Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Things I Miss About Living in Chattanooga

1.  Without a doubt, the thing I miss most is the WEATHER!!  Closing school for even a forecast of snow, winter temperatures in the 40's (and that's cold for Chatt!), long springs and falls, being able to be outside all year long.  Oh, I miss it!

2.  Living in this house:

It's just a house, a shelter, but how I loved being sheltered in that place!  Mountain views from our windows.. priceless!!

3.  Teaching 2nd grade with these women:

Such a perfect team to work with.  Not only teaching partners but amazing FRIENDS! I miss you girls!!  I loved teaching at that school - the kids, parents, staff...  It was such a wonderful 2 years I spent there.  I mean, seriously... we had fun, themed days and even taught the kids the electric slide. 

4.  The Riverwalk.  I learned to love running on that path.  Beautiful views along the river.  And did I mention the weather is gorgeous all year long??

5.  Being so close to so many fun vacation destinations:  2 hours from Nashville, 2 hours from Atlanta, 2 hours from Gatlinburg.

6.  Our small group.  How cool that God moved 5 couples to Chattanooga, none who were from there, around the same time and brought us all to the same church.  Most were from the Midwest, like us... one even grew up 20 minutes from where I did in suburban Chicago!  No family lived near any of us so we were an amazing support system to each other over those couple of years.  So many big life moments happened those years: several couples started had their first baby, we lost our first baby, some lost parents that year, were laid off from jobs, and we were there to support each other through all of it.  Since then, we've all moved away.  I love how God brought us together for that season.   

7.  Mountains and beautiful views everywhere you looked.  We don't get much of that in Iowa. ;)

8.  Downtown Chatt: the pedestrian bridge, Coolidge Park, North Chatt restaurants and shops, which can all be enjoyed year round because of the amazing weather..



9.  The 'yes ma'ams' and 'no sirs'.... I love the way children respect adults.  There's something to be said for that.

10.  The food -- Sticky Fingers BBQ, Lupi's Pizza, Clumpy's Ice Cream... mmmm... 

Celebrating Easter

Disclaimer:  This post contains too many pictures... there were so many good ones I wanted to share... sorry!!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Easter!!  What a privilege it is to celebrate our RISEN Lord, who took the weight of our sin on His sinless body to the cross, triumphed over death, and lives today!  Thank you, Jesus! 

This Easter was extra special, since our African family is home and was able to celebrate with us.  We spent the day at Grammy and Babu's house yesterday with all 8 adults and 7 kids.. perfect! 

Emma in her fancy Easter get up!

Matching... of course! :)

Pretty girl

Someone was ready for the egg hunt!

The best one we got.. don't mind the cying 2-year-old.

Auntie Roxi read the Easter story from the Bible and helped the kids make Resurrection Rolls.. awesome new tradition!

Grammy had candy necklaces for the kids to make, too!

Egg hunt!



The whole fam after the Easter service at church.



Claire found Emma's basket for her.





and then she found her own basket!

which contained some serious bling!

Happy Easter!!  Amidst the jelly beans, bunnies, eggs, candy, and fancy dresses, find time to stop and reflect on the best news you'll ever hear and the best gift we've ever been given.  Thank you, Jesus!

My First (2) Top Ten Tuesday(s)

I thought I'd give this a try...  I just couldn't decide on which to do so I thought I'd start with a bang and give you two top ten lists today!

Top 10 Random Facts About Me

1. When I was in school, I always got bad scores on the part of my report card for "Participates in class discussions." I never participated and was terrified if I was called on. I still don't talk much in groups. It takes me awhile to take everything in and process it.

2. I got a detention in 7th grade because my friend and I started laughing in study hall and couldn't stop. That's the only detention I ever received.

3. Despite my shyness in group settings, I'm a total extrovert. I hate being by myself and am energized by spending time with people.

4.  I love Jesus.  He saved me from my nasty self and loves and pursues me even though I'm so undeserving

5. I hate playing team sports. HATE them. Especially volleyball.

6. My best friend from high school went to another high school. One time I brought her to school with me for an entire day. We told all my teachers that she was my cousin and was visiting me.

7. I remember really weird things... like I remember who gave us what wedding gift (7 1/2 years later), random people's birthdays, phone numbers of friends from elementary school, etc..

8. One of the highlights of my day is getting the mail.

9. I really like filling out forms.

10. When I was in high school, my history class took a field trip to the Chicago Historical Society. I saw the bed Abraham Lincoln died on and started to cry. My teacher gave me extra credit for taking the field trip so seriously.

