Busy busy

Grace and I went to a wedding shower for one of my sweet AOII sisters, Dani. She is getting married later this month. I prefed Dani when she came through rush a few years ago. I can't believe it's her turn to walk down the aisle! I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked to - I chased Grace around the JSU Alumni house most of the time! Congrats Dani and Nick! I know you will be a beautiful bride!!

At Nana & Grand Dad's before the shower

Show Us Your Life!

     One of the blogs on my Google Reader is Kelly's Korner. Each week she does a little something called "Show Us Your Life." I've read them before but never submitted my own until NOW! This week's topic is Christmas Traditions. I can't say that we have too many of our very own. My mother always gives us each a pair of new pajamas to open up on Christmas Eve. We only give each other three presents each to symbolize the number of gifts the Wise Men brought baby Jesus. This can be hard, or it can also be a relief to know that I don't need to spend a lot of money. I've tried to do this with Grace but there are a few little  extra things I want to give her so those will be from Santa. The one thing we don't do is go overboard. When Jon worked in construction there would be some Christmases where we could afford nicer gifts than others, but we do not let it stress us out. That is not what this beautiful season is about. The one that I would like to begin this year is baking a birthday cake for Jesus and have it for breakfast on Christmas morning - I can't wait to do this! Jon's grandfather always read The Christmas Story to the family on Christmas night, so we plan to start that back up now that Grace loves being read to. We began decorating just a little last night....

Update: I can't believe how many people have popped over here from Kelly's Korner! Here are some examples I looked up on Google if you're planning on doing the birthday cake for Jesus. They are very pretty! I also love the ones that were iced and decorated by children - they are adorable, too!

I was thinking you could use pretzel sticks for the manger and barn.

The tag around the cross says, "A Savior has been born to you Luke 2:11."

For the experienced and patient cake bakers....

Happy Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Iron Bowl!!

     We hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We have been on the road for the past few days visiting with our families and enjoying three delicious meals. On Tuesday we went to my mom's and ate an early Thanksgiving Wednesday night. It still does not seem normal to eat Thanksgiving without my grandfather (GaGa). I guess it never will, but it was easier. I am so thankful that God gave me twenty-four years with the most amazing Grandfather and man I've ever known. I am also thankful for God's timing in that he brought Grace into the world just two months later and helped us all heal. Here is the little turkey herself....

     On Thursday we headed back home and stopped at Nana and Granddad's for Round two!

     Then we headed to GiGi and Papa Charlie's for the last stop. I was so exhausted but Grace just kept going and going, dancing and playing.

Grace and cousin, Thomas

We had a fun morning just laying around and playing. Shopping on Black Friday is not my thing. I even caught a nap with Grace. We woke up just in time for the IRON BOWL!

And what a game it was!!! Victory would have been sweeter but the Tigers fought hard! WAR EAGLE!

My Little Dare Devil Part II

     I don't have a picture to share today. I thought I'd wait until the bruise/knot in the very middle of Grace's forehead hits its full potential to show you. When I picked her up Mrs. Sonya (mine and Grace's favorite) said, "Mom.... we've got a bruise. She was standing on the Bumbo and waving her hands around as to say look at me, look at me!..." I stopped her. That's all I had to hear. I've seen this too many times on our coffee table, Grace's chair, rocker, rocking horse, you name it! Mrs. Sonya said she told her to sit down but instead she fell, right into the hard wood railing to the baby pen. The other mommies and I refer to this as the coral where the 1-2 year olds play. Anyway, she of course walked away with a "battle scar" to show off. Thank goodness she's ok. What am I going do to with my little dare devil???!

Look What Grace Found!

    Grace has a huge collection of stuffed animals, just like every other child in America. They've sat in a cubby for well over a year now untouched. I was busy cleaning this afternoon when I walked into her room to see that she had found them. She was so excited! It was like I had just gone out and bought them for her - she was thrilled! My littlest brother, Quentin, won the pink bear for her from one of those machines the day after Grace was born. He and the rest of my Dad's family were on their way here to see us. I know she's thinking, "Thanks, Uncle Q!!!"

     We stayed out of this nasty weather today. We are soooo excited about the week ahead! We have our usual four Thanksgivings to attend and the Iron Bowl party on Friday. I am so thankful for the best husband I could have ever dreamed of, a beautiful daughter, parents who love me and so much more.

Inspiration

I have needed some inspiration. I have needed to be reminded of how very blessed I am and that God has given me exactly what I need. If you feel the same way, then you too will be blessed by reading this. Please keep LeRoy Johnson in your prayers as he nears the first anniversary of his wife's death. Thanks to Libbie from The Middlest Sister for posting this. I copied it directly from her blog and I hope she won't mind.

These are the wearings I wear eveyday.

