Life Update!

Yes, we are still alive and kicking...I think! To say the least, it's been a tough week with Michael working over 70 hours in the hay field, trying to prepare for VBS, running the shop, and running the kids here there and everywhere. On top of it all, little Lainey is trying to get sick and poor thing just can't slow down enough to let her body heal. She is a trooper though, still going strong. She spiked a fever earlier this week and the Doc says it's viral, so we quarantined her for a couple days and I'm hoping it blows over. So updates on the fam:

Daddy and Mommy: We are going full blast this summer with youth outing after youth outing. We have received a huge call toward youth ministry, even stronger than before, so here we go. We have given it to God and He is blessing the group beyond measure. We pray we can continue to reach more kids and in turn have a blast doing it. So far this Summer we have hit up Doe River Gorge, Bo's, and tonight he takes the kids camping in Wilkes. Tent and all.....we'll see how that goes! We are quickly learning how to parent a strong willed child and wonder how parents do it without God's direction. Trathan is in love with life but can be very trying at times. Lainey is still addicted to mommy and will probley stay like that the rest of her life. They are both so lovable and love life. We have enjoyed biking with the kids out on the Greenway. They ride in the trailer and eat breakfast while we pull them along. Pray for Michael and I that we will stay at the fingertips of Christ and His calling.

Trathan: HAS A NEW BIKE!!! and the little guy is thrilled!! We took him to Cook's and found a great bike, just prefect for him. He knows his boundaries (as he has taken a few tumbles) but happily gets right back up and goes on. After he fell for the first time he says, "Mom, that's what bikes are for." Man I love this kid. He is pumped about VBS next week! Aunt Jenny is his teacher once again, and she does the best job with these kids. He comes home with Jesus on his lips and I LOVE THAT!!

Lainey: Is using the POTTY!! We are so excited that she loves to wear undies and enjoys pottying on her own potty. She went through this right at 12 months but we didn't push it, well now that is a different story. I am ready to be diaper free at the Gragg house! We totally overreact when she goes herself, especially number2 :) That might have been TMI but we a so excited!!! She is using words all the time and communicates best with brother of course. They play so well together, I really could not ask for more!

Life at the Gragg is in no way boring these days. Between our Chickens, yes I said Chickens, 30 of them to be exact, but that's for a different day, ministry opportunities, children, and free time we can fill it up pretty good!! We fill so full right now, maybe even overflowing a little. We are blessed. Praise God for His blessings.

~Casey

5 years!!

It has been 5 wonderful years of marriage to my husband and I couldn't be happier. May 21, 2005 we started what God put together in His divine plan and boy am I ever grateful!! Tonight we have reservations at my favorite Bistro~~ Thank you Babe for loving me the way you have and for giving yourself to me 5 years ago today!! Who would have ever imagined five years ago we would have a family of 4 today, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Love you Babe and Happy Anniversary!!!!

Pictuerd on our Honeymoon in the Rivera!

Momma needs flowers.........

are the words that came from 3 year old son has we were on our way to buy flowers and discussing the flower "budget". Yes, momma needs flowers for lots of reasons, and one of them being therapy. There is something about getting my hands in the depth of the earth and planting something that will grow. It brings joy to my heart and my kids love to help me care for them as they grow. As I was planting this morning I thought about how we should plant the seed of Christ in every person. As Jesus prepares the heart we are to plant the seed. This has been my prayer, that I will plant seeds within my children and water them so they will grow. Watching this process has been life changing. Trathan is asking so many questions about faith and the cross, I pray that I will be spiritually equipped to "water" his seed. Has this season begins and you get your hands in the dirt, I pray you will be reminded of our calling as Christians, to share Jesus with everyone, to train up our children in the way they should go.
So today, I plant, tomorrow I will water and we will enjoy long months of beautiful flowers that I love so much!!!

Had to Share!

Sorry to have been MIA for so long! Life seemed to grab us by the horns this past month and we have just know come up for air. Michael finished his semester yesterday and we are so EXCITED!! He has worked so hard, and Greek was the kicker. I think he can breath now that all of his foreign languages are under his belt!! But that fun part is that Tman can say the Greek alphabet! It became a game at our house, and he knows it WAY better than I do. So congrats sweetie on another semester completed!

Mother's Day was celebrated all weekend long with family, food and fun! We took the kids to have their pictures made for my gift and I was so pleased with how they came out. Lainey is now 18mo old and Trathan 3 1/2. See what you think.......



They are just the sweetest kids. They cooperate like you wouldn't believe. I feel so blessed!! One blessed Mommy! Thank you Michael for making me a Mommy to two wonderful kids. The Lord has touched our family with his hand and we are blessed beyond measure. I could do it all over again (and Lord willing I will one of these days!). Blessings to each of you!

