Dad

My dad is a pretty amazing dad and an even better papa. My dad can do anything with his hands. He can make anything run, build a bathroom, kitchen, barn, fence, garden tire swing... you name it.. he can make it happen. A lot of people think their dads are the smartest, strongest men alive when they are young and when they grow up they realize their dads are not all they thought. I still think my dad is pretty darn smart. Lambert gets mad at me all the time because I'll ask him to do/build/fix something and he'll say it can't be done. Now it's a joke. He'll say, "why don't you call your dad!" My dad is a real hot head too. I think that's where I get it. I think. I KNOW for certain that's where Hootie patootie gets it. They even have the same mad face. Hoot adores his Papa T. and tells me often he'd like to be up at the farm. My dad retired years back and made his way back near his childhood town in Indiana. I think that's where he is supposed to be. He's found peace and calmness there with MANY thanks to Granna. I think she makes life pretty special for him. I've said before I'd like to be there too. I could use some serenity. We'd probably drive each other crazy. But I'd like to be there. Near dad. I wish he could drop by to build something for me or just hang out. We laugh a lot when were together... I mean pee your pants laugh til it hurts... We mainly laugh about my childhood and his way of parenting. I had a pretty strict dad with some kind of temper, but he always loved me. I have some amazing memories and a WHOLE lot of funny stories. We (my sister and I) didn't have a "Leave it to Beaver" upbringing, but we had some great times and looking back, we had it pretty darn good. He's gotten A LOT softer in his old age (he's not that old). He lead me to the Lord (out of shear fear but never the less to The Lord). He helped me pick out my dress for the 8th grade dance and he instilled in me a "we don't fail, step up to the plate" attitude. I knew he loved me even when I disappointed him. I hated to disapoint him and still do. He drives me crazy and I drive him crazy when I don't answer my phone! (this happens often)Okay I'm stopping this sentimental walk down memory lane before Hoot asks me why I'm crying all over the computer...

Happy Fathers Day Dad. I love you and so does the rest of the gang!







Does it get any better??


I love you Dad!

Indiana Dreaming ...Again

Several times a year I get the bug to go (move) to Indiana! I start looking at Realtor.com dreaming of a small farm or maybe a little cottage on the lake or how about a cute place right on main street. I envision the littles running barefoot through the grass and playing with their Old Order German friends. It's such a pure way of life. OR at least in my mind it is. We usually head to the grandparents farm around mid July and stay a few days. I even love the drive to Indiana. As we get closer and closer I get the butterflies. The only other time I've had the butterflies and still do sometimes is when I met Lambert. SO... Lambert and Indiana have the same affect on me. I often wonder if we actually lived there if the romance would go away. I think not. Like I said Lambert still gives me butterflies 25 years later. (we met when I was 12... you do the math)My Dad says, "just do it... sell everything, quit work and move". I so wish it was that easy. Instead I pray. If that's where God would have us, then it will happen. I've even looked at colleges up north for the kiddos. Maybe someday... Oh maybe someday. Until then... I'll be Indiana Dreaming



















































Thanks to these two for making our Indiana summer experiences all that I dream of!! Can't wait to come again!

Kindness Take Two

So... last week Lambert got a call from an old friend we used to go to church with. She asked if she and her roommate could drop by to deliver a gift to Libbie. This seemed a little odd to me because we weren't really close with either of the gals and we (i) hadn't seen them in quite a while. I didn't know they even knew we had The Doll.(should the "T" in the be capitalized? I don't know... can you tell I'm nervous? Keep reading...)Sometimes when you leave a church you wonder if anyone knew you left... it's funny to see people every Sunday/Wednesday for years and then leave and they're never seen again. We live in a pretty small community and it's strange not to run into people. We miss y'all FBCH readers. So... Lambert told me they were going to drop in over the weekend. Sunday after church our two friends stopped by and I was COMPLETELY blown away. COMPLETELY. They are both VERY talented, artistic women so I knew the gift was going to be great and probably created by one or both of them. I'll get to the gift momentarily there is more to this story...

While we were visiting it came out that they followed the blog... I had no idea. You just NEVER know who might be reading and might be touched or blessed through the posts. Sometimes I forget that it's not just my family and friends following along. Now one of the roommates is "that" English teacher... you know the one... so smart and intimidating you find it painful to move the pen on the paper because you know you're doomed.(I think I'm showing my age... do kids WRITE papers anymore? Probably not...) I am cringing at the fact she reads the blog. My grammar leaves much room for improvement. I'm flashing back to high school English papers covered in red ink...

