Pajamas...

...aren't just for sleeping.

I love my sleep.  I love my bed.  I love my sleep and bed so much that I get up most mornings thinking about getting my pajamas back on as soon as I get home for the day.  And that is just what I do...most days.

Chuck and I are in a small group from our church that meets on Wednesday evenings.  This is the modern day's Sunday School.  In so many ways, it's way better than going to Sunday School on Sunday mornings right before church. Like the home setting, the ability to fellowship and study together in a less rushed atmosphere.  The desserts.  Sometimes, like for convenience, it's not.  Because meeting during the middle of the week after a long day at work, it can be hard to get back out.  But we do our best to be there weekly.

And here, I must have you confused.  Why am I talking about my small group when I opened this with loving my pajamas?

Because several weeks ago, in our small group, the meeting began with an Ice Breaker question.

Are you spontaneous or a planner? 

 

 

The leader when on to clarify it by saying "like if someone called you on a Friday evening to see if you wanted to go out to eat or see a movie...would you be spontaneous and go or would you need more time to plan something like this?"

 

 

We went around the room, one at time, giving our answer.  In most cases, one spouse was more spontaneous, one more the planner.  God has a great sense of humor when it comes to pairing us with our spouse, doesn't He?

 

 

So my answer was: I can be very spontaneous....as long as you catch me before I have my pajamas on.  Chuck and I both put on our pajamas as soon as we get home.  There are times...like on a Friday night that I want to go out to eat but by the time I get home Chuck already has on his pajamas.  He is always willing to change back in to his clothes... but that's just what we do...get our pjs on.  In fact, he even goes down to the mailbox in his bare feet and pajamas.  The neighbors are used to this.

 

 

This got a chuckle and that was that. 

 

 

Until last Wednesday evening.

 

 

It was our turn to host the group and I was busy in the kitchen with last minute preparations.  Chuck answered the door when we heard the doorbell. 

 

I heard this huge laugh.

 

 

Then it got louder...

 

 

And louder....like lots of people laughing. 

 

 

But I only heard the doorbell ring once.

 

 

So I stop what I'm doing and head towards the entryway.

 

 

And I am greeted with 12 people in their PAJAMAS!

 

 

Yep.  That's the small group we're in.

 

 

Apparently this was planned and many, many clandestine emails were sent around without our knowledge and they pulled it off! 

 

Chuck and I were told to go get our pajamas on and we did as told.

 

 

Group shot taken by a camera on a timer....we were told to yawn, act sleepy, stretch....

 

 

As you can see, there are some rule followers in the group.  Like me, yawning and stretching. 

If I spent hours and hours thinking of how these people could show me they really loved me....I could never come up with a better way.

 

 



And comedic relief is always a good thing when you're discussing deep matters.

 

This group has been a God send.  Literally. 

Baby, Bike and Bark

It's been about a month since I've posted on this blog...and by now I'm sure I only have one reader left. The one reader I'm sure about is Chuck and he only reads it when I say, "I did a blog post today."

It's been a a busy few weeks with 2 trips to Scottsdale to see our baby...the first one for 4 days when he was born and the second trip was 2 weeks later to love on him, help his Mama pack for their move and get her out of the house each day.


We spent a weekend at my sister and brother-in-law's place in the country Easter weekend...

 

Where Harry chased Will on a 4 wheeler...for hours.

 

And Harry ran and ran and was chased by the 2 farm dogs. 

For hours.

 

 

And we relaxed around a fire pit.  Under the Texas sky. 

In total silence.

 

We did a quick trip to Nacogdoches to watch Will in a play and realized the next time we head that way will be for his graduation (where did that 4 years go?). 

 

We've been enjoying our long Springtime weather on the back porch.

Harry has me in lock down mode.  That's my foot he's holding down with his big paws.

 

 

And then this past weekend, we headed to Austin to watch Cameron cross the finish line for the BP MS 150...her 4th time! In between weekends, the weeks fly by with work and chores and Duck Dynasty marathons at night.  Each day is begun and ended with loving on the dogs...especially Harry...as he is demanding of his love by nudging us with his snout. 

So here is a post in pictures...

BABY...First things first, Liam.  I have been promised at least one picture a day from his mama and he is changing so quickly.  We will see him soon as they are coming in for Will's graduation.  I'm sure I won't get to hold him much as he will be surrounded by lots of family members who haven't met him yet.  I may have to sneak in during the night to hold him. 

