Thanksgiving 2014 Atlanta!

This week we celebrated several events which were all very meaningful.    First, Monday was my last day of work travel for the year!   Yay!   I did a day trip to Nashville to participate in a team volunteer event at a food pantry.   It was a great event for the community and the team.  Second, Grammy came into town for Grandparents Day at Chattanooga Christian School.  The girls always love showing off their school, teachers and friends whenever they can to their grandparents.   

Ellie stopped by the night before we left for Atlanta and has Bella to herself!  These two are funny together!  

Third, we spent Thanksgiving in Atlanta!   This is the first one in years that we have been down in Atlanta.   We typically we stay in Chattanooga to avoid the traffic and to spend time with my brother and his family.   This year we decided to do something different and since Jimmy’s sister was so kind and had the girls all Wednesday since school was out we thought we would enjoy the long weekend (and a little shopping) in Atlanta.   Bella also made her first trip to Grammy and Papa’s house and did great!  The girls would not have heard of boarding her!

Grammy cooked a delicious meal!  Ally and Gracie were making a wish!   

Having older cousins is fantastic!  Its to hard to believe that when Jimmy and I met Joshua was about Maggie's age today!   

One of Papa's girls! 

Listen here Papa!  There is no telling what she is teasing him about! 

Grammy has an elf that visits when we do.  The elf does funny things, sometimes makes a miss and leaves us treats! 

This girl was tuckered out! 

Being silly with Mama! 

Bella was quite comfortable! 

Gracie and Bella snuggles! 

Saturday was nice and warmer than it had been so we enjoyed playing in the yard.  

So spunky!  I adore her!

So helpful and caring!  I adore her!

We went to an antique mall Saturday and the girls enjoyed a few finds to check out that they had never seen before! 

What's this?

Two peas in a pod! 

So we are all adjusting well to the puppy!  

Headed home!  Thank You for a grab trip home to Atlanta Grammy, Papa, Aunt Tammy and crew!   We love you all! 

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

Give Thanks

2014 Thankfuls

Our Family and Friends,

This year the theme of our family was focused on our blessings and “thankfuls” as we say.  We have so much each day to be thankful for that can be missed if we don’t slow down and recognize both the big and little things.  It seemed only appropriate to make this the focus of our family update for the year.  

Gracie:  The giggles while we were on Winter Break snow tubing and Daddy had to put snow chains on the Tahoe.  Playing with our cousins at the beach.  Feeding horses at the beach and a horse kiss.  Glasses to see better.  Running with Bella and her snuggles.  Playing games.  Our House.  Maggie.  Baking with Mommy.  Daddy tickles.  Bella (can you tell she is loved?).  Friends that are nice.  Swimming and lots of it.  Ms. Gordon who helps with math.  My favorite worship song “Whom Shall I Fear”.  Coloring with Daddy.  Playing tag with Sis and Bella.  Ellie visits on the weekends.  Riding a bike with no training wheels.  Visits from grandparents.  Our babysitter, Ms. Tiffany.  Visits from friends!

Maggie:   Ms. Angela’s summer camp.  Swimming independently.  My new Pre-k at Chattanooga Christian.  Being small and big at the same time (translation: a big girl in “real” school but the smallest in her class and the school).  Gymnastics teachers.  My favorite worship song “Amazing Grace”.  Bella.  My cheetah blanket on my bed.  Uncles.  Grammy and Papa.  Gjysh and KK.  A nice cozy home.  Sleeping with Mommy while Daddy is on a trip.  My Sister that takes care of me.  My Daddy that hugs me tight and gives me “swirlys” (rubbing her back in circles to help her go to sleep).  Missing teeth (2 to be exact). 

