missed so much...

I have missed so many special posts, not because they aren't important to me, not because I don't have a thousand pictures of each sweet event, but because I am just so behind and I feel like I can't post sweet moments that happen each day when I have missed posting so many big markers.  So here we go... time to catch up!  I hope this week is full of sweet spring moments and many posts!!
 

in the mean time...

I am crazy behind in posting!  Much of that is due to a lot of sickness that has run rampet around here.  Don't worry we are all on the up swing now, but it sure has been a dozy!  

Here are a few random things that have been said over the last few weeks that sum it all up...

~Mackenzie~

After about a week and a half of Haleigh feeling less than playful, Mackenzie was yearning to play with her.  Finally, last Friday Haleigh was perking up.  Mackenzie literally said, "Haleigh will you pleeeease play with me?"  After a side glance from Haleigh, not sure how she would respond, Mackenzie continued,  "But I was born to play with you!! Please!!"

Hours, I'm telling you, hours.

~Sophie~ 

After our third trip to the doctor in less than a week, this time for Haleigh not rebounding well and adding a worrisome cough to her list of ailments and Sophie's barking cough that was hanging on just a little too long (however it did seem to be improving,) I found myself apologizing to Sophie and yet again surprised by her response.  Here's how it went...

Me, as we walked out of the doctor's office, "I am so sorry I didn't realize how sick you really were."

Sophie in a very matter of fact way, "Oh, I forgive you Mom, but I did tell you I felt a crackle in my lungs a few days ago."

Seriously!?!  

The child was diagnosed with "walking pneumonia,"  they both were... so they got to take the rest of the day off from school :)

 ~Haleigh~

Then this past Sunday evening I was feeling pretty run down and fighting a sinus infection.  I decided to call in a sub to tutor my class at CC the next day so I could try to rebound.  Sophie and Haleigh rode to co-op with a dear friend.  About 10:00 I got a call from Haleigh's tutor saying she wasn't doing so well.  I went to pick her up and a whole new episode broke out in the house. It involved 4 out of 5 of the Call crew down, firetrucks, a DVR box, Gatorade, and a lot of disinfecting...

My sisters and mom were great moral support in our texting loop.  It kept me laughing through it all.  A very funny snippet from my sister's perspective is over here... http://thewrightstuffforus.blogspot.com/2012/03/just-kind-of-family-we-are.html

but to wrap it up here was the final text of that night...

Finally, Wednesday night we all made it  out of the house to AWANA's crazy hat night.  See they're no "worse for the wear," right?!

Valentine's Day ~ almost

 

The day before Valentine's Day our celebration began at co-op.  We had a fairly normal morning schedule with a very special lunch celebration.

 Because Mark was home with the day off we took off  a little early and headed home to begin celebrating Valentine's Day family style...

We headed to Charming Charlies to do some fun jewelry shopping for the girls.  A short walk around the corner landed us at Barnes and Noble where we spent a lot of time reading and just being.  Of coarse we had to have dinner, right?  Next stop was PF Chang's for some yummy food, and entertainment as Haleigh ate her noodles with chop sticks.
Mark made us all feel very loved on this special day!

 On the real Valentine's Day the only thing left to do was let Mark know how much we love him.  The girls filled up these little hearts with all the special ways Daddy shows us love.  It made me smile to see what they see as "Daddy's love."

~wrestling with us

~paying for violin lessons

~playing "bogaty boo"

~birthday parties

~teaching my Sunday School class

~taking us to Frankies Fun Park

~hugs

~kisses

~compassion kids

~getting us smoothies

~being at all my big events

~telling us silly stories

~watching movies with us

~snuggling with us

~play set

~9 rounds

~taking us to your conferences

~making my Grand Prix car

~being fun you

Sophie's Grand Prix

It was finally Sophie's turn for Grand Prix.

 

 Many of us had a hand in its design and shaping...

 even Grandma.

 Sophie's car actually came in fourth in the heavy weight division.

(Shocking with our history.)

At the end of the night Sophie had a special date with Daddy and a car with all wheels still intact.

