The Shaw Family Blog - Jason, Christi, Kaitlyn, Harrison and Lilly Ann

"March" with us... and Family Rules!!

2010-03-27T06:48:00.001-07:00

My sweet friend, Becky, challenged me last night to UPDATE! So of course it got my wheels turning....what is up to date with us?? What shall I blog about? :)
Well, I do have to tell you, while we really don't have many new pics - the kids are doing new things!!! (
(but first I had to start with one of my ALL TIME FAVORTIE pictures of the kids - they are all so much bigger now...but this will forever be a fav!)

Kaitlyn got surprisingly inducted to the National Honor Society for MATH! REALLY! MATH!! I know.... I think that's pretty impressive.... MATH is not generally a subject I would think too many people are great at!! SOOOOOOOO!!! YEA!!!! KAIT!!!
She is already in the National Honor Society for Spanish and Art!!
And... She has officially visited 3 colleges so far and one of them is on her top list!! She visited Swanee, Vanderbilt and Auburn....which on do you thing she chose?? Well, if you know Kaitlyn you know she wants a big college - having gone to a small high school and she loves to go to a football game and have A TEAM to support soooo AUBURN so far is her pick! She still wants to visit UNC Chapel Hill and Clemson and UT.... I'll keep ya posted!!

Harrison is playing baseball - well practicing to play baseball and he is loving it!! He has commited to go to a day camp this summer - which is HUGE and he's doing great! School is tough but play is fun and he's such a happy little guy... I think we'll make it! Only a little longer until we can play all day long!!!
Praise God!!

Lilly Ann....well, she is running the roost! She's hilarious! She's got such an opinion about everything....but I still think she'll run something somewhere someday!
she has told me she wants to go to soccer camp this summer - I am guessing at Life Time Fitness b/c they have a Munchkin Madness Soccer Camp. Of course she'd go today if it were an option!
She is still in gymnastics...she's learning her kartwheel and toe touch and if you sit still long enough she'll show you both! :)

Jason and I are just plugging along waiting on May because we will be going to the beach for two weeks!! Actually - I'll be there with the little kids for 4 or 5 days until Kait is out of school and then the teenagers (Kaitlyn is bringing bf Hope) and Jason will come the last week and 1/2!! WE can not wait!

So...last night we had a "GIRLS NIGHT OUT" at my house!! And we decided to create these very cute Family Rules Canvases... well most of us did! I actually made something different...to start! I had a difficult time chosing only a few rules because I found so many of them to be ones I "LOVED" which is very Christi of me!!
So, I made a very cute canvas with a cross and a bible verse on it...one that immediately came to mind (with a friend in mind) so it will most likely be a present to my sweet friend :)

ANYWAY!!!

As I sat this morning "pondering" over the nights events I began to think of my own family rules but I was thinking about them while I sat in my chair for my quiet time with God...so of course the Holy Spirit interveened and I have to share because they are so PERFECT! And they are for everyone.... and God put them there for us to follow!! LOVE IT!!

Colossians 3:9-20 (off and on and not in that exact order....does that make since??)

1. Do EVERYTHING to Glorify God!
2. Say your Prayers.... Thank God for your family!
3. Be Patient! Be Kind! Be Gentle!
4. Obey your Mommy and Daddy!
5. Love One Another!
6. Share Everything! Except Bad Ideas!
7. Always Forgive...Like God forgives you!
8. Always tell the truth!
9. Use kind words...ignore ugly words!
10.Mommy support Daddy... Daddy hug Mommy!
11. SING!
Okay, I admit these are definately My Words interpretting these scriptures in kids terms but.... I love that they are God Given life/ family Rules!!

So.... go make your own "Family Rules" or at least have fun with your family :)

Have a Blessed Day!
Christi

Let's Play Catch Up!

2010-02-24T14:31:00.001-08:00

So.... it's been a crazy couple of months....let's catch up!
First, Kaitlyn is living here.... in case you missed that BIG announcement in January! She is back at Lausanne and is loving it-this is her Junior year! She has a new boyfriend, Taylor and got a new car... AND redid her room! WHEW! She has had a BIG 2010!!
Since January, Matt Sullivan - Jason's cousin, came to visit from Boston and we took him to Beale Street - as well as Kait, Taylor, Harrison and Lilly Ann!! The little guys had NEVER been downtown Memphis either so it was a really fun day!!
We've had fun in more snow than Memphis has seen.... since I can ever remember and....well.... I'm sure there is more but I've got lots of pics to share so let's catch up!!

Kaitlyn and Lilly Ann painted toes and we crafted.... cute fun!!

Matthew came to visit!!! We went to downtown Memphis....saw the ducks, road the trolley, ate at Blue City Cafe and visited Elvis's place :) Not exactly in that order but...it was all fun!! The kids loved it!! (ps- Taylor's the one with the beard and Matt's the one with no hair :) You'll notice Lilly Ann is pretty smitten with cousin Matt.... she's a sucker for nice guys!! You'll have to pardon the unorganization of the pics - I can't tell what pic is what until it opens up after downloaded....uuuhhhggg!

Then... it "ice-snowed" (Memphis style) enough to cover "the hill" and we went sledding - after 22 hours of no electricity!! Harrison rocked!! Lilly and I only tried a few times and Jason tried a few - the walk back up was LLLOOONNNGGG and wet and more than snow was ice so it was stinkin cold on our feet!! (harrison had insulated snow boots - no one else did - rain boots was the most we had for protection - cute but not insulated :)

Baby Dawson and Aunt Maggie came for a weekend to visit too :)

And then... it was Valentine's Day! We celebrated...at home this year:)

And Kaitlyn, Hope, Rachel and Taylor painted her room :)

In a nut shell :)
Whew! We have been buuusssyyy! Check back soon b/c we had a really fun February and I have a few other posts immediately to follow :)

Have a Blessed Day!!
Christi

Baby it's cold outside!!

2010-01-07T14:14:00.001-08:00

The first snow of the winter.... sort of! It gave just enough to dust the top of the roofs and the top of our drive way and as it turned out no school??? The roads were perfectly dry - I even took the kids to Chik-Fil-A but boy were they excited to wake up and have a drive way covered in snow - we even had a sled ready for the big day! So they played - at 8:30 AM on the drive way! I looked outside and found Lilly Ann in boots, a nightgown and that's it and Harrison was in Jammies!! It did not last but a second and she was back inside ready to eat breakfast and he was dressed and ready for the days fun (and she never went back out to play) and HD came in and out most of the day.... fun fun fun!!! LOL! Oh my stars were they cold!! We drove by "the hill" across Wolf River to check and make sure but just as we guessed it was totally without snow...oh well! Maybe in February or March??

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR SURPRISE!

2010-01-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

So I was thinking of the new year and New Year Resolutions..... I resolve to.... be a sweet Mommy - more patient and silly.... Be a good wife - more thoughtful and supportive.... Be a good member of our church - more involved and helpful.... and quite simply.... be simple! :)

I'm so excited about our brand new year - new heart, new perspective and new addition.... don't get too excited I'm not preggers but KAITLYN IS HOME FOR GOOD!! :) Well at least until she goes to college in a 1 year and 1/2! She'll be back from NC within the week! We are OH SO EXCITED!! We are getting ready to update her room and bathroom...it will be so much fun picking out fun new colors and spreads and I am so excited to make new curtains and pillows for our very special new year surprise!! I can't think of a sweeter New Years Gift ever!!

God is SO Good and His timing is perfect!!

Merry! Merry! Merry!!

2009-12-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas is absolutely my most favorite holiday of the year!! I LOVE that we are intentionally celebrating Jesus's birthday, that the children get to hear His Holy name over and over and over again and I pray that "The Reason" for this season is beginning to sink in a little.... the sweet nativities all around and family together A LOT! I love that Kaitlyn is here for 2 weeks!! I love family time together especially when all my kids are here!! I love watching children play together and love on each other and I love buying or creating or thinking of fun gifts to give.... and I love watching the excitement of opening presents from Santa and I love not having to wake up early to go anywhere for a whole week after - especially for the big kids - just rest and fun!! LOVE IT!! It stinks this year that Mimi and GP haven't been able to come -which means we also haven't gotten to see Ashleigh yet but we're praying for a quick recovery so they can still hopefully come...... we have really missed getting to see them this year - but Swine Flu is not welcome here.... UGH!!
Hope you had a very Merry Merry Christmas too!!
This was the first year Aunt Sheri was here to start off the holiday season....
The kids loved making a Gingerbread House :)

We had Christmas at Granny's and Aunt Paula read the Christmas Story from Luke... This is one of my favorite traditions...
The children all sat quietly and listened :)

And Lilly Ann had a Christmas program at Forest Hill Kids Day Out!

Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus!

Happy Birthday dear Harrison!!

2009-12-21T06:54:00.000-08:00

"I love you all the way to Heaven......AND BACK!" (this will always be the very last thing I say to you just before bed each night - UNTIL YOUR LIKE 30!! :)

My sweet little boy is getting so stinkin big!! I can't believe he's 7 now!!
This was a "big" year for him and it's just sort of bitter sweet!! I don't remember a year he grew so much at one time! Physically or emotionally!
He's very particular about his hair - not interested in anyone cutting it off :) and he just goes outside to play at his own will - he's always been more monitored but lately we've been letting him run over to get Griffin on his own and it all just feels sooooooo BIG! He loves to make his own microwave meals - whatever that may be, and he will just go and play in his room for what seems like forever - and when I give him kisses - like lots and lots and lots of kisses - he'll say, "MOOOOMMMM!"

I so miss my snuggly boy - although he'll still snuggle with me if I let him lay in my bed to watch tv at night - as long as I don't block the tv!! He used to think I was a lot more wonderful - my all time favorite HD quote is....
"Mommy I think your a princess no matter what your jammies look like!"
Don't get me wrong I love a happy big boy - he's confident and content to be Harrison and that is so sweet I just can't get my little tiny boy with great big blue eyes and curls out of my head - my third appendage! The one everyone always said was "my buddy" always with me and always wanted to be with me :)
At his party this year he and his friends swam and played and had such a great time! At the end, we all came into a room and had cupcakes and ice cream.... I was just standing there watching him laugh and be silly with all his best buddies around him - 20 to be exact.... and I just said out loud, "What a sweet day this was for Harrison to get to be with all of his best friends on his actual birthday!! Thank you for coming and making this such a sweet day for him!" To which Harrison replied.... "MOM!" That was my cue to HUSH and let him be cool a little longer!!
I love you so much, Brother!! Happy 7th Birthday!! You are such a sweet sweet boy! My only son! This Christmas time reminds me that you are so much like the only son - Jesus! You were made so perfectly in His Image and while we celebrate the birthday of our Savior we also get to celebrate YOU, Peanut! The first little tiny baby I got to carry in my belly while you grew and grew (and GREW!) I will never forget the first night in the hospital! EVERYONE came to see you and meet you! Even the nurses because you were the biggest baby of the month!! At 10.2 ounces and 22 and 1/2 inches long!! OH MY STARS!! I woke up at like 3 o'clock in the morning because you were so quiet and it was my first night with you! I looked over to a glass bed sitting next to me and the most beautiful blue eyes.... starring back at me! I just cried the happiest tears - it was quiet - you were happy too - not crying just watching me :) That was the moment I fell in love with you and I will be for the rest of my life!! And I can not even imagine but the bible tells us that God loves you even more than I do!!

"Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great high priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me. My name is graven on His hands. My name is written on His heart."

ONE FABULOUS GIRL!!

2009-11-25T05:33:00.000-08:00

Have I told you lately how amazing Kaitlyn is???? WELL..... she NEVER ceases to amaze us! I can only tell you she is just such a fabulous gift from God! She is such a sweet example for the younger children in her life and I feel so incredibly blessed that I get to be her step-mom!! Let me just tell you - She is so very thoughtful, loving, adorable, giving,kind, creative as can be, very very very resilient, God fearing and INCREDIBLY SMART!! OH MY STARS!!!
SO, I say all of that to say SHE GOT AN 1800 ON HER S A T S!! Kaitlyn has been such a hard worker and great student since day one! She always puts her studies first and then she plays and she takes such pride in her hard work! She's an amazing leader in her school too! At Lausanne she was class president of her class and then at the end of July she moved to a new school in Monroe, North Carolina and was voted Vice President within the first few months of her new school! Everyone is drawn to her and know she has such dependable leadership skills! We are so incredibly proud of her and wish so much we could hug her neck and throw confetti in the sky and jump up and down with her so I am hoping you can hear in my words we are sooooooo proud and celebrating Kaitlyn today!! And the even sweeter thing is....
SHE IS SO PROUD TOO!! Yea Kait!! We love you sooooooo much!! We are not at all surprised by this but just want to hhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuugggggggggg your neck and high five you and cry happy tears with you..... YOU ROCK!! We love you sooo much!

I Don't Want to Raise Successful Children

2009-11-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

This sweet devotional was given to me by a friend and I just LOVE IT!
I hope you do too!
Have a Blessed Day!
Christi

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)

I don't want to raise successful children. That's a shocking thing to read, and a shocking thing for a mother to type. So, let me clarify.

I used to define success according to my child's report card. Good grades and academic achievement would surely equal a good child with great potential in this world. But then several of my children wound up being average students with average grades. Though we carted them off to tutors and spent many a late night at the kitchen table helping them, they remained average. And I remained concerned and frustrated.

One report card day I found myself facedown in the fibers of my carpet crying and wonderi ng, "Where have I gone wrong as a mom?"

I dug into Scriptures. I begged God for wisdom and discernment. I prayed for God's perspective with each of my kids. Finally, one day it dawned on me - what if I simply chose to embrace the natural bent of each of my kids as God's way to protect them and keep them on the path toward His best plans for their lives?

What if my A student needs academic success to prepare her for God's plans while my average to below-average student needs to be steered away from a more academic future? What if my sports star kid needs that athletic excellence for his future assignments by God, but my benchwarmer kid is being protected from getting off course by her lack in this area?

And that's when it finally dawned on me. My job isn't to push success for my kids. My job as a parent is to recognize the unique way God created each child and point them to Jesus at every turn along their journey toward adulthood. Yes, I wan t my kids to learn and thrive and grow up educated, but it's not a flaw in me or them if they don't have straight A report cards and trophy cases full of sports medals.

Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it" (NIV).

I am challenged to ponder these words, "… in the way he should go." Are we training our kids that the "way he should go" is to chase worldly achievement or to chase God? Whatever they learn to chase as a child, they will chase as adults. Therefore, we must be challenged to honestly assess the way we are pointing them to go.

My daughter, Hope, is one of my average students. She has also warmed many a bench in the sports she's tried, and can always be found hiding on the back row of the stage during school concerts. Using the world's benchmarks for achievement, Hope wouldn't be seen as a child positioned for success. But God…

This past January, my 15 year old Hope, shocked me when she announced she wanted to go to Ethiopia with some missionary friends of ours and live in the remote African bush for the summer. Yes, she may not have trophies and straight A report cards but she does have a heart of gold.. And because she's not entrenched in sports and academic pursuits that could have created obligations for her summer, she was free to go to Africa. Free to chase God in a really big way.

One of the first e-mails she sent me from Ethiopia read, "Mom, I've fallen in love with the AIDS orphanage children. They rushed at me when I held my arms out and I tried with all my might to hold all 30 of them at once. I love it here."

Now, don't get me wrong. I do expect Hope to return to her studies this fall, give 100% effort, and finish her high school career having done her very best. She will most likely then go to college. But she probably won't be delivering the valedictorian address or wearing the honors cords and medals. She'll be the on e with a vision of a dying AIDS orphan pressing against her heart ready to chase God's plans to the ends of the earth.

So back to my original statement, I don't want to raise successful children. It's true, I don't. Though Hope's sister coming behind her is an A student and can always be found on the front row of school performances - we don't chase after success for her either. I trust God that she needs those things in her life for the plans He's unfolding in her life. We train with that bent in mind. But, we don't chase it. Just like Hope, we point her in the direction of God at every turn and pray like crazy.

I stand by what I said and I'll say it again, I don't want to raise successful children. Because--- raising God-honoring adults who will set the world on fire for Christ is just so much more rewarding.

Dear Lord, being a mom is a really tough job. Please help me, teach me and show me how to define success for my kids. In J esus' Name, Amen.

"Ballet" Lilly Ann Style!

