Reading & Potty Training

It would be hard to be a part of the Childers' family and not enjoy reading. Justin and I are avid readers. Karis is inheriting this trait easily as she really enjoys us reading to her and just looking at her books by herself. If it gets quiet in the house, I know where to find her. She is usually on the floor with all her books around her looking at them. She is so funny to watch because now she knows some of the words on each page from us reading it to her over and over.
This picture is from last year when we first moved to Wilson. I just love the expression on Karis' face. It is typical Karis.

Today is the fourth full day of potty training and so far today we have had no accidents. I think I came up with a grand idea, but maybe someone else already thought of it. On Saturday, we went to the neighbors for a party and I put Karis is panties and plastic panties over them. Of course she had an accident. I thought, what am I going to do for church in the morning. I decided to put her panties on and a pull up over it. It worked really well because she doesn't know that a pull up is really a diaper. She thinks it is extra panties over her other ones. It has worked really well so far. We shall see. We will press on to being a BIG GIRL!

Christ Baptist Church Update

I realize that I have not been very good at keeping you updated on our church. God is continually growing us. We will vote on eight new members tonight at our members meeting. That will give us a total of 24 members. This doesn't include children, because they do not become members until they have professed their need for a Savior and trust in Christ. We started Sunday School (Bible Study) last Sunday. I am teaching the two year olds and running the nursery. It is a step of faith for me, but is graciously giving me strength and guidance to communicate His Word to these children (including Karis, who always seems to misbehave when I am there.) When I go and pick her up after church, the nursery workers always tell me how sweet she it. The Lord continues to show me my need for Him and His love in all of this. I am thankful that our church is memorizing Psalm 34 together this year. It has been a help and a comfort.

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear nad be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together!
I sought the Lord, and He answered me and delievered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord hear him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!
The young lions uffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Psalm 34:1-11

This is keeping me busy right now. I will continue on as we get to the rest of the verses. I challenge you to memorize this psalm with me if you are not currently memorizing anything. Just ponder this psalm today and see what God desires to teach you. Have a wonderful day with God's heart, His church.

Surprise from Texas!!

Tuesday afternoon after Karis' nap, Karis and I were heading to the grocery store. I had already gotten Karis buckled in her car seat when I hear this strange noise that sound very much like a diesel truck. Not many people around here drive diesel trucks like in Texas, so the first thing that came to my mind was my dad because he has a diesel truck. As I looked down the road, I saw my mom and dad driving up to my driveway. I almost lost it, poor Karis, she didn't know what to think when her mom started jumping up and down and crying all at the same time. My mom and I have always been very close, and she really did a number on me surprising me like that to be here for Karis' second birthday.

My dad's truck that surprised me.

My mom and I hugging for probably the fifth time that day.

Papa John and Karis had fun playing golf.

We took Karis to Chick-fil-A for her birthday lunch on Wednesday. She sure enjoyed her chicken nuggets and her Papa John and 'Amma being here.

My parents bought Karis another cake so she could blow out candles on her birthday.

We had a wonderful but short visit. They left this morning after breakfast and it seems like they just got here. Mom and Dad thank you so much for driving all this way to be with us on Karis' birthday. Thank you for being the awesome and loving parents that you are to drive over 1200 miles in two days to be with me and Karis. I love you both so very much and truly am blessed to be your daughter. Karis sure had fun playing puzzels, Dora book, hide and seek, and singing for you guys. I know that she already misses you, she keeps asking where "John" is! Sorry about that dad, we will work on that before April.

God is so good. I was really having a hard time being away from my family and He brought them to me. What a blessing from Him! We can't wait until next time we see you again in April. It won't be long Mom!

