Christina's Blog

Olivia turns 4 years old

christinaharris — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:39:54 +0000

Latest Family Events

christinaharris — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:18:22 +0000

Here is our festive cookie cake that the girls wanted to make for everyone! Not too messy and very yummy! And swimming in cousin Will’s backyard pool on the 4th to keep cool!

My Sister-N-Law Michal is very preggo with our new baby niece!! We are so excited to meet her!!! At her church baby shower Ella made a quilt square for a quilt for the baby. Only 1 month to go to see our new farm girl baby!

And when we were done showering the baby with new presents….the girls got to see the new baby bull at the farm and the new kitty cats. These girls love the farm! Uncle Stephen carried Liv out to meet the little bull and as soon as they got near them the Momma Cow started swinging her head at them. She wanted to make it clear not to mess with her little one!!

Meet Baby Charlie Turner! Terrick & Alyssa came to town and we got to meet her for the first time. We love her! She is our newest cousin and such a good baby! So cute and snuggly. She was wrapped up in a cute baby burrito when we got to hold her. That seems like so long ago now that my babies were that little.

Swimming with Josiah & Gigi

christinaharris — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:00:28 +0000

We had such a good time playing with Josiah Baker while he was here. He lives in Connecticut and was here with his dad. Visiting his grandparents Pastor Rod & Gloria and his Aunt Amber & Uncle Ethan and Cousin Gigi. Ella and Josiah like a lot of the same things. Star Wars, Ninja Turtles, and bugs and playing outside. We went swimming and to see Mr. Popper’s Penguins.

Charleston Vacation

christinaharris — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 20:18:26 +0000

We had such a great vacation! It was much needed time away to be a family & get some rest! Our girls are such good travelers! I was so amazed that they can ride 15 + hours in a car and still be happy and in a good mood! They didn’t remember much in Charleston but we took them by our old house and we visited good friends while we were there. And we met some new friends - Maggie Claire & Ryker. Two of my best friends had babies since we have moved back here! Here is sweet Maggie -

Here is Ryker with his older brother Stone:

It wasn’t long enough! I loved seeing everyone and hanging out and can’t wait to visit again next summer!! The girls loved the beach/pool/sprinklers everything!!

Disaster Relief – Joplin Update

christinaharris — Sun, 29 May 2011 21:35:44 +0000

So when Kevin got home I asked him how did it go? He said it went good we helped lots of people. I said, like what did you do? He said well we helped this one lady who had a tree that had fallen over on her house. We had to use chainsaws to cut it off. I pictured a small tree leaning on the house. Then when some of the IMT’s posted pictures I couldn’t believe it. That is the root system of the tree sticking up and the rest of the tree was on her house. Unbelievable! Just the story doesn’t do it justice.

Another tree that was uprooted and was on a house. this is what was left. Its crazy!

Here is what one reporter from www.reuters.com captured. That is Madison on the left and Elyse on the right.

This lady had lost her home and all her things in the tornado.

The Tulsa World Newspaper interviewed Kevin after he took the team to Joplin. Here is what got published:

"Thirty-five volunteers from Victory Christian Center in Tulsa spent their day in Joplin clearing fallen trees and helping people find photos and other valuables buried in the debris. 

"There would be people who would just start crying," said Kevin Harris, director of the church's In-Ministry training. "It was very emotional." 

Harris said he was impressed by the faith community's efforts in Joplin."

Here was our team plus some church members in Vinita, OK that we teamed up with!

Here are a few more pictures:

Ella’s Kindergarten Graduation

christinaharris — Sat, 28 May 2011 13:39:19 +0000

So proud of my girl! She has grown up so fast. She learned so much in Kindergarten. She did such a great job saying her scripture. Psalms 100:5, “For the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting, his truth endures to all generations.” We love Victory Christian School. Ella comes home all the time telling us scriptures and bible stories. I can’t believe that she will be in 1st grade next year.

Liv wanted to graduate Kindergarten with her.

