Karis and I have been in Texas this week, and I must say, it's been good to be back. I had a minor run in with a virus while we were in West Texas, but everything is better now. Thank goodness Karis didn't get sick. She is having such a good time playing with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and "cousins", going to the playground, Skyping with Daddy, and playing with the family pets as well.
Her verbal skills have really blossomed since we've landed in Texas - must be the air or the water or something. She can now say, "See?", "This", "Ball", "Bow" (as in hairbow), and "More" (including the accompanying ASL sign), as well as the standard "Mom-mom" and "Da". She also likes to call the kitties by saying "Ki ki ki ki ki ki" and saying "ooof" and "maow" when she hears a dog or a cat. It's so fun to see her starting to communicate with the world around her. This is such a fun age, they get into everything, but they're also learning so much. I've had so many people tell me that she's such a good baby and she really is, it's such a delight to be with her.
I know her Daddy misses her and we miss him too, so we're ready to get back to Florida to see him!
More pics and videos later!
AC
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
Lessons I learned while moving across the country
I learned many things during this second go-round of moving from Texas to Florida. Here's just a sampling of the things I learned:
1) Goodbyes never get easier.
2) Audiobooks are a gift from God.
3) We have WAY too much stuff.
4) Babies are much more durable than they look.
5) There is nothing like getting caught in a rainstorm in the middle of the French Quarter with a squealing one year old.
Before we left, we had a birthday party for Karis. She didn't turn one until July 1st, but since we'd be in Florida by then, we celebrated early. It was so much fun, we were surrounded by our family and our dearest friends, celebrating the miracle of a child turning one year old and celebrating our survival of the first year of parenthood. As the end of the party drew near, the air became thick with emotion, faces were stained with tears, and hearts lay in pieces. It was the last time we'd see many of these people before leaving for Florida the next day.
You see, this time was different. The first time we moved to FL, it was only for a year. This time, not only were there no guarantees and promises of when we'd return, but we were taking the one and only grandbaby with us. I tried to keep a smile on my face and say, "Oh don't worry, we'll skype everyday, and we'll visit four times a year", but on the inside, my heart was breaking too. Why, Lord? Why are You moving us again?
As we got on the road the next morning, we turned on our audiobook, glanced at each other with a little bit of excitement and a smidge of terror, and pulled out of Kevin's parents driveway in a car filled to the brim with our personal possessions. We ever so cautiously made our way to Interstate 10 and we were on our way. I, for one, was thankful that this time it was not just me in the car following a Jeep and a trailer on a wing and a prayer, but instead the whole family - my very own family - starting this journey together. Our furniture had left days earlier on a truck and would meet us there. Karis quickly fell asleep and so we drove as far as we could, which was New Orleans. About the time we got there, Karis had woken up and was hollering to beat the band to get OUT of her carseat, so we pulled off the highway in search of the French Quarter. It was in the middle of June, no where near Mardi Gras time, but there were still plenty of people. We got out the stroller, plunked her down, buckled her in, and went off in search of some food. We walked...and we walked...and thought we found a place but decided against it and walked some more...and we walked... until finally our path wound back around to one of our favorite places: Cafe Du Monde. We sat down among the piles of white sugar, the smell of beignets, the laughter and chatter of people and breathed a sigh of relief. A couple of college girls were at the table next to us and commented on how cute Karis was. We ordered our beignets and cafe au lait and enjoyed the scene around us. It was starting to sprinkle, so we decided it would be a good idea to head back to the car, after all, we didn't want Karis to get all wet. We gathered our things and set off towards the car - and wouldn't you know it - it immediately starts to rain harder. So we huddled with several other people under an army recruiting tent (don't you know they were happy to see us) until we got the word that they were closing up shop for the day and we had to seek shelter elsewhere. I think they were just mad that none us wanted to sign up, but regardless, we decided to made a break for it. We ran, as fast as we could, from awning to awning, trying to escape the bigger torrents. I pulled back the little shade of Karis' stroller to discover that she, too, was sopping wet. However-
She didn't seem to care, not even one little bit.
In fact, it seemed as thought she thought it was the greatest thing ever! Apparently getting pushed through the rain at high rates of speed in a stroller down the cobblestones and sidewalks of New Orleans is the closest a baby can come to Splash Mountain, so why not sit back and enjoy the ride? So instead of hurrying back to the car, we decided since we were all soaked anyway, we might as well just walk and enjoy it. When finally we got back to the car, I dug through the suitcases to get Karis a dry outfit and find Kevin and myself some dry socks at the very least, and we got on our way again.
I'd like to say that I had some great revelation, right then and there, about having childlike faith... but the truth is, I didn't. To be honest I was a little irritated that I was now sopping wet AND cold from the air conditioner in the car. But looking back, I'm glad it rained on us in New Orleans. Not just because it's a fun family memory that we can share for years to come, which we certainly will, but because it's such a great picture of the joy that God gives us. The book of James tells us to "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Sometimes it feels like our world is crashing down around us and we could swear that a black rain cloud is following us around. As soon as we find shelter, the awning is ripped away and we're once again thrust back into the elements of criticism, jealousy, grief, doubt, and pain. We cry out, "God! Why did You let me get all wet? Why did You just leave me here alone?" In those situations, I think I know what God does. He straps us in the stroller and says, "Hang on, kid, I told you it was going to be a bumpy ride!"
