A Recommendation by Katie

 

I found Katie reading this while she sipped tea with Mr. Potato Head. Obviously it is great reading and Justin agrees!
We are starting her early on some superb literature. :)

How do you get that ball?

 
 
 
 

Katie got a bouncy ball from the Dickens Family for Christmas this year-Thank you!
And one of the things that happens while she throws it around the kitchen is that it rolls under the cabinet...so we needed to teach Katie how to get it out. It was a fun process-too cute! So from the photos you can see Justin trying to explain where to move to be able to reach it. Then she finally gets it out and is overjoyed. And in conclusion...Daddy gets a kiss! Way to go Katie Grace you're a great problem solver!

Unfortunately....these are not the bubbles to buy!

 

I was reading "Real Simple" magazine and came across their recommendation of shapeable bubbles from Bath and Body Works. Their review was glowing and sounded really fun for little ones. So being the consumer I am and wanting to get Katie that "cool" gift for Christmas even at 19 months, I braved the mall and bought some-plus some blueberry body wash and bubbles. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend these for your little ones. :( The shapeable bubbles get stuck in their tin, and they can't be shaped into anything except a glob. Then the blueberry bubbles don't last more then a few splashes and moments. So even though Katie loves the "shaking" bubbles and the "blue" ones and it is great to see her face light up, I will try something else next time. Sorry "Real Simple" and B&BW. Not worth my money.
But, if anyone has another brand that has high sudsy bubbles and gives an incredible amount of fun-LET US KNOW!

Baby, Mama, Daddy...the nativity!

 
 
 
 

Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Benson for this precious nativity for Katie...as you can tell she LOVES it! Really, it sits with her during her tea parties, while she reads books, in her tunnel and while she eats her snackes. I hope that every year, even as she gets older, she will love what the Navity represents. Jesus, choosing to come to earth knowing that He would die for the sins of the whole world. What a gracious, loving King we serve.

Merry Christmas!

 


Merry Christmas!
Love, Justin, Gi and Katie Grace
May Jesus be all that we ever need to have. Truly, Jesus is our All in All.

I found Rudolph!

 

It never fails that when we color not all the colors stay on the paper :) ....do I hear an "amen"? But this time the colors looked awfully cute-perfectly placed by Katie Grace, and I love this reindeer!
Merry Christmas!

Christmas in COLD Kansas! 2008

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We have quite the talker at our house!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday Justin!

Happy Birthday Handsome Husband!
Wow! Where have all the days of 08 gone? They seem to have flown by with our little one turning one, moving into the house on Serenity lane, having the college girls live with us, continuing with your new job...but overall, above all, I am EXTREMELY glad that I married you. You are becoming a most fantastic daddy and wonderful husband. I pray that there will be many many more birthdays to come. Heres to starting another decade! Good by 20's and hello 30's. :)
Katie and I LOVE you!



 
 

Two Katie Stories....

Money See, Monkey Do....18 months

1. Justin and I were straightening up the house one weekend, and we noticed that it was awfully quiet...so as any good parents would do, we dropped everything and went to find our adventurous 18 month old. Justin came upon her in the hallway with her teddy bear on the ground. She has been desiring to have all her toys in diapers, and Ted was no exception. Except this time, Katie had taken off Ted's diaper and found the thermometer we use when she is sick. Can you tell where this story is going? As Justin watched she was trying to take the bears temperature! She was putting the thermometer up the bears bottom! We could not believe it. I never would have thought that she understood what we were doing when she was sick when we'd try to find out if she had a fever...but I guess she is way smarter then I even know!

2. Katie LOVES to look around our property for the Canadian Geese "Honkers" and also the deer. Justin will take her on tractor rides and they will go searching for any animals that are brave enough to be in the open. One day as we were swinging on the swing set Justin asked Katie if she saw any deer. She thought and looking around really intently said, "no" as if she really knew what she was looking for! She looked just like a mini adult as she pondered his question. But I guess again she understands way more then we give her credit for!

Can I travel in this??

 

Katie ready to travel to Kansas...but where or where is Katie??

Precious Daddy and Katie time....

Most nights, Katie really wants DADDY to put her down for bedtime. I love it. I am so glad that she loves her Daddy. And now that she is expressing her opions more she would like Stitch the bunny and Ted the bear to join them in their reading/rocking time. Oh and don't forget to cover them up with a blanket.
I know these times will not last forever so we are trying to love them as long as possible!
I love you Justin and Katie Grace

 
 

Sweet Franklin Acadey Teacher friend!

 
 
 
 


Before we left for our trip to KS we had a visit from Jackie Rosolowski and her guys. We had such a fun time catching up and oh so glad to see them! Graham their baby boy is about 3 or so months younger then Katie, but look at what a giant Katie is! Graham--I am sure with your parents tallness you will someday tower over our Katie, Graham....hang in there buddy!

Jackie and I taught 5th grade together when we were both at FA. Now they live in TN and her husband is a music pastor in a small town. You all look great!

Anyway we are so glad you stayed with us and we got to catch up!
Oh and how were those pancakes???
Hugs,
Gi and Katie
PS from Gi----ignore my lack of shower and messy hair in the last photos....Sorry Jackie for not showering for the photo...what a mess I am~! At least you know that I did shower before Katie's nap when we were teaching! :)

Quiet Time...eventually!

