Daughters

"A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer."
-Author unknown

Last weekend, Kathryn and I attended a Mother-Daughter Tea Party for the GA's (Girls in Action) from our church. The tea party just happened to be at our very favorite tea room, Tea Leaves and Thyme. We sat by the front windows, Kathryn's favorite spot. Amanda and her daughter Macy sat with us, and they were kind enough to take our picture.
Kathryn and all of the other GA's received a badge and a Bible verse in a pretty little silver frame.

The weekend before that, Lindsey and I attended a Mother-Daughter Ballet event at church. Every year, the women's ministry hosts a mother-daughter event, but this was the first time either of us had attended. It was a beautiful performance, and now Lindsey is trying to decide if she wants to continue gymnastics/cheerleading, or if she'd like to switch to ballet. After the performance, we had a dessert reception downstairs, beautifully decorated with ballerina-inspired decor. Ken took this photo right before we left the house:

Our take-home souvenir from this event was a pretty little bookmark and a silver ballerina charm, which Lindsey plans to add to her charm bracelet she got at the Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance. After a few years of these events, she'll have it all filled up with sentimental charms. Isn't that a lovely thought?

In our daily lives, we occasionally get on each other's nerves; when dealing with a houseful of imperfect humans, that's just a reality. But we don't have to focus on those times! That's why I so cherish opportunities like these to make special memories with my girls.

Snowy Fun in the sunny South!

This is a view I don't often see out my window...On the rare occasions we do get snow here, it tends to be mostly ice, so it's not very fun to play in. Yesterday, however, we had a nice fluffy snow -- about five inches, which is the most Kathryn has ever seen, and maybe Lindsey, too! Lindsey attempted to build a snowman in the backyard, but Lacy is a crazy snowman-killing dog, so that proved impossible.
The front yard, beyond the reach of Lacy's snowman-demolishing paws, proved to be a better place to build a snowman. The snowman was SO big that Ken and Lindsey had to transport his parts in a wheelbarrow!
Georgia snowmen are kinda hairy because of pine needles!

This morning, we went sledding across the street. This was a first for both Lindsey and Kathryn! As a matter of fact, my dad gave Kathryn this sled about four years ago and this is the first time we've ever been able to use it!

Lindsey...

Kathryn...

And Ken...

I gave Lacy her first lesson in becoming a sled-dog. (Although, admittedly, there is not much call for that here in Georgia!) Every time I said, "mush," she ate snow. But finally, she took off!
This was fun!
The girls made snow angels, then we had to go in and warm up Kathryn's toes. Once everybody was thoroughly thawed, we walked over to my mom's house. She had cinnamon rolls in the oven for us, and brewed fresh coffee for Ken. As we were leaving, Ken noticed bunny tracks in the snow; I should really expand on that for a good nature study!

Now the snow is melting, but it's been fun. I'd been saying I wanted at least one good sled-able snow before spring came, and we got it!

Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance

Every year, our church has a Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance. Last year Ken went as the photographer; we didn't even know Lindsey yet, and Kathryn wasn't old enough to go to the big girls' dance. But this year, Ken was blessed to be able to take both daughters! Lindsey borrowed a dress from a friend (also named Lindsey!), and it fit her perfectly. Kathryn didn't have anything suitable, so we found an adorable dress on sale; it met her Valentine-ish requirements, and will work well as a church dress, even in the spring. Both girls decided that they wanted to surprise Ken with their dresses until the night of the dance. How cute is that!?

In the afternoon, we turned Rose Cottage into a salon. {grin}
First, I painted the girls' nails to coordinate with their dresses. Then it was time for hair: Lindsey requested an updo, so I had to pull from my memory banks for back in the days when I used to do my (both now grown) nieces' hair for prom. Kathryn was my assistant.Lindsey let me do her make-up, too, and I offered to let her borrow some earrings that perfectly matched the "bling" on the dress.
When Lindsey's 'do was done, it was Kathryn's turn.
She wanted a retro hairstyle to go with her retro dress. I think I have created a retro monster! Aren't my girls positively g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s???
(I let Kathryn wear red lipstick just for a photo, because it was very retro, but had her blot it off before leaving the house.) Doesn't Ken look like a proud papa?
He is a wonderful blessing to me, and to our girls as well.I know this night will be a special memory for the girls, but also for me, and for Ken. I enjoyed quality time with the girls as I helped them get ready, and Ken was able to escort these beautiful young ladies to a dance. He is showing them by example how a gentleman ought to treat a lady. We want our girls to have very high expectations for the kind of young man who will someday be trusted with their hearts. For Lindsey's 15th birthday, Ken took her on a "Daddy Date" and presented her with a purity ring, and discussed what that means: that she is promising God to keep her heart and body pure, and Ken, as her father, is promising to protect her and to help her keep her promise to God.

