Our Family is Expanding

I wanted to share with you all some exciting news. Our family is growing!  Do you see these beautiful people?

This is N's younger sister and her family.  For years they struggled to have a child.  Then they were blessed with that adorable girl, H-J.  I can tell you from first hand knowledge that she's all personality, smiles and drooly kisses.  Even though she was only 8 months, I'm positive she said, "love you Aunt Kelly."  Memories, they are funny things aren't they. 

She's going to be a big sister!  To these two:

That's right folks, there are two.  I'm so excited for them.  Not only because I get to be an Aunt that loves on them and spoils them rotten, I'm also excited because I know Amanda and Brian will be amazing parents to twins.  Actually, when these two arrive, they'll have three kids under age 2. 

In all honesty, that kind of math is like trying to write the number infinity.

I'll also be doing much praying and sending of Starbucks gift cards to Amanda and Brian. 

Congratulations Amanda and Brian!  I've watched you from newlyweds to becoming parents.  You've kept your humor and wit and yet turned into such an amazing couple.  N and I are so thrilled for you.  We know God has given you this overwhelming blessing because of the parents you are to H-J.  He has heard the desires of your heart and answered in multitude!  We can't wait to celebrate with you.  Not to mention let you catch a couple naps while you're here.  We think you're going to need to store some of that rest.

We will be praying for you on this journey to becoming a family of 5.  You've finally caught up with us, at warp speed.  We love all 5 of you. 

Our First Year of School is Over

Yesterday Zoe and I went to her final preschool class.  They had a luau for the kids.  Zoe wore a floral skort, orange shirt and purple flower in her hair.  The teachers wore grass skirts!  It was such a fun time.

As I watched Zoe go from hitting the pinata, to finding treasure in the rice table and then listening to a story, my heart filled with pride.  I think as a parent you tend to forget how far they've come.  There are times when I'm doing something for Zoe that I forget how old she really is and how far she has come.

I can guarantee 4 years ago if you would've told me she'd be having her last day of preschool I wouldn't have believed you.  We were still measuring her actual age vs her corrected age, her height and weight were so little they didn't fit on the chart and she was still struggling to thrive.

Now she's very verbal, one of the taller kids in her class, incredibly social and witty.  As I watched her interact with her friends, I saw her as the little girl she is.  The girl who is learning her independence and is slowly getting smarter than her mamma.  If I'm being honest, she's already smarter with electronics then I am.

We've closed the chapter on her first year of school.  We've dealt with mean girls and leaving mom.  We have come through with flying colors.  I'm so proud of the girl she's growing up to be.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for her.  I know she will exceed any dreams I had for her because, at age 4, she's already exceeded anything I could've imagined.

The Tween Years Have Begun

D is set to graduate from the sixth grade in exactly 22 days.  It's a milestone that is both a welcomed celebration and, quite frankly, scary.  When N and I started dating, she was the same age Zoe is now.  I'm pretty sure it hasn't been 7 years that have flown by.  It can't be!  I'm pretty sure I'm still 25.

When I look at D, she no longer has baby teeth, so something must've happened.  Last night proved that things will never be the same. 

Around 6:00 N got a text message that said, "I finally got my phone!" 

D finally, finally, FINALLY got a phone. 

We are finally, finally, FINALLY going to be doing most of our communication with D via text.  I'm not sure I'm prepared for that. 

I guess I btr get used 2 writing like this.  I thought today would be a Text Lingo 101 for parents of tweens!

LTHTT = Laughing Too Hard To Type
LUSM = Love yoU So Much
BRB = Be Right Back
N = No (because the extra letter is too troubling to include)
N-A-Y-L = in awhile
N/M = Nothing Much
N2MJCHBU = Not too much, just chilling.  How about you?
ne = Any
ne-wayz = Anyways
L8R = Later
LOLA = Laugh Out Loud Again
TYVM = Thank You Very Much

I know there are probably a million more that I don't know or don't want to know about.  We are very fortunate to have a daughter who makes good choices.  Even though we will now begin to speak in a totally different language to each other, I know the heart of our girl.  Her heart is gr8.

