January 28 Such a nice time with KT

Saturday:  This was Kaity's second week playing indoor soccer. I didn't get very good pictures, but here's what I have ...

Emma did a very nice job braiding Kaity's hair just prior to the start of the game.

I like this of Emma and her mom ...

I think it was a tie-game this week. Kaity said no one played as well as last week--but she said it was still fun.

Jesse and Kaity sitting atop the bleachers.

Kaity took her dad, Emma and me through her school, upstairs to her class hallway. Her particular classroom door was locked; but we were able to look at some of her work that was posted on the walls out in the hallway. Kaity studied and wrote about the Tower of London--a place I would love to see firsthand, but probably won't!

Kaity looks so much older than TEN in these pictures ...

Here's what the fine print says: Something new I want to try--"Do the splits". The best part of 2022: "My brother got to go to the college he wanted." The circle is a self-portrait, 2023. The last one is a New Year's Resolution: "Work out more." 

And HERE is Kaity's Star Reader sheet. Her favorite book is: "Bad Kitty" (I knew that). It kind of cracked me up that she answered Reading Makes Me Feel: "Tired."  (!!!)

After looking around Kaity's school for awhile, she and I came over to my house to hang out for a few hours. Kaity spent the first hour on her phone, playing games, while she watched a video via Netflix. Hmm. We did eat a nice meal together--but I was wondering if there was a way to get Kaity away from her phone for a little while ... I kept looking in my cubbies to get ideas and ... voila! Paper airplanes!

It's been a really LONG time since Kaity and I folded and flew paper airplanes ... so that is what we did! It was SO MUCH FUN. 

And THEN, Kaity noticed a few screws that were in my walls around here that had nothing whatsoever hanging on them. She wanted to know why on earth they were there. I told her I had tried numerous times to remove them, but had failed.

So Kaity decided to FIX that problem for me. She asked for proper tools and removed quite a few ugly nails and hooks that were on my walls around here. 

Thanks so much, Kaity! 

I almost forgot! Before we folded airplanes, I convinced Kaity to watch an episode of "The Chosen" with me--the story of Jesus and the little children. It's only about 35 minutes, and I just love how Jesus welcomes the children, talks to them, and befriends them. Kaity seemed to enjoy watching too. I love the Jesus that is portrayed in the Chosen so much.

When we opened my front door to go to the car, we were surprised by at LEAST 4" of fresh snow. When we had arrived at my house earlier in the day (4:30 pm) there was perhaps an inch on the ground, and I had no idea we were expecting more. So Kaity and I shoveled and played a bit with the snow, laughed a lot, and then we drove Kaity back to Diana.

I couldn't be more thankful for these hours with Kaitlynn. I love her so much.

 

January 26 Snowy walk at Dwight Lydell

Thursday:  On my way to Meijer this morning (which, by the way, was actually NOT on the way) I took a short but snowy walk over at Dwight Lydell Park. You see, during the night we received some snow and freezing rain. It was just SO beautiful--it was already 10am, and I knew if I waited until I was finished grocery shopping and putting all the stuff away--the magic of the ice would already be past perfection. SO ... here are some of the photos I took:

This is the old train depot--doesn't it look great?

I love this boardwalk they have added to the park.

This is a beautiful little spot, no matter what time of year.

It was quite a magical morning ... I'm so glad I didn't miss out on it.

I walked and walked, 100% happy, giving praise and "Hallelujahs" to such a Great Creator ...

"The pulse of life within my wrist

A fallen snow, a rising mist

There is no higher praise than this

Oh my soul wells up with hallelujahs!

Oh, praise Him all His mighty works

There is no language where you can't be heard

Your song goes out to all the earth

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

(Chris Rice)