I treasure times like this. I am so very blessed, and so very thankful.

Welcome 2010: Resolutions and Reminiscing

I am spending a happily relaxing first day of the new year thinking about goals, reminiscing over the events of 2009, and wondering what God has in store for us in 2010.

My Good Reads in 2009 came to a nice round number of forty, and I welcome suggestions to add to my want-to-read list for 2010!

Many bloggers share their "top posts" of the year, but I'm just going to sum up the highlights of 2009, and give links in case you're interested in reading more, or in case you missed it the first time around. This was a VERY big year for us:

• Kathryn performed as a munchkin in Wizard of Oz.
• I enjoyed a wonderful homeschool mom's retreat.
• We did quite a few household projects, like building a back porch, and repainting the kitchen.
  
• Brandon graduated high school and started college.
• Lacy the WonderDog won an "Easter Bling" contest on twitter.
• We hatched, studied, and released butterflies and praying mantises.
• My Grandaddy went to be with Jesus.
  
• We did some fun field trips, like to the Tellus Museum, the Atlanta History Center, and a weekend at Biltmore Estate.
• We went to Africa! This was my first mission trip, my first time out of the country, the first time I experienced jet-lag, the first time I saw true poverty, and a whole bunch of other firsts rolled into one. My eyes were opened in so many ways.
• We became the parents of a 14-year-old daughter.
  
• God provided the opportunity to share our adoption story to a very large audience at church (the link goes to the video of our testimony).
• My cousin Matthew got married, and now he and his wife are expecting a little one! 
  

As far as resolutions go, Robin Sampson and I have apparently been thinking along the same lines. Her Resolution for 2010 is to let the law of kindness reign in her home. I want that, too. I want to be an encourager, a life-giver. I am borrowing Robin's prayer (slightly modified since I don't yet have grandkids!).  I encourage you to read her post for the full explanation:

"Father, Let Your loving kindness and mercy flow through me on my tongue, in my manners to my husband and children. Help me be sympathetic, gentle, friendly, tender-hearted, and generous in all my ways."

Another resolution I'm making is to be more fun.  I don't dance around the kitchen when I'm cooking; I'd prefer to organize something rather than go for a walk with the family; I don't love playing games; I tend to be a homebody and really get grumpy if we have what I consider too many places to go. Maybe that seems a bit silly, especially in comparison to the resolution about being kinder, but it's more than that. There are too many times when I'm a party-pooper for my family. The real goal is to make a point of enjoying time with my family and creating pleasant memories for us all. 

I also have the standard get in shape resolution. It's really not related to the new year, but I finally have the upstairs room organized and cleaned up, so I'm running out of excuses to not exercise (since that's where I do it). I don't need to lose weight, but I am in lousy shape as far as endurance and cardiovascular fitness go. That sets a poor example for my kids, and if I don't have energy, then I can't do all I'm called to do as wife, homeschooling mama, and servant of Christ.

My homeschool-related resolution is to keep spiritual growth as our number one priority, and remember that academics are secondary. Important, yes, but not nearly as important as their walk with Christ.

I am so thankful for the blessings and challenges of 2009, and I happily welcome 2010! Happy New Year, everybody!

Family Festivities!

Almost all of our family is local, so we never go out of town for Christmas, but we do usually end up driving hither and thither. (I just don't get to use those words often enough!) The first of our family festivities was the Sunday before Christmas, and our last family get-together the day after Christmas. All together, we had SIX different family gatherings: two in south Georgia, one in north Georgia, one just around the corner, and two in our own living room.

