It's Been a While....

It's been over a year since I felt the urge and had the time to blog. Maybe it's not my thing, or maybe it's just that our family has been extremely busy and life has been a wee bit complicated lately. Regardless, here's the latest from the Beaver household: Ava turned a year old in December and has proved to me and her daddy why we weren't given any boys. There is no way there could have been a boy more mischevious or more like her daddy than Ava- it's just not possible! Emma is now in the 3rd grade and Kayla is in 7th. They have grown up before our eyes and with it has come lots of changes, arguments, new attitudes but more joy than we could have ever asked for. I am truely proud of my girls! My Mom started experiencing some problems with swallowing at the beginning of this year and what we thought was a minor problem ended up being the diagnosis of esophageal cancer in March of this year. She has undergone radiation, chemo, surgery and will be facing more tests & possibly more treatments/surgery in the near future. She will be going to Duke for a 2nd opinion and hopefully for some answers to all our questions next week. Throughout her treatments and days of ups and downs she has remained positive and my inspiration. She never complains and always says it could be worse and God has a reason for all of this. Robbie is almost 2 months into his 9 month deployment. He is doing good and continues to be my rock even though he is 1000s of miles away. I look forward to my time on skype with him b/c whether I've had the best of days or worst of days he is always there for me and supports and encourages me even when I'm the one here and he's the one deployed. I want to brag on my husband. He is an amazing man and his unwavering love & faith has helped me so much through this last few months. He does his job overseas every day without complaining when I know every day is aggravating and just simply not "home". He does all this and still makes time to call or skype with me and make sure the girls and I are ok and let us know we are loved. I could not have ever looked at this day from 15 years ago and told you this is where we would have been but I am so extremely blessed and even in the hard times it only makes me love him more. I left my job at the bank at the end of May in order to prepare for Robbie's deployment, be with my girls more and to be there for Mom. Little did I know that in the next few weeks things would get even harder and God was just preparing me for what was in store. I had an accident early on the morning I was suppose to fly out to Texas for one last visit with Robbie before he flew out for overseas. I fell at a friend's house on water from my car's a/c and unfortunately broke my knee cap. I was able to go ahead on the trip after my friend took me to the ER and we made our first journey together to wish our husbands off. It was a great trip and thankfully Robbie was allowed to come home a few days later to get me through surgery and settled back at home. A week later he left, and I was lost. I'm currently in my 6th week after surgery and though I'm dreading my next appt I am hoping to start physical therapy and start on the road back to life before crutches! The day after my surgery, Mom was suppose to have her surgery to remove her tumor in her esophagus, but we unfortunately received more bad news. Surgery was delayed b/c of an in-operable tumor found on her aorta. She is back home now and taking things a day at a time until her appt at Duke. We know the Lord can work miracles and he is the great physician. I do ask though that you would please keep Mom and Dad in your prayers and that God have his will. There are many other things that have happened within our families but even with all the obstacles and challenges that we face, we want to praise the Lord for his mercy and grace on us. I am thankful for my family, for my friends and for the days that make you look back and see how blessed we truely are.

Here is a pic of our family at the Yellow Ribbon Ceremony held in Taylorsville a few weeks before Robbie left.

Why ask Why???

"Why" has been the most uttered word running through my mind over the last month. It seems like all I have done lately is fuss and complain about "why this?" or "why that?". Have you ever just felt like the whole world was against you and you had the worst luck ever?? Robbie & I have felt this so much over the last few weeks. It was like no matter how hard we tried & how much progress we were making something came along to throw us 3 steps behind. Despite these thoughts & how easily it is to ask, I've been burdened this week to stop complaining and asking why so much and start asking "why not?" or "what could it have been?". Instead of, why did he have an accident & we have no vehicle... so thankful no one was hurt worse & thankful God is making the truth apparent to us. Instead of, why is there no money....grateful God made a way for us to have new jobs, clothes, food & a home. Instead of, why did the air go out & why is it so hot outside...thankful to have air conditioning at all, clean cool water to drink & to not be in another country in the midst of a famine, drought or fighting a war. In all the why's that I have questioned, I've asked God to open my eyes and show me His plan and realize that things, even when they seem bad, could always be so much worse. In all my "why's", I've learned that there is indeed a reason, but even more so, something better just around the corner. In hard times SEEK GOD, in good times, PRAISE GOD and all the time TRUST GOD!!

