Me & Lily

Lily made this with my mom while she was here and I'm just finally getting around to putting them up.

When Sweet Lily Girl brought it to me to show me she said "this is you mom"

This one she brought and said "this is me because it has a bow"

I of course tried to just laugh a little and say some loving motherly response. But then I thought I do where hats a lot so it is pretty appropriate, maybe I should get a hat like the one she made.

What Do Your Kids Do With Stickers?

I don't know what usually happens in your house when your kids get stickers but this is what happens in mine:

I try giving them a note book or a piece of construction paper and some of them make it there.  However this is what usually happens in the end.

A Day Of Firsts (More From Our Michigan Trip)

Who could ask for a better day?

Boating.
Fishing.
Swimming.
Michigan Sweet Corn.
Ice Cream.
Friends who have known me my entire life.

These people are the kind of people who are like rocks.  Solid. Dependable. Not going anywhere.  I have always know there are certain people who I can count on in life. Jim & Vicki are some of those people. (It's still weird calling them by their first names even though I was told 14 years ago when I turned 18 that I could drop the Mr. & Mrs. M)  They are the kind of people who you would call if you were in trouble or who call you on your birthday to sing a horrible rendition of Happy Birthday.  The kind of people who encourage and uplift you and tell you the same story about how honored they were to be the first people to ever babysit you.  The kind of people who see children as precious and valuable and treat them that way.  My girls knew after a very short time that they were loved and treasured and quickly became comfortable and made themselves at home.

Until this day my little girls had never been on a boat, never been fishing, and never eaten Michigan sweet corn (of which I did not get a picture because I was to busy eating 1 1/2 cobs full).

Thanks Mom for helping me and my kids remember that I was there.

She caught at least a dozen fish!

(It helps that they regularly feed them right there from the dock.)

We'll be signing her up for boaters safety soon.

I think she could have fished all day.

My only regret from the day is not hearing the story about the first time they babysat me.  Next time I will have to make a request.

Visiting Friends (More from our Michigan Trip)

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip to Michigan.  We were blessed with the opportunity to spend an entire day (9 hours) with one of my best friends, Amber, and her family.  We have known each other since high school youth group, were room mates in our first apartment, we were in each others weddings, I saw the birth of her first child (Awesome and Ewww), and I baby sat that same precious baby.  Although we have not seen each other much or even talked much on the phone in the past five years, each time we are able to get together it is so easy and natural.  For that I am so grateful.  Sweet Lily Girl, Little Miss Ava Grace & I had such a great time.  I drove back to my parents house with this overwhelming feeling of joy that comes at the end of a wonderful day.

These are the J's.  Her beautiful girls whose beautiful names all start with the letter J.

When I first entered the yard Middle J said "This is our baby sister J. she is a miracle!"  And that she is.  Little J was born with a whole in her heart that went undetected until the situation became life threatening.  The doctors actually lost her a couple of times but God answered prayers and kept this precious, very sweet and smiley girl alive for her family and the world to enjoy.  I've never seen two big sisters cherish their little sister the way these two do.

I find it so amazing to see Big J. I still picture her as the little baby I used to baby sit.  I still treasure those days I had with her.

Amber made yogurt Popsicles, they were delicious.  Aren't Middle J's eyes stunning?



What is it about little feet?  I can't resist taking pictures of them.



Both of my girls had a great time.  I think Sweet Lily Girl most of all.



This was so much fun to watch.  Amber said they spend a good portion of each day playing on this swing like this.  Middle J.'s strength is amazing.

Little Miss Ava Grace spent most of the day playing in the sand.  It was a huge hit!

My only regret from the day is not getting any pictures of the whole family.  Everything else (including the food) was fantastic!  If we were to ever move back to Michigan this family would be one reason why.