Insta-Friday. Instagram Weekly Photos

Linking up with Life Rearranged and sharing my photos again. This week we moved from Tempe, AZ to The Woodlands, TX. I am so tired! Here's my week: 

We will miss our sweet friends and family in Arizona! One of my friends came by and took EmJ to the park with her two daughters to help keep her from getting in the way of the moving furniture! It was such a blessing!

A last minute hug session with some BFF's in AZ

Sweet girl! Xoee

I need more COWBELL!!!

Scooter Skillz

After the truck was packed we cleaned up the condo and started our loooooooong drive! The first day we drove 10 hours and then we drove 12 the next day. What was I thinking?????

My driving buddy!

Junk in the trunk!

Pit stop

Emily is now fully potty trained... so we had to make a few "unscheduled" stops! She kept yelling I pee'd in the dirt! 

She kept herself busy the WHOLE time! God gave me a travelin girl!

Smiley face... 

Poor Foofa got a ladybug "tramp stamp" somewhere in New Mexico 

Fixed a hole in her jeans. 

The sun set on us just before the Texas border... 

Lovin life in Texas.

We are glad to be finished with the driving and I am glad to be sleeping in my own bed again and am looking forward to getting settled in here. I've cried more this week then I have in a long while. But I'm trusting God with all that He's bringing our way. 

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps

Proverbs 16:9

Here's to believing in the placement of those steps!

Moving Day Birthday's

{via} on my Pinterest Board!

Here we are on the eve of our move to Houston, Texas. My daughter is going to be 3 on Sunday, and it has become somewhat of a tradition that we move on her birthday weekend.

The proof is in the pudding:
-One day after Emj's birth, my husband moved us into an apartment. My Mom and Mother in law stayed in the hospital with me and kept me company... mostly to kept EmJ company as I was completely whacked out on morphine (thank you unexpected C-section!)

That's my mom holding EmJ. I wouldn't trust me either in that crazed morphine state!

1 day old EmJ. Happy 1st moving day!

-Her first b-day we didn't move! But we did move when she was 6 months (out to Los Angeles to work with YWAM)... and then again when she was 1 and a half (out to Phoenix, AZ cause our time with YWAM had ended).

EmJ's 1st b-day!

-On her second birthday we moved into a condo. We stopped unpacking breifly to have cupcakes and open a few presents.

-This year we are moving to Texas on her b-day weekend.

We are those crazy gypsy people.

{via}

We have moved so much that I feel like I'm a pro at it. I get rid of TONS of stuff by way of garage sale and Goodwill. The rest of it gets boxed up and loaded into the U-Haul.

I am hoping to end this moving trend! 5 big moves in 3 short years! Here's to staying in one place!
And happy birthday to my sweet girl! 3 years old already, you are so smart and bright. You bring joy to all who meet you! I love you!!!!!!!!!!

{via} my Pinterest Board!

A Miracle in the making - Anna Joy

My friend Alissa is the strongest and bravest woman I know. She was the maid of honor in my wedding, and seriously a sister to me during our time in missions with YWAM. She loves the Lord so dearly and trusts Him with so much! Recently she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Anna Joy. This sweet little girl has two different heart defects and the doctors didn't give her much time to live after birth, and if she did, they knew that many operations would have to take place.

Well This little miracle is a fighter! She did have to go in for heart surgery after only 9 hours of life, but she is recovering and doing well. Please, please be praying for continued progress for Anna Joy, and her family!

Please go and check out their blog for more information! And leave them some comment love on their page!
http://babyannajoy.blogspot.com/

{via}

Thank you so much!

Her story once again leads me to gratitude. Thank you Jesus for healthy children in our lives, and for the grace and mercy you are showing to Anna Joy!

Insta-Friday. Instagram Weekly Photos.

Linking up with Life Rearranged
It's a great way to share all those photos and it's got me taking more pictures!
Sooooo here we go!

My Dad is a handy man out here in Arizona, and he's the keeper of this castle up on Camel back Mountain. He had to do some handy stuff so we went up with him to take a look around. 