2009-10-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

We will FOREVER be holding our breath and watching her go!! One of the GREATEST things about Lilly Annabella Shaw is that she is absolutely JUST LILLY! She is the most adorable, most hilarious, most independent "little tiny" I have ever met! She is so incredibly self-confident and happy to just do her own thing and Ballet is NO DIFFERENT! I know I have said it 100 times or more I'm sure but when it comes to Lil's we will forever be holding our breath and watching her go!! And I just LOVE it! The other day I looked up to see her carrying A CHAIR into my room! I asked her what she was doing. She said, "I'm going to brush my teeth." And I thought... If I didn't see her she would've brushed her teeth, fixed her hair and gone off to college! Some days I'm not even sure why I'm here- she just doesn't need me much at all! :) But boy do I need Her! She teaches me daily about patience and humbles me immediately if I ever think I've got the Mommy thing figured out....Whew! IF ONLY she would stay on her "nap mat" for nap time at school and stop going potty in her panties.... INSTEAD.... She sings and dances and visits her friends during nap time and she wants to keep playing instead of go to the bathroom when she has to potty! :) Sounds like a Happy Little Girl to me....just not terribly obedient!!

The funniest thing of all.....

AND NOW WE DO GYMNASTICS INSTEAD :)

2009-10-29T05:36:00.000-07:00

A New Beginning..... AGAIN!

DEEP BREATH IN DEEP BREATH OUT......

I don't know why I am so anxious as I sit writing but something about getting back into this BLOG is a little overwelming to me....but much needed! Even as I sit writing tears well up in my eyes and drop down my face. I'm just in such a new place these days and I do so want to share my heart (my family) with you again and I so want these memories so I'm pushing through this wall! New beginnings seems to be the theme of my life this year! I know the bible tells us
"All things are made beautiful in time" So I have faith this fresh start will be a precious beautiful thing!
I really have so many wonderful moments that I feel like my old self laughing and being silly and loving in the moment but the second I begin to talk about anything of importance when it comes to my family I fall apart again - so please
"HELP ME BRIDGE THE GAP" WITH YOUR PRAYERS AND MINE!
Okay.....We've decided I will be homeschooling Harrison. I don't know how long but I know it's God's will for us and after MUCH prayer God has made it so clear to me - He's so faithful to always answer my prayers - not always what I had in mind but
HIS WILL will be done.
I AM THRILLED! I was overwelmed by the idea and terrified that I would make the wrong decision but God is good and this is going to be such a fun experience for us! Pray for Harrison - he has no idea and I really pray he'll be excited too :)
We'll begin in January but I am busy busy gathering curriculum and setting up my "class room" and I even went to a support group this week and got to go to a workshop that was absolutely AMAZING and FUN!!
More about all of this later - just be praying for us...
I love you all and know "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

OKAY....
So, lets see if I can get some sweet pictures on this site - we have had some precious moments I want to share I know you'll LOVE them!!
We did go to the beach and we've celebrated a 3rd birthday for Lilly Ann and we just had some really special visitors.....
Lets start with THE BEACH :)

Okay, check out these WAVES!! A storm was BREWING!! Wow!
This was both very scary AND amazingly BEAUTIFUL!!

Have a Blessed Day!
Christi

"LIFTED UP"

2009-08-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

Today is the end of the week and I am so happy we have the weekend to rest....
I have debated on sharing this but I believe in the power of prayer and as always in my home I feel the need for constant prayer. So once again I am asking for your prayers!
This summer has been amazing, and God is so good! We have overcome what I thought and still feel may have been the most difficult thing as a family we have had to endure open heart surgery while Kaitlyn was being moved to North Carolina! I am well and taking care of my family again and only have occasional days of exhaustion left (as well as all the lovely meds) that remind me of Open Heart Surgery! Oh yes, and of course my scar and definite memories but I am strong and feel so overwhelmed with thanksgiving and praise! Kaitly has made some friends and even went to the football game last Friday and had two friends spend the night! Soccer starts in the Spring and I'm sure she'll be on the team scoring goals before we know it!

This week we have been testing my sweet Harrison for ADHD. He has had to go through four days (today is #4) of testing and questioning after questioning and he is OVER IT! During day ones evaluation with Harrison and I the phychologist looked at me and said, "Mom, you realize with this (the teachers) evaluation alone he has a HIGH LEVEL...." I just nodded and said I had an idea. She said she just didn't want me to be surprised! LOL! Really, surprised?? Okay, for 6 years I have just wanted to find the spout for his energy level and DRINK IT! I'm sad but not surprised!
As the days have gone on Harrison is so tired of the "games" - there not fun games mom they just have me read this or answer that or tell them what makes a tornado or how fires start and I just have to sit still for SO LONG! I know, buddy, it's almost over!
I just want to hold my sweet baby boy - the one with colic that wouldn't sleep for 8 months and start over and as we were up all night rocking I just want pray pray pray over him that he wouldn't grow up and be a 6 year old boy that has ADHD..... but it's too late I think it's here and I feel so helpless.... Please pray for us!
More than anything I just want him to feel "normal" and be able to sit still and read and be able to focus on his reading so he won't fall too far behind - actually, more than anything I just want to take this one for him! I NEVER EVER want him to feel different but he is and we all are somehow.... and That is the way God created Harrison - Perfectly in His image - THAT is what I want Harrison to feel ALWAYS!

SO! I read this sweet devotion this morning and of course - God chose it perfectly for me today and I wanted to share part of it (b/c it's long) with you and pray maybe He wanted You to see it today too!

Have a Blessed Day!
Christi

"Engulfed by the floods of life and surrounded by his enemies, David was in a vulnerable place. But he remained strong b/c he knew the One who could bring triumph out of tragedy and victory from defeat. David trusted his mighty Savior b/c their relationship rested ON A ROCK-SOLID, centuries-old covenant that could not be swayed. Like a small child enveloped by his parents' love, David EXPECTED GOD to intervene. Based on what he knew of God's character and his covenant promise to his people. David expected redemption. His hopes were not in vain. GOD REACHED DOWN AND PULLED DAVID UP FROM THE DEPTHS.
The ONE who rescued David still waits for his people to call on him during WHATEVER trials they face. The God who lifted David to new heights and gave him a song to sing wants to reach down from on high to lift your spirits and help you rise above your circumstances.
What can you do when the storm breaks? Where do you turn when your world seems to crumple around you? You're not in this alone! Follow David's lead and run to God, who wants to be your stronger tower. Look to God to regenerate your strength. Just as David did,... cry out to the Lord for help. Then SING PRAISES when he reaches down to LIFT YOU UP!"
Praise God, We are Never alone!

Back to School Prayer

2009-08-19T05:13:00.000-07:00

A sweet friend sent me the most perfect "Back to School Prayer" and I really wanted to share it with you..... I tried to cut and paste but several tries later I was still unable soooooo I decided to post it! This is definately one I want to have forever and will be so happy I put it in our family blog - that I'm turning into a book (maybe I'll remember it and share it with the mommies and daddies of my own grandbabies one day :) Enjoy and copy.... and pray it over your babies - big and small and grandbabies!!

Lord, I entrust my child to You as he/she
goes to school. May they sense your
presence throughout the day. Help them
to focus and concentrate and enjoy
learning. Protect them from harm and
keep their feet on YOUR path. Grant them
good friends and the ability to be a friend
to those who are lonely. May they be a
light to classmates who do not know Jesus.
I pray for their teacher. Grant them
wisdom, understanding, and love for each
child. May YOUR blessing rest upon my
child, the teacher, all the students, and
the school.
In Jesus' Holy name, Amen.

First Week of 1rst Grade!

2009-08-14T05:14:00.001-07:00

This was Harrison's first week back to school! He is in the first grade now and I can hardly believe it! In my mind he's still so little but he is growing and growing and .... I'm so proud of the sweet first grader he is! This summer was a really BIG growing time for Harrison especially because he was really my helper ALOT! In fact the other day I was sitting in the bathroom talking to Jason about how I really was having a yucky morning and I just could not shake this "hot flash" and nasia. Harrison walks up without a word and hands me a cold, wet washcloth and put it on my neck! WOW! What a sweet boy - he has helped his mommy out so much this summer that he knew just what to do to help me feel better!! He's so thoughtful!! I really am so proud of him!!
ANYHOW!! This week he went to his new class with his new friends and he was little nervous.... he said he "wasn't prepared" :) I assured him he was and he'd be great! After day one I picked him up and he got in the car saying "MOM, first grade isn't bad at all!" As soon as we got home Jason said, "hey, buddy! how was first grade?? Harrison said, "good!" "So what was your favorite part?" Harrison goes, "leaving!" LOL!! He is so funny! We wiped out!
He really does have a sweet teacher and I know God chose her especially for Harrison - there are many things about her that "make since" in Harrison's life and I know we're going to have another sweet year at Crosswind!!
I do have a picture of He and Mrs. Shelton I'm going to try to download it.... we shall see??!!