Rachael:  Watermelon summers.  A reminder daily how blessed we are.  Sitting at the Grand Canyon with Jimmy taking in God’s vast creation.  Visit home to Ohio to celebrate the 4th of July.  A healthy husband who partners with me in parenting and career development.  Gracie’s sweet spirit in class and dedication to her own personal development.  Tennessee sunshine.  Maggie’s spunk and constant questions that keep us on our toes.  Career opportunities at SunTrust that have stretched me beyond what I would have been willing to do as I took a Team Lead role for the state of Tennessee.  Starbucks.  Work travel that allows me to plan my own schedule to be home for special events and help minimize the impact to the girls and Jimmy.  Jimmy’s help with packing lunches and laundry.  Our parents and family being willing and able to keep the girls while we take advantage of a few trips this year.  The ability to connect and rest without little bodies reminding us the day is ready to start earlier than we are ready for some mornings.  The girls priceless reminders to us on how much Bella was worth it.  Family dinners together.  Pedicures.  Date nights!  

Jimmy:  Family fire nights.  Viewing Sedona’s red rocks peacefully from above in a hot air balloon ride (finally a vacation with just Rachael and me).  Seeing Gracie ace a math test.  Maggie’s curly top tickling my face in the middle of the night while she sleeps and I try to.  Annual family vacations to Seabrook Island.  How excited Bella is to see me when I get home from a trip.  A wife that loves me dearly.  Extended family that helps and supports us.  A guys trip to Las Vegas.  The rare Saturday morning that I sleep past 6:30 am.  A DVR so I can watch Notre Dame football games at night when the girls go to bed.  Two girls that can’t go to sleep at night unless daddy gives “swirlys” and “tickles”.  Rachael’s ability to keep everything about our family scheduled and moving forward.  Date nights!

May you know His love more abundantly as we celebrate His birth this season!   May you have a blessed new year!  

Jimmy, Rachael, Ruth Grace, Margaret Faith, and Bella  

Home Sweet Home!

Really next week is Thanksgiving?  

exhausted!     I let the girls rotate in my bed and the other an air mattress in my room on the floor.   They loved it and it did make Daddy being gone a little easier. 

Sleeping beauty!   Last night before Daddy comes home! 

We have loved having my Brother and his family staying with us this week while their house is still being finished.   Ellie of course is adorable and we all love her to pieces!   Of course my brother and Katelyn are wonderful too!  

This stinker has stolen our hearts!  She would come in after the girls were asleep and wait for Auntie Rach to take her into to give them big kisses before she went to bed!   Ellie we all love you!

Jimmy wrapped up his last full week of the First Tennessee Emerging Leader Program (ELP) and got home late Friday.   We were so thankful to have him home!   We did well with him gone but its never the same!  

Jimmy got home late Friday and was welcomed by very special friends of ours, the Simpsons.   Thomas was the best man in our wedding, Jimmy’s dearest college friend and we adore their family.    They have spent the past several years as missionaries to Uganda and are now back in states wrapping up their “tour” before they head back.   We were thrilled to have a weekend to visit and share life.  We are so honored to be able to pray for them, support them and watch their ministry grow.   They challenge our faith consistently and no matter how many miles away we know they are always there to lift us up in prayer.   Friends like this are gold to life!  

Raynah and Maggie (with Bella watching) play tea party!  These two quickly after just a few hours were fast friends like their parents!     

Maggie said all evening "where is my best friend" any time Raynah was not with her!   

Josiah, Maggie, Gracie, Raynah and Judah.   It is so heart  warming to watch our kids play and make memories together.  (November 2014)

Our kids (November 2012- exactly 2 years ago)   

The house over the past month has hosted many special family and friends and we have made many memories and teachable moments for the girls too!   Moments including giving your room for others, sharing anything you have, serving guest before yourself and most important the reminder that life is about relationships near and far and for that we are richly blessed.   

Daddy's Home!

Sunday we took the liberty of a lazy morning since we were having Sunday night church!  WOW.  I know right?   Anyone who knows us knows us well knows that Sunday nights are family night, regroup for the week, relax and early bedtimes (well use to be for everyone until Bella’s arrival but we still manage).    However, when the Net Church does a Night of Worship on a Sunday night (or any night as long as we are all well..the last one was when Jimmy was in the hospital with the kidney stone issues) we are all in!   Even with Jimmy still out of town we were not going to miss it!   I cherish the moments to participate in worship to Jesus and to watch our daughters embrace it as their faith is made real and grows.   Communion is always sacred and a tangible reminder of Christ on the cross and even more so I got  happy tears as the girls who believe in Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross participated.

