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. :)

SNOW!

We woke up to some beautiful flurries outside! I was SO excited and Katie soon joined in my excitement especially at 6:30 in the morning. :) I got her bundled up with shoes that sorta fit over her footed pj's, a hat and coat and off we went outside to see the snow! I think that she was interested in it, but it was the second highlight of her morning, as the first was her crackers. :) We just walked around trying to catch a flake or two.
Happy Days-maybe we'll have a white Christmas!

Memories...This little girl is always on my mind!

17 months, Katherine Grace Hime-Love the Dimple!

Oh the places that we sit!

Katie now can figure out ways to sit in things that are not their normal function.  Pretty Creative!

Cooking is SO MUCH FUN

Katie is an exceptional cook! She LOVES to help me. I never realized how much she knew until she decided to help me a few days ago. We were cooking Taco Soup and she was SO proud of herself. She wanted to sit on the "sooole" (stool) and "sur" (stir) everything. She did eat a bit of the hamburger, but I LOVED it. I hope you enjoy. The camera does turn so that you don't have to look at the computer sideways. And anyone want to come for dinner? Katie is cooking!

A potty experience!

 Our little Katie is so funny!  Right before her bath, we ask her to "try" to use the potty.  Most of the time this "trying" results in some tinkle-Yeah!, but other times it is just a cute, super funny show.  

She is learning so quickly to do what we do...just last week I walked into the bathroom and she had her doll on the lid of the toliet and was using some toliet paper to wipe her nose.  :) Hope you enjoy.  

A walk through the woods....

 
 
 
 


I love the fall and there is nothing better then walking among the falling leaves. Katie and I both had a restful, peaceful time. What a joy to be outside!
Look out Grandpa Hime and Stein I can clear a woods of sticks and rocks fast! Do you want my help when Mommy/Daddy and I come back?? I am a super helper!

A little bit of our Pippers this week!

 
 
 
 

This bench is for Katie for Christmas, but she managed to use it once before Justin put it downstairs! Her furry friends.

Where is Katie??? Oh Boo!

I was able to put her little locks into a small pony tail today. I love it! And I know that Justin will love it too! Oh she is a big 17 month old!

Oh Boy, Crisp and Crunchy Almonds!

Crisp Almonds-my new favorite snack!

I don't know about you, but I love nuts. I have already loved almonds, but have recently found a new way to eat them and OH BOY...THEY ARE SO SO SO MUCH BETTER!

Try this.

1T Sea Salt
4 C. almonds (raw if possible)
Water

Put your almonds in a bowl, put the salt on top and fill the bowl until the nuts are covered with water. Place in a warm spot for 7 hours.

Drain off water with a strainer. Lay out nuts on a cookie sheet (stainless Steel is preferred). Dry almonds out at 150 degrees in your oven for about 24 hours (I did leave my oven on overnight). And my oven only goes down to 170 degrees and it worked like a charm! Mine were so crunchy and delicious!

You gotta try it!

Good Morning...

 

This is the view from our back deck. How Great is our God!
I LOVE this time of the year. And this fall has been beautiful.
Praise the Lord.

One of my new FAVORITE photos!

 

Here Katie is making a face that shows she is intensly watching "Praise Baby". I think she is copying one of the faces she just watched...She LOVES PB! I think this face is so adorable and just want her to stay this small forever! Oh 17 months has gone by way to quickly.
Love you KGH

Hats!

Aunt Brandi (Justin's sister) makes these terrific knit hats for Katie and I every winter. She sent about 30! Okay so really she sent about 7 and we had fun trying them on. Unfortunately I was only able to snap photos of two of them. But there are also brown ones and pink ones. Ones with Pom Poms and ones with Buttons. How cute are they!!
Laney even got to try one one!
Thanks Aunt Brandi...we love you!



 
 
 
 

Sadly true!

 

I saw this in the Family magazine and thought how true and how sad.
Happy Christmas shopping dear friends...may our eyes always be on the REASON for the star!

Toliet Paper...well worth the price!

 

Member's Mark Brand TP is great! I totally recommend it! Member's Mark is a Sam's Club brand and it is as good as Charmin. :)
My dad always told me that none of my guests want to wipe with sand paper. And that it is not right to wipe and have the TP break on you getting your hand wet! :) So I have always tried to buy a good TP so those things don't happen. But TP has a range of prices. Anyway for those of you that have opinions about TP you now have my recommendation! Go and try it out yourself. Or ask to use the Bathroom next time you are over at our place!
:)