Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

We are all about gratitude in our home, but we are also about telling each other how much we love each other constantly.

Tatum had this idea tonight. We went into our bathroom only to find…. (my mirror)

Daddy’s mirror: ( She had a bit of a snafu earlier and wanted to apologize. Effective!)

We love you, TOT!!!

I agree wholeheartedly with her!

“All her reading shows in her stories, ” according to Mrs. King (and I concur).

She loves her teacher, Christian.

We just started, and she is seeming to thrive! She loves the opportunity to prove her strength in her compact body.

She’s ready to “stick” it to whoever has any wrong ideas! HA!

Next week, she needs to memorize how to count to ten in Japanese. Stay tuned!

I have always believed that readers are leaders. Growing up, I never saw my mom read, and it really wasn’t a value in our home. After college, I started learning about many leaders like Ronald Reagan, Winston Churchill, George Bush…they all read multiple books in a year, and it made them not only smart but interesting. So, I started to be a reader myself. I became obsessed with books, and therefore, I’d start a book, buy a new one in the midst of being in the first one, and so on. Many books are going at one time! And…there’s a diversity in what I like to read! From Christian living to autobiographies to historical fiction.

Well, when the Tot came along, I vowed to pass down this habit to her. I would read to her as a baby even when I was told she doesn’t understand. So what!! The habit is developing. So, since she was able to sit on my lap, EVERY SINGLE DAY and NIGHT, I have spent at least 30 minutes reading to her. At 9 now, I still do it.

What is the fruit from this? She LOVES to read, and you’ll always find a book in her hand. Moreover, I believe this is why she has a massive imagination. Her word choice is vast; her sentences flow; her character choices are varietal. Now, yes, she does enjoy the iPad watching certain shows, but her creativity comes from the books.

Just today, she wanted to bring some books to church.

These all have one thing in common: Their main characters are kids. She loves to make stories up taking characters from the books she enjoys. Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing and Karen Kingsbury books are her latest finds.

Last night, she came out to read to Daddy and me the story she put together. Just wow. Her sentences are so advanced.

It pays off. Start early and reap the benefits of an engaged child. She never is “bored” because she can always go to a book. I have never used the screen as a crutch, and for that, I’m so grateful.

I love you, Tot! Your creativity fascinates me.

OH, I love the mornings. As I turn on the heat in our home, I notice God’s magnificence. Venus.

And then I get to spend some time with God.

Tatum has been doing it also before she comes out for breakfast. She just finished 28 days!

We celebrated with a nice breakfast at Panera.

After our time with God, we read the Daily Bread with Daddy and of course give Coopy some attention.

We’ll start a new study this week!

Amen!

Since Doug and I were dating, we dreamed of leading a small group, notably of couples.

We knew, first, that our home needed to be ready; God had His own timing as to when this would occur. We needed to be married a while also before we were ready to lead.

We finally went through leadership training at SBC. Next, we had to find some couples. They just started to drop in our laps, and this was a sign God was ready for us!
We decided to have a little social at our home before we officially begin.

And of course have some yummy snacks.

And now we are ready! (after prayer!)

Stay tuned! We cannot wait to begin. Thank you, Father!

We decided to celebrate Tatum’s birthday in January due to an overload of activities during November. Alas, the time had arrived. January 21st. Nine years old!!? HOW!?

She wanted PUPPY as a them, so I went to town. Shirts, gift bags, erasers, keychains.

The day arrived, and we were so excited to head to the park to set up.

Isabelle and Lincoln came early to help.

And my dear friend, Eva, baker extraordinaire, made the cutest muffins ever.

Cuteness overload.

We wrangled all the kiddos for the train and then a picture.

I had the honor of holding the Tot.

PICTURE TIME!

Wow. We had so many fun friends who joined! Hayden, Mason, Maddy, Winton, Eli, Luke, Sebastian, Isabelle, Lincoln, Ruby, Selah, Carley, Olivia, Sophia, and …there’s my mom! Love it!
Cake time!

Happy Birthday LOVEBUG!

What a hit these little sweet treats were. My HHH hubby took the pics. All the kids had so much fun!….after eating, RUNNING all that sugar off at the park.

It couldn’t have gone better!
We got home and ate then opened the ENORMOUS amount of presents.

Tot is a perfect fit! She truly is a gift.

We took notes on all the gifts so she could make TY notes. That is SO important, I stress to her.

BE GRATEFUL!

So, the next morning, she got to work.

SO grateful for all the friends, fun, and family.

Till next year, when we enter double digits. YIKES!