The whole driveway was decorated with all these white stones. The whole castle was built with the rock of the area. Pretty cool.. actually really cool, it was freezing up there!

This is my arty pic from the balcony. I love cacti and wrought iron. 

And the door knockers were epic. The whole place really! I kept saying "Nice Knockers". Nobody laughed. *sigh*

The stain glass alone was amazing! This place is like an actual castle. It's nuts. 

Then we bundled up and headed to the Grand Canyon! My brother and his girlfriend had never been. And Emily kept calling it the "Green Canyon", at first it was really what she thought we were saying... then it became her own little joke! 

It was cold and this little girl did so good! She's happy no matter what! Such a blessing from God!

My brother and his girlfriend are down there somewhere.... it was too scary for me! But I loved the view!

These are just a few of the other pics of Thanksgiving weekend. Yes my daughter is still wearing her Tinkerbell costume as often as she can! This girl loves holidays!

This is how my daughter "helps". She wanted to give Sandie a treat! Sure the door is closed and she can't get to them... DETAILS!!!!.... she'll just let her STARE at her treats! Hilarious!

We don't have a tree yet but we were looking! 

This is my favorite! We are all getting into the Christmas spirit in our house! I love that EmJ is so silly! Merry Christmas!!!!!

Find me on Instagram : @chasing31

Love ya!

Bri

Turkey Christmas Santa Comics

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love this time of year! I get to cozy up with my family and laugh and joke and remissness about the year and previous years! My brother and his girlfriend have just flown in to visit for Thanksgiving. I'm so happy to have loved ones around! EmJ was so excited for her Uncle Nick to come and visit that she stayed up till midnight! And she kept saying "all my friends are home". Just melts my heart!

My brain starts to wander to Christmas already, but I have to remind myself to stay in the moment, enjoy and be thankful for today!

{via} and also on Pinterest

{via} and also on Pinterest

Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
Bri

Baby Toot's

I've been looking through old video's and pics of my baby girl. This one def cracks me up!!!!!

I can't believe that this little girl is almost 3!

And I'm sure some of you are thinking... "Oh that poor baby, she'll be so embarrassed when she's older...." Well if she's anything like her mother, and she's the spittin' image of me, then she'll be fine!! ;)

I'm a Horse with Blinders

What I mean by that is this:

When things get frustrating, tough, or I feel stuck,
this is what I do...

{source}

Instead of doing this...

{source}

Neither one is better than the other, both options avoid or ignore the issues bothering them.
I've realized that I'm the horse with blinders... I just keep plowing ahead, pretending that the stuff I can't see isn't there. Much like burring my head in the sand... except then I wouldn't be able to move.... and I'd much rather have my baggage on wheels, at least then I have the illusion of freedom.

I'm having one of those seasons. One where I am sucking it up and carrying on. I do realize that life isn't always what you want or expect. And how you deal with that is the true test of your character.

{source} also on my board at {Pinterest}

So here's my situation now:
I wish, wish, wish, I could work from home, then I could be with my daughter again. Since we moved to Arizona I haven't been able to work from home. And I really miss it. At the same time I really am so thankful for my job and the opportunity that God has brought me! But it doesn't change the fact that my heart longs to be at home, with my daughter, on my own time, and free to be creative and also provide for my family.

So this is where I become an adult. I do the things that I need to in order to raise a family, because it's better for the good of others. That's called being responsible. At least to me anyway.

I do think it's possible to make the choice to be responsible and NOT wear the blinders. I know I haven't found this balance yet and all to often I find my self without peripheral vision, bull-dozing down the street with fancy wheeled baggage. I guess I just plow along until the scenery changes. But that can't be good either.

{source} also on my board at {Pinterest}

So in light of the question above. I decided to have fun with my daughter and my husband, and to find the good in this season of tough. I'm keeping my chin up, and choosing to keep my peripheral vision intact. I'm thankful for the provision the Lord has brought my way and I'm going to learn to be content. I still have a drive and passion for all things creative, but I will do the responsible parts with a happy heart. That's the difference!!!!

And I seriously love this picture. Chin up and Dance!

{source} also on my board at {Pinterest}