Howdy, y'all!

Now Texas!

I finally took Gregory to my beloved Pine Cove!

Skyping with my littles.  Oh, how I missed them those nine days!!!

A stop in Waco meant stopping by Magnolia.

(We didn't actually make it in!  Oops!)

But more importantly, we made it to Baylor!  Such memories...  And so many new structures!

Cameron Park

Cameron Park (near Baylor) has changed quite a bit since the days I used to frequent it. Still, we greatly enjoyed trying out our hiking backpack (thanks, J&K!) on some of the trails. It was beautiful and refreshing.

My Boys at Baylor

I cannot believe it took five and half years of marriage (and a baby!) to finally bring Gregory to Baylor. We only spent about an hour on campus, but it was still completely surreal.

Notice Pat Neff Hall in the background

Running around in the Quad in front of Draper

I still love my Green & Gold!

Dear Nathanael (12 Months)

My dearest Nathanael,

Happy first birthday, son! One year ago, we wondrously and joyfully welcomed you into our family; no one could have adequately described how blessed we would be by your presence in our family. We celebrate your life today and the incredible gift of God that you are to us. We rejoice in the Lord over you, Alim.

You are measuring somewhere around the 30th percentile for both weight and height, about 29 inches and 21.5 pounds. We are constantly amazed with how much you can eat. This past week has been exciting as we've introduced you to whole milk and egg whites. You loved eating your very own slice of veggie, bacon, and cheese frittata! A couple other (not so healthy) food highlights were pepperoni pizza and Texas Roadhouse rolls (without the honey cinnamon butter, unfortunately). And we can't forget to mention the birthday cake! To our surprise, you quickly spit out your first bite of banana applesauce cake; hopefully when you're older, you'll appreciate the cake's resemblance to Mr. Bear. :) We introduced you to a straw this month, and you love drinking your water out of a straw cup. Though you seem to go through days where all you want to do is chew on everything, you have made it to age one without any teeth!

With visits in Kansas and then travels through Oklahoma and Texas, you have seen so many new and old friends this past month that it would be impossible to list them all! We can suffice it to say that you have been thoroughly loved and cherished and prayed over by many people dear to our family. Despite your inability to sleep well in the car, you were a great traveler (for the most part) and showed incredible adaptability with our hectic travel and meeting schedule. A couple family highlights for Mom were introducing you and Dad to Baylor and a family hike in Cameron Park.

This is such an exciting age as you are taking in everything around you. You loved visiting families on our travels, closely observing and imitating all of the other kids (and dogs). You began sharing (handing objects) with other people and kids, and you also transitioned from only taking things apart to actually piling and stacking items now. One of our favorite developments in this way is how you choose a book and bring it to one of us to read to you. It's adorable, and we will stop almost anything we're doing to sit down and read to you when you do this. You love to tackle us when we're on the ground, usually smothering us with kisses and zerberts.

You say "MahMaw" for Grandma (which you know she loves), and you pointed to a baby in a book the other day and clearly said, "baby". You are beginning to respond appropriately when we ask you to point to a nose or eyes, and you are pointing at everything for us to identify many new words and objects each day. You recently brought Mom our family photos and asked her to identify all of your grandparents and uncles and aunts. You have a loud, boisterous, two syllable laugh now (haHA) which makes everyone around you laugh. You sometimes seem to be practicing consonants, "s" and "th" being the most noticeable ones. You growl at your big bear. You try to imitate Mom's fish face and the elephant noise.

Nathanael Alim, we love you, son! What a joy it has been to watch you grow this first year. Happy birthday!

Lovingly,
your daddy and mommy

Nathanael Alim - constantly in motion 12 month old

And a few outtakes:
Crazy fearless kid...
"Why are you holding me, Dad?"
Carrying Mr. Bear around by his ears

Compare these to his 11 month pictures here.

On the road again

In a few days, we will load up our car and venture out again, this time down I-35 through Oklahoma and into Texas. I have been looking forward to this trip for months, years really. Gregory has never visited my alma matre nor met most of my dear friends down south. Too bad we won't be hitting Baylor's Homecoming!

Other than all of the incredible people we're visiting, I am looking forward to warmer weather (it's snowing in Emporia right now - what?!), pictures of Nathanael in the Texas bluebonnets, and maybe even a Dr. Pepper float during Dr. Pepper Hour at Baylor! Yummm...

