Only in Texas

Only in Texas...

* ... can you have a last minute fish fry and at least 15 people come over with the "sides"

* ... can you see all of your friends that you have known for over 10 and even some over 20 years!

* ... can you wave at every car that passes by and they wave back with a smile

* ... can you drive for 4 hours and not even realize it

* ... can you eat more than you ever thought possible

* ... can you hang out at the neighbors house as much as your own

* ... can you listen and sing so loud to country music and feel right at home

* ... can you stop and get a large Sonic drink for 50 cents during happy hour

* ... can you relive most of your childhood memories in a 5 mile radius (well mine at least)

* ... can you see someone you know at every stop in your home town

* ... can you realize how much you are loved and missed and feel so full when you leave

 

The Graduate

It's official! My baby sister has crossed the stage and moved the tassel. I am so proud of Stephanie and it was an honor to get to be there with her as she moves into this new phase.

 

We were in Texas last week for her graduation and enjoyed seeing lots of family.  (The friends blog will be next)

Uncle Rhett:

Auntie:

The Grandmothers

The Grandfathers:

The Parents: 

The Cousins:

We had such a great time with everyone!

Here is the slide show of our graduation festivities.  Get some popcorn and Reece's Pieces and enjoy the show! Well, that's what I would get, but you can get whatever you like. 

Next Best Thing

The next best thing as a mother who loves her baby girl and treasures every moment, is watching others who love and treasure her in the same way. It is such an understatement to say that it is wonderful being home and having my family get to know Kate and play with her. For them to experience the joy when she waves or the smile when she laughs is exhilerating as her mother. Truly.

Yes, it would be accurate to say that your joys are more full when others experience it with you and motherhood is more sweet when others enjoy your baby just as much as you do.

Uncle Rhett




Aunt Steph
The Mothers
The Children

If there is anything good of living so far away from family, it is that I don't take one minute for granted when we all get to be together.

Found the Nose

Here is the picture of the week. Hopefully it brings a smile or a laugh to your day.

We were at my friend, Keitha's, house and were trying to get some cute pics of everyone. I loved this one and just had to share. We've been learning about the facial features and I guess she has definitely found the nose...with a few bonus features. Nice.

Full Circle

I hope all of the mothers had a lovely and well-deserved day of pampering and no cooking. Kate and I spent my first mother's day in Texas with my mom and away from my husband. I have decided that celebrations just aren't worth spending unless David can be there. However, it was a very special time for my mom, as my brother, Rhett, and sister, Stephanie, were both there to celebrate and honor her as well.

It got me thinking about how our lives really do come full circle. Many of my "mom" friends celebrated Mother's Day with a "break" from the usual routine. We all wanted an hour or two or four without children to delight in the simplicity of anything other than routine. David surprised me on Friday and stayed home to help with Kate and to allow me some time and a bit of freedom. It was such a treat.

My mother, on the other hand, after almost 30 years of having children at home has felt the pain and tender loss of having us all scattered. My brother is away at college as a football player with very few breaks. My sister is about to graduate and enter into the "real world". I am with the first grandchild and live clear across the country - literally. The most precious gift to her wasn't an hour away to get her nails done or to get a massage. The true treasure for her Mother's Day was to have all of her children around one table.

Such a full circle we will follow. One day those children that we so desperately needed an hour away from, are the same ones we will be longing to share just one minute with face to face. One day we will replay the countless memories around in our heads, so as to recreate the joys and tears that we will so yearn for once again. I am thankful we were able to be with my mom this Mother's Day. It was a good reminder for me of how full that circle can be and how quickly it comes.

I hope it was a special one for you.

Did I Miss It?

"What is that?" This would be the phrase that you could have heard me repeat over and over like a broken record while my brother-in-law, his wife and my adorable nephew, Samuel, were visiting us. I love getting together with them, not just because they are family, but because they always bring a new and fresh international perspective with them. 

Background: My brother-in law, Jonathan, met and married Adriana in Columbia and since then have lived in Australia, Houston, New York City, Montreal and now Paris - just to name a few. They both love to challenge the "American" way of doing things and it's quite interesting to explore a new way of thinking. 

Anyone who knows them will tell you that Adriana is 110% dedicated to making the most wholesome and healthy foods for her family, especially her two boys. She definitely inspires me to think beyond the convenient way of doing things and has given me some new recipes to try. 

Over the course of the six days they stayed with us, I learned these top 10 things. 

10. That fennel and water is good for your stomach and digestion. Why use regular water when you can use fennel water?

9. That you can make a bright green vegetable soup that is actually quite tasty and can be loved even by your 10 month old daughter. 

8. That in other countries, crib bedding consists of a fitted sheet and a flat sheet...not quite the same here. They look at you like you like you have 3 eyes when you ask for one. 

7. That the croissants at Le Pain, a French bakery downstairs, taste stale in comparison to the real deal. Go figure, and yet, we think they are good. Hmm...

6. That Jonathan is the fastest reader I know (next to you, Dot). He read 4 entire books during the 6 days. I mean - that's impressive. 

