Welcome, Baby Levi!

Levi Joshua Critz arrived at 2:45 am on July 19th. He weighed 8lbs. 9oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long. I'll give more details soon, but wanted to get a few pictures out here for those waiting to see him. We are all doing well and loving our new baby! We are extremely grateful for his safe arrival! Thanks to all of you who have been praying faithfully for me and for him!

28 vs. 18

This week I celebrated my 28th birthday. It feels so strange sometimes to be an adult. To be a mother of three and have married siblings with nieces and nephews. To take care of a house and family and teach my child to read. All the things I watched "the moms" do, I am now doing myself. When did that happen?! Someone mentioned my approaching 30th the other day and I realized that I have absolutely no qualms about reaching that milestone. I love where God has me. I love the difference in how I feel at 28 vs. 18. Here are some of my favorites as I compare this year to when I turned 18 ten years ago.

• Instead of a beginning and still unsure relationship with John, I have the fruit of ten years of relationship and almost seven years of the most amazing marriage I could have dreamed up at that point.
• Instead of a job taking care of other people's children, I am taking care of my own favorite babies.
• Instead of constantly wondering what others are thinking of how I look or act, I feel much more free to focus on what God thinks of me.
• I am a person who feels deeply about people and their problems and joys. Instead of worrying if they feel the same way about me, I feel free to dig in and just think about what I can give to them.
• Instead of a faith founded on the belief that God was there and would provide and take care of me, I now have the far deeper trust of someone who has been carried through each struggle and pain by a God who is more real than the things I can see with my eyes.
• At 18 God was my Counselor, Friend, Comforter, Teacher. At 28 He has become far more crucial to my very being. He is Breath, Life, Wisdom, Love, Salvation, Existence.

I would never go back. I would not trade the responsibilities, lack of sleep, or non-existence of alone trips to the bathroom for any carefree fun I had at l8. Life is a lot of work right now. My body has been taken over by a tiny being who will continue to claim much of it for the next several months. My mind is full of things to be done, tasks to be performed, countless jobs that rest with me. My spirit can no longer focus only on my own growth and relationship but has a constant heart's cry for the salvation and relationship with God of my children. And my heart is full. Full to the breaking point with love and gratitude for where God has put me. Full to the point that I can't imagine there being room for more until suddenly God sends someone new and I find that my heart only gets bigger. So if this is life headed toward 30, BRING IT ON!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" Psalm 103:1

Baby Brooklyn Birth Day Pictures

Well, I got the pictures off my camera from yesterday as promised. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture that actually shows the baby! In my defense, I was using Brittany's camera to take TONS of pictures for her when Kyndall met Brooklyn for the first time so I did take lots of pictures of her, I just don't have them. I'll try to get one up here for you to see her soon.

Going to meet Brooklyn

Singing "Every Move I Make" all the way to Denton

A small portion of the crew waiting for sister!

A proud auntie with her new niece - love that girl so much already!!!

Welcome to the World, Baby Brooklyn!

My fourth precious niece was born this afternoon and she is another keeper!!! I'll try to get my camera up here and get some pictures posted tonight or tomorrow. After a fairly long and tiring labor, Brittany was successful in her desire to have a vbac after two c-sections. Go, Dr. Cummings and Brittany! Brooklyn was 8lbs. even and 18 1/2 inches long. She looks a lot like Kyndall and is precious and perfect in every way. We were able to keep Kyndall today and she had a fun cousin day. All three kids played like perfect angels before going to meet sister and cousin tonight. Thank you, Lord, for her safe arrival!!! For my family, that is one baby down and one to go. We're next!

Wrapping It Up

Our excellent boat driver

That's Kailey under there napping. Can you see her foot sticking out?

They were so cute in their life vests!

Some Bubba/Sissy snuggle time when she woke up

EVERYONE driving the boat

Our other excellent driver - we asked him to smile for the camera and he said seriously, "I'm driving!"

Mom and all three kids! : )

One view from our room

Here are the final pictures from Destin. We rented a boat on a spur-of-the-moment whim while walking through the marina and took it out for our last full afternoon. It turned out to be one of our very favorite things and one we will definitely do again. We drove it across the bay to a sandbar where the water was only a few feet deep. It was fun having the ocean surrounding us but still room to move around. Our family, a cooler of snacks and drinks, a ball to throw, and we were in great shape! So many memories. . . can't wait to do it again!

Return to Destin

I am going to wrap up these beach pictures before I start posting shots of Levi. Here are some of my kids hanging out. There are great walking trails at the Sandestin resort and these were taken on those and at the marina. The kids loved the parrot. They really thrived on just being together as a family for a solid week!

Up in the treehouse

Playing a giant game of checkers

Yummy breakfast!

Walking with Mom

Couldn't you eat them up?!