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Milk and Cookies with Jaxon

One of my favorite things to do is cook, which is great because I also love to eat!  I love experimenting, and have recently taken to entering recipe contests.  My latest creations have been inspired by s'mores, which is really unusual because I don't particularly care for s'mores.  Before Jon left, I made some s'mores brownies, and last night I made some S'mores Cookies (which I am going to enter into a contest later this week.)

I fixed a fresh batch of these yummy, chocolate-marshmallow cookies and a nice glass of milk and a book or two, when my little man awoke from a nap.  So down he came to share a cookie or two (after his banana, of course!) a sippy cup of milk, and a book about farm animals.

I must say his favorite thing about the cookies was the marshmallow, because it was the first thing to go 

on his cookie as well as one of mine.

There may not have been much reading on my part, but we definitely enjoyed the cookies and milk!

One Moment in a Military Family

Today I had my first heartbreaking moment as part of a military family.  Less than a week ago Jon left for a seven month deployment.  Jax, who is now 14 months, and I have stayed busy with friends and different activities.  We have also been able to talk and Skype with Jon almost every day.  

But today I was talking with Jax when he came out of the room saying something about daddy.  I repeated what I thought he was asking, "Where's Daddy?"  Jax then walked to the stairs pointed up to Jon's music room.  I couldn't help but cry when I told him that daddy isn't up there, as I tried to change the subject.

Poor Jax didn't really know what to do.  He was in-between laughing and crying, asking to be picked up and held.  When I scooped him up, he began wiping away my tears, hugging me, and patting my back, trying to help his mommy.  

We moved on in our day, on the toys and snacks, and playing in the potty (multiple times, I might add).  

This first moment of Jax realizing his daddy isn't home, but still on the computer, has passed.  

But in the midst of all this, I realize God has blessed us with a wonderfully sweet, loving boy who is sensitive to others, even at this young age.  And I know that we will be okay.  God will continue to pour out his blessing on us, wherever we are as a family.

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What Our Kids Inherit From Us

As soon as children are born, we immediately begin trying to identify who they look like, whether the child has his or her mother's eyes or father's nose or their great uncle's ears.  My son, Jaxon, definitely looks most like his daddy, but there are definitely expressions he makes that reminds us of me, my sister, or different cousins. 

Beyond physical characteristics, there are other things our children can inherit from us.  For one thing, they can sometimes inherit our demeanor or personality.  And once again, Jaxon is most like his daddy - very calm, even-tempered and a thinker.  And every time he opens his mouth, I realize he gets his strong lungs (read: loud voice) from everyone on Jon's side of the family!  From my mother, Jax gets the inherent nature to climb anything he can, from the stairs, to the table and chairs, to the baby gate keeping him from what he wants. Like my sister, Jax is very loving and loves to feel of different objects and textures.  Unfortunately, I think he has inherited the ability to crawl and walk at a relatively early age from me.

The other things that our children can inherit from us is our character.  I keep thinking of the different qualities that I want him to have, whether it is simply born within him or whether it is something he learns through us modeling it.  There are several people in our family that have a generous, open heart, something I have so admired that I've tried to learn to be the same way.  This generosity and love is something so remarkably close to God's heart that I hope it is developed in Jax.  Honesty is another character trait that I highly value and hope to instill it in Jax (if he isn't already brutally honest like his daddy!)  A trait that I am working on myself, and therefore hope it will come easier to my children, is to never talk badly about people or the church; in a way, this goes hand in hand with loving people.  I also hope Jax becomes a hard-working, industrious person, something that many people on Jon's side of the family have demonstrated; about the only time they aren't working is when they are eating or asleep at night!

As time goes on, I'm sure there will be more things to add to the list.  These things just seem to pop out to me every time I am around people who naturally display these characteristics.  And although we should never stop growing and developing our character to become more like Christ, it is a lot easier when they just come naturally to us or we learn them as children.  So here's to those of you who are displaying good traits for our kids!

Tea Time: Take 2

Loving tea rooms as I do,

I invited my mom, maternal grandmother, and great aunt to try out a new place in honor of mother's day.  The Dove House, located in Arcadia, LA, is a small bed and breakfast thast serves lunch.  Each table has its different coordinating place settings and colors - there are no two the same - giving a wonderful relaxed setting.  The whole place is decorated in what I would call elegant country chic, and they serve wonderful, homey food.  We all got chicken salad and corn chowder, and finished it off with apple crisp topped with Blue Bell  vanilla ice cream - oh so yummy!

 

After lunch we walked through the home taking pictures and admiring everything.  We even stayed and talked with the owner, a sweet, Christian lady, for over 45 minutes.  Many of the dishes, glasses, tea things she uses are items she has collected throughout the years dreaming of one day opening a tea room.  Hearing about her dream coming true, makes me wonder if I could one day also open a tea room, possibly with my sister.  She would decorate and coordinate, and I would work on the food and business aspect of it.  If not, I'll just have to continue doing what I love - inviting friends over for brunch or afternoon tea.

Having Tea

Today I took my paternal grandmother to one of my favorite restaurants in Shreveport, LA, The Glenwood Village Tearoom.  There is something about elegant food, surroundings, and tea that makes a girl feel like a lady, almost like a princess.  It is, in fact, this restaurant that rekindled my love of tea-time (or maybe it simply sparked it, for what little girl doesn't like to dress up and have tea?)

While enjoying our time together, my grandmother remarked that having tea has become a lost art.  I think that is true to an extent.  We do forget that life is too short to not stop and enjoy a cup of hot tea and good company.  It is too short to not bring out the fine china on more than just special occasions.  And it is definitely too short not to enjoy truly decadent, lovely food!

I think what I enjoy most about these times is visiting with my friends - enjoying the good conversation, the laughter, and more than anything, building each other up in the Lord.  Since becoming a mother, I truly enjoy finding kindred spirits in other mothers who want more than just the best for their children.  They want to raise their children to love and serve the Lord.  I am going to miss these precious hours visiting with like-minded women of God that I met while in Ohio.