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Then and Now

July 20, 2009 by

Exactly one year ago, I took Landon to a small, relatively quiet section of beach and took pictures.  On Friday, I did it again.  In one year’s time, my baby has grown into a toddler brimming with personality and joy.  He is sweetness personified.  And he is growing up much too fast…

THEN - He was 7 months old and enjoyed immensely the taste of sand.

THEN - He was 7 months old and enjoyed immensely the taste of sand.

 

NOW - He's not too fond of the sand, particularly when it lands in his mouth.

NOW - He's 19 months and he's not too fond of the sand, particularly when it lands in his mouth.

THEN - He was still immobile. He hadn't even begun crawling.

THEN - He was still immobile. He hadn't even begun crawling.

NOW - He can walk...

NOW - He can walk...

Run...

Run...

And wave hi to the passing tractor.

And wave hi to the passing tractor.

THEN - He enjoyed showing a little crack at the beach.

THEN - He enjoyed showing a little crack at the beach.

NOW - Well, thankfully not everything has changed!

NOW - Well, thankfully not everything has changed!

THEN - He was funny, sweet and brimming with personality.

THEN - He was funny, sweet and brimming with personality.

NOW - That personality is (loudly) showing up in a thousand different expressions.

NOW - That personality is (loudly) showing up in a thousand different expressions.

Whether THEN or NOW, the fact remains…

He is one handsome little boy.
He is one handsome little boy.

 

Filed Under: blast from the past, Family, Kids, Landon, Life, Motherhood

Week One in Pictures

July 14, 2009 by

We’re having a great time here in the Sunshine State.  I’m already exhausted.  Here are a few pictures of our week so far.  This is a small glimpse of what we’ve been up to.  We’ve had a ball.  You photographers out there – if you have ANY idea why my pictures are turning out so fuzzy, I would LOVE some help because I’m getting frustrated. 

We have one more week of fun in the sun then it’s back to life (sing it with me) back to reality…

Filed Under: Family, Kids, summer fun Tagged With:

Six Years

July 10, 2009 by

Six years ago at this very moment, I became a mommy. 

Six years ago at this very moment suddenly my life wasn’t about me any more.

Six years ago at this very moment I was in the worst pain of my life. But it was quickly followed by the biggest surge of joy I’ve ever known.

Six years ago at this moment, I was baffled, flabbergasted, nervous and excited all at the same time.

Six years ago at this time, I knew exactly what to do even though I had no idea what I was doing.

Six years ago at this exact moment, Sloan was born.

It was 6:21 am on a Thursday morning.  It was crazy and hectic as nurses scrambled to accomodate my extremely fast labor.  The house doctor was coaching me since my doctor didn’t make it in time. 

And out he came out, a wriggly, chubby little man with a head full of white blonde fuzz.  And we fell in love immediately.

Fast forward six years.  Sloan is a joy.  He’s smart, he’s funny, he’s friendly and he’s loving.  He loves people and needs companionship as much as he needs oxygen.  I can’t imagine life without Sloan.  In fact, it’s hard to remember life without him.

Sloan,

You are my first born.  You’re the one who made me a mommy.  You make me laugh every day.  You are a good, good little boy and it’s a joy to call you my son. 

Today you get to become a pirate for the day.  That’s your gift from us.  You told me yesterday that instead of taking a pirate cruise, you wish that we could find a Star Wars ship and fly into the galaxy.  I told you that maybe when you turn 12 we’ll be able to find a Star Wars ship to fly in.

I hope you grow out of your Star Wars obsession by then otherwise you will be sorely disappointed.

Since you were born, you have been the most loving, outgoing ,verbal little boy.  It’s been a challenge for me as my first inclination is not to say hi to everyone I meet and ask them to come and play.  But it’s a trait I love about you because wherever we are, you make a new friend.

Last night you told me that you were going to miss 5.  “It was a good year,” you said very dramatically.  Yes, it was a good year.  You grew up a lot this year.  You’re not a little kid anymore.  And while I’m going to miss 5 too, I look forward to 6.  It will be another good year.  I just hope it goes by a little more slowly because you’re growing up way too fast.

I love you, Sloan.  Have a Happy 6th Birthday.

Mom

Filed Under: blast from the past, Family, Kids, Life, Sloan Tagged With:

No post today

July 8, 2009 by

We are in sunny Flordia!  After getting up at 4:15 this morning and tearing our children from their beds at 4:45, we have arrived.  We’ve already been swimming and now the kids are eating and then they’re headed off to bed.  In the meantime, please visit the St. Louis Bloggers Guild and read the post I wrote today about Blogging to Preserve History.  I’m proud of this post.