Instead of Christmas morning, we did our family Christmas on "Little Christmas Eve" (the 23rd) because that's when everyone could be here. Lindsey screamed delightedly when she opened her zebra-print Snuggie from Granma. She was really tickled about her zebra cell phone case, too! Can you tell she likes zebra stuff? She also got new clothes, earrings, a zebra-striped journal, and two new books: It's Not About Me: Teen Edition (Max Lucado) and For Young Women Only (Shaunti Feldhaun).
Kathryn loved her gifts as well, including a butterfly watch, a doll, a 2010 puppies calendar, a constellation projection kit, some Littlest Pet Shop toys, and the complete set of Anne of Green Gables books. My mom and I gave each other a wrap; it's really funny how often we do things like that. We're alike in many ways, and I'm completely okay with that. {grin} Ken seldom buys anything for himself, so we usually buy him very functional gifts like clothes, and we did get him a few of those sorts of things, but I love when I can find something he really wants. This year, that was two of the photography books he's been wanting, as well as a new hand-grip for his camera. It's always so nice when Brandon and Diane have time to hang out with us. One thing we wrapped up for them (even though they knew we were giving it to them) was a CD of the images from their fall photo session. Another gift we gave Brandon was his favorite cookies-n-creme chocolate bar -- and then we all sampled it! {tee hee!} I've been itching for bookcases for a few years now, but we thought we'd have to build them to make them look right. However, I found some at IKEA (my new favorite store!) that fit perfectly on either side of our living room window, and we got them discounted because the boxes were damaged. So for less than $80, I have fabulous new bookcases! I loved my other gifts, too: the turquoise cross pendant the girls gave me, the felt heart Lindsey made, and homemade coupons from Lindsey for things like "text-free day" or "long conversation over a cup of tea." I remember making coupons like that for my mom, and she still has them! (Please take note of the ever-so-lovely bookcases behind me!!!)We gathered at my dad's house in the mountains on Christmas eve. Two years ago, we did a picture of my dad with all his girls, but it needed to be updated since Lindsey has joined the family. So here we all are: Dad's two daughters, four granddaughters, and one great-granddaughter...Brandon spent Christmas afternoon with us, and we had dinner at my aunt Beckie's house that evening. Since my Granmama wasn't feeling well enough to come to Thanksgiving, we were very glad she was able to come to Christmas. We all miss my Grandaddy, and I think this month in particular has been hard on my grandmother in her first holiday season without him.

All the gifts and food are wonderful, and I'm very thankful for all my countless blessings. However, the best gifts -- such as my husband, our children, and time with our family -- cannot be contained by pretty wrapping paper. (Okay, maybe they could, but they wouldn't like it much!).
Most of all, I'm so thankful for the gift of Christ in my life. Without Him, my life would be pointless and devoid of hope; with Christ, there is joy too big to be contained.

Our Thanksgiving Holiday

This was what I did for most of the day on Thanksgiving...

... but I really did enjoy it. No, I don't want to cook that much every day or I'd never get anything else done. I actually like to cook when I know people will enjoy the food. (Meal planning for picky people, however, makes me want to pull out all my hair, so I don't enjoy day-to-day cooking.)

I didn't do it all myself, though... Dad, Ken, and the girls were a big help, and friends and family brought food, too.

Our menu:

• an appetizer of boiled peanuts;  my dad loves them, and wanted to make them because he knew Lindsey loves them. Ken does, too, so he was a happy camper as well!
• deep-fried turkey -- cooked by Dad
• Honey-Baked ham --Mom
• cornbread stuffing and giblet gravy -- made by my aunt Beckie
• sweet potato souffle -- me
  
• macaroni and cheese -- me
  
• glazed carrots -- me
• deviled eggs -- me (with help from the girls)
  
• rolls -- me (but not from scratch)
  
• chocolate chess pie -- me
  
• apple pie -- me
  
• chocolate chip cookies -- my cousin Shannon
• peach cobbler -- aunt Beckie
• Amish peach bread -- Dad
  
• assorted cookies and goodies -- young friend Shelby (and her brothers!)
  
