*STATE BOUND*

Rance is FULL of emotion this week for many reasons.  This is his last week of coaching cross country (gasp for breath!).  Yes, hard to believe but the Lord solidified that before the season ever began this year.  Not only that, Frank is a senior this year (gasp for breath again!) and that brings a whole new round of emotions.  With yesterday being the last Monday XC practice, Rance was in tears.  What a JOY it has been coaching.  The spiritual things we have learned through the sport of XC and the constant contact with teenagers as well as their parents is something that has changed us, how we think, how we minister, and even how we will parent Jayden.  What a privilege it has been and as hard as it seems that this chapter is closing - we both are confident in what the Lord is asking of us and preparing us for as a family! 

We are praying that no matter what the results are at the State Championship 1A XC race on Saturday, that each runner finishes their race WELL! 

Frank will be running his LAST XC race of high school...

And this bunch of gals will be competing as a team (NONE of which are seniors!)...

 

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

*1 Timothy 4:6-8*

What does it look like to FINISH well in this life as a Christian???

*PEAK WeeKenD*

Ahhhhh LAST weekend seemed to be the PEAK weekend of the FALL leaves - an amazing color of paint splashed all over these beautiful mountains!  The weather was perfect and we thoroughly enjoyed soaking in the BEAUTY of it all.  The leaves are falling fast now and our yard is a big pile of leaves (along with our patio, porch, etc). 

The Stecoah Harvest Festival was last weekend and it is one of my favorite events because not only is it within walking distance from our house, but it is a mini fair with all sorts of homemade goodies, crafts, amazing candy apples, singing, dancing, and fellowship with the community!

Rance ran in the 5K at 8am on Saturday morning but Jayden and I didn't make it out for that.  IT WAS COLD!  We all did venture out for the day to enjoy all the fun just a hop, skip and jump away.

Thanks Grandma for the CAMO!!!

Walking to the festival!

 



HELLO FALL COLORS!

My bff, Dana, was out at the festival selling her homemade goodies which are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  She continues to fascinate me by the incredible gifts the Lord has given her and how she uses these gifts to glorify the Him.  She sells her homemade GOODNESS on ETSY also, so feel free to hit up her store and see what she is up to!  I basically eat her chapstick I use it so much!

*Best Friends*
*Holly*Dana*Jenni*Jess*

 HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!

*4 months old*

Sometimes it's hard to remember our lives before Jayden, then other times it's hard to believe the little guy is already 4 months old (and 2 weeks now)!  I constantly hear from others - 'just wait until he starts doing this, oh that's when it gets fun.'  Honestly, I LOVE each and every day with him NOW.  I have no doubt that in the future it will be SO fun, but right now is SO fun too.  I may say on every post that I LOVE the stage he is in now but guess what?!?!  ...I love the stage he is in right now.   

I love how he continues to discover new things each and every day. 

I love seeing those big teethless smiles (just lovely gums). 

I love how he just waits for you to look at him and when you do, the grin stretches from ear to ear.

I love how he continues to be so fascinated by how great his hands are and how he continues discovering how to use them.

I love how happy he is even when he is sick (or covered in hives).

I love how those legs still move 100mph.

I love how he clinches his toes so tight it feels just about impossible to clean in between them during bath time.

I love how much he enjoys his milk!

I love how he wakes up smiling and the minute he hears our voice - he blushes!

I love how he has such great head control now and how he will turn that head from side to side like a little man.

I love how he will take his paci out of his mouth and figure out how to put it back in now. 

I love how independent he is and how he enjoys his space!

I love that he loves to be held way more now than he did as a newborn.  He actually LOVES to snuggle and be held YIKES!

I love that he continues to give us his cues around 8:30 or so that it is bedtime and sleeps all through the night.

I love how he can sleep right through a cold and irritating cough (it's mama over here who cannot).

I love how he is so entertained WATCHING people and boy is he fascinated by the TV. 

I love that he lets me read him God's word in the mornings and smiles so big while I'm talking even though he has no idea what I'm actually saying.