Have a Blessed Day!
Christi

I will Praise thee, Oh Lord with my Whole Heart... Psalm 9:1

2009-07-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith in my father and creator.... the true physician - I am feeling more and more like "Christi" everyday!
Hope in my future as a wife, mommy, daughter and friend - life will be sweeter and more appreciated for sure!
Love for all of you that have supported me and helped me and loved me and my family through this incredibly tough time in our life!

But most importantly love for my amazing husband that stood by me and helped me and has been the mommy and daddy for over a month now! In the hardest of times you find what you are really made of and I couldn't be more proud of Who he/you Really ARE! I love you even more now than I ever dreamed!!

Love for my sweet children... they have been AMAZING! STRONG! and HELPFUL! During this time they have grown more and more independent - one entire week Kaitlyn was the mommy-taking care of everyone! She even did a school project for a friend :) She will be a FABULOUS mommy one day! We miss her laughs and tickles and creativity already!! Once she moved to Charlotte Harrison- not suprisingly, became the amazing helper (even sitting with Lilly Ann as she potty trained - counting and singing abc's so she'd sit long enough to "get it all out:)" and making waffles one morning.. and Lilly Ann- well, I just know we will spend the rest of our lives holding our breath and watching her go - she's brave, independent and, well.... Lilly! She knows no boundaries - she actually made the decision to potty train during this time of recovery - and she's practically done it herself! She's doing great!!

Thank you all! For your patience with me and continuouse love and support! The meals were precious to me!! God perfectly planned them out and they stopped this week - the week I feel closer to the "old Christi" than I have since surgery!! What wonderful friends and family you all are - It means the world to me TRUELY!!
I am stronger and stronger each day!
God is so good!!

I know I have not been good at updating my blog lately - my desire and strength when I have a moment has not been there - in a free moment I have just wanted to rest rest rest! Right now I am feeling strong and anxious to update you all on our summer!! However, my computer will not allow me to download anymore picst to my Blog - it kicks me out! I am going to have to figure out how to get my 100000's of pictures off and safely somewhere else so I can add new ones and share them with you - sorry.... shouldn't be long :)

Love you!
Christi

Here is all I could get to take on my computer... I'm still working on it :)

The kids have been so amazing! In June, we went to the lake and then to the beach returning literally the day before I left for Minnesota for my open heart surgery.... it feels like a lifetime ago but with the summer coming to an end I want to update you and get back on track.... here are A LOT of just pictures..... of us before and after the surgery.... enjoy! I love you all
!!
Christi (not really a lot of pics - as I said... sorry)

One Sweet Night Out with Friends!!

2009-06-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you are surrounded by the most amazing friends and family ever! Like even more than any other time in your whole life?! I DO!
I have grown up in this city and have always had friends around me! But NEVER in my life have I been so surrounded by and loved by so many people!
My cup is overflowing!
God has blessed me with such an enormous amount of Precious God Fearing people in my life that I can't explain how amazing it feels!
I feel like I truly am part of this perfectly orchestrated "plan" and at the moment I feel I am directly in it - like the center of the plan?! I know it's not clear and maybe even sounds a little cheesy but there is no doubt in my mind that this entire "EVENT" was so divinely orchestrated for "such a time as this." These people were perfectly placed in my life at this time intentionally! At this time so that I would be surrounded by and loved by so many and prayed for by so many.....
Praise God He is in control -and I just love it when it's crystal clear!

So, some of these amazing friends of mine... organized a sweet going away dinner for me and we all met at Benihana's! (God's own little heaven on earth :) YUMMMMM!!! There were 21 girls together, eating, laughing, loving and then of course I cried -but it was so precious and sweet and amazing and I felt so loved by them all! Together they bought me dinner and a sweet care bear to take with me to surgery - since they couldn't come to Minnesota, AND the most beautiful necklace! Sterling silver with a cross and a circle. A local artist made it with her own hands and it was so perfect! I love them all so much and thank them for a wonderful night out with friends.... YOU ALL MADE ME FEEL SO LOVED!!
Thank you from the bottom of me "new heart!" :)

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:21

2009-05-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

Here's to new beginnings!......sigh....And the next chapter in our lives! What a sweet weekend we had Memorial Day Weekend! This has been such an emotional roller coaster for me on so many levels and now...... it was here! The End of Kindergarten! Kait's Going Away Party (because SHE IS MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA! )and Our last weekend on the boat (for who knows how long... we sold the boat)! It was such a bitter sweet weekend for us and I just kept replaying it over and over in my head.... I loved being together... laughing and playing and being silly and loving on each other (that would be the sweet) but uuuuuuuuuggggggghhhhh does this really really really HAVE to happen?! There is no question that where our treasures are - Weather it's in NORTH CAROLINA or a FIRST GRADE class or PRESCHOOL or..... in Collierville while I'm NOT(during my upcoming surgery)! THERE MY HEART WILL SURELY BE!! So.... Here's to a new beginning for all of us! Harrison finished - COMPLETELY - Kindergarten May 27th!! He had his sweet program on Friday and I want to begin there.... we will really miss Mrs. Beesinger - even though she will only be down the hall, and we'll visit her often! I have already begun to pray for our first grade teacher.... I'm sure she'll be precious!
Next..... KAITLYN'S GOING AWAY PARTY! We had a going away party for Kaitlyn - or rather for her friends to say goodbye to Kaitlyn. It was a BIG HIT! Kait and Best Friend, Hope, Hope's sister Rachel and another friend Natalie helped to decorate the Hawaiian Luau themed gym at Forest Hill Community Church. It was so cute!! The original idea was that we would have the party at our house but with the weather being so questionable we worried the back yard would be a swamp so we opted for the church and it was the perfect place! The "big kids" had a basketball hoop and karaoke and indoor seating as well as outdoor tables and chairs. The little kids had a gym to ride their big wheels in and lots of room to run and play! It was perfect for everyone and it was DRY! Kait and all her friends just meangled around and ate and sang Karaoke and had hula hoop contests and..... everyone got Henna Tattoos! As you walked in the front door Kait's friend Natalie had a table set up with a slide show on her computer of Kaitlyn with her friends as well as all these cute pics of Kaitlyn with her family AND a large frame where everyone signed a sweet goodbye note to Kaitlyn! It was such a sweet night for her! She is soooooooo loved and will be missed so much by all her friends AND FAMILY!!! WE LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH, KIKI!!

and... Memorial Day Weekend...on the boat - the last time....(sighhhh) for now!
We hope to have another boat later but with the surgery expenses it was a really smart thing for us to do to help with bills (who knows how expensive open heart surgery will really be??!! UGHH!) SO... it totally stinks but we all love the boating so much I know one day we will be blessed again with more Lake fun!
Jason and the kids and I obviously were all there, Brian and Tina, Jack and Lauren and Nana (Papa was recooperating from nemonia) and my dad, Grandaddy (Susu was out of town at her daddy's house in Byrdstown, TN - visiting family) each came at one time or another.... as well as the RAIN!! Again! We pumped right through it pulling over here and there and running from and in storms to get dry.... the kids had a ball, the grown ups did too and it was a sweet weekend together!
Even Lilly Ann decided to tube this time - lucky for her she has such a sweet big sister to go along and hold her tight - she braved the lake with Lauren and Kait and then the tube.... my little fearless girl (our boy with a bow - we call her) I think we will probably spend the rest of our lives holding our breath and letting her go.... she is so sure she's 6 already and to hear her talk I wonder sometimes too!

Kaitlyn was a really important person for this trip too b/c we knew she'd be moving soon after and at the time we didn't know we'd sell the boat so thank goodness she was there - and she ROCKED the new knee board! We are always amazed watching her... she's so incredibly determined!!! No matter what it is she sets her mind too... she won't stop until she's accomplished it! She'll probably run some company somewhere (or the country)one day!
And my sweet Harrison - I don't know who will miss the boat the most but he and Kait are definately top two or three! He's totaly in his element (reminds me of his daddy) when he's on that boat! He loves to go fast and he loves to fish and I swear he'll live on a Lake someday - it's him! Completely! And as long as Jack is there - life is totally good! I love that they are 3 months apart - they act like brothers and love so sweetly! Between the two our entertainment is complete - they are a hoot together!! Jack will absolutely be entertaining somewhere somehow forever! and Harrison he'll probably be wherever his family is... I imagine he and Jack won't be far from one another!
God is so good and our family is just so wonderful! Well, since I'm talking about all the kids I have to of course mention my sweet Lauren.... my American Girl Doll! Her sweet freckles and always painted fingers and perfectly matching outfits and sweet sweet heart, and beautiful face and disposition and just EVERYTHING! She is so wonderful! She takes such good care of my Lilly and really everyone! She will be an amazing mommy one day! I love watching her and listening to her sweet giggle.... she and Lilly Ann are about the same age difference as she and Kaitlyn and it's really neat how God worked it all out that way - Lilly thinks she totally hung the moon and to have both she and Kaitlyn.... Lil's was in heaven! And they never left her out!!