5. That my definition of healthy and their definition of healthy is not even remotely the same.  

4. That even I can become fluent in Spanish after speaking and hearing it for 6 consecutive days. Kate LOVED her "Tia" speaking Spanish to her. She would cackle and wave every time. I loved it too. It looks like she is practicing her "rolling of the r's" in this pic!

3. That Kate doesn't like to share toys with her primo, Samuel. We'll work on that, baby girl. 

2. That 4 adults and 2 babies can live in 900 sq. feet for 6 days straight, while sick, and still manage to love each other. Now, that's family.

and #1...

1. That seeing your favorite celebrity with your sister-in-law is the best memory ever! Plus, I have an eye-witness for those of you who don't believe me. 

In all seriousness, I have learned even more about myself over the last week. At first, I had a difficult time feeling comfortable with who I am and how I do things. Do I use too much sugar? Do I let Kate eat too much salt? Do I cook enough? Do I really think America is a good place to live and raise children? Do I really believe that God is the Triune God and not every road leads to Him, it is only through the gateway of Christ? Do I serve with a servant heart or with a feeling of obligation to be a good hostess? Do I seek my significance in Christ, in the standards of this world or by the approval of man?

All of these questions raced through my mind this week and I almost let it do me in. Sunday, our Pastor continued a series on walking with the Spirit and I was reminded by the biblical truth that it doesn't matter if I make a three course meals or keep a completely organic pantry. Some of you are wondering where "organic" is mentioned in the bible. 

I really learned that - it eternally matters if I am being a vessel for the Spirit to use me and to transform me into an image of Christ. Not even only that, but to encourage others to do the same. Did I miss it? I pray that the Spirit still accomplished His work despite my insecurities this week. I'm thankful for grace. Through grace I am confident that His work was complete. Isn't that such a great truth? 

Happy 10 Months!

Disclaimer: I've been meaning to post this for a week now, but having David's brother and family staying with us for 6 days and then seeing Julia Roberts all have left me a bit distracted. So, here goes. 

Kate turned 10 months a week ago on Sunday, and we celebrated by going to the zoo. We were really going to the zoo anyway (but don't tell her that). We had a great time. Her favorite animals were the monkeys and sea lions. 

A monkey came right up to us at the window and Kate thought that was the best! 

My favorite is and will always be the lion - even though I never see them do anything - they are still so magnificent and powerful to me. 

David loves the bears. Grizzly or polar - either one. 

Kate was a little worn out by the time we left. Ha. 

Kate's new tricks at 10 months are: 

* She can feed herself with the spoon. Of course, it's messy - but she loves to do it (too much, if you ask me) and she turns the spoon upside down in her mouth and lets it hang. Nice. She thinks its funny. I do too right now, although I'm trying to emphasize the "not playing" part.  I love seeing her little sense of humor develop. 

* She is crawling and pulling up to her knees. Not quite to the stand yet. Although she'll straighten her legs and leave her hands on the floor to create more of a '' down dog" position. 

* She loves books. Like she goes crazy and points at them until I read them to her, or she'll just crawl over and start pulling them off the bookshelf.  She is really into the peek-a-boo ones and she likes to lift the flap herself - always eager to turn the page. She especially loves it if the page has a furry animal or a different texture for her to feel.  She memorizes where they are on the page and she goes right for the texture. Amazing how their little brains work already.

* After we put flowers up in her room, I can know ask her where the flower is and she will crawl over to the wall and point to the flower. So smart!

* Not a trick...but she now has 4 teeth in on top and 3 teeth in on the bottom. Whew. I feel as a parent, we either need a badge when we have a child teething  saying "Please be patient - he/she is teething" or one that says " We got one!" when we have just gotten a tooth in...or both! I mean things like this need to be celebrated! Seriously. 

* She has been drinking from her sippy cup for a while, but she loves to chug it now. I mean - really chug it. Like throws it back. I'm not thinking she got that from David or I...right? 

* She is SO into clapping and saying really loud, "yea!" I'm sure you can guess where she got that from. Like she'll crawl and then stop to clap and say "yea", as if she is so proud of herself. Love that. 

* She likes to pull her bows out now and pull her hats off. Stink. 

* We have a rocking cow in her room and I can ask her "Where is the cow" and she either points to it or crawls to it or looks at it. If I ask, "Where is the cows nose?" - she loves to pick cow's nose and then she looks at me and laughs. Then I laugh. It's hysterical. 

* Her favorite songs are: "If you're happy and you know it...", "Head, shoulders knees and toes", of course "Jesus Loves Me", and "A,B,C's". (not sure if those are the official titles, but you get the point)

* Every time David walks in from work, she waves really big and says "haaaayyyyy daaaaaad". It melts my heart even though she doesn't say Momma or Mommy or anything but "mmmmm" yet. 

* She just got a new "princess" ball and we have been playing "roll the ball" this week. She can actually do it - whether she knows what she's doing or not - and just giggles every time. I love it. 

I could go on and on, but you get the point. We are really enjoying this new age and finding it so much more fun as the days go by. Of course, I could do without the yelling and the dropping of food, but we are focusing on the positives and there are so many more of those - so it's easy. 

Actually, I wrote this more for me (and family of course) so that when I actually sit down and fill out her baby book in depth - I'll have a guide and won't forget the fun things. Thanks for indulging me.