Tonight when I was putting Sophia to bed, I discovered her first tooth had come through! She’s changing rapidly these days, saying lots of “mama” and “dada” and sitting independently. We’re so blessed to have her in our lives and never regret for a single moment adding her to our family.
These quotes always encourage me, make me laugh or help me see more clearly.
“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” –Jim Elliot
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.“ –Jim Elliot
“God waits to be wanted.” –A.W. Tozer
“Refusal to take risks makes for a life of mediocrity at best.“ –Michael LeBoeuf
“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I choose to respond to it.“ –Chuck Swindoll
“Making the decision to have a child–it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” –Elizabeth Stone
“A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.” –Ogden Nash
“A vacation frequently means that the family goes away for a rest, accompanied by a mother who sees that the others get it.” –Marcelene Cox
“The best inheritance a parent can give to his children is a few minutes of their time each day.” –M. Grundler
“Children need your presence more than your presents.” –Jesse Jackson
“Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.” –William Butler Yeates
“I will get time to rest, time for myself. True, it may not happen for another 18 years, but at least I know the waiting won’t be boring. –Moyra Jean Stiles
Grandma Mayes and Grandma Kerr were correct on the Christmas baby photos! The photos were:
1. Madeline
2. Sophia
3. Savannah
4. Kayla
A few hours after writing the post “What a Night!” Sophia came down with the stomach virus. We had four sick girls at once! Then I came down with it the afternoon of the 2nd. I had a fever and chills and felt very weak, but thankfully I wasn’t throwing up. (A huge blessing, because I almost always catch stomach viruses.) Aaron did 11 loads of laundry in one day, and he really did a fantastic job taking care of us.
This is day #7 for Sophia being sick. The older girls were only sick for about 24 hours, but it seems to be hitting Sophia a lot harder. Based on past experience, I’m pretty sure it’s rotavirus. Tomorrow, hopefully, my baby will be back to her healthy, cheerful self.
Actually it started about 12 hours ago when Kayla first started coming down with the stomach flu. She threw up twice an hour from 3:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Around 11 p.m. Madeline started getting sick, and then Savannah at midnight. Right now Kayla is sleeping on the couch in the family room, which is moved as close to the bathroom as possible. Madeline is in a nest on the hallway floor just outside the bathroom. Savannah is on the kitchen floor with a bucket next to her, and Aaron is asleep on the family room floor.
I’ve been up all night assisting the girls in the bathroom or with the bucket and giving sips of fluids every 10 – 15 minutes. I feel pretty wide awake, but if the vomiting slows down I’m hoping to get some sleep soon. Aaron, I’m sure, will take on whatever duties necessary so I can get some rest. I’m so thankful for his help! We’ve had our share of stomach viruses in the past, but this is the first time we’ve had so many sick all at once. Hopefully the worst part is behind us!
Here are photos of the four girls in the same Christmas dress. Any guesses?
The day after Thanksgiving was a beautiful and relatively warm afternoon in West Michigan—the perfect time to search for this year’s Christmas tree. Driving to the Christmas tree farm, the girls decided to name her Emily. We wanted a fraser fir, about 9 feet tall, and we wanted to cut it ourselves.
The first farm had frasers, but they didn’t meet the height requirement.
The next farm had frasers that met the height requirement, but they had already been cut.
The next farm didn’t have frasers.
The next farm had frasers, but once again they didn’t meet the height requirement.
We hoped the fifth farm would have the one we were looking for.
When we arrived at the Bosch Tree Farm in Allendale and knew we were at the right place. They had trees of all shapes and sizes. We knew our tree had to be there.
Here is the story of searching for Emily, bringing her home and making her beautiful.
For more about Emily, stay tuned for news about Aaron’s soon-to-be-published book, The Sneezing Christmas Tree.
I grabbed my computer today and told the girls we were going to make a list of things we’re thankful for. Though it had many things you’d expect, some of the items made us chuckle. Here are some of the highlights:
3. Rainbows
4. Jesus’ birthday
17. Plum tree
18. The Bible
19. Grandparents
27. That we know Jesus
28. Snow in the winter to build snowmen
29. Warm clothes
30. That there’s not too much rain
33. That Kayla can climb the dogwood tree
34. That Daddy is super strong so that if we accidentally let go of our balloons he can get them for us
37. That Sophia is named Sophia
38. That Sophia was born
41. That Madeline and Kayla “got borned”
45. That most of our lightbulbs are working
47. Our big enough couch that everyone can fit on
55. That Daddy’s so good
56. That we can throw t-shirts into the trees
61. That we like Sophia so much
The last trick-or-treaters have come, and the sugar-filled girls are in bed. Good night, and Happy Halloween!
I wasn’t sure if I had it in me this year to complete the Kerr Pumpkin Tradition. But after seeing how much delight this experience brought to our daughters, it was definitely worth the time!
Selecting the pumpkins from the pumpkin patch …
Savannah shows us the one not to pick …
Scooping, Carving & Counting
While we were busy, this little one enjoyed chewing on her hands …
Guesses for how many pumpkin seeds in each girl’s pumpkin & the actual …
On display …
Kayla and Madeline recently took ballet at the new Spartan Stores YMCA, which is conveniently located just minutes from our house. This week Aaron, Savannah, Sophia and I had the chance to observe. Here are some pictures:
