This is one of my all time favorite pictures of Emma. There was a dilemma raging within my mind as I considered whether or not it was appropriate to whip out my iPhone and take a picture as Emma was saying the blessing for our breakfast a few weeks ago. I’m so glad I did! Our sweet Emma is really quite the prayer warrior. She does a great job remembering prayer requests and insists on praying before all of our meals, at naptime, and at bedtime. I asked her one day if she ever said a prayer for her lunch or her nap at school. She said “we don’t do that.” About a week later, she came home and mentioned that she said her prayer at lunch and at naptime. She was so excited. I hope that she always desires to have a deep and abiding prayer connection with the Lord.
February was packed full of a lot of fun activities for the Strange crew. Many of our evenings and weekends were spent in the gym at NCCS cheering our basketball teams on through the finish of their seasons. We saw a lot of middle school and jv/varsity basketball this season! Emma really enjoyed Homecoming at NCCS with all of her friends. One of our sweet 9th grade girls that was on Homecoming Court took a picture with Emma and it made our sweet girl’s night! She was talking for weeks about the girl in the white dress.
Emma still loves to snuggle, do devotions, pray together, and read before bed every night. Clint and I treasure every moment of that knowing full well that before we know it, she will be busy with her own activities. One of her favorite series to read is “Clifford, the Red Big Dog” (Emma-speak). There are also a few other things that she gets mixed up on occasion. The other day she was so proud that she dressed herself before coming downstairs and she said, “Mommy…I dress up me”. Clint said that there have been several mornings this month that he is down working in his office and she will come downstairs completely ready for school and wanting breakfast. She has grown up a ton in these past several weeks.
Valentine’s was a lot of fun in the Strange house. Emma got some great surprises in the mail from her grandparents and her Aunt Katie and Uncle Deedle. She has lots of things to color, stamp, and play with. We made breakfast for dinner one night that week and Emma helped me make some heart shaped pancakes that we all enjoyed. Clint and Emma also attended their second annual Chick Fil A Daddy-Daughter Date Night. They have a great time together. I am so grateful that they usually have a date once a week. Emma treasures her Daddy!
We usually all get up early on Saturday morning in time for me to paint Emma’s fingernails and toenails. Then, Emma and Clint drop me at Starbucks while they head out for their breakfast date. They’ve enjoyed Stilesboro Biscuits as a new stop in addition to Waffle House, McDonald’s, or Chick-Fil-A. As a very special treat, they even took me with them one time! I think I cramped their style…we are back to dropping Mom off each week. Just kidding, they always invite me, but I think it is pretty important for them to have that time together. Clint is setting the standard high for any young man that Emma might want to have a relationship with in the future.
Clint took a few days off in mid-February to enjoy Winter Break with Emma and I as we didn’t have school. On President’s Day we all enjoyed doing some shopping and enjoying lunch at ShoGun. Emma calls it “The Fire Place”. That is a pretty good description. The last Sunday of February was a beautiful day, so we loaded Emma up in her wagon and walked 2 miles roundtrip up to enjoy a treat at Yogli Mogli. I had a work meeting one evening that week and Emma and Clint headed straight for Chuck E. Cheese. God bless them! So glad that is a special place for the two of them.
Emma just moved up into the Pre-K class at church. She also moved up in her class at preschool. She is very excited about attending North Cobb Christian School in the fall and talks about it a lot. We are looking forward to spring, which means playing outside and enjoying spring sports. Emma is growing up quickly and we are so grateful that God blessed us with this sweet girl!
