Just a few bits and pieces from our days that I’d like to remember:
-My 32nd birthday was yesterday. I had such a great day – got to spend most of the day with my friend Beaty who came over to help, another friend Becky brought me lunch, and then a yummy dinner prepared by yet another friend Brooke B! My parents visited in the evening, and my sister sent me flowers. I got a *practical but needed* gift from my husband (which I picked out), and a super sweet card from him that made me cry (of course!).
sweet sister sent me flowers
My favorite memory though was on Sunday. Justin took Samuel for a ‘little errand’ after naptime. Of course I had suspicions about what they were going to do (considering my bday was the next day). When they got home Samuel walked up to me carrying the card that he picked out. After hand-delivering it with a big grin, I tore open the card and saw, who else, but Thomas the Train! (known as choo-choo in our house). Justin said that as they were shopping for cards Samuel kept reaching for this one and saying ‘choo choo’. So sweet – I’ll never forget that card and cherish it forever!
love how Justin added a '2' to the three!
- I still haven’t been on my own for any substantial length of time with Samuel, Selah & Hannah…mostly because I can’t lift S&S for another few days (c-section recovery). I’m ready. Ready to show myself I CAN do this. The one thing I’m most anxious about are managing Hannah’s sometimes marathon nursing sessions while my active toddlers could get into trouble.
-Selah’s hair is getting more and more curly! I love this picture, even though she has post-nap hair, and it has our lovely airmattress as a backdrop. She and Samuel have started to smile and say ‘cheese’ when I go to take a picture. That makes this photographer mama very happy!
love the curls!
-Our entire family of five went to church on Sunday. We only went to our Sunday School class because we didn’t want to expose Hannah to crowds. It was so nice to see our church family and get out of the house. It was no small effort coordinating our getting ready schedules, even for a 10:10 arrival time. I had to schedule the morning down by the minute to make sure we got out the door on time!
- by this schedule, and the Lord’s grace we were only 2 mins late leaving
- we even made time for a quick photo-shoot before church
-Samuel expresses his love for Hannah by sharing his favorite trucks with her. He is OBSESSED with trucks! He’ll take his favorite one of the day and to lay it beside her, as if to say “Hannah, you can play with my truck”. Such a sweet spirit.
note the little red truck
-Just today, I ordered some wall prints from a photography session we had with Kim Graham from JUNE! How slack am I? Samuel & Selah look completely different, but I still want to display the beautiful images. I chuckle when I see these pictures because I was pregnant, and didn’t even know it! There are so many great images, it was hard to decide…
June 2011 - S&S were 12 months old
wow, S&S look little, and my hair is SHORT!
photo credit: Kim Graham Photography
I think that’s it for now! I apologize for the quality of the images in this post – most are from my iphone.
February 28, 2012
After the birth of Jesus, Luke writes that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”.
I can completely relate.
My three days in the hospital after birthing Hannah were so special to me. This experience with Hannah has been such a blessing. I am getting teary eyed just writing about it because it is exactly what I prayed for. I prayed very specifically about a few things and each one of them came to pass. And just having her in our lives is such a sweet blessing because she was not planned, and such a gift from God! All babies are gifts of course, but I am just overwhelmed with praise to God for blessing us with her, when she wasn’t even prayed for, or asked for. Just a special gift from the Lord. While at the hospital I was just in tears thinking about how much I would have missed out on if she wasn’t in our lives.
precious Hannah
The 3 days in the hospital were very special. Even though I had to ultimately have a c-section (which is another story of His grace – long story but it was meant to be!)…but it was a completely different & much better experience than when I had Samuel & Selah. I literally was trying to drink in every minute with her and cherish that time. Of course I missed S&S terribly, (they came and visited once, which in and of itself was an amazing memory)…but it was just so nice to have that time to bond with Hannah. I have felt so tender towards her throughout this pregnancy, and that feeling continues. Its amazing how fully but differently one can love each child. Tender is the way I would describe my love for her.
Samuel & Selah meet their baby sister
I had many hours alone in the hospital which I really loved. Justin would come home some each day to spend with S&S and try to keep their routine as consistent as possible. I really enjoyed being there alone with Hannah. One of my sweetest memories includes her on my chest, listening to Hillsong, and just staring at her for an hour or two. Of course with tears streaming down my face the entire time at how amazed I am at this sweet little girl.
