the hardgrave family

Thanks so much to all our family far and wide who sent Valentines treats for the girls. The Girls have loved everything and have been thrilled at home as things seemed to arrive all week. Just as an FYI, we have been sick in form or fashion for about three straight weeks and hence haven’t been as fast on the draw to get the phone or return calls (talking sort of hurts). Anyways, please forgive us if we haven’t called, but we are so thankful for all of you and really appreciate so many people thinking of the girls.

I do have the say that special Kudos go out to my step brother Justin who managed to send the girls gifts from Iraq in between 12+hour days digging up IEDs and my sister Amanda who remembered Chinese New Year and sent the girls “Valentine’s/Chinese New Year” fusion treats. Sarah recently studied ancient Chinese culture in school and got to show off her knowledge by explaining the gifts to her sisters. Strange, sort of, but Lily having been less than 2 years old when we brought her home, doesn’t remember that much from China.

Ear Surgery again!

Kathryn had to go in for another surgery on her ear last Monday to patch up the hole left in her eardrum from a tube that came out. Thanks so much all who have prayed for her. All went well and today’s follow-up visit confirmed that things are healing up well.

Angela and I really tend to feel sorry for Kathryn as she has already been through three surgeries at 4 years old, but more than anything we are so thankful. When you pause and think of all the things that can be corrected and cured through relatively minor surgery that would have either been deadly or permanently debilitating just 50 years ago, it really is quite humbling. God has indeed been so good to us and we are thankful for Kathryn.

Princess Coffee.

This is one of our occasionally weekend treats with the girls. Basically a few ounces of coffee and a lot of frothed milk. They love it and are probably on their way to the same kind of coffee habit that their parents have.

Snow.

As hard as it was to believe, we actually got about half a day of strong snow back in January. This is Lily about to clock Kathryn with a snowball. This was Kathryn’s first time to actually see snow. It was a blast.