I hope if any of you feel like this is the kind of day or week you've been having you can step back & just take a minute & see if there is something bigger & better God is trying to show you. Pray for me and my family that we will all not ask "why" so much but instead lean more on Him!

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
John 14:1 KJV


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Did You Miss Me??

Let me first apologize for falling off the face of the earth! As you can imagine, I have been extremely busier than normal with an infant in the house again! Things have been wonderful with Ava though! She, except for occasional sleep issues, is a very good baby. She has lots to keep her occupied with two other sisters in the house. Kayla turned 11 in March and Emma turned 7 in May. They are both ready for the end of the school year to be over & get onto summer break. They both have done really well in school this year. Kayla made level 4's on her Science, Math & Reading EOG's which is a big accomplishment for 5th grade, and both Kayla & Emma are finishing up ball season (softball) as we speak. It's good to keep them involved with school & sports, but I have to admit, I'm ready for a break! Ava is growing like a weed! She has a check up in a couple weeks, but she's around 14 lbs. or so now. She's learning something new every day. She's already trying to crawl & can get around by rolling pretty easily. She does have a bit of a temper when it comes to her food though. When she's hungry we know it! She's up to about 5-6 new baby foods now. What fun! Robbie & I are doing good as well. I took a part-time peak teller position in March for First Citizens Bank and balance that as well as Thirty-One part-time and of course the regular jobs of Mom & wife! haha.. Robbie, well, is still Robbie for sure, but he's looking for what the Lord would have him do at the moment. He's working a regular job & already planning for deployment upcoming again next year, but feels like the Lord is trying to lead him in another direction, at this point, we're not sure just what or where. We know the Lord has a lot in store for our family and we are just praying that we follow him as best we can & always turn to him for guidance. I have the hardest time with this and I pray that I can quit trying to be Mrs. fix-it all the time & give my worries to him to handle. I guess that's one of a woman's main flaws though. It's hard being a woman, wife, mom at times because we do worry about things so much. With men, it's black or white...no gray area. No questions. To my husband I thank you for always just telling it like it is or accepting things the way they are & without worrying. With that said, keep our family in your prayers..we are praying for a change and where He leads we will follow.

I hope to be blogging more on a regular basis since hopefully things are getting back to a more normal routine. Who am I kidding, nothing's ever normal at our house, but I do enjoy my down time blogging. It's a good "me time" & stress relief, even if no one does read! lol Here are a few pics I thought I'd share that are my favs from the past several months! Enjoy!


Our Christmas Baby!

Mommy & Ava! (2 mons.)

The Girls on Valentine's Day!



Ava 3 months!



Kayla's 11th Birthday!














Easter Sunday














Ava 4 mons.










Emma's 7th Birthday!









Ava 5 mons.

She's Here!!

That's right....Ava Grace Beaver is here!! Born December 12, 2010, 5 lbs. 14 oz. 18-1/2 in.

