School Days

Kate has begun kindergarten.  She is doing very well.  Being a teacher, I've been watching Kate and encouraging her to start reading, but she has never been interested in my willingness to instruct her.  She wanted to play not read.   I knew that once she was ready it would kick in, and I hoped that some of my academic genes would be in her too.   I am happy to say, Kate is LOVING school and is asking me to teach her things when she gets home.  I am LOVING that!   Here are a few highlights from Kate's first weeks of school.

Best Farm with Kate and Papa Gallagher

A few weeks ago, Kate and I met my parents at Best Farm in Frederick, Maryland, for an impromptu photo shoot. I love having one kid to my self and being able to do something special with that child.  We had a fun time focusing on Katie Norah, and ended up with some great shots.

Summertime...Summertime...gone to the breeze of autumn's whisper

I really do hate it when I let months go by without posts.  I so enjoy writing.  And this blog is one outlet for me.  But this summer has been CRAZY!!!!!    It is all a big blur.  But I wanted to fill you in on a few highlights to catch us up to date.

JUNE:  MOVING, UNPACKING and more unpacking

We moved into our new house on June 1st.  We love our community here in Purcellville, Virginia.  It has been fun exploring new roads, towns, playgrounds, and shops.  It has also been fun getting to know the neighbors.  All in all we are so blessed to be living int he home we have in the community we are in.

 Kate and Nathan at town hall.

 Nathan had to visit the local fire department!  They have free ice-scream sundaes every month throughout the summer.  It is a very big hit with my kids!

Hamilton Park has also become a favorite spot for my kids.

 

Papa Dan took the kids to Leesburg Animal Park one afternoon.  That was a lot of fun!

 

And Kate lost her first tooth in June with the second tooth falling out soon after.

JULY:  ROAD TRIP - Ann was spending some time in Washington state with her daughters and other grandchildren.  Then she was tasked with driving their car back to Virginia.   Ann made a few stops to visit family in Oregon and Idaho.  Then I met up with her in Utah to finish the drive.  We spent a few extra days in Moab, Utah, exploring Capital Reef National Park (my favorite), Arches National Park, and Canyonlands.  Amazing country- like nothing I have ever seen before.   I loved being there.

 

 Nathan and Kate tracked our progress across the country on a big map that Papa Dan set up for them.  Each night they would mark our route after I called in to say goodnight. 

 We were blessed to see an amazing sunset as we drove across Kansas.  Beautiful.

 The history teacher in my loved the historic monuments.  I was very excited to see the Mississippi River too.  Our country is so big and so diverse - I hope I get to see a lot more of it years to come. It was a fun trip for me, but it was also the longest I've been away from my kids.  I was ready to get home.

AUGUST: Fair and birthdays!

I made sure I was home from my trip in time for two occassions:  the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair and Kate's 6th birthday.  It's a tradition now that we go to the fair on her actual birthday.  Both kids were so excited and looking forward to it, so Josh and I decided we would drive back to Maryland so they could go to the fair again.  Plus, Kate's pre-school teacher, Mrs. Russo, has lambs and pigs in the fair.  She was willing to give the kids a behind the scenes look at the animals.  Can't resist that, now could we?  :)

 Keeping with the animal theme, we had a pony birthday party.  Kate has been very interested in horses this summer.  She was able to visit a friend's horse in July and something clicked with her.  I definetely see horseback riding lessons in Kate's future.  Good thing we live in horse country now.


Kate leading Harper down a path.  Big horse.  Little Kate.  Nervous Mommy.  But they did great together!  At Kate's party we had a pony that gave each of the kids rides.  And another minature horse that the kids could pet, and groom and "decorate".  It was a lot of fun.

August also brought us a new family member, Salem the kitten.  He is the most tolerant cat I have ever met.  Kate adores him! She had been asking for a kitten for 2 years now.  So thought her birthday would be a good occasion to grant her wish. Salem is technically Kate's cat, but we all love him.  We adopted him from the animal shelter at 4 months of age.  He is the perfect blend of tolerant and playful.

It's been a good summer.   A busy one, but one full of laughter, blessing, and family. 

Meet Rett...Our Super Hero!

