The Apple of Our Eye

Cousins

We sure are enjoying time with the family this week. My mom & dad spoiled the girls yesterday while I worked. Today I got to participate!! Tommorrow they're headed to an apple orchard; Aron will be going, but I have to work. Boo! I would have scheduled off, but I didn't know they would still be here (they had planned on spending the weekend fishing in Lake Erie...but weather is not permitting). So instead of fishing, they'll be picking apples and petting animals and eating donuts and cider. Good stuff.
My sister & I had little girls 10 weeks apart (you'd never believe Belle is the oldest!), and it is so fun to watch them enjoy each other and play together. Of course, we've had our rough patches this week. Belle tends to be bossy, and Chloe tends to push/hit. But a little encouragement, and a little time out, and our girls are learning to share.

We took our babies for a walk today. The girls were on top of the world.
Little Belle had important business to take care of on our leisurely stroll.
Chloe kept taking her baby 'off road'. At one point she pushed her baby into someone else's garage about a 1/2 mile from our house.
Its so amazing to watch them interact and talk to each other.

This picture cracks me up because Chloe looks exactly like my sister & my mom did at this age. I just keep looking at this picture and shaking my head.

ejk

Missing Me Some Brown County Fair Love

Had a good-hard cry Monday night. I was blindsided, really. I had no idea it was fair week until my niece, Grace, mentioned it when she called me Monday.
The fair is one of my most anticipated events of the whole year. I am an extreme sentimentalist...& the fair holds a special place in my heart. And there's a special place in my stomach for the pork tenderloin & ribeye sandwiches. This is the first year in a very long time that I haven't been. We even took Isabelle when she was 7 days old.
Infact, Aron first confessed his love for me at the Tractor pulls our Sophomore year of high school at the fair. I could barely hear him over the screeching of the engines (if you've ever been to a tractor pull, you know exactly what I mean).

So, after I got off the phone, I had a good therapeutic cry. I'm still feeling a bit sad in my spirit. Just knowing that everyone is there and we are not - that's hard. Yet another reminder of this on our friend, Mike's blog. But on a good note, my parents are up this week, and they brought our niece, Chloe. So that helps soothe the ache. All the schools in the county get fair week off; my mom - who is a school teacher - took her week off to come celebrate Belle' s birthday. Very cool. So while I'm missing me some Brown County Fair Love, I'm sure enjoying some Gardner family love.

ejk

Dream Big. Act Small.

I'm a dreamer--to a fault most of the time. I like to think about "big ideas" and the "big picture" so much that I never actually do anything. My wife recently said to me, "You're missing it. You think about the future and the 'Big Picture' so much that you're missing what's right in front of you." Those were hard words to hear, but she was right on.

We need to dream big, but we can't forget to act small. In the kingdom of God, the servant of all is the greatest among us. The smallest acts of servanthood are of great worth in God's sight and will mold a character capable of accomplishing the biggest dreams God puts in our hearts.
APK

Happy 2nd Birthday, Isabelle Rose!

Why we're smitten with Fall - reason #2

It may only be mid-September...and we may be jumping ahead of ourselves here, but the air is beckoning the arrival of fall. When that wonderful chill fill your lungs and the scent of autumn fills your home...how can you resist?
Homemade pumpkin pie is the best way I know to fully embrace all that is coming. (I have a really great crust recipe if anyone is so inspired & needs it). We're trying to resist this scrumptious delight tonight & save it for Belle's birthday tomorrow, but as you can see, Aron has already been breaking off pieces of the crust & munching.
I'm wondering what you love about this season?
ejk

embracing this season

I was struck today with the awareness that the coolness in the air isn't the only sign that seasons are changing. Isabelle turns two this week. She is potty trained, and becoming quite the little "mama". I am now raising a toddler. Which may seem quite obvious, but its a new step for us, a new season. I miss the baby, but I am loving watching this little person emerge. Pray for us as we do our best to shape her - to call out her strengths and help her in her weakness. To know when & how to discipline in a way that teaches her. That we can somehow portray the very character of God to her in a way she not only grasps, but falls in love with as we have.
She's quite a hoot these days. Dressing herself and loving life. My little wonderwoman.
ejk

***an update regarding: make a date...tonight

We had a question as to whether or not the kids would need to be out of the house for viewing this message.

This is only the first message of the Visionary Love-Dream Sex series...and I would say it focuses much more on visionary love than anything else. The only thing I can remember that I wouldn't want my two year old repeating was reference to a certain pair of female body parts... other than that, you should be okay if the kids are playing in the house.

However, you may want to go ahead and wait till the kids are in bed (if applicable)...just so the two of you can fully soak in the ideas presented. Aron & I had some great conversation/evaluation of areas of our relationship afterwards that would have been impossible with Belle up.

And I just want to reiterate...there is probably more good stuff in this message for those who are single or dating than for those married. Our teens/twenty-somethings need some serious support in this area, so I would definately recommend them watching this.
happy viewing!
ejk

Make a date...tonight

Last night Aron & I grabbed our Birthday Bash ice cream (his fav) & parked ourselves in front of the computer to listen to what may have been the best instruction from the book of Song of Solomon that we have ever received.

Visionary Love - Dream Sex ... as preached by Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC.


Seriously, grab your spouse tonight, and sit back and listen together. It will be well worth your time. If you're single, listen. There's some awesome insight specifically for you in this season. If you're dating...then definitely LISTEN!! You may need the encouragement even more than the rest of us!

We get enough advise from entities who know nothing of the One who designed love & intimacy...its about time we hear from some truth.


ejk

The golf course that God made

Mom & Dad Kirk visited all weekend, and though most of our plans were diverted due to the NON-STOP rain, the boys did make it out for a round of golf Friday morning.

Aron, Don Paul, Andy, & Joe headed to Shepherd's Hollow for a foggy morning of glory. According to my father-in-law & APK, this was by far the most beautiful course they'd ever played. That's saying a whole lot coming from DPK, who has played everywhere. Infact, he went as far as saying, "The course was so beautiful, it was as if God made every hole."

We also celebrated Isabelle's 2nd birthday, and we were so excited the grandparents were able to make it up to celebrate with us!

Unfortunately, Belle didn't feel great all weekend - I think she was just depleted from being sick/lack of sleep/fever/lack of nutrition that the Roseola so generously brought on. She turned on in the evenings as usual and had some great times with the fam, but through the day she was pretty grumpy. The rash finally subsided this morning, so hopefully we're on the road to recovery!

These weekends are always so bittersweet! You cannot get enough time with these people you love so much, but then you have to say goodbye again. Until the next time, we will just have to cherish the moments when we are blessed to share the same space.

ejk