Thursday, June 26, 2008

Our trip to Florida




We are now home from our trip to Florida. It was enjoyable, but there is no place like home. While in Florida, we saw lots of family. All my brothers and sisters with their additions...wow!! what a crew. Let's see...There was Tammie and Cathie; Lydia and her husband, Tracy; Matt and Tara with kids, Jason, Mason, and Lauren (the newest addition to the Popow family); John and Rachel and their son, Nate; Marg and Sam with kids, Samantha and Cash; us (Jed, myself, Dakota, and Lilyann, and Pam (grandma); and Phillip (groom) and Alicia (beautiful bride)...and we cant forget the people who started this all...Mom and Dad. So, it was definitely a house full.



Some stayed with my parents at the motel and we (the Smiths) stayed at Tammie and Cathie's house. Dakota enjoyed the climbing the ladder on the bunk beds in our room....so we know what to get him when he is older. Lilyann enjoyed always having someone there to hold her, but she still got lots of floor time...and i think she has almost mastered rolling from back to tummy!!



We went to beach while there..Dakota loved it. It took him a little bit to used to the waves and all, but he was a pro by the time we decided to leave. I think it helped that all his cousins were there and playing, too. Lilyann did good with her 1st time at the beach. She even sat in the water for a bit with me; but she enjoyed sleeping under the beach umbrella also.



The main reason for the trip...The wedding!! It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for Phillip and Alicia. They make a beautiful couple. The wedding was memorable...there were thunderstorms that evening...the lights in the church went out a few times before the wedding started. And it rained a good bit. But hey! isn't rain good luck for a wedding? May God Bless the happy couple.



At the wedding, I saw many friends and family that i haven't seen for a while...The Shumakers, the Gaddys, Aunt Ruth and the girls, the Maclins and Aunt Peggy, Mama Price (my sister's in laws--like a 2ND mother to us Popow kids), and our home pastor and his family, The Breedloves. I know there are more that i enjoyed seeing and didn't mention (you know who you are).



Some of the pictures I'm posting are of the family get together on Saturday before we left to come home. We went to a nearby park...and it rained or should i say, Stormed. But hey! we had the pavilion to ourselves!! (positive note) Once the lightning stopped, we let the kids go play in the playground with the umbrellas. They had a blast. And after all the eating, most everyone went on the bike trail for a walk. Jed took the long way~~a 5 mile track.



All in all, an enjoyable trip. Enjoy the pictures.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Consider the Lilys



Consider The Lilies
Written by: Joel Hemphill

Verse I
Consider the lilies they don’t toil nor spin
And there’s not a king with more splendor than them
Consider the sparrow they don’t plant or sow
But they’re fed by the Master who watches them grow

Chorus

We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy
And a heart full of love
He really cares when
Your head is bowed low
Consider the lilies and then you will know

Verse II

Now may I introduce you to this friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars and tells the sun when to shine
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew
But He’s not too busy to care about you



Our youth pastor's wife sang this song in church on Sunday...and it really had me thinking. Even the smallest of things can bring you around to thinking about God. This song had me thinking about my Lilyann. Just consider all that has happened to her...and God was there...he was holding her in His hand...and making sure that only what needed to happen to her was happening. I often wonder what goes through our little ones' minds. The minds that haven't been dirtied up by all the happenings in the world, the latest fashions, songs, accessories, etc.

Their minds are so innocent and yet so eager to learn.


Just think about it...consider the Lilys.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

My Little Lilyann is growing up...

Lilyann~~ enjoying being outside
Dakota playing in his pool

Well, Little Miss Lilyann is getting bigger...she has now reached the 12 lbs mark...oh! how long we have waited for her to gain some weight and it is finally happening. Today was Lilyann's 6 month well check-up. Here are her stats: 12 lbs even (.84 percentile..almost in the 1st percentile..she used to be off the charts); and 25 inches long (21 percentile). I'm so happy for her. The Dr was pleased with her progress, also.
Lilyann is really getting the hang of eating from a spoon. She is up to 2 oz of baby food with 1 oz of cereal for breakfast and the same for dinner. I think we are about to add meal #3 into her schedule...she loves to eat. She will give you "the look" if you don't share what you are eating with her. She is doing good with her bottles, too. She is taking about 4 oz ever 4 hours...and we had one a night last week were Lilyann slept thru the night!! YAY!!!
Lilyann is getting more active, but she isn't sitting up on her own. The Dr said not to worry...Lily will be behind on reaching some of her milestones because of her VSD condition. Now, she is trying to catch up to where she needs to be. All in all things are going good which is awesome!!