TTYL = Talk to you later!

Wickedly Phenomenal

My mom's favorite movie, for as long as I've known her, is the Wizard of Oz.  My nickname was even munchkin.  Every now and then I'll find something that is from the movie and have to get it for her.  Recently there was a line of fabric that was from the movie, so she planned on making a quilt.   

In the spring of 2010 it was announced that as part of the Best of Broadway package coming to Spokane, Wicked would be in the line-up. 

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest with excitement.  I knew I had to get tickets to see this show for my mom and I.  Not only is Broadway one of her favorite things, but to combine that with the Land of Oz, is perfection.  Tickets didn't go on sale for a year.  As a sign, they went on sale the day before her birthday.  I got two seats in the second the last row on the floor.  They were the best available 10 minutes after the ticket booth opened!  I made up a poem and gave that to her on her actual birthday.  We've been excited ever since.

One of the things about my mom is that life never really goes the way she has planned.  She always picks the longest line at the grocery store, always gets people talking to her about their life story when she's just trying to grab that carton of yogurt, etc.  Her life always has twists.  We decided to get there very early to ensure that nothing went wrong. 

As we walked in the door to the auditorium, we were led to row AA.  Two people were sitting on the end, but beyond that the row was empty.  As I started looking at the numbers I realized the two people in the row were actually in our seats.  I knew it was my mom's fortune!  I went up to the nice couple with the biggest smile I could muster and said, "Um, I think you're in our seats."

The lady looked at me and said, "we planned that."  I wasn't sure how to respond, so she continued, "you see, I have a digestive problem and I need to be close to this exit.  We have two tickets in row Q, near the middle, would you be willing to switch with us?  Are you okay with that?" 

"OF COURSE!" was our response.  They seemed genuinely concerned that we'd be upset.  We switched tickets and ran before they changed their minds!  We moved up 10 rows and from the outside of the auditorium to the middle.  I've never been more pleased to hear of someone else's digestive issues.  See how happy we were?

I know it's a bit blurry, but you see that gold looking blur in the back?  That's the row we were supposed to be in.  It was like my mom's birthday came twice this year!

We were not disappointed!  Natalie Daradich and Anne Brummel did an amazing job. 

It was funny, clever, sweet and absolutely not what we expected.  Who knew Wicked was a story of friendship.  The set was unbelievable.  Normally productions come in two days prior to the start of the show's run.  Wicked came in 10 days prior.  It was amazing to see all the set changes and all the props.  If you get the chance, please go.  You won't regret it.  Maybe you'll even get a lady with digestive issues that will upgrade your seats too!

It was the perfect night, with the perfect companion.  Thanks Mom for being born and loving Wizard of Oz.  We now have a new favorite musical. 

Her Heart

One thing that is important to me is ensuring that my children have a firm foundation in Jesus. I grew up in a home that was centered on Christ. My best friends weren’t in high school, they were in youth group. If I wasn’t home, it was very likely I was at church either volunteering for some ministry or participating in one.

Don’t misunderstand, I had moments growing up where I questioned what I believed and eventually made my faith my own. However, without the foundation my home provided, I’m not sure where I would be today.

Not only are church and the ministries there important to us, so is having Christ present in everything we do. I see the struggles D and E face through school, I hear about all the ways they take Christ out of school and having Zoe go to a Christian school was paramount to both N and me. We’d love for D & E to go to one too, but at this point there are many hurdles to cross before that can happen.

I don’t believe that going to a Christian school will eliminate any struggles she will face. There will always be mean girls, peer pressure and all the things kids face today. What I love is that they put their foundation in the same Jesus we do. I hear about all the pressures of the world and I’m unsure how children face things without Jesus. Actually I’m unsure how anyone can face life’s struggles without Jesus.

