An AK Day...with a GREAT ending!

Today was SO much fun for our little Katers, and for all of us who got to watch her enjoy the spotlight for the day.

I think the reason we all loved it is because it's usually not her way. She didn't want us to talk about her birthday last year, and didn't even want me to come to school or bring treats. She usually doesn't like "all eyes on her"...but today, she was just fine with it. :)

She woke up a little confused, probably because she had these two CRAZY sisters yelling Happy Birthday and turning on the lights!

I would be turning my head away too!

Of course, as soon as she woke up enough to remember her birthday, the giddy hugs began and her breakfast was delivered.

Oh my goodness, she was hilarious. She was SO EXCITED about breakfast in bed, and couldn't stop giggling. She wanted her pillows propped up, her blanket a certain way, and she wanted to have her sisters eat with her. She felt very special. :)

After a yummy breakfast (cooked by Daddy this year!), it was time to go to school! Wearing her "It's My Birthday" sash, she happily strutted her stuff right in the front door, past the directors, and into see her friends. There were hugs for everyone (but especially for Mrs. Amy!), and her friends sang her Happy Birthday, Ghana style!

Then, it was donut hole time. This was the snack of choice by miss Abby Kate today. Everyone got FOUR for her FOURTH birthday. (She made sure they knew about this detail.) She got to lead the prayer in chapel and they sang to her again! And she got to find special notes from her sisters in her lunchbox, along with a #4 shaped sandwich! Such a fun school day.

And, the fun just kept comin'! After school, we headed to Pops and Grandma's house to see what Grandma's birthday cake masterpiece was this year. And, oh the suspense!!

Abby Kate was so happy about her cake (after she commented on how Grandma added EXTRA colors than what they had discussed. :) Silly girl.

She enjoyed sharing her three tier cake with her sweet cousins and her Batchelor friends.

She definitely ate her weight in cake! Or, at least in fondant icing! YUM!! (It really was delicious. Grandma is VERY good!)

After playing for a while, we were off to Chuck E Cheese, the final decision for birthday dinner. WHY? I don't know. But, she had fun playing games and winning tickets. (Of course, that bought her a whopping pack of sweet-tarts, but whatever.)

This picture of Kendyll made me laugh. I guess some of us are finally outgrowing Mr. Chuck E...

And, then after all the celebrations, the BEST part of the day came. It was time to get her present from Mommy and Daddy and sisters. After reading the card (and struggling through Daddy's handwriting--which brought on huge fits of laughter as they tried!),

...and after opening Blueberries for Sal (one of the books AK is literally obsessed with),

...she finally opened the gift I've been so excited about. Her own American Girl bitty baby...who looks just like our little one will!

She had mentioned weeks ago wanting a black baby who she would call "Gnawie" (named after a little girl I fell in love with on my trip in January). So, of course, I was giddy from that moment on about buying this doll.

AK was very tired by the time we opened gifts, and she didn't show any excitement whatsoever about her new baby. But, as soon as I showed her the baby papoose I am making for her back, she lit up!! It was so funny! (I haven't finished the papoose, so I had to tie it around her for now. But, now I'm motivated to sew it quickly!) How cute is she??!

From then on, it was true baby love. The baby was fed, changed, carted around in the stroller and the grocery basket, put to sleep a few different times, sung to and read to.

Nothing but Beatrix Potter for this little one. :)

I love all the pictures I got of Abby Kate and her little Gnawie. She is now sleeping safely next to her bed, with her clothes laid out next to AK's for tomorrow. I think my girl's in love.

And, I think I am too. :)

I can't WAIT until this is a true picture of us!!

It was a great AK day. And, we had so much fun celebrating our little "life of the party" girl! Now off to bed for us all!

Happy Birthday, Abby Kate!

Today is the day before AK's big fourth birthday. But, all afternoon, it has already been the constant talk. She wants breakfast in her bed. Heart waffles. She wants donut holes for her friends at school on brown polka dot plates that she found at Target. She wants to give her friends a present--tiny canisters of silly puddy jello stuff. She wanted to pick out her outfit for preschool ALL BY HERSELF. (She kind of did...kind of didn't.) She wants to have Taco Bango (aka Taco Bueno) delivered for her lunch...but she doesn't want us to stay. She wants to eat it with her friends. She wants to have her three-tier birthday present cake from Grandma. And, she wants Crystal's for dinner...no, Chuck E Cheese...no, Crystal's. I guess the jury is still out on that one.

Tonight at bedtime, she wanted to check the calendar in the school room one more time to make sure it was still celebration day tomorrow.

Then, she wanted us to pray in HER bed since it was HER birthday. We all said sweet prayers for our little four year old. And, then she told both her sisters to "pray for me in your prayer workbook when you wake up". That means, their prayer journals they do in the mornings. They both snickered and said "Okay, Abby Kate, it's all about you tomorrow." (There might have been a little loving eye roll with that. But, they were actually smiling and happy to hear their little sister be so excited about her special day.)

The thing is, she is NOT little. It breaks my little mommy heart! How is she turning four? I know we all say that every year. But, really. FOUR??

She is the most amazing four year old I know, and she's the kind of kid that literally makes my insides tighten up because I love her TOO much.