Filed Under: Blogging, Family

Bug Off – and Some Other Stuff

July 7, 2009 by

We have bees.  Or, a better way to put it…

OMG-OMG-OMG-BEES!WE-HAVE-BEES-BEES-BEES-BEES-BEEEEEEEEES!

That’s kind of how I felt as I tried to water my flowers about 10 minutes ago.  I mean, I know I should be grateful for them, what with their penchant for pollination and what have you, but I am, indeed, not grateful but rather terrified and mad.

I’m not talking one or two bees flying about, enjoying the meal I’ve planted for them in my front yard – I’m talking at LEAST 25-30, maybe more.

We have the big, scary, hairy bees like these:

summer-09-049

 

summer-09-051

I’ve heard in the past that these bees don’t actually sting – is that true?  Of course, why would they need to sting when they know that people like me will just break my neck trying to get away?

We also have plain old boring bees (that I know for a fact sting) like these:

summer-09-052

They seem to particularly enjoy the flowers that have bloomed on our Hostas, which I intend to cut off tonight after they’ve all headed off to Beeville for the evening.  But they are also all over my Impatiens and I don’t know what to do about that.  Is there anything I can do?

In addition to bees, I noticed some little Beetle-like bugs all over my rose bushes and it appears they are eating the roses.  This is what they look like:

summer-09-054

Do you have any suggestions as to what I should do about these guys? Ugh – I hate bugs…

In other, completely unrelated, news – We had a birthday party for Sloan last night at BounceU. Seriously – that’s the way to go when throwing a birthday party.  We actually split the party with some friends whose kids also have July birthdays, which made it even more fun and exciting for everyone. 

Remember last year’s birthday party?  This was way better – for me anyway.  I didn’t have to do anything but show up and take pictures.  And pictures I did take…

Sloan and his frined Nick beating the youknowwhat out of each other. They lasted a long time!

Sloan and his frined Nick beating the youknowwhat out of each other. They lasted a long time!

My friend Suzanne and I also beating the youknowwhat out of each other. We did not last nearly as long.

My friend Suzanne and I also beating the youknowwhat out of each other. We did not last nearly as long.

The kids bounced, wrestled, slid and climbed for an hour and a half. And they came home tired.

The kids bounced, wrestled, slid and climbed for an hour and a half. And they came home tired.

The three in the top middle were the birthday kids - Ian (8) Gini Lu (4) and Sloan (6)

The three in the top middle were the birthday kids - Ian (8) Gini Lu (4) and Sloan (6)

The bouncing was followed by cupcakes and presents.  Sloan came home with a large bag filled with new Star Wars toys.  In fact, I think he only got Star Wars toys, which thrilled his little galaxy lovin’ heart.  The final gift he opened was from Lee and I.  We decided to give him his gift early since we’re leaving tomorrow for Florida. 

It’s a new light saber.  One that lights up and makes noise.  He’s been asking for one for a very long time now.  His reaction was priceless.

summer-09-097

May the force be with you all.

Filed Under: Family, Gross, Kids, Sloan Tagged With: ,

Yankee Doodle Went to Town

July 6, 2009 by

I sang that song to Sloan this morning.  His response?

“Why would someone call a feather macaroni? That’s a weird song.”

He then returned to his ever running loop of humming the theme to Star Wars.  So much for teaching him a little piece of Americana.

We had a lovely Fourth of July.  But it was missing something.  Lee had to fly to Arkansas last minute for the funeral of one of his dearest friends growing up.  Not having daddy around definately put a damper on our holiday spirits.  And knowing that my husband was grieving and hurting and I couldn’t be there with him made it even worse.

I have to say, I love Fourth of the July.  I love the way that it brings everyone together.  I love the smell of barbeque, the laughter, the music and the fireworks.  I love watching kids run around with Sparklers (other people’s kids – not mine because I don’t quite trust my little piro’s just yet) and I love to hear their delighted shreaks as the sky explodes in flashes of color.

This year, I took the kids to a local park where we enjoyed the company of good friends and ooh’d and aah’d at the fireworks.  I was a bit of a kill joy for the kids because I didn’t bring any cash, which means they couldn’t get a drink or a snack or a glow stick or anything at all. Mooooooommmm! (as you read that, let your voice go up about three octaves and stamp your foot and you’ll get an idea of just. how. traumitized the kids were at my lack of preparation.)

We didn’t get home until 10:30, at which point I had to throw the kids in the shower because they smelled like gun powder and mosquito spray.  This resulted in us oversleeping Sunday morning.  I was singing in church and had to be there at 7:45. I woke up to a quiet house at 7:30.  I walked into the church building at 8:05, with all three kids dressed.

