1st Family Vacation!

Last week, the four of us packed our bags and headed to the Ozarks. Tyler had a work conference to attend for a couple of days, so we extended the trip and made it a family vacation. We stayed at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, MO in a beautiful house overlooking the lake.

I was so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to peacefully wake up earlier than my family the first two mornings and spend time reading on the deck and praising Him for His creation, followed by family breakfast outside!

While Tyler attended his work meetings, the kids and I spent our time at the beach and the pool. Bless his heart, my hubby even set up a massage appointment for me while we were there. Much appreciated and enjoyed!

The kids did great traveling, sleeping, swimming, and playing, so we are thankful for a smooth time! Here are some pictures and memories from the Engel's first family trip!

Precious! Kiddos holding hands across car seats!



Big sister helping little bro with his milk one morning at breakfast :)



Playing on the beach



The little baby pool was perfect for the age of our kids. Here's Camden crawling into the sprayer!



Savannah and daddy on the waterslide...funniest thing - this was her story all the way down "I don't want to go down, I don't want to go down" and then they splash into the water and she changes to "Hee hee hee hee let's go again!" This happened word for word at least 10 times!



This - pause while I try to control my laughing attack - is the employee at a men's clothing store playing with Savannah under the tie tables! They hid in clothing racks and played hide and seek in the dressing rooms while Tyler and I shopped! Hopefully this sweet lady still has her job! :)



The whole fam



Savannah called our home for the week "the new house" and still frequently asks when we get in the van if we are going back there. I sure hope so sometime! It's refreshing to get away and much appreciated to have the opportunity. Thank you Lord for the memories made on our first family vacation!

My baby is ONE!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Camden...Happy birthday to you!

My sweet baby boy turned 1 on July 16th, and we had a fun little party for him!

For my boy, I love transportation, so we found a fun car, boat, train, and plane party package for him, and low and behold I even found a great airplane cupcake pan. So here's a few pictures of my growing-up-too-fast birthday boy!

Camden with his candle and airplane cupcake!



I think he likes it! He definitely got his mommy's sweet tooth! :)



Getting messy!



The party crew...can't believe they all sat still for this picture! :)



--Enjoy each moment with the little ones you have, for it goes so fast! I love you Camden! Praise God for you!!!!

Kids say the funniest things!

The other day, the kids and I were getting ready to head out for a picnic at the park. It was not within walking distance, so I strapped Camden in the car, asked Savannah to jump into her seat, and I put the cooler and toys in the van. Then I got into the driver's seat, opened the garage door, started the car, put on my seat belt, and (as always) asked if everyone was "ready freddy?"

Anyone catch what I didn't do?????

I was about to back up when Savannah said "Mommy, you forgot to strap me in!" (She can get into her seat by herself, but she cannot buckle herself in.) Whoops!

So, I put the van in park, got out and walked around to her side of the van to help her. She then proceeded with the following (and just picture a very dramatic 2 1/2 year old :)

"YOU FORGOT TO STRAP ME IN! IF YOU DRIVE, I WILL BONK OVER AND FALL DOWN AND STAY HOME!" (while saying this she pretends to bonk over - do you know what I mean, or is that just an Engel term? :) )

There was actually more after this last recorded statement, but by then, I could barely contain myself, and I grabbed the closest piece of paper and pen I could find and began jotting this down so I wouldn't forget. I mean, really, if I forget to strap my daughter in the van, there is no way I can remember this story without writing it down, right? :)

Thank goodness for a vocal daughter who could point out to mommy that she would not be safe riding without being strapped in! A mommy has too many things going on at once to keep it all straight! :)

disappointment

I won't go into details - it's probably a petty situation anyhow - but today was tough. I did, so to speak, have my 'hopes set' on something important to me and was completely let down. The strange thing is, it had nothing to do with anyone I know or love, but I felt it's effect greatly. (not to mention my dear hubby left this morning for a business trip so I had to get a long distance hug!)

But as I cried tears of disappointment, I was touched in the heart by the loving hand of Jesus. I began to realize that my focus was in the wrong place, my 'hopes' were 'set' not on the unfailing love of Christ but on fleshly desires, and that by turning my eyes upon Jesus, the things of earth truly do grow strangely dim.

We all experience disappointment. Maybe it's someone else receiving the job promotion you were seeking, maybe it's hurt from a friend or family member, maybe it's a miscarriage (been there a couple of years ago), but we will all face situations that disappoint us. The challenge, I've learned, is to remember that Christ is sovereign over things that happen to us, He is unfailing, He knows our hurts, He has suffered far beyond any pain we can imagine, and ultimately, nothing on earth matters. For those of us who love and serve Jesus, this life is nothing compared to our eternity in Heaven. How I long to see His face!

It was humbling to talk to Savannah about disappointment. She saw my tears, she wanted to help mommy feel better, and I hope she learned with me today that when life hands us something we wouldn't choose for ourselves, that we can trust in His sovereignty and rest in the truth that He will use it for His glory and for our good. (Romans 8:28) It certainly renewed my perspective today!

Here are the scriptures that redirected my eyes and heart upward today:

Psalm 13:4-6
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.

Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

I feel like I've gotten "over" today's situation now. (I'm definitely out of tears :) ) But I realize that I'm grateful for situations like this that challenge my faith, challenge my focus, and remind me that we live in a fallen world - people will disappoint us, we will experience suffering and sadness - but that Christ is unchanging.

Happy Father's Day!

We love you daddy!!!! So thankful for you!

Short and sweet

It's been awhile (almost made the 2 month mark since my last post - sheesh!) so here's a quick update.

We're here, we're having fun, we're busy, we're grateful for each and every day!

Thank the Lord for children, sunshine, friends, family, the beauty of His Creation!

--a few random pics... Camden with an abundance of goldfish from his big sis! :) Savannah signing "I Love you!"

April Showers...

Savannah has been asking us for an umbrella! It has been raining a lot these days, and she looks out the window at the rain and often says "you need to buy me a pink umbrella so I can go out in the rain!" Now, before you think that we just bow down to our daughter's every request :) we really had been thinking about getting her one before she started asking. However, I finally found some child sized umbrellas at Hobbytown, so Tyler surprised his little girl with her very own umbrella this morning. Now all we need are some cute little galoshes and we'll be out splashing!!! I love rain!