Spring Break 2014

The girls had a great time in Ohio.   It was cold and they managed to get some snow flurries, but we hear that we had that in Chattanooga too!  Mom and Dad always have so many fun things planned for the girls.  They are still taking about the trip and all that they did.   Gracie tends to be our homebody and misses us more than Maggie.  We know they missed us, but are so blessed they got some extra special time with their grandparents.  

KK and Gracie at lunch before they went to Ohio! 

Gjysh and Maggie!  

Gracie and Gjysh decided this year they would do an oil art painting together.  It is done and drying, but we are eager to get it framed and hanging in the house!   No doubt Gracie gets her art ability from my dad! 

Such happy girls!

Mom took the girls to a little tea room on Maumee.  

Maggie informed me she was a "tea girl" 

Such a sweet little lady! 

A trip to Ohio is not complete without several things…..visiting the art shop with the dogs! 

A Starbucks trip was in order after the oil painting was complete! 

another must…..Barry Bagels!    

Last year mom pulled out her wedding dress and this year the girls asked to do it again!  So sweet!  

The week wrapped up Friday night with all 4 roller skating!    The girls loved it! 

Arizona 2014

Since my parents take the girls for Spring Break every year we decided this year we would take a few days off and venture out to Arizona.   Before we left for the West, we enjoyed a night in Nashville with a quite long dinner with the Busey’s!  Ronda summed it up well by her post on Facebook “If it hadn't been for this guy, I never would have gone to grad school...or survived it! Jimmy and Rachael are some of our dearest friends from our life in Chattanooga. We're not able to get together often, but all we need is a 3.5 hour dinner to pick up right where we left off! (Special thanks to the folks at Maggiano's for letting us crash for so long!)”   We feel the same way!  We are so blessed by friendships that stand the test of time and we pick up right where we have left off.   

Michael, Ronda, Jimmy and me at dinner before we flew out to AZ the next day! 

We flew into Phoenix and drive to Sedona.   We had a wonderful stay at Sedona Rouge Spa.   We relaxed more than I ever though possible as as I told someone I came back a better wife, mom, friend and SunTrust teammate.    We did a jeep tour through the red rocks in Sedona, a day trip to the South rim of the Grand Canyon and wrapped up the trip out West with a hot air balloon ride!  It was fantastic.  

On the air plane ready for a few days to relax! 

Ahhh, so excited to explore!

Sedona red rocks 

Sedona 

After the jeep tour we had a great dinner at Cowboy Club and splurged on dessert….a gravy boat of hot fudge with ice cream!    

We thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Grand Canyon!  

WOW!  The Canyon was stunning.  We enjoyed many place to sit and just take in the environment (and do some fun people watching too!) 

Next trip we want to get down to the bottom and play in the water!  It was such a vibrant green! 

I am so blessed to do this time with this man!  

Jimmy getting wild and crazy right on the edge (there were not many spots that had fences on the edge of the Canyon)

The sky was blue, the sun was shinning, not a drop of rain and a great 70 degrees!  

in the basket of the hot air balloon….we apparently had to get in while it was on its side which meant we were on our backs at first until the balloon inflated.   

Still on our side watching the other balloon 

Our view as the sun was rising in the balloon! 

Love the rocks and the shadow of our balloon in the air. 

Jimmy said the highlight of the trip was the balloon ride!   I can't decide!

As we headed back into Phenix we had to get a picture with a cactus!  

We worked from Nashville a few days, enjoyed dinner with other Sarah and Matthew, and Saturday morning headed to Lexington to get the girls!  We missed them terribly but know they had a great time making memories!  

Gracie and Maggie, 

We pray that as you grow you have the opportunities to see the wonderful creation by God’s own hand.  That you will embrace the beauty and find the mountains just as relaxing and breathtaking as the ocean!    We pray that you also as you marry will have moments away together without the distractions of the demands of everyday life and know that we will eagerly keep your children just as Gjysh and KK did this week (and Grammy and Papa do as well).   They are priceless moments!   We love you both and missed you!   

Faith Like a Child and the Heavens Rejoice!

This was a week at times I felt like we were rushing time.   We were counting down to Spring Break!   Each day the girls woke up with their own count down to Gjysh and KK’s (and we did too for Arizona).    

We ended the week with a night of worship with our church and friends.    It was a great refocus for me after long weeks walking with some sweet friends through some very hard times with lots of tears.    It was exciting to have the girls in with us and their response to worship.   Gracie tends to be more reserved and Maggie enjoyed dancing down front (and on stage had we let her) and the isles.    There were times when I had to break and focus on them that I thought they should have had childcare, but was quickly convicted that this is part of how our girls learn to worship collectively and that my selfishness was a heart issues!   He was right!   

Had they been in childcare we would have missed some wonderful moments and priceless moments.   As we moved to the different response times and talked with Maggie and Gracie, I had asked Maggie if she wanted to know Jesus in her heart and her response was a big smile!   Jimmy and I prayed with her and helped her with communion.    Praise God!   

Pure spunk!   Praying she continues to use her smiles and charm for the kingdom's purpose. 

The sweet moment with Maggie caused me to reflect on when Gracie wrote her name on the cross at church during response time and prayed.   Such child like faith.  Gracie has never been interested in communion, but during worship she asked if she could participate.   We shared the bread was his body broken for us and the juice his blood shed for us.   (after she commented about how “soggy” the bread was.   We explained it was not about how it tasted but what it represented).  

Such a stunning young lady.   Gracie we are praying God continues to use your tender heart  to share Jesus with others. 

It was fun to see how different our girls are in different settings.    At 8:30 Gracie was asleep on the chairs and Maggie had more energy than ever dancing away!    

Uniquely created!   

Lord, please continue to guide our hearts as we guide our daughters.  Provide time and time again teaching moments to continue to refine and strengthen their faith.   

A Good Busy Week!

Sunday after church we enjoyed outside with 70 degree weather.   Gabe, Katelyn and Ellie came over to visit and brought the BIG dogs Jake and Jada over to play!   The girls both have taken to dogs more than ever and enjoyed having them at our house to play!   Ellie enjoyed the day too and of course spent time in the playroom and helping Auntie Rach cook!  

Love this spunky girl! 

Such a lady! 

Maggie and Daddy (picture by Gracie)

Maggie ran her little legs off running around with the dogs!   No one would have ever guessed a year ago she was terrified of any dog regardless of size! 

Gracie decided Jada made a good pillow! 

Ellie running around with the big girls! 

Gracie cooking with Ellie! 

With a non travel week for work I managed to snag several lunches with special people!  The girls of course are top of that list early in the week and late run the week with Becca and Jill.   

Lunch with Gracie!   

Lunch with Ms. Mags! 

It was normal routine until Thursday as I had a late officer meeting and Jimmy took the girls to see the high school musical, Cinderella at CCS.   Friday Gracie enjoyed a sleep over at Lucy’s house and Maggie enjoyed a special night with Mommy and Daddy.   Needless to say, both girls were quite tired today!   

A quick picture with Cinderella! 

Milk and Honey for dessert of course!

Maggie a little cold after ice cream! 

Its not often we get special time with either of our girls by themselves.  We are thankful for these sweet moments.   

We are looking forward to one final week of work and school before spring break trips.  The girls will spend the week in Ohio with Gjysh and KK and Jimmy and are I headed to Arizona for a few days.  We are all excited and counting down!