Grandpa & Raggie

My mom's parents (Grandpa & Raggie to me) are very special. They turned 91 and 90 this year and that has come with increased hospital visits and physical ailments. I am so thankful that my parents live close enough to see them very often and help them in so many ways. They have been such a good example to me of how you care for your aging parents. One week ago I got a scary phone call from my dad because Raggie was in the hospital and things were not looking good. It was a scary few days for everyone. It became clear that it was time to move Grandpa and Raggie to an assisted living home. Andrea, my sister, and I decided we needed to come up for a long weekend and help with that move. So between Mom, Dad, Uncle Bob (my mom's brother), Andrea and I, we packed up the old condo they've lived in for over 10 years and moved them into the assisted living, all while Raggie was in the hospital. It was a big job but I am so thankful that I was able to be there to help! They have done innumerable things to help and support me over the years, this was the least I could do for them! I was reminded over the weekend how short life really is and how we are not made to live in these bodies forever...they do not last! And with that, I was so reminded of how insignificant earthy possessions are. When we are 90, we won't really care about our "stuff" that much. These were good reminders for me. Would you please pray with me for Grandpa and Raggie's transition to their new home? This is a big and good change for them but will take some time to learn everything. I'm so thankful that they are together and have had their first night there together. They have been married 67 years and are still so sweet and kind to one another. They are always so mindful of the other, what a great example of marriage they have been to me!

Andrea setting up the new kitchen

The front door of their new home

Their new kitchen and front door

Living room and table (we tried to make it look a lot like their old home)

Uncle Bob, Grandpa and Dad (Grandpa's first look at his new place)

Raggie was released from the hospital on Monday and we took her straight to her new home.

Mom and Raggie taking a tour of the new place

Me with my precious grandparents! I love them so much and hope they enjoy their new home together as long as the Lord shall give them there.

Olivia Adams

This past Sunday Bryn and I took a little day trip to Forest City, NC to see Dara and meet her little baby who was born on July 8th. Dara and I are good friends from our 2 years in Slovakia with Campus Crusade for Christ. Dara was a student then and she was in my bible study and she and I met together often to talk about life and God and His Word. She truly was my highlight from my time in Slovakia. She has become a sweet friend!

Amazingly, since then, Dara has married (her) Jeremy who is a Clemson grad and is from Forest City, NC. Jeremy and Dara are in the process of finishing up their support to go back to Slovakia with Campus Crusade for Christ and work with college students there. It is such a gift to me that I was able to meet Dara's first child, I never thought this would happen. God is good!

She is a natural mommy!

She is a doll! And she looks like her mommy!

Bryn liked kissing her head and talking about her face:)

Such a cutie!

We had a really sweet visit together. On our way up to see her I was thinking about Olivia's name and wondering what her middle name was since I hadn't heard Dara talk about it. Once I got there I forgot to ask about it. During our visit Dara said, "Do you know her full name?" And I said, "no, I haven't heard you say it." And Dara said that her middle name is Liz!!!!! I can't believe it! What an absolute honor it is to me!!!!! It made meeting this little girl that much more special to think that they named her after me. Wow, I was so surprised. Dara said she wanted to tell me in person. I was truly blessed by my time with Dara and little Olivia.

Bryn took a couple pictures of us....this is as good as I could get it...

It's about time...

...our Lydia crawls!!!! Whew...I was beginning to wonder if she would ever get up on all fours and go forwards!!! She has been on her knees doing the rocking thing and scooting backwards for awhile but as of yesterday I believe we can officially say she is crawling. It's hard to believe that she is 11 months and has just now started crawling;). I'm just glad she did it before turning one. Life is going to look different now following around a mobile little girl!

Grace-Based Parenting

I recently finished reading this parenting book by Tim Kimmel and really enjoyed it. I have read lots of parenting books and this one was overall very refreshing for me. A big "takeaway" for me is "chill out!" In fact I am realizing that I myself need to grow more in my understanding of grace and live that out in my own life and it will natural benefit my family. I desire to be more balanced as I seek to entrust my children to the Lord and know that He is in control while at the same time not being slack in the calling God himself has given me as their mom. Here is a portion of a review written about this book that I think is helpful and accurate after reading it myself:

"Author Tim Kimmel has written a book that helps parents navigate the dangers of two extremes in parenting—legalism and permissiveness. He clearly describes a style of parenting that preserves the need for boundaries, obedience, respect, and discipline but which also appropriately considers “the three driving needs” of children—a need for security, a need for significance, and a need for strength. He does this by focusing in on the climate in the home. He accurately observes that there is a place for rules and strictness in the home, but how they are presented makes “all the difference on how they are received.”