Already, at age 4, she’s facing some of those pressures. There are cliques in preschool. There are already mean girls. At almost every class one of these girls seeks Zoe out to tell her that she’s no t that girl’s friend. My girl wears her heart on her sleeve. These things hurt her and they certainly hurt this mamma too. I will never understand mean girls. I will never understand ceasing a friendship for no reason. I’ve been on the receiving end and it’s a wound that really never goes away.

Here’s where I see how awesome my Zoe is. She is hurt by their words and she tells me about it. Then she finds another friend to play with or she makes a new friend. All is forgotten because she continues to love with her whole heart. She continues because that’s who she is. She doesn’t let the mean girls stop her.

At night, she prays for her friends. All of them. Even the ones that tell her they aren’t her friend. Because she continues to care and continues to love. In that moment, I see Jesus in her. I know the foundation she has will carry her through life, even with the mean girls. As I hold her close, I pray for her heart. Not only is Jesus working in her, but He’s using her in my life as well.

Thirteen

In May 1998 I was home from college, applying for a summer job with a local university and awaiting the arrival of my nephew.  My sister was pregnant and she timed it perfectly so I could be home for the birth.

On the evening of May 18th we were put on alert that she was having contractions.  By midnight, my sister and brother-in-law were at the hospital.  The family gathered around as the first grandson/nephew was to arrive. 

It was an electric time.  One of the few nights I remember very vividly.  As we approched morning on May 19th, he made his arrival. 

MJ was the sweetest thing I had ever seen.  I was at my sister's house constantly to visit with him, to love on him and to soak him in before I went back to college.

I've been able to love MJ freely and I couldn't be more proud of him.  From before he could talk, hockey has been his interest.  We would go to games and he would sit and cheer with me.  When he started playing, there's been no stopping him. 

I've traveled to Canada to watch him play.  I've watched his hair go from brown to platinum blonde as his teams have made it to nationals.  I've been excited as he's been recruited by a team in Canada. 

I've watched him mature into an amazing, young man.

MJ,

You brighten a room even before you enter it.  Your heart and your character shine through as I watch you interact with friends, your brothers, your cousins and crazy kids at VBS.  You are a unique blend of coolness and compassion.  I am so blessed to call you nephew.  You brighten my life in ways that I never could have imagined.  You've also puked on me more times than I can remember. 

Happy 13th birthday!  You're almost taller than me, you're definitely blonder than me and you continue to bring a smile to my heart.  I can't wait to see what God has planned for you, not only with your hockey, but with your life.  Your future has endless possibilities, but I know God has destined for you great things because you, MJ, are great.

I love you,
Aunt Kelly

Naked

Saturday was a busy, sunny day in our house.  I ran my last long run of the training season and came home to an antsy bunch of people.  I bribed N with some time in the hot tub if he agreed to go to the YMCA with us.  I knew he couldn't say no to the offer.  So when we arrived at the YMCA I told him it also included hot tub time for me too. 

D is a fish.  The girl will spend all her time doing sommersaults, hand stands and diving into the pool.  One of her favorite things is to go to the lap pool and do laps with me.  I got out of the 100 degree hot tub and entered the 69 degree lap pool.  It was like hot and cold therapy for my legs.  I think it actually worked, I wasn't too sore after the 10 mile run that morning!

While we were going from the glorious hot tub to the artic lap pool, N was taking Zoe around the kid's pool.  If D's a fish, Zoe's a mermaid.  She loves to be held as she swims around the pool and likes to blow bubbles.  Zoe usually gets on N's back, like a piggy back ride and then bounce all around the pool. 

Yesterday Zoe asked Grandma if they could go to the YMCA pool.  Grandma told her that she didn't have a card to get in.  Zoe was pretty sure that I would share mine with Grandma.  Grandma then told her that she didn't have a swimming suit to wear.

Zoe told her, "just go naked like daddy." 

Apparently going shirtless is going naked and it's okay for everyone.  I'm sure N appreciates Zoe's rendition of his swimming attire.