Psalm 118:23 - Hannah's verse
I could go on and on but I think you can tell I am just on cloud nine, and joy has just flooded my soul with her birth.
Things with all three are hectic but thankfully I haven’t been thrown into that 100% yet. Justin has been home this week and my parents have been helping with S&S also. Honestly I’m a little anxious about managing all three myself, and figuring out how nursing fits into our schedule. Also we are trying to teach S&S to be gentle with Hannah, and that has been a learning process.
I know there will be crazy, chaotic, frustrating times ahead with three children under the age of two. I also know there will be times where I am so struck with the Lord’s grace and beauty in our lives. It has been said that “sunshine without rain is the recipe for a desert”. I will tell myself on the ‘rainy’ hard days, that I (we) need the rain to nourish the beauty & bounty of God’s “green pasture” times in my own life.
For all of you who read my blog, and have loved on & prayed for us – thank you. Your friendship is priceless. So many people have truly shown us what the Body of Christ looks like during this time. Thank you.
February 22, 2012
Introducing:
Hannah Brooks Turner
Born February 16, 2012 at 9:14am
7lbs, 1 oz
20 inches long
The name ‘Hannah’ means God’s favor. What a perfect name for this sweet angel! It is only because of the Lord’s favor that we have her in our lives! Also His favor has been evident in every part of the pregnancy, and especially the last 2 weeks as we neared her arrival. Although praying for a VBAC, (vaginal birth after Caesarean) and doing everything (I mean everything -short of castor oil) 
to make it possible, it became evident that was not the Lord’s plan. He wrote the story of her delivery so perfectly and His hand was all over us, and SO evident. It is so amazing how He hems us in, behind and before (Ps 139:5)
Her middle name, ‘Brooks’, is a family name (and where my name came from). Brooks was my paternal grandmother’s maiden name- and from what I am told by my Dad, she was a woman of strong faith (as we are praying Hannah will be!)
From “Hannah’s Prayer” 1 Samuel 2: 1-2
“My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.”
February 16, 2012
I have had such a full heart lately! So much on my mind I have been wanting to blog about. Many times a day I think “I’d like to blog about (fill in the blank)…” but when I sit down to write the words don’t come.
Here are some snippets of what is going on in my head and heart. Since I can’t seem to put together a cohesive post, I’ll resort to bullet points 38 weeks pregnant – grace needed!
*These past few months have just been such a sweet sweet season for me. I have (mostly) enjoyed this pregnancy, and feeling this sweet baby girl move and flip and poke her heel out of my side. Every day that I am pregnant with her I cherish. Only the Lord knows if this is my last pregnancy. I have intentionally been treasuring each kick, roll, and flutter. Not so cherished has been the pretty rotten morning sickness that I experienced both 1st and 3rd trimesters. :)
*Today I picked up my push present ( a little early). I got my very favorite and most cherished bible rebound from hardcover to leather.
This bible means more than I could ever express. I got it for Christmas in 2008, and it has been with me during some of the hardest & sweetest times over the past 3 years. I am someone who does not hesitate to mark up a bible – so this bible has underlines, dates, notes, etc in the margins. I know I could have purchased a brand new leather-bound bible for likely the same price (or cheaper) than getting this one rebound, but the notes, dates, underlines, worn pages wouldn’t be there. There’s just something about these pages that I have cried over, rejoiced over, and lived lots of life over.
love dating scripture
I consider this bible a piece of our family heritage, and the little girl that we will be meeting soon will inherit it one day when I am no longer here (hopefully in the very very far future). I know it may be strange to think about things like that.
*I realize that I never finished posting about God’s favor in 2011! I am terrible about making blog promises that I can’t keep. Sorry about that. Maybe I’ll get around to it one day.
*To conclude, I’m going to post a recent belly shot – me at 36 weeks, and then 36 weeks pregnant with Samuel & Selah. What a difference! (One baby vs two makes a big difference!)