 

 Liam, you have a lot of work to do. 

You need to eat and sleep and grow so you can

 catch up with those long feet of yours.

(Okay, part of this is the angle but he does have really long feet...and toes.)

 

 I cannot even begin to imagine the tall boy he will be one day

but I know he will be very, very tall...like his Daddy.

Look at that long leg sticking out over the bouncer.

One evening while I was there, I had been holding a very fussy Liam.  Finally, after about 15 minutes of trying all of my tricks, I handed him over to his mama and he got very calm and locked eyes with her.  It was the sweetest moment.  He just stared and stared at her. It was pure love.

Real life is in the background as we had been packing boxes.  And Mia (the dog) is always nearby her boy.

 I saw a lot of Liam like this. 

We spent our days getting out and about.

  He loves his car seat.



 

I visited Liam when he was 2 1/2 to 3 weeks old.  He was just starting to open his eyes for longer periods of time.  In this picture above he is one month old...taken at his one month check up.  

Someone woke up! I think he likes tearing paper.

 

 

My friend Kathy from Cypress who lives in London, sent this outfit to Liam.  It came all the way from London and it says Daddy Mummy Me above the 3 bears. 

I love it. 

I love him.

 

 

 

BIKE...and Bark Next up is the BP MS150 Bike Ride for a cure for MS.  Cameron finished her 4th year of riding in this. She amazes me with her determination.  I can think of a thousand excuses to not exercise and she makes it happen. I need whatever it is she has. 

 

We headed over to Austin yesterday to watch her cross the finish line.  We got there about an hour and a half before she finished so we had plenty of time to set up our spot, watch the crowds, take lots of pictures and video and wait to see her come around the big curve. 

 

We decided to take Harry and his new collar.  Harry loves the outdoors and walks... only he doesn't get many walks.  Why?  Because if he sees another dog he goes ape poop crazy.  Like a broncin' bull coming out of the gate with a cowboy on his back.  Like a black bear ready to pounce his next meal. Like pull my shoulder out of its socket and wrap the leash around my legs and I am yanking his leash and trying to stay upright.  Not a good look on me or him.

 

His new collar is supposed to keep him from pulling so we thought we would give it a try. 

 

Just for precaution, Harry has on his pull collar, a choke collar, his regular collar and his shock collar.  Nothing... I mean..NOTHING stops him if he sees another dog.

The gray collar pulls his snout down if he pulls on his leash.  Does anyone really think that stopped him from pulling?  He totally ignored the millions of people...even let them pet him... but let one little Chihuahua walk by and he pulled the you know what out of that collar.  Snout down and all.  It's a very embarrassing, spastic, barking and pulling act.  Think Harlem Shake on steroids.

We must find time in our busy life to get this dog some training.

In the time waiting, I took lots of pictures.  Lots and lots of pictures.  Getting ready for that one girl to come around this curve. 

 

Flags at half mast.

 

 

Security in full force.

Proud daddy waiting.

Toddler dancing.

Boy climbing.

 

 

Rooftops.

 

This is the official Finish Line. 

 

And then the bike riders come around this corner.

 

Then they slow it down to come to a full stop.

 

One can get very caught up in the excitement

 of the riders crossing the finish line...but this sign is what it's all about. 

 

The riders finish in groups.

 

 They finish in crazy helmets.

 

They finish alone.

They finish in tutus.

 

 

 

Our girl texts us that she was about 10 minutes out because they had been stopped for traffic.  She would be wearing a red cape.  Chuck, who had been videoing for about 30 minutes (don't ask why) and I, who had been snapping away at strangers for the last hour, prepared for our girl in the red cape to come around that corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then.....

 

 

 

 

Chuck said the video was full....so he fast and furiously

 started deleting footage of perfect strangers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And me?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My camera wouldn't work.

Wouldn't click.  Would NOT click.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The screen read BATTERY NEEDS RECHARGING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I rush over to my camera bag...

to get the extra battery....

which of course, is. 

 NOT.  IN.  THERE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because? 

 

Because we pack everything but the kitchen sink....and the extra battery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so I give you one very crummy picture taken with my cell phone. 

 

But it's of one very determined, beautiful inside and out, girl.

