Katie Amazes Me

This is the doll she created because she wanted a paper/rag doll just like Laura.  As we have read Little House on the Prairie, Katie has desired more and more to try things like they did.  This is her version of "Charlotte" (Laura's rag doll). 

I love how she has blond hair and blue ribbons just like the book says and also that her arms are a wee bit longer then her legs.  :)

I think what amazes me is her patience and creativity to do things by herself and to do them all the way.   This is one way in which she has grown lately.  She is focusing a bit more and patiently working through her thoughts to create or say what she really means.  We've been praying for self control and patience and in this small way God has been faithful to help her grow!  

Katie, we love you and your imagination!

Happy Birthday 3 Boy!

 Happy Birthday to Owen!

He requested Monkey Bread for breakfast-who wouldn't!

 This big girl helped me get the table ready for the birthday boy.  Sure do love how excited she was for her brother!

 Daddy and Owen went to Starbucks as soon as Owen was awake for a special drink.  They also gave him a cake pop!

 Katie wrote Owen a note...I love this!

 He got a workbook for 'school with truck stickers to place on the correct spots and other activities.

Since he is also getting into Spiderman and Curious George...I found him a fun shirt at the consignment sale for Spiderman and this bucket at Home Goods-score!

 Puzzles...this kid loves them and is way good!

 ...Opening a box from Mimi and Gpa!  It was loaded with all types of things including a few gifts for Katie.  Thanks Mimi and Gpa!

 Rubber band airplanes!

 His finished Mater puzzle.

 yummm....hot apple cider!

 ooooh, another  box!  This one from Nana and Papa!  Sweet....some yard tools.  :)  Thank you Nana and Papa for these!

 Finally Owen's big gift.  Daddy picked up his new bike!  It is a balance bike called a zipper and he loooooves it!

 I heart Owen's expression. :)

 And more photos to come of him actually riding his bike.  He's pretty proud of his abilities and so are we!  Thanks Metcalfs for recommending this type of bike.  I think it will fit O wonderfully!

Happy Birthday little big boy!  We LOVE to you to the moon and back. It was so much fun to bless you for your special day! And we are thankful for your heart in loving Katie well on your day.  She loved her puzzle from you!  Love, Momma, Daddy and Katie

Hospitality

"Don’t ever underestimate the power of your living room as a launching pad for new life and hope and ministry and mission!" -John Piper

For those of you that desire to live well for the King and His Kingdom, check out this article.  It is well written and rich in thought.

Our Little House on the Prairie Girl

Yes, her other name is 'Laura'.

Yes, she is wearing a homemade bonnet (Thank you SO much, Mrs. Henderson!)

Yes, this article of clothing has been worn with every outfit to keep the sun off her face, every. single. day. for a week.

Yes, she is the cutest prairie girl we know.

Definitely a recommended read for all the little girls out there...the entire series of Little House on the Prairie.  But be warned your girl might desire to wear a bonnet.  :)

Katie's New Do!

She did it!  She waited and grew her hair out for almost 2 years.  And finally the day came, it was time to cut and donate it to a charity that makes wigs especially for kids!  Katie was SO excited (if the smile doesn't give it way :)  And we were very proud of her generosity!  We've talked a lot with the kids of ways to be generous and it isn't only with money.  It is with our time, talents, treasures and relationships.  This is something that has been on Katie's heart for a while and we were so happy she followed through with it.  

So I made the appointment with Ashlee and it was cut and styled all within 30 minutes.

I have to be honest I was somewhat emotional.  My little big girl was cutting off all her locks!  But, I kept telling myself that this was about her.  Her desire to serve kids that need hair and to feel pretty again because of some disease.  It was a bittersweet moment knowing that she is growing up!  And within reason there are some choices, that with wise counsel she can make herself!  

She never once hesitated!

So I prayed about my attitude and her short cute hair has definitely grown on me. :) Plus she is learning how to take care of it herself since the tangles are almost none existent-yay!

We Love You Katie Grace and pray that the Lord continues to work in your heart to be generous with your whole life.

And a note to any readers that are thinking of cutting their hair for donation...it is a great idea to put your hair into 3 or 4 braids...that way you get a more even cut afterwards.  :)  

And everyday so far, Katie, has been amazed that her hair isn't staying short!  She says, "Wow, it is growing longer each time I brush it!".
Yes, Katie it will keep growing....what a blessing to have beautiful hair!

Happy Birthday to O...Happy Birthday to Owen!

More to come soon!  But Happy Birthday to our Big Little Man!

We LOVE you! 

A Date With Our Little Man

While Katie was at a birthday party-a pretend sleep over and the first one I actually didn't stay :(, we took O out for a date with just Momma and Daddy.  We headed to Whole Foods for a yogurt parfait and enjoyed some time with our almost three year old. WOW, is he really almost three? We chatted about what he wanted for his birthday (tools and a bike, oh and stickers and trucks and other things like hotdogs) and I think he loved having us to himself!  But in about an hour he was also ready to go and pick up Katie.  His favorite part besides the food treat was holding both my hand and Daddy's so he could swing between the two of us. We loved it too!

Thanks for the date little man! 

Wednesdays

Our Wednesdays

First, we drop off this cutie pie at her Preschool class at Bayleaf.

