Brave is Beautiful!

The word BRAVE is used often in our house. I have 3 sons. We constantly are Super Heros saving the world. 

But, sometimes. When real life happens, my boys will tell me they are not brave. 

Instead, they are scared.

When they bring their fears up, I tell them what most Mama's tell their children. 

You are brave when you face your fears. 

This past week, I have watched BRAVE unfold all around me.

Little moments:

Knightley letting go of my fingers to stand by himself for the 1st time.

Lincoln jumping into the water.

Easton trying green beans.

BRAVE. 

I confess. I don't think of myself as brave. I like comfortable. 

Easy. 

Smooth.

But, lately, I have seen BRAVE take flight. 

My sister and her husband have announced on Wednesday night that they are in the works of adopting. 

After 3 years of trying to have a baby naturally, they found out they struggle with infertility.

For a while they hid it between themselves. Only sharing part of their story with close friends. 

And, over time had to face some hard talks. 

And next steps.

6 years ago, I lost a baby. And, it took me months to get pregnant again. I remember the heartache. The questions. 

And being BRAVE.

See, being brave isn't what my boys think brave is. 

It's not "NO FEAR EVER. ALWAYS LOOK TOGETHER. NEVER WAVERING."

Brave is:

Learning to be real with others and tell them your fears.

It's facing cancer head-on.

It's walking a valley you don't see the end of yet.

It's choosing to HOPE.

It's sharing your struggles, joys, and dreams.

It's telling YOUR story. So others hear.

It's being real, raw, and authentic. 

BRAVE: To do things in the most difficult times.

This week, when Libby and Isaac announced their plans to adopt from Thailand I watched two young people be brave. 

To share their story. 

To allow others to come along side and partner with them in this journey.

And it brought me to tears.

This story.

This baby.

This family.

Being brave together.

Brave is HEARING and KNOWING the CALL of GOD on your life and following it. 

Even when it would be so much easier to do your own plan, dream your own dreams.

This story:

The one God is writing for Ike and Lib...

Is gonna have a beautiful ending. Full of GRACE and TRUTH.

This baby:

Is HAND PICKED.

HEAVEN SENT.

And will know LOVE.

This family:

Their story will change lives.

Touch hearts.

And make people become BRAVE.

Friends, we each have a story. 

Maybe we are not adopting, but we are facing a time in our life to be BRAVE.

Take FAITH. God has a PLAN. He called you to walk YOUR PATH. He will LEAD you where YOU need to go, tell you what you need to say, and be there to pick up the pieces.  Share YOUR story. Show others your journey. 

AND BE BRAVE.

After all,

BRAVE IS BEAUTIFUL.

Follow Ike and Lib's journey at Miles to Eden. 

Watch their video.

Read their blog.

Support their cause.

Pray for their journey.

Share their story.

BE BRAVE.

Where I have been......

Hello Girls!
This IS SUCH a busy time of year. Just a few things that have been going on...

I started my own business! I sell Usborne Books. Love reading. And children's books are some of my favorite. So it's PERFECT for me.

Also, this month, I decided it was time to start working out. Ugh. Dreaded sigh. After I had Easton, I tried to work out...and then the summer came and I DIDN'T get to do a THING I wanted...and working out was thrown to the wind. So, I researched almost EVERY workout you could do...and found Turbo Jam. (I'm only about 10 years behind the rest of you!) The volleyball girls did this workout years ago and I had tried it a few weeks one time...but this is serious. Like...don't get to get dressed, check facebook, go outside of your house, til your workout is done serious. SO. Every morning, it's me and Chalene. We've become quite good friends....if I say so myself. Do I love it? Not at the beginning. But by the end, I'm THANKFUL I did it. Have I lost weight? Naa...Inches? Maybe. I can tell for myself but others can't. Or so they don't say...wow...you look like you are losing weight. Sigh. I'll give it a few more weeks.

Then, the biggest news of all is we bought a house. Yep. Mentioned that before on here. Friday we close on it. And we become homeowners. A home. That's big enough for us. Double Sigh. So yes. We are excited. I DO plan on posting pictures and showing you the process....there are just NOT picture taking moments of W.A.I.T.I.N.G.
I spend the day DREAMING about what I want the house to look like...only to move to another idea and then another. My whole life I've always been insecure about my color choices and if this matches and that matches...so this whole...let's pick out paint thing....kind of is overwhelming. Do you have ANY good tips for picking paint? Websites? Ideas? Because I need them. How do you pick out ideas? Are you friends with Martha? Is she in your area? Send her my way.

So...those are the biggest things in my life.
On a sweet side note, my sister in law had a little boy last night. 10 lbs. 23 inches long. 12 days overdue. It was her 9th baby. 2nd boy. Last night his name was Tyler...and this morning they changed it to Logan. ;) Too many good boy names to pick! HA! The 7 sisters are smitten with him and he is beautiful. The older brother thinks he's pretty special too!