She didn’t want to leave Ella to go to our seats.

She loves her sister very much!

Disaster Relief Team

christinaharris — Tue, 24 May 2011 02:11:44 +0000

This morning we woke up to the news of the tornado hitting Joplin, MO. Joplin is only 1 hour an a half away from here.

It is terrible to think of your town being ripped apart by a storm. There is so much devastation that the people we have talked to that live there are still in shock. Kevin immediately said we have to go there and help. So he began twittering and texting people asking for chainsaws and relief supplies. Pastor Ethan & Amber that oversee the food ministry and outreach department started to designate supplies and equipment and get the word out for more donations.

So tonight I am getting sleeping bags, blankets, flashlights, etc. together here for the team to take. My mom called and is working on getting work gloves for all the volunteers. And we are taking lots of water and some food.

There is no running water or power in the area of the tornado. So they asked for water, diapers, tarps, flashlights and shoes.

Kevin is going in the morning and we will get it set up for the team to come and help. They are going to stay the night in a nearby town at a church.

Please keep them in your prayers. I’m sure that they will be talking to people in shelters and helping people that have to completely restart their lives.

New Pictures

christinaharris — Mon, 23 May 2011 02:58:59 +0000

My sweet girls. I know this is a funny picture of Liv but its the face she makes when I ask her to smile for a picture.

We are so ready for summer we want to have some fun and go swimming. I’m going to start blogging again. I hope!!!

Be Encouraged

christinaharris — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:29:19 +0000

Ever feel like you were the only one that didn’t get the message?

You show up to a meeting only to find its canceled, or come to work in dress clothes only to realize it was casual day. Well that is how I have felt all year with Ella in Kindergarten. All the other parents seem to just know what to do and I have been the one that didn’t get the message. There have been days I have picked up Ella in tears and she tells me that all the other parents came to the school that day and she was waiting for me and I never came. Talk about broken hearted. I met with her teacher and asked if there was something I was missing. How do the other parents know to be there and I never got the message. She told me that I could ask the front desk or call her personally if I ever had any questions and that I was welcome to visit her class anytime but she had no information on how I find out when something was going on.

FINALLY, I have made friends with one of the other moms in the class and she told me that she gets emails from the teacher 2-3 times per week with updates and reminders about what is going on in their classroom. I asked her to forward this weeks to me and then I asked the teacher to PLEASE put me on the PARENT UPDATE EMAILS. Even though I didn’t get the message almost this whole year there is some conciliation to know that there was a message. All this time I was thinking, “wow, do some parents just magically know what to do when their kid goes to K-5″ and I must just not “get” it. But now I am encouraged because today Ella went to school with everything she needed. It was Creative dress day and easter eggs with candy and I feel great that she didn’t MISS IT! (without the message how would I have guessed they would do easter eggs a whole week early?)

As this school year comes to an end some people are trying to figure out what they are supposed to do this summer or next school year. Be encouraged. God is sending you a message. If you are looking around thinking do some people just “get” it and I must not be one of those people – don’t think that. If you just haven’t got the message yet be encouraged you will!!!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”(Proverbs 3: 5-6)

Keep trusting God!!!

To blog or not to blog? Here’s an update

christinaharris — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:37:13 +0000

Here is an update:

Big Cedar Lodge in Branson with the IMT girls. The girls stopped for one second to take this picture and then went back to collecting rocks, sticks and leaves. That was their favorite thing that weekend. I am grateful that they love the outdoors. Our cabin looked over the lake and the IMT girls just wanted to relax at the cabin and watch movies. Ella said, “Mom, can we go fishing or out on a boat or on a walk in the woods?” She didn’t understand why we came to the lake just to stay in the cabin and watch movies.

Finally got to go see Michal’s new kitty. When I told Ella that Michal got a new kitty she said, “I knew God was going to give her a new pet.” I am constantly amazed by her. She loves animals and she asked Michal if she could take kitty home with her.

My Baby turned 3 years old. I can’t believe it! She is getting so big!