Little Sis 

Big Sis 

Always sweet! 

Of course a picture of Bella too! 

Daddy's ladies before we headed to church. 

Just the past week the girls each have a favorite worship song that we rotate (and fight over who gets theirs first) when we are in the car.  Gracie loves “Whom shall I fear” and Maggie loves “Amazing Grace”.   I could listen to both of those all day long!    They each love these from school.  While some would disagree in our approach , the primary reason we choose Chattanooga Christian School was not for its Biblical believes (we were, could and will teach that at home), but academics and environment that would encourage our daughters.   That being said, one of the highlights to me since that was not our primary decision point is the worship songs, hymns, and Biblical lessons they receive and knowing that they are prayed over daily!  God is so good in how he orchestrates our lives and choices.     

By the time we were in bed Sunday night (short of a melt down by the littlest who was plum tired) we were counting down to Daddy’s return.   I am glad Jimmy has this guy time annually and always encourage it!  We sure are always glad to see him return safe and ready to tackle this life with its ups and downs, decisions, and most of all love and memories to be made!  Welcome home honey!  

Regardless of their age I love pictures of them sleeping. 

out for the night! 

We love “banker holidays”, those days the post offices closes, stores run sales, schools are open and the banks are closed.   It is a very important day as we as a nation remember those that have served for our country!   We planned to celebrate it together on a date day which did include catch up on some zzzz’s for both of us and a little shopping for Christmas.   

We had a great week!  My brother, Sister in Law and Ellie started to stay with us while their house is being redone.   Its been so fun to have them here!  They were so sweet and kept the girls Saturday night so we could enjoy a date night!   The girls of course enjoyed time with them and playing!    We also got our Christmas Tree up.  It is always fun, especially as the girls grown up, to remember the meaning and memory of the ornaments.   The girls especially this year took to the ornaments they have made over the years as well as their annual photo ornaments.  

Bella is well loved! 

Maggie and Ellie snuggles after bath.  

Maggie fell asleep while Jimmy got the tree up and ready to decorate.  

Maggie putting ornaments on. 

Gracie putting an ornament.  

Count down to Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Lord, please make my baby growing up slow down!  I tell Maggie (and Gracie) all the time they will be my babies even when they are grown.  She always says "right, because I will still live with you"….we are working on teaching her that our job and goal as their parents is that they leave the nest but always know they are loved and welcome! 

Sassy!   

So Sunday sister pictures don't always turn out as sweet as I would like them to!  Its real life! 

Yay!  I feel like we are beginning the holidays!  I am done traveling overnight for work until January.  I have a few day trips, but those are easy!  I got home in time to cross paths with my wonderful hubby who after all his love, support, nights playing single Daddy to two girls who adore him flew for a guys trip to Vegas for a long weekend!   

Girls, while we miss Daddy very much I pray that you see as you grow and mature not only your Mommy and Daddy scheduling date nights and overnights to focus on each other, but also the value in girls trips/ guys trips to connect with friends!    I cherish our “girl nights” with you both and know that as you grow sometimes you will still want to include your Mama and other times you will want independence.     So for now I will soak up every moment to snuggle!  

While Jimmy was gone we enjoyed swim lessons, gymnastics, time with Ms. Tiffany playing with Bella while I got my hair done and managed to do a little Christmas shopping, and then Sunday snuggles with a night of worship with our church family.  I let the girls take turns with sleeping in our bed (there is no way any of us would sleep if all three of us were in the same bed) and got extra snuggles.   I still think there is nothing better than watching my girls sleep, knowing they had a filled day, they are resting and at peace and know they are loved beyond measure.   

The new baby ruling the house! 

I love to watch the girls outside with Bella playing.  It makes the earning moorings and constant training worth it.  Gracie said this week "I am glad we have a dog, its been a lot of fun"