Category: Totally Tatum

YES!
The night before, we gave her a little launch party.

We invited Mama over; Tatum couldn’t wait!

Thanks to takeout tonight, it saved me much work!
OK, we are ready!

Daddy is here too!

I wanted Tatum to know that this year, stand on Joshua 1: 9

I went through each word. What does it look like to be strong? To be courageous!?
To stand firm in your faith and not follow the “crowd.” HE IS WITH YOU wherever you go as you may feel out of place at times. You are NEVER out of place in HIS arms.

We enjoyed conversation of our Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy project.

We were all thankful Mama joined us!

Tatum is ready to unveil each little goody:

GO TOT!

She wanted a little snuggle bug to grab onto! BOO!

And of course, the cupcake! FOURTH grade here we come!

I think she is ready. I am not! HA! I’ll miss you, but I know you are going to rock it, cutie pie!

We are now up to TWENTY little art kisses from me to her on her wall.

I just finished a piece I’ve been working on for a few years! I put it aside back in 2019, and now I picked it up again to finish. (all colored pencil)

A sundae!

But the key is the cherry.

The cherry on top is what she is to me. The cheery cherry. So I framed it. (And I added: A cheerful heart is good medicine (Prov 17:22)).

And then…I found this in my art book. Figured I’d frame it too!

And so…Here is the wall now!

I love you so much, my girl.

Seven miscarriages and 3 failed attempts of IVF. The miracle then happened. Melissa got pregnant with her amazing man, Ethan.

July 31st, 2022. Six little lbs: Eliana Jaymes Banning.

Tatum has been chomping at the bit to meet lil’ Ella.

Tatum is a natural!
She wants to babysit in 3 years.

Then I got to hold her! Oh, the memories.

She is such a little peanut! Tot got to feed her.

We brought her books of course.

We can’t wait to visit again. You too, Maddox!

WE changed our verse for the time being:

We also are working out some kinks in our family…just a bit of refining.

Mission-minded, we are committed to being a TEAM!

I LOVE YOU TEAM HAY!

Last birthday, Tatum gave me some things to paint, and we found them in our art room today!
So, we decided to break out the acrylics, paintbrushes, and our creative brains.

She worked on the butterfly and I worked on the cross. I wanted to give it to her!

I finished mine, but hers is still in progress.

I think she likes it!!!

To my girl. I pray you experience the LOVE, JOY, PEACE, and FAITH daily.

Upon listening to a podcast by Kay Wyma on Family Life Today, I knew we needed to embark on this Peace Project.

Each day, we will each look for ways to be Thankful, Kind, and Merciful: T.K.M.

Tatum and I are reading a chapter a day.

And we fill out our journals.

Then we share at dinner with Daddy. Off to a great start!

Stay tuned.

This will be our fourth summer writing a book. It all started in 2019 with Piggie and Puppy at the Beach

Then, next year, Bait ‘n’ Surf (2020)

2021: Rock ‘n’ Ride. What would be do this year?
Her braces experience inspired her, so we started to plan. Characters, theme, plot….

Planning page by page

We put it all together, trading pages for which we would draw and color. Here is the story!

We made copies…

And….I had an idea!
Why not put the whole thing together in a REAL book!
Snapfish to the rescue.

Volume 1 of a 4 book series.

What will become of Piggy and Puppy? Stay tuned!