"Goth"am City

Madelynn is A LOT like my oldest sister, Kristen, when she was little. My older sister, Kami, and I loved baby dolls and stuffed animals, little girl things, when we were little. However, Madelynn, like Kristen, LOVES make-up! Every time she sees me putting it on, she comes up to me and asks for some ... she calls lipstick is "lip", which is my favorite! Yesterday, Madelynn came up to me looking like this picture! She had gotten into my make-up and decided to try out mascara on her lips. I called Jeremiah and said we have a "goth" girl on our hands!! =)

Posted by: Kelli

Moving on Up

Since my gall bladder surgery last Wednesday, I have not been able to pick up my babies. Thankfully, since this is Thanksgiving week, Jeremiah has only been working 1/2 days. Today, my sweet Madelynn Joy went to work with her daddy! She had her own desk and everything! What a big girl!

Posted by: Kelli

Madelynn at "work" - Brushy Creek Baptist, Taylors, SC

The Holidays are upon us!

I have always determined the start of the holidays by Halloween. Well, according to my watch ... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Just wanted to share some photos with you taken from tonight ... with my cell phone, nonetheless (since that's the only camera I have right now). As you can see, Madelynn was the sweetest ballerina ever seen and Nehemiah was the sweetest lion ever seen. But, what can I say? I'm partial!

Madelynn's 2!

On Sunday, August 23, we celebrated the birth of our daughter, Madelynn Joy, 2 years ago (on August 18). Thank you to all who attended!

Even the adults had fun!! (Jeremiah and his brother on Jeremiah's new "toys")

Posted by: Kelli

"Bubbie the Bee"

I have to brag on the cutest little boy I've ever known. His name is Nehemiah Taylor and he is my sweetest little man! This is his 10 month old picture:

Thank you Lord, for my sweet babies!

Posted by: Kelli

Coming Soon ... I promise!

I want to apologize for the delay with the beach pictures. I hope to have them soon!

Posted by: Kelli

Our Vacation

This past week, Jeremiah and I and the babies went to North Myrtle Beach for the week. My parents were going to use their timeshare, but decided to go to Florida at the last minute instead. My gracious parents let us go for free! I will post more about it when I get the pictures up, so stay tuned ...

Posted by: Kelli

Happy 32nd Birthday, Keeeeeeeeeami!!!!!!

Well, I am a couple of weeks late wishing my younger sister a very Happy Birthday. Kami, you are approaching your mid-30's! Wow! Growing up, Kami and I argued some-the majority of it being whenever we shared a room. We shared a room in Greer-Kami couldn't stand when I would talk to Paul on the phone really late at night, because she was trying to sleep.

I remember when we lived in Greensboro, I was in 5th grade and she was in the 3rd grade at Guilford Middle School. The year was 1986 and Kami had taken a field trip that day (I think her class was going to the Natural Science Center or something). Anyway, this particular day was when the space shuttle 'Challenger' exploded in the air. I started freaking out because for some weird reason I was thinking Kami may have been on that shuttle! Duh!

I also remember this girl on our bus who would taunt us. She was a year older than me and mean as a snake! She didn't like me for some reason, so she would take it out on Kami. So, I started making Kami sit beside the window and I would sit near the aisle. That way, she would have to get past me to say anything to Kami-that was my way of protecting her as her "big sister". I also remember a time when a boy in our neighborhood was running his mouth to Kami at the bus stop one morning. Now keep in mind, this was a friend of Kami's and they used to get together and write book reports for fun. Ok, anyway, Kami and I didn't go to the same school-she was still at the middle school and I was at the high school, so she rode a different bus. She had come home the day before upset because this guy was talking about our family, saying really ugly things. So, I decided that this particular morning I was going to give him what for. There were about five or six of them waiting on the bus-I proceeded to tear out the front door, donning my curlers and marched my toothpick self over to the bus stop. With my tiny arms flailing, I told him the deal and then marched myself back home to finish getting ready for school. Wow-that felt good!!

