The Days are LONG but the YEARS are Short - Part I

Where have the years gone?

Our little Hannah sitting in her car seat meeting her cousin...Amy!

All 10 lbs and 14 1/2 oz of her!
She was a whopper of a baby!
(one day I will share how big Mallory was!)

I look back and see how quickly life changes! Two weeks after saying our wedding vows God began creating this wonderful young woman that we would learn to love, enjoy and befriend! Who knew (but God) that we would have 8 more blessings to raise.

I have learned over the years that you can see their personality shine almost instantly!


Both of these cousins are the same today as they were when they were young. What you see is what you get! Look at that focused attention! This girl LOVES to read and so does her cousin! Always has and always will!


Our strong will daughter to this day is still not a fan of being told what to do.
(I am thankful I am at a stage that I can laugh at Gods design vs cry!) I truly do admire the fact that she is bold, and although she doesn't like others telling her what to do, she does listen to counsel and will seek God in her decisions!

I will never forget the weekend when she began really seeking and learning about God. Asking us if we thought she should ask him into her heart. Although we were dying on the inside to say YES! We realized this decision was about God calling her and not about us telling her what to do! I believe she was 5 or 6 years old when she asked us....

If I ask Jesus into my heart, who's the boss?
We knew we had to tell her...
God will be the boss!
This was gonna be a deal killer for her!
She quickly responded...nope...not gonna do it!
God was working on her heart and within a few weeks
she accepted Him as Lord (boss) of her life!




We have prayed over the years that these precious cousins would remain close as the days go by. Our prayers have been answered as they have remained friends, cousins, and prayer warriors for one another.




From Awana's, to birthday parties, to countless births (16 siblings), these cousins have experienced a lot of life as they have been the leaders amongst their siblings, friends to one another, and an opportunity for their parents to practice parenting on them.


This weekend, as they were camping, it was a joy to remember who they used to be...little ones tugging on our legs, creating messes from one day to the next, and keeping us on our knees for strength and energy to survive one more day.

Now we get to see them as young women who are making their own paths, cleaning their own messes, and relying on the Lord for their strength and energy to go another day.



I can't wait to see what the next 18 years bring.
I am thankful I have a daughter I can call friend!
I am thankful for cousins that have become life long sisters in Christ!


As Tim Kimmel says, "The days are long, but the years are short!"
So true!