I love how he makes tummy time so complicated and how much he stretches his mom in this area of letting him scream!

I love how strong he is and I continue to pray he is a strong warrior for the Lord!

I love how he still LOVES laying on his changing pad!

I love that he will cry hysterically the moment something throws him off like a super loud sound and how he'll realize he's okay and instantly stop crying within just a couple of seconds!

I love that he is sitting up more steady now, although not by himself yet!

I love that he has started straight up giggling.  I.CANNOT.HANDLE.IT!

I love his smiles, his laughs, his talking, his crying!

I love all 16 pounds 9 oz. of little man!

On October 2 (5 days before Jayden was 4 months) - we had to go see the doctor for a lingering cold and he weighed 15 lb. 13 oz. at that appointment.  On October 15 - Jayden's 4 month visit was scheduled and he weighed in at 16 lb 9 oz. (70th percentile) at that appointment and was 26.5 inches long (91th percentile). 

We totally MISSED his 4 month shots in the rocking chair this time around - too much going on - and we debated on taking them at 4.5 months and just decided to OPT OUT!

Here he is at 4 months though...

 

 

2 days before he was 4 months old!

 

 

Thank you Lord for each day you allow me to raise this hunk of LOVE!

*An unpredictable Saturday*

Rance was in Kernersville this past weekend with the XC team so Jayden and I were hanging solo for the weekend.  We made plans to head to Asheville on Saturday to spend the day with Lindy and we were so pumped we left by 8:30 that morning!  We had no real plans once arriving except just hanging out and catching up.  We always have a lot to talk about, Jesus being the main topic.

After a couple of hours of chatting, we were beginning to decide where we wanted to eat lunch when Jayden's face broke out suddenly - as in red rash all over, with white bumps.  When I say this happened fast....I mean FAST.  One minute, he's fine and the next his skin is covered.  My mama heart remained calm asking the Lord for wisdom and instantly feeling prompted to call Rance to see if he thought I should go to an Urgent Care or the ER.  My gut said the Urgent Care but I obviously wanted my husband's wisdom in this situation if possible. I was so thankful he was able to answer his phone (God's grace) and confidently tell me the Urgent Care was the right call unless he seemed to be having trouble breathing.  Lindy was already googling the closest Urgent Care and we were all 3 out the door and there within 10-15 minutes. 

It seems I continue to be tested as a mom with these situations and reminded over and over to surrender his sweet life to the Father!  What peace comes from knowing that Father knows what is best for Jayden at all times.  Even as we sat in that waiting room (which always feels like an eternity) and I watched this awful stuff take over his body, I could rest in my Father's arms knowing I could trust Him. 

Just being honest, I think my moments of doubt come from a fear of making the wrong decision as a mom.  Even when those thoughts cross my mind, I can beat them with Scripture by taking those thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ.  God doesn't put those nasty thoughts in my head!

After seeing 2 different doctors, it was determined that Jayden DEFINITELY had hives which meant it was DEFINITELY an allergic reaction to something that he had eaten or taken by mouth.  I was so grateful for the confidence of the second doctor because he narrowed down so many things it could have been such as fleas, mosquitos, detergent, etc.  Basically, we knew that either Jayden received something from my breastmilk OR had taken medicine that he was having an allergic reaction to.  I am pretty routine in the foods I eat so the breastmilk seemed highly unlikely and just didn't make much sense.  On the other hand, Jayden has been taking amoxicillin the last week due to a cold and it only makes sense that it had to be the penicillin (which Rance is also allergic to and several in his family).  The doctor said it can take several days for a new medicine that a baby is taking for the first time to actually cause an allergic reaction.  Heck, this can happen with adults too. 

It was unbelievable to see how the hives had spread from the time we left Lindy's apartment til the time we arrived at Urgent Care and undressed him for the doctor's to look.  Basically there is nothing much you can do except cold compresses and give it time for the medicine to get out of his body.  