Kami, Kelli and I all went through a lot together-moving, meeting new people, moving, meeting new people, moving, meeting new people....well, we did move a lot! I am so proud to be their big sister and they are my best friends! Kami, I am so glad you are my sister and I'm so glad God gave us to each other. I'm glad we live (somewhat) close to each other and I'm glad our children are close and love each other. You make me laugh (a lot!), you have a contagious optimism, you are so fun to be with! I love you more than you will ever know and am always here for you. You are a special gift from God.

Happy, Happy Birthday!!!!!
I love you!!

Dit

posted by: Kristen

The Love of my Life

Jeremiah, I love you! Thank you for loving me! I prayed for you long before you were 'mine'. God gave me my heart's desire when He gave me you. You are more than I could have ever dreamed. Thank you for giving me the 2 most beautiful babies ever. You are amazing and I am truly blessed!

Ever Thine

Ever Mine

Ever Ours

Yours

Posted by: Kelli

Daddy's Girl

Well, I think I have finally come to grips with the fact that our little Madelynn Joy is a 'Daddy's girl'. She is crazy about him. When he comes home, she runs to him, when he leaves, she cries, and when he holds her, I think she is truly in bliss. She loves her daddy! Maybe I've been in denial, but the picture to the left says it all. It's precious and I wouldn't have it any other way ...

... the reason being is because I, too, am a 'Daddy's girl'. I love my mom and she's one of my best friends, but I think there is something special between a daddy and his little girl. I am so thankful God allowed me to give Jeremiah his little girl.

Posted by: Kelli

Do You Know These Women?

Our church's "Ladies Night Out" is all about getting to know the pastor's wives.

I'm so nervous ...

Posted by: Kelli

And the Beat Goes On

Wow, it has been forever since I've written on here. Part of the reason is because my laptop power cord has a short in it and I have to hold the cord just right with my left hand and try to type with only my right hand. It's difficult and time-consuming. The other part is ...

... I have a 6 month old,

a 19 month old,

AND I watch my 2 year old niece, Carra, Monday through Friday while my sister-in-law works.

Things get pretty hectic around here with all the lunches, the feedings, the fights, the toys, the "Olivia", the cleaning, the naps, the arguments, the crying, the falling, the boo boos, the "Dora", and wheww ... so much more!!! But children are a true gift from the Lord and I am so thankful for mine! The Lord has allowed something to happen in each of my children's lives to make me fear my Lord and love my children more than I knew I ever could. Most of you know when Madelynn Joy was born, she was quickly taken to the Special Needs Nursery due to complications at birth. Jeremiah and I had never been so scared in our lives. Thankfully we have the best pediatricians who saw the big picture and knew it could have been a tragic occurance but God is good and Maddie Joy had just had a tough 'birth'day.

Now, our little Nehemiah was diagnosed on Thursday with asthma. I never knew before this how dangerous asthma can be. Saturday was the scariest part of the whole ordeal. Nehemiah woke up with panic in his cry and was having a tough time, but once again, God is good! Nehemiah came through and it is our prayer that he will grow out of this.

Won't you pray with us?

Posted by: Kelli

Me.....According to my Five Year Old

Noah, 3/2/09

There is a questionnaire going around on Facebook for you to get your children to answer. So, this is how my five year old son, Noah, views me. Some answers made me laugh, some touched my heart.

1. What is something your mommy always says to you?
That she loves me.

2. What makes your mommy happy?
Hearing me say I love her.

3. What makes your mommy sad?
When I am naughty.

4. How does your mommy make you laugh?
By telling me jokes.

5. What was your mommy like as a child?
She liked to play with toys.

6. How old is your mommy?
15.......haha, that one cracked me up!

7. How tall is your mommy?
20 inches tall.......this one made me laugh, too.

8. What is your mommy's favorite thing to do?
Play with me and cuddle with me. (made me smile)

9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
Play with daddy.......that response made Tom and I both laugh.

10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
Making a show.