• sweet tea and soft drinks -- friend Katy
  

We just decided to do Thanksgiving dinner here this year, and we invited our extended family, though many of them had other plans. It was an odd year in that regard, because we usually have a boatload of family  (30+) at our holiday gatherings. We also invited any friends that may not have had family in town, and I even put out a general invitation as my status on facebook! So we could've had an enormous crowd, but we ended up with a total (including our immediate family) of twenty-two people -- and one eagerly scavenging dog -- in our home on Thanksgiving day. Oh, actually twenty-three because my cousin Vera has a baby in her belly! We loved it! Our house isn't huge; if that many people actually lived here, it would be an entirely different story, but I love to have our home filled to the brim with friends and family.

My dear husband has never had the honor of carving "the bird" in our own home (though he's been recruited to do so at my aunt's house in previous years). I briefly considered arranging everything on the table to create a Norman Rockwell moment, but we were all mightily hungry, and that would have taken too long. So I just took a photo of Ken carving the turkey in the kitchen, where all the other food was.
Since we had more than one dining table set up, it was easier to let everyone serve themselves buffet-style. Once we started on food and lively conversation, neither Ken nor I took a single photo. We meant to, but then we'd get sidetracked by the arrival of another guest, or needing to put more rolls in the oven, and so on. So we just enjoyed our guests, and enjoyed playing hosts.

I sure hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed as ours, and if you end up with no turkey-day plans next Thanksgiving, come on over! {wink}

Thankfulness and Traditions

Last week, we filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. We've done this every year for the past 3 or 4 years, and I think we've added a box each time. This year we made two boxes for girls, and two boxes for boys. Kathryn prepared the girls' boxes, and Lindsey prepared the boys' boxes. They wrote notes and included a family photo, and we're all hoping the kids write back. Collection day at our church was last Sunday, but it's not too late to send a shoebox yourself, if you're interested! (Click that link above.)

As we get ready for our Thanksgiving feast, we are making a point of realizing how much we have to be thankful for. Our thankful tree is getting quite full, and I've been writing a few verses on the tree trunk that remind us what the Bible has to say about being thankful. A few I added today:

• Psalm 89:15 -- "Happy are the people who know how to praise you..."
• Psalm 118:1 -- "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good..."
• Ephesians 5:20 -- "Always give thanks to God the Father for everything..."

I'm very much looking forward to a different sort of Thanksgiving this year. We've never hosted at our home before, and there will be less of the extended family than usual, but we've extended an invitation to quite a few friends who don't have family in town, and I'm delighted that a few of them have accepted. I'd love for it to become a tradition, this inviting of an assortment of folks. Seems to me like what Thanksgiving is really about.

Are there any holiday traditions you'd like to begin?

PowWow with Dad

Last Saturday, Ken was at an overnight men's retreat, so the girls and I met my dad at a nearby American Indian festival. Usually we go to this on Mother's Day weekend, but this was the first year they held another one in November. I wouldn't have known about it if Dad hadn't told me, and I think he only knew about it because he's friends with the guy who organized it. This "Veterans Pow Wow and Warrior Salute" began with a prayer, then an opening dance that included veterans from many wars carrying flags, led by the United States flag. I loving hearing prayers in other languages; part of the prayer was offered in the Sioux language.

Any veteran, anyone who ever served in the military or still does, every police officer, firefighter, etc., were all invited to join in. Then those who wanted to honor a loved one who had served were also invited. I considered joining in to honor my Grandaddy, but I decided to stay where I was and just take pictures.

At first, Kathryn was a little un-nerved by what she called screaming during the singing. I explained that it was just a celebratory sounds, like us saying, "woohoo!" She got used to it after a few minutes, and enjoyed the rest of the music and singing (as long as we weren't too close to the speakers; she doesn't like anything loud).

I always love watching the dancers.These girls were in the "fancy dancer" competition:We visited Thunder the bison, but he only wanted to lie down and munch hay. Not exciting. We browsed the craft booths, and all found things that we liked, but I had left the checkbook at home, which was actually probably a good --or at least frugal-- thing. My favorite thing was a little cornshuck doll made into an angel and wearing a pale-colored buckskin dress. I want to learn to make one.

