The most significant thing that's happened in the last month is that we now have a 2-year-old.
Ummm, I'm not so sure I like how those three little words roll off of my tongue. I'm sure you know what I mean. The 2-year-olds are usually the ones kicking and screaming or being dragged out of something somewhere. Over night that sweet little angel-resembling child turns into a fire-breathing dragon. He now thinks he has a better idea....about everything. It doesn't matter what we as parents suggest/insist/demand, it's a bad idea. I'm learning very quickly I've got to stick to my guns. Other than that, being two is great. No, really, it is. I love hearing him talk and sing. He has the deepest little voice. He likes to sing Twinkle, Barney, ABC's, some Wiggles songs, Jesus Loves Me, I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy. He is getting used to his pre-school, learning lots and enjoying the special days when he gets to take his teddy bear. 
He is really doing well with his colors, too. He's got yellow and purple down. (Maybe we should have gone to LSU?) He, like his daddy, loves the Braves. He even told them "night, Braves," the other day.Benjamin got his first REAL haircut. I have trimmed it, but he really hasn't had it cut. He did great! He got a little ant-sy towards the end, but was quite the trooper.
We had Benjamin's birthday party on labor day (fitting since that's the day he was born) and it was a blast! We had a pretty small gathering of family and friends. Since we are in Troy, some of my family and friends were able to come up for the day. We had a vintage train party at the pioneer museum in town - they have an old locomotive and a small train (decorated lawn mower) for the kids to ride. It was a little thrown together, but turned out to be an enjoyable day.
O, I have put up some photos from our vacation this summer in California. They are on my photography website. The password is: cochran
We are loving living in a college town. We enjoy getting to hear our students play the trumpet, going to watch volleyball and football games. I'll be honest, the tailgating at a busy intersection is a little stressful for my paranoid self, but it's great hanging out with friends and catching up with those we don't get to see often. Benjamin had a blast at the first home game. He didn't want to miss a moment. In this pic, he's wide eye-ed and drumming with the band.
It was a surreal experience for us as well. This was our first football game since we had moved back to Troy. Something about it just feels like home. This is where we fell in love with our Creator all over again and decided to devote ourselves to ministry, where we had the time of our lives and where we met and began our journey together. And for some reason, we realized this at a football game. It was such a sense of joy and pride to take Benjamin and although right now, it means nothing more than loud cheering, fireworks and the band playing, maybe one day hearing those sounds will bring back memories for him as well.
We are also loving our students! Things are going really well with the campus ministry. We have AMAZING students and are really enjoying getting to know them and sharing in their lives. They are so good with Benjamin and understanding when he doesn't return the favor. We went on a rafting retreat at the end of August that was an absolute blast. Great times, great bonding and great memories! We are also getting closer to building our new CSC! We hope to be tearing this one down in the next couple of months. Bitter sweet.
I can't help but feel troubled today for our friend, Tony, and his young twins, Jonah and Claire. He has lost his wife and they have lost their mother. Susan Griffies passed away today after a stroke during a brain procedure yesterday. She was 33 and a light to all and will be missed by many.
Hope you all are doing well. Thanks for stopping in and checking on us.
Love,
