Over the past 2 months Jada has turned two, and we can officially say that she has entered the terrible two's- although she's been there for a few months already:) Ian has learned to find those things that bring Jada joy, present them to her, and then run in the opposite direction laughing has hard as he can. It's really quite fun to watch.

We had an opportunity to go to the Memphis Zoo and both kids loved the animals. Ian referred to the lions and tigers as "cats"- they're his favorite! Jada liked the pandas and the giraffes.

We had our annual Fall Festival on the 31st of October. Jada was a ballerina and Ian wore a Arkansas Razorback jersey. Their favorite thing was jumping on the air-up toys. They did this with their cousin Sawyer for 2 hours straight!

We look forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas! It's so fun teaching them about the holidays and why we celebrate. We pray God's joy and peace are real to you as we approach these special days. Even though some have sad memories during these days, there is such comfort in being reminded that our God is still in control!

Simple Joys!

While it's been a very busy month, it was one filled with many joys! Ian got his first hair cut, Jada started dance (ballet & tap), Jada is potty-training, Brian & Janet have been able to spend time with their neice and nephew (and us!), a new cousin -Gentry Madison, fresh corn, okra, & tomatoes, and many more simple joys- Thanks God! Hope you enjoy these pics!

Pictures

Memories

We've had an eventful summer, as I'm sure most people with toddlers do. In June we found out that Jada (our little Lebanese beauty) is allergic to mosquito's!!!!! And as you know, we live in mosquito land. Due to an infection on her calf we were admitted into Children's Hospital for 24 hours of antibiotics by i.v. That was crazy to say the least. Jada survived her cage of a bed, and now we just make sure to spray her with bug spray any time we leave the house.
Ian has changed so much over the past 6 weeks. About 3 or 4 weeks ago he decided to walk, and then 2 weeks ago he decided "no more baby food"(Yippee), and then this past week he turned 1! Needless to say he and Jada are everywhere. They are such a blessing!

God has also returned to us Brian & Janet! After 12 years in California God has called them to serve Him in Arkansas of all places. I was prepared for Africa or China or any place other than Arkansas! They are looking for jobs and a place to live as they prepare to seek God's guidance for beginning a church plant in the Cabot area. We are so grateful to have them here with us, and we look forward to making lots of memories with them while they are so close!

Summer!

Summer is my favorite time of year, and I think the kids are going to agree with me. This is their first year to experience being able to play outside in the dirt, truly enjoying a swimming pool, Bible School, the simple joy of a shovel & bucket, wagons, and the list goes on. On the days that I'm off work we cover most of the previous list. Bible School was a lot of fun this year. I was responsible for the crafts (which was a first), and I really enjoyed it! Ian played in the nursery and Jada participated in music, crafts, missions, snack, and of course recreation. Jada spent a lot of time with our friend Joy who was one of her teachers, and we still her say "Joy-ee", "Joy-ee" with a huge smile on her face. Jonathan & Ryan were able to go to work earlier every morning so that they could be there to help out each evening from 6-8:30, and it was such a joy to serve with them.

This past month we were also able to go to Springfield to visit Cory, Jen, Will & Sam. Oh, & the soon to be born Gentry Madison! It was good to get to see their new home and to attend church with them. Now we can visualize their lives a little better.

Jonathan is busy finishing up the wheat harvest, and that means it's time to get busy planting the rice and soybeans that need to be in the ground behind it. Farmers are having a really hard time making a living these days ( as are many vocations), but we trust God for our future and pray for His guidance to make wise decisions. It's such a blessing to be in the farming environment where we as Christians get to experience daily the process of sowing and reaping. It's a wonderful reminder that "the harvest is ready", and are we working!

We look forward to the summer days ahead!

Slow down Ian!

Since we went to Uncle Brian & Aunt Janet's in February little Ian has entered that stage where he is changing almost daily. Since we just went through this with Jada it is fresh on our minds to remember to enjoy each new day. While we were in California he started pulling up, but now he is moving from one piece of furniture to another. He climbs on anything he can, and the other day I watched him step up on a container in the bathroom and leverage himself into the tub! His words are still very limited. "Da Da" comes out often, "Ma Ma" only when he's crying and "Ba Ba" when he's acting silly. But when you hear Jada Kathryn talk it's no wonder why he has nothing to say....she says it all ( ABC's, B.I.B.I (L).E, EIEIO, Lebanon, please, thank you,love ewe (you), no ma'am, mower (more), and it goes on). It's been fun to actually hear Ian's sweet little voice and I look forward to hearing it more.

