Stopping to Think

Taking a good break from my normal, even from some of the really good things in that normal. Taking a little time to renew, to bring some requests to the One who cares the most. So thankful for prayers, for words of encouragement, for chances to connect with friends who both share and maybe do not share the beliefs that resonate to my core. Thankful for each of you who pop over here from time to time to check in on our little family.

And so I leave you with THIS, this chance to hear my heart spoken through a man, as I take some time to stop and think. I hope, so hope-- you will take a few minutes to watch and to be encouraged of how monumental and meaningful your life, my life is meant to be. How truly and deeply cherished we all are...

With Crazy Love,
~Katrina

First Days

Well, we finished off the summer bucket list. Alysse was going strong before we left the house, but fell asleep in the car. Don't tell her that she missed having lunch at our local frozen yogurt bar. I can't bear for the wild pig-tailed girl to know she missed out. Plus, out of nowhere, she can pack quite a squeal these days. :)

Other items we crossed off with big, fat, black wavy lines throughout these hot months:

*Get ice-cream from a truck
*Go to the beach
*Swim in a pool
*Try out the spray park
*Hit up as many parks as we can close to our house
*Get a library card at our new library
*Make a starfish
*Make a shell creature
*See a movie in a theater
*Find a bike trail
*Go to Amazement Square
*Write letters to our Tennessee friends
*Hike to the university's monogram

And the two we didn't get to:
*Play a family soccer game (Oomph, the mosquitoes in our little backyard!)
*Camp out (Oomph, our tent zipper broke!)
I'm holding out for these two this fall... maybe, just maybe??

As the summer winds down and we wait for that familiar nip to hit the air, as we replace sticky popsicle chins with all things cinnamon and pumpkin, as we trade in flip flops and sundresses (or overworn Buzz Lightyear, Elmo, and Jessie t-shirts) for long sleeves and boots... we, like so many, also began the first days of school.

For Joe:

How ironic that our neighbors have three girls (6, 5, and 10 months). And the Daddy over there just became a professor. And their last name is one letter shy of our's! These were cupcakes to share at a cook-out to wish them both the best.

I love watching him dump out a big box in the basement and carting it off to class to represent the state of Virginia or hunting around for a slinky to teach some fancy phrase like "jurisdiction." Last I heard he took in peanut butter and chocolate to show how something-or-other just has to go together in law; his students walked out with Reece's Peanut Butter cups as a reminder.

Man, I love good teachers.

And the first day for us girls:

Counting is her favorite. So is her hospital bracelet, worn like a small badge of honor "because it has a 'M' on it, Mommy!"

Making music like that guy with the funny wig. You know, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Maddie's middle of the day wardrobe change. It's about how I know it's Alysse's nap time.

Here's to hoping for a wonderful and healthy new season of memories for us and for everyone out there. We won't soon forget you, life changing Summer of 2011.

~Katrina

ps...
♥Thanks for the concern and prayers!! Hope is doing really well and hasn't had another stomach episode- praise God! Maddie has one last appointment with the cardiologist in a few weeks, and we are believing for a full recovery of the virus infecting her heart lining. She can manage normally as long as we pay attention to signs like her needing to rest. Our biggest request, besides for the healing, is that this is NOT the sign of a deeper issue.♥

Storming

We were all okay, but as the thoughts turned over in my mind, I was reminded... it only takes seconds for everything to change. Everything.

The day after that last post began a couple of the hardest, stormiest weeks I've ever had as a mother. Without going into many details, we have been pretty concerned for the health of our big girls. Hope appears to be better, so we're just watching her now to be sure certain things stay on track. Alysse is healthy but it's worth it to note that she has turned that age where she is just so... so busy, so funny, so fun, so stubborn to do everything like her sisters, so sweet, so opinionated, and so fast. I blink and she's climbed the stairs or run down to the neighbors to ask for a cup of sugar or something.

That last one was not an exaggeration. This is not our house.

Getting out and about by myself with them has truly taken on a new meaning with three who are completely mobile.

And our Maddie. She still has at least one more specialist appointment to go before we can rest easier on a matter dealing with her little heart.

But I tell you this happy news: PopPop and Nana came to town. Though PopPop could only stay for the weekend, Nana got to stay for a week and a half. What a wonderful distraction, providing us with lots of little bits to love.

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My dish washing view made that much sweeter:

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She helped with all the things going on and threw in the bonuses like only Nana's can do. Which meant she played hard with the kids:

And then stayed up late with me, watching movies and trying out things I've been wanting to do. Making laundry soap, getting that gifted bread maker working, sorting through all the tubs that are {sigh} the next size up. Ever notice that all it takes sometimes is a good friend to help you get so much accomplished?
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Baking until the kitchen smelled homey and warm {and fattening} and delicious:

Another photo from Hope's vantage point

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Picnics rerouted to the front porch when the rain started to pour:

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Some thrifting around town. Dollar dishes and quarter punch cups with a special purpose coming soonish, an old scale, frames that were spray painted in bright reds and blues to finish the big blank wall in the playroom/guest room/Alysse's temporary nighttime sleeping spot/school room:

All kinds of lovely, FREE vintage art and such from here.
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Not to mention some cold weather clothes thrifting at lots of little spots I've been wanting to peek in without taking up half the store with my stroller and caravan of enthusiastic mini shoppers.

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Fish sitting for our neighbors. They are empty nesters and let the girls name four of these fishies. Giving Rapunzel, Dory, Flynn, and Marlin their evening meals was quite the event each evening:

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On one of my Mom's last nights Joe read me like he can do, and my heart was feeling ho-hum and borderline really worried. We slipped away to the market and picked up ingredients for a special dinner. Mom took the girls for a walk while Joe manned the grill and I mashed the potatoes, cut up the watermelon, lit candles and poured everyone's favorite drinks-- which basically meant Maddie got her own small glass of sweet tea while Hope drowned in some local strawberry milk. While Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God" played softly in the background I breathed deeply.

Kind of like how I'm doing right now.

I needed to stop and carefully count out my blessings tonight in a way that only writing can do for me. Waiting out what is hopefully the last of this storm, facing each day as it comes, and asking for lots of patience, wisdom, and puddle jumping along the way.

~Katrina