Jump, Jump...Jump Around

Can you tell there's a difference in personalities?  :)

2011: My Year In Books

2011 proved to be a good year for me in reading books.  I definitely picked up the pace compared to 2010.  Pretty sure a baby with no more ear infections and sleeping through the night has a lot to do with that.  :)  So here is my recap in no particular order:

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls - I really loved this book.  I always enjoy true stories, and this one was pretty incredible and an inspiring story of resilience.  It's very well-written and engrossing.

Half-Broke Horses by Jeanette Walls - So this is the prequel to The Glass Castle.  I wish I had read them in chronological order.  But I was still pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.  It's set during the turn of the century out on horse farms most of the time.  Not what I usually gravitate to, but I couldn't put it down and really loved the main character.

Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter & Sweet by Jamie Ford - I enjoyed this book, but it probably ranked on the lower end of the ones I read this year.  It's a novel but based during the WWII days when Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps.  I really have not read a lot about this part of our country's history.  Obviously hard to comprehend.  There is a sweet story of friendship woven in.

Open by Andre Agassi - I love a good biography and decided to read this way before I started taking tennis lessons.  I wish I could read it for the first time (I'm horrible at re-reading books) now that I understand the game of tennis so much more.  But it was still surprising to read about someone's rise to success but see that they still feel isolated and lonely.  Very sad at times but definitely interesting.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan - I had heard of this book and of Francis Chan for awhile, and then in April we were able to hear him speak at a conference.  Wow.  This guy is impressive.  It's always refreshing to see what appears to be the real deal in a very public Christian leader.  I liked the book, but I'm thinking because I had heard so much of it already, it didn't have the impact I've heard so many others talk about.  Still all very applicable and good.

Still Alice by Lisa Genova - This was one of my favorites of the year.  It was also one of the hardest to read.  I had just come back from visiting my grandfather, who has severe Alzheimer's.  The novel is based on a college professor who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.  It's from her perspective as the warning signs start to appear.  Disturbing and sad, but also gave me such a different perspective knowing that someone I love has gone through something similar. 

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand - This one took me awhile to really get into.  But once I did, oh my word.  I couldn't put it down.  I will say, though, it is disturbing at times.  Pretty sure I had some odd dreams while I was reading this.  It's the true story of a WWII pilot that was lost at sea for an insane amount of time on a raft and then held in a Japanese POW camp.  Everything about his story is incredible and terrifying.  But I loved that there is some hope to his story in the end even after the suffering.  And another personal moment (SPOILER ALERT) was when he was finally rescued from the POW camp, he was on a bus with others rescued from the Bataan Death camps.  My grandfather was part of the team that liberated those prisoners.  Kind of neat to realize some connection. 

The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns - Well this book (and video study with our Small Group at church) had a huge impact on me.  It was a perfectly placed step in my search early in the year.  His basic premise is that the missing hole in the American Christian Gospel is living out our faith and serving those that need it the most.  We were going through this study when I found out about the trip to Haiti.  The part of the book that stayed with me the most was his prayer of "Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours."  This book opened my eyes in a new way, and I'm so thankful for the chapter it helped lead to in my life.

Bossypants by Tina Fey - Hilarious.  Seriously, she is funny.  Very interesting to see how her career progressed. Loved all of the stories and even easy to relate to after she had her baby.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty - If you've seen the movie, The Vow, this book is pretty much the same thing (although much better!) but instead of a young, single girl, it's a middle-aged mom.  She wakes up in a hospital after an accident and is fine physically but has forgotten the past 15 years of her life.  Interesting and easy to read, good story.

Any great ones out there to recommend for this year?  If you're like me, you like to get actual recommendations from people you know.  So here are my lists from 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.  I wonder if this is the year I'll finally tackle the Benjamin Franklin biography and/or Jane Eyre?  Those have been on my to-read list for about a decade.  Procrastinate much?

Happy Reading!

TOT Time

This is the second year that Tate has participated in TOTs (Teams of Tomorrow) at preschool.  He LOVES it.  TOT days are some of his favorite days.  They don't compete in basketball games, but learn ball-handling skills, coordination, with educational components mixed in.  Now in his second year, he is a pro.  I'm so proud of him as he has got the routine down good.  So mid-year, they do a halftime performance at a local high school basketball game.  I think he loved watching the game just as much as performing.  And especially enjoyed yelling (loudly), "Get the ball back!!!" whenever the defense stole the ball.  I think we've got a competitor our hands.  :)

I also couldn't believe how much bigger he looked this year compared to last.  And you can tell a year makes a big difference in coordination.  He did a great job dribbling the ball, and he had so much fun.

He had a cheering section with us and Mimi & Grandpa.  Fun night!

