Ya-Ya Orchard & the Fabulous Fall...

“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.

Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.

Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.

Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.”

Dearest Baby K~

I love that quote... it holds so much truth! Last weekend we went (for the first time) to Ya-Ya Orchard in CO. It was all-things-me with mountains, a lake, a farm... I hope you loved it as much as I did.

In this photo, you are holding what we bought at the little barn-store... Apple butter, pumpkin butter and spicy pickles. I have loved spending time with you during every season/age of your life, but now that you are becoming a young adult our time together has a new and fresh feel.  You are starting to relate to the adult world and see things from a more mature perspective. 

The thing I really like about this quote at this season of our life is that it is one of the most beautiful autumn's I remember having in Wyoming, and I am perpetually existing in a state of reverence of the blessings we've been given over the last year... and especially the last few months.  We were surprised with our awesome new home in Cheyenne (where all of the "wants" we wrote on our list when returning to WY are met!), we have found contentment in a new way, found a healthy balance in life I feel.

I don't know what this winter holds, but I know that this fall is bringing the warmth of the beautiful colors it's creating in nature into my soul and into our home.  

I love you!

Mama 

From this to that...

Well Beautiful Baby K, 

Prepare yourself. This is going to be one of "those" posts.  ;)

Since cleaning out our basement of doom (gotta love the historic home we've lived in for the last year) and running into old photos yesterday, my heart has been in retro rewind mode. 

I am SO excited for the next 5 years... doing life with you as a teenager and living by your side through so many "firsts" and celebrating you as you start your journey into adulthood!  

BUT, 

Today I am mourning the lessening of your youth. Your littleness. Your funny observances of a world you don't yet understand. Your ability to curl up in my lap. Your requests for me to do your hair or paint on sparkle lip gloss (for special occasions only). Your wide-eyed wonder and exhilaration of common, everyday things. 

I am always so enthralled with the adventures of the future, I rarely drift into the past. 

Today, most of my thoughts have sailed there and then the wind stopped. I've floated and watched and remembered and I've realized I am so lucky. 

So lucky to be your mom.

So lucky to have countless moments that are so wonderful they cannot be explained.

I love you.

BeautyFace

Or perhaps, BeautyToes. Either way, this post is about beauty.
Your beauty.
Prompted dually by the bible study I'm doing (called Captivated by John and Staci Eldredge - you need to do this study in your early twenties, ok?) and by your first "Oh my gosh she looks like a woman, not a girl" Facebook picture posting, this blog post is spontaneous, yet I feel it is going to be magnificent.  :)

Beauty encapsulates so many different things... and your perception of beauty changes throughout your lifetime. One thing that is unchanging is that God created us (women) to want to be beautiful. I have seen it slowly ebb into your thoughts over the last year in a more serious way. I've seen you notice other girls' Instagram photos and try to imitate them.
Clearly, you'll never hear me tell you that you shouldn't aspire to beauty. Your mama is the queen of the makeup and high heels, of femininity.
Learning to balance that with the real inner beautiful you is the greatest challenge, and I aim to support you in every way possible, teach you what I do know. I hope you can truly listen... hear what I am really saying.

God created us in his image. We lose our breath at the sight and feel of the beauty of nature, because he does too. We can stand motionless, lost in the beauty of the waves crashing into the shore because we can sense the magnificence of something greater... a sense instilled in us because of what we have been created for. We get tingly fingers, hearts and toes when the good-hearted boy comes through for the girl because we as women are innately created with the desire to be romanced... because, my darling K, we are living out a sacred romance with a hero much greater, more vast and mighty than we can ever fathom.

"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you."
~Song of Solomon 4:7

What do I want to convey most through this letter? That our beauty shines from the inside out. That those who stay truly connected to their creator, have the spirit living inside of them, are the ones whose eyes and smiles light up the room.  We can always have fun being creative with fashion and outer beauty, but the true beauty you will have will be that cultivated by your spirit... your grace, your internal sparkle, your enthusiasm, your love for others, your longing for adventure, the unshakable peace in your soul.  

This is the beauty that others will be drawn to. This is the beauty that was birthed by the creativity of God. This is the beauty you need to tend to most. 

I love you more than you'll ever know, 
Mama 

You Will Thrive

Hello Beautiful Girl!

I saw this graphic and couldn't wait to get it posted for you. What treasure is held in these six sentences!

I am so proud of you... who you are inside and out.
How you are empathetic, compassionate and truth-seeking. How you genuinely focus on the things that are positive. How you are proud of the relationship you have with God. How you prioritize family.

You are such a blessing to me!

Mama K

Well Baby K~

Summer is HERE and this one is full of new experiences for us and for you!

We are preparing to move into our new house in Cheyenne and

*gasp*

planning your 13th birthday party!!!