11. What is your mommy really good at?
Making hot chocolate.

12. What is your mommy not really good at?
Nothing. She's good at everything. (Made me realize that he probably won't see me this way forever, but right now I am happy that he thinks I can do anything!!)

13. What does your mommy do for her job?
Work.

14. What is your mommy's favorite food?
Mac & Cheese. (That is HIS favorite food.)

15. What makes you proud of your mommy?
She makes me laugh.

16. If your mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
A Little Einstein.....that was good for my ego, haha.

17. What do you and your mommy do together?
Play & Read

18. How are you and your mommy the same?
We both love each other.

19. How are you and your mommy different?
I am a boy and she is a girl.

20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
I hear her tell me all the time that she loves me. (made me smile)

21. Where is your mommy's favorite place to go?
To see her mommy and daddy. (Nana & Papa, thought you'd like that one)

Posted by: Kami

Diamond Anniversary ... almost!

Happy 58th Anniversary Maw Maw & Paw Paw! We love you very much and are thankful for the influence you are and the example you are making for us, your grandchildren.

Your 3 oldest granddaughters,

Skoochie, Smugs, & Good Time

The Miniature Earth

This will make you even more thankful for what God has given us!

Posted by: Kelli

The Greatest Gift

In view of Valentine's Day coming up, I want to reflect on what love truly is ...

"1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13 - NKJV

"1 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2 If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, 'Jump,' and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.
8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled. 11 When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. 12 We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."

1 Corinthians 13 - The Message

Posted by: Kelli

Fun Facts about Kami

Alright, here are my 25 Random Things About Me. (I added a 26th!)

1. As a child, I wanted to be a pediatrician when I grew up.

2. In my opinion, TiVo is the greatest invention.....EVER!

3. Peonies are my favorite flower.

4. I HATE scary movies.

5. I cry when I get angry/mad.

6. I could look at house floor plans all day!

7. My dream vacation would be two weeks in Nova Scotia.

8. I love to color as much now as I did when I was a child. It relaxes me. My mother-in-law actually gave me a coloring book and crayons for Christmas this year. :)

9. My sisters are my very best friends.

10. I did not meet my husband's family until after we were already engaged. Luckily, they liked me!!

11. My sons give me more joy than I could have ever imagined.

12. I wake up in the same position I fall asleep in.

13. My mom can fix anything. Seriously!

14. Bad thunderstorms still scare me.

15. I take scalding hot showers.

16. My husband and I married only a year after we met.

17. Noah starting kindergarten this Fall scares me to death.

18. I don't love easily, but when I do, it's forever.

19. I absolutely hate to cook.

20. My father is a pastor and the most compassionate person I know.

21. I love to travel but I do not like to fly.

22. I am a dreamer.

23. I am very forgiving and never hold grudges.

24. I am very shy/quiet/reserved around people I don't know well. My family and close friends know I am actually very loud/outgoing/talkative.

25. My husband, the love of my life, is the smartest person I know.

26. I am terrified of spiders. I get my Arachnophobia from my PawPaw!!

Posted by: Kami

Fun Facts

The "25 Random Things" about yourself is something going around Facebook. I have to admit it is pretty interesting to read facts about people ... weird facts, especially. I know I have some peculiar ones, so I hope you enjoy getting to know me a little better!

1. I love any kind of animal, and my husband would say I am an Animal Rights Activist ... but I'm not a vegetarian!

2. There is only one place I would consider a "dream vacation" ... Italy.

3. I love to have fun and laugh. I sometimes get in trouble for both (even as an adult).

4. I celebrated my 22nd birthday in Tokyo, Japan.

5. I had my jaw broken at the age of 16.

6. I play with my hair constantly, especially in the car.

7. I have pregnancy-induced OCD and am taking medicine for it.

8. I can't stand when people do not signal when driving.

9. I can stand in any store and look at notebooks, pens, and make up/toiletries for hours!

10. I get so excited about going in Walgreens, CVS, or Target, I have to immediately go to the bathroom once inside the store (and it is limited to those 3 stores - weird, I know).

