Christmas Eve...Jammies

On Christmas Eve we usually go to our Christmas Eve service at church. We come home and we get to each open one gift. Everyone always know what they are getting...new pj's!

After Christmas Eve service

Rose Hill Moms In Touch Christmas Tradition

For the last 3 years at Christmas our Moms In Touch prayer group in Rose Hill has gone to the local nursing home to sing Christmas carols, pass out cookies and visit with the sweet people who live there. I think it is as much of a blessing for us because it is such a small thing we are doing. They are just so glad we take time out to spend with them.

Passing out cookies


We may not sound great...but we make a joyful noise!


A few of us waiting for "show time"




I especially as a mom love this time because I believe it reaches to the hearts of Jake and Kacie like no other situation can. The first year we went both of my kids were a little afraid to talk with the elderly...some looked different, smelled different and even sounded different then what they were used to. It has given me the opportunity to tell them that we are Christs instruments to be tangible love for them among other things. This year both of the kids looked forward to going. It was a sweet time!

Christmas with our "family"

We all know how special our families are...there is some sort of attachment that we have to those God has allowed us to call family. That attachment is there even when the relationship has been severed or strained. It is unexplainable!

There is another type of family that one may have as well. It is different than the family I described above. It is a family whom wants to encourage and lift up and spur one another on towards the things of the Lord. This family is one that we share with brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a wonderful blessing when one is a part of both families for sure!!!

In January of 2002 some of us started a small group wanting and desiring to know God in a deeper way. And now almost 9 years later and around 15 kids or more (including the families that have moved out of our group for different reasons) we are still on the path of wanting to know God in a deeper way.

God, thank you for these dear Saints we get to do life with. May we be a group that longs to edify you and make more of you in all that we do, say and think!!

Here are the 8 kids that are a part of our small group now

I just thought this was cute...had to post it!






The girls

Walt Disney World

Jake and Granpa Joe first row. Grandma Carrol and Addy second row.

I am not sure where to start with this blog, but here I go... I am still fascinated at the opportunity Jake was given. I suppose I will start out by introducing Grandpa Joe and Grandma Carrol. These grandparents are Cherith Karsak's parents. Cherith is the wife of Eric. Eric is the brother of Ben. Now that you have that all figured out I will continue:).

Every two years or so Grandpa Joe and Grandma Carrol take 2 to 3 grandchildren to WDW for a week. Addy, Jake's cousin was next in line to go for the 2010 trip. But she did not have anyone to go with so she invited Jake.

I have to admit at first I did not realize what a special thing this was going to be. It was such a "magical" time for Jake. Not just with the trip itself but the entire year leading up to the trip. Grandma Carrol sent on average a letter each week. These letters would range from describing the different parks to choosing what they wanted to eat for breakfast. Usually there was some sort of task to accomplish with the letters and he would earn Disney dollars for doing the task. At the 6 month mark, Carrol sent a countdown calendar. This was the very first thing Jake did each morning for 6 months...mark the day off with a star sticker and then proceed to tell me or Ben how many more days until WDW.

The day finally arrived: November 30, 2010. And it happened to be Jake's birthday. Grandma Carrol made Jake feel so special. From making birthday buttons to decorating the hotel room in 3-D decor.

We all met at the airport. Addy and Jacob were so excited, but I think Grandma Carrol was the most giddy!! It was fun to see them get more and more excited...as they got their backpacks full of goodies, their fanny packs and camera. I was amazed at all the kids had in their possession!

We did not hear from Jake but maybe every other day. We took much comfort in knowing that Jake comfortable with Addy's grandparents. I think that was much to the part of Joe and Carrol making such an effort to get to know Jake before they went. They invited Jake over to their house for a couple of parties and they even came to some of his football games.

Another reason we did not hear much from Jake is because his days were packed full.

Day#1: fly to WDW, eat, swim at hotel pool, go to bed

Day #2: Magic Kingdom 9a-8p, swim, go to bed

Day #3: Hollywood Studios 9a-8p, go to bed

Day #4: swim, Chip and Dale campfire, Disney movie, swim, go to bed

Day #5: Animal Kingdom 9a-5p, go to bed

Day #6: Epcot 9a-9:30p, swim, go to bed

Day #7: Pirate Adventure 9a-11:30p, shop at downtown Disney, swim, go to bed

Day #8: fly back to Wichita

I can only imagine that we have only heard half of the fun they all had together. Jacob is still telling me stuff about the trip. A day has not gone by without him say something about WDW...

Grandpa Joe and Grandma Carrol we are so grateful for allowing this opportunity for our son. I am sure it will be memories that he will one day share with his own children and grandchildren. Thank you for being such a blessing to him and to our family!

Jake turns 9!

Jake will forever remember turning 9...

KC Chiefs game

Shocker Basketball game

Walt Disney World

These are all things he got to do within 2 weeks of turning 9 years old. And he left to fly to Walt Disney World on his actual birthday. WOW!!! What a blessed kid!!!

When Jake got onto the airplane the stewardess noticed Jake had a birthday button on that Grandma Carol had made for him. She then announced Jake's name over the intercom and people told him Happy Birthday and gave him high fives. That was pretty cool!

We decided not to do a friend party this year. However we did have the Karsak side of the family come over and celebrate birthdays with us. Thanks guys for always making our kids feel special!

These 9 years have flown by. All the while we see that our Lord is molding you into a man who wants to honor Him! Happy Birthday! We love you more than you know!!

Shocker Basketball

On November 29th we let Jake pick a place to eat out for his birthday. His birthday is the 30th, but he was leaving to go to Walt Disney World on that day. Anyways he wanted to go to Pizza Hut. When we were walking in I told Jake to go wash his hands before he sat down at the table. While he was in the bathroom I put 4 Shocker basketball tickets under his menu. Jake sat down to see what he wanted to order...he still had not picked up the menu. I then told him maybe the kids menu was on the back. When he turned the menu over he noticed something on the table. He seemed confused and said he found some Shocker tickets. We all played dumb as he continued to read the tickets. He read the date: November 29, 2010. He said, "mom that is today". "Are we going to the basketball game tonight?" At that point we all said Happy Birthday! He said, "mom, you totally fooled me."

Kacie at her first men's Shocker game. She had a good time but was disappointed she did not get on the jumbo tron.

Korey and Deana, thanks so much for the tickets!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has truly become a time our family looks forward to. It has been a blast over the last few years making this time special with family from Iowa and New Mexico. Thanks for always making the trek!

This is the new addition to our family. His name is Evan. He is so AWESOME!

Aunt Pat, AJ, Uncle Craig and Uncle Steve

Grandma Betty, Grandma Jan, Grandpa Denny, Cherith, Eric and Ben

The cousins: Addy, Kacie, Logan and Jake

Aunt Rolene was with us too. She came down with flu like symptoms and slept most of the day. We were sure glad she felt better the next day so we could spend some time with her!!