D is for...

Dog and Dinosaur!

We've had a busy couple of weeks around here. I'm beginning to realize that I need to set some limits on how many days we are 'out and about'. It just tires us all out.

On a different note, we've had lots of fun with 'school' the past few weeks. We've covered D for two weeks and F for two as well! (We did E for Elijah a while back.) Here are some pictures of what we accomplished.

Elijah loved this activity! We took a used half gallon milk container to drop straws into. It kept him occupied for 20 minutes at least!

I have a hard time getting him interested in these do-a-dot pages for the letters. This time there wasn't any trouble...especially when I pulled out the Cinnabon cereal!

Another favorite...a dog face! He was so proud that he made a puppy!

I'll have to take some pictures of our 'f is for fish' activities. Fish are some of his favorite animals!

Next week, we'll cover G is for...hmmm...what is G for? ;)

Winter weather fun

We've had our fair share of winter weather lately! With four ice/snow days last week, and one this week, we've had lots of fun playing outside...and warming up inside! I thought I'd share some pictures with you.

New and cool games...maybe not so much...

Elijah and I continue to enjoy our letter of the week, even as sickness strikes the family and lingers on. Last week we had 'C is for Cookie monster' week. Since Elijah LOVES Cookie Monster, I knew this would be a hit. He enjoyed making several pictures of Cookie monster (a great way to work on those fine motor skills), making biscuits with cookie cutters that started with "c", and making chocolate chip cookies!

Later in the week, I was trying to think of a game to get his attention. I grabbed a rod, attached a 'fishing line' (string), and placed a clothes pin at the end. I had envisioned him 'fishing' for pictures. When he caught the 'pictures', he would tell me if they started with c or not. I thought he would love it..

...Well, I was wrong. He tried it once or twice, then found that he liked going in circles with the fishing pole better. Hmphf...I guess I'd better stick with the ideas in the curriculum.

On a different note, I pulled out some googly eyes for him to put on a cookie monster picture. He loved playing with those. He used them to fill in a "C" sheet that you are supposed to use the do-a-dot paint with. (I have a hard time getting him to do this activity). It worked just fine having him use the googly eyes, though! :)

This week, we're working on 'C is for Caterpillar'. I've found that more than one week is often necessary for this busy 2 year old. I'll try to remember pictures this week.

Remembering Dad

Dad, my sister Brandy, and her son Joshua
January 16, 2001

I can remember it just like it was yesterday. I was in the last semester of college at Houghton and had volunteered to speak at chapel. I had just a week left to prepare my testimony. With only 25 minutes left until my first class, I was debating about whether or not to call my Dad to talk with him about what I was going to say. You see, Dad hadn't been a key figure in my early childhood. I wanted to say something about this in my talk, but didn't want him to be surprised when he came. (He had promised to come to hear me talk...it would be his first time on campus!) I decided to call in spite of the time constraint.

We had a great talk. He had been very busy working a full time job, taking care of his 7 month old daughter, and having a side job of repairing cars. Needless to say, he was exhausted. At one point, he quipped, "Heather, I've figured out how to make it work. You break the candle in half, and burn it at all four ends!" I was glad for the good conversation and decided not to broach the subject of my talk, except for confirming that he would still be coming.

That was a bigger decision that I ever guessed it would be.

Later in the day, I decided to head up to the gym for some study time in the conference room before basketball practice began. At one point the phone rang and I heard the secretary say, "Heather Munson, yes, she's here." Since I never receive phone calls at the gym office, I knew something must be wrong.

When I answered, the woman said, "Heather, you need to call home right away."

"What is it?" I inquired.

"Just call home," she replied.

I made the call in Coach's office.

Grandma answered.

"What's wrong?" I asked, fearing that something had happened to my Mom.

"Are you sitting down?"

"Grandma, just tell me."

"Are you sitting down?"

I obliged and sat.

"Ok, I'm sitting. What happened?"

"Heather, it's your Dad. He's dead."

During the conversation, I found out that he had gone out to fix a car and was working on sodering off a gas tank. The fumes in the tank lit, then exploded. The initial explosion didn't kill him. It was the smoke inhalation that did.

A few days later, we buried him with full military honors. Each gunshot that was fired in his honor pounded in the reality that I would go the rest of my life without my Dad there. As I sat there thinking, I was relieved that I was able to talk with him the day he died- and that I hadn't said anything that had the potential of hurting him. Yes, God was good in guiding my decision to call Dad and the discussion topic.