 

After reading, Heaven at Home, by Ginger Plowman, I decided when Katie was old enough to start a quiet time with her. She suggests that you use a blanket and that they are to have this quiet time to read books, do puzzles, color (when they are old enough!), play something that is by themselves and safe if I were to leave the room. So I have been doing this on a daily basis for about 10 minutes at a time. Katie DOES NOT like it. The first day I placed the blanket on the kitchen floor while I was making bread and she "read". Instead of enjoying it, she complained the whole time! She did obey and did not get off the blanket. She stayed within the boundaries that I placed, which was fantastic! She did try to throw off her toys, but after a short disciple and a talking to her about what I expected (which went like this..."Katie I expect that you would play quietly on your blanket and that all your toys would stay on the blanket too. Do you understand?" And she did! She looked at my eyes and said, "Yes, mom". Now she still complained (which we will have to address as heart issues) but did at least not throw off her toys. She understands SO SO much. Boy are little kids smart. But it is now getting slowly better and I am excited to try it when we are in KS. This will be a way, I am hoping, to help her learn to sit quietly when I am doing a few things or when we are in a place that could be strange to her like on a holiday trip! I'd love to know if anyone else does something like this. So far it is great. I am going to stick with it. :)

Above is Katie's protest. :)

Question about ministering to the broken and hurting...

Option one...
It is harder to minister to a hurting person if they tell you their life, the good, bad and ugly. If they unload onto your relationship. If they are transparent, real and honest about the issues of their life. What they are struggling with and how much they need Jesus-is that person hardest to minster to...

Or

Option two....
It is harder to minister to a hurting person if they don't share their struggles, and they don't seem to be struggling with sin, but you know they are hurting. They are a "good" person on the outside, but it seems in their heart they are confused, frustrated, and depressed-is this person the hardest to minster to...

I think option two is the hardest. It is so hard to watch someone struggle and never be allowed into their life. To see their hurt, but not allowed to struggle with them in their issues, to not be praying with them and seeing restoration come from sweet fellowship. We each have "issues", we each are hurting in someways. But Praise be to God that I have friends that I can be, "good, bad and ugly" with in response to my sins. You ladies and couples know who you are. Thank you for getting into my life and walking with me (us). And above all...thanks to Justin, my love, for seeing all the struggles and still marring and loving me!

Happy Thanksgiving....love Katie Grace

Spending Thanksgiving with the Muses and Melissa

We had a fun Thanksgiving in Holly Spring! For the past handful of years we have spent the day with Robin, Hunter and now Catie Beth. It is always delicious food, great conversation and lots of smiles. Thanks for bring our BFF's here (opps-you too Jessica T!) :) Melissa-thanks for joining us we are SO glad the Lord has you with us right now!

And the photos below....Aren't the Muses so Christmassy?? They asked me to take some holiday photos and they turned out so well. What a photogenic family! Our photo was taken after Melissa, Robin, Hunter and Catie Beth all danced to get Katie's attention, plus this smile was after Justin had just thrown Katie in the air! Our eyes were almost closed because we had looked at the camera for about 2 minutes straight-smiling-so Robin could snap a photo anytime Katie was looking. The joys of taking photos with little ones! :) The third, Melissa was lonely so she took her family photo with Sammy the puppy-awwww and the last photo is the best we could do with two wiggly kids and four adults just wanting to be in the same photo since before the girls were born!

So a BIG Happy Thanksgiving to our families back in KS and to our other dear friends. We miss and love you each! :)

Take Two on Cooking!

So Katie LOVES to cook and this time she did her own recipe after we made banana muffins. She meticulously scooped by Tablespoon, flour from my bag to the green bowl. She was content and quiet for 10 minutes. She was so focused! Then she decided to try eating it and to my surprise she kept eating it. You will see a few large bites she takes and just keeps on going. I think I washed out a pound of flour from her clothes. :) But to see her having so much fun was worth it!

And I have heard that the place for kids to try new things and fail or succeed should be in the home. And I hope that Katie tries many things for the first time here-a house filled with an atmosphere of grace and excitement in learning all sorts of great things!

The final look from our cooking take two!

Learning to feed myself, and PROUD of it!

Hey little girl,
We are so proud of you as you continue to amaze us learning new things each day. A few days ago you decided that you could feed yourself and you haven't stop trying. Keep learning new things! The Lord is always in th business of teaching us all new things to bring glory to Himself. Way to go! A few of your favorite things right now... Hotdogs and sauce (ketchup), yogurt and applesauce, noodles and sauce, chicken and barbque sauce, crackers, ice cream, bread and butter, peanutbutter, raisins, grapes, oranges, bananas, juicies (smoothies), turkey and cheese, chips and sauce (salsa), bucha (kombucha), tea, and I am sure there are many many more! You are a terrific eater!

A Wedding Shower to REMEMBER!

Happy Wedding Shower Brandy Griggs (Seago!!) We had such a great time seeing your smiling face and being able to encourage you in this next step of your life. Maybe the Lord use you and John in mighty ways and maybe you never doubt the work of the Jesus in your life. Can't wait for your wedding in just a few short days. We love you!

It was also great to finally meet your mom! What a treat to be able to spend time with her and also get a delicious dinner made for us too! Thanks Kim for driving up and making the weekend even more special for Brandy. :)