It has been way too long, once again, since my last post. I've attached a few pics of Myra Kate... she is nearly 18 months old! Some are of dressing up in her tutu and in Colorado at Ross' grandparent's house. We are having fun exploring the world and learning new things everyday! She has learned what a "video" is form our long drive to CO. Her Grandma and Grandpa bought a portable DVD player for the trip so Myra could watch videos. ( It was a life saver!) Since then, she wants to watch "vee-o" all the time! I, of course, narrow it down to once a day, but she asks often. Usually when she is tired. Anyway, she loves to sing and dance with the videos.

Sunday night, we had a good laugh with some friends from church and a few teenagers. After small group, Ross pumped up the jam (rap) and Myra began busting her moves! It went on for nearly half an hour! It was hilarious and oh, so cute! We laughed and explained this is why we don't go to movies-- we have our own entertainment at home!

I don't have much to update... we have been busy, I mean BUSY, with all the summer activities a youth minister gets to do! We've had fun, but we are looking forward to school starting up so we can be more scheduled again.

We are living each day in God's love and grace and are so thankful for our family, friends, and church. We are challenged by our teens constantly which helps us grow and seek God's hand more and more. We have decided to try to look at the "progress" in baby steps and focus not on the numbers, but in the spiritual growth going on in the hearts of our teens. It can be hard to measure that, but God gives us glimpses every now and then that so encourage us!


I'm thinking of giving art lessons to kids this fall. It's a little intimidating thinking of teaching something that has been so personal to me. I keep thinking if when I was a child, I had opportunities to explore art, I might have known sooner that it was a love and talent I had. I would have done many things differently in college. But there is still time to learn more and grow! I think teaching the kids will be fun and may give us a little extra money so I can do some of my own creative projects at home.

I check out all of your (my friend's) blogs often... I just don't always post. And Kaci-- if you read this, I've tried commenting on your blog to get back to you about your friend with Lupus. I can't comment. hmmm. Find me on facebook and email me, girlfriend!

Count your blessings! Below is one of mine!!

I'm so miniscule!

Okay, I just spent the last 20 minutes roaming around the blog world and am amazed at how DETAILED some of the blogs are! Some of the blogs I ran into looked like a tv series or a chapter book of someone's life and thoughts! It is truly amazing! I honestly don't have that much time (or typing skills) to sit at the computer and blog my life. I am truly awe struck at the gift of those of you who have organized your life into such interesting categories. I wonder if you could come organize my brain a bit?

I feel so proud when I sit at the computer to post a note... now, I see that it is a miniscule task compared to what the "real blogger" does. Here is a quick update on the Thomas family.

Ross is at a Chamber Luncheon getting a reward for graduating the You Lead CLass that he participated in each month for the last year. He enjoyed learning about the community and getting to know some new friends. He came home last Thursday from the carnival where he made funnel cakes for 6 hours! He smelled sweet and greasy!! (It was kind of cute and yummy in a weird sort of way! ) Anyway, he had a great time with his You Lead companions. He said, "It is really a treat to be blessed by someone and by doing something that you really did not want to do." In other words, when you go out of your comfort zone, there is always a blessing to be found!

He shared this with the teens Sunday. We have found teenagers growing up in a small town see the world as such a small place. They get really scared when they are asked to go somewhere else, to serve outside of their comfort zone, or to simply go to summer camp! I'm amazed at how many times we hear them say, "Can't we just have our own camp ( or whatever activity) with just our youth group? "

I guess that simply HAVING a youth group in the first place is a huge adjustment for the teens and parents, none the less asking them to go BE with OTHER youth groups. It is definitely a drill in patience for me. There is so much JOY and FUN when we experience Christ outside of our comfort zone. I so badly want these teens to experience that!

Sorry, I rambled away from the Thomas Update...

Myra is growing so fast! She speaks a new word or two everyday! She is learning to grumble or moan. It is quite a sound to heara one year old moan out of frustration. I know I need to be ahead of the game and have new things for her to discover each day. I'm finding myself to be boring in her eyes. I'm going to try to change it up a little more each day so we can have fun and maybe distract her from the new "mooooaaaan" that she has learned. She is a joy!! Truly a bit of heaven in my arms!

I'm enjoying my Monday after celebrating Mother's Day. I made a cute wall plaque with Myra's handprint for each grandmother and myself. It was a fun project. Ross gave me the BEST gift... I suggest you all give your husbands the link to Pajamagram. It is a site that sends you pajamas in the mail. Of course, mine are "green" as in environmentally friendly! They are soft and oh so cute!

We have had two deaths in my family and my Mama is moving home very soon. She has stopped eating and drinking now and it could be days. The death of my cousin, Grant, has rocked my family and I'll blog about that at a later time. I'm still not ready to put my feelings out there for everyone (all five of you) to read. My Grandaddy died at 93 and we leave to go to Atlanta this weekend for his funeral. My parents are seriously grieved at this time and I pray for their health. Death has lost its sting- praise be to God- but the loss we who remain on earth feel is still great. Even Jesus wept when he arrived at Lazarus's tomb. The Victor of Death cried and mourned with those He loved. Death is not from God, and it is painful.

