This & That

I must admit. I’ve been a bit distracted with Thunder fever and the blog has suffered. Sorry for minimal posting the last couple of weeks. Unfortunately, the Thunder run is over (at least for this season), so I shouldn’t be too distracted again until the Olympics.

No reason for a post today. Just a few random pics and a video from the last couple of weeks. Alexa did graduate from her first series of swimming lessons last week! (Um, that basically means we showed up and got in the pool everyday.)


Alexa with her instructor, Miss Chelsey. She was precious & such an encourager. Alexa is super pumped about her group picture & diploma (in the Ziploc bag).


Working on her “scoops” and kicking. I think she went under the water five times during the two weeks of lessons. That was such a big deal.


Congratulatory tickles from Daddy. Our last lesson was in the evening so Daddy was able to attend and cheer Lil’ A on.

The last feat in swimming was jumping off the diving board. Check out Alexa’s very concerned face watching other lil’ tikes scream and kick as parents coerced them to give the diving board a chance. Alexa mustered up enough courage to walk out onto the board (because we told it bounced like a trampoline). She jumped up and down on it but never jumped in . . . maybe next year!


Alexa enjoyed smelling the roses on OU’s campus during an evening picnic.


She had to be fair and smell the pink rose too.


One of Alexa’s recent favorite attractions on campus is Foucault’s Pendulum. She is racing to see it. You should hear her say pendulum. She sounds it out – “pen-ju-lum.” It is absolutely precious and surprisingly accurate.


Alexa wandered into a “roped off” flower bed. I told her she could walk around but she could not step on the flowers! She enjoyed walking around the red “OU” flowers until the path got a little tight. She was a bit perplexed how to get out without mushing the flowers. Hmmmm . . .


After standing still & looking puzzled she asked if she could poop. I guess she found her perfect spot. She did ask me to leave while she did her business. No worries, she didn’t fertilize anything. She isn’t potty trained yet.

If you have some time on your hands. Here’s a video I captured of Lil’ A reading Dr. Seuss’ “Oh the Places You’ll Go” as well as book about a little mouse named Meatball. Unfortunately, the Dr. Seuss book doesn’t have much of a storyline & Alexa isn’t very familiar with it so you won’t hear her a stunning narrative. But, it’s cute to watch her read “Meatball” (that action starts at 3:49 into the video if you want to skip ahead). 

Alexa reading to herself in the bathroom.

Monday pick-me-up

CELEBRATING DADS!!


I’m one of those incredibly fortunate people who grew up with an amazing father. By no merit of mine, the Lord blessed me with a dad who loved the Lord, followed His ways and desired to lead & serve our family well. He always made time for me whether it was sports, schoolwork or a walk to talk about life. I definitely was his “little girl.” Not only that, but my dad was and is very cool. He still makes time for me, and more importantly, time for his grandchildren who think he’s the greatest Pop ever! I love & respect you deeply dad!! Thank you for always providing the perspective and wisdom I need. Thank you for making me laugh often. And, thank you for investing in my life and the life of our family through your time and prayers.

I can also say many of the same things about my hubby, Chris. He reminded me a lot of my father, and I knew he’d be a great daddy someday. It’s one of the many reasons I was attracted to him in the first place. Alexa Hope adores her Daddy and just can’t understand why he has to go to work and class so often. She’ll simply tell him, “Don’t go!” We wish it were that simple. I love and respect you too, honey! Thank you for all you do to serve our family and balance life so well. You are an amazing daddy and Alexa will say the same things of you when she is older! Here’s a rundown of our Father’s Day photo shoot yesterday. I couldn’t narrow it down to one.

 





Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing fathers out there – including my father-in-law, brother-in-laws and uncles. I wish I could still celebrate with my grandfathers too. The world wouldn’t be the same without great fathers like you!!

Our Lil’ Deeee-light!

Our two-year-old is growing like a weed. She celebrated 27 months on Wednesday. Full of character and boundless energy, Lil’ A chatters endlessly and loves to sing, run, dance, swing, read & pretend – all with occasional stops to eat & sleep (these are minimal however). Alexa Hope makes us laugh and smile every day. I find myself thanking God for the gift of her life so often. She brings joy to us and to the world around her. I’m loving this stage of learning, growing and doing. I love that she is so expressive. She is even starting to obey a bit more – hooray!

Since I have yet to put a scrapbook together for my sweetie, this post is my excuse to share a myriad of pics that never fit into a specific blog post and provide a closer glimpse into the vocabulary of this two-year-old.


ALEXA-isms
- She switches up her pronouns – especially “me” and “her.” For example, “Let my do it” or “Can my go to the park?” When referring to a girl, she’ll say, “Her is crying.”  

- She uses “not” for “don’t” – “I not want to go to church.” or “I want not to wear my piggies.”

- If she doesn’t like what you are about to say, she’ll say, “Don’t say ______ (the specific word she doesn’t want you to say).” This normally has to do with the words, “probably,” “we’ll see,” “maybe” and “please.”  

