I figured it was about time to resurface this online archive of our life and continue posting our journey as our family grows. It has been a while since we've kept this thing up, and I can't promise I'll be any better at it now. At the very least, we hope it'll be a place to continue collecting our memories and milestones as a family.
As we are less than a week away from meeting our boys, I thought I would recap our journey as a family thus far…
[Also, I hate to admit it, but since I am not one to make the time to sit and write much or even read lengthy blogs very often myself, I figured I'd summarize our journey through pictures and videos…]
Enjoy! ;)
Summer 2008
Taylor and I met in Charleston, SC.
2008-2010
We dated long distance, met up around the country together, and fell more and more in love.
April 2010
Taylor planned an incredibly special proposal, surprising me in Charleston. Of course, I said, "Yes!"
July 2010
Amanda moved to California to start a life with Taylor.
October 2010
We got married!
2010-present
We journeyed through marriage. Pursuing God, ministry, each other, community, our jobs…together.
May 2013
We found out our family was growing…
June 2013
…but, much to our surprise, not to a family of 3!
We got to share the exciting news with Taylor's family…
Then to my family…
I was able to be in Ohio for Father's day and decided to announce our big news to my dad and Sheila through his Father's day card. In the card, I wrote a note, and then explained the two gifts I got him. One, was "a gift to last him the summer" (a Tim Horton's gift card--since his favorite summer treat is their frozen cappuccinos). The other was "a gift to last him a lifetime" (a picture of our first ultrasound).
July 2013
We found out we were having two BOYS!
May 2013-???
We prepared a place for you and prayed for you every night…eagerly awaiting your arrival...
To H&J...
We are excited to meet you, our sweet boys. You have a mommy and daddy who love you more than you know and are excited to spend every day getting to know the unique you. We pray you grow to know that you also have a Heavenly Daddy who:
- is with you; is a mighty warrior who saves; takes great delight in you and will rejoice over you with singing -Zephaniah 3:17
- created your inmost being, while he knitted the unique you in your mother's womb -Psalm 139:13
- fearfully and wonderfully made you -Psalm 139:14
- daily bears our burdens -Psalm 68:19
- is gracious, righteous and full of compassion -Psalm 116:5
- is a rock in whom you can take refuge -Psalm 94:22
- made you alive in Christ; forgave you of your transgressions--nailing them to the cross -Colossians 2:13-14
Lastly, after taking a "spiritual parenting" class at our church, your mommy and daddy had a chance to think and pray through what our mission will be as a family. Just like the vows we made in front of our friends and family at our wedding ceremony, we are eager to declare these promises to you and our close friends and family who will help support us, surround us and push us towards them…
The Holiday Family Mission:
our promise to you...
As a family, our mission is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our minds and with all our strength; acknowledging His supremacy while also recognizing and humbly embracing our unique place in the big God story. We will seek to walk alongside brothers and sisters in Christ in a selfless pursuit of Jesus, meeting and serving the needs of others with a joyful heart and looking for opportunities to serve each other. We will push our family outside of our comfort realizing that knowing an infinite God requires us to push into the unknown. We will take ownership of our actions and steward, with wisdom and courage, the mission and blessings God has entrusted us with. When necessary, we will embrace the pain of discipline, knowing loving correction brings healing and growth. All these things we will daily bring before our God and ask for his supernatural outpouring of strength and love to shape our hearts more towards the purpose for which he designed us.