36 weeks pregnant with Baby Girl
36 weeks pregnant with Samuel & Selah
*One FINAL thing….yes Baby Girl does have a name (we are 99% sure)..but we still won’t be revealing it until after we see her face, and make sure. :) sorry
February 8, 2012
Before I could mentally roll the calendar over into 2012, I needed some time to process all that the Lord did in 2011.
This morning, Justin watched Samuel & Selah, allowing me a few hours to slip away to reflect on 2011, and seek the Lord/cast vision for 2012. Yes, what a selfless husband I have!
After poring over my prayer and devotional journals for 2011, I identified 4 major areas of how the Lord’s favor was personally evidenced in 2011.
Miracle Baby!
In June we returned home from a week with friends at Folly Beach. The entire week I felt especially bloated, but really thought nothing of it. The whole week Justin had a hunch I was pregnant. I did NOT at all. As a matter of fact, the Monday (or was it Tuesday?) after vacation, he brought home a pregnancy test and insisted I take it right away. I joked that it was a waste of $13 on that test! After spending $30k+ to conceive Samuel and Selah I thought for sure we would never be the couple to have a surprise pregnancy.
Two pink lines VERY quickly appeared confirming what Justin was suspecting. I remember just praising God in those moments, for healing my body. For this miracle blessing baby!!
I was pregnant here, and didn't even know it
I discovered that on the exact day we conceived, that I had prayed generally for the “future of our family…to give us wisdom & guidance for the journey”. I would have never guessed that the Lord would be adding one more to our family!
We can’t wait to meet sweet Baby Girl in February. We do not have a name yet, and will decide when she is born and announce it at that time.
praise you Lord
*Samuel & Selah will be about 20 months older than baby girl. Yes, I will have THREE under the age of TWO come February *
I’ll be posting some of the other ways I’ve seen His favor over the next few days (…or weeks).
January 2, 2012
This story began last Tuesday night. After the babies went down for bed, I was to meet my dear friend Heather for an evening movie at Sandhills. There was nothing showing that we were dying to see, but just getting out of the house was a very special treat. We decided to see Midnight in Paris, which neither of us knew much about but I had heard from a few people that it was good.
So, we arrive at the movie theater, ready to purchase tickets for the 7:35 show, which was clearly listed on the website, when we were told that movie is not playing. Hmmm.
Oh well, we decided just to meander around Sandhills, make a Target run, and then go to Red Robin for our favorite dessert and fries. Calories don’t count when you’re having girltime, right 
Little did I know that the series of events that night would set me up for a monumental change in my life.
While strolling around Sandhills, Heather and I made our obligitory stop by the bookstore. She and I have a mutal affection for all things literary….holding a book in hand, reading the written word, even the smell of fresh ink on paper. I doubt she or I will ever be found with a kindle.
Heather and I love the smell of a new book!
I regress. We landed in the “Religion and Christianity” aisle as we always do. She was looking for parenting books. I was looking for nothing in particular, just enjoying my time with my kindred spirit in a bookstore.
My eyes landed on the book.
The book I heard about first on my friend Allison’s blog. The book I have since heard many others speak of. That book that I have been wanting badly to buy, but have resisted the temptation because really I have not read a full book in a year.
I picked up the book once again and had the urge to buy, then almost put it back on the shelf….remembering the two (now) twin TODDLERS I have at home, and overflowing hands and life. Oh yeah, no time to read. Shouldn’t spend the money.
But then I remembered a gift card I had been saving. OH! A GIFT CARD!! Praise you Jesus! From my sweet friend Becky over 4 months ago for my birthday. She knows my love language is books but I’m sure never would have guessed the special treasure her gift would provide.
The book was now mine, and no money left the checking account. Blessing upon blessing!
Next day, Wednesday, I was to go to Folly Beach to photograph a family during their beach vacation. Coincidentally Justin had an overnight work event to attend in Charleston that very same night. So…a one night getaway was in order! Plans were made with Lolli and Pop (my parents) to keep the babies overnight and we were off to Charleston. Although we were both tied up with work engagements for most of our time away, it was simply a treat to get to ride together in a car with my love.
