Somethings I've been thankful for over the past months

Some Huston and Arden things I’ve thanked God for over the last few months:

2012

March 22 – For Huston telling us “I told Arden I loved her and told her to believe in Jesus.”

March 25 – For Huston’s delight in the blooming irises that I planted last year. Just like Clarke so many years ago.

March 28 – For Huston and Arden’s extreme delight as we planted zinnias in their flowerbed.

March 31 – For Arden bouncing around beautifully in the Easter dress I bought for her. 

April 5 – For getting to present the gospel in Huston’s wee care class.  For Huston’s excitement about it and for wanting to present the good news over and over, explaining it to Arden in a breathless voice.

April 7 – For a fun Easter lunch at our house.   Huston and Arden really enjoyed the bluebonnets, cacti and other wild flowers.  For their joy in seeing a rabbit outside the window during our meal and assuming it was the Easter bunny.

April 8 – For Arden telling Donna Floyd at church “My Mimi put a balloon in the sky and said ‘He is risen’”

April 26 – For Huston’s constant thankfulness comments to God as they spent the night.  “Thank you, God, for the beautiful trees.  Thank you for the Indian Blankets.”  For their joy in all the baby frogs, tadpoles and rolly pollies.

April 27 – For fun shopping with Arden and her desire to buy a new headband for her mother.

April 27 – For Huston’s pure joy as I took him to buy cactus today after our visit to McDonalds.

May 26 – For Huston and Arden’s bright smiles at church

May 17 – For sweet day with Huston and Arden. . We enjoyed these blessings:

1.       Huston’s complete joy as he spotted cactus along the road as we drove.

2.       For picking up, Teddy, the baby goat at the Bells and seeing baby ducks, puppies, geese, quail and lots of cactus.

3.       For H and A’s pur joy at feeding and playing with Teddy.

4.       For Arden’s purple flower that she held in the care and placed in the net when we arrived.  For wanting to hold the wilted flower the next day.

5.       For amazing visit to Cockrum’s to see rabbit, chicken and miniature horse and baby pig.

6.       For H and A holding hands and chasing the pig.

7.       For H’s joy at seeing Mary Poppins for the first time.

8.       For A and I singing and talking after H fell asleep.

9.       For H wanting to hear “More than Conquerors” over and over.  That was Papaw’s favorite verse.

June 17-20 - For Huston, Arden, Jennifer and Emily all at Kids Kamp.  For Em joining Huston's small group so he could relax and enjoy the week.

July 6- For H and A's joy in "camping" out in the back of the Explorer at the Big Cactus.  For Huston gathering "salad" leaves and Arden "baking" them.

July 9 - For a surprise lunch with Jennifer, H and A at Chick Fil A so I Arden could retrieve "Lambie" who had been left at our house.  For the pure joy smiles of the kids when I got in the car with them.

July 21- 27 - For a wonderful week with the kids at our house while Clarke and Jennifer celebrated their 10th anniversary in Puerto Rico.  Fun times at Cherry Park, seeing the dog in the swing and all the Victorian houses that Huston loved.  Fun at Granny's house with the sprinkler.  Fun at the Pizza place in Weatherford and fun playing in the dried up pond that we are redoing.  For Huston's teary goodbye, "Mimi, I'm really going to miss you.  I wish I could live at your house."For Arden's concern for me that Truitt was out of town when they left.  "When Grandpa comes back from Okla-mama, he going to realy be glad to see you, Mimi."

October - For the fun we have watching the kids on Tuesday nights while the Jennifer and Clark go to small group.  We have many "adventures" walking through sticky sand, running into cacti and having campfires in Arden's room.

For seeing Huston and ARden with Jennifer every week at Women in the Word.  For their bright smiles as they come to visit me at my office before and after and for their joy in pushing the buttons to open the doors.

November - For Huston's constant verbalization of the things he's thankful for, including Arden.  For the way they get along so well.

December - For our annual trek to see the Christmas lights with the grandkids.  Their excitement brings back all the joy of Christmas.










 

Papaw is in Heaven

Our Dad and Papaw went to heaven on March 9th. Huston now pretends that Dina the Dinosaur's papaw died and she is very sad and has her horns down. When we drove onto Granny's street last week I could tell that Huston was feeling a little sad. "Papaw is still not alive," he said mournfully. "He's still in heaven."

