Lily Kate stories :)

There are so many things everday that Lily Kate says that makes me laugh so hard. She has the wildest imagination and she doesn't forget anything!  I wanted to give a little update on my priss pot with some of her most "memorable"moments recently so I can look back on this down the road and get some laughs .. and probably a few tears! :) 

Showing her gum

The child LOVES gum ... She tried "chewing" it a few months ago but would just swallow it everytime.  Well, now she has learned how to chew it and not swallow it at all ... she asks for gum all the time!  It is so funny to me how much she loves gum because when I was little I loved gum too ... I always wanted to "smack it" and blow big bubbles. 

We finally have gotten Lily Kate potty trained.  We have been working on it on and off for a while but I finally got serious about it a couple of weeks ago and she has done great!  I've heard so many people say "When they are ready, they will get it!" and that was absolutely true with Lily Kate.  I think I was wanting it for her for a long time but one day is clicked and she was ready!  Of course, as with everything else in her life, she is so independant about it.  She wants to pull her pants down, sit on the potty, wipe, flush, etc by herself ... NO help!  I have to help with washing hands because she can't reach the sink handle yet but as soon as she can, she will want to do it by herself too.  She is even going #2 on the potty :)  The other night I was grocery shopping and she went #2 while it was just her and Stephen at home ... she was so excited about what she had done and told Stephen it looked like a snake! :)  We laughed so hard about that!!!

Silly little grin

Lily Kate has started saying some of the sweetest prayers at night.  They will last a long time because she thanks Jesus for everything she can think of (of course, that's the way it is supposed to be, right? :) )  She has thanked Jesus for going pee pee and stinkie in the potty, getting new play dough to use at Pop and Lalee's house, Daddy's brown hair, her Pinkie (a pink flamingo she sleeps with every night) for being pink and not brown, her Tickles' foot prints (a dog she sleeps with at night), her play refrigerator, that the lion didn't come and get her umbrella while she was sleeping last night ... all kinds of things!  It is just too sweet!

She started preschool last month (two days a week) and she absolutely LOVES it.  On her first day of school she had a little girl to hit her and she still hasn't forgotten it.  Most days she will say, "Zyon didn't hit me at school today" like that is the biggest surprise.  She has loved doing all the crafts and activities except for the finger painting ... her teachers said that she doesn't like it when her hands are dirty so that's not her favorite activity. :)  Noah goes to the same preschool on the same days but they are in different classes.  They get to see each other on the playground outside and when they go to chapel and library.  Everyone at the school thinks it is so funny how Lily Kate and Noah play together ... they really are the best of friends-they play hard and they fight hard but they always can work it out and really love each other. 

Lily Kate has still said several funny things about the "baby in my belly."  She wondered if the baby was in my belly button - well, she called it "that hole right there."  She also asked one day after she had gotten a spanking if the baby was going to get a spanking with the spanky spoon.  (I'm guessing she didn't want the baby to be left out!)   She told Stephen and I last night that her name isn't Lily Kate , it is "Big Sister."  How precious!

How can you not love that face?!?!

These are such fun days with my little 2 year old ... I'm trying to enjoy every. single. minute. of our time together before this sweet little baby comes to join us.  I'm so thankful for this precious little girl that the Lord has blessed us with!!

Such a little baby ... such a BIG blessing!

We are so excited to announce Lily Kate is going to be a BIG sister!!  Baby Kimbrell #2 is on its way - I am due May 8th.  Since I am going to have a c-section, I will probably have the baby the week before but we will determine that date a little later.  I found out I was pregnant on August 30th.  I had been suspecting that I was pregnant for a few days and finally I went and got the test on the 30th and took it right away.  I didn't even bother with the ones with "lines" ... I wanted to either see "pregnant" or "not pregnant."

After seeing "pregnant" I just sat on the floor and cried ... typically emotional pregnant lady! :)  Of course I had to get in the car right away and go to tell Stephen.  I cried the whole way to the church ... Lily Kate kept asking me, "Mommy, what's wrong?"  I would tell her that I was ok and then she asked me, "Are you happy?" and I said that I was very happy.  Even though Lily Kate didn't know what was going on, it was a special moment for me I hope to never forget.  For months, I had planned all these different ways to tell Stephen I was pregnant ... but when it came down to it, I just walked in his office and held up the pregnancy test.  Haha!!  He was so excited too!  And of course ... I cried some more! :) 
Over the next week we told my parents and Papa & Gran, Stephen's parents, our siblings, and just a couple of close friends.  I went to the doctor for the first time on September 12 and had an ultrasound and found out I was just 6 weeks along.  We told more friends and family as well as our church family this past weekend.  And ... most importantly, we told Lily Kate last night.  I didn't want to tell her until we were ready for everyone to know because, let's face it, 2 year olds don't know how to keep secrets! :) 

