Having Fun with Mom

We have had fun at home making "Gooey" Playdough, painting our paper pumpkins and creating our own wonderful webs with glue and glitter. It was awesome just to watch the kids interact during the activities. Caleb always wanted to make sure Abby had everything. He also wanted to be just like his sister...when they picked certain colors etc. out. I pray for their relationship every single day, and it has been cool to see God forming it in front of my eyes.

Little Lady

We took our little lady in for her 18 month check up and everything was great...however...I think she is going to be short (AKA Petite) like her mother.

Weight: 20 pounds 4 ounces (oops...I have had her in a big girl carseat for awhile)
Height: 31 1/2 inches

Tractors and Grandma

So...how could I have forgotten to post this quote from our little boy... He said it again tonight and bedtime, and so I had to share it with you all.

As we were enjoying our time at Conner Prairie looking at all the tractors this past weekend...our bright one said...

"Grandma is old like these tractors!" Oh...the words of a child. Once again we laughed and laughed and well laughed.

Country Fair

Today we enjoyed some quality time with Grandma Placeway and some great friends of ours. We had a blast attending Conner Prairie's Country Fair, 19th-century style. We were able to visit so many animals, antique tractors, a little "mini" tractor ride, and play "old school" games. We look forward to doing it again next year!!

We hope you enjoy our pics...there are a few! :)

The Great Kapok Tree

This is a simple story told about a man who falls asleep while chopping down a kapok tree. The forest's inhabitants--snakes, butterflies, a jaguar, and finally a child--each whisper in his ear about the terrible consequences of living in "a world without trees" or beauty, about the interconnectedness of all living things. When the man awakens and sees all the extraordinary creatures around him, he leaves his ax and "walks out of the rain forest."

Today, Caleb and I read this book at nap time, and he fell in love with it. As soon as he woke up he reinacted the end of the book and told me about how important it was not to "really" chop the trees down because there are animals that live in them. We then had to take the Gator out for a stroll and once again reinact the end of the book. At one point he found a stump on the ground and looked at me in horror...."What happened to the animals Mom?" So I reinforced to him that they probably inhabited another tree near by..."okay mom". But....as he drove away he kept looking back.

His little mind is amazing to me, and it was a moment that made me thank God for both of our kids and all that I get to see through their eyes every single day.

The Truth Project

Steve was blessed to attend a Worldview Weekend Code Blue Rally (http://www.worldviewweekend.com/) this year, and it has changed our lives.

To move forward with this way of thinking, Steve and a great friend of ours has decided to attend the Truth Project Simulcast to receive training for the this curriculum . We hope to be able to share this Small Group study with others as we embark on this amazing journey of looking at life through a biblical perspective.

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In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world – only nine percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview.

Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy, and we begin to wonder what life's ultimate purpose really is. We are, in short, losing our bearings as a people and a nation.

To counter this downward slide within the body of Christ, Focus on the Family has launched one of the most ambitious and powerful projects in the history of our ministry – Focus on the Family's The Truth Project®.

The Truth Project is a DVD-based small group curriculum comprised of 12 video lessons (recommended to be viewed and discussed over 13 consecutive weeks) taught by Dr. Del Tackett, President of the Focus on the Family Institute and a Senior Vice President of our ministry. This study is the starting point for looking at life from a biblical perspective. Each lesson discusses in great detail the relevance and importance of living the Christian worldview in daily life.

We believe this curriculum can be a catalyst for exponential change within the body of Christ, as thousands of people are “transformed by the renewing of [their] mind” (Romans 12:2). As He has throughout history, God continues to call ordinary people to make an eternal difference in our world.

We invite you to be a part of this cultural change by participating in or leading a small group of your own.

Family Time

The last few nights the kids have begged or grunted (Little Ab) to go outside after dinner. It has been a lot of fun watching them play and hang out as a family. What a true blessing this life is!

Oh...and the chalk drawing is from Artist Steve! Even the big kids like to have fun with chalk every now and then!

Go Colts!

 

 

 

 

First Day of School

Caleb had his first day of Preschool on September 2! These are just some snap shots of the morning. We have a special "red plate" that we date important events on the back of, and he was thrilled that it was his "red plate" day. Abigail also was excited since Caleb got her a backpack for this special day too.

You won't see any school pictures here because when I asked Caleb if we could all go he simply stated...."I just want Daddy to take me because he is cool." Wow... He then looked at me...Mr. Empathy...and said..."but you can pick me up Mommy." You gotta love the honest-love from a child.

He had a great time and is enjoying his new friends!

My Daddy

Gary Lee Placeway

Birth: November 25, 1945

Death: September 2, 2003

Do you ever sit back and reflect on the first man you fell in love with? I know exactly who he was, what he looked like, how he fought, how he loved, and much more because he was my Daddy. I adored him, and he felt that same about me.

Five years ago this September 2, my dad lost his battle with cancer - Multiple Myeloma. His death has been a tremendous loss in my life. There is not one day that goes by that I don't think of him and the memories that we created together as Father and Daughter. There was never a dull moment when he was around.

As my own family has grown through the years, I am also reminded of the love and devotion that he had to my mom as well. My mother never gave up on bringing my Dad to Christ. Praise God for that because in the midst of this crisis he gave his life to Christ, read and devoured as much as he could in the little time he had left, and told my mom that he wished he hadn't waited so long to have Christ at the center of his life. Even in his dying days with as little life he had in him, he made a statement that we will never forget...Thank God for God. Oh how true that is Daddy!

Even though September 2 is painful for me, I also smile because my Mom gave us a gift when she fell to her knees in prayer for my Dad...his eternity was on the line...and now we know we will meet him at the gates of heaven someday. I find great solace in that when the days are tough.

Heaven must be one great party with you there Dad...sometimes I wish you would have had a few more parties with us, but the Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11 ..."For I know that plans I have for you", and I must Trust Him always. Even when His plans don't follow mine...:)!

Thank you Daddy for...

giving me life

loving me unconditionally

carrying me when I fell

holding me when I cried

pushing me when I wanted to give up

challenging me to be an independent woman

showing me what true love looks like in a home

giving and giving of yourself for us.

I love and miss you deeply, but I feel blessed to know that we will see each other again.

Love,
Tara

(Always and forever Daddy's Little Girl)