a peace that surpasses all understanding

Well we are back from the dead! The past month has been a little difficult and I haven't been in the mood to blog but now I'm back! A little over a month ago Levi got laid off. It was absolutely horrible! I have never known such fear as when he told me the news. All I could think about was Grace. I felt so guilty towards her like somehow we had let her down. The thought of paying bills put me in this crazy depression and all I wanted to do was sleep and escape from the nightmare that had become reality. At that point, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I wanted to be left alone my little world to feel sorry for myself. I was a mess. Levi, in one word, was strength. His faith was and is so strong it brought me to shame. Countless times throughout this whole ordeal he would ask me where my trust was and if I really believed in God's promises. Levi said that God would meet all of our needs and he absolutely has. It's so sad how difficult things have to happen for God to draw us back into him. He has completely taken care of everything. There are so many situations during the past year that God used to prepare us for this. I've come to realize that Levi and I alone are not sufficient. No matter what we do or how much money we make, we are not the providers of our family. God is the provider. It's crazy how when we start to stray and forget these important details he grabs us by the shirt collar and drags us back, sometimes kicking and screaming. It wasn't until he took the ground out from my feet that I realize I have to rely on him to stand. And that was when the "peace that surpasses all understanding" kicks in. I know he will take care of us. He has shown me in countless ways over the past 6 weeks.

It's funny because now that we are looking back, Levi getting fired has been a crazy blessing. We have a much better handle on our finances, our relationship is SO much stronger, we've been able to get more invovled in church, Levi LOVES his job and I went and found a job that I love. In fact, Levi and I are working at the same company and it's so much fun. We are both working at Guthrie Mainstream, a company that provides services for people with special needs. I am helping run the teen program and Levi works with 4 different clients. This job has brought out so many amazing qualities in Levi, some I really haven't ever seen before. He told me last Sunday he actually looks forward to Mondays. I love seeing him happy and watching him interact with these clients makes me burst with pride. Everyone loves him there and he has quickly become the favorite provider. Yes, money is a little tight now but I have no doubt we will be fine. I have a God that loves me, a family I adore and sweet little home...there is nothing to complain about!

Gracie to round 2!

Gracie made it to round 2 in the baby idol contest! Thank you for all your votes and now we need your votes again! You can vote once a day per email address... Voting ends on May 25, I think, so vote, vote, vote! Thanks!!

http://www.mix969.com/pages/baby-idol/vote-entrants.php?gid=2&id=50

Waiting it out...

School gets out in 8 days! I can't wait. This might be my last 8 days of being a teacher so there are some mixed feelings but overall I can't wait for a summer with my little girl. It's been getting so extremely hard to leave her lately. My class is getting a little crazy, a few worse than others, and I'm ready for a breather!

I'm not quite sure about next year. I was offered a position teaching a Pre-Kindergarten class but that is just SO young! I don't know if I could do it. Luckily it would only be 2 1/2 hours a day. There is also a position at Guthrie Mainstream where I could work from home, on my own schedule and the pay is better. The only problem is that I can't work until I have the training and certification and the state is not offering the training right now because of the crazy budget mess. I would take the Guthrie job in a heartbeat but I just don't know how long it'll take to get started and how long we can afford to wait. If I could work from home life would be so much easier and we could actually work on multiplying our family! :) Lately I've been having baby fever. I am feeling ready to have another baby. The only problem is I'd happily go through the labor, I just don't want the 9 months of being pregnant! I've just been struggling with trying to make the right decision about these jobs and when we should start trying for another baby. It's comforting to know God is in control. (I have to remind myself this a lot!) When I really stop and think about everything HE has provided for us, I realize it's crazy to worry. Worrying won't add a day onto my life and no matter how much I worry today there will still be more to worry about tomorrow.

Anyways, Levi, Caleigh, Carolyn and I went to the Matt Mahar and Shane and Shane concert. It was INCREDIBLE. Those guys have to most amazing voices I have EVER heard. It just goes to show what you can do when you use your talent to honor the Lord! If you ever listen to Christian music look up these guys! Here are a few videos, it doesn't really do them justice though!

My very first Mother's Day was perfect. It was relaxing and I got to spend it with my beautiful family. Levi is an amazing husband and really made it special! We went to my mom's later that day and took Gracie swimming for the first time. She LOVED it. She didn't want to get out!

Vote for Grace!

Okay I need all your help. Yes, the proud beaming mother that I am entered Gracie into the 96.9 Baby Idol contest. If you would click on this link and vote for her we would be so thankful! How great would it be to win and have a little college fund started for her?! You can vote one time a day! So if you're feeling really generous come back and vote tomorrow too! (and the day after that and the day after that!)

http://www.mix969.com/pages/baby-idol/vote-entrants.php?gid=3&id=23

Easter...a month late!

Haven't updated the blog in a while. There is nothing really new with us right now. School is almost over and I will have survived my first and probably only year in kindergarten! I missed second grade! I am looking forward to the summer and being home with my girl. Hopefully lots of playdates with friends!! :) Sorry so boring, but with all the crazy stuff going on in our country right now I am pretty happy to be boring! My family is healthy and happy, I couldn't ask for anything more!

