Dare you to Move

This has turned into my place to process lately. I know not all of you want to read this stuff, so if that's you (Mom) you should probably stop reading now. :)

Just left my last Tuesday night bible study at Coffee Plantation. Three and a half years running with these ladies. I told Karie on my way there that my heart has been hurting all day. Like for real hurting... I have to keep taking big deep breaths. I think it's fair to say it's breaking.

I keep wondering if I'll have a chance to tell this community (MMCC) just what it means to me. I tried to close our group in prayer tonight and got two words into it. Jenn took over. I can't even get the words out of my throat.

I came to MMCC after a fairly painful experience at another church. This was pre-Jared. I knew Alexandra attended with her friends so I came with her. I know so many of you have experienced the love and the welcoming arms of MMCC. There's nothing more refreshing and beautiful. THEN... I met my Jared and his family. MMCC introduced me (again) to that hot freshman guy.... luckily freshman in college this time around. Then there was Crash. The young adults group that kept me sane while I dated Jared long distance for two years. This church practically threw our wedding and helped us start our lives together. This church has helped us raise our children. I've spent pretty much every Tuesday night with amazing women. This church has some of our best friends in the world. This church has our amazing mentors. This church has my family.

Tonight we were concluding our latest study ("Lost Women of the Bible"- good read :)). We all shared what has been meaningful to us through this study. I asked Sarah to read one of my favorite parts tonight 'cause I couldn't get it out.

"Hannah reminded herself that God was in control over the events that were breaking her heart, that he was at work in her pain to draw her closer and make her strong, and that he was holding her tightly and was not about to let her go."

Ugh.

I think of how MMCC started. So similar to what we're about to embark on. I pray that this new church brings the same community to the people in Frisco, and to us again. We have such an amazing model.

After I dropped off Karie, "Dare you to Move" came on by Switchfoot. Jared listened to this song the summer we started hanging out. Said God was daring him to pursue me. :) (He liked me.) At first the song was so comforting... knowing that even though we're leaving so much greatness, we're leaving it TOGETHER. I have my best friend with me every step of the way. I'm not doing this alone. I'm so thankful for him. Then the song turned back into a challenge...

"...The tension is here

Between who you are and who you could be

Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move..."

God's good at making sure I'm looking forward.

He knows what I need, when I need it.

God is good.

All the time.

The Last Supper... for real.

September 16, 2007... The Fay, Owens and Doe couples went out to dinner. Sophia was scheduled to come the very next day. She didn't.. came one more after that. Regardless, we knew life was about to drastically change for us all. First, Sophia's arrival then Oliver a few weeks later. No more late nights playing games, watching seasons of "24" and meeting up for meals on a whim.

We called it... "The Last Supper".

Fast forward three years and a few months and 5 1/2 kids later

(the Fays really give this number a boost).

January 29, 2011... "The Real Last Supper" before we move away. Chelseas Kitchen, dessert at LGO and a few hours of laughter and great baby sitters... A perfect night.

We've experienced so much life with these friends and are so thankful for their friendship, loyalty and LOVE (Yea Michael?). It's so hard to imagine life without you. So with that said, we'll see you when you visit real soon. American flag button up shirts, fake Dubya accents and all.

There really are no words...

Just thank you and love you.

A friendship in photos

Sophia Loves Oliver

Sophie Doe and Ollie Mo from the beginning...

Love you "best friend"

xoxoxoxoxo

What has Sophs been up to?

Tonight is her first night in her real big girl bed!

We figured she should get used to the bed before we change her whole world in a few weeks. She's fallen out of her toddler bed a couple of times. It's about time. She REALLY wants her bed... and our new house... to be pink. I figured I better get the pink bed figured out cause she's gonna be disappointed with our non-pink house.

We searched a couple of stores tonight and didn't really find what we were looking for. When we decided to leave the store she said, "Mom, why don't we go home and think about it."

I agreed. So I put the only sheets I had that would fit on it tonight... snowmen. She came in for bed and said, "Mom, there's just one problem... it's blue."

Can't get anything past that one.

We found what we liked online and it'll be here soon.

She got to bake cupcakes with Jewell!

Here they are in their aprons ready to go!

The mommies had fun too.

She has reinvented SUPERCAKES!

Super Grover was my favorite on Sesame Street when I was little. I used to put my hooded towel on and run around the house as "Supercakes!"

I woke up one morning to Sophia at my bed side. Dad had turned on Sesame Street. She had on a hooded towel, her rain boots and had dug through her bath toys to find an 'S' that she was asking me to put on her shirt with "sticky tape".

She made her very own

Super Sophia!

Micah is 9 months!

At 9 months:

* 22.14 lbs- Yes, that's almost 23 lbs,

BUT he's only in the 80th percentile!

There are some large 9 month olds out there.

* 30"- 90th percentile.

Pretty sure I'm gonna be the shortest in this family in no time.

* Still has a twinkle in his eye, constant smile on his face

and usually has his tongue hangin' out.

* Loves to clap and dance

* Crawling on all fours

* Pulling up on everything

* Not a tooth in sight

Micah has been quite busy with the ladies lately.

Here he is with Jolee...

And Maya and Bella....

And here is his first ever attempt at dancing.

It isn't much here, but you should see him groove now!

Aunt Koo Koo got him moving.

I have no new photos, but...

I have a few minutes. By myself. With a computer. That doesn't happen often and probably won't happen much in the next four weeks so I better do this now.

It's the final countdown.

33 days left in my home state. It's gonna be a long AND way too fast four weeks.

The house already looks sad. We've done quite a bit of packing. Garage sale is this weekend. Lori is going to come down in a couple of weeks to hang with the kiddos and we'll probably do most of the packing that week. The truck comes the next week. It'll be paper plates, microwavable meals and/or take out until the truck leaves and we move into the Nutt house for a week.

I had my first good cry today. Karie called in the midst of it and being the best big sister that she is, there was a cherry limeaid at my doorstep with in five minutes. I love my family. I love my bestest friends here. I can hear Jared out in the living room with some of the boys now. Doing that comfortable, high-pitched giggle that he does around the guys he's known and loved for so long. I get so sad. I don't wanna leave.

Then, I remind myself to look forward. I think of my bestest friends and family in TX. I think of the new friends that God has already picked out for us (they're SO lucky ;) ). I think of what God is doing and how He's graciously allowed us to join Him in it. I get way excited. I really want to go.

I'm a hot mess, people. But I wouldn't change any of it. It's a peaceful place. Being right where He wants us. Doing what He's asked of us. It's humbling. I've already seen Him work in miraculous ways to get this church growing. I think of how our time at SCA, my time at Baylor, Jared's time at Anderson, our time at MMCC... It's all worked together to make this possible. It's crazy to look back on events in our lives and see God's hand completely directing us to this exact place, at this exact time, with these exact people. I can't imagine what's in store. The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. But I'm excited. Nervous and scared, yes. But mostly excited.

We'll try to keep everyone updated on our progress over the next few weeks. And Dallas friends, if you ever feel like giving us a call in the next four weeks and reminding us about how great life will be when we get there, well, I'll need to hear it. :)

Baby Sluyk!!

I was so thankful to get to share in a special moment in the life of Danny and Allie. They had their ultrasound for the new baby while they were in town and we got to go register with them after they found out they're having a...

GIRL!!

I'm so excited for you Allie.

You're gonna be great parents and this little girl is gonna be a knock-out!

That takes my count to...

7 nephews

and

5 nieces!