I am not looking forward to meltdowns in the car with Nathanael; he is not a fan of his carseat, so this should be quite interesting. I'm not looking forward to a somewhat hectic schedule which will make naptimes and playtimes a little challenging for the little guy. And I am not ready for the shock of potentially hot weather (defined here as 80 degrees or warmer).

So here we go!

The next post on this blog will likely be Nathanael's ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY! Ah!

Here's little Kimi in the Texas bluebonnets at age 14 months (April 1982).

Oh Texas, my Texas

I did not expect to be ambushed by memories and sentimentality as my plane landed in Austin on Wednesday. But that is what happened. I actually teared up on the plane as a flood of wonderful memories filled my mind and heart. What a pleasant surprise, especially when my greatest expectation of Texas was experiencing heat misery (which definitely occurred at times).

I spent two days in Austin, Texas for a work conference this past week. It was a great conference with the highest value being the people I met, conference attendees and organizers as well as friends from "prior lives." Unfortunately I forgot to bring the camera! Ugh! So I'll steal some pictures from people's blogs for this post. I want to tell you about the people I got to see from my "prior lives."

First, my Baylor classmate, Jaime, generously went to work a little late and met me for an hour Thursday morning. Talk about an hilarious exchange as we tried to catch up on over six years of life after Baylor in about an hour! We tried to describe our significant others (which was quite a task—really, how do I sum up Greg in a few minutes?!), talked about our career paths, life in Austin and Boston, and of course we reminisced to Baylor and some of our strange professors and classes. Thanks for reconnecting, Jaime (and for the caramel machiatto)!

(This is stolen from his Flickr account. Maybe family?)

Thursday evening after a fun hotel happy hour and getting to know some of the conference organizers (who are also my account reps for our office's recruiting software) a little better, I took a walk over to meet Amy and baby Audrey at Chuy's. Even though the walk was definitely one of those "heat misery" moments, it was a beautiful little hike along the Colorado River and a very popular hiking/biking path. (I think I was the only one NOT in work-out clothes.) Amy and Audrey were as beautiful as ever, and I think I'm a better person after spending a couple hours with the two of them. I especially enjoyed our conversation about storing up treasures in heaven, finding and connecting with community, and of course being a mom. Thanks for sharing life with me, Amy! Those of you who know Audrey just wouldn’t believe how big she is; what a happy, talkative little girl!

(Stolen from the Douglas' blog -
See more pictures of Amy & Audrey here.)

My conference ended at noon on Friday, and I scurried to meet Baylor and First Woodway friend Sarah for lunch near the Capitol where she works. Again, it was a crazy hour of playing six-years catch-up. I was thrilled to hear about Sarah and Jon’s preparation to be part of a church plant in Austin, and it was special to reconnect with another Baylor/Woodway sister. I can’t wait to see pictures of your home, Sarah! I’ll continue to stalk you on Facebook.

(Stolen from Facebook - Sarah & her hubby Jon)

Wow! What a blessed two days God gave me in Austin! It was fun to see how He multiplied my time as I wasn’t even sure how I’d fit meeting one person into the 48 hours in Austin!

If you’ve made it this far, I just have to share a couple pictures of the Hyatt Regency in Austin because it was wonderful!
And the famous bats which come out at sunset and make their daily flight south(?) from the bridge by the patio above.
Oh Texas, my Texas…I really do miss you. I’m a changed person from the years I called you home, and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Retreating in New Hampshire

Last weekend, Greg and I were away at a retreat in Freedom, New Hampshire. (I still have no clue where that is…I think I’ll go mapquest is right now.)
So that’s where we were. The area was quite pretty. The retreat was at a camp on a lake near/in the White Hills, ooops, I mean the White “Mountains”. I admit it was a little depressing to leave Boston’s barely-above-freezing weather last Friday and get out of the car in New Hampshire to snow that was as high as my waist in places! It’s APRIL! Where are the Spring flowers?! Greg and I determined that we could never live in weather like that. Boston is cold enough for us!

The retreat was for Christian college students in New England. I think there were around 200 of them, though that’s a really rough estimate. Greg was asked to lead the worship music and help plan the meeting times with John, one of the pastors at our church in Cambridge. I was privileged to go along for the ride and sing a little here and there as well. We also brought incredible keyboardist, recently engaged Chase, and fellow seminarian, very-soon-to-be-a-daddy percussionist, Bryan. So the five of us from Hope Fellowship Church made the trek together in our little Honda and the big white church van, packed full with our sound equipment. Did you catch that? Kim and four guys. It was quite an entertaining trip for me, to say the least!