Karis had faith that her Mommy and Daddy were in control of that stroller, she knew that we weren't going to let anything happen to her, so she let her joy be made known to everyone she encountered. Brothers and sisters - let this remind us to be like children in our faith. No matter what the storm brings, we should always let our true joy be made known to everyone we encounter.
Grace and Peace,
Andrea
1) Goodbyes never get easier.
2) Audiobooks are a gift from God.
3) We have WAY too much stuff.
4) Babies are much more durable than they look.
5) There is nothing like getting caught in a rainstorm in the middle of the French Quarter with a squealing one year old.
Before we left, we had a birthday party for Karis. She didn't turn one until July 1st, but since we'd be in Florida by then, we celebrated early. It was so much fun, we were surrounded by our family and our dearest friends, celebrating the miracle of a child turning one year old and celebrating our survival of the first year of parenthood. As the end of the party drew near, the air became thick with emotion, faces were stained with tears, and hearts lay in pieces. It was the last time we'd see many of these people before leaving for Florida the next day.
You see, this time was different. The first time we moved to FL, it was only for a year. This time, not only were there no guarantees and promises of when we'd return, but we were taking the one and only grandbaby with us. I tried to keep a smile on my face and say, "Oh don't worry, we'll skype everyday, and we'll visit four times a year", but on the inside, my heart was breaking too. Why, Lord? Why are You moving us again?
As we got on the road the next morning, we turned on our audiobook, glanced at each other with a little bit of excitement and a smidge of terror, and pulled out of Kevin's parents driveway in a car filled to the brim with our personal possessions. We ever so cautiously made our way to Interstate 10 and we were on our way. I, for one, was thankful that this time it was not just me in the car following a Jeep and a trailer on a wing and a prayer, but instead the whole family - my very own family - starting this journey together. Our furniture had left days earlier on a truck and would meet us there. Karis quickly fell asleep and so we drove as far as we could, which was New Orleans. About the time we got there, Karis had woken up and was hollering to beat the band to get OUT of her carseat, so we pulled off the highway in search of the French Quarter. It was in the middle of June, no where near Mardi Gras time, but there were still plenty of people. We got out the stroller, plunked her down, buckled her in, and went off in search of some food. We walked...and we walked...and thought we found a place but decided against it and walked some more...and we walked... until finally our path wound back around to one of our favorite places: Cafe Du Monde. We sat down among the piles of white sugar, the smell of beignets, the laughter and chatter of people and breathed a sigh of relief. A couple of college girls were at the table next to us and commented on how cute Karis was. We ordered our beignets and cafe au lait and enjoyed the scene around us. It was starting to sprinkle, so we decided it would be a good idea to head back to the car, after all, we didn't want Karis to get all wet. We gathered our things and set off towards the car - and wouldn't you know it - it immediately starts to rain harder. So we huddled with several other people under an army recruiting tent (don't you know they were happy to see us) until we got the word that they were closing up shop for the day and we had to seek shelter elsewhere. I think they were just mad that none us wanted to sign up, but regardless, we decided to made a break for it. We ran, as fast as we could, from awning to awning, trying to escape the bigger torrents. I pulled back the little shade of Karis' stroller to discover that she, too, was sopping wet. However-
She didn't seem to care, not even one little bit.
In fact, it seemed as thought she thought it was the greatest thing ever! Apparently getting pushed through the rain at high rates of speed in a stroller down the cobblestones and sidewalks of New Orleans is the closest a baby can come to Splash Mountain, so why not sit back and enjoy the ride? So instead of hurrying back to the car, we decided since we were all soaked anyway, we might as well just walk and enjoy it. When finally we got back to the car, I dug through the suitcases to get Karis a dry outfit and find Kevin and myself some dry socks at the very least, and we got on our way again.
I'd like to say that I had some great revelation, right then and there, about having childlike faith... but the truth is, I didn't. To be honest I was a little irritated that I was now sopping wet AND cold from the air conditioner in the car. But looking back, I'm glad it rained on us in New Orleans. Not just because it's a fun family memory that we can share for years to come, which we certainly will, but because it's such a great picture of the joy that God gives us. The book of James tells us to "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Sometimes it feels like our world is crashing down around us and we could swear that a black rain cloud is following us around. As soon as we find shelter, the awning is ripped away and we're once again thrust back into the elements of criticism, jealousy, grief, doubt, and pain. We cry out, "God! Why did You let me get all wet? Why did You just leave me here alone?" In those situations, I think I know what God does. He straps us in the stroller and says, "Hang on, kid, I told you it was going to be a bumpy ride!"
Karis had faith that her Mommy and Daddy were in control of that stroller, she knew that we weren't going to let anything happen to her, so she let her joy be made known to everyone she encountered. Brothers and sisters - let this remind us to be like children in our faith. No matter what the storm brings, we should always let our true joy be made known to everyone we encounter.
Grace and Peace,
Andrea
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