She doesn't even know how her world will be changing :)

It probably wasn't the best night to tell her and it defiantly wasn't the "perfect moment" like I had planned out in my head for months but ... it was still so sweet.  We had gotten home from going to Taco Bell with friends after church and Lily Kate was running a low grade temperature so she was laying in the bed with us ... Stephen told her that I was going to have a baby and then I told her I had a baby in my belly.  She immediately said that the baby was a boy and named "Keke."  When we told her she was going to be a "big sister" she said, "But, I am not a big girl, I'm still little."  She then went on to talk about all the things she could do when she was a big girl ... like reach the cheetos and eat them all the time. Haha!!!  She makes us laugh constantly and I can't wait to see how she will be with a little baby.  


Such a little model :)

I have been sssooo sick with this pregnancy.  With Lily Kate I was very nauseated but I didn't throw up - this time I am constantly nauseated and throwing up almost daily.  It has been a lot harder this time around ... BUT I am still so, so thankful for this little baby that the Lord has blessed us with.  He has taught us so many lessons throughout the past year with my Mom and trying to have baby #2.  And as always, He has been so faithful and reminded me over and over that HIS timing is perfect.  Maybe I will be brave enough to post my baby belly progress ... I really want to keep up with things better.  Hopefully I will begin to feel better and feel like actually being productive! :)


She makes me laugh :)

"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coing down from the Father of light, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" James 1:17

Mom has set up a wonderful website to help keep everyone updated about what is going on with her. Check out www.caringbridge.org/visit/lauriehorne

I think yesterday was the first day that it hit me with full force that my Mom could possibly have Stage 4 cancer. But, once again the Lord had so much to teach me yesterday. I spent a lot of my afternoon just praying and reading my Bible and crying out to the Lord ... after finding out that 3 out of the 5 lymph nodes they took out tested positive for cancer, I already felt defeated and almost hopeless that it would be in the liver as well. But, the Lord reminded me that it doesn't matter what prognosis the doctors give my Mom ... HE is in control!! HE is the ultimate Healer and she is in HIS hands. I don't want any words the doctors say to have control over my emotions. The Lord comforted me with so many verses, here are a few ...

Psalm 147:3 "He healeth the borken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds."
Jeremiah 32:37 "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me?"
Psalm 50:15 "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliever thee, and thou shalt glorify me."
Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

I am asking God specifically for a miracle in my Mom's life ... I'm asking Him to work in her life as only He can, that it will stun the doctors and everyone else ... not just because I want my Mom to be well, but because I want to praise Him and thank Him for it. I want His named to be glorified through this situation. Will you help me pray for a miracle-something God-sized? I know without a doubt that He can do it, why not pray with faith, believing it will happen?! Thank you, thank you for the continued support and prayers!

Update on Mom

It is hard to even begin this post ... I feel like the past month has been a blur of hardships and disappointments, one after the other. I never imagined that I would be facing days like this. But, I keep on reminding myself, why wouldn't I? I am not too good for it and I'm not excluded from trials happening in my life.

Last week Mom had a CT scan and bone scan. They wanted to make sure the cancer hadn't spread anywhere else in her body. On Tuesday, she had her port put in and also had four lymph nodes taken out for a biopsy. The doctor told her even if it was in her lymph nodes that would not change her treatment regimen. She was scheduled to start her chemo yesterday and also recieve her test results from last week. Well, when she went in for her treatment (after already having an emotional morning preparing herself to start chemo) her oncologist (Dr. White) said she saw some lesions on her liver that she was concerned about. Dr. White said it could be "nothing that serious" or it could be cancer. So, she is scheduled to have either a biopsy or an ultrasound next week to find out exactly what it is. Dr. White said even if it is cancer, it will not change how she is going to treat her, just like with the lymph nodes. This does however change the schedule that she was on for her treatments which were planned out already so that she would hopefully be feeling good when we fly out on July 4th for Josh's wedding. So ...... to say that we recieved hard news yesterday would be an understatement. It wasn't what we were expecting to hear at all! I felt like Mom had already done a good job of accepting the reality of breast cancer and the treatments that were ahead of her ... and now to hear this news has been almost devasting to her. Does this mean that we don't think God can heal her and protect her and comfort her ... NO! But, as I've said before, it still hurts.

