My favorite Christmas gift

Dear God...

Jonathan and I try our best to help our girls understand the importance of blessing our food before we partake of it. Above all, we want to teach them to be THANKFUL for the things God has blessed us with. Tonight, we were pretty proud of Abigail when she prayed this prayer (although she did throw in a few extra things...)

May we all be so THANKFUL for the most precious gift that was ever given, the birth of our Savior.

Merry Christmas friends~

Ok, you've proven yourself....

I just now checked my blog and noticed TEN comments, never in the history of this thing have I gotten TEN comments, so friends, I will continue the updating....

Ok, so Rachel had her first birthday December 6th. We had mostly a family party but we all sure packed out my house! Rachel had a great time opening all the gifts, as did Abigail. We had a hard time prying them out of Abigail's hands and kept having to tell her they were Rachel's gifts and not hers! She told us that she would "share" Rachel's gifts with her!

Diving into her own cake! Funny story...I only ordered a big cake and just thought I would cut her a little peice and let her dive in...when we picked up the cake, they threw the small cake in for free!
Off to the tub!


Opening her gifts...


I can't believe my baby is ONE!

Leave me a comment...

I know I have not updated this blog for a long time. The main reason being I just don't think many people read it. I usually upload our new pictures and videos to facebook because I know most everyone sees them there. So, if you happen to check and read this...leave me a message so I can see actually how many people read it before I quit blogging altogether...

Love to all! :)

Johanna

Long Overdue Halloween Pictures

Our family had a great time trick-or-treating Halloween night! It was so stinkin cold so we weren't out long but still got LOADS of candy!

Selfless

For 5 years, I worked as a Speech Pathologist in an elementary school. I KNOW and have seen firsthand how kids bicker, fuss and fight over place in line, who will carry the teacher's lunchbox, who gets to the class first...the list goes on and on. Nowadays, I have found myself teaching first grade choir at my church on Wednesday nights. I love staying at home, but I enjoy teaching it because it places me back with that sweet age that I love so much. After choir, I always line up the girls and take them to their GA (Girls in Action-for those who aren't Baptist) class where they learn about missions and evangelism. I have one little girl in my class who is very needy and was just adopted a few months ago, yes at age SIX. Let's call her Lucy. I have found myself drawn to her. To help her, comfort her.

As we lined up tonight to depart to GA's, Lucy kept saying "Can I please be line leader?, Can I please be line leader?" By this time there was already a line of at least 5 girls and I didn't think it was fair to allow her first place after all the others had been waiting patiently to leave. So I said, frustrated with the situation, "just stand here, we're all going to the same place. It doesn't matter where you are in line." Of course, Lucy's tears break loose. Halfway there, I gathered myself and explained to her that we really were all going to the same place and that we'd all get there at the same time, and that if she reminded me, she could be line leader next week. Still tears.

And right then, out of the mouth of the sweet girl in front of her "you can get in front of me". SELFLESSNESS. Even a six year old child comprehends this. I struggle with it. I bet most of us do. We are born loving ourselves. Its innate in us from the beginning of our existence. Its NOT about us people. Our soul existence is to glorify our Lord Jesus. That's why we're here, and I am so comforted by that. This whole experience tonight reminded me of a song we used to sing a lot at our old church in TX..

Its all about you, Jesus
And all this is for You,
For your glory and your fame,
Its not about me,
As if you should do things my way,
You alone are God and I surrender to your way.

Suze Orman (financial guru) always says.."People first, then money, then things".
I like to think of it as "Jesus first, then people, then things..."

Reason for my absence...

Sorry for the lack of activity on this thing. I want to post all about our trip to the SC State Fair, Abigail's singing debut, Rachel walking, and our trip to Charleston this weekend, but this blasted computer won't let me post any pictures or video and well, blogging is pretty boring with out them! So for now...thanks for your patience...until I talk Jonathan into reformatting the whole thing!

Update on Baby Gracie

The Lord called Baby Gracie home this morning...please pray for her family as they face these coming days without her. Below is an update I pulled directly from their blogsite.

THE LORD JESUS CALLED OUR AMAZING GRACIE HOMETHIS MORNING AT 8:08 Am. After a 7 month fight to remain with mom and dad, brother and family, Our Lord said,"Gracie you come home to me now"

Gracie battled mightly througout the night. At 3:30 A.M the family gathered and began a wonderful time of each one holding Gracie ad sharing her sweet kisses and loving her with all that we have.

