18 Holes for Haiti | 5th annual.

Months and months of hard work was brought to fruition this past weekend, none of which would have been possible without the anointing from our good, good Father. Saturday hosted the 5th annual 18 Holes for Haiti golf tournament, and it was the biggest success yet. Teesh and his team drew in sponsors from all over the upstate, many of which are local to Fountain Inn, and their names and logos were found throughout the landscape.

My cousin, Phil, won the putting contest, most of my family played on teams in the tournament (as did so many of our dearest friends, old and new), our friend, Tony, won $1,000 in the ball drop (WOW!), and everyone was having a blast as we rode around snapping pictures and checking on everyone. The raffle was AMAZING this year, and they were a HUGE hit both during the weeks leading up to and at the tournament (shout out to the community groups at Capstone Church!). And the volunteers this year -- LOVE THEM! These awesome people helped with registration, raffle tickets, serving breakfast, keeping track of the events going on during the tournament, driving the beverage cart around to the players, setting up a bake sale for the golfers, and more. It took a mighty village to pull this off, and we were so thankful for all those who helped make it happen!

This tournament usually brings in between $10,000 and $12,000 for our friends-turned-family at Hope Vision Ministry, but this year was the most successful one yet. Are y'all ready for this? The grand total raised at this event was $18,000!

$18,000!

So amazing! This is a big year at Hope Vision, and the money raised will be crucial in helping them finally move to the new land that we've been building on for years. SO AMAZING! And yes, Teesh and I totally did a happy dance in the kitchen when the totals were in.

I was reminded a few weeks ago that the anointing from God is what ushers in power, not the gift or the works, and I haven't stopped praising God for how He breathed so much anointing over this day. From the weather going from wet and rainy to waking up to blue, clear skies to all those who generously joined Haiti Gospel Fund in their mission -- God was there with us this day, as He always is.

The proud wife in me, the one who saw firsthand all the late nights and early mornings, would love it if you would tell TJ how awesome everything was. He (and his team) worked SO hard to hit that big number above! I'm not sure there's anything he wouldn't do for Pastor Andy and those precious kiddos at Hope Vision Ministry.

18 Holes for Haiti - 2016

18 Holes for Haiti - 2015

*I could only be at the tournament for a short time in 2013, and last year (2017) I was on a blog hiatus so none of the photos I took made it here. Just use your imagination. LOL!*

bethany victoria | five months.

What a month you have had, sweet girl! I can't believe that five months have already come and gone. Five whole months! This has been our favorite month yet, mainly because you are more adjusted to life than ever before. Praise hands from Mommy! You are eating good five times a day, sleeping all night long, staying up for about an hour and a half between naps, cooing, smiling, rolling over like a little roly poly from your belly AND your back, kicking your feet like you're running a race, and you laughed for the first time a couple weeks ago. So many fun things happening right now, little one!

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You're a belly sleeper like your big brother was, and we break all the rules by laying you in your crib on your belly. You would cry and cry and cry when we put your on your back and you always rolled over on your own anyway, so we started skipping the crying part. You, also, started drooling a lot and gnawing on your fingers right after you turned four months old, and you've officially got your first tooth coming in! It hasn't popped through yet, but your gum is swollen where it's coming in -- we're just waiting! You have another thing in common with your brother, too...both of your first teeth have been atypical. So crazy! Braxton's first tooth to come in was a top side tooth, and your first one is shaping up to be a bottom side tooth on the opposite side. I love how unique it is!

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We went hiking several times this month, and Daddy got to be out on the trails with us two times! We had so much fun all together while he was on spring break, including your first Easter, a trip to the zoo, two hikes, and several strolls (well, bike rides for your brother) around the neighborhood. Baseball season is almost over, which is so bittersweet, but that means we'll have a lot more time to spend together in the coming months. Speaking of, is it June yet? We are so ready to take you to the beach for the first time! But until then, I'll just keep savoring these days we have together. Mostly spent outside, because spring has finally come to us!

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You are being dedicated at church this Sunday, and we hope that most of our family will be able to be there to celebrate you. Daddy and I will stand before our friends and family and commit to raising you in the ways of the Lord, just like we did with your brother three years ago. We will mess up so many times in our efforts (trust me, we already have more times than we can count), but I hope you'll give us grace and be patient with us as we seek to do the same for you. More than anything in this whole, wide world, we want you to know how much you are loved -- first by God, the One who made you, and then by us. Your story oozes of love, of selflessness and sacrifice, and it's one that we are proud to tell you. I pray you'll be proud to tell it for yourself one day.

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You are long and skinny, also like your brother was/is, but here's the crazy part -- you're even taller than he was at your age! He was always at the tip top of the growing curve, but you, little lady, are ABOVE it. Whoa! Your first mama is tall, too, so I'm not surprised that you're following in her footsteps. (Side note: I hope you take after her in more ways than that, too.) We'll be starting you on solid food within the next month, so I'm preparing for all the purees I'll be making for the next six months. It will be a labor of love (just like it was for your brother), and it's one I'll be proud of and never resent. I just need to train my mind to be content with more time in the kitchen and more dishes to clean -- THAT'S the part I keep getting hung up on. LOL!

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Baby girl, you make us smile so big! You're so calm now compared to how irritable you were those first three months, and you smile so much -- you've made up for how long you made us wait! You're growing so fast, reaching so many milestones, and becoming your own little person. Braxton loves you so much, and has been nothing but sweet to you since we brought you home -- he's become your protector and right-hand-man, and it thrills my heart so, so much. You love him, too -- the big grins you give him tell us that. He always proudly exclaims, "Mommy, she's smiling at me!" every time you give him a gummy grin, and it melts my heart into a puddle.

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Keep growing and shining, Bethany Victoria! We are so grateful and proud that God saw fit to give us you. It's like we've known you forever -- and only a good, good Father could do something like that.

Braxton - Five Months Old

twin falls | hike it baby.

It had been a year and a half since we last ventured to Twin Falls, and we happily obliged because -- spring break! We seriously had so much fun having Teesh with us for a whole week, mostly uninterrupted. He had never been on this short hike with a beautiful payoff, so we jumped at the opportunity to explore this place with our Hike It Baby crew. Daddy AND Bethany got to see a new part of the world this day!

The falls were full and strong, the kiddos threw rocks and sticks into the water rushing by their feet, we all snacked at our usual spot, and  we were able to squeeze in for a group picture before heading back to the trailhead. The weather was slightly chilly, but the sun peeking through the trees felt so good on our faces. Spring is slowly but surely making it's debut, and we can hardly wait until it's in full swing!

We're about a third of the way through our Hike It Baby 30 Challenge, and we're nearly halfway to our mileage goal AND have logged more than fifteen hundred minutes outside. We've got more adventures planned in the days and weeks to come, and I hope you'll follow along! Maybe you'll even be inspired to visit these places for yourself -- that's always my hope. Life is just better in the open air!