Where Are The Kids?

Cate and Reed got to hang out with a couple of cousins this weekend at Nanna and Grandpa's house. When it gets quiet you start looking for the kids to see what they are up to. Here's what we found.
(It's really fun if you left-click on the bar and drag your mouse back and forth.)

FOUR!

Four! Can you believe it's been four years since we brought this sweet boy home. I look at him now and I can still see that little baby sleeping in his crib.



He still looks just like this. That bottom lip is sooo kissable.




He still gets a twinkle in his eyes and can capture your heart with a look.



Four years old today. Happy birthday son. You bring us such joy. You open our world to new things. We love you.

I missed you Mommy.

Today was the first time I just dropped Cate off at the curb. With her backpack in tow, I watched as she made her way into the building. I prayed that she found her class room without any problem. I thought about how the school years will pass like lightening. And I drove off, wondering (lump in throat) if Cate was okay.

I picked her up after school and the first thing she said was, "Mommy I cried today." My heart sank. I asked her why she cried and she said she missed me. Tears in my eyes, I asked if her teacher gave her a hug. She said she didn't let the teacher know. Then she said she also cried in the bathroom.

Are you crying yet? Because I'm about to lose it.

Reed's singing

The other day Reed said, "Mom, in a few minutes is it going to be my birthday?" I said, "Not for a few days." Then he went on his way. Later I heard him singing, "Happy Birthday to Reed, Happy Birthday to Reed..."

Silly boy.

Lunch with Daddy at Bicentennial Mall

Cate isn't on a full schedule at school yet so we thought we would squeeze in a lunch with daddy in our capital city. (Above: See Capital in background on hill.)




We went to the Farmer's Market in Nashville and got po-boys at Nooley's. We at at the picnic area under the train trestle in Bicentennial Mall and had a great view of the Capital.


After lunch we explored the park.



The kids liked the big globe best. It spins in a pool of water.

My Little Girl Is Growing Up

"Come to the edge," he said.
They said, "We are afraid."
"Come to the edge," he said.
They came. He pushed them, and they flew.
-Guillaume Apollinaire

I began the morning thinking I would have to gently nudge my little chick out of the nest. Then I saw that she was already trying to fly. This morning Cate began Kindergarten. She got herself out of bed while I was in the shower. When I came to check on her she was already dressed and anxious for the day to begin. This was really surprising because she takes after her mommy in that she is not a morning person. She made her bed without me even asking. Then she asked me to take her picture beside the bed. She knows I like to take pictures of everything.

The next picture made me see just how much she has grown. I pray that you, Cate, have a wonderful, fun, safe day. I pray that you will love learning. I pray that God keeps His tender hand on you at all times. I pray that when you are scared that you will remember that you are loved by God and mommy and daddy and by so many others.

Chapman's on Larry King Live

I had a really hard time watching this. I've always liked Steven Curtis Chapman's music. I first saw him in concert in Baton Rouge, LA when he still took up a love offering instead of selling tickets. Then I was even more fascinated with his family when we decided to adopt from China since three of his daughters were from China. When I heard about his youngest daughter's passing it hit home not just because she was his child, but she was from China and she was the same age as Cate. I thought, here is a family who seemed to have it all and I wondered how this would shape their lives and ministry. I cannot begin to understand how hard it is for them to get up in the morning without their precious girl but it is so inspiring to see how their faith is made stronger with each passing day.

If you watch this program you will need a BIG box of Kleenex.
http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/08/chapmans-on-larry-king-live.html

I couldn't say it any better than the Chapman's...

"According to UNICEF, there are 143 million children in the world who have lost one or both parents.

In America alone, there are half a million children in foster care, and approximately 120,000 of these children are waiting to be adopted. In many countries, children are too often orphaned or abandoned because of poverty, disabilities and disease; every 15 seconds, a child loses a parent because of AIDS. These are staggering facts that can seem overwhelming and discouraging, but I believe that God has a loving plan for each child, and that plan is you and me."

To read the entire article and see a video of Steven Curtis Chapman with his beautiful "Cinderella" go to the following link.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/07/chapman.orphans/index.html#cnnSTCText

Going Under

I got some great shots of the kids swimming underwater at Gran's.























Cate would rather be under water than on top.






















Reed wasn't so sure but got braver every day.

My Sweet Girl

Cate was looking for something to do this afternoon to entertain herself before Daddy got home. Suddenly the "light bulb" came on in her eyes. She said I know what I'll do. You stay here Mommy until I'm done. When Daddy got home we went in the kitchen and here's what she had been working on.






















Thank you Cate for setting the table. I hadn't even started dinner but she was way ahead of me.

Which came first...

...the kitten or the egg...

On the way to church this morning I heard the kids playing with their stuffed kitties in the back seat. I heard Reed say, "Look mom! My kitty had eggs. There are baby kitties in the eggs."

Where does that boy come up with this stuff?

What kind of bird is that?

Anyone who knows my family knows that we have a love of birds and an unusual ability to mimic their sounds. My Dad and brother Clay are really good at it and I can do a little bit. I think Reed has inherited this ability. He is passionate about things that interest him and birds are one of those things. Check out the video we made for my Dad for Father's Day.