I deserve a medal.  I nice, shiny medal.

Of course, those 35 minutes went something like this (clap your hands together loudly and repeatedly as you read this next paragraph out loud) – C’mon guys, get dressed.  Let’s Go, Go, Go. We’ll brush your teeth after church. I know you’re hungry, I’ll get you something to eat later.  There’s no time for a drink, we have to go now, now, now! And so on…

But we made it.  And at 8:40, Lee came to church after flying in on the 6:30 am flight.  And he brought my starving, neglected children some food.  As the kids saw their daddy walk in the building, they took off running toward him and nearly knocked him over as they tackled him.  I was on stage with a microphone in my hand and a lump in my throat as I watched them all take turns kissing and hugging on their daddy.

It was the perfect end to a good weekend.  I’m a blessed woman.

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Life, Marriage, Motherhood Tagged With: ,

Another Story from the Mission Field

June 26, 2009 by

After the first year of living in South Caicos, my grandmother realized that my mom and her older brother needed a better education than she could provide. So she and my grandfather made the difficult decision to send their kids back to the States for boarding school.

But how to get them home was an issue. In the early ’60’s, Caicos was hardly a booming tourist hot spot. There were no major airports, and even if there had been, they had little money transport the children back and forth.

So my grandparents took a gigantic leap of faith. It’s something that I couldn’t fully appreciate until I became a mother myself.

On occasion, small planes would land on a small, beach landing strip in S. Caicos. When it came time for the kids to head back to school, they had to pack their suitcases and be ready at all times. If a small plane landed on the beach, Poppy Jim would race to meet the pilot and ask him where he was going, and if he had room for two young children. If the pilot said yes, my grandfather would zoom back to the house, blaring his horn, which was his signal for the kids to grab their bags and leave.

Crazy, huh?

One does not do that unless he has full faith in God to keep his children safe.  My mom was only 11/12 and her brother is two years older.  They were very small.

When the kids arrived in Miami, they would get word to their parents that they made it, then they left to live with grandparents for the school year.

The deal they had with their parents was that they could come home at Christmas and for summer break.  But, in 1962, it looked like the funds would not be there to bring the kids home.  On December 10, 1962, after realizing that the supply ship with the food was not going to arrive on time once again, my grandmother wrote:

I can see why many missionaries give up and go home.  The discouragements and disappointments that come all at one are more sometimes than we can take.  I thank the Lord for His sustaining Hand.  Hellp me, O Lord, to be more thankful and more patient!

Poppy Jim was in the States at this point, with Mimi under the impression that he was picking up a few supplies and going to see the kids.  He was scheduled to return on December 14, but, as was always possible in the Caribbean, there was a possibility that he would miss his flight or his flight would be cancelled.  And Mimi feared this disappointment dreadfully.  December 14, 1962 she wrote:

Breakfast is over and I’ve washed my hair and I’m trying to dry it so I’ll look nice to meet the plane.  I’m almost afriad to get out of the truck for fear he won’t be on the plane.  I wouldan’t want the villagers to see how disappointed I’d be!!  I may sit in the truck and then I could cry if I like.

What she didn’t know is that Poppy Jim had scraped together enough funds to bring her kids home as a surprise.  Here is what she wrote in the next entry:

He brought my kids home!  My baby brought my kids home!  My Dusty and my own Candy.  Thank you, Lord – Thank you for the best Christmas present ever.  My kids and food, too!  Food for all of us – we’ll have a party!

That last part always makes me cry…

Filed Under: Blogging, Family, Heritage Tagged With: ,

Why I’m in Turks & Caicos

June 23, 2009 by

A few months ago, my mom asked me if I would like to accompany her on a trip to trace the unique heritage of our family.  Her offer was even more enticing when she said that she and dad had enough miles saved up to get our plane tickets for free. 

I’m a smart girl – I know a good deal when I see one.  And so, with the blessing of my husband, I jumped on the opportunity to go to Turks and Caicos islands in the Carribean where my grandparents were pioneer missionaries in the early 1960’s.

All I can say is thank God they weren’t pioneer missionaries to the Arctic because this trip would be far less appealing…

In October of 1961, my grandparents, Jim and Betty Cooper, packed up their four young children and moved to South Caicos.  It is a small, primitive, yet beautiful, island in the Turks and Caicos chain.

Immediately they established their ministry, building a church, conducting backyard Bible clubs and inviting the islanders into their home as a part of their family.