Karen, his other grandmother, bought Papaw's van. He told her that when he got to heaven he was going to give Papaw his van back.

So sweet.

Day to Day

We are blessed to get to spend so much time with the grandkids. I watch Arden every other Friday while Jennifer teaches and Huston goes to preschool. Arden has changed so very much during this school year. She astounds me with her adult phrases such as: "Well, actually...and

"Just like I said", etc. Her vocabulary and understanding of language is over the top.

Huston and I go to McDonalds each Friday after I watch Arden. He loves seeing the rainbow that appears on the floor on the playground on sunny days and he has made a friend named Julian. Julian is older and has taught Huston to go all the way to the top of the playground. Huston is very proud of himself and stops his play frequently to tell me that he loves me. :)

The grandkids bring the magical quality into Christmas. We've started a tradition of McDonalds cookies before visiting the lights in Rivercrest, the Radio Shack lights and the tree downtown. We stumbled into an amazing Christmas show put on by Arlington High School. It was a FUNderful evening!

A few things that warm my heart...

This week-end Huston and Arden spent the night while Clarke and Jennifer attended the Baylor vs. Tech game. Huston did something nice and I told him how sweet he was. He told me with a voice full of conviction that God wants us to be kind and the he wants to listen to God.

Since Truitt and I pray for God listening hearts for our grandchildren that moment seemed particularly poignant.

Huston already has a protective and helpful spirit. Last week when they spent the night he handed me my glasses when I woke up, telling me that he was very careful not to touch the lenses. Then at breakfast he handed me my coffee. As walked over to see the goats he saw me aproaching a hole and screamed, "Mimi don't fall in the hole."

Arden has a smile like the rising sun. It's bright and full of joy. She is always talking and singing and reading. She wants to do everything that Huston does and has great determination and independance.

We love our grandkids.

New Mexico

1. July 11, 2011
   
   Arden is putting stickers on Clarke’s feet. He and Papaw just finished up a long discussion about Tertullian, the early Christian author and apologist. Huston has been telling us that Blankie (his faithful blanket that has a mind of his own and meows like a cat) is very sad that he did not get to go on the ski lift with us today.
   Clarke and Jennifer, Huston, Arden, Mom, Dad, Truitt and I are in a rented townhome for a week in Red River, New Mexico.
   Before I forget the week, I decided to get a record of it here on my lap top. Here’s a few highlights….
   1. Huston is delighted to be here. He made the 11 hour drive here with his new bubble machine and two bubble containers held in his lap the entire way. As soon as they arrived we but batteries in his machine and we all had a great bubble celebration. Huston and Arden were excited beyond belief, and of course, we loved it just as much!
   2. I brought Arden some colored wooden beads in a old aspirin bottle along with a plastic divided tray and a few other objects. She has played with these items for hours, but the beads in the containers and sorting.
   3. Jennifer, in an attempt to get Huston to help her work a magnetic puzzle book, dumped all the pieces from a container onto the floor. “Huston,” she said, “where do all these puzzle pieces go?” “In the bowl, “ he answered matter of factly.
   4. Arden sits with the children’s Bible in her lap and babbles punctuating her babbles with the word “Jesus” and “Bubbles”, her word for Grandpa. Sometimes pics of Jesus are Jesus and sometimes they are Grandpa.
   5. Clarke, Dad, Truitt and I played a round of Spades. Papaw still has the game logic skill, even though he is almost 85. He and Clarke were partners and they beat us though I successfully went “blind Nillo”. Clarke and Papaw are going to partner at a 42 game this week at the community hall.
   6. Huston slept with Truitt and I last night because he had a nightmare and was waking up Arden. We had such much fun snuggling and talking in the bed this morning. He went downstairs before us and had breakfast with Granny, having Raisin Bran for the first time. It was so sweet to hear them visiting them downstairs. Papaw joined them later and they had a great, sweet time. When I came down he proudly told me that he had gone downstairs by himself and that I didn’t even know where he was!
   7. A few minutes after we drove up, Jane and Bruce McGregor from church drove up. They are booked in the townhouse next door for the entire week like we are! A real coincidence!
   8. We had quite the adventure on the ski lift today. Huston has been obsessed with the ride even since we arrived, calling the ski lift “the seats”. He was a little afraid to get on the lifts, but loved it he once was on. When we were about ¾ of the way up it began to rain heavily and then it began to sleet! We were freezing and wet and trying to keep up a good attitude. When we reached the top Papaw was nervous about jumping off onto the wet slick flooring. He hesitated, accidentally knocking me over just as I was jumping out. I slid across the decking on my belly and the attendant somehow hurt his head in trying to help us. Miraculously, none of us were hurt too badly. We took shelter in the restaurant and had lunch. I did a “dry off” dance with the kids to the music on the sound system and we tried to get warm. Arden had a blow out in her diaper and Jennifer didn’t have an extra. She thought we were simply going up and down the ski lift. She cleaned her up and put her pants back on without a diaper. Immediately she wet her pants and Jennifer’s too! It was quite the morning!
   9. Huston loved watching the Hyperlink 11 Kids Kamp DVD in our quieter times. He quoted lines from it and carried about his Bible like the characters in the drama. Once Papaw was reading his Bible on the balcony and Huston had to run and get his Bible so that he could read it on the balcony as well.
   10. Mom and Dad sang I’m Gonna Take a Trip in the Old Gospel Ship to the kids and they loved it.
   11. Clarke and Jennifer got all the adults to play Fishbowl a couple of nights. It was a stretch for Granny and Papaw, but they ended up loving it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Backyard Fun