Dad bought us all some fry bread, which is like a flat funnel cake if you sprinkle powdered sugar on it -- yum! Lindsey ate boiled peanuts. (I do not share her appreciation of them!) I snapped this photo when Dad and Lindsey were laughing at me because when I stick my lens cap in the pocket of my jeans, apparently it looks like I have a snuff can in my pocket. N-I-C-E.
Kathryn couldn't resist a pony ride (she takes after me in my love for horses!):I consider this family fun that counts as a field trip. Isn't that one of the great things about homeschooling? The lines blur between "school" and "life." I could never have a blog JUST for homeschooling because I don't always know where that ends. And that's exactly how I like it.

If you'd like to see more photos from the festival, pop on over to see them in my flickr set here.

Birthday Tea for Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday! I won't share how old she is {wink, wink} but she's beautiful inside and out! Yesterday we went to one of our favorite places, a charming little tea house called Tea Leaves and Thyme, to celebrate Mom's birthday one day early. An adorable little girl was there to celebrate her 6th birthday; after singing "Happy Birthday" to her, our waitress jokingly asked mom if she was older than six. Mom said yes, she was just a little older than six. We go to this place for birthdays, and to celebrate all sorts of occasions, but we haven't been since Lindsey joined the family, so this was her first time. She has, of course, heard all sorts of good things about it for months! One of the most fun and silly parts is picking a hat to wear while celebrating with tea!Kathryn made a card for Granma, and even made the envelope. I'm not sure if I've ever done that myself, but she found instructions in her Little Annie's Art Book. Kathryn's favorite tea at this place is strawberry-kiwi, which is a caffeine free teasane. Mom and I picked the Berry Patch tea: black tea with several types of berries. Lindsey ended up trying both, and after much deliberation, decided the Berry Patch was the best tea EVER. She also surprised herself by liking scones with lemon curd.Before we left, we asked our waitress to take our picture of all of us -- it's so cute, I may have to frame it!
Happy birthday, Mom!

Why I'm such a slacker lately...

Wow. It's Thursday, and I haven't blogged this week. I've hardly blogged at all lately! Why?

I'm having a little trouble figuring out when to blog these days. I used to type up my blog posts in the evening, after Kathryn was in bed. But that was before Lindsey joined the family. Now we're all making an effort not to be on the computer after supper-time, so we can keep that as (mostly) technology-free family time. So with blogging, as with many other things, I've got to re-adjust how I do it.

Another excuse: I've had very little energy; post-crud asthma is not fun.

And we've been busier than usual. A little of what we've been up to:
We had the opportunity to be judges for the photography division of an elementary school PTA-sponsored art contest. FUN! We finished up our scoring early this week.

We've been blessed with a few portrait sessions recently, we've had a few meetings with 2010 brides, and we've had a lot of photo editing, as well as updating our website and business blog. (All without being on the computer in the evenings = tough!) We're very thankful for every bit of business we have!

Two Saturdays ago, I had a continuing education class for Stephen Ministry, and after dropping me off, Ken drove Lindsey out (about an hour and a half away) to her little brother's house to celebrate his 9th birthday. That afternoon I spent a little while shopping with my mom, while Ken put new shocks and brake pads on the Durango, and then went to pick Lindsey back up. Yes, my day was more fun than Ken's, but he's such a good husband and father! Ken really is my super-man!
Lindsey with her little brother.
On Wednesday of this week, Lindsey was super-excited to be the first one to drop a pumpkin from a cherry picker thirty feet in the air for some goofy youth-group thing. (Her youth minister and I had a funny twitter conversation about this whole thing.) Ken and Kathryn went to watch, and of course, Ken took photos. {grin} You can see how excited Lindsey was, and Ken's posted the results of the pumpkin drop on his blog.

Preparing for the pumpkin drop!
I volunteered to host a ladies get-together for our Sunday school class, but I had to cancel because I've felt so yucky. (Sorry ladies -- I'll do it soon!!!)

Then, of course, there's all the usual things like school and housework and such. I have been very much a slacker in the exercise department, too. I hope to change that as soon as I can breathe properly again!

OH! I almost forgot to mention this big news: we have a court date in December for Lindsey's adoption! We're all thrilled that we'll have that done and official before Christmas, before the end of the year, and before Lindsey's birthday! AND we updated our family photo (see my sidebar).