11. When I sleep on my left side, I rest the back of my left ankle in between my first two toes on my right foot ... and vice versa.

12. My favorite drinks are: sweet tea, Coke, Mountain Dew, and chocolate milk ... and I could live on cereal & milk alone!

13. I never knew I was capable of the amount of love I have for Madelynn & Nehemiah.

14. My husband and I only dated 3 months before he proposed ... and we didn't say "I love you" until he proposed ... he said it first.

15. I am the most impatient person I know ... but God is working on me.

16. I got saved when I was 10 years old at Gate City Baptist Church in Greensboro, NC on December 4, 1988 when the Site Sisters were in concert.

17. I never have more fun then when I am with my sisters.

18. I love reality crime shows: The First 48, Cops, Life in Prison, City Confidential, American Justice, etc.

19. I love organization (see # 7).

20. My husband was the first (and only) man I've ever kissed at the age of 24!

21. I love to kiss my dog's feet.

22. My Paw Paw and Daddy are my heroes.

23. Nothing is worse than waking up hot.

24. There is NO PAIN worse than a tooth ache!!!

25. I can't believe how blessed my life is!

Posted by: Kelli

Ode to Joy & Philip

Most blog entries have an interesting and clever catch-phrase, but this one is different. This one is totally and completely about thanks and gratitude. Just to jump right in ... my parents are absolutely amazing! I know that I know that I KNOW my parents love me (and my sisters) more than anything in this world ... except for our children, maybe, ha ha! They raised, in my personal opinion, 3 incredible women who found 3 wonderful men, who in turn have 2 unbelieveable children (a piece). The Crews', the Howe's, and the Oliver's would not be if it weren't for the Whitt's (which my sister's and I, all 3, kept as our middle name). Now, being a mother myself, I know how much my parents really do love us and everything they did, and everything they sacrificed was because of their love for us.

Momma and Daddy watched my babies (17 months and 4 months) and my dog this past weekend while Jeremiah and I went on a youth trip. My parents are not old, by any means, but that's a lot of anybody to take on (have you been around my daughter!?!)! I could never express how much I appreciate or love them in this lifetime. Hopefully my life has and will show them. Thank you so much, Momma and Daddy!

I am beyond proud to be the daughter of Philip Kelley and Joy Garner Whitt.

My parents

Posted by: Kelli

Lunch with Jeremiah

Jeremiah and Kami - Senior Year

I grew up in NC and by the time I was in the 9th grade, I had a very close group of friends. I had great friends at church and great friends at school (most of whom I'd gone to school with since the 1st grade). So, when my dad told us that we were moving to SC the summer after my 9th grade year, I was a little upset. No one wants to leave all their friends behind. But, as a pastor's kid, you understand that you go where God leads.

We moved the summer of 1992. I made some amazing friends at my new church. My first friend was Melissa Stepp. We don't see each other much now that we're all grown up, but I still love her dearly. I had all summer to spend with my new friends at church, but sadly, none of them went to my high school. So, 10th grade was difficult. I met some nice people, but made no real friends. Lunch was even harder. I usually ate in the hallway because I didn't know anyone that had the same lunch period as I did. I didn't care, though. It was a good time to get caught up on all my homework.

Well, a guy named Jeremiah Oliver and his family went to my church. Jeremiah and I were the same age and although we weren't that close, we saw each other a lot. He transferred to my school in the 11th grade. Finally, someone familiar! I can remember walking in to 3rd lunch (we had four different lunch periods) and seeing Jeremiah standing there. I was so excited. I said, "Wanna eat together?" He said, "Sure." Those were probably the last words we spoke to one another. We sat together every day that year and never said a word!! It may as well have been "silent lunch." HAHA Well, we may have made occasional small talk, but not that often. We rarely even made eye contact. To think about it now is hilarious to me. But just to have someone to sit with that you know and feel comfortable with was wonderful. Little did I know that ten years later he would marry my little sister and be the father of my niece and nephew.