As always, God's Word has been so comforting to us in this time. I got up early Thursday morning to help Mom get ready for her treatments. She was still showering when I got up so I went in the bonus room to read my Bible while I was waiting for her. Normally, I do my devotions while Lily Kate is napping in the afternoon but I knew we would all need some extra strength from the Lord and so I decided to go ahead and have my quiet time. I've been reading through Romans and that morning I was reading Romans 6-8. When I got to Romans 8:28, I couldn't help but tear up and just think about how appropriate that verse was for the day we were going to face. I thought I knew what was going to happen that day, but the Lord had a different plan. He knew that I was going to need to hold on to that verse in a way I hadn't planned on. Hold on to that verse even if Mom does have Stage 4 cancer ... hold on to that verse even if she isn't feeling her best at Josh's wedding ... hold on to that verse during those dark days when we don't know what is around the corner. As I told Mom yesterday, we don't see the big picture like God sees it ... He knows how to use all circumstances to bring glory to His name. And after all, isn't that what our life is about-bringing glory to God?! He doesn't promise us an easy-going, Christian life, but He does promise us not to give us too much than we can handle and to guide us through all of the valleys in life.

Throughout this whole situation, the Lord has used His people to be so encouraging and uplifting to our family. I know we have people all over the country praying for Mom and that is such a good feeling. The simplist words of "I'm praying for you" mean so much more now than they ever have. I know it is the Lord's strength and the prayers of His people that are getting us through these days.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose for them."

On May 6, my brother-Josh, Stephen's brother-Nathan, and my brother's fiancee-Juli, graduated from college at Southeastern. I already had planned for it to be an emotional day for me but finding out about Mom's cancer the day before made it even more emotional! They graduated from the same college Stephen & I graduated from five years ago and there were so many memories that came with that day. I've always been the "overprotective" big sister and just thinking about my little brother graduation from college, getting married, and entering the "real" world is almost overwhelming. I was the sister that yelled at the kids in Little League baseball when their pitch hit my brother who was at bat ... I was the sister who asked my brother a million questions, making sure no one was being mean to him at school ... I was the sister who sat on the edge of my seat at all the soccer/basketball/baseball games while Josh was playing ... I was the sister who interrogated all the girlfriends and made sure they knew that they would answer to me if they hurt my brother ... I still am the sister who prays for my brother all the time and calls him often to give him all the advice I feel like he should have (whether he wants it or not :) ) I'm so thankful that Josh surrendered to the Lord's will and went to Southeastern. He had been working at a church in LaGrange (about 40 minutes from us) for two years and that is where he is going to continue to work. I'm so thankful he & Juli will be close to us and I know the Lord has great plans for their life.

It was even emotional for me to see Nathan graduate. I have to say, from the time I was introduced to Stephen's family, I've always felt like I belonged. They are such a blessing to me and I love them with all my heart. Nathan is so tender-hearted and compassionate and I just love being around him. He lived with us last summer while he interned at our church and I loved it. I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use him.

I was so proud of Juli and being able to see her graduate. When I think how awesome it is that God brought her all the way from California to a little college in North Carolina and she ended up meeting my brother and will soon be his wife, it just amazes me. I always wanted a sister growing up ... the Lord already gave me a wonderful sister-in-law, Maria (Stephen's sister) and now I am getting another one! I am so thankful to have Juli in our family and look forward to spending many family vacations and holidays together and letting her and Uncle Josh babysit Lily Kate ALOT!! :)

We were so excited to get to see Stephen's family and to have them stay with us that weekend and to finally get to meet Juli's family from California. It was defiantly interesting trying to have a two year old sit through a graduation service but we had lots of arms to pass her around to. :)

I love Stephen's brother, David's face in this picture ... :)

Enjoying time with Grandaddy

Getting ready to get their diploma

Sitting with Lalee & Pop

Congrats Josh!!!!!
Your sister is so proud of the man you have become!!!

Way to go Nathan!!!!

We love you Uncle Nay Nay

Yay for Juli!!!!

You did great!!!!!
Josh & Juli

My wonderful family! :)

Josh & Juli with Papa & Gran

Josh & Juli with their nieces

My sweet Kimbrell family :)

All the kids ... we all have SO much fun together and I just LOVE it!!!

Me & my "little" brother ... I love him & I'm so thankful for the friendship we have!