We arrived in Charleston about an hour early. As we walked the familiar streets of Charleston trying to find the perfect place to grab a bite, I continued to look upwards at the dark clouds rolling in. Hmm, the beach photography session wasn’t looking too good. Just as we finished our last bite of dinner, the bottom fell out. Lighting & thunder surrounded us.
Photosession rescheduled. Justin still had his work event, but I did not have the appropriate attire to attend the fancy function, so decided to enjoy some rare peace and quiet in the room.
A last minute addition to my overnight bag was “A Thousand Gifts”..the book I had purchased just the day before. I had no idea that I would have a chance to read it at all, but something (someOne) led me to throw it in.
Sitting in the quiet hotel room, everything inside of me screamed to crack open my laptop, catch up on the unending stream of emails and sessions to edit. Be PRODUCTIVE. Use the time WISELY.
Somehow I resisted my work-a-holic tendencies and propped on the fluffly pillows with the book, and pen and and open mind.
The premise of the book is gratitude. Plain and simple. Always being on the lookout for things to thank God for. Simple concept, but truly life changing.
My babies are beckoning, so I must wrap this post up. Just know, you will be hearing lots from me about “One Thousand Gifts”. Thank you, Ann Voskamp, your book was truly a GIFT to me this week.
July 2, 2011
My precious Samuel & Selah-
After I learned I was pregnant with you, in my time with the Lord all I could do was praise Him. It seemed impossible for me to dig into deep bible study or prayer, because the only thing that would come from my lips was Praise You Lord, and Thank You Lord. Oh Selah and Samuel, you were so long desired! I sat in that joy for months, and my journal is filled with the scribbled verses of “Great is Thy Faithfulness”.
Praising the Lord, thanking the Lord seemed so very fitting, but at the same time such a small offering. You two were (and are) such tremendous gifts, and I felt as though my words were too small. Too insignificant. How could I possibly thank my sweet Lord to bless me with not one, but TWO healthy babies? I prayed and prayed and asked “Lord, what can these hands of mine give? I have nothing to offer.” Sweetly, the Lord reminded me that all He wanted was all of me. All of my life. My life, itself, could be a sweet sacrifice of praise to Him.
Life looks so different than it did a year ago, when there were just two of us in this house and a nursery waiting for you. Just as I felt tremendously blessed a year ago to carry you, now I feel overwhelmingly blessed to know you. To have you here with us. Your lives are a ray of sunshine into our home. Even still, I often just look into your faces and have nothing but praise for God. Lord, how could you have possibly chosen ME to mother these blessings.
“Praise You Lord. Thank You Lord. These words are so small -what can I give Lord?”
Again, I can give Him all of me. And now, because of His Goodness and Grace-all of me ,is all of you, my Samuel and Selah.
We dedicated you both to the Lord last Sunday – Mother’s Day 2011- and pray that God will invade every single part of parenting you. We pray that Christ’s love is the overriding dynamic in our household. We pray that you find our home a place of love and laughter, where you are free to be yourselves and discover who YOU are in Christ. We pray that our home is a place you will learn about Jesus, and feel His presence. We pray that you develop a hunger for things of the Lord, and that you would radiate the joy of Christ, even as small children. Your Daddy and I have a high but worthy calling in raising you to know, love, and serve Him.
A week has passed since Mother’s day, but I believe that it has taken me a week to process all that the day was and meant to me. I could write a hundred years and still not express all that is on my heart. Mostly, I want you to know today and always how much I cherish this role as your Mama. Mothering you is one of the greatest joys in my life, and I continue to be surprised that my heart can endlessly expand with love.
You are overwhelmingly cherished, my loves-
Love,
your Mama
Mother's Day & Dedication Day
May 15, 2011
About three years ago the Lord started stirring. I felt moved to start a bible study in my home. For women from all walks of life, in different stages of their faith walk. My vision was a grace-filled, yet truth in love community to either grow in your faith, or explore matters of faith.
Crazy me, sent out an email to about 30 random ladies that were local, and I felt led to invite. Old acquaintances from high school. Friends-of-friends. Old co-workers. Even some clients.
I’m just crazy like that.
What’s even more crazy is that anyone showed up. I think that first night we had about 15. Our first “study” was just to read “Blue Like Jazz” together, which opened the door to all sorts of conversation about faith. The group swelled to 22, when my living room was maxed out with folding chairs and burdens and prayer requests.
last Wednesday-we used to be formal with chairs, now we like the floor better.