DJ AND KATIE VISIT! ("I'm just sayin"...)AND TWO VERY SPECIAL KINDERGARTEN GRADUATES!

2009-05-21T05:42:00.000-07:00

One of my most favorite things about The Shaw Family (And I mean ALL of them) is how very close they are! Family takes care of family takes care of family takes care of family! They just absolutely put family above all else and it shows in all they do! I love it! I love that our children will have this foundation to live off of!
So..... that said, DJ, Jason's cousin, came to visit and he brought with him his sweet girlfriend, Katie! We LOVE HER! (oh and of course we love him too! :)So, of course we all dropped EVERYTHING to be with family! Especially out of town family!!
We have had such a sweet visit with them and we're sad for them to go! They are world traveling!! I mean drove from San Diego and have had several stops and several more before they will be arriving in Massachusetts! DJ is going back to Martha's Vineyard to return to his Police Man job and Katie is going to wait tables until she finds her nitch! SO ROMANTIC! Love it! Jason says we'll do that too....(world traveling that is) just after kids are gone - the reverse of them..... We shall see :) I look forward to it!

So, Monday night we took DJ and Katie to Beale Street - pics coming later she will email them to me
Tuesday night we went to a nice dinner at Jim's Grill (we try to make it really nice when people come to visit so they'll STAY!!)
and Wednesday night we all went to an Italian Restraunt in Collierville Square and celebrated "The Graduates!" (Kindergarten Graduates) Harrison and Jack!! (and we celebrated Lauren too b/c she had such a great 3rd grade year! :)

Here are some pics from Wednesday night's Celebration! We wound up with our own room - really good thing, so the kids literally danced around and had a fun time!!

We did miss our Kait though - she had a prior engagment.
AGAIN! Bare with me the pictures are in no order for some reason my blog won't allow me to pic and chose and write with each picture anymore....STILL!

A Cold Rainy, Happy Anniversary!

2009-05-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

As a family we all LOVE THE LAKE! We love to JUST GO!! We're always looking for the perfect opportunity to head out and enjoy boating if only for a day! So...Jason and I had an Anniversary this weekend - 8 years - perfect reason! It was definitely debatable weather but we had to just go and check out the weather in Pickwick! We only have one more weekend before we leave for the beach and then I'm off to surgery sooooo we just couldn't resist..... a family trip - JUST US to the Lake!
SO.... IT RAINED nearly ALL of Saturday and then Sunday, no rain but it was a high of 70 degrees - ON THE WATER! ON THE BOAT! AND..... IT WAS JUST RIGHT!
We were all together, laughing, snuggling under towels and running from rain! I love when we have days like that.... you know when it's just the 5 of us and we're in it together and it doesn't matter what the weather is (Kait even knee boarded in the rain) we're together and that's what it's really all about anyway!

AND! Harrison drove nearly ALL DAY Sunday and He was so incredibly proud - and it was a total bonding moment for He and Jason! Kait was content to just hang out and relax - she'll be studying all week for exams so it was nice for her to just relax! Lilly Ann and I were total snuggle bugs - she slept in my arms several times - LOVE THAT!! (this is the life!!) I have to admit I would've loved 80 degree weather much better but there's always next weekend :)
by the way.... my blog is totally acting up and I can not move my pics where I want them or write little notes with the pics anymore.... so you'll have bare with me as I just have to down load them and hope they all make since?! LOVE TECHNOLOGY!AHHGGG!

A NEW SWEET DAY!

2009-05-15T13:32:00.001-07:00

“Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” Deuteronomy 4:9

YES, I am aware that it is STILL raining! And that it has been for like a stinkin month and that my swing set is on the verge of floating away!
However, it is such a new sweet day! On one of Beth Moore's DVDs she talks about the importance of having an intimate relationship with God and just talking to Him and visiting with Him. An example she gives is how she'll just be driving down the road and say, "is it hot enough in Houston for ya, Lord?! I know this is Your day and you created it but is it hot enough yet?" Laughing out loud at this very thought this morning as I got ready I said, I have to admit Lord, like Beth I am wondering, has it rained enough in Collierville for ya, Lord? I know this is Your day and only You know what we need but I'm just wondering.... has it rained enough yet, Lord?? I know He must just laugh sometimes at the very idea that we would worry about rain! But the sun does make for a much prettier day in my opinion!
Today, thank goodness, I had a relief from life's yuck and I got to play with my sweet kids at KDO! I love it that I'm a sub now because I go so inconsistently that it's just plain sweet time with the kids when I get to be with them and love on them and rub backs and give hugs and even today one little boy told me I wasn't in charge of him -when I asked a group to settle down and be gentle! And it really just made me laugh and I still hugged him and loved on him! Not to mention it's a no brainer when they ask me to sub because Lilly Ann SO LOVES "CHURCH"! In fact DAILY she wakes up and says, "I go to church today?" Church is her name for both Sunday School and KDO because they are both at Forest Hill Community Church - which is such a gift in and of itself! So I have to share some cute little pics of her enjoying her day at "Church" and just stop a minute and love that God gave me a New Day!
A Happy Day! I want to be careful not to forget these kinds of days!

Oh and I also got a really cute pic of Harrison - today was "Hula Day" so we sent him all in gear - had to get a pic of that too :)

I PRAISE THE LORD....

2009-05-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today, like most of the days these past two weeks I have had an overwelming reminder of my surgery and Kait moving and now my sweet neighbors and friends are moving and ..... EVERYTHING in the world that STINKS! I am aware of all the yuck I have going on in my life and for whatever reason I feel like I have to continue to remind myself of it all! It takes away happy and replaces it with just plain over-stinkin welmed! I was reading a sweet friends blog and searching for a happy place and I read this.... (the perfect reminder from my sweet friend and she doesn't even know and now I've copied it and posted it here - for me.... she is such a good friend she'll love that it was my "happy" if even for just a minute and she hopefully won't mind my stealing it from her :)

I Praise The Lord that He is in control!
I praise the Lord that He can watch over my children when I can't.
I praise the Lord that in my weakness He is strong.
I praise the Lord that He has ordained the steps of my children (and me).
I praise the Lord that it is His will that none should perish.
I praise the Lord that He made me a mommy to the 3 most amazing children this world has ever seen!
I Praise the Lord for you, Sarah and thank you for your insight.... God is so good and He knew I'd need that today! Thanks for sharing!

LILLY ANN'S END OF THE YEAR PROGRAM AT FHCC

2009-05-11T20:14:00.000-07:00

What a sweet night this was! I so love each year going and watching the kidos at KDO.... they grow so much year to year and it melts my heart each time I see the little ones grow and get bigger and bigger and the new sweet little tiny babies! This year was the first time Harrison wasn't at KDO but Lilly Ann was and it was her special night to shine! She chose NOT to perform but looked so stinkin cute that it didn't even matter!

CROSSWIND SUMMER BLAST

2009-05-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

Harrison's school had Summer Blast today (when I was little we called it Field Day) and it was sooooooo fun!! It actually started pretty chilly but I think they got warmed up and had a great time running relays and competing against some first graders and finally a picnick lunch! Field Day was always one of my favorite events of the year.....I think it's safe to say Harrison loves it too!!

A MOTHER'S DAY TRIBUTE TO MY MOMS!

2009-05-10T05:16:00.001-07:00

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOMS!
Today will be precious for me! I will be loved on and hugged on and loved on some more and all day long I will be humbled by the very idea that this little girl with only one dream of growing up to be a mommy got to be just that and with the most fabulous man God personally picked out just for me (who by the way just brought me coffee as I sit and type away! I love you, honey!) WOW! Today I will feel blessed all day that God made ME a Wife and MOMMY!! I still have a hard time wrapping my head around that one! I can still very vividly remember being pregnant with Harrison and having an overwhelming fear that he wouldn't live outside of my tummy - because I do not deserve him! First I got to be married to Jason, a "good guy" and then I got to be blessed with a sweet Kaitlyn - whom I never got to birth but was/am madly in love with and then.... A BABY of my very own - to grow in my very own body not once but TWICE?? That is Grace! The fact that I am a mommy today of both children I got to birth and one precious gift I get to be a mommy in conjunction with her mom is definitely overwhelming and precious and moving and GRACE!
I do have to tell you one early gift I got last night from my very sweet boy, a note he wrote... "I luv you B cus you r my mom!" He just couldn't wait until today - (he's so my child!) I love that he can write now and that he loves me so much he writes me love letters and no one makes him! :) SIGH!