Ian & Jada now play together. Jada will hide behind the couch, and when Ian goes to find her she'll get tickled and say "Pee-pie". She'll then run to hide behind something else and this scene continues over and over again. It's precious.

Yesterday on the way home from Stuttgart (20 minutes) Ian had cried for most of the trip, which usually Jada does but not this day. All of the sudden the noise stops and I look in my rear view mirror to see a smile on Jada's face, so I quickly look over my shoulder and she has her little fingers holding Ian's little fingers ( they are on opposite sides of the car and facing opposite directions). Jada then proceeds to sweetly say "E N" (Ian), and I hear him laugh. I thanked God for the sweet joy that comes from those moments.

My work at Coker-Hampton has been busy with a new computer system, but I enjoy it. Jonathan will be in the field more now that the weather is warmer and the days are longer...he's ready! I've already been enjoying the smell of fresh dirt for a few weeks now. We look forward to what God has for us this Spring.

1st Snow in March Since the 1890's!!!

It started snowing around 10:00am on Friday morning, and it continued until 11:00pm! I've never seen snow blowing sideways so hard that I could barely see the car in front of me that was only going 10 miles per hour. It was absoulutley the best snow I've ever seen in my 29 years. We were able to play some on Friday, and then Saturday morning we made it out for some sledding. There was a grand total of atleast 9 inches of snow to play in, and needless to say Jada was not too excited about it. She and cousin Saw (Sawyer Jo) kept falling and that didn't make for much fun. Jonathan did go out and get some snow for Jada and Sawyer to eat...we ended up pouring snowcone syrup on it! Lucia loved being in the snow, and we had fun watching her run through it as fast as she could. It ended up that Grammy kept the kids while the "adults" played. We had a great time on the four-wheelers! Now I'm ready for spring!

Beautiful California!

We wanted to make an effort to get out and see Brian & Janet before they make their move to Arkansas sometime this summer. I had been praying that God could help us to afford to go see them before their move. Around the last week of January I got an email that there were some really cheap tickets....the only condition was that it was for 9 days! Brian & Janet eagerly said "sure" without knowing what they were getting into :) So I asked off for work and we packed our bags for California. Jada loved the airports...I think she loved being the center of attention, and Ian just went with the flow (his typical easy-going personality). The flights were an adventure. In order to save money we didn't get Jada a seat so she was considered a lap-baby. Thankfully, through much prayer I know, the seat between Jonathan had to be vacated because there were not enough oxygen masks for 5 people- praise the Lord! Needless to say Jada didn't use it much for sleeping, because it was for jumping, hanging over the seat in front, and wollering (I don't think that's a word).

On Saturday Janet picked us up at the LAX airport and took us home for some Aunt Janet and Uncle Brian love! We were able to worship with Brian & Janet at Grace Community Church on Sunday. We were fed God's Word and greatly encouraged in our walk with Christ! Both Sundays were wonderful. On Monday we took a trip to the San Diego Zoo and enjoyed a day in the sun!

When we arrived they were both recovering from the flu, and while we were there Janet developed bronchitis! After a doctors visit Janet and some antibiotics she was ready for a trip to Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. It was absolutely beautiful! At the resort we had access to a spa, and we were able to go outside in the hot tub with snow all around. We had a great time enjoying God's amazing creation.

Uncle Brian took us to the Santa Monica Beach to let the kids get their feet in the sand. If you've never experienced the Pacific Ocean then you don't know that it's cold all year long. So, needless to say we did not swim! Jada loved the water and the sand. She cried when we had to leave, and Ian just looked stunned at the idea of taking off his pants to put his feet in the cold water.

We had a great time, and we can't wait to take a day-trip to see Uncle Brian & Aunt Janet! Enjoy the pics.

7 years, 32 years, 29 years, 15 months, & 6 months

A lot has happened in one month. Jonathan and I celebrated 7 years of marriage! We were able to go and spend a few days in Memphis while Grammy watched Ian and MiMi Martha watched Jada-thank you again! We ate some really good food and had a great time just hanging out together!

Jonathan celebrated his 32nd birthday and I celebrated my 29th. Time flys by so fast! I'm almost finished with my Marriage and Family class, Jonathan was able to spend some time duck hunting with Ryan and some friends from Illinois- they had a great time.

At 15 months Jada is running around speaking all kinds of jibberish. Some of which we can understand and the rest we just act like we do. She loves to act silly- Jacque thinks she's a commedian. Ian is 6 months now and we're reminded how fast babies grow that first year...he's army crawling, sitting up on his own, reaching for everything in sight, and munchin' down on some baby food- yuck!

Enjoy the pics!