- When convincing me to rock her more before bed, she’ll say, “Can you rock me just a tiny bit, little bit longer?”

- When I go in to get her from a nap or in the morning, she’ll say, “Mommy, you came back!” She always seems a bit excited and surprised that I actually did come back.

- “Can my go outside in my bare feet?”

- Common phrases – “What’s that about?” & “Look at that!?”
- “Moot” is a booth in a restaurant, “jumpoline” is a trampoline, “puter” is a computer

- She’ll say, “I’m donished” or “I all done” to let me know she is finished eating.

- She likes to abbreviate words – her stuffed donkey is “donk,” confetti bear is “fetti bear” & her doll, Vanessa, is “Nessa”

- “Pee-cause” instead of “because”

- While listening to a CD my sis gave her, she said, “Did Holly give this for me?” 

- We rub her back in the crib at night and sing a song called “Jesus.” When driving home the other day, I looked back and noticed she had her doll laying on her tummy, rubbing her back and singing “Jesus” to her. I also overheard her saying to her doll, “Don’t do that, okay?” Hmmmm, where did she get that from?

- When I experienced my first, full-blown migraine, she walked up to the sofa and asked me with a very concerned look, “Mommy, you not feeling much better?”

- Last weekend in the car, she told us, “I cannot drive (pause). I am little.”

- She loves to pretend she’s going to the store, I’ll always tell her to “Be careful. Wear your seatbelt and watch for trains.” (That’s in honor of my grandmother who always told us that.) When Alexa returns from her pretend grocery run, she’ll say, “I back. I be careful and watch for trains.”

- She thinks she’s a riot when you ask her how old she is and she holds up one finger, grins and says, “I one.”

- She’ll tell you “Daddy is Chris. Mommy is Kelsey and I’m Alexa Bear!” (She does, however, know her full name.)

- She can now sing the books of the Bible and knows several verses. I’m convinced if you can turn anything into a song, you can learn it. She knows the sounds each letter of the alphabet makes and she can count to 15 or 20 (normally skipping 10).


My little monkey. Who doesn’t enjoy climbing a tree after swimming lessons!?





I almost met my demise with this stick but it missed me. WHEW!


Alexa loves to swing high! And, I mean HIGH!!



Splashing at (surprise) an OU fountain. I loved her little tip toes.




With an admirer and lil’ cutie himself, Abram Malone.


A day at the zoo with Cade, Cole & Cali Green. This is less than four weeks after Cali’s heart surgery and she looks amazing!

What a Friend We Have in Jesus!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

The last several months have come with moments of discouragement, confusion, weariness and just plain ol’ spiritual attack. There have been lessons learned, dependency created and character built, but I can’t say I want to repeat them again. All of that to say, the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” has come to mind so often over the past couple of months especially when the Enemy has slyly crept in and whispered lies.

When, in my humanity, I’m prone to stew in bitterness, discouragement & self-pity, the Holy Spirit has so kindly given me this hymn, specifically these lyrics . . . “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer” as well as “Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.” I am going to share the entire hymn below. The lyrics are a powerful reminder that no matter what we’re going through (big or small) – Jesus is our refuge. He is our ever faithful friend. Our strength and perspective can only be found in Him as we humbly kneel before His throne and cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (I Pet. 5:7).


As a side note, we try to teach Alexa a hymn every month. (Okay, so we got hung up on “Trust and Obey” for three months. I guess I was hoping the “obey” part would stick - ha.) “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is the hymn she’s learning this month. There is nothing sweeter than hearing your little two-year-old randomly belt out, in Wal-mart no less, “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear!” I mean, she has no clue what’s she’s singing but we are confident these Truths are sinking into her heart.

And so yesterday, she said to me, “Mommy, I never be discouraged.” I knew this was from either a song or verse we were learning and so I had to run her repertoire through my head. It was from this hymn. Today, she said this phrase to both of us several times throughout the day. For instance, Alexa told daddy she pooped in her swimsuit but then she followed it up with “but I never be discouraged.” Precious! So maybe she is getting it! And once again, the Holy Spirit knew just how deeply I needed to hear this Truth from the blind faith of my two-year-old today. We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer! 

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry,
Everything to God in prayer.
Oh what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior still our refuge;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Joseph Scriven

Monday pick-me-up

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL!


An Oklahoma sunset taken from our back porch about a week ago.
Yes . . . Heaven is for real and I just finished reading the book by the same title. Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo, details his son’s account of his trip to heaven and back during an emergency appendectomy. I know, sounds a bit far-fetched, doesn’t it!?

I remember when this book came out in 2010. I remember watching interviews of Colton Burpo and his parents on all the major networks concerning his account of survival and being in heaven. I thought it was interesting but I didn’t need any convincing Heaven was real. I already strongly believed that. I remember one of the things Colton talked about in the interviews was meeting his older sister in Heaven (whom his mother had miscarried at eight weeks). His parents had never told Colton about the sister he never met and yet he did meet her and could describe details about her. Again, I thought this was very special but I didn’t need any convincing that my miscarried children were in Heaven either – I already strongly believed that as well. So, I didn’t feel a need to read the book.