So this day will be full of love and wonderful reminders of how very blessed I am but it will not be filled with my sweet Mom or Step-Mom, Susan!

I will miss you mom, today especially! I am so proud of you and I just wanted to let you know! I think you are so brave and incredibly driven and WOW you are doing so wonderfully! And after all the hard work and crazy busy life you always take time to call me and visit on the phone almost daily and I have to tell you - I will never tire of you calling to catch up! I love that you call!
I love how you have Mothered Ashleigh! You and Steve have started all over with her and that is so amazing and because of you two she will always know what it is like to have two parents that love her and love each other! That is so incredibly important! You make me so proud and I just wish today I could be with you and love on you and hug on you and maybe for just a minute you will take the time to remember a scared 16 year old girl pregnant with me and all the trials of life ahead of you and look at you, at me at these sweet grandbabies and know, YOU ARE SO BLESSED! YOU ARE SO LOVED! We love you so much, Mom! I pray you got our card and you feel this HHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUHGGGG!! Happy Mother's Day! I love you!

Like Kaitlyn, I too have a Step-Mom! I happen to be one of the most blessed people I know because of my sweet step-parents! I often hear from anyone that meets Susan or Steve, how incredibly "lucky" I am to get to have both of my Step-parents-they are truly FABULOUS!
I like to believe I AM BLESSED! Not lucky! Our whole family is! So I don't want to miss an opportunity to love on you, Susan, too!

You are fabulous! Thank you for always making me feel so wonderful! I have told Jason before that I hope when Kaitlyn is my age and she's counting her blessings she knows I love her as much as I know you love me!! You have ALWAYS praised me! For as long as I can remember You have told me something you think is wonderful about me! You will find a shirt, a dress, a skirt, my home, my marriage, ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and you praise me! You always make me feel so good and I want you to know I THINK YOU ARE FABULOUS! You are incredibly busy and you still find ways to love on EVERYONE!! I hope you feel undeniably loved today!!! Happy Mother's Day! I know you have to work and we won't see you but I pray you got our card and you know we love you so much!! Have a great day! HHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGG!!
I love you!

I hope you both have a Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NANA!

2009-05-09T11:35:00.000-07:00

May 7th is a special day in our family!! It's Jason's mom (Nana)'s birthday!
All the (local) Shaw family got together for a cookout in Nana's honor - we ended up getting take out instead but the celebration was a success! All the grandchildren gave her their cards and a gift pack of perfume and the grown ups gave our cards and a new fan for her bedroom - at her request!
We love you, Nana! Hope you had one FABULOUS Birthday!!
We think you are pretty wonderful!!

One Precious READING boy!

2009-05-05T12:49:00.000-07:00

Harrison is reading! He has been learning to read more and more but his confidence has just gotten so high lately and today, as I was visiting his classroom to help with a craft, one of the Mom's said, "Isn't Harrison a good reader?? Harrison would you read to your class while we finish our craft?" He was so proud and SO WAS I! He went right up front, picked out a book and my sweet Kindergartner read that whole book to his class! He really IS about to go to 1st Grade!! It's so bittersweet for me! He's growing up so much and I love all that he is doing and his personality is fabulous and even today one of his teachers said, "I just love Harrison, talking to him is like talking to an adult!" Sometimes he is such an old soul :) He was just my little sidekick for so long and even now he still loves to snuggle with me but he also stops everything to run to his daddy for some football or whatever as soon as he walks in the door! I do so love a boy and his daddy but it's just so obvious that he's growing up and Mom's not all that cool anymore.

Last night I was laying down with him and he said, "Mom, sometimes when you come up to school I get embarrassed." I asked what was embarrassing and he said, it just depends on what we're doing...." then I said, "well, I don't have to come up there, buddy, I don't want to embarrass you." And he sat up and said, "yea, but if you didn't come, I'd be so sad!" Little does he know if I didn't come up there..... It would make me really sad too!!

Shirtless fun, One Fabulous ARTIST and a Sleepy Princess!

2009-05-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

This weekend was busy! busy! for the Shaw family!! I thought I'd share a few fun pics to cover several little life events.... you have to admit I'm really keeping up my end of the bargain! And it's really fun!!
To start our weekend, (well actually during the week), Lilly Ann had a play date with her very sweet "big gurl" friend, Sophie Lee! I just really couldn't resist posting this one.... they were playing so sweet together and we gave them snacks and lunch and they decided to eat up in the "clubhouse"! I LOVED IT! They were previously playing with the water table and Lil's got Sophie's dress wet so she decided to take it off! You have to admit it's really sweet when they're little and just don't care if they have a shirt or not.... this pic prompted me to look back at a sweet baby girl last summer with the same shirtless idea!

We also had a very special Art Exhibit to go to! Forgive me! My camera was left at a birthday party and I had just gotten it back so it was dead moments before we walked out the door... I seriously charged it for like 5 minutes just to try to get any pictures at all! So I started with the recognition of Kaitlyn by the Lausanne Art Department and unfortunately it died just after that! So there is no art pictures - but when she brings them home I'll post pics and you will see SHE ROCKS!! She had two pieces in the exhibit. One was a drawing of an actual person that came and modeled for the class and the second was her first oil painting! It's so amazing!!!!! It gave me chills of proudness....(i'm sure thats not a word but you get the idea) it's totally something you would buy at an exhibit and hang in your home!! Beautiful!! It never ceases to amaze me all the different ways she is so incredibly talented!! Did I mention she's in the National Art Association?? She is!! One day we'll all be saying "remember me!!" and in her very "Kaitlyn" way she absolutely will remember us all! She's so thoughtful that way!! WAY TO GO KAIT!! WE ARE SOOOOOOO PROUD OF YOU!

And last but not least..... after a long weekend of many fun things we still had dinner to go to with Nana and Papa and Uncle Brian and Jack and Lauren (Aunt Tina had to work some) so we came home from Kait's event and everyone wanted to rest! I put Lilly Ann to bed and in her very Lilly way she of course rebelled! I have been just leaving her in the room weather she takes a nap or not - she starts of in her bed with "two books" and milk and poppers... all tucked in and I read her books, give her kisses and "big hugs" and she's off! I feel like it's a big joke but ever since we moved to the big girl bed nap time is a party! Most the time I come back to get her after about 2 hours and her room is trashed and eventually she gives in and does get in her bed and sleep. Well, Sunday it was no different! Same routine and downstairs I go, turn on the monitor and listen for her. I have been telling her "I'm getting my sad spoon and if you get up Mommies coming up stairs and giving you a spanking and you still have to take a nap!" It worked ONE DAY! So, it's time for us to go to dinner, she's been quiet for a while and Jason goes up to get her. He comes back down and says, "you have gotta see this!" We all go upstairs and this is what we saw.... the sweetest little princess ever!! NOT IN HER BED of course but on her sweet little chair sitting in the corner.... asleep.... and I mean we all kissed her several times to no avail and I even kissed her, rubbed her back loved on her lots and lots and NOTHING!! I finally had to just pick her up and lay her on the changing table to get her to wake up! And as always she woke up with a sweet smile!! These are the moments I want to keep in the back of my mind to recall when she's not so little anymore!! I hope I never forget this!

Hope you had as sweet a weekend as we did!
We love you all!!

Cardboard Testimonies

2009-05-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

This is so sweet! Click on the link below for a sweet video. Enjoy!
http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/

Heavenly "Warm Cookies"

2009-05-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

I really am just blogging this morning briefly because I have to say, there is just something so sweet about quiet time with the Lord and I have to tell you this morning was precious - God spoke directly to me (again) and I just love it when He hears my heart and meets with me and speaks to me -so clearly that I become so overwhelmed with emotion that He- the creator of all things, loves Me so much! So I have to share.

