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Sunday, September 8, 2013

The Hand Holders: A Tribute To Caregivers

We recently changed to a different daycare provider for a variety of reasons, and I want to recognize all the wonderful teachers who had a big impact in our children’s lives for the last 1 ½ years. I cried the last morning I dropped them off there- these are people who have become like family and I will miss seeing them every day. Makayla and Jackson already miss them dearly! I can sincerely say that the very first day I dropped Makayla and Jackson off at your daycare it never even crossed my mind how tough it would be to say goodbye. Thank you for loving our children. They certainly love ya’ll. I hope we continue to stay in touch.

Many blessings,
Shawna


The Hand Holders:
A Tribute To Caregivers


There is no job more important than yours,
 
no job anywhere else in the land.
You are the keepers of the future;
you hold the smallest of hands.
 

Into your care you are trusted
to nurture and care for the young,
and for all of your everyday heroics,
your talents and skills go unsung.

You wipe tears from the eyes of the injured.
You rock babies brand new in your arms.
 
You encourage the shy and unsure child.
 
You make sure they are safe from all harm.
 

You foster the bonds of friendships,
letting no child go away mad.
You respect and you honour their emotions.
You give hugs to each child when they're sad.

You have more impact than does a professor,
a child's mind is moulded by four;
so whatever you lay on the table
is whatever the child will explore.

Give each child the tools for adventure,
let them be artists and writers and more;
let them fly on the wind and dance on the stars
and build castles of sand on the shore.

It is true that you don't make much money
and you don't get a whole lot of praise,
but when one small child says "I love you",
you're reminded of how this job pays.

author unknown

Here are some memories I captured! Double click to enlarge...I think. (Ashley, I don't have a picture of you & Jackson :-( )









 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Miss Makayla Grace is 4 years old!

Already 4 Years Old!!
 
Makayla is 43 pounds, and that is at the 91st percentile for weight.
and she is 42.5 inches, and that is at the 93rd percentile for height.

Favorite Toys, Games, and  Dolls: Princess tent and flashlight, Daddy's Kindle,Vtech Innotab, watching movies on the Kindle, Starfall online, Puzzles, Hairclips and Bows, Princess Snowwhite and Tinkerbell doll, and looking at books!
Favorite Shows: Team Umizoomi , Dora the Explorer, Little Bill, Tree Fu Tom, 7th Heaven, House Hunters, dancing shows, and Caillou
Favorite Movies: Up, Finding Nemo, Tinkerbell, Tangled, Christmas Caillou, Strawberry Shortcake, and Monsters University (which I took her to see on her birthday!).
Favorite Colors: PINK and PURPLE...oh and anything "sparkly" or "shiny" :-)

She can write her entire name and we have recently started working on the sounds of each letter in the alphabet. She starts Pre-K in August so I know she will be learning a lot of new things in preparation of learning to read.

Makayla also likes to sing sings. So many times I have caught her singing a lovely tune she made up by herself. Her songs are mostly about God and always sound so sweet. She really wants me to get her a microphone, but I’ve been considering the sheer extra volume of noise it will bring. Lovely noise mostly, but man it’s already rowdy around here! Lol. She loves stickers, hair clips, bows, and flowers; nail polish, and dresses. She’s a girly girl but she also doesn’t mind getting dirty playing outside. She's really been enjoying the Mommy/Daughter days we plan together. It's such a neat time just hang out with her. We like to go to the movies, splashpads, and parks.
 
I took her to the movie theater on her birthday, then out for Mexican food, next to her daycare to eat cupcakes, then home to open presents and eat icecream sandwiches. She really did have a blast and fell asleep in the recliner that evening.
 
 
 
 She had a wonderful birthday party at the park this year. Thankfully the rain cleared and the morning was beautiful. Daddy surprised her with beautiful balloons. She was so excited. Even during the busy summer season, we still had a lot of people come out to help us celebrate her special day! We feel blessed to have such sweet family and friends in our lives. I know she felt like a star.
 
