Wordless Wednesday

Basketball Diaries- lesson #1

Basketball season is about 7 months (give one or two months) SO (being the super creative person that I am:) the next 7 posts are going to be 7 lessons that I have learned over the course of our first season.

Lesson #1: I have got the best "village" of family and friends. Seriously. Now, I knew this before Chris was a head coach but the past 7 months has brought this to a whole new light. Our friends/family/church have constantly supported us. Not just by telling us they support us but truly showing us. I have friends who have kept Charlie for almost every game so that Caden and I could attend, a community group that blessed us with gift cards to Kroger/Wal-Mart because they know we have the **boys (when I refer to "the boys" I am talking about the basketball team:) over and they know how much high school boys eat, this same group of people (along with others from our church) came to many games and showed up at the regional tournament in such a way that people kept asking Chris and I who "all those people with the kids were," a Church that has welcomed the team with open arms, friends/family who can just read my mind and know that I absolutely cannot spend one more second by myself and come over and play. or take my kids. or clean my house. (seriously, those things all happened). I could go on and on and on about how awesome of a community we have! Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving us, not just with your words but with your actions.

**some pics of some of our "village" MANY who are not pictured

Basketball

DISTRICT CHAMPS! ... notice the cute little boy in the bright blue jersey:)

I may give up blogging; between the lack of ideas for posts (and time to actually write the ones I do have) and my blogging schizophrenia; it may be best if I just go away from the blogging world for a little bit (but of course, still read all yours:) BUT that day is not today! Today; I want to blog on something that I want to have record of and remember...Chris's first season as a head coach. I, personally, have learned and grown a lot over the past 7 months (but that is a whole other post) today is about our family. Not our little family of 4 and a half; but the boys that have become a part of our family over the past year. One of my favorite things about Chris's job is the basketball players. I feel like they are just more boys in our family. We love them, cheer for them, encourage them, feed them, get frustrated with them--they have become such a part of our family that half way to the beach this year on our family vacation; Caden asked where they were and why they were not in the car with us. To watch Chris take hold of this opportunity that the Lord literally placed in his lap is incredible. To see him not only coach these guys about basketball, but teach them about what it means to be a man and what it looks like to be a dad and husband, and what it is like to love God and pray for them and guide them and get mad at them and hug them and love them; has been so humbling. For those of you who know a little bit about Chris's background you know that what "saved" him were: families that loved him and basketball; which ultimately God was able to use to bring Chris to love Him. So, tonight Collins will play in the Regional Finals...did you hear me?! The regional finals! As in, if they win tonight they will be going to the SWEET 16 and playing at Rupp Arena! Win or lose; this has been an amazing ride full of some crazy ups and downs, and as a coach and a family I know we could not have asked for a better first season:) Go Titans!

About a Boy!

The second Chris and I found out we were pregnant there was really no doubt in my mind it was going to be anouther boy. For real. I am not just saying that...every bone in my body thought it was going to be a boy. And last week; the doctor confirmed it...Gaither boy #3 is on his way! Chris wasn't so sure it was going to be a boy (and if we are being totally honest was hoping for a girl) his exact response was "I am happy it is a boy but sad it is not a girl." Fair enough. All I know is that we are counting our blessings. My heart breaks over and over again for our friends that struggle with infertility. When I found out we were pregnant "again" I almost felt bad telling people for the simple fact that is has been a HUGE blessing we have not experienced problems conceiving or throughout my pregnancies. So am I a little freaked out about having THREE kids? yep. Am I wondering how I will thrive (or just survive) having 3 that are 3 and under? No doubt! But I trust that God has some crazy awesome plans for all these boys in this family. Don't you think he will fit right in with "the boys?!"

Sometimes faith doesn't make sense...but Jesus does.

I haven't blogged in for.ev.er. I thought I was just going to quit all together since it's been so long; and I am so busy living life...I figured if something super "blog worthy" happens then I can pick back up again. And although there have been many incredible things happening since the last time I blogged (Christmas, Caden turned 3, we are pregnant with baby BOY #3, Chris is almost halfway through his first season as Collins head basketball coach, and seriously so much more) BUT nothing has even come close to what I am about to share (well maybe the BOY #3:) My hands are shaking even as I type because I cannot believe what I am about to share. (please refer to this post before continuing on). The last post is about praying for my dad. And you have been. We have been. constantly. for 7 years. Through everything my parents faith has been unwavering and no matter their circumstances they have chosen to say, through joy and anger and tears, "Blessed be Your name." I heard a message last week about James 1 and there is a quote from the pastor that really stuck with me "Faith does not always make sense, But Jesus does." That might make no sense to you and I am not totally sure about it either but that is what the Lord has chosen to stick with me for the past few weeks.

