Reese and Grady's 1st birthday

I would like to start off by sharing this song I heard on a blog I follow, which I absolutely have fallen in love with.  I am so glad Whitney shared it, because I can relate with my own story.  I am so thankful the Lord is constant, because the last year of our lives has been everything but that.



It's been a while since we celebrated Reese and Grady's 1st birthday, but looking back, I can't even believe we made it through.  Sadly, I must admit I don't know that I could do it again, but thankful to be where I am today.

The babies will be 16 months in a few days, and I am absolutely enjoying them right now.  They are both walking amazingly well, Reese pretty much running, and Grady right behind her.  The 3 of them are beginning to play together so well, and of course "mommy" likes it because it frees up a little more of her time!  Jacy and I both find ourselves laughing or snickering at something one of the three of them do, literally every single day.  There is nowhere, and I mean nowhere we go that we don't draw attention to ourselves, but we are beginning to just accept it, smile, and move on.

I have started taking the babies places more that we enjoy together, because it is SO much easier with them both walking now.  A few weeks ago, we went to library story time and they loved it.  Then a few days ago I took them to chick-fil-A for a lunch date, just the 3 of us.  I don't know who enjoyed it more, me or them!  Me, because they were so good, and the babies, because they were so distracted watching everyone who came up to talk/play with them, they couldn't even finish their meal.

The last few months, I am pretty sure I can officially say I had several mental breakdowns.  I didn't know where to turn.  Looking back I can totally hear the Lord whispering in my ear, "Melissa, I am here, all you have to do is seek me first".  I was an emotional basket case, frustrated, upset, angry, ungrateful, ticked-off all the time, and woke up with zero patients.  My poor mother was the one who got to "get an ear" full of all my tears, but thankfully I have gotten myself together.  I am so happy the weather has finally changed around here, because I get to take the kids outside, and we do that every single day.  Between the kids not walking, and the whether way too cold, I was definitely standing at the edge of the bridge ready to jump (not literally)!  I have also started reading the book, The Power of a Praying Parent, by Stormie Omartian.  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.  I cannot say enough wonderful things.  I pray for my children daily, but this book has taken it to the next level for me.  It gives very specific versus to pray for your children, and I just love it.  A few of my favorite versus are (1) "Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.  Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children"  Lamentations 2:19 (2) "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" James 5:16 (3) "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.  In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone" Psalm 112:7.  I could go on and on, but those are a few that really touched my heart.

I want to leave you with this adorable video of the babies.  I guess this is what they call "twin" talk!