Flip flops to fleece

For most of the past year we have been blessed to live on the Emerald Coast. Swink1 has completed an incredibly difficult school that has an attrition rate of approximately 50% for the Army. Months of waking up at 4 and cramming his brain full of new secret squirrel information is over. He is now an EOD tech – rather interesting to go from a Medic to this but it all works out.

Swink3 lost his first tooth and turned 6 in this house, Swink4 got her first haircut and turned 4, and Swink5 got her first tooth, spoke her first words and took her first steps here. This place has seen many changes in our family and allowed us to experience a wide variety of things.

We have spent a lot of time at the beach (not as much as I would have liked), floated down a creek, explored a cave, watched fighter jets, canoed, kayaked and a host of other activities. We have met new people and made new friends. Our time here was interesting and fun but now it is time to move on.

We are on our way halfway across the country to Colorado. I’m sure there are many new adventures in store for us as we explore our new home. Our family is looking forward to hiking, camping, and even snow (the crazy ones are excited for this)! We look forward to the coming changes; from seaside to the mountains, from palm trees to fir trees, from flip flops to fleece.

Happy Birthday Swink5

One year ago today our sweet little Swink5 a.k.a. the “Pink Swink” was born. The smallest of the three weighing in at 8lb. 7oz. This baby girl has moved halfway across the country in her first year and is now getting ready to move again. The absolute joy of being her mommy is amazing. Watching her grow and change every day, from a tiny helpless little baby to a rambunctious girl crawling and toddling around the house, I am in awe.

Her first word was “dada” (just like the other two) and now she is saying momma –which I love hearing! She absolutely adores her big brother and sister and loves when they play with her. She loves petting our dog and calls out “da” every time she sees her.

There are so many dreams and prayers that I have for her as she grows. Many of those mirror the ones that I have for her siblings; love and happiness, joy and adventure, and knowing Jesus as her Savior. I pray that she grows in wisdom and has a heart for the Lord and for others. I know that she was created for a purpose and pray that she follows the path that the Lord lays out for her.  I pray that her daddy and I guide her along that path and do everything we can to ensure she knows how much she is loved.

So, Happy Birthday Swink5. I love you, sweet little mae-baby (no, that isn’t a misspelling). I am incredibly blessed to be your mommy.