Happy Birthday to my favorite daughter

28 years ago today I was in the hospital having a baby.  A girl!  Katherine Parris.  We knew that we would nick name her and before she was born, her nick name was Kate but as I lay in the recovery room, I asked (read- pleading with Carl) to call her Kaitlin.  How could he refuse???  I will say that when she was 6 weeks old, I told Carl that I would call her whatever name he picked, he said that he liked Kaitlin.  She loves the unusual spelling.

We have lots of fun!

and have had fun for many years

I love to look at all the pictures she has taken.

Some days you just have to put on your green mohawk...

Here's a picture we took at Crystal Bridges last year.  No wonder they kept following us!!

Kaitlin, I hope your birthday is wonderful just like you!!!

25 years and a day!

Marisa and Andrew share the same birthday and that was yesterday.  I gave Andrew a post of his own and today we will honor Marisa.  As I looked back thru my pictures I didn't find any of just Marisa so I plan to change that soon.  (I know this amazing photography).  In this first picture, Marisa and Kaitlin photobombed poor Atticus as he attempted to eat a loaf of bread!

Here is Marisa smiling at her littlest love of her life on Christmas Eve!

Here is a beautiful painting that hangs in my house every December that Marisa painted for me.

Here are Marisa and Kaitlin in Iowa City one blizzard, I mean, one December day during our visit to see cousin Charlie graduate.

Here is a visor that John was trying to decide whether he needed or not.  Not won the day!

My latest painting by Marisa- a four seasons tree.  I love it!

I am so glad that Marisa is in our family.  She has seen me after I got my back injections- crazy was the theme for that day, she has been a little chilly while she swam with the Manatees with us- a little chilly is not the truth: ITWASFREEZING!, she is our fashion police even if Andrew and Carl don't understand, she is a wonderful wife and an amazing mama!  

Sweet Girl, I hope your day was fantastic and your 25th year the best ever!

Thirty-onederful years!!!

What were you doing 31 years ago today?  I was in the hospital having a baby!!!!  This baby in fact.  Where have the 31 years gone?  It seems like yesterday.  Andrew, I am so glad you were born and that God gave you to our family.

I am very proud of your latest  endeavor!

I have enjoyed every age you have been!

I like it that you have friends of all ages- young

and old!!! J/k Robert!!!!

Even if you take me down one lane bridges that make me scream, we always have fun!

I hope your birthday is as restful as looking at furniture was!  Here's to many more birthdays and adventures.  I love you!

Mother's Day!

 I am very blest!

 I have no idea how we started the tradition of throwing our Easter Eggs but that is a tradition we have! This was Atticus' first egg throw.  He didn't want to throw the egg, he wanted to hold on to it!  Amanda enjoyed the tradition as did the rest of us!  Just so we know, we don't have any close neighbors, so that nobody wakes up tomorrow and says " What is that smell?"

Foolish Galatians, Foolish Ellen

Carl is teaching Sunday School this semester on the book of Galatians. I have learned so much.

- Many of the same issues brought up in Galatians are in Romans
- The Law is like a mirror, it shows us how things are but also like a mirror, it can't fix anything.  If you look in the mirror and your hair is a mess, the mirror can't fix your hair!
-my inheritance doesn't start when I die, it started at redemption
-chapter 4 vs19- Christ is formed in me- this shows the passiveness of salvation
-Paul's conversion was amazing, Isaac's birth was supernatural and my conversion and yours equals the amazing, supernaturalness of both those events.  Every conversion is a wonderful gift!  Marvel in that today!

Above is a new Bible that my friend, LindaG recommended.  I have enjoyed the layout and comments that I have read so far.

Below is Gpapa with Mr Wonderful and boy are they having some kind of conversation.  I hope Atticus always listens to Gpapa like this.  On a side note, isn't that a cute little fat baby hand!

What's your favorite Bible Verse?

My favorite book of the Bible is Ephesians. My favorite verses are 3:14-21.

I am still on the sofa recovering from a terrible, no good, very bad, tummy bug. The above verse is my 'go-to' verse that I like to pray for many of you!

I am near Carl's pile of books that he is using to teach Galatians in Sunday School. One book caught my eye- New Testament Commentary -Galatians, Ephesians,Philippians, Colossians, Philemon by William Hendriksen.

Here's what he said about vs 17b-19a. In order that you, being rooted and founded in love, may be strong, together with all the saints, to grasp what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.

So great is the love of God that no one will be able to know it by themselves. We need to be 'together with all the saints' to hear about their discoveries and experiences with this great love.

That is why we have small groups, Bible Studies, table for 4's, and just good ole times of sharing with other believers. I need to know how God is working in your life and you need to hear what's going on with me. Isn't that exciting- God's love is so vast that it takes all of us together to grasp it!

Enjoy that great love today!

what are you thankful for?

It is the last day of my birthday month and I am recovery from a nasty tummy bug.  Sunday was the worst day, Monday was just bad and I am hoping for much better today.

I am thankful for a wonderful nurse, Kaitlin

I am thankful for Sprite

I am thankful for TV

I am thankful that I am not on a trip so I can just veg out

I hope your April 30th is a wonderful day!