She is so smart and so spunky and so full of life. Our little Katers (who only allows that nickname on Tuesdays) makes our family so FULL. I love her smile, and her little sideways tongue when she's nervous or excited. I love her funny sense of humor and her ability to quote movies and books like no one I know. I love that she loves her mommy. Alot. I love that she talks about Uwanda every. single. day. (except just this week she "fixed" it to be RA-wanda, with an extra emphasis on the R. :) I love that she's usually the knight or the superhero when she pretends. And, she usually makes guns out of blocks and swords and shields out of sticks and lids to pots and pans. (This is her new cape Aunt Cassie made for her birthday! It's already well-worn.)

I love that today in church, she was crazy excited to meet Mr. George from Ghana who rescues the kids off the lake. (a whole other blog is coming about that later.) As I was fixing her hair, I told her George would be there. She said "Mommy, you rescue the kids too? Just like George? He rides with you in that boat and then you help the kids off the lake?"

Seriously. She melts my heart.

Abby Kate, I hope your day is everything you dream it will be. I can't WAIT to celebrate with you. And I can't WAIT to give you your extra special birthday present either!! You're gonna love it!!!

Katers, AK, Abby Kate, Little Squirt, Missy Moo...may the Lord continue to pour love into your little heart, so you can continue to share it so freely with all of us. Your mommy sure loves you, sweet one.

How Can She Be 9?

Tomorrow, my biggest girl turns NINE!

I have alot to blog about for our birthday celebrations, but here is a sneak peek of our family birthday party this week:

A hippy birthday party at the skating rink. :) It was so much fun, and I was surprised at how the roller skating thing came back to me after all this time. And, Kendyll was a pro, of course!

Kendyll got a second celebration the next day with some church friends as they surprised her at her ice skating lessons and joined her for the afternoon!

Even more skating fun!

But, those updates are coming soon...

Right now, I just want to share one special thing about Kendyll from this week that I don't want to forget. As anyone who knows her already sees, she has a sweet, compassionate heart that is growing bigger by the year. She loves deeply, gives freely, and lives joyfully.

And, she really loves Africa. :)

The other morning, she bounces downstairs in her usual early morning cheery mood, and told me she had the coolest dream.

LISTEN TO THIS...in Kendyll's words.

"We were all in Africa, like the whole Branch (our church) and everyone who goes to Africa on your trips. It was really sad because it was all brown everywhere and there was, like, a famine. Even the waterfall had dried up and everything was dead. Mr. Jaron (our worship leader) was leading everyone in Chris Tomlin's song "God of This City" (see video below) and we were all singing loud. Then, Jaron said "We love you Jesus!" And, as we all started saying it, everything started turning to green! Everything started blooming again and the waterfall started pouring new water out!"

I sat there with my jaw on the ground, as she described new life coming to Africa. And, then I proceeded to tell Kendyll just how AMAZING this dream was! I told her that so often God speaks to us in our dreams, and that I think He just spoke in hers! Oh, how her eyes lit up at the thought. And, so did mine.

And, to know that Kendyll was dreaming about this song! "You're the God of this city, You're the King of these people, You're the Lord of this nation...You're the light in this darkness, You're the hope to the hopeless, You're the peace to the restless. There is no one like our God!"

I haven't shared completely about what God spoke to me on my retreat a couple of weeks ago, but one thing He clearly said to me is that "Chase is a seed planted for My glory. But, he's not the only one. All four of your children are seeds that will be harvested. I have plans for My glory to be revealed in each one in such different and amazing ways. Just watch, Chelsea."

Not that I didn't already know this. But, He clearly reminded me through my quiet time and a few other lessons that what He's doing through Chase's life is only part of the bigger story. He has big things planned for all of my children! And, I am so excited to watch Kendyll's seed grow. She is a planting for the Lord, and He is revealing His heart to her, even in her dreams.

Kendyll, you are my precious big girl and God is doing AMAZING things already through you. I pray He continues to ignite your passion for His calling on your life. You are a seed planted for His harvest, and He has such a HUGE plan for you, my sweet girl. Happy 9th birthday! I love you SO much, missy moo!

Valentine's in Pictures

It's been a great day. :)

My heart is full of love...for my sweet, amazing husband who has been spoiling me for 13 years worth of Valentines. And, for my little ones...the three who gave me hugs, kisses and homemade Valentines today, the one I have in heaven who I will hug and kiss again someday, and the one who lives across the world, who I hope to be spending Valentine's with next year... covering him or her with kisses too!

Here's our day of LOVE in pictures...

A Valentine card making factory in our floor...

Waking up to a Valentine family breakfast!

Coupons of love from Mom and Dad...Abby Kate's favorite: 30 "stay up late" minutes and a trip to Yogurtville!

Chocolates...for breakfast?! Yep!

Loved on others for the morning...the sweetest most grateful group of people. So sweet.

The girls all played the piano for the residents...and many sang along!

And it's always fun to serve with sweet friends!

Next stop: Celebrating Sunshine School style at AK's class party!

And, we came home to surprise flowers from Daddy! One for each of us!

And, what does he get in return?

Tonight was dinner with friends...

The Brantleys and The Purple Cow. My kids were HAPPY!

And a delicious pink cake for dessert! (Thank you Nicole!)

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

"I love you, Lord, my strength." Psalm 18:1