Buttons Come and Buttons Go

There's a children's book called Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons.  In this book a cat named Pete has a shirt with four buttons and one by one a button pops off and rolls away.  Every time this happens he doesn't cry but just keeps on singing his song.  Eventually all the buttons fall off and sure enough Pete discovers that he still has his belly button.  In the end of the book he sums it up by saying "Buttons come and buttons go...but we should just keep on singing our song."  If you haven't read it, I'd highly recommend it.  It's an absolute favorite in our house.

As silly as it sounds, this week I've been clinging to the theme of this book.  In my elementary-teacher mind, I've paralleled this book to a Godly mind-set I need to keep into perspective.  As our wonderful friends and next-door neighbors, the Southards, pack up and move away to Ohio this week I remind myself of the way God would want me to think..."People come and people go...but we should just keep on trusting our God."  I don't think of this in an insensitive way but in a way knowing that God has a plan for us and he has a purpose for moving people into and out of our lives.  As hard as it is to think about Ava and Reese not having their buddies right next door, not having a friend to sit with and talk to at the drop of a hat, or not having a family to have an over-the-fence conversation with as we both eat dinner on our decks on a summer evening, God has a purpose.  The Southards will never be replaced but God will place new people in both of our families' lives as part of his plan.

This week also leads to the anniversary of my dad's death on the 16th.  And again, this mind-set is one I cling to.  I would do anything to bring him back, to have him play with Ava and Reese, to watch him enjoy retirement, and to listen to him talk about his rounds of golf but that wasn't God's plan.  God places people in our lives for his determined set of time and then he changes things up.  He blessed me with a loving dad for 31 years and then He chose to bring him home.  And as my story goes... "I'm just going to keep on trusting my God."


Some pictures of the last few days together with the Southards...

Memories of my dad on my wedding day...

 Holding Ava...

 Holding Reese...

 With his buddies...

 Doing what he loved...

While Mommy and Daddy Were Away...

Last weekend Zack and I were in Chicago for a Vermont Oxford Network Conference with some staff from the Overland Park Regional Medical Center where Ava and Reese spent the start of their lives.  This network is composed of NICUs around the world working together to establish best practices by collaborating and conducting research.  It was a wonderful experience for the two of us to attend with other parents from across the country to give insight from the parents' perspective on family-centered care in the NICU.  We couldn't be more honored that the OPR NICU asked us to join them.

But I know everyone reading this isn't interested in what Mommy and Daddy did...rather what Ava and Reese were up to while we were away!

 Bath time...

Selfies....

Going to church...

Dressing up in new play costumes Grammy bought...

Smiley face pancakes at IHOP on Halloween...

I know there were more exciting outings but these are all the pictures I received.  Maybe Grammy and Larry were afraid if they shared too many pictures they wouldn't be left alone with the girls again!  (lol!)  In all seriousness, we are extremely thankful for them watching the girls while we were gone.