   They have not always been mine. Once they belonged to a dear friend of mine, LuAnn Johnson.  LuAnn faithfully served in our church nursery.  Both she & her husband LeRoy volunteered every Tuesday to take care of the children while their mothers attended Bible study.  That is where I met LuAnn.  Her love for my children was a beautiful gift to me.  She was my mentor in times when I just wanted to toss up my hands in defeat.  She encouraged me, she loved me, she loved my family & taught my children about Jesus.  I loved LuAnn.

   LuAnn was a beauty through & through.  Even her eyes twinkled.  Last December LuAnn was struck down by a drunk driver in the Sam's Club parking lot.  She was hit & the driver stopped as onlookers gasped.  She was lying in front of his car.  Her husband yelled to the driver while frantically waving his hands, and then, the driver slammed on the gas & ran her over again dragging her body while her husband looked on helplessly.  To hear LeRoy tell of that night is devasting still.  To see his grace & strength is life changing.

   I heard that LuAnn had been "hit by a car" on Wednesday night soon after it happened.  I was sick & worried but had no idea how bad it was.  Thursday morning was I learned she had died I sat sat in my office, where I had answered the phone & quietly sobbed.  My daughter Annie, 4 at the time, must have heard me, she came in, wrapped her arms around me, held me tight & said "It's okay Mommy, It's okay."  (I am crying again now.)  When I quietly told Annie what happened to her beloved teacher she had tears running down her face as she told me again, "It's okay Mommy, she is with Jesus." 

   I was so worried about LeRoy.  They were true companions in every sense of the word.  Always together, I'd never seen them apart.  I had talked with her son the Saturday after it happened & he told me that the family would be in church tomorrow.  I couldn't believe it!  Sure enough, the next morning there was LeRoy, In his red suit jacket, shaking hands, and giving hugs.  When I talked to him he amazed me, "I had to come to comfort everyone."  Wow!  He came to comfort us!  He even had brought a dessert that LuAnn had made before she died to share with his Sunday School class! 

   The week after this happened LeRoy was outside of a thrift shop handing out coupons he had collected for that store.   He would give a person a coupon, tell them he had just lost his wife, and tell them about Jesus.

   The man who killed LeRoy's wife was sentenced a few months ago.  Here is a little about that from the  Minneapolis Star Tribune:

LaSalle had previously admitted that on Dec. 10 he drank a half-liter of vodka before going to pick up his mother at work at a Sam's Club Bloomington. He struck LuAnn Johnson, 66, of Burnsville once, then panicked, drove off and hit her again as bystanders yelled at him to stop. His blood-alcohol content was recorded at 0.41 percent, more than five times the legal limit for driving in Minnesota.

Johnson told reporters he saw his wife struck and yelled, "Lord, Lord, have him stop." Instead, LaSalle ran over her again, leaving her bleeding with massive injuries as he drove off. Johnson said he saw how badly she was hurt and asked God to take her. LaSalle was arrested on a city street nearby after he struck parked cars

As arranged in a plea deal, Judge Mark Wernick sentenced LaSalle to 96 months, double the normal amount for a criminal vehicular homicide.

"He deserves every blessed minute," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said on Monday.

But Johnson's husband, carrying a single red rose in a vase, a wedding photo, a memory book and a Bible, offered what the court could not. "I forgive Mr. LaSalle for killing LuAnn," LeRoy Johnson said of his wife of 43 years.

His voice broke several times as he read Proverbs 31:10, which he said describes his wife and mentions strength, honor, wisdom and kindness.

He also said he hopes LaSalle will confess and "come to know Jesus Christ as his personal savior."

LeRoy Johnson also wanted to give a book to LaSalle, "Fear Not" by Lisa D. Bell, saying he thought the book would help him through the days ahead in prison. 

   What an amazing story of forgiveness.  What a witness for Christ.  What an honor to be LeRoy's friend.  What an honor to be given...LuAnn's Earings. 

   Even today as I was getting ready for church I was starting to get crabby just because I couldn't find anything cute to wear.  But then, I looked in the mirror to put on my make-up & was reminded by my earings, by LuAnn...to be lovely.  

Johnson, LuAnn M. Age 66 of Burnsville passed away on 12/10/08. Preceded in death by father, Arnold Alpers. Survived by husband LeRoy; sons, Brian & Brad; mother, Doris Barnes; brother, Arden (Sharon) Alpers..

Italicized Text & Photo of LeRoy with his Bible from the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Thoughts

   

     I just love this face... life has been so hectic lately and I've not been keeping up with the blog like I'd want to. It is nearing the end of my second semester in graduate school and I will be so happy this summer when it is completely through. It takes up so much time and energy and I would be flat out lying if I said it didn't take time away from my precious child. Jon is also back in school full time and working. Last summer he decided that after ten years in the construction business, he wants to go into accounting. So  needless to say, life has been exhausting. Thank God for Jon's dad and stepmother... without them I don't know where we'd be. She is over at their house right now so I can finish a paper. I stayed up last night thinking about Grace, and wondering how her life might be different if I was a stay-at-home mom. I see so many mothers in blog-land who get to spend every hour of each day with their children. I do not think this is an easy job - I know it's NOT! Anyway, she loves her school and adores her friends, but I have to wonder if this is best for her. I say that like there is a choice, there truly isn't! We are a two income family. I'm thankful that I get to work with friends. I'm thankful that I GET to go to work and help provide for my family. I know that my perfect God has made it this way not only so that Jon and I can enjoy life, but also so that we can use the gifts He gave us. For me, that is working with children. Grace is undoubtedly my most important child, but I have been called to work with hundreds, maybe even thousands more. I thank God for blessing me with the ability to do so. I hope that I will use this gift in a way that will please Him. I also pray that I will be more thankful and take the time look at the wonderful things He has given us.