And later that same week, the TOT teams from all over DFW were able to participate in a pregame show at the Harlem Globetrotters game at the American Airlines Center.  Pretty fun to get to be on the same court as the Dallas Mavericks.  Although Tate's biggest question was how in the world there could be a basketball game, hockey game, and a circus all at the same place?  :)

He did so good out on the big court, and we were so proud of our Tater Tot.  Then we got to stay for the game.  None of us had ever been to a Harlem Globetrotters game before.  Wade got a good laugh when I was so excited that our tickets were for the league championship game.  I guess ALL of their games are for the league championship game.  :)  They were definitely entertaining.

We had some extra tickets, so two of Tate's friends, Noah & Caleb, joined us.  A car full of three 5-6 year old boys is loud...in case you were wondering.  But these boys had a blast together and especially enjoyed being covered in a layer of cotton candy gunk.  I had to borrow a baby wipe from the lady in front of me to clean them off!

 Such a fun night!

Happy Birthday Kari!

February 25 is a special day for me and many others.  It's the birthday of our sweet friend, Kari Firestone Heil.  

Although I miss her so much and wish we were experiencing this stage of life together, I'm thankful that her story continues.  Her story has taught many that depression is very real.  Her story has taught many that sometimes it's the person you least expect that is struggling the most.  She is more than her death.  Even in the tragedy, her life continues to provide light and hope for many.


I know that one day her beautiful daughters will want to know more about who Kari was.  What was she like?  My hope and prayer is that they will get a small glimpse into the person who so many loved and enjoyed being around.  I've shared memories in years past, and this year our other roomie, Garyn, shares some more.  We love you and miss you, Kari!

~~~~~~~~~~~

From Garyn:


Remembering Kari…when I think of Kari, I remember my sweet friend who was full of life as many people who knew her would say.  I remember my friend who was bubbly…who laughed and made me laugh.  I remember so many things, but what I think of most is the kind of friend she was to me.  Kari was someone I could be real with…a friend who made me feel like I could be myself in the most genuine form.  As I have grown older and lived through more years, I understand more each day how rare it is to connect with a friend in that way…to have a friendship that requires no effort because it is natural and easy.  That is who Kari was for me, and I miss her so very often. 

We shared a love for music and singing. We both had solos in Freshman Follies at ACU and discovered then that we had the same passion for singing and performing.  We were packing partners on ACU chorus trips, and I remember some funny moments…some inside jokes I won’t share…oh but if she were here to reminisce with me about them, we would laugh and laugh!  I remember a CD she had - all songs from musicals by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and we would listen to it in our duplex and belt out all the songs with enthusiasm!  I admired her love and talent for musical theater, and enjoyed seeing her perform…she truly loved it. 

Kelly, Kari and I were roommates while at ACU, and I have so many memories of the three of us in our duplex, and in the apartment we moved into after that. My dear friend Misty lived  with us for some of that time as well.  So many memories of moments we shared just living life together during those years.  I wouldn’t change it for anything.  I remember Kari so often…as if those days were yesterday, and it brightens my world each time I think of her  - always.  


Love you girl!

Valentine's Day ~ 2012

Love puts the fun in together, the sad in apart, and joy in a heart. ~ Author Unknown

Valentine's Day.  The day to celebrate the ones I love.  So to celebrate them...I take their pictures!  :)

The first subject was not very willing.  But we did the best that we could.

He quickly decided his great-grandfather's rocking chair would be more fun to push around the house.

Or turn into a slide.

When I took the 50+-year-old chair away, the Valentine's Photo Shoot came to an abrupt end.

The next subject was much more willing...for a few minutes at least.  And yes, it's probably a little narcissistic  of me to be the one who bought that shirt for him.  But hey, I'll enjoy the props as long as I can.  :)

This is the point when the picture taking got old...

So I demanded that he absolutely stop smiling this very instant...

During the day, Tate delivered roses and handmade cards to all of his preschool teachers.  We had an extra rose, so I asked if there was a girl who happened to be a friend that he would want to give it to.  (And no...he will never be allowed to be "The Bachelor.")  So with his extra rose, he chose our sweet friend, Annie.  Oh my goodness, this was cute to watch.

First off, he had to inspect exactly where those pesky thorns were.

Waiting...

Happy Valentine's Day, Annie!

Here's a card and a flower!

Now I'm not sure what to do...

Seriously the cutest thing ever.  And I'm sure they will seriously be embarrassed when they see this in a few years.  Arranged marriages are still OK, right?

The night was wrapped up with the annual heart pizza, my favorite cinnamon swirl bundt cake, and complete meltdowns by the children at the dinner table.  Oh, the joys!  :)

And even with meltdowns and exhaustion (mine!), the day was a wonderful reminder of the incredible blessings I have to love.  Especially this one...

And just for historical purposes of the same shirt & chair, I can NOT believe this was Valentine's Day just three short years ago.  There is no way that he was just that little.  Sigh...