I can't believe you're going to be a teenager in just over a week. I am so excited about our next 6 years together and full of gratitude for the last 12 years I've had to experience the TRUE and ULTIMATE joy of being a mother to a baby girl. Since moving back in February, we have been creating memories that I know someday you will cherish- staying with Papa Art & Grandma DeeAnn, playing soccer with Abby, reconnecting with Charlly and Jubilant, getting to create our life 'from scratch' to include travel plans, new house, schooling options, and so on. 

I know this school year is going to bring amazing new friendships your way through the homeschool co-op and all of the new youth groups you can try! Not to mention the adventures we have planned... vacays to Phoenix and Florida, road trips, scuba certification, volunteer outreaches! 

You know I love you with all my heart, all my soul & all my mind...

You're my almost-teenager-Baby-K!!!

Truest Friend

"A mother is the truest friend we have, 

when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, 

and cause peace to return to our hearts."

  ~Washington Irving

We'll never tire of playing dress up...

In preparation for Halloween, we got creative with makeup and costuming this evening. I didn't even know what you were 'making me into' but you did a fabulous job! I love our silly, girly nights when we do toes or makeup... I'll always be young at heart and I will always encourage you to be the same.

God knew what he was doing when he put the two of us together, my darling K.

"Mommies are just big little girls."

~Author Unknown

Heavenfest 2012

Heavenfest had more in store for us than we had imagined. It was a fabulous, scorching hot, spirit-filled day!

This was the first chance we had to visit the Compassion International Change the Story exhibit, and it was amazing. This is the day we adopted our fourth child... Jeyson Alejandro Martinez Osorto from Honduras.

Worshiping and finding joy through music in the midst of thousands of others was an experience like no other! I hope you always remember that your mama made we sure we were front and center for the final event. ;)  Sitting beneath the unending expanse of clear night sky, blue backlit stage before us and praise emanating from the crowds behind us, I feel we got a small glimpse of heaven...

  Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Revelation 5:9-13

Scuba Ranger Queen K!

Soccer mom? Maybe. Scuba mom? You got it baby! 

You rocked Scuba Rangers and I was SO excited to find that you shared the love of the underwater world!

This was honestly one of the best days ever for both of us. I was so proud of you and you were so excited and your spirit was so bright!

I already know that we are going to have indescribable adventures together in the sea...

expoloring a world that is so new and free!

S-U-M-M-E-R!!!

Yay goose! It's my favorite time of the year and here we are in one of our favorite places... good ol' Glendo!

Our sun-soaked days and sandy-toed trips here will always be some of my favorite! Our Glendo adventures encompass both the fulfillment of being laid back and lighthearted as well as attaining new adventures!

 I love watching the sun glisten and dance on the water... sitting with you saying nothing at all or discussing the gloriousness of creation.

After all, you are my greatest creation and blessing!

Happy 12th Birthday Beautiful Girl!

Kahyim Kay, you are 12 today!

You chose a beach theme and water fight for your birthday this year. It was so much fun!

I have loved every minute of the last twelve years and am excited for all the ones ahead!

In closing, all I have to say is...

"If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves."

5th grade graduation~ WOW!!!  

Well little K, I am so so so proud of you once again!

You rocked the new school and graduated from your fifth grade year! This day was so special! As I sat watching your graduation ceremony, I was overcome with pride, excitement for the future, and bittersweet memories 

knowing that you are growing up so fast.

You're already showing me what an amazing young woman you are going to be. 

Thank you for being such a blessing! 

Thank you for being so strong.

Thank you for being such a light to those around you.

Thank you for knowing who you are and not letting anyone divert you from your path.

You are my star.

~Mama K

Baby K~

This post is a very important one. 

I've wondered since you were small how I was going to effectively communicate to you what you should look for in a man and how to know what is and isn't genuine. 

How to know what REAL LOVE actually looks like in a relationship.

Then I recently found this.

There's so much wisdom in this one graphic. Wisdom it took me years to attain the hard way. I humbly request that when the day comes that you begin your search for a mate, you will refer to this. Measure his actions, will and expectations against these words.

I love you!

Mama K

New Life in Colorado

Well beautiful Baby K, here we are in Fort Collins!

I can't say I saw this coming but it was a total gift and I am so happy to have shared so many awesome memories with you the last few months!
You've taken 2 acting classes, came out of nowhere with mad basketball skills, are doing GREAT in school with Mrs. Katzman and we've had a blast exploring our new hometown and surrounding hiking areas!
I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be here and to really grow in our relationship! You've sprouted from "little girl" in so many ways... you just keep becoming more and more beautiful inside and out.
We've been attending Timberline (where you like the 345 Club) but just found another awesome place called Citipointe last night. I'm so proud of the way you love the Lord and cultivate your relationship with your creator!

That's all for today...
I'll write more soon.

Love you so much!
Mama K