Kimmel observes that much of the parenting of Christians is based on fear—fear of the world and the deteriorating culture, fear of other parents, and fear of the opinions of the church. This in turn encourages parents to focus on behavior rather than on the heart of their children. Kimmel instead encourages parents to parent their children as God parents His children—with grace. “Grace-based parenting mirrors God’s love, reflects His forgiveness, and displaces fear as a motivator for the choices we make.”

Grace-Based Parenting points out the fallacy of basing our parenting on the desire to raise “safe Christian children” by depending on the control of the environment around our children in order to shape them. He calls this a “disaster in the making” and warns that this effort “will produce shallow faith and wimpy believers.” Instead, Kimmel urges us to raise strong children and to move beyond outer problems and address the inner problems of our children."

Home Sweet Home on the 4th

After a long day of driving we made it home mid-afternoon on Saturday. It is so good to be home! We had a great 6 weeks in Hilton Head and so love being a part of the Summer LINK group. I will miss many things about being there but it was time to be home again. It's been fun to watch the kids get reacquainted with their home. We have missed having a yard and space for them to play.

My Shasta daisies are blooming like crazy.... I love it!

The kids have spent lots of time already on the swing set

And tiger kitty is ok...Jeremy is relieved;)

And we got some sparklers for the kids to do before going to bed on Saturday.

Lydia is 11 months

This past Friday Lydia turned 11 months! I really cannot believe that she is almost a year old. In so many ways I still view her as a 7 month old. I guess that comes with being the third baby. It could also be because she is not crawling yet. Our condo in Hilton Head was all tile without one area rug so it wasn't really conducive for a baby trying to learn to crawl and in reality she doesn't get too much floor time with our lifestyle lately. She is showing good signs of being ready...she gets up on all fours and rocks and she goes backwards really well:) It won't be long. But in reality I'm thankful that she hasn't crawled yet, the summer would have been much harder if she was crawling. We enjoy this little girl! She is such a sweetie!

Mid-Summer Banquet

Last night was our mid-summer banquet. Mid-summer for the students but end of the summer for the staff. Summer LINK is designed so that half way through the summer the staff all leave and appoint leaders among the students. It was a fun evening to reflect and celebrate all that God has done during our 5 weeks in Hilton Head and also to encourage the students as they stay and finish out the last 5 weeks together. I was again reminded last night how blessed I am to be Jeremy's wife. He is a great leader and that is so evident during times like this as I see the impact he has on so many and how God uses him in such mighty ways. It is an honor to follow him and be his helper. I'm so proud of him!

These girls were my highlight these 5 weeks! It has been a joy to serve alongside these women!

Staff Men

Our great staff team

After dinner and the program we had a fun time of dancing!

Chasteen vacation

This is our last week on Hilton Head Island with Summer LINK. It has been a great summer here and it is bitter sweet as we think about heading home. In some ways I'm sad to leave such a sweet summer and the people that have become so dear to me but I'm also ready to leave in other ways. I'm ready to be home and into a more normal routine and I miss friends in Clemson and our church.

This week the Chasteens (minus Jon, Leigh, Ava & Emet...we miss you!!!!!) have been here vacationing. Here are a few snapshots of our fun with them this week...

Little Miss Hollywood

Allyson & Bryn bonded over some nail painting:)

Carson & Jeremy at Hudsons

The kids

Nana & Papa

Bryn had a whiny morning at the beach and Uncle Kevin was a sanity saver (my sanity that is!) by taking Bryn for a bike ride on the beach...thanks Kevin!

Nana strolled Lydia on the beach and got her to sleep, yay! The beach can be pretty tough with a baby.

We went to play putt-putt one night...crazy fun (obviously)

We've had lots of fun at the pool! I will so miss having a pool right downstairs!!!

Kelsey has loved being a little "momma" to Lydia. Kelsey tells me that "Lydia is going to be my buddy isn't she?" So sweet!

Working on dinner