Love,
Casey

Lazy 5 Ranch

IT was so nice to have a warm day Saturday!! After the winter we have endured, 70 degrees felt like 100 and we were happy campers. Wearing our capri's, flips flops and tee shirt we went down to enjoy the day as a family at the Lazy 5 Ranch. We had an incredible time and would recommend this place to ANYONE!! It was great. At 10am we boarded our horse drawn wagon to head through the wilderness. I was expecting a fairly bumpy ride, but surprisingly it wasn't. As ventured out to find every animal imaginable (to some extent). We were told to feed two legged animals by holding out the buckets and four legged in the palm of your hand. Trathan clued into this immediately, the first animal we fed was an ostrich. He quickly got a taste for what the day would be like, and he LOVED it. With out any hint of fear, he fed just about every animal, and ever tried to feed his sister while he was at it!! Lainey loved seeing the animals. She wasn't scared the first time. I would like for me children to have a little bit of fear around such large animals, but none! We saw zebras, antelope, deer, ostrich, pigs, llama, rhino, crane, water buffalo, and so much more. That was just on the ride. My kids favorite part of the ride was the visit at the Giraffe habitat. We stood up on the wagon and fed the tall giraffe out of the buckets. Trathan was amazed at their size and couldn't stop talking about it, still hasn't stopped talking about them. Lainey just watches with her big eyes and takes it all in. After the wagon ride, we had packed a picnic and ate it at the park. Everything is located right there together within walking distance, I appreciate those type of things especially with two kids. It was terrific to eat outside with a slight breeze blowing, so great! We took a swing on the park swings they had and enjoyed the best homemade ice cream I had had in a long time! It was Heavenly!
After lunch, the kids were starting to get a little tired so we did a quick walk through of the petting zoo. It was just as great as the wagon ride. These animals are all so beautiful! In the petting zoo there were turtles, lemers, porcupine, fish, peacocks, dove, sheep, cows, kangaroos, and too many to name!
We had a great day, a much needed family day! The trip was great and the driving time was short. Both kids sacked out on the way home and then had a great night's rest that night. They had a blast and it was worth it! I would go back again this year!!
(I would post pictures but we got down there only to find we had forgotton to put the memory card back in the camera!)

What a Day

Yesterday was a day and a half. All around Lainey did incredible and responded well to everything she was given. We left the house at 7:30am and Lainey went without food and drink until her MRI at 10:30. This child is one of a kind. She didn't whine, fuss, ask for anything. She was great. Our pastor and his wife came down for support and we were so grateful. It was wonderful having them there. When they called her back for her MRI I know this would be the hardest part of the day. I didn't know if they would sedate her with an IV or medicine. It was so much better than I ever imagined. They let me give her the medication through a dropper and took it great. They turned the light down in our room and let me rock her until the medication kicked in. We knew it would take a while, but after 7 min she was asleep. She never fought it but she just asked for brother about 10 times or so. At that point we laid her down on the table for her exam and prayed over her and left. Her nurse was fantastic. She gave us our time and I never once felt rushed. We were told her exam would take 1hr15min, so the waiting game began. We talked with our pastor for some time and tried to pass the time quickly. Before we knew it she was ready and our nurse wanted us to be the first people she saw when she woke. They brought her to the door of the waiting area and we held her immediately. As she woke up she said Mama and we knew she was fine. She then said Juice, so we gave her something to drink and she quickly went back to sleep. Lunch progressed quickly and with her Neuro appointment at 1 we were rushed back up stairs to meet him. Lainey at that point was very awake but very "drunk" from her meds. She wanted to walk and play but physically was unable. We felt so sorry for her. Meeting with the Surgeon was very interesting. They were reading the mri in front of us and still very up in the air about the growth on her head. He was very sure though that the growth did not cross over the skull which is great news! The radiologist called during our appointment and seemed to think it was a sinus pericranii. After looking at all the pictures the Neuro surgeon seemed to be convinced as well. We are very comfortable with him and the other Doc we have seen for her head. All in all this was much better news than it could have been. We have had time to soak this in and the utter exhaustion has worn off from yesterday. Dr Powers would like to remove the growth through minor surgery before she gets older. He thinks it will be in our best interest to have this done for safty reasons since her growth could possibly be connected to the main vein in her brain. Another appointment is scheduled for October to reevaluate the situation and to schedule the surgery. Michal and I are hoping to get this moved up to this summer. So has far has her little head goes, she is going to be ok. We are so thankful for the MRi and the questions it answered. Lainey is doing great this morning. You wouldn't think anything has happened yesterday. She slept good last night and is full of energy. We will keep you updated as far has surgery dates and updates. Thank you all for your prayers and calls. We are so grateful for friends like you that love and support us.

we rested in these verses yesterday;
"Blessed is the man who preserves under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will recieve the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Also, Psalm 91 and Isaih 43

With Love,
Casey