Our Inspired Journey

Today we celebrate my incredible husband's 31st birthday! The kids and I ran around like busy bees, blowing up 31 balloons (actually I did most of that but they had fun with them as I did!) and hanging them, up all over the house. It was funny too, because we went to Walmart after I picked Ryder up from school (something I NEVER do by myself anymore since it's usually more trouble than it's worth!) and the kids picked out balloons, a banner and Ryder had to have a game of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" game to play with Daddy sometime this week to celebrate his big day too! We can't wait! The funniest part of the whole trip, (besides Cole picking out every card he saw thinking it was the perfect one) was that after getting everyone back the car and buckled in, I realized I completely forgot to get the ingredients I needed for John's favorite dessert...the REAL reason we went in the first place! I wasn't about to go back in, so I decided that that would be tomorrow's trip...today we'd focus on decorating! The above picture is of Daddy, the munchkins, 6 of our 31 balloons, and a few cards he received in the mail...such encouraging words from our parents! Thank you!!!

This has been a very busy few weeks for John as he finishes up his last semester of course work the first week of May! We all (especially me) can't WAIT for him to complete such an awesome leg of the journey toward his doctoral degree. After he finishes up his classes in the next week or so, he will begin working on his dissertation...the final project he'll take the entire next year to complete. He'll be researching and writing on how children with cochlear implants interact with music. I'm so excited to see how it turns out!

So instead of just one day, we're celebrating all week as John has time to be home...Monday was decorating day...the house is full of balloons :) Tuesday will be our out to dinner night, thanks to birthday $ from Gramma and Gramps, and this weekend we'll make Daddy's favorite dessert (I'll be going to the store again to make sure I get the what I need this time!) Here is a picture of us out to dinner with the birthday boy and the kids eating their free dessert...John and I snuck a few bites from Cole's and all but one bite of Cora's but Ryder was guarding his like a hawk :)

And a little video so you really feel like you were there with us :) Including Cora with cheeseburger in her cheeks and Cole licking ice cream off the table...

Here we are playing "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" after dinner :) Ryder is ecstatic but frustrated that Cole kept taking off his blindfold right before sticking the tail on the donkey...I had to stop him from getting really mad as he was yelling, "But, he's cheating!" by showing him that even with looking, Cole doesn't seem to care where he's putting his tail...

We are so thankful for just an incredible husband and daddy. One who truly shows us what God meant when he asked us to love. He is patient, kind, does not envy, boast or let pride consume him...He is not self-seeking, instead is always thinking of how he can bless us before meeting his own needs...He is not easily angered and instead of keeping a record of our many wrongs, is quick to forgive and forget...He does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth that has set Him free...I am so thankful he is a husband and daddy who always protects us, trusts me, hopes for God's best for us and perseveres incredibly through all kinds of trials. I wouldn't want to spend life with anyone else!!!

We love you Babe! Happy Birthday!!!