"A Lady to Remember"

 

 February 3 was this year's "Faces of History" for Simpsonville's CC Essentials' class.  Each student was to pick an American historical character they would like to know more about.   Once they picked their characters the writing process would begin.  Over the next three weeks resources were gathered, specific topics were chosen, key word outlines were made and then fused, resulting in a research paper that was then edited and dressed up.  Finally, this research paper was transformed into an oral presentation given only with the help of a key word outline.

As our school year kicked off Sophie heard a snippet about the life of Abigail Adams.  At that moment she knew that would be her choice figure when FOH rolled around.  The process was a hard, long, tedious effort that resulted in a beautiful presentation of "A Lady to Remember."  It also resulted in a young girl seeing that sometimes things don't come easy and if you push through and reach beyond your comfort zone you can surprise yourself and stretch your comfort zones to include what seemed like such a big challenge.

Sophie's teacher was such an encouragement to us.  She was great to walk the class step by step through the expectations placed on them.  This sweet lady also took the opportunity to speak to Sophie about her hesitations of presenting in a new way in such a manner that Sophie knew if Mrs. Debra thought she was capable do this there must be a reason ;)  She gave it her best shot and hit the mark!

 When Sophie finished I wanted to stand up and cheer, cry, and high five her all at the same time!  There wasn't much time for that as the next student was up and enlightening us on the discovery they had made as they researched their character of choice.  That is such a neat part of this class too,  Sophie was so excited to hear each presentation as she routed on her friends who had walked this process with her.

So proud of everyone of these American characters!!

90

What makes me smile today...

Knowing I have consumed at least 90 slices of brown sugar bread at the round table in her kitchen.

Knowing I have been rocked way more than 90 times on her lap as she patted my thick leg.

Knowing she has given me sound advise and wisdom 90 X 90 times.

Knowing she stocked the candy drawer at least 90 times per summer :)

Knowing she could call "here kitty kitty" 90 times in 30 seconds without getting tongue tied.

Knowing by just closing my eyes I can see her, standing in the front of Salem Church, where she stood at least 90 times, in her green choir robe, singing "may it be a sweet sweet sound in Your ear" as the prayer led into the sermon. 
Knowing I woke up at least 90 days to the smell of a country breakfast, and the excitement of being at Grandma's.

Knowing she asks 90 times, each 90 days how my "babies" are.
Knowing that I have surely consumed 90 of the best apple pies, cinnamon rolls, and homemade rolls made by her loving hands.

Knowing she has signed off our phone calls with "Love you bunches XX!"  WAY more than 90 times.

What makes me smile most today is that this is a special day because someone VERY special turns 90 today!!!!

(and in just one short week we will cross the miles to celebrate in person:)

 We love you SO much Granny!!

A Beautiful Day

 January 29, 2012 is the date Haleigh made her declaration of faith, in front of many friends and family, through baptism. 

Haleigh could not get to this time of day fast enough.  Sweet friends greeted her in morning church with excited hugs and exclamations of excitement looking towards the afternoon to come.  After church we headed out to eat with both sets of grandparents.  Finally, it was time to go back to the church and get Haleigh ready.

A sweet time of praise and worship started the baptism celebration.  Each child being baptised had previously been taped telling their story of how Jesus pursued their hearts.  Their video was shown along with a few pictures through their childhood.  Next a parent was able to speak confirmation over their child and their decision to accept Jesus as their Rescuer.  (Mark spoke over Haleigh for a few reasons.  First, I think it is important for a daughter to hear her Daddy's affirmation.  Secondly, I would not have gotten one audible word out through my tears of joy!)

After all 8 beautiful testimonies and baptisms, all those who came to support Haleigh in this decision gathered and prayed for her.  Then we had a sweet time of celebrations!

 It was a beautiful day!  The testimonies of Jesus' awesome work in the live of these children.  The bubbling over excitement of Haleigh as she counted down the hours till she would be baptised.  And so much love poured out by those (able to be there and those across the miles)  that will walk through Haleigh's life with her, celebrating her joys, praying with her and for her, and challenging her to continue reflecting and depending on Her Rescuer, Jesus Christ.