No one can accuse Arden of not stopping to smell the roses. It has become a tradition that she stops and gathers some rose petals from the school garden each Friday when I take Huston to his preschool. I always smile when I see the rose petals scatted across my back seat during the week.

I took the first week in April as a vacation time so that I could keep the kids while Karen is in Amsterdam with her sister. We spent one morning with at Mom and Dad's house before having lunch at Cracker Barrel. Huston loved it so much that when we were going home he said, "Mimi, why did we just get to stay at Granny and Papaw's house for a few minutes?". It had actually been close to two hours, but it wasn't enough for him. He got to play with Papaw's mini van doors and his electric bed. These things can be very exciting to a three year old!

On Tuesday we went to the Museum of Science and History and went back on Thursday at Huston's request. Arden made lots of people laugh at her incredible enthusiasm for the snakes and tarantulas! She was a darling little thing all dressed in pink and bows and she could not get enough of those little animals. She squealed with delight and kept pointing to the tarantula saying, "Bug! Bug!", with a huge excited grin on her face.

On Friday Truitt, Huston, Arden and I went to the Arboretum in Dallas. We could not believe how much fun the kids had in the little Texas play village. Huston wanted to go into every house and pretend that it was his. Arden wanted to climb on everything she saw and do everything that Huston did. What a great day!

Jennifer turned 30 on Friday. I took Arden and Huston to the Dollar Store on our way home from preschool and let Huston pick out anything he wanted for his mother. He picked out a plastic bat and ball, two swimming pool noodles, 2 pair of flip flops and a pair on sunglasses. I asked him two decide between two of the largest gift bags, but he had his own ideas and picked out a sparkly red bag with stars for his presents. He then saw the red shiny filler and wanted to get that as well. We went home and he excitedly placed the items in the bad. Arden got to join in too by putting in the red shiny filler.

Jennifer came home and Huston was so thrilled to give her her gifts. "I got you new sunglasses in case the lenses fall out of your other ones, " he told her. He excitedly told me the next day that his mom didn't wear her shoes that day, but she had worn them out to pick up the trash can the day before.

Joy to the "Wold"

Thursday I waited with my mother for 3 hours at the hospital to see a surgeon about her back. The news was not good. Evidently the surgery she had several months ago did her more harm than good. She and I were discouraged to realize why her pain is worsening each day.

That evening after a difficult day and a week that seemed like a wild ride in MANY ways, Truitt and I were set to babysit while Clarke and Jennifer went to their small group Bible study. Though we were tired and stressed, we decided to take the kids downtown to see the Christmas lights.

That was the best decision we had made all week! Before we could get out of their own neighborhood Huston was exclaiming excitedly over each lighted house. "Look, Grandpa, look at those lights!" We stopped by "Old McDonalds" to get some cookies to go and headed down Hulen. Each business that had even the most modest Christmas decor or lights was a total joy to Huston. We had the radio on and he really lit up when "Joy the World" filled up the car with its happy Christmas melody. "Joy to the Wold! Joy to the Wold!," he cried in his "can't say my r's" kind of way.".