So, I'm still healing, Myra is still growing, and Ross is still serving. I guess that sums it up pretty well!

I've attached a picture of Myra's hand prints that I scanned for the project I did.

Imagination

Whew! We have been busy with LTC, Easter, Spring Break, family visits, and strep throat. The first four were so fun! I have many pictures to download, but I've got only a second to add a post.

The latest thing Myra does is pretend she is a dog. Se will crawl around the house barking and panting! Is a 13 month old suppose to be pretending? Back in November, before she was walking, I played Tea Party with her and was amazed at how she poured the tea and sipped from her cup just like I did! She has such an imagination already! I think she gets bored at our house. Any fun ideas, parents?

Okay, I'm bragging about my child! I never understood why parents liked to talk about their child's "amazing" behaviors. Now, all you parents out there can completely relate to me. When you watch your child grow up it is like a miracle everyday! Watching Myra learn about this beautiful world is the highlight of my days.

Thank you, God, for allowing me to be at home with Myra Kate! May she grow to love You more than anything in this life and to love her neighbors.

Ticker

Okay, I'm feeling so techno-savy right now! I just added this little ticker at the top of my page from lilypie.com to my blog. It was very easy!

Sometimes its the little victories in life that mean the most! Ha!

More Birthday Pictures

Here's more pics... They didn't upload in my last post. Is there a limit?

Myra is ONE!

I can't believe it! Myra is growing so fast. She walked across the room today for the first time. Everyday seems to hold its share of "firsts". Many of you have not had the opportunity to meet Myra, yet. So I'm going to take a moment ad tell you about our precious Myra. I never brag about my child, but since it is her birthday blog, I'm going to take the liberty.
She is a joy. Myra smiles and waves at everyone! Going to the grocery store with her takes a while because she makes everyone feel like they are her new best friend. Myra makes the silliest faces! She has so much personality in that little 21 pound frame! You never wonder what she is thinking... her expressions speak louder than her goo's and ba-ba-ba's! Myra picks up on things very fast. She is smart. Don't let those big blue eyes full you when she sneaks off to get into something and looks at yu with that, "Who me?" gaze. Most of all, Myra is so loving! She blows kisses in her sleep! She loves to cuddle and hug. Her little "aaww" sound she makes when she hugs your neck, her stuffed animals, or her friends just melts my heart! She truly is a big bundle of love! She enjoys books and balls. She reads books during the day about every 15 minutes. Then she gets up and chases a ball around or helps with the laundry. Myra is our sweet miracle from above and every day is a reminder of how great our God is!

Well, a year ago I was wondering how I was going to survive this amazing adventure of motherhood. Sleepless nights, painful nursing, sore body, weird emotions... things nobody tells you about giving birth was all very overwhelming. It was the most exciting and amazing time of my life as well! The precious little baby in my arms was given to me from my Father above and I was filled with such joy and awe. A year later I am still awestruck. I am still healed of Lupus and enjoying life with Ross and Myra as I had dreamed of doing. Here's a shout out to all my prayer warriors! PRAISE GOD for you!

I've attached some pics of Myra's Birthday. We had all been sick with bronchitis so we look a little pooped. We didn't get to enjoy a cake made by me... but the party went on!

As you view our pics, say a little "praise prayer" for the blessings in our life and yours!

These are some pictures of Christmas. They are a little late in coming. I'll have more from her b-day soon! Can you believe she is one!!!???!!!
Hugs to all my friends and family!

First visit to the pool

Here ae some pictures of Myra and her cousin Hank. This was Myra Kate's first visit to the pool with Aunt Katie and Uncle Logan. They were so cute! Katie got some great pics of them hugging and kissing. I'll see if I can post them later. Hank is 9 months older than Myra Kate. What a glamour queen Myra is with her sunglasses! Myra's almost 5 months here.

4th of July

We went to CO for our annual Lauterbach Family visit. It was great to see the family and share our precious daughter with her great grandparents. This is our little fire cracker! These are pictures of Myra with her Great grandparents, aunts and uncle. We had many laughs and a lot of fun. CO is beautiful!

Fullness

Ross has been gone f-o-u-r days and I have mothered our sweet baby girl on my own. Did you hear that? The second part of that sentence? Yes, it is an answer. God's quiet answer to a prayer of healing we began praying nearly f-i-v-e years ago. (we: friends, family, churches, and strangers) It could be so easily overlooked. Walking and dancing with my daughter, opening jars and preparing meals without horrible pain, singing with excitement and anticipating what the day holds. How simply it could go unnoticed? But that's why we named our daughter Myra--our Myracle-- our answer.

Don't get me wrong, the first part of the sentence hasn't been fun. Ross is a joy. And when he is gone, his joy, touch, and love are missed deeply. (As well as his diapering skills.) In this quiet time that I have had to be with Myra Kate, I am amazed at the fullness I feel in the simplicity of life. (life: living, breathing, eating, talking, loving eachother, sleeping) I smiled when I sang "just the two of us" earlier today. The smile warmed my heart with the awareness that God was with us, too! It was actually just the three of us! I have a feeling my loving Father was enjoying our time together more than either of us! It is so fun to give gifts and see the person you love enjoying their gift. Thank you, Father! I'm enjoying mine!