Today's Still Life

Tonight BJ took Eli off so that I could have an hour to myself at home! I decided to make some strawberry bread with the strawberries that I picked last weekend with Joy and Rebecca at Ira Cline Farms (yes that name totally sounds like "I recline" when you say it fast)! Today I also picked a hydrangea from the hydrangea bush I found in our yard! It reminds me of our wedding day. Today I also found a solution to not having any place to put my bananas and other fruit. I just had this plate tier hanging out in my laundry room and decided to give it a good use. BJ loves it when I get all Martha Stewartesque. I told him not to get use to it though! 

In other news, we went to the Relay for Life last night and there was a giant pop belly pig that was painting pictures and playing instruments in the booth next to ours! 

I can't believe how big our little guy is getting. Has it really been a year and 2 months!?

BJ's parents came to visit the last week in January. They came to see his installation at St. Stephen's and to check out our home and of course to see their "little big man." They had a great time with Eli and Eli enjoyed playing with his "G.G.'s" so much! We went up in the mountains and checked out the Blue Ridge Parkway but we didn't get to drive on it because it was closed due to the snow. We were able to explore the the quaint little town of Blowing Rock though, and drove up to Boone as well. 

Eli is doing more and more each day. Just the other morning he woke up and started clapping his hands! Last night he was standing by the couch and BJ and I were on the love seat and he let go of the couch and took several steps into my arms. He practically ran! He's taken a few more steps since then too.

It really is true that they grow up so fast. What happened to my sleeping little newborn?

BJ is enjoying his new position as Director of Youth Ministries. He has a great team of parents involved and some awesome core students. His ideas are being well received and some exciting new things are happening.  Tonight the student leadership team came over to our house for pizza and we all had a great time coming up with a purpose statement and ministry name.

We are so thankful that God led us up here to Hickory. He is so good and so faithful. We learned a lot last year in Florida and our relationship as husband and wife was so tested. We are glad that God carried us through and made us stronger.