Travels with Livy...

So, in the last couple of months, lots has been happening with me. While Mommy and Daddy have been packing up our house and seeking to create some sense of stability for me in the midst of all the moving, I have been learning to crawl, cutting teeth (you can see the redness around my mouth from my teether in one of the pics), starting solid foods, sitting up on my own, and have grown quite content playing long periods of time by myself on the floor. Oh, and I love watching people brush their teeth!! I can't wait to have more of my own to brush (I'm like my mommy!).
I currently have 2 bottom teeth and my top 2 (possible 4) front teeth will be breaking through anyday now....those have been a doozy!
I also got to go to City Coffee one last time when Mema was in town to visit, Mommy loves that place!!!

Packing and Moving

For those of you that don't know, we are going on our 2nd month of moving adventures! It all began right after graduation...we had to be out of our townhome by June 1st, so I had one week after graduation to pack our entire place! Livy helped :) Lots of reorganizing, throwing out, Goodwill, and selling occurred as we tried to purge as much as we could to prepare for our cross country move!
One day as I was packing Livy's room, I let her play in her crib (I had already packed the sheet and mattress cover as you can see) and she was jabbering up a storm. Then, I realized things got really quiet, and I looked over and saw her conked out! So cute!! She was a good packing buddy! These days she has what I call a 'sleepy song'. She begins serenading herself when she's tired and suddenly things get silent and she's out! Damein and I sing a lot to her so maybe this contributes to her desire to sing?! She has a sweet voice!
After we moved out of our place, we lived with a couple different friends the month of June before heading to TN to make one last stop at my parents' place before flying out to CA on July 8th. We are getting used to this nomadic thing! Livy is probably always wondering where she is! We are sooo grateful for the hospitality of friends during this phase! We are now in CA, living with friends here while we look for a permanent home :)

Daddy's Day

To show my Daddy just how much we love him, Mommy and I took him out to eat at a fav Thai restaurant and gave him a frame of pictures of me that said, 'I love daddy', as shown above. All the pics were black and white in the frame, except for the pink heart. Mommy says to appreciate how much effort it took her to achieve these winners you would have to see the tons of other pics taken. I was tired because it was naptime, and we had to get creative with props...a good 'ole quilt and construction paper can't fail you!

Last Sunday at Refuge

We were sad to say farewell to our Refuge family, and what an amazing blessing they gave us in our send out service. Trey interviewed Damein regarding what God has called us to do in CA. A handful of people also shared how God had used us to impact their lives, which was extremely humbling, and we were sent away with prayers and a box of personal letters from people in the church that we can cherish and remember them by. The truth is that we were impacted and shaped by you all and the ways in which God used Refuge to grow and shape us.
It all meant so much, words are truly insufficient. I am actually not being sarcastic when I say that I am thankful for Facebook and how it will enable us to continue to be a part of their lives!
We love you all and are praying for God's continued work in your lives and in Refuge. Here are a few pics from our last Sunday...I tried to dig up our pic with Allison and Trey (our pastor) but couldn't find it at the moment! They were so integral to our time at Refuge...as well as our last weeks in STL while we lived in their basement! Love you guys!

Graduation!

Well, we completed the journey of seminary that brought us to STL 4-1/2 years ago. It has been an amazing time of growth for us as we have been challenged and stretched in many ways. So ends another chapter of our lives, and as the page turns, we look back on many great memories and people God has used to shape us these last few years. Thank you all, some of who are pictured here, and many who are not. We praise God for you all.

Damein graduated with a Masters of Divinity and I with a Masters of Arts in Educational Ministries. We were both humbled and surprised to jointly be awarded the Christian Education award at graduation.

Mommy's Day

Well, 'technically' this is not my first Mother's Day... however, it is my first with a baby to hold in my arms and that is priceless! I'm truly thankful to have an amazing mom who throughout the years has modeled a beautiful example of what God intends for us to be as mothers. I'm often speechless, when I think of the amazing gift it has been that now God has allowed me to fill this role in a little one's life. My prayer is that He would enable me to love Livy unconditionally, as He loves her and point her to Jesus in all that I am and do.
Thank you to all the amazing women who have exemplified the beauty of motherhood to me (My mom, grandmothers, mom-in-law, aunts, friends, etc), and may the Lord bless you infinitely in his goodness.

I had some very special surprises on my first Mother's Day weekend. Damein was nominated to preach in chapel at the seminary and did so on Friday, and we all went out to lunch at Stir Crazy afterwards. It was beautiful outside, and Livy enjoyed the nice breeze while chilling in her car seat when we ate:) This is one of the best pics of Livy and I together, which Damein ended up having printed and framed for me for Mother's Day.
Friday night, he planned a surprise double date with our friends Matt and Ashley and we ended up at the art studio of a couple from our church. They taught us the art of ceramics! I was amazed that in one night, they could teach us how to throw and that I would actually be able to create something! I made 4 different items and look forward to going back to glaze them. Something I've always wanted to do! Here are a few pics but there are more to come!
Thanks dear, you're the best!

Under Construction...

So, to my faithful blog followers, just be warned that the blog will be undergoing some cosmetic changes in the next few weeks. Actually, I attempted to make a few changes and it somehow ended in catastrophe and a very random mix of colors, fonts, etc...Not to bore you with the details. Since I am putting all things off in my life until I finish my final project and graduate in a week and a half (I've found a nice secluded hideout that will remain nameless and Damein is a single dad:), this blog will not get 'fixed' until June possibly. Thanks for understanding and for being dedicated followers...and if I come to your mind in the next week and a half, pray that I finish well and on time!