How does our family measure up?!

Ahhhh…the unveiling of my newest and (to-date so far!) my most favorite family craft yet! But before I share—a bit of history. Richard’s family lives in Columbia, TN which we love going often to visit, relax and let the kids run free (much different than living in the city). Columbia is a special place to us…it’s where Richard’s father was born and raised…it’s where his aunt and uncle still live…it’s where WE GOT ENGAGED for goodness sake! On our recent trip in October, Aunt Lesa and I were talking about her sweet doorframe in the kitchen. It’s marked with each of her children’s heights with little dates beside each new mark. She laughed saying she wished she had put in the laundry room so it wasn’t so visable, and I couldn’t help but say how lucky she was that it IS visable. SUCH a testimony of God’s FAITHFULNESS from year to year to her and her children as she watched them thrive and grow! We also laughed that IF she ever moved, they would have to rip that door frame right out–which would be quite the task. I wished we had started that years ago–but silly ole me kept buying those trendy handpainted canvas growth charts…my kids would pull on them, make they swing and mark up the walls and finally with each one I eventually rolled it up and put it away. After our recent trip to Columbia though, I wanted to pull one back out—only I really wanted to create something more permenant. And I loved how Aunt Lesa’s was visible for all to see.

When we got home, Rich and I headed to Home Depot and bought a 8 foot board for our home and found one that was 6 inches wide that would fit all the different growth chart marks of ALL of my babies I have now and the ones to come too. BUT with the paper chase of the adoption and all the things that fell to the way side while we jumped hoops, we didn’t quite get to our little project until the Christmas holidays. We painted the growth chart board the same color as the wall–but we didn’t caulk the screws that we used to fasten it to the way…JUST IN CASE we one day move—this will be one sweet memory that will move with us. I like to think of this as kind of the cornerstone of our home–it is our FAMILY and the memories that will make our home. And if for some reason we do have to move…I won’t shead tears pulling out the door frame or someone telling me I can’t do that…but this is something we can easily take with us and plant somewhere else if we ever have to. And I just know one day my children are all going to fight over this;)…

On the right side, I marked the feet and inches by taping a measuring tape on the side so I was accurate with the measurements. And on the left side—AHHH…the left side is my favorite. I thought I had the most perfect verse to pick out for my children to see every time we document growth—but my eyes fell upon this on the same page as the verse I thought I was going to write there. This is so perfect to remember God’s faithfulness from year to year! The left side of our board says: “God says, “I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as Lord. When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them. I will reward them with long life; I will save them.” Psalm 91:14-16

Each year I hope they will remember the Lord’s faithfulness and reward to them the gift of another year as we mark our changes in growth. After everyone’s height was marked, I felt like it needed to be initiated with our handprints;). Mommy and daddy’s on top. Parker and Laney on the bottom. And we’re holding off for Frank to do his with his baby brother. Two are better than one…right? Frank insisted on waiting for his bro to tag team this effort with him;) Laney and Parker’s handprints…aren’t they sweet…

And Mommy and Daddy’s…ok—I have to know what you THINK the center of mommy’s handprint looks like in this picture?! Seriously…do you think what I think????

And look how close my 4 year old girly, girl is to my 5 year old little man on the growth chart…(and you can even see that the lines are perfect either…just the way I like things lately…it’s the memories and moments that matter most!) And this is the ONLY time I’ll do little people beside them…I told them our first mark was special and I’d draw their faces beside them just this time;)

PLEASE, please, please feel free to snag this idea and put something like this in YOUR home. The Bible verse fits perfectly on a 7 1/2 foot board also. FINALLY…last but not least…I have to show you something else I hung on the wall this week:). It was my Christmas present to myself. You know when you are out shopping and you run across things you love while shopping for others?! Well, this one I couldn’t resist!