Colorful Conversations

Cozette and I like to sit at our kitchen table and color. I will tell her to draw a picture of our family, or our house, and she will quickly respond by saying, "OK, Mommy!" She will scribble on her paper with several colors and then proudly announce, "I'm done!"

I love the simple conversations we have while coloring together. I have learned that her favorite colors are purple, blue, pink, and orange. We talk about how much she misses her Daddy when he's at work. She asks how long before Kayleigh and Everett get home from school. She tells me she needs a snack. We talk about all of the little things that are important to a two year old.

These moments are priceless.

In the last several weeks, she has started having more detailed conversations with us. The other night she was laying in bed with Brad and me. He started asking her silly questions. Her answers were so cute. I wish I could capture her sweet voice and how she is not able to say her "r" sound and how southern her little accent is.

Brad: Cozette, are you a girl or a boy?

Cozette: I'm a girl, Daddy!

Brad: Cozette, is Everett a girl or a boy?

Cozette: Everett is a boy, Daddy.

Brad: Cozette, is Kayleigh a girl or a boy?

Cozette: Kayleigh is a girl like me!

Brad: Cozette, is Daddy a girl or a boy?

Cozette: Daddy you're a MAN!

We started laughing at her quick response.

Brad: Cozette, is Mommy a girl or a boy?

Cozette: Daddy, Mommy's a MOMMY!

I must have kissed her a hundred times after that brilliant answer!

Last Sunday, Cozette was sitting on Nikki's lap during church. She likes to play with Nikki's jewelry. Cozette decided she wanted to look inside Nikki's mouth. Nikki opened up and asked Cozette if she saw anything inside her mouth. Cozette paused and studied Nikki's mouth for a moment. "It's dark in there," Cozette answered.

On Friday, Cozette came up stairs and uttered several sentences. I could understand only one. "I made a mess...your bag, Mommy...!"

I got down on my knees and looked into her eyes, so I could ask her a few of my own questions.

"Cozette, did you pour water on anything?"

Cozette smiled and said, "No."

"Did you get into any food?"

"No."

"All right, let's go downstairs and see what you have done," I told her as I picked her up.

"OK, Mommy!"

When we walked into the kitchen, I saw that she had opened my coupon bag and scattered the coupons all over my kitchen floor.

"Oh my goodness, Cozette, look at this mess," I exclaimed!

Cozette quickly put her hands on my face to caress me and said,"Don't cry, Mommy!"


Two year olds sure do make life fun!

I'm a Phillies Fan

Baseball. Baseball. Baseball. Spring season is officially here. Practices started Monday night. Sadly, the first practice of the season was canceled due to rain. The coach was very thankful that our first practice was scheduled for last night.

This year, our baseball association took a vote on whether or not they wanted to continue using college teams or switch to professional teams. Pro teams won 51 votes to 49 votes for college teams. The coach and I both preferred college teams.

So, now we are Phillies.

I tried to get the Coach to explain to me why he chose this team. He even chose the Phillies over the Braves, if you can believe that. He said that he has always liked this team and that his beloved Boston Red Sox was gone in the first pick.

"Why did you choose this team?" I asked him.

"I like any team that opposes the Yankees. I like some of their players and their logo. Plus, their manager is a good ole' southern boy."

Thank you for explaining.

I never wrote about the drama we dealt with the weekend it snowed. Try-outs for baseball were scheduled for that Saturday and were yet again canceled because of the weather. There was an announcement on the park's website stating that try-outs were to be rescheduled the following Sunday, but to check back for confirmation.

We were speechless.

The Coach had to draft another email about not being there on Sunday. We had a discussion about whether or not he should just walk away from coaching baseball. We never received a response, but it was a true relief when it was posted on the website that Saturday evening that try-outs were rescheduled for the following Thursday instead.

He attended a coaches meeting a few days later in preparation for try-outs. Try to imagine my excitement when he came home and announced that Sundays will be avoided in the future for make-up games. We live in the bible belt. Sadly, Wednesday evenings are more sacred than Sunday. For our family, it is an answer to many prayers that Wednesdays will be used for make-up games.

It is hard to put into words all that we have been through in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

But, it has been worth it.

Are There Any Changes?

This is Clara. She has been a secretary in Doctor Beck's office for about 11 years. She has scheduled many appointments for me. I have acquainted myself with many of the ladies that work at the Emory Eye Clinic. Last September, when I returned to Emory after taking a 14 month sabbatical from that place, I noticed that another one of my favorite ladies was not there. I was so concerned with the status of my eyes, that I forgot to ask Clara about China.

A few days later. when I had a follow-up visit, I noticed China's absence. She was the receptionist and greeted everyone. She checked you in. She was the friendliest person. She always asked about my family and showed genuine concern for my health.

