End of Summer
September 13, 2006
Grace has been doing very well. She is seemingly very healthy and becoming more and more active. In fact, I don't suspect it will be too long before she is walking as she is able to stagger about a third of the way across the living room back and forth to Tricia and me. She is in the "drunken sailor" walking stage, but she is growing a little more steady day by day. I never cease to amaze at the progress she has made since we got her a few short months ago.
Grace has also demonstrated that she is a little stubborn and that she is definitely afflicted with sin like the rest of us. Why is it that we're always surprised when our children start exerting their will as if they will bypass the curse?
I personally find more satisfaction in seeing Grace learn how to obey than in seeing her walk. It brings joy to my heart to give her a direction and see her sweetly obey.
One of Grace's funny characteristics is that whenever we're at the table getting ready to eat and as soon as whoever finishes praying, she screams in delight as soon as she hears, "in Jesus' name..." She also knows when we sit down that we're getting ready to pray because she reaches out to both myself and Tricia (she sits between us) to hold our hands.
Believe it or not she has just recently learned how to hold a cracker and put it into her mouth. Up until a couple weeks ago she did not put anything in her mouth whatsoever. Even now, we don't have to worry about her ingesting crayons or pennies. However, I suspect that it's only a matter of time before she starts putting whatever she can into her little bird mouth.
This past weekend we had someone in our church graciously give us two tickets to the Carolina Panther season opener. When I told Tricia I would like to take Evan, she suggested we all go the day before, get a hotel and enjoy a short retreat. I thought she had a great idea so we left on Saturday around noon and had a very nice time. We certainly get our money's worth at hotels as we fill every nook and cranny. In fact, while we took sleeping bags for two kids (the other two slept on one of the double beds), we didn't have anywhere for Grace to sleep. So, we used our suitcase for a bed. She fit perfectly.
On Saturday evening we walked all over downtown Charlotte and enjoyed the wonderful weather and the fountains they have everywhere. We had dinner at Uno's and the kids were able to make their own pizza.
On Sunday morning we walked to a park and were able to give Grace her first swing ride. While there we saw several people walking dogs.
Evan and I had a great time at the game even though the Panthers got killed by the Falcons. It was fun to enjoy the day with him, and I am always reminded how much I love my kids, especially when I get some one-on-one time with them.
The girls picked Evan and me up after the game and we drove up the road a ways to the Bass Outdoor World shop. It is huge and geared toward anything to do with hunting and camping. Evan loved it especially and the others also enjoyed looking at the fish display and all the stuffed wild game. I held Grace up to touch a stuffed beaver and she did not like that one bit as she completely freaked out. Evan has decided that he wants to be a professional hunter, and even Allie decided that she wants to decorate her room with camouflage. It makes one think twice as to where you take your kids shopping.
The drive home was smooth as we all made some really good memories.
