So I missed a month...

OK, OK I know I missed September and almost all of October. SO I thought I would update for you die hards out there, mostly my family.

The week after Addie-Mei learned to ride her bike, she blessed me with the most wonderful announcement. As we were driving down the rode, she declared, "Mama, I want to ask Jesus into my heart." I was totally taken off guard, but was so excited to ask her all about her decision and make sure she knew what she was asking. When we got to where we were going, I sat her in my lap and helped her to ask Jesus to forgive her sins and ask Him to be her Savior. What a blessing to be witness to the most important decision she will ever make i her entire life. Praise God!!

The next week, she started kindergarten. She was so excited to go to her big girl school and ride the bus. We had met her teacher a couple of times before and she already decided she liked her a lot. It was a great day! I was able to stay home that day, put her on the bus, and be the one to pick her up. We went to the State Fair right from school and spent the whole afternoon and evening there.

School has been going very well for her. She is learning her words and is able to read at least 20 sight words. It is so neat to watch her grow. Gymnastics is also going very well. Last week, she FINALLY mastered the hand stand against the wall. She has been working so hard on this since January. When she kicked up, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. Her teacher and I both saw her HUGE grin on her face, upside down. Instead of ringing the bell for doing something well, she came running to me with arms open wide and that grin on her face. What a teachable moment. She is starting to see how hard work and perseverance pays off.

Addie-Mei gets to sing in the church choir this year! She is very excited about this as she has been coming to the adult practices for some time now. I am so thankful she is excited about things at church!! She loves her Awana program and memorizes at least a verse a week if not two! Keep it up sweetie!!!

We had a bought of illness last week and are still recovering. Addie-Mei is visibly weakened by being sick, but she is bouncing back.

I think that brings you all up to speed on our happenings down here!! I will get some pics up tomorrow.

Blessings,
Tamie

Proud Mama moment!!!

This pictures say it all!!! Note what is missing on the rear wheel of her little pink bike!!!!!! (no more training wheels for those slower than others :o) She concentrated so hard while she was riding, then when she stopped she had the cutest little giggle and the largest smile!! I am so proud of her. She blew her training wheels a kiss as we rode past the house. It was so cute!

My baby is 5 years old, sigh......

Wow, I did not realize how it would hit me to watch Addie-Mei turn 5 years old. She is such a little lady, no longer a baby girl. It is amazing to hear the deep thought out questions come out of her. Just 2 years ago, I was wondering if I would ever understand her completely. Time flies!!!

We had a wonderful trip to MI to visit friends and family. Our summer trip north is always filled with fun and at least one trip to Lake MI!! Oh how I miss the beautiful sand, the gorgeous sunsets, and the time just playing on the beach! I hope this tradition continues!! While in MI, Addie-Mei met two ducks at my parents trailer. They actually took bread right out of her hands. She was a bit nervous, but Papa was right there to help her along!!

In two weeks she will start Kindergarten. She is so excited, as am I. It is the start of a new adventure for us! I know she will do very well in school. I just pray she is protected from some of the ugliness in the world.

Until next month....

Summer good times???

Well,

I am not sure if painting the house is considered summer fun, but it is FINISHED!!! Addie-Mei has been a trooper while I worked hard on the house. The rain we have gotten has allowed for a few family days in the middle of all the painting. She is excited to "help" me paint the shed next week.

We were able to get away for a beautiful day and go hiking with a friend of ours and a large group of parents and children from her kids school. It was so nice, and Addie-Mei hiked the entire 2.5+ mile RUGGED trail. See picture of us getting by one of the little streams. I do not have the pictures of the 3 ladders we had to decend in order to get out, wow!!

Once the shed is painted, the rest of our summer can begin.

Will post about all that fun next month!!

Tamie

Some pain, some joy...

We have had a very hectic last week in the Gipe household. As the school year winds down, it is always a little more crazy than normal, but this year was special. As the title to the post says, there has been some pain in our lives and joy.

Last week, I had to make a very difficult decision to put our beloved dog, Missi to sleep. She has been the best friend and companion any dog could be for the past 13.5 years. We miss her, but I know she is not in pain or suffering as she was over the past couple of months. Addie-Mei misses her coming into her room in the mornings when I wake her up. She is still processing what has happened to Missi, but she is doing well. Yesterday, she blessed me with a precious little picture she made on the back of a piece of paper she was drawing on. It was a simple face, with a line drawn to another simple face with 4 legs. She told me it was a picture of me walking Missi on a leash. She then told her freind that Missi is gone now, and her little friend came over and gave her the sweetest hug. Brought tears to me eyes to see a little four year old consoling the sad little heart of her friend.

On the same day that we had to say goodbye to Missi, Addie-Mei graduated from Preschool, the joy!!!! It was so cute to see the little caps and watch the picture slide show of the whole year. She has blossomed this year and I am so proud of her. She will be starting Kindergarden in the fall and she is so excited!!!

We got to celebrate with a trip to southern IN and visit some friends while enjoying Holiday World, an amusement park we Hoosiers love!!! It was a wonderful time with friends and travel!

We are looking forward to a wonderful summer together!!!!

Tamie

Spring Break and Easter 2009

Addie-Mei and I have celebrated 3 years together. People told me to enjoy everyday while she is young because the time flies by. I now know what they meant by that. Believe it or not, Addie-Mei will actually be starting kindergarden next year.

Addie-Mei has asked for a long time to go back to gymnastics, so we have started again. She LOVES it. This past week, she was finally able to kick herself up into a handstand on the wall. She has also been able to push her head off the floor in her bridge once by herself. This has been so good for her strength! She loves her teacher, and really enjoys seeing how her hard work allows her to do more things. I can see a confidence building in her.

My sister and I went on a cruise over Spring Break while Addie-Mei stayed with our other sister and a friend in MI. She did very well and enjoyed all the time she had with her friends and cousins. It was nice to have a break, but was also great to see her again! While up in MI, we were able to spend Easter Sunday with the family. It was very nice. We have not been able to do that in the past three years, so it was great to be there and have all the family fun! My niece and one of my nephews were enlisted by the Eatser bunny to help hids the eggs. They enjoyed it, but made the comment that it is no fun to grow up! Too precious!

Only a few more week sna dsummer break will be upon us. I am looking forward to the summer!

Maybe another post then!!!

Tamie

Catching up

We have had some fun times this past month or so. We had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New Year with great friends from our adoption playgroup. It seemed as though all had a great time and it was fun to see the kids all running around having a blast.

We also had the wonderful opportunity to go to Great Wolf Lodge with a dear friend and her foster son. The kids play so well together and we were honored to be included in celebrating his 4th birthday! Happy Birthday Timmy!!

We had a warm spell come through here and we enjoyed every minute of it. Scooters came out, dog got walked, lots of playing to be had! I was able to cut down our pear and one of our apple trees. Addie-Mei is allergic to bee stings, so the fruit on the ground under these trees was quite dangerous for her to be around. I hated to see them go, but I hated it more for Addie-Mei to not be able to play out on her play area.

Addie-Mei has been asking for the last 2 months to do gymnastics again. I finally found a place that I love. I do not want her in competitions yet, so I was selective on where she went. I was referred to a place where recreational gymnastics is taught and I really like it there. We have gone twice. The first time she was a bit overwhelmed to see all the equipment, but once she understood that she was not going to be doing the big stuff, she did better. Last night she impressed me. She actually jumped up onto the bar and help her body weight up for awhile. She also could hold herself up in a handstand against the wall. She is stronger than I thought. Of course she still only has 29 pounds to hold up. I will post some pics next week, once I take them.

I guess that is it. Have a great day!

Tamie