 

Did he pull?

 

Only every time he saw a dog. 

 Do you see the indention on his snout? 

 

 

 

Baby, Bike and Bark. 

Keeping us Busy.





A Boy

March 14, 2013, was a very, very good day.  I got a phone call from Jordan around 9:00 a.m., our time, that she was heading to the hospital with contractions 5 minutes apart.  Plane tickets were secured, last minute decisions were made, I headed in to work for a couple of hours and then left for the airport around 1:00 p.m.


Chuck stayed behind because he had a speaking engagement in Brazil.  Yes, Brazil.  What are the odds that our calendar events would collide like that.  He's never been to Brazil and we've never had a grand baby.  Chuck was flying out on Friday to Brazil.  He was torn, but we promised lots of pictures and videos and went forward with our travel plans.  Me to Phoenix, him to Brazil.  I was pooped already!


I got to the gate with an hour and a half to spare.  People magazine in hand, cell phone to stay up to date with Jordan's progress, and facing the window to watch for the plane.  The Boarding Pass says Gate C40....check...I'm sitting in C40. 

An hour goes by.


I think we should be boarding soon.  So anxious.  So excited.



I continue to look at my phone and the magazine....and put lipstick on ....and get a piece of gum out of my purse.  Antsy.  Just plain antsy.  As I know I will be totally out of communication for the 3 hour flight.  Let's get on with this.



Where's the plane?  Why aren't we boarding?  Are you kidding me?  My daughter is in labor and the plane is going to be late?



I look at the gate sign...then my boarding pass....check...both say Gate C40.



I finally look back and see a few people lining up.  I get up, go over to a man in line and ask, "Did they start boarding yet?"  He replies, "Not yet."  I ask, "This is going to Phoenix, right?"  He says, "NO, Denver."



SINKING FEELING.

I rush over to the desk and ask the guy (I may have rudely interrupted him speaking to another passenger) what happened to the plane going to Phoenix....about the same time I saw DENVER on the lit board above the desk.  He says, "That plane's left.  It was moved to Gate C44."


yep.


I call Chuck as I'm walking to Customer Service to get me on the next flight (2 hours later) fighting back the tears.  Chuck doesn't believe it, yet he believes it.  It's me.   It's how I operate.  Ugh.


Apparently, one must check the black boards of all the planes' arrivals and departures for any last minute changes.  Later, I did check my emails and at noon (while I was still at work and NOT checking my home emails) I received a notice that the gate had changed. 

And I will never, ever, ever face the window again.  Nope.  I will face the gate or the walkway where I can see people getting up to board...or in my case, perhaps noticed nobody getting up to leave for Phoenix because the people sitting around me were leaving for Denver. 

And here is where I admit to everyone:   I NEED CHUCK.  There, I said it.  I at least need him to travel with me.  He's the gate checker.  And the one who puts the suitcase in the car for me.  This time I remembered the suitcase but missed the flight.  This time my suitcase got to our destination without me.

But I got there in time.

I got to Phoenix and was picked up by Jordan's good friend and driven to the hospital.

And within minutes I was told the news I have been waiting for, for at least 9 months.  What's a delay of 2 hours when you've waited 9 months? 

It's a boy!

 

Liam Christopher

3.14.13

7:02 p.m.

8 lbs. 1 oz.

20 1/2 inches

Perfect

 

happyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappyhappy

 

 

 Mama Jordan did great!  Labored all day but only pushed an hour.
 Everyone is good and healthy and sleepy.
I am so proud of Jordan and Chris.
  I know they are going to make a great team.
 

 

Please forgive me for bragging with some pictures of Liam.

 

 

 

 

He's blonde.

 

He has long feet and toes.

He has long fingers.

 

He has the sweetest face.

He has great parents.

 

 

 

His Juney loves him

and can't wait for Pop to meet him.

 

Thank you God for this boy.

 

 

 

To my Prayer Warriors,  Thanks for keeping us in your prayers through this journey.  Liam is wonderfully made and I know he belongs to God.  I am so thankful and in awe of how good our God is.  Proof is in this sweet baby's face.  In his new baby smell.  In his soft squeaks when he stretches.  In the tiny fingerprints of his tiny fingers.  This new life is fresh and clean, sent from God.   I will do everything in my power to teach Liam how wonderful he is and how mighty his God is.