Blessings and Much Joy,
Shawna  




Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father’s Day 2013



A Father’s Love

A father is respected because he gives his children leadership…
appreciated because he gives his children care…
valued because he gives his children time…
loved because he gives his children the one thing they treasure most – HIMSELF.

-         Author Unknown

"The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him."
- Proverbs 20:7

A DAD is...

A Son's First Hero

A Daughter's First Love

Happy Father's Day Tim! I'm so glad we're a team with this parenting stuff because it can be hard. Yet, there is no greater gift as great as a child and no greater responsibility than being a parent. God is our Center. I love you very much. Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Dad! I have a million wonderful childhood memories because of you. Thank you for all the simple things-the spontaneous acts of kindness, an encouraging word just when I needed it, and a strong hug just to say I love you. I love you lots Daddy!!





With Love,
Shawna

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

June 4th

 Still Are
No more of a little person than baby bird still sleeping in its egg. The shell that never cracked open is the child that stopped growing in his mother’s womb. In an instant her whole life changed-the moment she found out they were expecting you. Your family and friends were expecting you. Yet, just as the seasons change so did their expectations and the realization that you were no more. Something better and more extravagant was also expecting you and now they understand why the Heavens won your soul. You were His. You still are.
Anonymous


I thought of you today and smiled




Psalm 139: 1-18
 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
         You understand my thought afar off.
 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
         And are acquainted with all my ways.
 4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
         But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
 5 You have hedged me behind and before,
         And laid Your hand upon me.
 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
         It is high, I cannot attain it.

 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
         Or where can I flee from Your presence?
 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
         If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
 9 If I take the wings of the morning,
         And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
         And Your right hand shall hold me.
 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall[a] on me,”
         Even the night shall be light about me;
 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
         But the night shines as the day;
         The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

 13 For You formed my inward parts;
         You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;[b]
         Marvelous are Your works,
         And that my soul knows very well.
 15 My frame was not hidden from You,
         When I was made in secret,
         And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
         And in Your book they all were written,
         The days fashioned for me,
         When as yet there were none of them.

 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
         How great is the sum of them!
 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
         When I awake, I am still with You. 

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Laundry Day

That Laundry Day Feeling!
 
 
...FOR SAME DAY SERVICE- DO IT YOURSELF!
 
4 HOURS LATER...SUCCESS!
 
 

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

One Year Update of My 30 Day Challenge!

If you remember on April 1, 2012 I started a 30 Day Challenge of exercising and changing my eating habits. Thirty days turned into 60, then 90, and the rest is history. My 30 Day Challenge has become a lifestyle.. God has been my strength and has helped me see myself the way He intended for me to be. Once I got Tim on board it became easier. We are a TEAM-Together Everything Always Matters! 

All together I lost 50 pounds! Some days it's 52. 
Tim has lost 40 pounds! 
We both feel healthier and have much more energy...which we need to keep up with Makayla & Jackson!!

So here are some before and afters. 

April 2012
April 2013
Only 1 Year Later

April 2012



April 2013
Only 1 Year Later

April 2012



April 2013
Only 1 Year Later


Never give up on yourself! Take it one step at a time. It's about the journey. 

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Jackson is 2!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKSON!!


 I cannot believe my baby boy just turned 2 years old. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. Me, Tim, and Makayla took Jackson to Chuck E. Cheese on his birthday. It was the first time going there for both kids so we had a blast! Nana got to meet us there and join in on the fun we were having. Jackson danced and grooved to the music and enjoyed the activities. Makayla liked ski-ball and airhockey best! I can't wait to take them back one day.
We had Jackson's birthday party the following weekend after his birthday. We invited family and our closest friends. It was a really wonderful time with Mr. Thomas the Train and Friends! We ordered several very big pizzas and Summer made us cupcakes. It's so funny that we had pizza for Jack's 1st birthday too.  
Joyful little boy with a big 'ol heart
An amazing smile with perfect little dimples
Charming little Prince
Kindhearted
Smiley, sensitive, sweet
Outrageously adventurous for such a young age.
Nimble