There is nothing more relaxing than sitting alone in the morning - I could even hear the birds this morning, as I sat in my big, over sized chair and curled up under my sweet Lilly Ann's blanket and opened up the Bread of Life! I thought I'd come in here and make a cup of coffee and open up my computer and read from Beth Moore's blog - she always has great scripture and insight, and then I'd open up my daily devotional that is emailed to me and then I'd feel complete to start a sweet Saturday with my family. Well, as I straightened up the family room I saw my Bible just sitting there next to my favorite, very adorable and comfortable chair and it just made me feel safe and I know that may sound so corny to you but I have to tell you it's like a warm cookie in my soul when I just sit with my bible and pray and spend sweet time with my Heavenly Father. I always know He hears my prayers and I just love it!

Anyway, the reason I'm blogging today is to ask you all to be praying. I found out my surgery date is going to be June 11th. I will go to Rochester, Minnesota on the 7th, get up on the 8th have a consultation with Dr. Nishimara (sp?) and then on the 10th I'll be admitted to the hospital and my surgery is the 11th. Of course as I sat alone in prayer I was overwhelmed by the very idea that I could die! (of course I didn't even consider I could live because that's how twisted my mind is most the time)
I admitted to the Lord of course I am scared.... I don't want to say I'm afraid because I know "fear" is not from (Him) you but I quickly admitted that He knew me - He created me and I was secretly afraid - although I totally trust Him! (So bare with me as I feel like I'm rambling -it's getting good. ) So I was reading through Ephesians about Paul and He showed me very specifically a prayer to pray for someone I so dearly love and then I was just reading here and reading there and in 2 Corinthians He gave me this sweet verse right off the bat:
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4) I knew immediately this fear was my stronghold!
My first jewel of the day - immediate answer to prayer - trust in the Lord and he will help me to battle my strongholds! Thank you, Lord!
Next jewel: I looked over and saw my devotional book and decided I'd find a devotion there because it is scripture that you pray back to the Lord putting your name or whomevers name in specific spots.... so here was my sweet devotion this morning.... absolutely God's word speaking directly to me! And of course in such a sweet (warm cookie) way! You'll see - open God's word and just close your eyes and speak to Him about your heart and ask for scripture for peace and HE WILL DELIVER! I have to preface this by telling you I did not thumb through my devotion book - I OPENED TO THIS PAGE! God is so good!

Enjoying Freedom from Fear
Lord, Your Word says, "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4) I see k You this day, believing that You hear me, and I pray that You will deliver me from any fear that threatens to overtake me. You said You have "not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7).

Flood me with Your love and wash away all fear and doubt. Give me a sense of Your loving presence that far outweighs any fear that would threaten to over take me.
Help me to rely on Your power in such a manner that it establishes strong confidence and faith in You.
AMEN!!

This is exactly what kinds of "warm cookies" my sweet Savior cooks up for me each time I come to Him for my needs. He NEVER fails, He CAN be trusted and ALWAYS DELIVERS! He loves us and knows our struggles but if we lay them at His feet and pray for help with our strongholds He will give us freedom. He allows us to chose Him or the world to heal our wounds - and if we chose Him we will free us from our "strongholds"! I chose you, Lord!!

Have a fabulous day! I hope you enjoy heavenly "warm cookies" today too!

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.Deuteronomy 31

2009-05-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

Right now is such a scary time for me for many reasons. At this very moment the Swine Flu is in Collierville! I guess it never occurred to me that something from the National news would threaten us too! I feel like it's some 3rd world disease or something and I know I'm just overreacting but I refuse to allow fear to begin my day! I refuse to allow Satan into my mind and heart when I am so very confident in my Heavenly Father!! So I am searching left and right for scripture to cover this fear and Praise and Worship to replace it! I wanted to post some of them and I may add more as I come upon them.... bare with me but this is my prayer over my family and my city and my country and my nation - May God be glorified through all of this!

I was reading this morning a blog by Beth Moore and she was talking about a time she was in India and teaching women with an entirely different life than her, need than her, dialect than her....etc and the barriers were overwhelming and she wasn't getting through to them... she could just feel it. And she began to pray that the Holy Spirit would come into that place and bring clarity to these women in His name. And all of the sudden she began to remember the pain and suffering and abuse of her childhood - memories she could barely bare to remember and in those memories she was able to remotely relate to these women... she cried over them and prayed over them and the Holy Spirit was all over her message!!

From that story I am reminded that we all do go through things in our life that are seemingly devastating so that maybe one day we will be able to relate to someone we may have nothing else in common with in the world but through Christ's love and our freedom from the pain we can share His promises with them that they may be saved! I know I'm rambling but Praise God I've got scripture to cover my fears today and maybe you will need just one of these in your life too.
Enjoy!

Psalm 121 (HCSB)I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The Lord protects you; the Lord is a shelter right by your side. The sun will no strike you by day, or the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.

"Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling."
Psalm 91:9-10

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with and inexpressible and glorious joy."
Peter 1:8

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:21

"The fear of the Lord leads to life then one rests content, untouched by trouble."
Proverbs 19:23

"Your faith should not be in the wisdom fo men but in the POWER OF GOD."
1 Corinthians 2:5

"The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)

"You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed."
John 24:14 (NIV)

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

"The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment." 2 Peter 2:9 (HCSB)

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.Psalm 30:11-12 NIV

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.Psalm 143:8

The first weekend in the boat - and it wasn't even ours!

2009-04-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

We were so excited to find out that the temperature was going to be in the 80's all weekend!! We have all been chomping at the bit to get to Picwick!! HOWEVER, the last weekend of the last season while we were there the boat nearly ran out of gas and then never really recovered from it! We tried to take it out one more time after that and it really seemed like something was wrong with the fuel injectors or something??( I am obviously not the savvy boat engine words type so just go with me on this one).... it kind of did a sputter thing. Anyhow, Jason has been back and forth trying to get this fixed and that fixed and test driving it and still it doesn't run great! So, we decided to go anyway.... we all had our hearts set on going so Papa said he and Nana would rent a pontoon boat and we'd just go for the day on Saturday..... it was so nice to just be out on the water!! Everything was perfect, the weather, the kids and Kait's knee boarding behind the boat - ROCKED!! She totally got up the first time and did so awesome even behind a Pontoon Boat!!! Great Job Kait!!! Welcome warm weather.... we are ready!! And secretly praying that Lewis and the boys at L&S know how to fix our boat!!

I loved the girls all in a row with their sunglasses! Perfect photo opp!! I think this ones for the frame!

Everybody wanted to drive.... and since when anyone else drove Papa got drenched he too wanted a chance to drive!! It was a really windy - white caps(on the lake?) kind of day and water kept splashing in on everyone for some reason??!! But the weather was actually perfect!! Not too cool or too hot!

Harrison and Daddy drive the boat! He did a great job!!

I loved how serious Jack was about driving - he did such a good job! Very careful to pay close attention!

Even the girls took their turns to drive too!!

Harrison couldn't swim in the water so he brought his remote control boat.... thank goodness Santa gave him that thing.... He and Jack really enjoyed it! But Jack was a little disappointed Harrison couldn't swim he just wanted somebody to get in with him! Hopefully next time we go the cast will be off! I do have to give Harrison props though he didn't complain a bit!! What a trooper!!

And did I mention Kait rocked the knee board?? The very old and not very padded knee board - she paid for that the next day but man she looked so good out there!! Her daddy told her he'd take it home and put a new cushion on it just for her! (Since he's so domestic and everything!) Kait said, "NO! Just buy a new one!!" LOL! I love watching the two of them banter back and forth- they crack me up!

Couldn't pick just one of these.... I love them both!!

Oh yes, and the goats were there!! We went to Goat Island to feed the goats and there were sweet new babies!! And one very hungry adult goat that came onto the boat!! All the kids (except Lilly) ran screaming to the back of the boat and everyone wanted Brian to "get it off!" We're so proud that he was able to do it without hurting the sweet Large Aggressive goat!! At one point I noticed that Lilly Ann still had food in her hand and the goat was looking over at her and she was leaning in toward him and.... I may have lost it if that goat bite her but Uncle Brian saved the day and no one was attacked :) I know the goats seem really sweet but when it comes down to your babies I'm here to tell ya you are not interested in hearing anything about how gentle they are just that they are not coming toward your baby!! Oh well, all is well that ends well and the goats are still on their island until our next visit! (And if Harrison has his way we'll NEVER GO THERE AGAIN!)