Really I'm just SO honored that either of them care about our life and our newest addition. I was beyond blessed by the visit. My cup was truly filled by the love and kindness they displayed. It wasn't the gift. It was the fact that they came to our home and told us that they missed us and thought of us. I am truly amazed. For a couple of days I've thought about how to write this post (obviously I didn't work on my grammar). What should I say? How can I express my gratitude? It's hard for me to put into words what my heart feels. Their act of kindness and love ministered to me and to Lambert in a way I truly can not express. When they left, we just sat and looked at each other. No words. They were the hands and feet to our family. K and K, we thank you and love you.

John 13: 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Now to the gift... it could not be more perfect. The colors K used are colors I would have chosen myself. The prints are just darling and the details are unbelievable. The pictures don't do it justice. Now if you are in need of an heirloom quality baby gift... my friend has opened up shop and you WON'T be disappointed. This quilt will be passed down for years to come. I know it's intended to be used, but my little Doll won't get her grubby fingers on it until she's married. Okay I may let her take it for a sleepover IF I chaperon.

Not sure if K has a website, but if you're interested let me know and I will get details. I'll get details anyway and post later.


The Doll doesn't give out kisses to just anybody... she likes K.

It's really hard to see in the photo, but the squares have little "L"s stitched ever so sweetly.




Chocolate Pie Quilt Studio... It's really a work of art.

Catching Up

So we've been busy with all the end of year happenings. We had a wonderful visit from the Indiana grandparents.


My sister and niece came to visit while the grandparents were down. The kiddos loved having them here and we did too. It was the Dolls first visit from Papa and Granna and boy was she spoiled. She's coming out of her shell so I was glad they got to see her in all her glory. It's taken a while for her to warm up to strangers, but she's pretty comfortable now. We made a trip to Kemah and then went to a car show in Tomball. Lambert and my dad are both car junkies so anytime dad is town a car show is a must! Granna brought me hydrangeas and hosta all the way from Indiana!


This is the sweetest little ballerina you could ever meet! Libbie adores her but wasn't too sure about all the guests! She had more fun playing with Scout... the family dog.

Granna got to attend Kate's Ballerina Birthday party and meet my friend Kim and her family. Kim's mom was in town from up north so Granna got to talk to her about peonies and poppies that were probably blooming while they were both down south visiting family. The flowers up north are too die for. I so wish we lived in a climate that would tolerate beautiful beds. Really I wish we lived in Indiana... but that's another story. I have the bug to visit, but it may have to wait. Our trip to China ate up most of my vacation time and most of our budget.



Hoot graduated and is now an official first grader! He is so proud and so are we. He also performed in his third piano recital and did AWESOME!!! He played two songs from memory and he was the first one up to play. I thought he was nervous, but afterwards he told me he told himself, "now Owen were gonna do this!" and then he just walked up the stairs to the stage and played his heart out. I love it when he takes a bow after he's done. It's just so sweet to this mamma!






No FEAR



Wiped out... they were so sweet together.


We had a great Memorial day. We visited a new resort in Conroe. Hoot and Libbie LOVED it... Me not so much... I think Lambert has spoiled me with Hyatt Hill Country... I also love Galveston and would have preferred The San Luis over this resort. We did have a great time as a family and for the VERY first time... Hoot wasn't terrified of the fireworks display. Libbie was an old pro... she isn't afraid of ANYTHING... she would stand at the edge of the pool and fall forwards or backwards... she really didn't care if anyone was there to catch her either. She's a maniac.. she can't swim so I don't know what she thought would happen if we didn't catch her. It's GREAT to see the two kiddos play together. She adores her big brother (GUGU) That's what she calls Hoot. She fits right into our family and I really can't believe we've ever been without her. It feels like she's always been with us. Everyday I thank God for her and for giving us the courage to follow His plan for our family. He has other big plans for us on the horizon (i can't talk about it now) but He is at work. (no...were not adopting again right now)...

AND..... Drum roll.... Hoot learned how to ride a bike MINUS the training wheels... I know he's almost 7 and he should have learned a couple years back, but as I've said before... he's just like his mamma... he can't help it.

I know... the bike is for a three year old and where in the world is his helmet?? I never said we've won any parenting awards...