She LOVES it.  

She has a Bible lesson, craft, recess, music, lunch, reading time (a few other things that rotate)...She is there from 9:30-1:30 and it has given her a bit of structure to see 'school'.

The second photo are her two teachers-Ms. Carmen (Lf) and Ms. Pearl (Rt).  They are wonderful teachers that sure love on Katie.  Ms. Pearl asks the kids for some sugar each day and even O will give her a hug.  Ms. Carmen is also neat and kind and Katie enjoys chatting about her baby dolls and other favorite activities with her.

Then Owen and I normally do a few errands, but try to always get in some playtime with his trucks. I have enjoyed my time with my little man!  In the above photo the trucks are napping on their own blankets and Owen also decided it was a brief nap time.  :)  

 He loves asking me to take his photo and then wants to immediately see how it turned out.  

hummm...I wonder if I take to many photos. :)

 naw...I love every photo of my kids-even the silly ones!

 And finally we put the trucks into their garage before we went back to get Katie.

 Wednesdays are pretty fun days!

Happy Happy Fall!

 I love that these paper flowers were made by my friend, Arielle that I snagged after our Baptism Fellowship.  :)  Here is the tutorial which I found on Pinterest.

Thanks Arielle for helping me with my fall decor! 

 And thanks to my almost 3 yr old model.  He definitely makes this photo better! :)

Wordless Wednesday (almost)

We were on a walk/jog around the neighborhood...the kids had gotten out of the stroller to exercise and Owen took off running.  Katie and I stopped to look at a flower and when we looked up we couldn't see O.  I called his name and his eyes peeked over a bush.  He was just behind a bush, two houses down from where we were, standing on the corner of two streets.  :)  As I ran up I pulled out my camera (which I never take on walks!) thinking, oh my goodness is he really going potty?  And I got this photo as he told me with huge excited eyes..."Mom, I went potty all by myself!"   I about fell over laughing.

Next time we will wait until we get home to go the bathroom, at least that is what we discussed... :)

Gloria

At the end of August, Justin and I chose to fly to Chicago.  A dear friend from college, his wife, Gloria, passed away on August 21st.  It wasn't a hard decision to go.  We longed to go to show Chad we loved him.  Justin and I have known Chad since KSU.  And we desired to show that time and distance doesn't matter.  We still want to be found faithful friends.  So we arranged for our kids care and got on a plane, traveling for simple 24 hours to be there.   

It was a very real funeral-and it told of a life well lived.  It was God centered.  It was laughter filled.  There was plenty of tears.  And it was a celebration that even though Gloria has passed from this life, she is with her King and she is perfect there.  No more struggle to breath.  No more difficulty in the day to day with her intense pain.  Only a perfect, bright, glorious, Worship filled heaven to be with Jesus awaited Glo.   

We didn't know Glo well, but after listening to the stories friends told I wish we would have. I believe we would worship Jesus better if we did and that, to us, is a life well lived.

If you haven't and want to read something Chad wrote on the Caring Bridge page (about his Love for Glo) click here.  

But are two brief paragraphs taken from his letter and it has caused my heart to continue push into Jesus to be the one I worship-no matter what.  

I know what some people are thinking, how can I treat such a morbid and devastating event so lightly?  Well, it's because I believe.  I believe that Christ incarnated himself, died on the cross, and rose from the dead to redeem his people.  In short, its because both Glo and myself believe the radically powerful Bible verse that popped up on my phone today: "To die is gain."  

So, what is good theology, then?  This is: No matter what happens, I will love God with all of my heart, mind and soul.  Whether Gloria is healed from her lung disease so that she can die later (that's kind of twisted too), or whether she dies tomorrow, I will worship God.  Why? Because no matter what, God will still be God, which means his righteousness and holiness and love and grace and sovereignty will still be worthy of my all-out adoration.  Which God do you worship? 

Chad's faith is worth emulating.  

He has chosen to believe in God's goodness and to stand fast with the scriptures as his sword.  Keep fighting, Chad.  You too will hear one day, well done good and faithful servant.

We pray that Chad will be filled with His Grace and Strength as he walks this hard road of being a single dad and living without his precious wife.  

Then finally these photos below show some of our very favorite friends!  A few friends are missing :(, but many of them are here.  It absolutely was a bright spot to see their smiling faces.  Yes, we live here in NC and many live still in the midwest.  Yes, we are the ones to have God lead to the east coast.  But as I have grown older I have realized that true friendships span distance and time.  I had a misconception for a while that we only need Jesus.  But the Lord has softened/refined my heart :) and impressed upon me that true friendship are necessary to this world and boy are they special.  

There is something neat and special about this group of friends.  Sometimes I think back to those years at KSU and desire them to still be happening.  Yet they still are.  We can pick back up these friendships and it seems 10 yrs hasn't gone by.  I can still be deep and real with each of these girls (or Justin with the guys) and it speaks of true friendships.  I trust these friends. They are generous with their time, open with their hearts, laughter fills their beings, real with their sin, quick to forgive and show grace...and we just LOVE them.  

Oh and quick note...yes there was more facial hair in our group then the rest of the entire funeral combined.  :)  We sure do have some burly men!