So, that's why I'm such a slacker. Hang in there with me, though. I have no shortage of things to blog about, just lacking the time and energy to do much of it. Even if no one read my blog, I'd still keep blogging because it's such a great way to keep up with what we do, when we do it, how I feel about it, and so on. I can't even count how many times I've referred to my blog to find out when we did something! It's like scrapbooking, only more interactive, and more detailed. I ♥ blogging!

Matthew's Wedding

We ventured down to Jacksonville Beach for my cousin Matthew's wedding the last weekend in September. He and I grew up together, and when I was little, I even told people that he was my little brother -- and they believed me! So when Matthew announced his engagement to a great girl named Monica, we immediately started making plans to be there, and offered our photography services as a wedding gift for my honorary brother.

Ken caught this photo when I stopped to give Matthew a quick hug while he was hanging out in anticipation of the wedding ceremony.

Lindsey and Kathryn enjoyed the day. Lindsey helped pin on corsages and boutonnières, and kept Monica hidden 'til it was time to walk down the aisle. Kathryn took her job as flower girl very seriously, and l-o-v-e-d it. Both girls liked feeling helpful, and hanging out with Monica and the girls before the ceremony was pretty doggone amusing at times. {grin}

After the ceremony, Matt and Monica had allotted extra time for photos before they needed to be at the reception. So much fun! I just have to share one of my very favorite shots (if you'd like to see more, check out a few wedding/reception photos, and day-after at-the-beach photos!)...

After photos by the church, we went to nearby Friendship Fountain for some photos, and took a few by the St John's river as well. Kathryn and Lindsey tagging along, even though they were hot and tired and hungry. Sometimes they got to act as assistants, holding a flash or reflector. I caught this shot as we were all walking back to the car to head to the reception, both of them helping hold Monica's dress, and loving having a part in a romantic day. Our girls are so immersed in weddings that they are both going to have their wedding planned about twenty different ways before they ever meet their future husbands. Look out, guys! {grin}

Kathryn has always loved Matthew, but after he and Monica asked if she'd be their flower girl, they earned extra-special points. I've always thought it was funny -- and kind of neat -- that somehow Kathryn managed to inherit (if that's possible) Matthew's funny ear-fidgeting habit; he always did this weird thing with his ear when he was sleepy, and Kathryn always did nearly the same thing.

Once we'd all eaten, the girls hit the dance floor. Lindsey and Kathryn both danced nearly non-stop for the entire reception! Needless to say, they both went to sleep that night as soon as their heads hit the pillow! Here's Kathryn dancing with her cousin Cullen. You may have seen him in some of our field trip posts and such, since he's family, but also a homeschool friend!

When we were little, Matthew and Shannon and I were the Three-Musketeer cousins. Maybe because we were all close in age, and the older cousins were too cool to play with us. (Jonnia!) Anyway, we spent a great deal of time together, and every Christmas, there was at least one photo taken of the three of us sitting on the same couch in my grandmother's house. We haven't done that photo recently, so it was time for an updated version:

Ken and I love to dance, and we did get out on the dance floor a time or two. It cracked me up that after we'd finished a swing dance, my uncle Bill came up and said, "I didn't know you two taught dance lessons! You're good!" But we're not the only ones in the family who know how to dance. He and my aunt Culline (Matthew's parents) really know how to cut a rug, too!

There were quite a few family members Lindsey hadn't met before this Florida trip. After the rehearsal dinner Friday night, she told us she thought she'd feel funny meeting all these new people, but said they were all goofy enough that she felt like she fit right in. I know that everyone in my family means well and that they have good hearts, but it made me all warm and fuzzy inside to see how they accepted Lindsey as if she'd always been part of the family. I love my big crazy clan of relatives.

Lindsey danced with my dad (her Granpa), with Matthew, and with Monica's littlest son Devin. When she danced with Ken, she cried "like a baby" (her words). She told me that was because she'd never had a dad to do things like that with her. I told her it would not be the last time she'd dance with her Dad. She said it probably wouldn't be the last time she cried while she danced, either.

My uncle Bill taught her the two-step, Texas-style.

Lindsey mentioned that we needed to get a photo of Granpa with her and Kathryn. So this is the first photo of my dad with BOTH girls.

I'm so blessed to have been able to spend this special time with family, to see my cousin Matt say his wedding vows, and to make such wonderful memories with our daughters.