Grandpa Brown decided to go last as he got to spend three precious hours holding Gracie on Monday before the surgery. Everyone had a glorious time. GrandPa Bill Lockyer had her snuggled sweetly in his arms shortly after 8:00.

Gracie had been unresponsive for the two hours previous and the Doctors and nurses had told us that she may have already passed and was being kept alive by the medicines and machines.

However the wonderful Savior knew different and Gracie opened her eyes wide, turned her head, gave two deep breaths and left with the Lord to heaven. Heaven was in the room.

Thank you all so much! We love you. Arrangements will be posted soon.

Grandpa Brown for Todd and Amanda

From Todd and Amanda:

The last few hours have been a whirlwind!! But, please do not be shocked and saddened--we are rejoicing. Gracie has been given the victory! We were fighting to keep her here and she fought with us each minute of each day without looking back....back when the Lord Jesus called her name, she obeyed and everlasting peace and comfort began for her--to never end!!

Please pray for this precious baby girl...

This is Gracie Lockyer. I do not know her or her family but have been following their blog for several weeks now. She was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. I learned of Gracie's blog and story from a dear friend whose baby was also born with HLHS. She is 7 months old and has NEVER left the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Duke Hospital. This baby is in DIRE need of our prayers.

You can read her blog and the whole story at www.caringbridge.org/visit/graciejeanlockyer. She will have a surgery to attempt to repair her heart defect in just a few days in which she has only been given 10% chance of survival. Please pray fervently for baby Gracie and her parents, Todd and Amanda. They are believers and are trusting God completely with their daughter. What an awesome testimony to God's goodness.

Dialogue between Abigail and furniture delivery man...

Abigail: "You are missing some teeth!"
Delivery Man: "I am missing lots of teeth. I haven't been to the dentist in a long time."

My New Hobby

I got really tired of paying $6+ for hairbows so I tried making them myself! Much to my surprise, I was pretty good at it! I started by investing only about $30 on ribbon and hair clips and those materials made me 20 bows! Jonathan told me I should sell them so I called the toy store down road and I think they actually may help me sell them in their store! So exciting! Anyway, here are some of my firsts...

Yearbook Yourself!!

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

This was SOOOO funny! Yearbook yourself at www.yearbookyourself.com!!

The latest on the Chapmans...

In Abigail news, we have had a fun few weeks before she went back to preschool today. She is so excited to be in her 3 year old class, but happy with some familiar faces from last year's class.

Changing baby's diaper... On her way to her first day of preschool for 2008...
She loves her Tinkerbell backpack.
Playing in her new class for the first time...
And if I didn't know any better, I might think Abigail was showing some autistic tendencies by lining up her panties on the fireplace. She loves to find her clean panties (yes would only let her play with them if they were clean) out of the clean clothes and play with them. Why, you may ask? I have no idea. Anyhow, this what she did with them...(she'll also stuff them in her Dora backpack and walk around the house with them.)

My sweet Rachel is growing up so fast! Look at her already standing! She's only 8 months! She loves to play with her big sister!

Rachel is also crawling SO fast! She is like bullet and into EVERYTHING! One day this week I was in the bathroom getting ready and I came out into our room and couldn't find her. Here is where I found her...My sweet Rachel. And here is where I found Jonathan tonight with his head INSIDE the paper shredder attempting to fix it! I was really tempted to close the door and turn it on but I refrained :).

In other news, I am officially a STAY AT HOME MOM! It feels really strange to not go back to school after 5 years of working there, but I am loving being home more with my kids. It is a blessing to be able to work PT treating a few speech clients on Jonathan's day off to make a little extra money.

That's been the latest with us in a nutshell!

Girls' trip to the beach!

Two of my best friends came to visit this past week from Texas. They are friends from grad school and are also both speech pathologists and work in the public schools. It had been 2 long years since I had seen them, so it was SO SO SO SO nice to see them again. We made a girl's trip down to Myrtle Beach where I showed them all around the beach. I also got to meet Ashleigh's little girl, Ryleigh, for the first time! She is so precious and had so much fun playing with Abigail. My mother-in-law graciously kept Rachel for me during the day so I would not be tied down with a baby while we were there. Jonathan kept her at night. We had a great time and made such great memories!!!! Love you girls!!

