The Seep Game

Posted on by
1

photo seep1_zpsf90a808f.jpg

We just got back from our vacation up North (read more about that soon) and I had very long to-do list for the day.  But when I picked Lydia up out of her high chair after a late breakfast, she asked, “Seep?”.  Seep, or sleep, is a game Lydia likes to play where we snuggle up on the couch together and pretend to sleep for a while.  So despite my long to-do list, we headed over to the couch.

 
photo seep2_zps9fd05617.jpg

“Bankie?” Lydia asked, and we pulled up the blanket and enjoyed a few minutes of the seep game.  To-do lists can wait.  It’s only a matter of time before this little munchkin no longer enjoys the Seep Game.

An Eventful Weekend

Posted on by
Reply

Often, our weekends are pretty uneventful. Saturday we grocery shop. Sunday we go to church and participate in some afternoon activity (dinner with another family, baseball, or the occasional nap). This weekend was a little out of the norm for us.

We started off by taking a road trip to visit Dan’s Aunt Debbie in Jackson. During a nice dinner at Qdoba (our favorite semi-fast food restaurant…ok, Dan’s favorite all-time restaurant) we worked on some plans for an upcoming Bridal shower.
This is Bob and Leslie:

Image

Dan’s brother, Bob is marrying Leslie this September. In August we have the privilege of hosting a bridal shower for Leslie, the first shower I’ve ever helped to host. We just recently received the official invite for Bob and Leslie’s wedding and I spent part of my afternoon reading their courtship story here.

Anyway, after a yummy meal we picked up a few decorations and things for the shower. Then we made our way to The Parlour, Jackson’s famous ice cream diner. We don’t eat a lot of ice cream so an annual trip to The Parlour is a real treat. However, by this point Lydia had come down with a nasty cold and we, sadly, had to keep her from tasting any ice cream or frozen yogurt herself.

Image

On Sunday, Lydia was noticeably sicker, so she and I stayed home from church. In the afternoon, despite our sickly little munchkin, we embarked on another mini-road trip to Grand Rapids.
This is Aaron and Faith:

Image

Aaron and Faith were married in Virginia recently, but due to some mold in our home and illness in our family, we were unable to go. So nothing was going to keep us from their Michigan reception. The weather was perfect and the outdoor, picnic reception was beautiful and fun.

Image

There were lots of introductions made, a picnic dinner, a buffet of desserts, dancing, and a bonfire. But since Lydia was feeling pretty miserable, we opted out just before the dancing.

Image

It was quite the eventful weekend and we have another one ahead of us! This weekend Dan is taking Friday off so we can take a halfway lengthy trip (Wednesday through Sunday) up North to visit our families, Traverse City, the beach, the cherry festival, and some other good friends on the way back home.

Taylor Family Timeline

Posted on by
1

…because it helps if you know a little bit about us!

April 2, 1988
A little girl was born in Northern Michigan. Her parents named her Justine Ruth.

01

January 28,1989
A cute baby boy was also born in Northern Michigan. His parents named him Daniel Francis.

02

March 23, 2007
Even though they had attended the same church for most of their lives, college Freshman Justine and High School Senior, Dan, struck up a conversation at a youth group event. At the end of the night, Dan left with Justine’s email. There is no picture to capture this even, because no one but God knew how significant it would become.

November 29, 2008
After what had seemed like a very long time, Dan asked Justine to begin an official courtship. It may be noted that the actual “asking” was neither that brief, nor that clear, but in the end it was all summed up in a question, “Would you like to find out whether God would have us run this race together?”

03

November 30, 2008
Justine said yes in a note which she handed to Dan at the beginning of the church service. After he read the note, a song started. It was called, “I will never be the same again” and included the lyrics: “I will walk the path, I’ll run the race, but I will never be the same again.” How fitting that song was!

04

July, 2009
Justine spent a month in Africa. Dan stayed in the US. And by the end of the month it was clear to Dan’s family (and even a little bit to Dan) that they really should not be apart ever again.

05

August 3, 2009
Dan welcomed Justine back with a red rose and declared that he never wanted her to go away again, EVER.

06

December 17, 2009
On a rainy winter evening, as Justine struggled to dish out some homemade lasagna, Dan asked her to marry him. While it was possibly the best night of their lives to date, they never took a single bite of the lasagna. But they did hold hands for the very first time.

07

August 28, 2010
Wedding day!  The Taylor Family is officially established.

08

7:52 AM, May 30, 2011

Lydia Hope was born 9 weeks before her due date. She was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

09

July 10, 2011
After about six weeks in the NICU, Lydia went home for the very first time.

10

August 28, 2011
1st Anniversary

11

May 30, 2012
Lydia turned one.

12

August 28, 2012
2nd Anniversary

13

May 2013
Dan graduated with his Master’s degree in math. He accepted his first real full-time job and the Taylor’s moved into a new condo, their first non-campus housing as a family. On the 30th, Lydia turned two.

14

June 2013
After issues with mold, the Taylors moved again to a temporary home where they reside today.

15

Coming soon…

November 20, 2013
Baby Number Two is due! We are praying and hopeful that this little one will not be born any more than a few weeks before the due date.