December 1, 2009 · 6:00 am

Return from Snow Mountain.

I wanted to blog yesterday.  Really, I did.  I just decided to enjoy breathing instead. 

We spent Thanksgiving with my father-in-law in Breckenridge, Colorado where we were a gazillion feet above sea level.  I’m sure one eventually grows accustomed to the elevation and dry cold.  And, it is beautiful enough to stick it out and, at least, give living there a try.  In other words, I probably need a month long vacation there next time. 

To let my body adjust, you understand.

Everyone skied save me. 

The kids spent three days in ski school.  Parents were encouraged to not stay and watch; however, we did peek a time or ten.  Kris observed the instructor orchestrating a red light/green light game with Anna’s class to develop their stopping skills.  He overheard Anna yell, “I don’t want red lights, JUST GIVE ME GREEN!”  I know you find this difficult to imagine.  She had a great time still.

She especially enjoyed herself when she was finally allowed to ski down “Snow Mountain.”  Snow Mountain is any mountain.  With snow. 

And, it became clear that being spotted while ski school was in session wasn’t the best idea, given Anna’s response to the camera.

John Henry learned a lot.  He says he’s ready for snowboarding, but we certainly aren’t.

He was most excited to finally get to ski with Kris and show off his new skills.

I was most excited about drinking my weight in hot chocolate and reading Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love.  Oh, and watching these two.

Kris suggested we return to Snow Mountain in February or March.  Um, we are having a baby then. 

“Oh, yeah.” 

And, these are things I don’t forget. 

Nor do I forget how blessed I really am.

3 Comments

Filed under gratitude, Kid Stuff, Randomness

Tagged as , , , ,

November 25, 2009 · 6:00 am

Oh These Blessings.

Dear Mom,

I am glad that your haveing a baby.  I love you with all my hart.  Your the best mom ever.  You are my favrit mom.

Love

John Henry

Sorry, but the “best mom ever” title is taken.  John Henry said so.

I’m so thankful for a son who is thoughtful.

I’m thankful for a daughter who makes me laugh.

I’m thankful for a baby boy who kicks my ribs in the middle of the night.

I’m thankful for a husband who always strives to do what is right.

And, most of all, I’m thankful for a King who knows me by name.

Enjoy the people God has placed in your life this Thanksgiving holiday. 

I’m going to enjoy mine.

Happy Thanksgiving!

5 Comments

Filed under gratitude, Kid Stuff, Motherhood, Relationships

Tagged as , , , ,

November 24, 2009 · 9:46 am

Spelling With Anna.

Anna:  Mom, how do you spell “chudder”?

Me:  Spell what?

Anna:  Chudder!

Me:  Chudder is not a word.

Anna:  Yes, Mom.  Chudder!

Me:  What are you trying to write, Anna?

Anna:  Anna and John Henry love each chudder.

Me:  Okay.  C-H-U-D-D-E-R.

6 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff

Tagged as ,

November 23, 2009 · 6:00 am

The Tapestry Project

I gotta tell you.  It just feels good to do something that’s not all about me or my family.  Something that even gets me out of my comfort zone.

This was just my experience last week at The Tapestry Project.  The Tapestry’s website explains it “is an organization that is revitalizing a deteriorating neighborhood through renovation, restoration, and connecting people in need to the resources that will equip them to thrive as a community. The vision is to create model for urban development and community transformation for women, children and families in crisis all across Oklahoma City.”

It’s simply AMAZING what Amy Newberry and her husband, Joshua, have birthed in this project.  They are both incredible examples of what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

I served Tapestry with a few of my bible study peeps.  You can see a few pictures from our day by visiting Tapestry’s blog.  I really hate that the photo Cindy Beall took of me with a broom in my hand didn’t make the post.  But, I did make sure she sent it to my husband.  You know….for the shock factor and all.