My Sunshine

River City

We are in the River City hanging out at Grandmere's. We had a very fun day shopping, going to the park and visiting with friends. These pictures make me smile.

Grace,
     You are changing so much. This week you've done several new things: you know how to get into my jewelry box so I've had to move all the jewelry about of the bottom 3 drawers. You've put stickers all over the house. You also follow simple instructions like "Take this to Daddy" or "Get your cup." You even help me get laundry out of the dryer and put it into the basket! I can't believe how much you've grown up in the past couple of months, I'm just in awe. You've become so affectionate lately, and Daddy and I LOVE it!!!

     This picture was taken just before you tried to stretch this (fake) pearl bracelet to be a necklace. It broke and beads went flying everywhere. Since I now know that you like jewelry, I picked up something special at the store for Christmas, I mean Santa put something special on his list: play jewelry! A crown that lights up, necklace and bracelets.

Hurricane Grace

     Today my students and I were discussing Hurricane Ida and looking at some things on theweatherchannel.com when we started talking about how hurricanes get their names. I started explaining what I knew (very little) and then quickly Googled to find the 2009 list of hurricane names. Turns out, we just missed Hurricane Grace by about a month! It was not a big hurricane and I think it was to the east coast. Grandmere says she's still here... in our house! And yes, this is Grace is one of her Christmas outifts. I figured I would put them on her whenever we have a chance and try to take pictures. If I start now, maybe I'll have one to put on a card by mid December.

First Sentence

Dear Grace,
     Today you hit another milestone: you said your first "sentence." You and I walked out to Daddy's shop to say "Hello" and you said, "Hey, Dad!!" Daddy and I were very excited and a little surprised. You amaze us all the time and today was no exception.

BLUE!

Crayola has come out with these water color changing tablets. At first, I thought, "No way! This spells disaster!" But I decided to give it a try and put them in her Halloween basket. I'm sure 2-7 years olds would be  more impressed than Grace (What am I talking about?? This 26 year old was impressed!), but she likes them and even repeated the word "blue" after me. Grace does not come out of the bath tub with any color on her skin and they don't stain your tub so I highly recommend them.

Spaghetti

I made spaghetti a couple of weeks ago thinking that Grace probably wouldn't like it because she hated Gerber spaghetti. Well, I was wrong!

I promise, she got plenty of it in her mouth!

Catch Up

Since I'm off today with Grace I thought I'd play catch up and put some pictures on here from our last trip to Grandmere and MeMe's.

Life just doesn't get much sweeter than this.

Hanging in There

Well, Grace is hanging in there! No fever since Monday but feeling pretty crumby, still.

We've definitely broken in the new pajama sets that Grandmere bought on sale last spring. They have come in handy this week!

We are so blessed to have an amazing family who will drop everything to help us when we need it. I know that many young families do not have the support system we have, and I'm very, very thankful. I only had to take one sick day this week, which will be tomorrow. Jon kept her on Monday with help from Gigi & Papa Charlie while he had class, my mother took a day off work and drove two hours to our house today to keep her and on Friday she'll hang out with Nana and Grand Dad.

In other news, Daddy helped Grace perfect her "High Five" and it's just adorable to watch. She also loves to look at pictures of herself and say, "Baby! Baby!" which often comes out "Bebe!" Thanks for all your prayers.  I think Miss Piggy is on the mend!

Little Miss Piggy

We just got back from the doctor... Grace has the Swine Flu and Pneumonia. Say a prayer for her tonight. She goes back to the doctor to be rechecked in the morning and we'll go from there. She was still in a great mood and cutting up. Now she's sound asleep.

By the way, she weighs 22.4 pounds!!

Quentin

I know, I go a little Blogger crazy on the weekends but that's because I have ZERO time during the week to play with this new hobby of mine. When you wake up at 4:30, go to work and then to class two nights a week, that just doesn't leave much time for blogging. So I am soaking it up now since Grace is in bed and I am off from work tomorrow. Anyway, my little brother, Quentin, is the most wonderful, loving and sweet 13 year old I know. He's also an incredible baseball player. He was the only player for his age division to be selected from the state of Florida for All American. Here is a video of him hitting the scoreboard. He's the second batter. You can start watching at 36 seconds to see Quentin. This is pretty cool! I love you, Q!!

Happy Halloween Part 2