God Bless Olivia Renee {the real end, and beginning, to our story as four}

As I am sure you have picked up from our blog here, we are a devout family of faith, and our Catholicism is intricately woven into the fabric of our lives.  While we were over the moon and beyond thankful that Olivia was born without complication and in good health, that Shane returned safely to us after an eight month deployment, the true end to this year of 'fun,' was the baptism of our little girl.

On Sunday, November 10, we were surrounded by family and friends as our Olivia Renee was claimed for Christ.  We celebrated her baptism at our family parish, Sacred Heart in Norfolk and then went out to the Historic Obici House for a luncheon in her honor.  Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us, and even more thanks to everyone who thought and prayed about us that day.

Olivia being dressed by her God mother, Mandy

Presenting our daughter to the community by name and declaring what we ask of God's Church for her:  "A loving and supportive faith community to grow up in."

Baptized; Priest, Prophet, King.  

So much love.

Trevor was able to help bring up the gifts along with my Godmother Carol, and Olivia's Godfather's wife and children.  

Our priest, Father Dan has married us, baptized Shane, Trevor and Olivia.  

My entire side of the family....fondly referred to as "The Family."

Shane's Side---Brian, Trevor (who was over photos), and Shane's Parents

Us with Olivia's Godparents, Mandy and Dan

With my Godmother, Carol

with my Tyler 

one proud mama.  we made it, baby girl!

My younger brother (we don't even try to use the word little)

 

my mother loves her Olivia!

Olivia says:  Enough with the pictures, it's time to party!!

And off to Obici House we go:  

Did you know that this is the home of Amedeo Obici, founder of Planters Peanuts, which are grown in Suffolk, Virginia? 

See, Mr. Peanut in the driveway.  

We surprised Shane with a cake to welcome him home--and to commemorate him putting on First Class since we couldn't celebrate together.  Didn't Michelle of Sweet Temptations NAIL the MR insignia?

Hey Sacred Heart pals, doesn't the scroll-work on the cake look familiar?  Again, Michelle used our archways as inspiration and styled the cake after it.  

We took time to thank the men and women who carried us through the last year.  

As well as the Godparents who have agreed to love and support Olivia as a person of faith as she grows up.   

All in all, we were surrounded by love.  If you couldn't tell.  

God Bless you, Olivia.  We pray every day of your life be as joyful as this one.  

D is for DADDY

Because everything fell perfectly into place the week of Homecoming (ok, well aside from the car accident) it was D week at Trevor's school. . We obviously pulled Trevor out for Thursday so that he could be on the pier, but Friday was his sharing day, so we really didn't want him to miss out.  Trevor chose to bring his Daddy to school for sharing, so it was a great way for our little T-rex to celebrate having his daddy home on his own!

Shane brought some of the stuff that he had picked up while on deployment to share with Trevor's class and it was so nice to see how proud Trevor is of his Daddy.

Happy Veteran's Day {Welcome Home Shane}

A perfect post for Veteran's Day.....photos of our reunion this past Thursday.  I will leave the words to our amazing photographer, Briana of Macon Photography.  I was honored to share the day with her, as well as the rest of my "Fab 5."  

Shane's Return from Deployment

{All photo credit to Macon Photography}  

coming soon!

I will blog soon about Shane's homecoming but want to have photos for you when I do.  In the meantime, please follow me on instagram @kcinva for all things #chapmanfamilyoffour




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a post that words cannot title.

It is 4:23 AM as I start to write this and I am so full of emotions and reflections about these last eight months of deployment that I do not even know where to begin.  I woke up a while ago super excited that I had actually slept through the night on the eve of deployment.  Wrong.  Too much in my head and heart to allow me to actually be at ease.  These months feel like they have been a journey to hell and back, and now that I stand a short five and a half hours from having my best friend back, I have realized the answer to something I talked about in my post the other day--"How do you do it?".....the answer is LOVE.

I love my husband and I love my children more than words can say and that is what keeps me willing to do this.  Shane loves what he does to serve his country and I love him so much that I will let him do it.  I love him enough that the distance, while painful and inconvenient at times, is just that--distance.  I can honestly say that I have not been physically present with Shane in 243 days and I have never felt closer to him in the entire nine years that we have been together, including our wedding day.
 
It is my love for my children that has helped me get through.  They are both far too young to understand or really grasp what is going on or how long this time has really been, but they have given me a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a reason to be better, stronger, more resilient and above all, they are the two perfect reasons for me to love Shane even more through this all.

Love for Shane, Trevor and Olivia was not all that carried me through.  The love of our family and friends has been just as important.  If it wasn't for you, our loved ones, who have held me up through this time, I would not be standing as tall as I am.  Sure, I am worse for wear, but I cannot even list all of the ways that friends and family have carried me through.  I don't want to think of how banged up I would be if I didn't have them.  From checking on us the day Shane left, to stepping in when Trevor needed a father figure, to holding my hand in the delivery room, and all the little things in between....like calling to say "Happy Mother's Day" or offering to give me a few precious moments kid-free or making a birthday special.....Your presence is what got us through, showed us how much we mattered. Most of all, you have taught me how I need to love all of you in return--without condition, and without abandon.  Even that won't come close to what you all have demonstrated to me these last eight months.

Olivia is up, I guess it is time to get this show on the road......


Love anchors the soul.
Hebrews 6:19