On Monday, Wyatt, Care and Julia came over and we went to Joe's Farm House. If you haven't been there it is wonderful. The environment is what does it for you! All the big trees, beautiful flowers and farming make you feel like you are so not in Arizona! Plus, it's a bonus that it's right across the street from our house! It makes for a great Saturday morning walk!

Gracie is taking time to smell the roses!


These two daddies are so special to me! They love their babies so much and I love them for that.


Isn't this so pretty?!

Carolyn and I are always looking for a photo op!

Julia is teaching Gracie how to stand. Gracie has been doing a lot of that these days!

Wyatt is giving Gracie her first taste of Hawaiian sweet bread. No wonder he's her favorite!

Julia, Stetson, Gracie and Kymber...can you imagine trying to get 4 babies to take a picture?! Craziness!

Babies, babies everywhere!

Grace: "JUUULLLIIAAA, you HAVE to share!"

Grace: "Well then can I just touch it too?"

A couple weeks ago, Spencer and Jamie and Megan and Paul came over. The babies played and we ate soup, drank Italian sodas (well, the guys drank beer) and enjoyed the raining weather. I bet that'll be the last good rainy day for a long time. It was a fun night!


Easter!!!

Gracie with her grandparents and great grandparents. (Ashley's side)

Uncle Brandon is helping Gracie hope her Easter presents from grandma and grandpa.

When will it end?!

When will the drooling end?! Has anyone else ever had a really drooly baby? Gracie's drooling is so bad that she has a horrible rash on her chin and neck that will not go away. I've put everything imaginable on it, I even tried a medicated cream from the doc! But still no luck. She has to wear bibs 24/7 and I'm changing them every 1-2 hours! Can you imagine how many bibs that requires? I'm doing laundry every 2 days just for her bibs! I hate seeing that uncomfortable ichy rash on her, especially when she's tearing away at it. The bibs also cover up her cute outfits (superficial, I know). She is also to the point now where she takes the bibs off herself and it's a fight to put them back on and keep them on. I know I just have to wait the drooling stage out but when will it end? Has anyone else had a baby like this? How long did this stage last?

Pictures of Stetson and of course, Grace!

We had a great weekend! Well, actually Friday and Saturday were not to great but Sunday was nice and relaxing! Thursday night Levi and I BOTH came down with the flu! It was horrible because we were both sick at the exact same time! I finally gave up trying to be supermom and called my mom in tears, I needed help! My supermom happily came and took Gracie for the whole day (we were a little worried we wouldn't get her back) so Levi and I could rest and be sick together. It was incredibly romantic. Haha. We prayed and prayed that Gracie could somehow avoid the flu and God is so good because he kept her healthy and happy! Anyways, Sunday we went to church and had Levi's family over. It was fun to see sweet little Stetson again. Wow he is a real baby BABY! I don't think Gracie is a baby anymore compared to Stetson. He is so cute and SO boy! He's got me wanting another one already!

Meet Stetson Blake:

Clancy is such a proud little daddy!

Here's a bunch of proud little daddy's. These guys are truly amazing dads and their babies are super cute too!

I try to encourage Grace to think "outside the box" but I don't think she's getting it!

Glued to Baby Einstien. Those DVD's are great at letting me get stuff done and get ready! Do you think she's outgrown her bouncer yet?! :)

Gracie: "Don't cry Kymber, life gets a whole lot better, I promise!"

Gracie LOVES playing with her toys!

Savannah and Levi are best buds. This night the picture was taken all she wanted was Levi!

Carolyn has been feeling pretty sick being pregnant so one day we went and took Julia for the day. Gracie had Julia has so much fun at the park! Thank goodness for baby swings!

Just a quickie...some milestones...

I just wanted to write that Gracie is now standing up. It is exciting and not fun at the same time. At night, if she's not ready for bed she pulls herself to a standing position and yells for us. Doing that just wakes her up even more and she stays awake longer! Then a few days ago she started just pushing her up from a little toy on the floor! She doesn't have any balance so when she pushed herself up she doesn't have anything to hold onto and topples over. It's so crazy! Also, she can now give kisses. All you have to do is ask for "kisses" and pucker up and she's there! I absolutely love it!

One more exciting note... I am an aunt x2 now! My little nephew Stetson was born on March 30th! He is very cute and all boy! I can't wait to get to know him and see his little personality shine through! I told Missy she needs to start a blog so maybe she will soon and you can see all his cute pictures. I have some but I'm too lazy to download any of my pics. (We just finished our kindergarten play and I am drained!)

I'll add my new photos soon!

Surf, Sand and Sun! (well, no surf)

We are back from the beach house! Luckily, we have family that owns a beach house is San Clemente and are so sweet to share it with us. We have been planning this trip with Wyatt and Carolyn since we found out we were pregnant. We couldn't wait to let our babies experience the beach! It was so wonderful and the weather was absolutely perfect! Gracie enjoyed the sand but hated when we put her toes in the water. In her defense the water was freezing! Carolyn and I still put them in their swim suits to strut their stuff on the beach. They were so cute playing with the sand! I loved that "discovering" look on their face as they touched the sand and then saw it stuck on the fingers. Anyways, it was a great vacation but it is also nice to be home! Here's some photos...