Allie + Aaron | Sedona, Arizona

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Dear Allie,

In only two short months, you’ll be holding a little bundle in your arms. You’ll experience for the first time, what it’s like when heaven meets earth. Though we’ll never understand the fullness of God’s love, that little bundle will open up your heart to a new side of God’s love that you have never before experienced. You’ll laugh, but because you’re you, you’ll cry at the goodness of God’s love laying there squiggling in your arms.

Life changes in a big way (though I didn’t believe people when they told me that), but it changes in the very best ways possible. In the days to come, you’ll be exhausted, wondering if ou’ll ever experience a full nights rest again. And you will, I promise.

You’ll probably ask for advice, people will give it, and then you’ll regret asking for advice because everyone’s opinions will drive you absolutely crazy. Bless their hearts.

Despite what you may believe at times, you are the absolute best mom for Tobias. God gave him to you. He has entrusted you with the care of His child, knowing full well you’ll raise him to be the man He desires him to be. You’ll probably wonder if you’re doing it right, and I wish I could tell you the answer, but I can’t. In fact, I’m 99% sure most of the time I’m doing it wrong.

The last 4 years, there’s been one word that has gotten me through the sleepless nights, all of the overwhelming questions of inquisitive toddlers and feelings of complete weariness. It’s a word, a name actually, that brings hope, peace and a strength like no other. It’s not a secret really and sometimes I don’t use it as frequently as I should. When you find yourself in a place where you can’t distinguish the joy from the pure exhaustion- whisper, shout, speak, pray, write…whatever you need to do, the name of Jesus. He is the only hope for us weary mommas.

I’m sure you’ve heard horror stories of the worst days. Of how hard it’s going to be but I promise you, the best days are yet to come.  The good out weighs the bad.  The joy outweighs the exhaustion.  He’s called you to this time and this place, this is what you were made for.

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The McFadden Family

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Cookie Dough. America Idol. Nau. Lake Tahoe.

I have so, SO many memories with Ben and Anya. We were there for other when we needed someone the most. It’s been 9 years, NINE since I’ve seen and hugged Anya in person! I’m thankful for social media so we can keep up with each other even though we haven’t seen each other in so long! So much has happened in the span of years that has passed. We’ve both have gotten married, have two sweet little blonde haired babes and have both continued pursuing our passion for photography! She always had a camera with her in college and was there documenting all the fun times we shared with our college group!

So you’re probably wondering about the cookie dough and America Idol, huh? Though it probably doesn’t take much explaining! Almost every Tuesday for an entire season (I believe the year Jordin Sparks was on) she and I would meet at her apartment, eat dinner and watch American Idol and there was almost always, cookie dough in one form or another. Cooked, raw, it didn’t matter. We ate it. To this day, that recipe is hands down my all time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe!

After she and Ben got married, they moved to Sacramento for Ben to start his first job in construction management. At the same time they were starting their marriage, mine was ending. It was a very painful time but I went to visit them for a few weeks and it brought so much healing to my soul. We hiked, we canoed, we ate, we laughed. It was what we both needed and it’s a time I’ll never forget!

Fast forward 9 years and God’s healing and restoration has been so evident in both of our lives. From the challenges that faced us then, to the challenges of mother hood now, the one constant in our lives has been the presence of our loving Savior. He is hope everlasting.

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