Abigail, Me, Ryleigh, Angie, Ashleigh in front of Sarah J's. It was good even if we had to eat at dinner at 4pm!

Ryleigh and Abigail in their matching PJ's Angie bought them. Angie's yummy breakfast plate we threw together...breakfast in bed!

Playing on the beach!

And of course on a girls weekend, you have to get a little crazy once the kids go to bed! We were attempting to mimick stupid celebrity expressions...

"TOOT"

Tonight's dialogue between me and Abigail:

"TOOT" (passing gas)

Me: "Abigail, did you pass gas?"
Abigail: "No, I didn't.
Me: "Are you sure?"
Abigail: "Mom it wasn't me because I don't have a toot in my booty."

Must have been Daddy!!!

Summer Fun

I am sorry so much time has passed since I have updated this blog. I am not even sure how many people even read it, but for me, I try to keep it up to chronicle my children's lives to have for years to come. Hopefully, nothing will ever happen to blogspot! Here are just a few things that have been going on in our family this summer. Enjoy!


Cake Baking with Mom

Flying a kite with Daddy

Jumping the waves

I promise Rachel was not being tortured here although it looks that way. That carrier just is hard adjust!
In this video, Abigail decided she wanted to gather all the instruments/toys in the house that made noise and took them into her room to put on a "show" for us. Here is her production:

And another (sorry about my really annoying laugh at the end)...

In other news, Rachel is 7 months and crawling all over the place. She went from not even sitting up by herself in mid June to crawling in mid July. Abigail walked at 9 months and I bet she will too. In fact, the other day I went into get her out of her crib after her nap, and she was STANDING! We had to lower her crib to the lowest setting that night! That's been our summer in a nutshell!

7 years

On Monday, Jonathan and I will celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary! These seven years really have been the happiest of my life. I am so thankful to have a husband who is a faithful provider and leader to our family. He works very hard so I can work part-time and stay home with our children. I love the way he rubs my back at night until I fall asleep, plays with our girls, keeps track of our finances (because I have no idea), makes a special trip to gas up my car (I mean van :)), grills up a mean burger, and brings me home Starbucks frappachinos. There are so so many more. In these 7 years, we have moved 4 times, lived in 3 different cities, had 6 cars, adopted our first pet, survived 3 years of seminary, and produced 2 very beautiful, wonderful, precious little girls. And this, my friends, is what 7 years of marriage will do to you!!!

I love you, baby! Happy Anniversary!!! Love forever and ever, Johanna

Bi-vocational Abigail

Today while Jonathan was putting Abigail down for her nap, she was talking about our jobs. Jonathan told her about our jobs and that Mommy was a Speech Pathologist and Daddy was a Minister. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she replied " I want to be a speech padologist AND a lizard".

Dad

Today is Father's Day. I am so grateful and blessed to have my Dad. On November 3, 1985, my Mom married Paul Huggins. He is my step-dad. He jumped into our family and began raising my brother and I as if we were his biological children. This is the Dad who taught me how to ride a bike. This is the Dad who taught me how to swim. This is the Dad who helped me with my highschool math homework until 11:00pm until I got too frustrated, began to cry, and just went to bed. He is the one who used to call me his "little princess". He is the one who will do any handy man job without complaining. He is the one who started a Roth IRA for me with "babysitting money" when I was 13 and had no clue of the importance of investing. He is the one who, together with my Mom, paid for my entire four years of my undergraduate degree. He is the one who walked me down the aisle on my wedding day 7 years ago. I may not be related to him by blood, but as far as I am concerned, he is my Dad.

From the mouth of babes...

Since Sunday, Abigail, Rachel and I have been down here at the beach while Jonathan is at Beach Blast with his youth kids. Tonight we snuck into the pool of the Royal Garden Hotel to swim. While I was holding Abigail and attempting to teach her how to swim, she was holding onto my underarms and begins to make a funny face. This is how our conversation went: '
Me:"Why are you making that funny face?"
Abigail: "Because I am touching your scratchy hair."
Guess it's time for a shave!!

A few quick pics of Rachel

Photography by Creative Portriats by Cha.