…to bring you happy kids jumping in bouncy houses and corn bins.
Our classic First Day of School pose under the now deteriorating and terribly neglected trellis.
Mae Mae isn’t going to school but rather to “help” daddy in the barn – see end of video below.
My babies…skipping down the driveway.
Classic Second Day of School photos, oh wait, people don’t do that?
The day after Laurencia’s funeral I took the older four to visit Valencia (we also visited Laurencia’s gravesite but I’ll tell you about that later). As we were driving along, the kids wanted the radio on as usual and I found a Neil Diamond CD in my car. I told them it was a travesty that they weren’t more well acquainted with Mr. Diamond and we opened the roof and windows and cranked up “I’m a Believer” and we laughed and sang as loud as we could while driving down the freeway. And that’s how the kids looked, too. Free. Free to be happy and joyful and laugh. I don’t have video of me singing at the top of my lungs, you’re welcome.
We visited our girlie, who is doing SO fantastically by the way (a big Valencia update to follow) and who is happy in her own right, growing and making steps closer to getting home every single day.
After that we walked around and went to eat and took pictures by water fountains. Gabby made this:
The kids are so happy to have me home, in case you couldn’t tell.
(Wyatt made me these the other day on his bedroom floor so I’d see it right when I walk in his door)
I took the kids to my work party last weekend and they went CrAzY jumping in the bouncy houses. They loved every second of it! Today after school I took them, as promised, on the first of what they tell me is to be many jaunts to an Apple Orchard. This orchard is a favorite of ours since they can jump in the corn bin and hold the animals. As you can see, Mae wasn’t shy about the holding part.
This photo isn’t quite complete without Valencia, one of the very cutest chicks in MN.
They’ve been waiting all year for this!
Happy!
oh, Mae Mae
Wyatt was in his element running around this place
Whatever we do and wherever we’ve been going lately, they thank me profusely for even the littlest things. This photo with daddy was from last night, just before bed.
As for me, I can’t help but smile and be happy when I know my family is and when I am with Valencia. I am still taking it moment by moment and finding happiness in little things and in the continued kind words and hugs and messages I receive almost daily. How could I not? The truth is, finding happy again is part of all of this, not a distraction from it. Living our life and appreciating our blessings amidst our sorrows isn’t an interruption but is part of how we are finding our way. I still think of Laurencia every single second and today I hope she is happy and that maybe they have bouncy castles in Heaven.
Katrina
Victory of the Lamb 
Great photos! I’ll be sending all this to Mom tomorrow; you can’t imagine how much she loves being part of all that is happening through your blog and photos. I had to laugh out loud when I was watching Mae hugging the chick she caught and then the baby goat she actually corralled. I don’t think the mama goat was too thrilled about that but Mae was:) She reminds me of Mary’s Josie and Marg’s Mary Kate — very, very, very BUSY! Typical two-year olds (include Veronika in that “club”)
Thanks for showing grandma! Tell her we love her!! I was laughing so hard at Mae’s antics too.
You are an amazing mom. It was nice to run into you and give you a hug in person. Continued prayers, Meredith
What great pictures and stories, Katrina! The kids look great…..so do you! I am so glad Valencia is growing and doing so well. Those videos of Mae picking up those animals are adorable. She lives life in such a big, bold, fearless way. Your kids are all darling. They seem so content, so loved. I think about you guys and continue to pray for your peace. Shawn
It was so good to see you yesterday. I was hoping to have time to chat, but that’s how the baby business goes. maybe next time. I did get a tiny snuggle in with your little one though, she was crying for her mama, thank you, hope you don’t mind.
Mind?!? Of course not! Thank you for snuggling her! It was so nice to see you as always!