Praying over a few of the young ladies living in apartments provided by Tapestry was overwhelming but so dang fulfilling.  We prayed over specific needs they had.  I wanted to just bring one pregnant, 17 year old girl named Sarah home with me.  But, I became increasingly aware that Sarah needs my friendship and impartation of Christ more than anything.  Amy Newberry commented, “I know their needs seem overwhelming.  But they really need me to just sit on their porch steps, drink their coffee, and be a little heaven on earth to them.” 

I think, at times, we let ourselves get so overwhelmed at such large needs, that we fail to give the GREATEST gift we can give:  Christ.

I’ll never forget Amy’s words.

And, I’m very excited about serving there again. 

With my family – including my two children. 

Who will learn from a very young age that there is a world of hurting people.  And, oh what joy comes from being the hands and feet of Christ.

2 Comments

Filed under giving, making an impact

Tagged as , , , ,

November 20, 2009 · 6:00 am

And, I’m Allergic to Mopping Floors.

I know sometimes you all my mom wonders, “What happened to Dusty’s blog yesterday?”  I have no really valid excuse.  I could say I was busy.  Or tired.  But, then there are those bloggers who have their posts prepared more than a week at a time. 

I wish I was one of them. 

I’m not.  But, I might be one day.

So, all this to say….

Sorry, Mom.

In other news, John Henry received a badge yesterday for Cub Scouts.

Then, we headed out for a nature hike to meet another Cub Scout requirement.  Little sister came along.

I’m proud of his commitment to his pack. 

Later that evening, Anna had her school music program.  We celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one night.  She has insisted on growing out her bangs.  This, we women understand, is a painful process at any age.  To be honest, I prefer my little girl with bangs.  They are just so Anna to me.  But, she has other ideas and means of wearing her hair as noticed in this picture before her pre-school performance.

Prior to her musical debut, I learned she told her teacher that morning she was allergic to books. 

“So, I can’t read today.”

And, there ya go.

I want to tell you all about my experience at the Tapestry Project in downtown Oklahoma City.  Let’s meet back here next week.

Have a great weekend!

Love ya.  Mean it.

3 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff

Tagged as , , , , ,

November 18, 2009 · 6:00 am

Lock Up Your Sparkly Shoes.

The names have been changed to protect the innocent.  Except Anna’s.  For, she is not innocent.

So, Anna brings home a headband from school that is clearly not hers. 

Me:  “Anna, where did you get this?”

Anna:  “I found it on the ground at school.”

Me:  And who does it belong to?

Anna:  “Hmm.  It might belong to Lucy.”

I think you all know what conversation followed.   The whole taking things that don’t belong to you, etc, etc.  And, I explained to her how she would need to return said headband to Lucy with a heartfelt “I’m sorry.”

She responds…

Anna:  “Well, at least I didn’t take Susie’s new sparkly shoes she got from a garage sale.”

Lord Jesus, help me.

15 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, parenting

Tagged as , ,

November 17, 2009 · 6:00 am

Commitments.

After not getting his badge at a Camporee (that I didn’t sign us up to attend because of previous obligations), John Henry said, “I quit Cub Scouts.”

A lengthy conversation followed about commitment.  I explained to him the importance of fulfilling commitments.  He had committed his first grade year to Cub Scouts.  He needed to finish it.

I can remember when I was in the fifth grade I wanted to play an instrument in band.  That instrument?  The saxophone.  Yes, little ‘ol me on the sax.  My parents paid a pretty penny for that instrument.  In return, I had to commit to play through ninth grade.  It was a breeze to maintain my commitment until ninth grade.

When it suddenly lost every bit of the cool factor.

But Barbara Goss wasn’t going to cave and bail me out.  My momma wasn’t about to let me back out of my promise. 

(Although, it probably would have made her life much easier as a parent.)

So, with great gnashing of teeth, I finished playing that durn thing through ninth grade. 

And, while I was upset with my mother for making me finish at the time, I’m grateful for the value in her lesson. 

Finish what you start.

As for John Henry, he did earn that badge.  And, he couldn’t be prouder.

Are you instilling this virtue in your children?

5 Comments

Filed under parenting, Virtue

Tagged as , , , ,

November 16, 2009 · 6:00 am

Marriage And Growing A Person.