However, in April of this year, my mother-in-law left me this book and said it was worth reading. Then, on Mother’s Day, my mother mentioned reading the same book and said I would really be encouraged by it as well. I thought to myself, “Okay God . . . I get the hint. I’ll read it.” And, so I did, and they were right.

This short read is a must for anyone who is interested in a closer glimpse of Eternity, and more importantly, of who will be there – namely Jesus Christ. Colton also mentions God, the Holy Spirit as well as seeing family members he never knew like his great-grandfather, Pop, and his sister.

This book makes you anticipate what is to come and it makes it all seem more real than ever – all retold through the matter-of-fact, blind faith of a four-year-old.


Right before a storm on Memorial Day. I was intrigued by the ray of light coming from the hole in the sky.

From reading this book, I walked away with . . .

-- A deeper glimpse of the Father and Son’s heart for their children. Jesus feels more real and intimate to me than He has in a long time, and Colton’s account has reminded me how Christ longs to have a personal relationship with me and the lengths He will go to to show me His love & His goodness. He is listening to my heart!

-- It makes me long to see Jesus face-to-face, to sit with Him, and really know Him. It makes me so grateful to be in relationship with Him and more driven to spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word.

-- It makes me even more eager to hold our two children we’ll never meet this side of Eternity and excited to think my grandparents could already be playing with them even now. It’s incredible to think they all know each other.

If you’re looking for a great way to kick off your summer, this is it! I encourage you to “pick up” this Monday pick-me-up!!

Mind your manners

This is sort of a random but I thought it was worth sharing. I was reading Sooner Magazine – a magazine for OU alumni and private donors – and a picture of a gal I used to work with at OU Public Affairs caught my eye. So, I read the article she was featured in titled “Manners Matter.” Kate Stanton is sort of a modern day Emily Post and as she says, “In a world that moves at warp speed, the golden rules of etiquette always apply.” I agree Kate! And, I hope we can instill these same values in our daughter when the importance of manners seems to be diminishing.

KATE’S TOP TEN TIPS

1.  Show your gratitude. Handwritten thank you notes are simple, cost effective and speak for you for years to come.

2. If you receive an invitation – on paper, verbally or electronically – you must take note of the attendance directions. Not responding to an invitation is telling the hostess you do not care.

3. Napkins stay in your lap during dining. In the event you leave the table, leave the napkin in your chair.

4. Engage with those around you. Come prepared to an event with an open-ended question or two. You never know what chance meeting will lead to your next opportunity or great date.

5. Salt and pepper is a forever couple. When passing, don’t break them up.

6. Nametags belong on the right side of your upper chest.

7. Bread is to be torn one piece at a time – buttered one piece at a time – and enjoyed one piece at a time. If you have a bread plate, place the bread on your bread plate.

8. Cell phones are not actually part of a table’s place setting. Consider giving the people in front of you your attention, not the ones texting you.

9. At receptions, hold your beverage in your left hand to allow you to shake hands easily with your right hand.

10. Be courteous. Open doors. Pick something up for someone. Say “good morning” to the soul you always see at the coffee shop. Life is so precious, and it begins with being kind and respectful to those around you.

Monday pick-me-up

ALEXA’S FIRST SWIM LESSONS!!


She’s been waiting for this day for months. We drive by any swimming pool, and she begs to get in. Well - the day finally arrived! Alexa got to go to the big swimming pool for her first lessons. When we arrived, she ran immediately to the edge of the pool (almost gave me a heart attack). I explained we had to wait our turn and she waited patiently . . . well, almost patiently. She was clearly excited to test the waters. Unfortunately, when we tested the waters, they were frigid – so she wasn’t as eager to dip in as the goose bumps raced up her leg. Regardless, we managed to tolerate the chilly temps for her first thirty minute lesson . . . one of nine. Brrrrr . . .  


HIGHLIGHTS
– Alexa’s vice-like grip around my neck most of the time. I pray her trust in me will improve with more lessons.
- Trying to convince Alexa to lay her head back on my shoulder. She proceeded to tell me and the instructor, “I not like to do that Mommy. I not do it!”
- Encouraging her to blow bubbles in the water (and occasionally getting choked up trying to do it myself). Alexa preferred lapping the chlorinated water up like a dog.
- Seeing her teeth chatter and bottom lip quiver from the ridiculously cold temperature of the water, but instead of complaining, she’d squeal in delight and say, “This is so fun!” She did this numerous times during the lesson.
- When asked what her favorite part was, Alexa said, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Yes, we sang several songs during the lesson and Alexa requested “Twinkle” twice and the instructor gave in to the request.
- My personal highlight – getting out to warm up. Did I mention the water was frigid and I goose bump at 80 degrees!?
- Alexa cried, sobbed and howled when we had to get out. Yes, she was the ONLY child doing this. I guess even though there were aspects she wasn’t so sure of, she did enjoy her first swimming lesson and that was our prayer. Eight more to go!


There’s always time to investigate an acorn before heading home.