We're a family of six!

We're now a family of six!  Wait.....whaaaat?!?!?  First of all, NO, I'm not pregnant with twins!  So ya know, it's me, Brandon, Coco Chanel, and Cheyenne....and now we have two extra kiddos at our home. Basically, Wednesday midday, Brandon called frantic because DCS had some babes needing a home for awhile, and they wanted us to take them. Sooooo after much deliberation, we took them!  (aka Brandon saying "what do you think?" And me saying "you know I can't say no to kids....I would house all the needy ones if I could!"  This was literally a five minute convo while I was on break at work.) They've been at our home since Wednesday night and are learning all about us and our dogs while we figure out this parenting thing. 

Let me just say something.  NEVER would I have expected this to occur. Like....we always joked that if we had a kid in our current house, it would sleep in the dresser drawer or Cheyenne's crate. Well, God is HILARIOUS sometimes and does crazy things. It's not like Brandon to just make a quick crazy decision like this, so when he said he thought we should do it, I think he knew it would be hard, but good. Y'all. We've been so blessed already. A serious shoutout to ALL of our friends and family who have called, texted, dropped off clothes and toys, helped build bunk beds, and even dealt with my crying self!  I just look around our home and think of the things people have already done and I'm just in awe. This is ALL God!  We went from having a garage in our second bedroom to it being a bedroom for two tots in 5 hours. FIVE!  Thank you to everyone who has helped so far. If you've called or text me and I haven't responded, I'm sorry!  The past two days have been a whirlwind. Please know that we love you all and will get back to you ASAP. 

Let me also just take the time to give a HUGE "thank you" and "I'm so proud of you" to my husband. He's amazing. He's currently working late into the night to fix my car so it will be drivable tomorrow when I go work hard for the money. This was literally the ONLY time we had for it to get fixed. Thanks to his friend for helping, because we'd be lost without all the help. Brandon likes kids, but our plan was to wait a few more years. Even as I've had baby fever over the last six months or so, he's talked sense into me. Welllllll now we've got a four year old and a five year old!  Heyyyyy life. Haha.  I love him more and more everyday, but my admiration for his huge heart and beautiful soul has grown TONS in the matter of two days. He's my rock. He's amazing. I'm so grateful and honored to be Mrs. Brandon Lawson. 

On the way to court this morning, we were laughing about how life was so different Tuesday than it was on Wednesday. Our lives have COMPLETELY changed. But I know it's for the better. These kids are hilarious!  "Well Doug is just sittin here being lazy!"  "Guys, I need to make some phone calls. Can you please be quiet?  Well why don't you just put it on speakerphone or go outside?!"  We are learning all about manners and routine. It's insane. I still kind of can't wrap my head around it. I woke up yesterday and thought, "wait, did that happen??"  And sure enough, there were two sleeping babes in the other room!  So, here we go on this crazy adventure. I would say it's the crazie.... Nevermind, if I say that, God will throw more crazy at us!  It's one of the crazier decisions we've made. So, here we are, in our almost second year of marriage, with a family of six!  My heart is full and I love our little family. 

Late night captain crunch Wednesday night!  (Laiken, 5 and Issac, 4)

"I told you I have bushy hair in the morning!"

Bunk beds!!!!

Until next time, we'll just be cartin kids around and giving them lots of love!

The one about my momma.

I heard the phrase, "rest in Him" often as a child. Growing up in the church, I think I often knew what sayings/teachings meant, but didn't always do a good job applying those lessons to my heart or soul. Don't get me wrong, I had a really wonderful upbringing, a very strong family whose faith was unshakable, and a loving church family. Looking back, I just hadn't quite applied those teachings to my heart.  I'm here to share with you what I've learned. 

We are encouraged to have peace, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, and love in our hearts as Christians. We are also taught as wives to be godly women who serve our husbands. I know that people talk about the Proverbs 31 woman often, but I'm going to pull a few verses from there today anyways.  They're just too good not to share. A specific woman comes to mind when I think about this, and she'd never want this kind of attention because she's not an attention-seeking person at all.  She's a servant, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a wife, and so much more.  Who might I be talking about?  Some of you may have already guessed. She's my mom. 

Let's get to know Miss Audrey. She's a home health nurse. She takes care of my father (he had a stroke a few years ago and is doing MUCH better, but still needs a little extra help).  She's a volunteer. She's a mom to seven children (4 of her own, a son and daughter-in-law, and her new dog Wylie).  She  likes to take walks to get her exercise.  She'd rather shop for others than for herself. She and dad like to have date nights often to the movies, restaurants, museums, you name it. They love spending time together. She's a hard, diligent worker.  She's a LADY. She taught me how to be domestic. She loves her life and is a God-fearing woman. She's a great example to me for the kind of wife and mother I would love to become. Here's a few verses to describe her. 

"An excellent wife who can find?  She is worth far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not harm, all the days of her life."

Proverbs 31:10-12

Y'all.  My mom is amazing. She and my daddy love each other so much and I am so very thankful for their strong example of what an amazing marriage looks like. 

"...Her lamp does not go out at night."  

Proverbs 31:18

She comes home after a long workday and takes care of my father's needs. I've never heard her complain ONCE. She's taken this life God has given her and is using it to glorify Him.  She's simply amazing. 

"She opens her hand to the poor and reaches her hands out to the needy."

Proverbs 31:20

She would help anybody in need. I have so many memories of her helping others:  whether it was the family that needed beds for their kids to sleep in, the woman who needed a ride on Christmas Eve, or someone in the hospital that just needed a visit to cheer them up. 

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."

Proverbs 31:25-26

She is the strongest woman I know. When my dad was really sick, she just pressed on. She'd work during the day and visit the hospital every night and sometimes during the day between her patients.  She was faithful and knew that God always has a plan.  I've never met a kinder soul. She's a good one.  

"Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:31

I'm here to tell you. She has lots of treasures stored up in heaven.  She is amazing. I love her so much and am so grateful to call her my mother. She truly is a remarkable woman and an amazing role model. 

So, I now know how to "rest in Him". As I look back, I realize that I have had an amazing example of that kind of life in my mother. I've learned not to sweat the small stuff, to give it all to God, and to love life no matter what. I could go on and on about her, but I'll stop for now. 

Mom, Kaela, and me at Dollywood last year. 

Mom and dad at Kellen's high school graduation last year. 

Mom, dad, and grandma at Jared's college graduation last year. (2 kids graduating in one year, they're doing something right!)

All the fun ladies in our family: mom, me, Kaela, Aunt Kathy, and Grandma. Not pictured: Aunt Carolyn. Not sure how, but she managed to dodge the pic!  Every one of these ladies deserves their own blog post. Because they're all amazing women. 

Mom and I on my wedding day. She's the best. She's my role model. She's my mother. Love you mom!