Just after our last post, we had the chance to have a long awaited reunion with dear friends from college. Michael lived in the Rock House for two years of college at JMU. There were eight young men who grew very close in that tiny yellow house.
Ten years later, for the first time, five of these men came together again - bringing with them their families! We went to the Outer Banks, NC and stayed in a home that belongs to Brett's family. There were 22 of us, 12 of them being children!! At times it felt like a daycare center, except way more fun. It was so wonderful to be there altogether, and going through this stage of life at the same time. We sure missed having Mark, Bonker, and Thomas there - maybe next year, guys?
The following week, according to God's perfect timing, I had the joy of being a doula for Matthew and Kerry and helped bring their first son into the world. Kieran Michael Salvatierra was born on Saturday, March 10th, at 6:14 am in Brooklyn, NY. It was such a beautiful event to be a part of!! Thank you, again!!
Kieran's birth has further inspired my desire to begin my own birth doula practice in Charlottesville. Stayed tuned for my coming website!
Then Spring arrived...pretty early this year. As usual, we took lots of pictures with our cherry blossom tree.
Ethan loves to give Katherine rides on the back of his tricycle, especially amongst the pink "snow."
This little wooden bike didn't last us a week before falling apart. We are in need of our Papa to take a look at it. Thankfully, it was secondhand (so I didn't spend a whole lot for it) and it did give our boys a taste for how to ride a two wheeler! Both of them flew down the field to the park in back of our house by the second day we had it. I think we understand, now, why bikes are not normally constructed of wood. Boys are SO rough with them! They are lighter weight than the metal ones, though.
Noah got his yellow Karate belt! Kia!
Spring Break was a little different this year. Michael and I did sneak away for 2 nights up to Brooklyn, so he could meet Kieran. The rest of our break we tried to fit in some family fun around around all the rehearsals and services for Holy Week. One day we took the boys bowling for the first time; pretty adorable to watch them try to get that 6 pound ball all the way down the alley. Does getting mulch for the yard and playing outside count as fun, too?
Our neighborhood hosted a little Easter Eggstravaganza where we all got together to dye eggs! Such a sweet little tradition.
Easter Morning! Michael led the choir for all three services and Noah sang with the Children's choir for the last two. It was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes, as hearing children worship our Creator, usually does.
Our handsome young lads. Ethan wore Michael's little sailor suit of old. (c:
Amidst all the busyness of life right now, I'm grateful to have this moment to reflect once again all the ways God has provided for us and continues to do so in such incredibly intricate ways. He has given us so much to thank him for in our families, our friendships, our church, our neighborhood, our jobs - beautiful relationships in each of those places, that all continue to grow. We pray that these relationships would continue to deepen day by day and demonstrate to each other the love He has for us.