My grandfather also travelled to other islands within the Caribbean, establishing himself as a gifted preacher and teacher.  To this day, my grandfather is well known, loved and remembered in the islands.

When in the islands, Poppy Jim realized that his job would be much easier if he had a small airplane so he could get from island to island with a little more ease.  So, he prayed for a plane and God provided.  Once he owned the plane, he taught himself to fly it.  This man was nothing short of extraordinary.

And if he was extraordinary, then my grandmother was the saint by his side.  When people hear that they were missionaries in the Caribbean, the first response is often, “Wow – they really suffered for Jesus, huh?” usually said with the utmost sarcasm.  But this was no resort life.  They had no electricity, no running water and sometimes very little food. 

I have my grandmother’s diaries from those years and every other day she writes about someone being sick.  The years were not easy – life was difficult.  But they loved their work and so they persevered with their calling.

My grandmother found 1,000 different ways to prepare SPAM, she served alongside her husband, a man she calls my darling over and over in her pages.  I admire my grandmother, who went to be with Jesus ins 2004, very much. 

While in South Caicos, my mom and her family lived in this house.  I hope it’s still standing.  South Caicos got hit pretty hard in the hurricane a couple of years ago so I’m not sure if it will be in tact or not – but I do hope.  Incidentally, have you ever seen more beautiful water in all the world? 

There are so many stories to tell about my family’s Caicos years.  I will probably write them out a little bit at a time over the next few months.  For now, though, I leave you the words of my grandmother, written on Friday, May 1962 when they had run out of food and were waiting on the supply ship to bring new rations:

Oh-I’m hungry! We haven’t eaten since 11:00 am yesterday.  We had some instant coffee in our suitcase so we had coffee and then took off to the beach for a “sea bath.” And I mean a bath.  We went in the sea and we also brushed our teeth with the salt water.  Then we took up our watch for the little green Crusader (supplies would arrive on this)-she became most precious for she held our food.

Jim finally arrived about 10:00 am and it wasn’t before 12:30 before we got our food.

Finally we ate. Peas and rice, canned beef, bread and hot orange Crush. I never knew realized that hot drinks could taste so delicious. Ah- food. We were about sick with hunger.

Today I will be in Provo, snorkling and Snuba-ing (we will dive down about 20 feet).  Tomorrow starts the quest into my heritage.  I’ll tell you more later.

Filed Under: Blogging, Family, Heritage Tagged With: , ,

To the Fathers in My Life

June 21, 2009 by

I am blessed.  I have been surrounded by wonderful men my entire life.  I’ve often thought that the reason that I’m just an okay writer and not a spectacular write is because I don’t have daddy issues.  The greatest writer’s all have so much angst, such heartache, and, often (not always, I know) they have severe daddy issues.

Not me.  And I’m okay with that.  Here are a few of the fathers in my life:

1.) My own father.  He’s a man of God.  He loves my mom and alwayspanish-wells-011s has.  He loves me unconditionally.  He is there for me at the drop of a hat whenever I need anything.  He’s my biggest supporter.

My dad is a great man.  He is extremely wise – more so than I think he knows.  He’s funny, sometimes in a sick and twisted way, but funny nonetheless. 

A few years ago, Lee and I came home from a trip to the condo and were watching back the video we took.  While on the beach one day, my dad took the camera so we could all be in the video.  Suddenly, a very pretty girl in a very skimpy bikini filled our screen along with my dad’s voice.  “Here you go, Lee,” he said.  “A vacation memory just for you…” At which point my mom broke in, “Richard!” The screen jumps. “What?” my dad asks, all innocent like.  “You’re supposed to be taping the baby.” My dad laughs, “Oh yeah…” And the screen focuses on Sloan once more. HA!

My dad was a hands on dad.  I hardly remember a big occasion that he didn’t attend.  I know there had to be some, because he travelled a bit when we were kids, but I don’t ever remember a time when I felt let down or disappointed by dad.  And I’m grateful for that.

I love you dad.  Enjoy your new toy and I’ll see you soon :).

 2.) My father-in-law, Herb.  A man who many people find intimidating but who I know is nothing but a big teddy bear.  Herb is also full of wisdom and I’m always gratsledding-at-vlasis-045eful for the moments when we can sit and talk with him.

When I first met Herb, I was a 20 year old college kid who was just trying get in good with the family of the guy I had a crush on.  I fell equally in love with Lee’s family.  I lived with his parents for the summer before my senior year of college.  I’m so grateful for those weeks I spent in their home as it gave me a true appreciateion for my future father-in-law.

I love you, Herb.  I’m grateful to you for the wisdom you impart to us as a couple and individually to Lee.  Have a great Father’s Day!