Now, we’re back down to a manageable 12-14 “regulars”. We’ve been meeting for going on 2.5 years now, and now there are those comfortable, steady long timers, who were with us from the beginning (Amanda S…Beth…Emily…Becky…Lauren T). A few that joined a little later (Elisa…Ashley…Amanda N…Leigh…Lauren B). And now a few sweet new faces (Beaty…Aimee…Nicholette).
These ladies mean the WORLD to me. Whoosh….we’ve been through SO much. We have prayed together – cried together – and laughed …boy do we LAUGH together! Sometimes we pray, cry, and laugh all at the same time.
There have been pregnancies. Miscarriages. Seasons of infertility. Broken relationships. Restored relationships. Birth. Marriage. New jobs. So much more.
Without community, I don’t know how we would have done it. Because let’s be real…we women NEED each other. God created us this way.
SO, if you are a lady in Columbia looking for a bible study we’d love to have you! We’re not a closed group, and literally every single new person that joins us mentions that they feel very welcomed.
The Lord intends for us to walk together in community. To share each other burdens. To study the Word together. To pray for one another. That’s what this group is.
I love you ladies!!
April 26, 2011
I got to know Kristi when we were roomies at retreat for our church’s Women’s Ministry. We (along with another friend, Amanda) stayed up chatting that first night until our eyelids got too heavy to hold open. I am looking forward to getting to know each other better because we have somewhat similar stories through infertility. We can share in remembering that desert time, but also celebrate that the Lord has redeemed it and we now have precious children. Kristi has such a heart for the grieving..I know the Lord is using her in a mighty way to reach those whose hearts are hurting.
To learn more about Kristi’s ministry, Naomi’s Circle, check out their website HERE. Kristi also has a personal blog which you can read HERE.
Enjoy!
(in Kristi’s words)….
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ever since she turned three, my daughter’s favorite word has been “why”. Why do I have to take a nap? Why is he two (and not three)? Why can’t I have a cookie? Why can’t I play outside? Why do I have to clean up? Sometimes I give her a reason, and sometimes I revert to the words I never thought I’d say: “Because I said so!” Fortunately, my daughter’s at an age now when she seems to accept that as the final word, and then she moves on. Maybe because she senses the meaning behind it: “Because you know I love you and you can trust me that what I tell you is true and for your best, even if you don’t understand why.”
Her questions remind me so much of me! She was born after three years of “unexplained infertility”, and since her birth we have lost three babies during pregnancy, one at nearly nineteen weeks. More than once in the last six years, I’ve protested my Heavenly Father’s plan, demanding to know, “Why must I wait? Why must I suffer? Why can’t I have the desires of my heart?”
Then this January I heard about an idea where, instead of making a New Year’s resolution, you ask God to help you choose one word to focus on for the year (for more information about this, check out www.myoneword.org). I liked the idea and put it to prayer. The word I believe God impressed on my heart? “Submit.” Ouch.
Submission gets a lot of bad press these days, so I looked it up and found that in the Bible, it’s not a forced surrender. Instead, it’s a military term, hupotasso, meaning “to arrange in order under” someone. The idea is not mindless obedience, but voluntarily, intelligently, putting yourself under the leadership of one who is fully trustworthy.
As I look to the future, I know I need to submit many ways. I want to submit to God’s plan for my life, whatever it is, day by day. I want to submit my choices to God’s Word. I want to submit my character to the Holy Spirit’s power; I want to submit my needs to others’, beginning at home with my husband and daughter, and extending that to other relationships with family, friends, and co-workers.
Focusing on “My One Word” has also helped me see that when I look back at the last six years, while I don’t like my circumstances, I can still submit to the will of my Father, who is completely loving and trustworthy. I don’t understand why He’s allowed me to walk the path I’m on, but when I ask why, I sense Him saying, “Trust me. You know that I love you. Submit. Allow me to work in your life, even through disappointment and tragedy.”
I pray that, like my daughter, I can accept that and mimic her faith and trust in God, no matter what the future holds.
April 23, 2011
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