Ten years have passed. With the 10 years, there has been a year in Europe, a wedding, a teaching career, two kids, and so many little memories. Dad hasn't been a part of any of this. And yet, I know that he's in a far better place. God had a different plan for him. His plan was to take Dad away far too early for us, but at just the right time in His eyes.

I love you, Dad.

Thankful...

2010 has been a busy year for us. There has been lots of uncertainty and lots of joy as we've seen God work. Here's a summary...
1. January 2010: We had recently found out two things: 1) Perot Systems had been bought out by Dell, which meant uncertainty over Josh's position. 2) I was pregnant with baby #2...which wasn't expected. Given the almost direct contradiction of these two things, we were thankful that after a couple of months of searching for a new job, Josh was offered a position at Lennox Intl.
2. February 2010: Josh finished up his job at Perot Systems/Dell on his 3rd anniversary there. He started at Lennox a few days later finding the work environment much more favorable.
We found out we were having another boy. :)
3. March 2010: After many discussions, we decided to put our house on the market so that we could be closer to Josh's work.
4. April 2010: Heather's sister, Cynthia, and Cynthia's friend came to visit. We have a couple of offers on the house, and finally have a contract on it.
5. May 2010: Much turmoil this month. The sale of our house progresses. The appraisal of the house comes in very low, but since we already had a contract on another house, we go ahead with it. We moved out at the end of May, putting our things into storage because we hadn't yet finished purchasing our home in Plano.
6. June 2010: We signed for our new house and moved in at the beginning of June. :) Heather and Elijah travel to NY to celebrate Cynthia and David's high school graduation. They worked basketball camp at Houghton for a week.
7. July 2010: Elijah and Heather returned home from NY and worked to get settled in to their new home. Elijah celebrated his 2nd birthday. Josh and Heather celebrate their 8th anniversary.
8. August 2010: We welcomed Ezra James into our family on August 6th. Heather celebrates her 31st birthday with her sister Brandy's visit.
9. September 2010: Josh celebrates his 31st birthday.
10. October 2010: This turned out to be a fairly low-key month. We enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and settling into our new routine with a 2 yr. old and a baby. We sold Josh's Honda. Josh starts riding his bike to work.
11. November 2010: After not knowing whether or not we'll be able to go to NY for Christmas, we finally purchased tickets. We go back and forth about trying out a different church due to the distance from FBD, but decide that FBD is our church home. We enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with Josh's parents. We also made a trip out to see Heather's Uncle Henry and his four boys in Texarkana.
12. December 2010: Josh has to work very long hours at work. 11 hour days are common...some 12 and 13 hour days happen. Another job opportunity pops up for him, but after praying and some negotiations, Josh decides Lennox is the place for him. We look forward to visiting family and friends in NY for Christmas.
As you can see, this has been a busy, but exciting year. God has been good. Even in the midst of uncertainty, God led us to where He wants us to be and has especially shown me how to trust.
I wonder what adventures God has in store for 2011. :)

See Jesus

The first questioning phase of Elijah's life has begun. Each day is saturated with "that, Mommy?" (what's that) and "____ go?" (insert Daddy, trash truck, etc.). Answering these questions has become second nature to me. Most of the time I don't even think about it.

Tuesday was different, though. His little mind was on Jesus. After all, we have been talking a lot about Jesus as Christmas approaches. Our trip down to church was peppered with, "Jesus at work with Daddy?", "Jesus in Gloria's class?", "Jesus Elijah?" (Is Jesus with Elijah?), etc. By the time we got to church, I had explained several times that Jesus is with us all the time, but we just can't see him now.

When we walked into class, I could tell he didn't understand that part, though. He looked around the class and said with huge tears in his eyes, "Jesus go, Mommy?". He burst into a sad cry. What could I do?

As I think about these interactions, I realized that Elijah really wanted to see Jesus. His whole mind was focused on it. How often do I want to see Jesus this badly? Unfortunately, I often get distracted by many things and forget my desire for Him.

Oh, the lessons you can learn from a 2 yr old. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing these little ones into our lives, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Eyes have it...

I've been trying to take a few pictures around the house lately. I don't want to be the type of person that has a ton of pictures of the firstborn, but very few of the second. Well, that's already happening...but that's a different story.

In taking these pictures, Elijah's eyes are always closed. It's been a frustrating venture. Some very cute pictures are rendered unusable because his eyes are closed. Here are some examples:

In every one of these instances (plus many others), I have thought that this was a result of the flash...until I saw this one:

Then I KNEW he was doing it on purpose! No amount of bribing for M&M's could keep his eyes open after this! Grrr...