Every time my family all gets together, we laugh and joke about my silent lunches with Jeremiah. Jeremiah and I are now very close and have absolutely no trouble talking with one another. He makes me laugh probably more than anyone else does. If I had only known in high school how funny he was, lunch would have been a little louder. It's funny how things change. I never really got that involved at school.....my dearest friends were in my youth group at church. Thanks to Facebook, we are all reconnecting and it's wonderful! Then, the best thing happened my senior year.....I had lunch with my little sister!! :)

Written by: Kami

There's No Place Like Home!

The Lighthouse at Oak Island, NC

Well, the Whitt's have returned from another year at the beach the week after Christmas. We, as a family, started the tradition in December 2003. It is a time for us as sisters and in-laws to come together and spend time with each other. Since Kristen, Kami, and I all 3 have husbands in the ministry, it is difficult to get together at any time at length other than Christmas. This year we went to Oak Island, NC. We stayed in a beautiful 5 bedroom 4 bath home shaped like a lighthouse. By far, my favorite since our tradition started.

Dosher Memorial Hospital

Southport, NC

This year had a more dramatic approach to the week. Mine and Jeremiah's son, Nehemiah, who is 3 months old, was the source of that drama. Christmas day, Nehemiah starting coughing. And since his big sister Madelynn was getting over a cold, nautrally I thought Nehemiah had caught what Madelynn had. The first night there, Nehemiah didn't sleep well and seemed uncomfortable. After waking up several times between 2 AM and 5 AM, I noticed he seemed to be working pretty hard to breath. So, around 6 AM Sunday morning, after much talk with my sister Kami and Momma, Jeremiah and I drove 25 minutes to the nearest hospital in Southport, NC to Dosher Memorial Hospital. There, he was given steriods and a breathing treatment. The ER doctor released him but wanted us to come back in 6 hours to see how he responded to the treatment. Jeremiah, Nehemiah and I all headed back up to Southport at 4 PM Sunday afternoon. Nehemiah had actually gotten worse. The ER doctor felt it was best for Nehemiah to be transported to New Hanover Medical Center in Wilmington, NC; about 40 minutes away.

New Hanover Medical Center - Betty H. Cameron Women's & Children's Hospital
Wilmington, NC

We waited a few more hours at Dosher until VitaLink showed up to transport our little bity, 11 pound, baby in this ginormous ambulance. Nehemiah was put on this regular sized stretcher, but with a special twist. This particular stretcher had car seats straps built in. Four grown men tending to an infant is a precious sight!!

VitaLink (New Hanover)

Jeremiah and I followed the ambulance to New Hanover in Wilmington. We parked and met the guys at the pediatric entrance. The sweetest thing I have EVER seen was about to happen. It sounds small but in my eyes it was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. As the 4 guys were leading us to our room, Nehemiah grabs hold of the driver's, Scott, finger and doesn't let go until we arrive at our room. I wish I could thank those 4 men personally for their compassion to my son.

Dr. Patricia O'Brien

Once we arrived and settled into our room, Dr. Patricia O'Brien came in to check Nehemiah out and hear our story of all that had happened. After much conversation and evaluation of Nehemiah, he was diagnosed with Bronchiolitis. Bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, the small air passages in the lungs. It is common in young children and is the leading cause of serious lower respiratory illness in infants. It is usually caused by RSV, but in Nehemiah's case it was not. In infants, labored breathing exhausts them and they usually just stop breathing. Where as adults will continue to work hard at it no matter how exhausted they are.

Dr. Joseph Pino

Dr. Joseph Pino was Nehemiah's other doctor at New Hanover and after breathing treatments every 4 hours, serious, heavy duty, electronic, nose sucking (YUCK!), and IV fluids, Nehemiah was released to go home Tuesday morning.

After saying all that, there is nothing I can say to all the doctors and nurses at Dosher or New Hanover to show my gratitude for all they did to care for not only my son, but for my husband and I as well. They all will hold a special place in my heart. God is good ... all the time and He is the ultimate Healer!

Whewww, what an expensive vacation!!!

Posted by: Kelli