plus one more.

It's no secret that our favorite place to make memories is in the great outdoors. Back in 2012, Teesh and I formally established a new family tradition where we made unplugging on the trail a natural rhythm of our time together. This tradition has gotten more tricky since adding a couple of kiddos to our crew, but it has given us opportunities to both simplify our expectations and push ourselves to new limits.

Braxton was about three months old when we took him on his first hike, and this particular hike is special to us because it was the last one we did as a family of two AND the first one as a family of three. So, it was appropriate that our first hike as a family of four be at the same little loop, too.

This one was the sweetest one yet, because my mind was flooded with so many memories. Our family has grown so much since we were newlyweds with the world at our fingertips, and I'm so grateful for it. We're still chasing after our dreams while simultaneously trying to teach and encourage our children have dreams of their own, and it's our greatest adventure yet. And we especially want them to know that the best place to dream is in wide open spaces, where you can disconnect with the world for a while and hear the Father speak more clearly.

Little Miss snoozed through the whole hike, snuggled close to my chest, but she did wake up just as we were walking to the playground to let her brother use up more energy (because even after walking a mile on his own feet, he still had exponential amounts to use up -- CRAY CRAY!). One day, in the blink of an eye, she will be walking the trails on her own feet, too -- just like her big brother. But for now, I will enjoy toting her around while she listens to my heart beat.

Oh, if days like this would last and last and last.

I'm proud as can be for the opportunity to both show her the world and teach her how to make the world hers. I'm going to try my best to give her the world, too. And to always tell her how much brighter she made our world when she was born.