What was really fun is watching God's grace through a not fun situation.  Jayden was SO happy, smiling big, and just cackling at the doctors even as his body was a MESS!  He continues to amaze me in how he stays content and that my friend, is God's grace!  We left the doctor and chowed down at Breugger's Bagel and then hit up Starbucks for a treat.  

The interesting thing is the way the hives shift - one minute his face will be covered and the next it'll be clear and covered in another area - constantly moving all over his little body.  My mama heart did well in the test I believe but my heart could explode watching him itching and the nasty reaction taking over his body.

I'll show you a couple of pictures and spare you the rest...

Jayden couldn't stop looking at coondog!

Much improvement!

 

 

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

*2 Corinthians 10:3-5*



 

A 25 hour visit...

I love how my parents will come for a 25 hour visit and drive 12 hours to do that!  Isn't that great?!  Being a farmer's daughter, you learn at a young age that weather determines the schedule and road trips are few and far between during the 'busy time'.  Thankfully, my dad was able to escape for a short visit and it was a gift to my mom's heart (and a sweet birthday gift  for her too) that they were able to come, even if it was only for 25 hours!

Last year on my mom's birthday, she was actually in Robbinsville also and that is when we told her we were PREGNANT.  It's crazy all that can happen in a year's time.  Needless to say, grandma is in love with little Jayden!  It is SO fun to watch my parents with him and the BIG smiles that Jayden gives them.  I know it is hard on my mom and dad (but of course mom's take everything a little harder) not seeing Jayden from day to day but I personally think it makes the times we are all together SO incredibly special. 

Since it was my mom's birthday weekend, we ate on the river after church because that is one of my mom's favorite places here.  We did a little shopping too at the Nantahala Outdoor Center and just enjoyed the day so much. 

It's picture time..............

 

 

 

These next few melt my heart of Jayden and my dad!  Not to mention, Jayden's head control is SO fun now!  He is like a little man!

 

 

Now some of my FAVORITE pictures that Rance was able to capture of my dad making Jayden smile and laugh...

 

 

Thankful for all 25 hours with my parents! 

 

*LIKE A BOSS*

Weekend before last (Sept 26-28) the Thum's came to visit (Marie, Chris, Jacob & Parker)...

We ate LIKE A BOSS

We played LIKE A BOSS

We ran LIKE A BOSS

We ate some more LIKE A BOSS

We talked a lot LIKE A BOSS

We sang Jesus Loves Me LIKE A BOSS

We even slept LIKE A BOSS (when we couldn't hold our eyes open any longer)

Jacob's favorite phrase right now is doing everything "LIKE A BOSS" and it is HILARIOUS!  The funny thing is, he is back in Tennessee and I find myself saying "LIKE A BOSS" now!  Yesterday, I drank my coffee LIKE A BOSS!

We may have had a house full of BOYS plus Marie and I - but man I love some boys!  This time around I was able to really distinguish more how DIFFERENT Jacob & Parker are.  I love how people can have children that are so different and each so unique.  Jacob is the adventurous one, never met a stranger, very extroverted, tons of energy, and loves to engage in conversation!  On the other hand, you can tell now that Parker is more reserved, he's going to think through things more before he takes the dive (like Jacob), and he's more introverted it seems at this point.  I envision Jayden being just like Jacob but who knows!  I do pray that I can hang  with Jayden one day like Marie does with Jacob because she does a fabulous job being his mama even though he even stretches her as far as his outgoing, all about people personality!  Isn't that cool - that your child can actually stretch you and help you get out of your own comfort zone and grow?  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  In fact, Jacob thinks his mama is so great that Saturday evening while eating he just looks at her and says "I love her."  The boy LOVES his mama!  I'm not sure how you could not love her but still :)

A picture summary of the weekend:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday morning, a coon was in Rance's live trap outside and watching Jacob release the coon out of the trap was PRICELESS.  Before he did so, he sang Jesus Loves Me to him.  Seriously?!?!  I love that he cared enough that he thought a coon needed to hear that Jesus loved him!



WARRIOR FACES

Our only group photo as the Thum's were heading out
Sunday morning!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!