Top 10 Things Heard Around My Home on Any Given Day (I'll let you figure out who says what..)

1. Gentle with your sister!

2. Where's Emma's paci?

3.  I need you to obey right away.

4.  Pa pa pa, da da da.

5.  I want a snack.

6.  Do you need to go potty?

7.  Do you have a happy heart?

8.  I need to do a big one!

9. I'm a baby, Mommy.

10. Come on, just one more episode of LOST.
 
For more Top Ten Tuesday, check out Oh Amanda.

More infections.. just not of the ear sort

Claire has a urinary tract infection... yuck! :(  Poor girl refused to go potty until about 11 this morning... so she held it from 6 pm last night until 11 this morning... 17 hours!!!  She tried to go this morning, let a tiny bit out, and then cried out in pain and refused to go after that.  Since she's had one before and behaved the exact same way, I figured we must be dealing with another one. 

They put her on antibiotics and discussed possibly doing some further testing.  They suspect she could have some kind of anatomical issue that is causing this and, if she does, would have to be on antibiotics for an entire year!  (Camille, if you are reading this - this is the same thing Jillian has, right?!) 

The best part of all of this -- she got to have her first ever juice box!  She was so excited!  They gave it to her at the doctor's office in hopes that the juice would make her go, which it did!  Small victories, right?! :)

Perfect

Another perfect weekend under our belts... dinner and hanging out with friends Friday night, perfect family day outside on Saturday, followed by grilling and dinner on the deck, church, picnic and park with friends, and Bible study on Sunday. Doesn't get much better than that!!

Enjoying the weather!

Cheese!





This girl LOVES to be outside!

First graham cracker!  She loved it!

Helping Daddy.

TOTAL Girl!

Claire is such a girl.  It cracks me up. 

She is obsessed with babies.  This is how obsessed she is....

I have one of those coloring apps on my phone.  Claire asked to play with it so I got the screen all ready for her.  She wanted me to draw a baby for her (surprise surprise!).  I drew a baby and then she proceeded to carry my phone around like a baby, kissing it, rocking it, burping it, and telling the baby, which she called Brenda, that "It's okay, Brenda.  You're fine..."  etc...

I mean, isn't that something only a girl would do??  Turn a phone into a baby?!  Have I mentioned how much I LOVE having girls?  :)

Oh, and if that isn't girly enough... get this:  She is terrified of bugs. Terrified.  The other day she was playing under the kitchen table, pretending it was Nana and Papa's house (one of her fave new games).  All of the sudden she started screaming, crying, and calling for me.  I came running, thinking she had fallen off a stool or something.  Nope, I was wrong.  There was a teeny tiny bug on the floor and she was FREAKING out.  After I held in my laughter, I asked her why she was crying.  She said, "That bug was gonna get me."   Although I hate bugs myself, she has never seen me freak out about one.  How does she know to do that?!

Girly GIRL. 

Emma has tubes!

I'm happy to report that Emma's surgery is done and all went well (besides having to be there at 5:45 this morning!).  She was very fussy and tired after waking up from the anesthesia but she's napping now, so hopefully will be back to her happy self before too long.

The patient all ready to go in her hospital gown!

Thanks to everyone who prayed!

Spring is a'coming!

We had a great weekend full of friends, family, parks, and warm weather!!  Game night with friends Friday night, outlet shopping and a park on Saturday, church, lunch with Grammy and Babu, and playdate at a park with friends on Sunday. 

What could be better than all that PLUS these two darling girls by our side?! 

Sisters

Time to compare the girls... same outfit, same headband, same age...

Here's Claire at 7 months old:

And here's Emma...



You know what I see?  Same exact hair, face shape, chubby cheeks, and nose... totally different eyes!  I love that they look so much alike in some ways and totally different in other ways. 

First Haircut!

Today was a big day for Miss Claire Bear... she got her first ever haircut!!  Although I want to keep her hair long, we decided it might be time to clean it up a bit (especially when we found out about Crystal, who gives kids their first haircut for FREE!  And even curls it and makes it all cute, too!).

Claire loved it!  She got to watch a movie during her haircut and got a sucker afterwards... that's all it takes to make her a happy girl!

Here we go!

Turning Claire's hair into "princess hair"

Thank you, Crystal!

What a big girl!