This weekend, I used Kris’ Marriott points that he accumulates when he flies to luxurious vacation spots by working so hard for the family.  After I arranged for the kids to spend the weekend with Falon and Janet (our friends and most awesome babysitters), I surprised him with a night downtown the big OKC.  We woke up to the glorious phenomenon known as room service, and then, I sent Kris to an already scheduled massage at the spa.

Sorry, men.  I’m taken. 

I need not gloat that much in my wifely awesomeness.  I realized it had been entirely too long since I did something special for Kris.  I recognized I was becoming disgruntled with me not being the center of his attention.  With me not being catered to or lavished with some fun surprise.  I was focusing on me.  After all, I AM growing a person, right? 

In my discontentedness, I began to evaluate myself as a spouse.  Have I thought beyond myself lately to do anything out of the ordinary for Kris? 

I knew the answer. 

So, I made a choice to step outside myself, my wants, my stuff and do something all about him.  Because, I love him.  I love being married to him.  HE matters.

In serving my husband this way, my discontentment seemed to fade.  Because, I served him.  This is true in most every area of our life.  When we step outside of our stuff and serve something or somebody else, we take our eyes off of that stuff. 

And, we become content – fulfilled – again.

It’s how Jesus Christ lived His life.  He so loved us that HE gave.

It was a great time together.  He makes me laugh.  Really laugh.  When I asked him Saturday night to carry me to bed, he responded this way, despite the look of fear in his eyes:

“Uh, okay.  Just let me stretch a little first.”

Oh, I love that man.

4 Comments

Filed under giving, gratitude, Love, Marriage, pregnancy

Tagged as , , , , , ,

November 13, 2009 · 6:00 am

My Beautiful Core-Ray-Shuns.

JH - Anna 2006 wp

It’s funny how we notice the mispronunciations of words our children make, but hardly notice when they start pronouncing them correctly.  Kind of like when Anna used to call a chip a “bip.”  When did that stop?

I miss that.

Presently, John Henry still pronounces “important” as “import-nant.” 

I don’t correct him.  Not like I used to.  It’s the last bit of little boy left in him. 

And, I hope Anna continues to pronounce “created” as “core-rated.” 

It makes me smile every time she says, “God core-rated everything.”

Learning about helping others in her pre-school class, she had to tell her teacher something she helps do.  Her answer?  “I help my dad put chalk by the airplane.” 

They are actually called chocks.  But, we won’t dare correct her.

What does or did your little one mispronounce that always makes you smile?

16 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff

Tagged as , ,

November 12, 2009 · 6:00 am

I Was On Fire!

Growing a person has been going well with the exception of the recent onset of this burning sensation in my chest better known as heartburn.

For the love.

Initially, I refused to believe that my food choices could possibly contribute to this annoying, sleepless irritation.  After all, why would I want to give up my diet of unlimited chips and queso and Junior Mints?  I mean, who does that? 

Apparently me. 

That’s right folks.  I’m on day three of eating healthy.  And, inhaling Zantac and Tums.  If I make it to the weekend choosing an apple over that dark chocolate goodness with a soft minty center, then that is nothing short of a miracle.

And, my sweet John Henry has already asked me twice, “Mom, are you hurting?”  He follows it up with, “I prayed for you.”

Seriously, could I be more blessed?  My kids are such sweet reminders that regardless of my current discomfort, I’m going to have another little person who lights up my world.

But, then?  Momma is done.  D-O-N-E.  I will work those particulars out with Mr. Takle at a later, more private setting.  No sense in frightening him right now.  Especially, since he will eventually read this.  And, I’m sure he’d prefer me not discuss such personal matters here.  If I had a dollar for every time he’s followed up a comment or situation with “Do NOT blog or Twitter this”…..Well, I’d have a lot of dollars.

Oh, the stories I could tell.

But won’t.

‘Cause I’m pretty fond of being married.

Know what I mean?

3 Comments

Filed under Kid Stuff, Marriage, pregnancy

Tagged as , , , , ,