When we reached Fort Worth's most lighted home in Rivercrest both the kids were glowing with that very special childish Christmas joy. We got out to walk around it and Huston immediately noticed the one our of "zillions" of light bulbs that was out. "Why is that one bunned out, Mimi? Where do the lights plug in?" He wasn't satisfied until he saw at least one plug outlet, then he could relax. Arden's little face glowed brighter than the lights and Huston ran up and down the sidewalk in amazement.

We then drove downtown, walked past "daddy's office building" and found our way to the big city Christmas tree. The whole time Huston was wearing his sunglasses so he looked like "Joe Cool". Everyone who encountered him laughed and told him that he was a very "cool dude".

He really lived out his reputation when we encountered a street jazz musician playing his key board. Huston danced around while Truitt put dollar bills in the talented man's money jar.

Lastly, we drove past the incredibly colored trees around the Pier One building. When we asked Huston what he thought about those he said in an awestruck voice, "They are beautiful!"

He also informed us that the red ones were his "flavorite".

Joy to the Wold, INDEED!

Grand Fun

My fellow grandmother, Karen, had a great idea. She planned a Grand Week-end with Huston and Arden while Clarke and Jennifer had a week-end away in Austin. The kids and I all spent the week-end at her house the last week-end of October. Truitt came during the day. We had four grandparents and two grandkids, a great ratio! We played on the driveway, in the sandbox, on the stairs and everywhere! It was indeed a grand time.

Fall 2010

Jennifer has gone back to work. Clarke is planning a career change. Huston and Arden are blossoming and growing beautifully.

Karen, my fellow grandma and dear friend, watches the children Monday - Thursday while Jennifer teaches. I watch them on Friday, my day off, and it's always a pure delight.
I take Huston to his preschool class at St. Stephens and have been astounded at his ability to adapt to school life. I have developed a real appreciation for mothers who constantly wag toddlers, preschoolers around with all the accompanying bags and paraphenalia, especially since I lost my keys in the car on my first day to pick Huston up. The facility man looked through the car twice, I looked and looked, Clarke came from work and looked and looked. Finally after Clarke gave me his extra key to Jennifer's car (which I drive due to the car seats) I put Huston in his seat and instantly he said, "Here's the keys, Mimi!" They were in the pocket of the door.

I am enjoying getting to spend some time with Arden alone. That precious little girl has a smile that knocks your socks off! And....she started walking at only 10 months. She is easy going and more adaptable than any baby I've ever seen.

Last week I was driving Huston to school when I thanked God out loud for the beautiful day. Then I said, "Thank you, God, for Huston. Thank you God, for Arden."

Huston cried out in the backseat, "Thank you, God, for Mimi. Thank you, God, for traffic lights."

So fun. So fun.

Grandkid Memories...

We love Huston's love for light switches, doors, gates, fans, garage door openers and elevators. The whole world is his own personal Disney Land. Granny had back surgery this April. Huston thought the hospital was an amusement park because he could ride the elevators and pump soap at the sanitizing stations. It is a joy seeing him enjoying these things. He is big into cause and effect. We are predicting that he will be an engineer....

But....he might be a comedian. He loves playing with Uncle Topher. Uncle Topher calls him "Hu-ton" because the "s" is missing on his Huston name wall in his bedroom. He likes to say, "Uncle Topher say Hoooooo-ton" and he makes the most comical face you have ever seen. Recently after a play time with Uncle Topher he told his mom "I play with Uncle Toaster!" He laughed and laughed at his play on words.

Aunt Emmy took Huston on several outings this spring. Each time she ended the time with a trip to Dollar Tree. Each time they went Huston wanted plastic slinkys. He puts the slinkys up and down his arms and loves watching them shoot forward when he grabs things. We call him Slinky Boy.

Arden is sweet as sugar. She has the most precious closed mouth smile that Granny calls her watermelon smile. She puts everything into her mouth and seldom ever fusses unless she is reaching for something to put in her mouth and you take it away. She is calm, gentle and adaptable. And to top it off....she is BEAUTIFUL! She and Huston both get lots of attention wherever they go.

