An Overnight Guest

This little cutie is Lee's (and now mine!) niece Dakota.  She is going to be 2 in December, so right at the stage of crazy busy, and now starting to chat away.  Mostly repeating what she hears, and adding "y" to the end of everything "Coldy" "Huggy" "Kissy".  It's wonderful.

Uncle Lee MAY be one of her favorite people right now. (Well...him AND his iPhone)

"Helping" to play Wii Fit.

Snuggle bunnies on Saturday morning. Notice the discarded National Geographic and Animal Planet book...MIGHT need to invest in some Kid Reading Material!

All slumber parties have to have a Dress up photo!

Out for a walk in the Dallas City Park

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It started out sunny, but then got a little chilly, so Uncle Lee volunteered his hat.

Not so much...

Love.

Bunsen barked at her, and usually whines when she is around, because he is a fan of Lee as well, and can not STAND it when he plays with her. :)  SO, she is somewhat nervous around him.  However, on the walk, she wanted to hold his leash while sitting on Lee's shoulders, and then when we got home, she did not want to be done, so she kept walking him around!  What a bonding experience.

Dakota & I snuggled in after the cold walk with her "Happy", and blankets!

Such a great kiddo.

I had a video... BUT...I am still trying to learn how to format the blogging, after having been away for so long!

Now for the back story.    Duane and Adriana, Dakota's parents, went to Ohio for a wedding, and Lee's mom asked us if we wanted to keep Dakota for one of the nights.  Initially we thought Saturday night, but ended up asking for Friday night so we could have her all day on Saturday.  It was an absolute blast.  She is a busy little thing, but has a wonderful disposition.  She has an extreme love of "gummy", that would rival a certain sister of mine for Skittles.  We only had one instance of a pseudo-scold.  :(  We were at the table eating lunch, and I asked her to take a bite of her corn (with cream cheese in it), and she didn't want to, so I put a spoonful in her mouth and she spit it back out.  Then she took her pickle and threw it on the floor.  Being the "mean disciplinarian that I am, I said, "Dakota, give me your hand.  We don't throw our food on the floor." And gave it a very gentle flick.  BOY HOWDY did that bottom lip come out.  Alysson Stewart ALL OVER AGAIN.  Lee tried to hide his amusement by leaning under the table, but he got me chuckling, and the poor thing had her lip out a mile and crocodile tears in her eyes.  She didn't cry or throw a fit...just sat looking at us with those big blue eyes and bottom lip out.  OH my.   Other than that, it was a perfect weekend, and we look forward to doing it again!!

It's About Time

I must act upon the impulse.  Sharing is God's way of letting us connect with others around us.  I get caught up in thinking that I have no time, and that when I DO get free time, I need to clean the entire house...twice. :)  I love that so many people around me blog, and I wait anxiously to see those updates, and feel very let down when there are none for a while.  So, my impulse is: I BET my sisters wouldn't mind getting an update from ME. :)  So sisters, this one is for you.  I have been glancing back through my former blog posts, and quite a few I would die laughing at the commentary and want to read EVERY single amusing comment to Lee.  He didn't find them nearly as fascinating as I did.

Turns out, I just miss my People.  I have been having dream after dream of random people that I haven't seen or heard from in a long time.  I dream of being in Kansas mixed in with characters and places in Oregon; of High School classmates driving my car, (and wrecking it mind you); of working on my Dad with my new PT skills; of being with the Rinks in my living room; of searching and searching to find a new hair stylist (for a perm) only to find that I actually live in Hardtner, and have been right there the whole time.  So many people and places that my heart longs to be with (not the salonist) ;).  I see or hear of people going to Kansas (My boss just went to KC, and had BBQ), and I ache to jump in and go along.  I dearly love Oregon, and I love the people I am getting to know.  I could not ask for better in-laws... BUT, I lived a long time in Kansas, and so many experiences happened that I can only relate by words to Lee. 
 
A couple of weeks ago, I had a bit of a breakdown.  You would think that with all the people around me that I couldn't be lonely.  BUT...homesick it was.  After seeing Tif's blog of going home to Kansas, or of getting e-mails from Steph about long ago hugs in person.  I just curl up in my little ball, and have an inner cry.  I was thankful to be reminded by a dear friend, when this admission was made: "You know, it may sound redundant, but we have all been there and we understand.  Those of us who have left our familiar homes.  Please do not let Satan tell you that no one cares, he is a pro at that unfortunately.  But he is not the author of anything good and we know that God is faithful."  She told me about her son's freckle on his leg, and said, "It didn't have to be there...it would have been easier to not put it there... but it was!  And God cares about that freckle and wants it there.  If he cares about my baby boy's freckle, you can BET he cares about you and your life."  I know we all have moments of doubt, but deep in our being, we know the truth of what she said.  But the human side of things definitely kicks in, and we can get a little pity party going on.  I am thankful for Susan's words, but more importantly, for the way she allowed God to speak to my heart.

God is working on me, and just like He did when Lee & I first got married, He is keeping that magnifying glass on me, and showing me the TRUE Chelsie, and how different He can make me with His touch.  I am so thankful for the refining, but at the same time, overwhelmed.  I am thankful for my husband, who lovingly and patiently helps me through my bursts of emotions.  What a guy. :)

So, to ancient times and distant music.... Here's to starting up the blog again!