On Sunday I get a phone call from my dad. I didn't answer and immediately get a text from him that says "Call me ASAP." If you know my dad, you know that doesn't mean anything. It usually means he just wants to check on me and see how we are doing. Not this time. This time he answered with a different tone. The kind of tone that I have not heard in 7 years. "Katie, you are not going to believe what we are getting ready to go do....we are getting ready to go bowling!" Bowling?! The thought of my dad even being able to pick up and hold a bowling ball blew my mind, much less actually do the motions that are required. "Dad, how are you going to bowl?" and then he said it...."My back does not hurt at all." I cannot even believe that I wrote those words. But at the same time it just makes sense to believe. I, along with countless other people, have been praying and fasting and begging and believing for physical healing for my dad. So why would I be surprised that the Lord chose to bring that belief to reality on an ordinary Saturday. So, as of Saturday my dad has been pain free. Did you hear me...PAIN FREE!!!! I will not allow Satan to have a foothold and plant doubt in my mind. I will not share that I feel the need to text someone in my family every 5 minutes to see "if dad's still okay." or I am afraid that as soon as this blog "goes live" he will start hurting again. No, I will not. I will shout it from the rooftops and I will give Jesus, who is the ultimate Healer the praise he deserve. I believe. And I will continue to believe. and I will continue to say Blessed be your Name!

Sometimes faith doesn't make sense...but Jesus does.

Pray for my Dad.

My family has a lot going on. My family as in my parents and 3 younger siblings. To sum up what my dad has gone through health wise (and every other way) since 2004 is impossible so I am not going to try BUT I am going to ask you to pray for my dad. One thing you know if you have ever met my parents for more than 2 minutes is that they are warriors. They are solid, strong believers in the Lord in every way. I think one of the main weapons Satan can use against people like my parents is apathy, or passiveness. Do you ever get so tired and worn down from fighting a battle that you just give up. It probably happens so slowly that you don't even realize it. And then, the next thing you know; you are so tired and you realize that you just kinda stopped fighting. My parents have not stopped fighting (the spiritual fight) or given up once. Not once. But...they. are. tired. I believe that when you are tired though that is when God is most used and most glorified. It says in his word that "when we are weak, we are strong" and to "bear one anothers burdens" and to "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened" so my family and I are believing what we know to be true. Please believe with us. And pray for my dad....I will leave you with this from my mom

"Friends, after an unexpected meeting with a sweet friend this evening, I am reminded of the awesome power of our God. Suffice to say, that I have never stopped believing, even after 7 failed back surgeries and now an internal pain pump that God could heal Frank. Would you please join me, in praying specifically for Frank (I know so many of you have prayed with us for so long) tomorrow at 4pm for healing, for acceptance, for whatever God has for us, but I know that He has promised his plans for us, for all of us, are good. I realize this may be his plan and we will continue to walk faithfully...we are tired. God is good."

Bieber Fever

We. have. Bieber. Fever.


How did it start? Caden LOVES music. Anything musical; everything can be turned into a drum or microphone. I mean I know all kids love music but Caden is somewhat obsessed. I digress. A couple months ago, Mollie (my 17-year old sister) came over and we rented "Never Say Never" (Basically, a documentary about J. Biebs). Caden LOVED it....he wanted to watch the music over and over again. So then I got to thinking...if this movie will keep him entertained what if I pull up the music video on youtube? And that is how it started. I needed to start cooking dinner one night so I showed him this video...and well, the rest is history:)


SO here is out own version (I put the lyrics below in case you dont already know them:)
disclaimor: I did not teach him any of the words; he picked it up on his own

I know you love me

I know you care

Just shout whenever

And I'll be there

You are my love

You are my heart

And we will never, ever, ever be apart

Are we an item?

Girl quit playin

Are we just friends?

What are you sayin?

Say there's another and look right in my eyes

My first love broke my heart for the first time and I was like

Baby, baby, baby OH