Can It Stay May Forever?

Is there such a thing as a time freeze machine?  Because I really think I would like one. 

As of yesterday, both Nick and I are officially finished with ALL of our on-campus coursework for our Masters of Divinity.  We won't graduate yet, because with our concentration (International Church Planting) we get credit hours for our language acquisition on the field, a mentorship program, and 4 classes we take overseas.  After all of this is completed (in two years) we can either graduate en abstentia or wait and walk at a graduation on one of our stateside assignments. 

We've been counting down to this day with no more papers and exams, but when I walked out of my final class on Wednesday afternoon, I couldn't help but feel a little sad.   It hit me all of a sudden that our time here in Fort Worth is really coming to a close.  We have loved these last three years and truly considered it a blessing to have studied at Southwestern.

While we are super excited about this next chapter which is about to unfold (training in Virginia with the IMB for two months beginning in July, and heading to Brazil for three years in October) I just wish time could slow down some.  I want to soak up all of my friends and Texas 'family' for as long as we can.  I want to enjoy this next month with Nick, Carter, and Sidney without the stresses of school and moving.  And I want Carter to stay a baby! He is 11 months today, which is just unreal to me, and I am not ready for him to turn the big ONE next month - where has this year gone?!

Speaking of the monster...he's awesome :) Weighing in at 22.5 pounds, our little bug is definitely getting enough to eat, haha. He is such an amazing kid and we are so happy to have him.  He got his 7th tooth this past month.  He isn't crawling yet (just rolling wherever he would like) but he's making some progress in the department.  He goes from sitting to on his hands and one knee but just can't figure out how to get that second leg out from under him without face planting.  He has a pretty consistent schedule these days, sleeping close to 12 hours at night and napping twice during the day for a total of 3-3.5 hours - yes, we are soooo grateful for this! It was a long road getting here.  Though he is definitely attached to his mama, he doesn't have any stranger anxiety and is definitely a flirt with all the ladies at church.  He loves walks and he's finally learned how to drink out of a sippy cup with a straw. Oh, and he's still the cutest baby ever ;)

The 'for sale' sign in our front yard is a constant reminder of the reality of our changing lives.  Soon, we will no longer live in Fort Worth.  We won't go to FBC Benbrook, we won't see our Texas friends, and we won't sit in seminary classrooms preparing ourselves for the mission field.  We will sell most everything we own and we will step out in faith to this next chapter God has prepared for us.  But we are confident in this step, as we know God's plans for us are always far greater than any of our own.  Please hear me, we are excited - this is what we've been working toward for a long time.  But goodbyes are always bittersweet...

 first time in the pool

 

 i love my little monster

 first Easter!

 grandparents came to visit!

 he loves hanging out with dad

 new shades :)

 someone LOVES to clap!