When I asked Clara about her, she became very emotional. "Oh, I am sorry to tell you that China passed away earlier this year."

I lost my breath.

"What happened, Clara?" I could barely ask the question.

"She was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor and died in a matter of months." Clara sadly told me.

I have had lots of trips to Emory since last fall. When I enter that waiting room, I still find myself looking for China. The waiting room has changed. It's a lonley place with out her.

Dr. Beck has been monitoring my right eye for months now. There has been a leak in the eye where had had previously done surgery. I felt so blessed when the area sealed on its own preventing me from having to have a revision on it last year. At the beginning of January, he noticed another area that started leaking. On Friday, I had an important check-up with Doctor Beck. I was hoping the area on my eye would seal on its own.

When I arrived at Emory, Clara called my name.

"How are you Clara," I asked.

"I'm great. How have you been? She responded and then continued. "Let's see, you were just here in January. Are there any changes?" She asked as she looked up at me.

"Well, I am not really sure. I just can't tell," I told her.

"Huh?" Clara looked at me like I was strange.

"That's why I'm here. Only Doctor Beck will know for sure," I tried to explain to her.

Clara put her papers down, sat back in her chair, and started laughing.

"No, Jeannie, I was asking you if there were any changes with your insurance information." I started cracking up. "You can obviously see what I am thinking about today." I said as I continued to laugh. "And, no, there are not any changes with my insurance since last month."

"That was really cute," Clara chuckled.

I waited in that waiting room for about and hour and a half this time. After seeing Doctor Beck, I reported back to Clara.

"Well, Clara, there are some changes this time."

"Oh, no. What's going on? She asked with concern.

"I have to have a revision on the eye." I told her.

"I'm sorry. At least, Dr. Beck is doing the surgery," she said to console me.

"Yes," I agreed and thought to myself how grateful I am for this.

We have been praying for the best decision to be made regarding the health of my eye. I was a little concerned if this surgery would affect the 5k's I have been training for. Dr. Beck expressed he was glad I was running, and I could schedule the surgery after I run both of my races.

My surgery is April 26th.

I know this is the best decision for me.

One day, I will gather my courage and ask Dr.Beck if I can take a picture of him.

Love Letters

Happy Valentine's Day.

Wonderland

We asked for it. We got it. It started snowing yesterday around 1 pm and it didn't stop until last night around 9 pm. Kayleigh and Everett arrived home from school with the same excitement that is felt on Christmas morning. There is something magical about snow. It brings out the children in all of us.

I must be truthful though.

I did not go outside this year.

I had planned to. This year's snow was the wettest in history. It was bitter cold outside. I guess I was just too wimpy.








Everett reluctantly agreed to let me post this picture. He had been playing outside for hours. I was horrified when he came in dripping wet and freezing. I tried to find him more warm clothes that were also water proof. He was very grateful to wear my ski bib. I told him to put an Under Armour over it and sweatshirt and no one would ever know that he was wearing his Mama's ski clothes...

Please Don't Laugh

Why is it so difficult to control your laughter when you're at church? And why is it always at church or some other sacred place when you seem to lose control? I have offered many silent prayers in my lifetime pleading that I can exercise more self-control and refrain from laughing.

It never works.

Trying to hold your laughter in causes a terrible feeling inside. You become very hot and it seems like you're going to explode. The harder you try to keep it in, the more intense it becomes. I usually try to put my face down or I bend over and pretend I am trying to find a pacifier or toy of Cozette's. I pray that my sisters and I do not have eye contact because that only exacerbates the situation.

Why just last Sunday Mommom had to shake her finger at Nikki and me. She even told us that we were not allowed to sit by each other anymore in church. I felt like I was 10 years old again. Nikki whispered something back in her ear. Ironically, I could see that Mommom had a big smile on her face; however, she has more self-control than we do--and she did not laugh. Mommom later told Nikki that she was terrible.

Today, I was minding my own business listening to testimony meeting. I was sitting in between Nikki and the Coach. Everett had been sketching some of his artistic doodles. He showed some of them to Nikki, and she told him that one of his faces looked really scary. On his own, he tried to draw the face bigger.

When he was finished, he showed his drawing to Nikki, and of course, she started laughing.They handed it to me next. For some reason, the drawing struck me funny. I guess because it looked like a bearded smiley face. I don't think Everett appreciated that his scary drawing turned out to be so cute.

Everett decided to show his picture to Mommom. Now, I did not see this part, but I was told that she got tickled and told Everett his drawing was cute.

A few minutes later Everett whispered something into Nikki's ear.

"I think Mommom thinks my picture is funny."

Then he had a second thought and added, "I think Mommom thinks it's her."

