my baby boy

man, it's been a while. missed you. there's some things i want to tell you about. 
FIRST of all, my baby boy turned THREE last tuesday. THREE. i had a mini heart attack about that. but also, really love watching him grow up. i kept thinking about the night we went to the hospital to be induced and how i knew ABSOLUTELY nothing about anything that was about to happen to me. for the best, though, i am certain. it was so crazy. and all of a sudden you have this baby. and it's yours. so weird. 
anyway, i love finley jacob with my whole heart. he is such a mix of determination, strength, dedication and softness and sweetness and he is just wonderful. i know, this is a super mushy post. but hey, it's my kid's birthday. he got many gifts. he got like 4 front loaders, a back hoe, airplanes, monster trucks, a green tractor, a huge garbage truck (from us, of course- because he thinks he's a garbage truck- aiming high that boy), cars, bubbles, trains, and more. his party was yesterday and all day today he would carry ALL of his new toys around to each room he was playing in. ALL of them. he would say, "i need to get my bir-day toys," and run and get them. we were in his room this morning before church and he pointed to each of his new toys and told me who gave him which toy. melted me. he's so sweet like that. 
happy birthday, finley. hope you always know we love you like crazy. 
here's a few pics from the party. we are so thankful for our new friends who came to celebrate. so glad you came. sure wish all our portland people who love him were here. we definitely thought of you all. 

 i mean, can you even stand audrey in those hot pink boots my mom got her!?! way too cute.

 finley told me for weeks that he wanted a football cake. easy enough.

 our new friend, elly.

 fun in the leaves!

 LOVE finley's face here. it's so him.

 after we sang, he just stuck his face right in that cake! 

on another note, i just wanted to update y'all on the youth group. i've been going for 2 weeks now, leading the high school girl's small group with a lady named, jen, and i am just loving it. today, i just looked around at the girls, there's about 8 of them, and thought... man, i love them all already. so glad the Lord led my heart there and am excited about what's to come.

i sure hope life is good wherever you are. thankful today for a kind God who gives and takes. and who is always Good. 

love ya.

mer