Karis' Birthday Party

Saturday we had Karis' 2nd birthday party at our house. It was a very fun day of lots of fellowship and kids playing in our bonus room. Praise God for that bonus room, it really is a great room for kids. Our church family was so generous, and Karis enjoyed seeing all her friends. Jonathan, Lori, and Hannah Brooks moved here on Friday, and they came to Karis' party. Karis really loves playing with Hannah, and we are really glad that God has sent them to Wilson.
All of our family was missed greatly. Thank all of you for the gifts that you sent Karis. She is really enjoying her new toys. We also moved Karis into her big girl, toddler bed, thanks to Carol! She slept in it last night for the first time. I can't believe how BIG she is getting. God has been so good to us. Thank you everyone for caring for Karis and us. We love you all so much.

Karis is opening her new Pooh night light and Hermie movie from her Aunt Courtney.

Isn't it wonderful to have all these kids at Karis' party!

Thanks 'Amma and Papa John for the Little People animal farm. It was a hit at the party!

We are singing "Happy Birthday" to Karis. She isn't real sure about the candles.

After I helped her blow out the candles, Karis couldn't wait to eat her "Boz cake."

BOZ cake

I have been telling Karis for weeks now that for her birthday party I would make her a Boz birthday cake. Every time I ask her about her birthday party she says, "Boz cake." It is so cute. I did my best at decorating her cake today, after four long hours, to look like her favorite character for the first two years of her life. Boz is a preschool show made by MOPS that helps teach kids about how to share, their shapes, nutrition, God, prayer, and many other things. Karis really likes it. Her party is tomorrow so I will put more pictures up later.

The full cake.

Up close and personal with Boz!

I already miss you Mom and Dad and wish you were here. I love you guys! Hope you enjoy seeing Karis' cake before she eats it!

YMCA and books

It has been awhile since I have blogged, forgive me for being somewhat lazy. Actually, I have been busier than usual. My wonderful parents gave me a membership to the YMCA, and Karis and I are enjoying going three times a week. She gets to play with some other kids, and I get to work out. The weather has finally changed to normal North Carolina weather in the winter. Texas has been having some really cold weather too. This is why Karis is wearing her hat to the "Y" as we call it!

Karis is going to play with her friends at the "Y."

Reading a book with daddy!

I think the only thing Karis enjoys more than eating is reading books. I know that some days we read all her books about five times each, of course she has her favorite ones like anyone else. The first thing she wants daddy to do when he gets home is read her a book. She gets this from both of her parents as we really enjoy reading. Thank you Mom and Dad for the "Y" memebership. It is greatly appreciated.

Potty Training Advice

Help! I need potty training advice. Anyone have anything that can help me? Karis will be two in a few weeks, and I think I am ready to take on this BIG task. She has already popped in the potty a lot, but she will only do it at home, not anywhere else. Also, I have somehow made potty time fun read time. I started out reading her books while we were waiting for her to go. Any clue as how to change this. I want her to look at books by herself and not think that I have to be reading them to her. I would love to hear from anyone who thinks they can help. Thank you!

Happy New Year!!

Every year Justin and I write a letter to be opened at the end of the year. I am really glad that we started this tradition. Every year I learn something new about how God has shaped us and molded us more into His image. What a joy to be reminded of His everlasting grace and mercy in our lives. This year's letter was the hardest that I have written so far because so many changes happened in our lives.
On Sunday, Justin preached on Psalm 119, (not the whole chapter, just select verses) to give Christ Baptist Church a challenge for 2007 to Treasure His Word.
5 ways to cultivate your treasure of God's Word:
1. Hear God's Word- from expository preaching, listening to the Bible on CD, etc.
2. Read God's Word- a daily time of reading God's Word is necessary
3. Study God's Word- outline a book, find a theme of a book, (have pen in hand)
4. Memorize God's Word- Jesus memorized God's Word, shouldn't we so that we can fight sin, Col. 3:16
5. Obey God's Word- this is probably the hardest of all

This is a challenge for all of us, including myself. As a church this year, we are going to memorize all of Psalm 34 and Romans 8.
This week our verse is Psalm 34:1
"I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will continually be in my mouth."