When Nikki tried to quietly relate this to me, I just knew we were going to die from trying not to laugh out loud. I guess at the moment, the thought of Mommom believing that Everett drew her as "the bearded smiley face" was more than I could bear during the middle of testimony meeting.

Nikki later asked Mommom what she thought of the drawing. "Yes, I really thought the picture was of me with a beard!"

I am going to repent.

Next Sunday I am not going to laugh one time during church!

At Uncles

Cozette kindly agreed to take her pacie out to smile for the camera.

Going to the Chicky-fil-a, as Cozette calls it, is always a special treat. It's even more fun when Mommom and Papa take you there. Cozette recently spent the afternoon with them and came home with a little surprise.

"Cozette, where did you get that cute little monkey?" Her Daddy asked her.

"At Uncles." She answered.

He did not understand her, so he asked her again. "Where did you get it?"

"At Uncles!" She answered for the second time.

I was in the other room and overheard them. Brad and I discussed that she was telling us where she got the little monkey, but clearly we didn't understand her.

I asked Cozette later where she got her cute monkey, hoping to understand her.

"At Uncles!" She answered for the third time.

The day got busy with preparations for having the missionaries over for dinner and Family Home Evening, and I forgot to call my Mom to ask her where Cozette got the monkey.

The following morning, I called home to tell her about Cozette's attachment to the monkey and to find out where it came from.

Nikki answered the phone and I related everything to her. Nikki asked Mom where they bought the monkey.

"Well, they had to run a few errands after they had lunch and Mom ran in to Michaels and found it there," Nikki reported.

When Nikki told Mom what Cozette had been telling us, I heard her burst out laughing and she came to the phone. After we spoke for a few minutes and discussed how cute Cozette is, I hung up and had a conversation with Cozette.

"Cozette, Mommom told me that she bought your monkey at Michaels." I said to let her know that we finally understood.

"Yes, at Uncles," Cozette agreed.

I'm glad that's finally settled!

And in case you're wondering, Cozette named the monkey, "Ooh-Ooh-Ahh-Ahh."

Cozette is modeling the Valentine's crown she made at story time today at the library.

Welcome Back Coach

At the end of December, the coach received an email from our baseball association that alarmed me. They wanted to know if he was willing to coach games on Sunday if it became necessary. I am positive this was an inquiry due to the fact that last fall, we had multiple games rescheduled due to all of the rain we received. Several of the make-up games fell on Sunday. The coach reminded them that he and Everett did not play baseball on Sunday and requested for all of the games to be rescheduled, yet again, to other days--and fortunately the park kindly obliged him.

The coach quickly sent his response restating that he loved the game, he was committed to the boys, but he could not agree to play baseball on the Sabbath.

We never received a response from the baseball association.

For the past month we have been anxiously awaiting whether or not he would be coaching this Spring. We received an email today stating he had been selected to coach Spring Ball.

When I read the email, a burden had been lifted. We understand that eventually our choice not to play ball on Sunday may lead to missed opportunities. We are at peace with this. I think about the lessons our family, especially Everett, has learned from speaking up for what we believe to be true. The consequences of doing so are sometimes hard and painful but choosing the right always has a good ending--no matter what the outcome is.

What's the Time?

I am becoming obsessed with minutes and seconds. Keeping up with my time is not about my speed-- it's about how far I am running. I am training to run my first 5K in April. This has been quite a journey for me. I was so pleased last November when I accomplished my goal of being able to run one mile for the first time in almost 20 years.

The race that I am training for will be held at the park I run at every day. I have the advantage of knowing this trail. I have mastered speed walking and running it in about 39 minutes 42 seconds. This was my first official time using the stop watch that Brad gave me for Christmas.

Truthfully, I was not so happy with this time.

I was determined to beat it.

The next day my time was 35 minutes 55 seconds because I forced myself to run more. Then I got my time down to 34 minutes and 24 seconds. I discovered that I was actually running most of the park and walking only until I caught my breath.

You can imagine how tickled I was the when I clocked in at 33 minutes 41 seconds.

I did the "woo hoo" dance.

Nikki said I was so hot that she was going to call the fire department!

My disappointment was overwhelming when I clocked in at 34 minutes eight seconds the next time I went running. I hit a wall and felt that I would never be able to run the entire trail. I was so deflated that I waited a few days before I went again.

Last Thursday I clocked in at 32 minutes four seconds. I am still not able to run the entire trail without taking little breaks. This is something I hope to accomplish over the next month.

Today was my best time yet.

31 minutes 43 seconds.

Brad's eyes almost popped out of his head when I returned home so quickly.

Slowly but surely I am reaching my goal. And in the process, I am experiencing the joy and satisfaction that comes with reaching it one step at a time.