She is crawling now and seems to love stuffed animals. She has the sweetest little voice and is already saying Da Da and Bye Bye. We think she means to say Da Da to Clarke, but the Bye Bye is probably just practicing sounds. Not sure though...she is one smart girl!

Am I a proud Mimi or what? :)

Huston's loves the play dough

Huston always loves playing with the play dough and loves getting various family members to cut out letters with him.

Family Times, Best Times

I'm going back in a time a bit on the blog to post the adorable pictures from Jennifer's 29th birthday dinner. Huston and Arden had a great time being doted on by both sets of grandparents, great Granny and Papaw, and Uncle Topher and Aunt Emmy.

Hi Ho Cherry Oh

We visit the big block at Botanic Gardens.

One day this spring Truitt and I took Huston to "Uncle Donalds" (what he calls McDonalds) after his wee care class. We then went to the Botantic Gardens and had all kinds of fun looking at the water fountains, watching the constructions trucks and seeing the main event, the big flower clock. His joy at the simplest of things brings joy to all of us.

Grandpa buys an electric Thomas the Tank Engine!

Easter brunch.

Easter, like every holiday and every day, is brighter and more joyful with grandkids. We had all our extended families over this year for a pre-Easter Saturday morning brunch and egg hunt. Huston and Arden were joined by their Aunt Emmy and Uncle Topher, both sets of great grandparents, great aunt Janie, great uncle Jay and first cousins-once-removed, Valerie, Kelsey, Summer, Blake and Kendall.

Huston was a little perplexed at first that so many people were in the house where he is usually alone with Mimi and Grandpa and rules as king. But he sooned warmed up and had a marvelous time with all the family. He especially loved playing with Blake and Kendall and repeated everything that Blake said, prefacing it with, "Blake say...." The small children, Lynette and I walked over to the big pond to see the goats. Blake and Huston didn't waste anytime gathering up stones and had much fun throwing them in the water. Such simple things are so very fun to them and that makes them so fun to us.

Arden was her usual calm self, looking at everything around her with her big bright eyes and looking adorable in pastel plaid pants and an easter bunny top. Jennifer changed her into the pink dress and bloomers that we had put in her easter basket and, of course, she looked adorable in that outfit as well.

I read the Easter story to the children from a children's Bible and we released a helium balloon into the sky to remember how Jesus rose again. This is a tradition I would like to continue.

Easter time. Great food. A beautiful day. Great-grandparents, grandparents, Moms, Dads, aunts, uncles, and children. All had a wonderful time.

Huston and Arden are our joy. Huston has spent the night at our house quite a few times lately and, boy, have we had fun! He loves to watch the clock in our entry way strike the hours and he always runs toward it saying, "Clock ringing! Clock ringing!" We hold him up to watch it strike and he is totally mesmerized. We also have a tradition of watching the "Mickey and the Clock Cleaners" video and eating Grandpa's famous Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes in the morning.

He recently spent all day and night with us when Jennifer, Clarke and Arden went to Austin for a basketball game between Baylor and UT. We had been out celebrating Valerie's birthday with the entire Spears side of the family and Huston had a wonderful time, but he was very excited to get back to "MiMi's house". When we walked up onto the porch he sighed and said, "I'm happy." He even used the correct pronoun! He usually gets them mixed up in the most delightful way. Such as when he was imitating me by putting moisturizer dots on his face then grinning up at me and saying "You so crazy, just like MiMi!" Or when Jennifer was asking him too many questions about Wee Care he said, "You no talk it about nursery!"

Arden is absolutely adorable! We still can't believe that her brown eyed parents produced a little girl with the eyes the color of the ocean. She takes in everything around her with a calm studiousness. She reminds me of both Clarke and Jennifer with her peaceful demeanor and adaptability. She is very strong and already seems to be wanting to imitate speech. It's so fun to have our new little girl in the family!

Snow is falling outside. Truitt sits in the big soft rocking chair lovingly rocking Arden as she sleeps. Huston and I just read his new clock books together before his nap and he astounded me with his ability to move the clock hands to the appropriate times listed in the book. Truitt and Huston had a glorious time making play dough balls and then smashing them. And Huston and I had fun with our "Tick Tock ,Tick Tock Says the Big Clock... get you" game. I say the poem and he comes running toward me with a cheek bursting smile when I say "Get You Time". I hug him and we twirl around. Pure joy.