Our venue was awesome, and the four of us in the band thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play together all weekend. The college students’ energy and passion were really encouraging as well. The theme of the weekend was based on Matthew 11:28, and the three meetings were centered around these three key words – Come, Take, Rest. Though all three spoke to me in their own ways, God called me to a deeper commitment to self-sacrificial living during the second meeting – Take. He reminded me that abundant and fulfilling life is not found in selfish living but in laying down my life for others despite the “cost” to me. I remembered a statement I adopted my first year at Baylor nine years ago – “I will go anywhere, do anything, at any cost for the sake of Christ.” I guess I want my life to reflect that more than it is at this point. I definitely feel like I have more limitations on what that can look like now that I’m married and working a more structured job. But God’s not limited by my life circumstances…

Anyway, just wanted to share a little about the weekend since it was such an incredible time for me – musically, spiritually, socially.

DCB

The David Crowder Band came to Medford! That's right, MEDFORD! In fact, the venue was only a few minutes WALK from our house! How fun is that?! Well, it was a lot of fun. Their newest album Remedy is packed full of some incredible lyrics and hip music sure to turn your heart to the One place it belongs.

So in case you are not aware of my connection to DCB... Yes, I went to Baylor and lived in Waco for a period. No, I did not go to UBC (their home church). Yes, I have met them, many a times. In fact, my bestest friend and roomie was quite tight with them for a time so they were around a bit. Yes, I thought it was very strange to hear people around me scream "David!" when they walked out. (What?!) Okay, yes, I whooped when they mentioned Waco tonight. (My alma matre is there!) And yes, Greg and I felt like old fogies in the incredibly young teen crowd at the concert tonight. What's with all these young kids really? I know, I know...we're just getting old. Rather old-ER. But seriously, it has been so interesting to go to the Passion Conference a few weekends ago and now this concert and realize that I simply do not have the energy required for these bands anymore. Such a sad reallzation. But I'm okay with it. I really enjoy having the freedom to adjust the volume level of the music to which I listen. :)

Good night, all!

Tribute to Paul

Dudley's creating a ministry journal for Paul's family, to speak to them of Paul's life ministry. I thought I would post my words to them this morning...

Father, thank You for showing me greater depths of Your goodness through Paul, Leigh, and Terrill. Thank you for Your all-encompassing and glorious plan which can never be thwarted. Thank You for giving the Saxons incredible faith over the previous years, more than they ever imagined having to have - You are Provider, Comforter, Joy, Friend...

Asking the Lord what to write, I kept thinking of Psalm 73:23-28. "Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever..."

Thank you, Paul, for living and dying in the Truth of this passage! Thank you for being a beacon of light in a very dark and hurting world, for showing hope in pain. Thank you for the countless times your faith-filled child words and actions spoke conviction and encouragement to my God-thirsty soul. Thank you for the picture of walking hand in hand with our heavenly Father. You are enjoying God's glory right now and taking another piece of my heart there with you -- thank you for revealing more of the glory of God.

"God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." I'm glad you're physically where you belong for eternity, where you've always seemed to be - dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Pray for the Saxons

A dear little boy's life on earth ended on Saturday. Paul is now with His Savior and Heavenly Father! Please pray for his amazing family as they grieve and walk on, remembering their little one and the abundant yet short life God gave him to share with them. Their blog is in our friends list - now titled "Pray for the Saxons." The funeral is tomorrow at First Woodway (Waco, TX). My heart will be in Waco tomorrow... My prayers are with you, Terrill and Leigh...

Cheers to Mandi!

Yesterday was Mandi Myers' 26th birthday! So I would like to take a moment and reflect on this dear friend and wonderfully beautiful woman. Mandi is a treasure; all who know her would agree, I'm certain of it. Sweetness simply oozes out of her! :) Mandi has a gentle spirit, full of Life and Love and Grace from our God within her. She truly seeks the Lord's kingdom above all else in her life. She delights in serving and blessing others. (Jeff, you're soooo blesesed to have her!!!) Her heart longs for and seeks out Christian fellowship--deep heart-felt life-sharing with other brothers and sisters. Mandi knows about sacrificial love and is willing to give whatever necessary to love others, especially her dear family. Mandi is humble and looks for areas in her life where Christ is maturing her and calling her to greater obedience. And Mandi is a TON OF FUN! She knows how to laugh and giggle and play and dream... (And she loves chocolate and ice cream! Wahoo!!!) I sure miss you, Mandi-girl. I'm thankful you have Jeff by your side. He's your perfect match!