Jumpin' into Spring with the Shaw Family

2009-04-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our sweet spring started off with Palm Sunday Celebration at church. Both Harrison and Lilly Ann's classes lead worship. It was the sweetest day ever!! Lilly's class sang only the opening song , "He's Alive, He's Alive, Jesus is Alive..." Lilly sang it for a week before and hasn't stopped singing it yet! Of course I forgot that i could record from my camera so I missed her performance but trust me when I tell you it was precious! Although Lilly had total stage shock and never sang a word she looked so sweet with her little friends all up on stage moving to the music and taking it all in! The rest of worship was lead by Harrison's group and it was so perfect! I was overwhelmed with emotion as they sang "How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin.
It was so perfect! And Sweet! And .... I was just so proud!! How Great our God was through the voices of those sweet angels!! Praise God Jesus IS Alive!

The Saturday before Easter we went to the Easter Egg Hunt at FHCC. It's always so much fun! Lilly had been playing dress up that morning and insisted on keeping her princess skirt dress on so we just found a matching shirt and pants and we were on our way! She ended up looking so precious and very "Lilly" that day! As we arrived the Easter Bunny was waiting to greet us at the door. Lilly was sooooo excited she would not leave that poor bunny alone! She literally had to be moved away from the bunny so other children could get a picture with him. She loved him soooo much!

Easter Sunday we went to FHCC for a sweet service and then to Granny and Papa Jack's and then to Brian and Tina's for dinner. Dad and Susan wanted to have an egg hunt for the kids at Granny's but it rained all day!! Just before the rain Granny had pictures in her front yard.... the kids all looked so sweet!! I'm not real sure what in the world Lilly Ann is looking at but this still is one of my favs!! It just makes me laugh!! I always say she's such a boy with a bow and this is such a perfect example.... one of her new things to say is... "EWWW" it looks like she may be saying that right here! Lunch was fabulous and it's always so nice to see everyone!! And dinner at Brian and Tina's was yummy too!! The kids had fun playing together and everybody looked soooo nice!

I almost forgot to put the Boston pics. All the adults went to Boston for Nan's goodbye - and Kait was old enough to go to. It was such a bittersweet time. We all got to be together and love on each other and the immediate family was even there for Nan's last moments of life here. They loved on her all the way until the very end. We had such a sweet time looking at old pictures and reminiscing about how much we all love her so dearly and how much we will miss her!! What a precious person she was in the lives of EVERYONE that was blessed enough to know her!!
About two or three days into our trip we decided to go shop and enjoy sometime together and Kaitlyn decided she would (last minute) get her ears pierced! We had such a great time laughing and being silly and I think it went over without a hitch! Jason and Brian even got themselves a pair of earrings too!! Or they at least pretended to get their ears pierced! Papa was SHOCKED! They got these magnetic HUGE diamonds and walked out with Kait to the van that Papa was driving... He laughed and thought it was a joke but the boys kept on and on about support for Kaitlyn and how they had to do it so she would and bla bla bla Papa began to believe it! Tina, Kait and I were totally dying in the back seat laughing to ourselves about the whole thing! Finally Papa said, at least you could've gotten something smaller! LOL! It went on for hours until finally Kelly pulled Brian's off at dinner and said, "it's magnetic!" I think it's one (of the 3) earpiercing Kait will never forget! :) Thank you, GP for making it possible for us to go for a week and say goodbye!! Lilly Ann and Harrison were well taken care of!

As the weather gets warmer and warmer the Shaw kids are wanting to spend more and more time outside. We decided to get a water table and give the kids a few more fun things to enjoy.... Lilly Ann and Harrison found some old boots that were Kait and Ashleighs and they had such a fun time in them that they wore them all afternoon!! You gotta love a girl that looks good in her boots and a boy that is just plain cute period!!

Harrison also STILL has his cast on -it's camo now- for 3 more weeks because they found a fracture that is trying to callus and it just needs a bit more time. He is such a trooper! I am so proud of him for sticking it out with barely any complaints at all!! I'm sure this is just one of many breaks in his active life!! Thank goodness he'll be through this by summer!!

This is Palm Sunday, "How Great Is Our God"! Press play and enjoy!

Harrison and Griffin - two of the "Three Blind Mice"

2008-09-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Harrison's Kindergarten had a Nursery Rhyme Day and all the Kindergarten was to dress up as a Nursery Rhyme. Harrison and his best friends, Griffin and James agreed to be "The Three Blind Mice"! It was so cute and perfect for them and everything was going along perfectly and then our buddy James got sick!! Harrison and Griffin went on to school to represent the whole gang! James was missed:(

Harrison Goes To Kindergarten!!

2008-08-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

Harrison started Kindergarten this week!!

What a bitter sweet day this was! Mommy and Harrison both wish he could be home just one more year but we all know what a fun time he'll have starting a new school and meeting sweet new friends... I have prayed and prayed for this day and for the perfect teacher for him! God gave us Mrs. Beth Beesinger and we are really excited about all God has in store for Harrison this year! He'll meet lots of new sweet friends and have fun times with his old ones!! His Best Friends and neighbors James and Griffin are starting Kindergarten with him as well as his old church friends - The Jones triplets :)

What a Fun Year this will be!!

The Shaws go to Boston

2008-08-24T07:03:00.000-07:00

We all had such a sweet time visiting our "Boston Family" this year! We stayed with Great Nannie and relaxed by her pool most days with Auntie Sheri, Uncle Brian, Kelly and Matt :)

We all had such a sweet visit! Great Nannie had not seen Harrison in nearly two years and Lilly Ann was just a brand new baby! (Kait was just there last May for Matt's graduation but she LOVED getting to see everyone again!!)

While we were there we visited Uncle Tex and Auntie Winnie and Linda, Toby and Anne at the beach house in Cape Cod...SOOOOOO Pretty!! Kait tried out kyaking with cousin Linda and we ALL LOVED NANTASKET BEACH with Auntie Sheri!!

And did I mention we went to see the RED SOX/YANKEES play?? THE SOX WON 10-1!! This was Harrison's first Red Sox Game at The Green Monster......GOOOOOOOOO SOX!!! (This was also the last weekend Manny played for The Sox!!)

more pics of pickwick with the fam...

2008-07-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Uncle Sean and Aunt Shelley, Brooklynn, Marlee and Uncle Adam come to Pickwick

2008-07-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

What a great time we had with Uncle Sean, Aunt Shelley, Brooklynn, Marlee AND

Uncle Adam in Pickwick last weekend!! We fished, swam, road the raft and FISHED SOME MORE!!

Pickwick with the family!

2008-07-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

We have had such a sweet time this summer going to Pickwick Lake over and over again with our family!! We feel soooooooo incredibly BLESSED!!

2008-07-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Harrison and his sweet friend, Clayton Smith got their Kindergarten shots at the same time (different doctor). They each held onto their rocks that had both Harrison and Clayton's name on them so that each would remember to be brave knowing his buddy is getting his shots (5) at the same time!! The boys were soooooo brave!! We met after the shots at Ben and Jerry's icecream parlor to celebrate their bravery!!

ISR PICS

2008-07-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here are the ISR Graduation Pics and testing lessons!!

Lilly Ann's ISR swim lessons!

2008-07-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

What a great experience this has been!! Lilly Ann has spent the last 6-8 weeks taking ISR (Infant Swim Rescue) swim lessons from Tracy Beamish. She is LOVIN it! We are so excited to watch her float all the time! Infact, we are back at Ms. Tracy's to remind Lilly Ann to swim -she is so confident floating on her back that she won't swim to me she jumps in and immediately flips over and begins to float! She gets in the water and says "I float, I float!" She is doing such a great job! This last week she went through her swim test in clothes to show that she CAN float fully clothed!

FOURTH OF JULY!! Uncle Brian, Aunt Tina, Lauren and Jack come to Pickwick

2008-07-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

What a Fun Fourth of July! Uncle Brian and Aunt Tina, Lauren and Jack came rented a house with us for Fourth of July weekend! What a fun time!! The kids had such a fun time and so did the adults!! We are having such a fun summer!!

Grandaddy and Susu come to Pickwick

2008-07-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

What a fun weekend!! Kaitlyn brought a friend, Kirby and Grandaddy and Susu (my dad and Susan) even road the raft!! It was so nice for EVERYONE to sit back and relax and enjoy God's beautiful creation!! (Pickwick, Family and Friends!)

Family Fun at Pickwick Lake!!d

2008-07-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

We have had such a fun summer over and over again going to Pickwick Lake with family!!!

We are SOOOOOOOO incredibly BLESSED!!

2008-07-24T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ashleigh and GP came to visit and we took Ashleigh to the pool - she and Lauren especially had such a fun time!! WE miss her!!