Reasons to Love Texas

Every once in a while there are things I really miss about living in Utah (I can't really say too much about Nevada since I haven't actually lived there since graduating from high school in 2000).  Besides family and friends, I miss the Macey's grocery store, being able to walk to two large and wonderful libraries, mountains, and having just about everything within walking distance.  But I really do love living here in Melissa, Texas (google that, it's about as big as it sounds).  Ellie and I went grocery shopping the other day (couponing is a new favorite pasttime), and to do so requires visiting a few other towns since Melissa doesn't actually have a grocery store.  The trip prompted some thoughts about a few things I really enjoy about Texas.  So here is my list:
1.  Feeling like you're a foreigner living abroad.  Not because Texas is so different, or even because it thinks it's really big (hello Alaska!).  But because everyone has such wonderful Texan drawls in these small Texan towns.  As I was carrying Ellie in the carseat into the grocery store in Anna TX, one of the employees was pushing in a cart and offered it to me, saying(imagine the drawl), "Doya needa buggy?"  To which I replied, "What was that?"  "Doya needa buggy?" he said, pushing the cart towards me.  "Oh, yes, thank you."  Yeah, a cart is a buggy.  Love it.

2.  Everyone wants to be your friend.  Or at least they act like it because everyone waves when they drive by (on small streets, obviously not on the freeway or there would be significatly more accidents).  This fact is especially true when you have an adorable baby in tow. 

3.  Being polite is a way of life.  Yes, sir; yes, ma'am.  On this particular trip we went to two different grocery stores.  At both they didn't even bother to ask if I needed help with my bags to the car.  They just picked them up and followed me, chatting it up about my adorable baby (I was advised not to "go crazy" like one particular lady and have five.  I then informed her that I came from a family of seven, so five doesn't seem so crazy).  It was so nice because I really did need the help.  Previous to Ellie's birth, I always said I was fine with the groceries, even when I was 8 months pregnant, because I really felt that I was.  But it is rough going carrying a carseat with baby and transferring groceries and returning the cart and then putting the baby in the car...you get the idea

Those are my top three reasons to love Texas.  Number four is the generally nice weather.  I love the snow, but I'm kind of glad that winter is basically over here.

The only exception to these is something that Ben would like me to point out, and I tend to agree.  Numbers 2 and 3 are thrown out the window once they get behind the wheel of a car.  They do not care if you have right of way, or even if it's just polite to let someone on the freeway whose lane is ending, or if you are getting cut off by a semi.  It matters not to them whether your life is in peril or not.  They were there first (or so they believe), and their truck is probably bigger so you should get out of the way.  Because everything is bigger in Texas.  To which I reply, if Alaska was cut in half then Texas would have to settle with being the third largest state.  So HA!

And here is the obligatory cute picture of Ellie.  She's laughing.  She has a big mouth like her father and a loud, raucous sort of laugh like her mother.

And she's going here from down-dog to plank.  We do yoga in the morning.  Really she's trying to figure out crawling and thinks her toes ought to be involved.

The Wiggle Dance

Ellie does this funny thing where if you wiggle your head, she'll copy you.  Usually she yells while doing this.  but she's a bit of a camera hog, so if she sees the camera she won't do it.  She'll only smile and talk and try to grab the camera.  So here's a sideways view.  Grandma and Grandpa Lewis are prompting her.  They are so awesome!

Father/Daughter Greeting

Ben and Ellie hanging out together tends to go something like this...

Once There Was a Snowman

We had a pretty major snowstorm here on Thursday (the 11th).  It started snowing at 6ish in the morning and didn't stop until 10 or 11 that night.  We got about 6 inches of snow which is record-breaking for Texas.  School was cancelled on Friday, so Ben got to stay home and play with us!  Melissa and her kids came over and we all set out to build a snowman!

TADA!  A very health conscious snowman (apples, a carrot, and a green banana made his face).

Here are some pictures of Ellie experiencing the snow.

Yeah for snow!

7 Month Cutie

On the left is me at 6 months (I think), and on the right is my niece Miriam at the same age.  And below is my Eleanor at 7 months.  I think we're related, don't you?

At seven months Ellie is more entertaining than ever.  She's trying to figure out how to crawl, but mostly loves to roll around and wiggle in circles.  She loves eating solids and even kind of takes a bottle on occassion.  Oddly enough, she isn't the hugest fan of bananas (she'll eat them, but not with the same vigor as peas).  But she loves sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, green beans and applesauce.

She also cut her first tooth about two weeks ago.  Here it is in her silliest grin.

How can you not want to cover this face in kisses?

Late Night Snack

I'm so proud of Ellie for being on such a great regular schedule.  Well, I'm also proud of me for helping her get there too!  She usually goes to bed around 6:30 and then wakes up sometime between 8 and 10 for a little late night snack and then back to bed.  Last night it was business as usual.  I laid her back down and though she clearly wanted to play, it was bedtime.  I kissed her goodnight and left the room and went to brush my teach.  She was talking to herself a bit and then all fo the sudden I hear a little screech, and then another.  I quickly finished and then went to check on her.  She had rolled over (as usual) and I picked her up and saw a little puddle of spit up.  I laid her in on the changing table and flipped on the light and was greeted by this cute little face!

I guess the snack was so good she wanted it twice.

On a Spiritual Note...

We had a wonderful stake conference this past Sunday.  I feel renewed in my commitment to live the gospel more fully.  I love it when I walk away from church feeling humbled, but stronger.  One of the things I committed to mysel to do better at is regular, daily study of the gospel.  This morning after reading from the Book of Mormon, I picked up a book that my in-laws have called "Answers" by Joseph Fielding McConkie.  I've really, really been enjoying it. 

There is one thought in particular that I wanted to share.  He writes,

"It is beyond mortal ability to determine what consitutes a blessing, for we have no way of knowing what will bring us nearest to God."

I love it!  So frequently I think of blessings and the nice things I receive in my life, not usually my trials.  But what great blessings they are when I use them to bring me closer to God.  I remember my mom teaching us to look for the silver lining in things, particularly after the death of my sister Cheyenne.  In that instance, one such silver lining was that we could go to Disneyland sooner as a family (the "rule" was that everyone had to be tall enough to ride all the rides).  It was silly and small, but it was a silver lining.  While the death of my sister Sierra was certainly a trial for my parents, it provided them with a wonderful opportunity to teach myself and my brother Daniel about the promise of the resurrection because of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal families because of covenants my parents made in the temple.  And that for me has been one of the greatest blessings in my life.  From a very tender age (I was almost 3), I remember knowing that because of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection that death was not the end of my existance nor my beloved family. 

I hope I can always view every aspect of my life as a gift from God, a blessing that will allow me to draw closer to Him, to become more like Him, and eventually return to live with Him.