SO thankful for the wonderful day the Lord blessed us with ... great memoires!!

Events of April 2011

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the texts, emails, messages, etc in response to my post about Mom. I can't even begin to express how much it means to me to have your prayers and encouragement. This whole situation has defiantly been teaching me how to be able to help and encourage others when they are going through tough time because I know how much I have need encouragement! Thank you, thank you!!!

Well, I wanted to do a recap of some events that we had going on in April. I was excited when I finally found an extra cord to my camera to hook up to my computer while I was cleaning out my garage ... and I also had a few reminders (thanks Keri) that I actually had a blog! :) Be prepared ... I'm including lots of pictures and fun things that I want to be able to remember ! :)

On April 1, we had a teen activity to Monster Truck Rally at the RBC Center in Raleigh. I had so many people ask me at church if I was going on that activity and if I would even enjoy it ... let me just say, I LOVE Monster Truck Rallies!!! :) My love for them started back in college-Stephen was a youth pastor for 3 years while we were in college and so he took the kids to two Monster Truck Rallies while we were there. Right before we were going to go the first time, I was so mad that we were going. I thought it was going to be boring and that there was just going to be a bunch of rednecks there. So, I packed a book to read and wore a cute outfit with pearls (I was going to bring a little class to the place ;) ) and I was expecting to despise the show. Well ..... once I got there and the show started I LOVED it!!! I mean, like screaming and yelling for the trucks love it!! And so, when Stephen announced we were going again I was SO excited!!

Lily Kate's BFF, Noah spent the night with us one Friday night while Chip & Amy were out of town. They had SO much fun ... and kept me really busy! :) They were so sweet together and I couldn't help take a few pictures of them together!!

Geting ready to watch Toy Story 3
You better watch it Noah!!!! :)

So, so precious ... best friends!

Lily Kate and I stayed with the Coghill family one night while Preacher was out of town to help with little baby Matthew and all the other kids. We had a great time and Lily Kate LOVED getting to play with all the Coghills.
Such sweeties!

Matthew is just so adorable and such a sweet baby!!! Love Him!

On some Sunday mornings Lily Kate will ride on the bus with her Daddy while I am practicing the music before church. She loves riding on the bus with her Daddy.

Making some good memories with Daddy!

We had a great Easter weekend. On the Friday night before Easter, the Register family came over and we had a little egg hunt in the back yard for Lily Kate & Noah. Stephen had mowed the grass that morning and then it rained that afternoon so there was a lot of wet grass in the yard when we went out there later that evening. So ... of course my little priss pot would not walk in the grass with sandals on, I had to get her closed toe shoes, and then she wouldn't pick up an egg that had grass on it. But, they were still so cute together finding the eggs and then checking out the surprises inside!

Someone is excited!! :)

Love the ears, Noah!!

We went to my parents house for Sunday lunch on Easter and Lily Kate got 2 Easter baskets and had another little Easter egg hunt. Of course, out of her two baskets, her favorite item was the chapstick!!

Getting some help from Pop
She had to wear closed toe shoes on this day too ... ha! :)
I just LOVE this picture!
Pictures with Uncle Josh & Aunt Juli


All the girls! :)
Lily Kate with Pop & Lalee

Stephen spoke at Southeastern's Spring Banquet on April 29th. I was so grateful to get to be there because it was Josh & Nathan's last banquet. Plus, we got to see all of our kids from Pleasant Acres. The theme was "Twilight in Central Park." Everything was decorated so nice and it was a wonderful banquet. The junior class did an awesome job putting everything together. We had such a great night ... I kept on having to remind myself that I was a wife, mom, and adult and not a college student having fun. :) (Special thanks to Julie for keeping Lily Kate ... she had SSOO much fun!)

With Sam, Ashley, & Juli

Riding in the taxi ... hanging out the sunroof :)

Me & Haley

With Sam & Dominique

Me & Stephen with my brother, Josh, & his fiancee, Juli and with Stephen's brother, Nathan, and his girlfriend, Haley .... LOVE my family so much!!!

Me & Stephen with our kids from Pleasant Acres - couldn't be more thankful for them and all that they mean to us With Nathan & Haley :)

A few random pictures from the month ....

Teaching them early ...

I asked her to smile ... this is what I get!! :)

Someone likes the bling-bling ... just like Mommy!!!!

Playing before Sunday school

Well, if you have made it to the end of this post, go get yourself a Coke & a snack because I know it was a long one!! :)