Meet Rett - Our Superhero

Many of you have heard us talk of Rett Bush.  Rett and Kate have been best buddies since they met in the Turtle pre-school class. To say they were inseparable is an understatementt.  Somehow this quiet, Southern gentlemen decided that he was intrigued by the loud bouisterous presence that is Kate...and the two have become amazing friends.   And the best part of it all is that his Momma and Daddy and big brother, Cal, are pretty amazing people too.  So our whole family lucked out and found a huge blessing in the Bush Family.   



Rett has been waging his battle with leukemia since January of 2011.  We have only been along side the Bush family for one year...but in the year I have seen God in a new way as a result of this family.   I have prayed harder than I have before.  I have rejoiced over the  news that Rett made it through another night without another ER visit.  I have seen a family embrace God in a season of pain and heartache....and I will always be humbled by their example.  They trust fully in God to be their strength.   Kristen has been such an example to me of joy and faith in the midst of overwhelming fear and concern.  Cal has been an amazing example of compassion and love toward his brother.  They learned to love one another and treasure each day they have together.  This family is real.  They cry.  They bleed.  They fear.  They hurt.  But they ALWAYS trust in God's goodness and love.    

And today, we joined the Bush Family in celebrating the end of Rett's chemotherapy treatment!!   Today was amazing.  TODAY WAS AMAZING!  TODAY WAS AMAZING!!

 

I am so proud of this young man.   I am so grateful that God spared his life.  I am so blessed to be a friend of this family.  And I am so excited to officially be part of TEAM RETT!    In October Kate and Nathan and Josh and I will be joining Rett in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's (LLS) Fundraising Event called  Light the Night.   As a tribute to Rett, his mom has encouraged as many of his friends to join him in their Red Team Rett T-shirts and celebrate his victory.  It will be a fun night with a lot of exciting activities for the kids.   It is also an opportunity to come along side the Bush Family and LLS to raise money to further research in blood cancers.

Please donating toward Team Rett. 
 No donation is too small.
Thank you!

We love you Rett!   We love you Bush Family!

Small Town Celebration

Happy Independence Day!

We had a few choices today as to how we would celebrate the 4th of July.  Most of my family is gathered at my parents' house for the traditional swim and grill celebration.  But being new to town we wanted to stick close to home and see how our small town threw a party.  

I love living where I do.  If I have not said it before, each week I am in this town I fall more and more in love with it.  I love the small community feeling.  Walking up to Main Street today and seeing our neighbors a few chairs down.  Seeing the older gentleman next to us yelling snide comments to the older men in the parade - I'm sure they are all part of the same "good ol' boys" club.  I love the mom and pop burger joint that uses only local ingredients.  We are enchanted by the family hardware store that is preparing to celebrate it's 100th anniversary in this town...in the same family.  The whole town speaks of family of closeness of loyalty and pride.  So add some patriotic sentiment to the already deeply rooted community and you have a full on celebration!

Papa Dan waiting for the festivities to start.  He's decked out in his patriotic hat!

 Kate made sure some of her special friends were dressed up and in good view of the show.

 Nathan had the best seat in the house thanks to Daddy! 

Can anyone guess what Nathan's favorite part of the parade was?  That's right the FIRETRUCKS!  And boy were there a lot of emergency vehicles.  The parade was actually named the Fireman's 4th of July Parade.  Trucks from a least four other towns in addition to ours were present.  And Nathan couldn't have been happier!  Seeing all the firetrucks, one after another, I couldn't help but reflect of the families in Prescott, Arizona, who are grieving the loss of their family and community.  So many people risk their lives so we can be safe and live peacefully and be free.  Thank you!

 Now Kate's favorite part was the horses on parade.  There were at least three or four different horse farms that participated.  There was also an Irish dance studio from Leesburg that made a little appearance.  Kate loved that too, and she immediately went into dance mode!

 I love this shot of the two kids holding hands.  

Proof that there are rare moments when they do not fight!

 There were so many interesting "floats" and vehicles.  But this wagon pulled by for draft horses was quite impressive.   The older rescue vehicles were pretty special too.

We hope you stay safe tonight.  And amidst the BBQ, corn on the cob, drinks, fireworks and parades we remember what a blessing it is to live in the United States of America.  Thank you to so many of you who serve our country and risk your lives so we can be free.  We are indebted.  For indeed: May we never forget that freedom is not free.