I always said this baby already had a mind of her own and boy was I right! Here's a little rundown of her arrival:
My due date was actually Dec. 24th Christmas Eve, so I begged the Dr. to please let me go a little early so I wouldn't be in the hospital on Christmas and be home enough before to get adjusted. So, Dr. Hall said we could schedule my induction for a week early, Dec. 17th. I was suppose to go on the 15th to pre-admit & get ready for the early trip to the hospital on the 17th. With that being said last weekend I wasn't feeling like myself..mainly just tired. Saturday night we had taken the girls along w/ my parents to my cousin's church to see the Live Nativity. After we got home I was so tired so I went on to bed. About 3:30am I woke up to what I thought could be mild contractions. Robbie woke up & asked me if I was ok & jokingly if I was in labor. To his surprise, I said yes, I think so. I got up, took a shower to see if the pains continued, in which they did. By about 5:20am I came through the kitchen and in an instant my water broke. I was stunned b/c my water never broke with the girls so I was a little anxious as to what would happen next. I hadn't packed anything for myself yet, just Ava, so I had to hurry & do a load of laundry, call my mom to come get the girls and then my dad called right back to ask if we had looked outside? Um, no? Well, to our surprise there was at least 2 inches on snow already on the ground and it was still pouring!! It hit me then...pure PANIC! We hurried to get the rest of what we needed & left the house around 7:45am. The roads were not in good condition and we had to stop a couple times due to accidents along the way, but managed to get to the hospital safely & checked in by 9:00am. My contractions had tapered off since my water broke so at 11:00 I was given the dreaded IV drip of pitocin. After about 12 hrs. of labor, 4-1/2 of which was on the pitocin and no pain meds, our little bundle of joy made her entrance into the world. She was 12 days early...born on the 12 day of December at 3:21pm in room 321. I know that God & Ava had that part all worked out!! We are so blessed! Today, she is 6 days old and more perfect that I could ever imagine. We are looking forward to Christmas at home together, all of us this year!

Here are a few pictures of our beautiful blessing! Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Thoughts

This year, as the season changes, the leaves fall from the trees and moon & stars shine as bright as I've ever seen, I think on the thoughts of what I am thankful for this year in particular...
*I'm thankful for my family & friends, each & every one that make it up and the togetherness we get to experience, especially around this time.
*I'm thankful for my children and the ablility to be called MOM by the two little girls that can make my day so much better in an instant & remind me of their daddy so much. And, for the little one on the way...and how I can't wait to see & hold her & have all those baby/mommy moments all over again.
*I'm thankful for my husband, who has so unselfishly spent time away from his family & friends to serve his country and be away last year, and this year has sacrified even more of his time to make sure we were provided for and loved.
*I'm thankful for my Lord & Savior, who is the one why we celebrate & have Thanksgiving. That, one day he gave his life to take away & forgive all my sins so I might live & have eternal life with him in Heaven & that's it's him that makes everything we have & do possible.
*I'm thankful for a place to worship, a place to call home, a place to work, and a place to send my children to school.
*I'm thankful for the simple yet most important things such as food, shelter & time, and the ability to feel emotions & experience all ups & downs of life and then apply & learn from them.
*I'm also thankful this year for memories. I've thought so much this week about my grandmothers that are already home with the Lord and how many things remind me of them and how even today, I long still to be a little more like them. I also think sometimes how I'd love for them to be able to meet Ava, but then I think somehow they already have!

I know there are things I've forgotten & I know my list could go on and on, but I just want to leave you with the thought of..."What are you thankful for this year?"
Hope each of you and your families have a blessed Thanksgiving!


"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

A Few More Pictures!!

The Beaver family had the privilege of attending our first family photo shoot this weekend. We went to The Bluffs of Wilson Creek & The Coves to take our pictures. We were very pleased with the sneek peak we got today & can't wait to have them all! Cindy Craven, the photographer, went to high school with Robbie & I, and recently moved back to Caldwell Co. and started her own photography business. She does an excellent job and we had a great time! You can visit her website here:
http://cindycravenphotography.weebly.com/

Here are a few of our favorites we thought we would share with you!

A View of Miss Ava

For my birthday this year I wanted to do a little something different. I requested that we spend it getting to see our sweet baby girl, since this would be my last opportunity to do an ultrasound. So, I booked an appt. in Hickory with Baby in Me 4D Imaging. It was amazing, I'd never had a 4D ultrasound done before. We went on the 14th and tried to take a look at her, but she was a bit stubborn (like her daddy) and wouldn't get her foot or hand out of her face, so we had to reschedule for today to finish up. She still didn't want to cooperate much today, but we did get to bring home some pictures & a DVD. The computer at the clinic also went down so I still have to go back next week to get our hard copies, but I thought I would share a few of her pictures! She's quite the little stinker already!

She opened her eyes for just a second!

Showing us her foot!

Giving us kisses!

Big Yawn!

Already got her mad/pouty face down!

A little smile!

What a sweet face!


We love you Ava Grace & we can't wait to get to see you & spoil you in person!