Luke is 4 months

Grandma Kelley

Ofelia M. Kelley

My Granny passed away last week, she had pancreatic cancer. She didn't want me to know she was dying until it was too late to say goodbye. I found out she asked to see me the day she died. By the time I got the phone call she was already unresponsive and then died 3 hours later. I wish I could say she spent her last few years enjoying her family. Not to say she didn't have many happy moments with her family but she had so many moments with my family that left her heartbroken and sad. The pain of strained and broken relationships was evident in her final years. To see these things has been such a trial for me but even in these sufferings God is glorified. She served the exact purpose God had planned for her from before he lovingly knit her together in her mother's womb. Broken relationships here in this world only serve to remind me of my heavenly home where there will be no brokenness. We are not striving to make this world around us perfect, the bible tells us this world is broken and full of sin. Instead we strive for our heavenly home and live our lives according the precious words of a majestic God. The bible says the Lord is a God of peace and that we can attain this peace only through his righteousness--when we strive for righteousness, by living our lives according to all his commandments (Deut 6:25). He tells us, "the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places (Isaiah 32:16-18)". The destroyer of peace in our families is always sin. Sin left unconfronted and not dealt with leads to the pain of brokenness and the absence of peace. I do not know what the last thoughts were for my beloved Grandma but I hope her brokenness had led her to repentance--that she finally saw her need for the Savior, trusted him for salvation, and was thus granted peace.

She loved to celebrate

She loved her Claire B Do

She loved being there to help me with my new babies

This was when Gracie was born

Riding Dumbo at Disneyland with Hannah and Katie

She always was so young at heart

Claire and her GG

My girls doing what I used to do with my Granny at the beach.

Again, my girls playing where I used to play when I was little.

Typical Granny K, always wild and fun

Where she wanted to be, at her beach with her memories

Gracie is 3!

Grace Marie is 3 and I can't believe it. She is so special and dear to my heart, and she is affectionately known as my Mexi baby. She is the only one who is darker like me, she has the dark skin and dark eyes like her mommy. She loves to be different from her sisters, and is so much more independent than my other girls. She rarely comes to me for help but is a do-it-yourself type of gal. She loves singing, dancing, dressing up, riding her princess bike, and wearing bling. She is usually dressed down to the accessories every morning when I go to get the girls up. If she could she would wear her fancy church dresses everyday and wear a tiara whenever she goes out. Her favorite thing is lipgloss, lipstick, or even chapstick, as long as it is something she can lather on her lips she is happy. Even though she loves the girlie things in life she also has no problem getting dirty. She loves to be cuddled before bed and before her nap she usually requests that I sing her Great is thy Faithfulness. What a precious blessing my Gracie is to our family. I am so grateful for the 3 years God has so graciously granted us with our beautiful Grace.

Picking out her rings

Norah, Jane, and Grace

Enjoying her purple cupcake

All of us on the birthday girl date

A busy August

August was a busy month for our family. We had our first flight with all four kids as we flew to Michigan to celebrate Mom and Dad Kruis' 40th anniversary. The girls had a wonderful time and we all enjoyed the beautiful weather. The girls spent their days biking around the neighborhood with Opa and going to the pool with Opa. It was fun to watch the cousins all playing together. We celebrated Gracie's 3rd birthday in Michigan with the family and Gracie got to eat blue cupcakes (compliments of Aunt Amy and Uncle Brandon) and put endless amounts of lip gloss on her lips (thanks to Aunt Katie's present). Once we got home Gracie got to go out with 2 of her girlfriends for a birthday outing. We let the girls pick out jewelry and then took them to the Cupcake Cottage for a treat. Gracie was not interested in the bracelets and necklaces. She decided to get 4 diamond rings and two headbands with lots of bling.

Using her lipgloss

Hannah enjoying the cupcakes

It had to be blue 

Birthday Girl

The cousins

Gracie loved kissing on Kenzy

Carter sharing his ice-cream with his cousin

Aunt Katie and my Chubbs

Aunt Barbie and Luke

Aunt Katie playing with Hannah

Uncle Matthew and Gracie

At the beach in Grand Haven

Posing at Reed's Lake

Carter and Claire

Me and my love

Picnic at Reed's Lake

Pool time with Opa

Gracie playing 

What a sweet face

His first airplane trip

Hannah was quite vocal the whole plane ride over.

Oma, Opa, and their 7 grandkids