3.) Last, but most certainly not least, I am thankful for my own dear husband – the father of my children.  A man who loves and supports me, who leads our family with the great wisdom that he gleaned from his father. 

Lee was created to be a dad.  He’s just so good at it!  He’s is a phenomenal father and it’s evident in the way that his kids adore him.  He plays with them tirelessly, he reads to them, disciplines them, loves them and laughs with them.  He models Christ to them and teaches them of God’s love.  He is a wonderful leader of our home and I pray that the kids all grow up to appreciate who their father is.

Here is short video of Lee in action.  The other night at bedtime, the kids wanted to read Puff the Magic Dragon, then they wanted to sing along to the CD.  Can you see why I love this man?

Filed Under: Family, Kids, Marriage, Uncategorized Tagged With:

The Fun, the Not-So-Fun and the Bizarre

June 15, 2009 by

That’s a fairly accurate description of our weekend.

Let’s start with the fun, shall we?  I mean, since it’s my blog and all…

Ahem.

Friday night we headed to the Zoo for the Jungle Boogie concert and some animal sightseeing.  And it was perfect.  The weather was spectacular, the animals were in fine form and the music was great.  And I’d LOVE to show you some pictures, I really would…but I can’t because my camera batteries died and I’m out of AA batteries. 

Seriously – who runs out of AA batteries.  That’s gonna be a big hit against my run for Mom of the Year.

Moving on – hey guess what!?  The time of day to visist the Zoo is late afternoon/evening.  We usually go in the morning and the animals are always napping when we’re there.  Friday night, all of the animals were out and were playing and interacting with the kids.  A bear waved at us, a gorilla flirted with us – particularly Tia – the tigers were wrestling in the pond and the leopards stared back at us through their wired cages with blood thirsty eyes.

It was awesome!

The Bizarre also occurred on this night, however.  In the form of an older gentleman dressed in drag, dancing interpretively to the music.  It was obvious that he had some mental issues so we tried not to make a huge deal out of it, but honestly, it was hard not to stare.  It’s not often you see a man in a wig, tutu, tights, makeup and ribbons spinning circles in public.  It just isn’t…

Sunday morning, I had the privilege bad luck of serving at my son’s baseball field.  Chalk it up to Lee and I being newbies at this whole baseball thing, but I have to say I’m more than annoyed at the requirements they put on parents to work a shift. 

It’s one thing to ask us to come work the concession stand on a Sunday morning, something I’d be willing to do, but instead Lee and I were assigned to field duty (Each child is required to have a parent work two seperate shifts-which means Lee and I both had to do this on different days).  Do you know what field duty is?

It’s cleaning up the crap all over the field from the weekend.  And what’s more – it was me and one other woman left to remove the overflowing trash bags from no less than fifty oversized trash cans and take them to the dumpster (the only plus being that I got to zip around in a golf cart).  We were also supposed to pick any trash up off the ground, wipe down all tables, clean both bathrooms and sweep the sidewalks and dugouts.   Again, there were two of us.   

All I could think as I pulled out ant infested garbage and spilled two-day-old soda down my front is that I paid them to do this.  Seriously, you can’t tell me they’re not making enough money to hire a company to come in and clean up the fields on the weekends.

Oh, and the kicker?  If we don’t show up for our duty – no matter what the excuse may be – they will fine us anywhere from $150-$300.  Yes, so not only do they require that I work, but they threaten me if I don’t.  Unbelievable.

Next year we will be buying out of field duty, which also makes me angry because on top of the fees I’m paying for my son to play ball, now I have to pay them extra fees so I don’t have to work – and what will they do with the extra money?  I’m not sure, but obviously they’re not going to hire help.

Honestly, I do not mind a little grunt work, and, if needed, I’m happy to serve.  I worked hard yesterday to have a good attitude and not complain about the situation – even quoting over and over that I shall do all things to the glory of the Lord!  But expecting two people to clean up 10 fields (and I’m not just talking trash cans – there was rotting food all over the stands, the dugouts, under the stands, etc…) alone is beyond ridiculous.  And to the men who used the Ballwin field bathrooms yesterday – sorry, but those didn’t get cleaned.  I just wasn’t going to do it.

There is a fine line between encouraging parents to get involved and alienating them into feeling frustrated and used.  If you want us to feel a loyalty to you and to want to help serve, then you really shouldn’t shove a piece of paper in our faces with an unrealistic check-list on it and leave us a job better suited to a team of people, not two lone women.

And that’s all I have to say about that…

Filed Under: Family, Life
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