We just got the word from Clarke that the minor surgery that Jennifer had today went well and was all very routine. They cyst was removed from her neck without a problem.

We have much to be thankful for. Thank you, Lord, for this day.

Arden is Here

Arden missed her due date by 6 days, but when she was ready to be born she arrived in a hurry ! I received a phone call from Clarke around 6:15 on Sunday morning, November 15th. "Jennifer's in labor!" he told me.

Truitt and I prayed, then I dashed to the kids house. When I arrived sweet Jennifer was in intense labor, even vomiting once, but never, ever screaming or even moaning loudly. Most astoundingly, she didn't rush Clarke who had decided to take a shower. Both mother and father calmly left the house, only to realize that Jennifer was having the urge to push even as they drove in the hospital parking lot. Our sweet, beautiful, healthy Arden was born just 25 minutes later! She rated a 10 on the Apgar scale, something the hospital had seen only twice in 7 years!

We all thanked God for His incredible provision and I took Huston up to the hospital to see his little sister. He was fascinated with the elevators and enamored with the coke machine, but paid little heed to Arden. That is what we thought....then when we got into the car on the way home, he said "Baby Arden say whaaaaa at the hospital." As he "quoted" his sister he waved his arms back in forth in the perfect imitation of her baby movements. The little guy had taken in much more than we had thought.

Truitt, Emily and Christopher arrived at the hospital later, all rejoicing in the newest member of our family. Then we all took Huston out to lunch at Johnny Carinos. Later we went to the park with the "big slide" where Granny and Papaw joined us on their way home from the hospital. Huston was very excited that he was able to go up and down the big slide and said, "Papaw do it too?"

Believe it or not, my 83 year old Dad climbed up the ladderand all over the playground equipment. Then down he went on the big slide! Huston, you have great pull!

I enjoyed staying with Huston that night at the kids house and being there when Arden came home the next day in the arms of her beaming Mom and Dad. Truitt couldn't get enough of holding the beautiful pink bundle that was our new little Arden nand he and I had a blast taking Huston to the clock store for a fun outing later in the week.

I stayed one more night and helped the kids off and on through out the week. It was a joy being with them, cooking for them and watching "Barney with the clock in it" with Huston.

We are grateful for our children. We are grateful for our grandchildren. We are blessed.

Well, Arden, we can't wait to meet you! My bags are packed and waiting in my car. I'm carrying my cell phone everywhere I go. As soon as your Mom gives the word that she's in labor I'm heading over to babysit your brother. So fun! So crazy not knowing when! God knows your birthday, though, and everything about you. Isn't that cool?

Huston, you are continuing to make our life so bright. Your Mom and Dad just told me of your first real prayer. You prayed this aloud after your Mom and Dad prayed with you one night this week...

God, Thank You
Mimi's house, go there
Miss Carol, nursery
Eat goldfish, nursery
Say, amen

No more precious words have ever been spoken.

OK...I'm in. I'm a blogger now. My days of scribbling in a journal are over and my days of electronic recording have begun. The joy of grandparenting must be captured. The experience is too incredible to allow fading memory cells the prevent me from recalling these marvelous days of Huston, our first. And soon, Arden will be here too. In fact she is could arrive at any moment, though I truly believe it will be November before she makes her appearance.

I have to admit that my world has narrowed. I am no longer as interested in going out with friends, visiting museums, traveling, etc. I now look forward to spending time with Huston each week-end. But as my world has narrowed it has also become richer and full of a new type of happiness. Truitt and I are transfixed by the beauty and perfection of Huston. We thank God for him. We pray each day that he will love the Lord with all his heart and find His purposes in his life.

He loves our house. He wants to "pay with the red door", "pay with the white door", "pay with the clock" and throw rocks in the pond. The pure joy reflected in his face at the simplest of things brings us the purest joy.

Last week after spending the night with us we took him home. He fell asleep in the car and woke only as we were getting him out of the car seat. He woke up, looked up at me with eyes still half closed and said, "Mimi's house, again!". We love that. We love him. He is our grandson. He is grand.