this time we are spending our entire time in Perth. We love our friends here and just spent a couple of days hanging out on a small island south of Perth. Rottnest Island. It was amazing family time. No cars...long bike rides and the gorgeous Indian Ocean. My soul feels refreshed and I feel so blessed to have my sweet lil family. It still tripped me out while we were on a bike ride that we have a family and we are taking our child on a bike ride. I still feel like I'm 16 and crazy about a blonde haired blue eyed wild boy! How time flys

Turah is growing so much! Into quite the hilarious little girl. She is standing by herself and walking with only one hand of help;) walking alone is right around the corner. She is saying ALOT of new words! Her newest saying Is "ohhhwow" I love it.. She truly is a sponge...learning so much everyday.
We only have a couple days left in Australia before our trek home to rest and repack for Dubai, Turkey, and Germany. Yup, you heard right... 4 countries in less than 30 days. I love our crazy life! Turah loves all the new cultures as well;)
Well, pray for the next 4 days of meetings! We are excited for all that God is going to do!

of course she had her feet up!
she loooved riding the bike




She slides by herself now!

blue eyed beauty

love our sweet family
The beautiful view from our room
daddy love