A Late Happy Birthday...

So I am a few weeks late in wishing my sweet, dear husband a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! After vacation and getting settled, it just came up on me too quick. But, that doesn't mean it was forgotten at our house. We had the usual cheesecake and each of the kids called Daddy at work that day to sing Happy Birthday to him.

Last year I listed 38 reasons why I love him so much. So, this year I will add one more to the list:

39. You are steadfast, never moving, always sure of God's plan and His goodness to us.

In the midst of one of the most difficult years of our life together, you have not wavered once in knowing God is taking care of us and that we are where we belong. You are my strength when I think God has forgotten our address. You are my encouragement when I feel like I have gotten in way over my head. You are my love when I have no love left in me. You are everything I need in a husband and everything our children need in a father. We love you more than you will ever understanding and....

Thank God everyday that you are our "Man"!!

More pics...good friends and family!!

We spent Saturday morning at the pumpkin patch with the "Swank" Family. We had a blast with all the kids...and we did a lot of head counting - four parents and eight kids - we were a little outnumbered. Mom and Dad Swank went with us so that was helpful. It was in typical Oregon fashion - raining!!! Ughh...maybe California isn't so bad!

And then there were the puppies that were for sale - NO, did you hear me? NO!! We in no way need another puppy in our house!! The kids had a lot of funny holding these furry critters, they were so stinkin' cute! I do add the word stinkin' because eventually these beloved creatures (especially this breed) do stink...thus, we stick with the short-haired, sometimes not-so-bright Caedmon (more on him in another blog...he is becoming my fourth child!!)

That evening we were off to have our typical Barnhurst/Swank dinner and dessert night. Oh how I miss having these at least once a month - once every six months is gonna kill me!! We all had a blast and I was reminded again how much I miss this family!

One of the saddest parts of our vacation was driving back to Phil's parents and passing a place called "Rainbow". It is an indoor play area that has several "Rainbow Play Structures" set up and the kids can run and play. Kelly and I started going there when the boys were little. As I went past it, I started to cry. Not because I moved and can't go there anymore. But, because my kids have grown so much they wouldn't want to go there. Time has gone so fast since Logan was little and I truly desire for time to slow down. It is hard for me to look at my kiddos and realize they are all school-age and so independent. I can honestly say, sometimes I miss the days of never-ending diapers, fits on the kitchen floor (well we still have those sometimes!), having three children trying to fit on my lap or pulling on my skirt to be held, rocking at least one child to sleep at night. It is amazing how much life changes in just a few short years and scary how fast the next few years will go by....

I am thankful for vacations like this, when we can just enjoy being together. With Phil working as much as he does, I truly cherish every moment we have together - The Five Swanks!