When Abby "washes her hands"

This evening while Abbigail and I were both sitting in the living room, she said she had to go pee pee, so I told her to go ahead and go. She's a big girl now and doesn't need so much help from mom and dad anymore. She headed into the bathroom, took care of business, then began to wash her hands. When I hear the water go on in the sink is when I start the timer in my head.

As usual, the water had been running much longer than it needed to for her to wash her little hands, so I told her to dry her hands and get back out to the living room. No response. I try again in different words. No response, so I went in to see what was going on. Usually she's just playing in the water with the little bar of soap. This time? She had used that little bar of soap to lather up a good mess of bubbles on the top of her head. She was wearing nothing but her shirt, which was all wet at this point. I pulled her shirt over her head after my familiar "What are you doing?!" I always want to act calmly, but there are times when I just want to scream.

Abbigail does not like the shower, so I decided I'd clean her up by finishing what she started. I held her tilted upside down (kinda) so her she was face up with her head over the sink and poured cups of warm water over her hair until the soap was washed out. She screamed and cried the whole time, but a calm, loving voice I just told her as I looked into her eyes (since they were just inches from mine) that she thought it was a good idea. She clung to me so tightly, even pinching me at one point (unintentionally, of course). I stood her up, dried her off, put her panties back on and sent her into the living room.

It wasn't the worst thing she's done, and it wasn't really "bad" per-se, it's just one of those things that make you pause everything to tend to your child. We've had more and more of those instances lately. It can be frustrating at times, but in the end, I am so happy I have those moments. They make life so interesting. Children make life so interesting. I am so grateful for these silly little moments.

A Quilt for a Cause

At the end of September I auctioned off a quilt I made to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It took me a total of about three months to make the quilt (in my spare time). The ribbon design is based off a design my sister, husband and I put together for our Light the Night team shirts last year. We called the design our "ribbon lady". That original ribbon design is in the top left of this first picture. The other three ribbons are symbolic of the different parts of Isaiah 40:31, "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint." I sewed this verse onto two quilts I made my parents two years ago for Christmas to keep them warm through their respective battles with cancer.

The original "ribbon lady" I already pointed out symbolizes the end of this verse, "they will walk and not be faint". The praying ribbon lady symbolizes "those who hope in the Lord"; the eagle symbolizes those who will "soar on wings like eagles"; and the last one (top right) symbolizes those who will "run and not grow weary". The verse is sewn in red thread around the black border of the quilt. The reverse is white with a block patterned border, and there is a red rope-like trim to the quilt. The quilt fits a queen sized bed.

The quilt was listed on eBay for 10 days and the Lee's Summit Journal did an awesome piece on it. (If you're interested, here's the link: http://www.lsjournal.com/100/story/37603.html) In the end, my Aunt Barbara was the winner with a bid of $200! Thank you Barbara for your contribution. What great support for my mom!

Bryan and Mindy's Wedding Day

Okay, so after the night was over, I realized that we have few pictures from the wedding and almost no pictures from the reception, but heres a handful.

Bryan Thomas and Melinda Witte got married on Friday, October 9, 2009.

Here's the dashing father of the Bride (my dad), Donald Witte. That's the churches wedding coordinator with him.


Here's Matt with Mike, Mindy's friend and one of the ushers.

Here's our Charlie's Angels pic: Shah (Matron of Honor), me (Bride's Matron), and Jen (Bride's Matron).

Here I am all dolled up.


The beautiful Bride, Mindy, waiting for the wedding to start.

Prep for Mindy's Wedding

In October, my sister Mindy got married to her boyfriend of 7 years, Bryan. Here are some pics from our preparation for the wedding.

Abbigail and me at the nail salon with the other ladies from the wedding party.

My sister Mindy, the Bride, at the nail salon.

The Maitron of Honor, Shah, and the other Bride's Matron, Jen. (I was a Bride's Matron as well).

After the nail salon, Jen, Abbigail and I headed over to the hair salon so Abbigail could get her hair cut in her preparation for the wedding.


My hair on the wedding day. It was so beautiful. I don't think my hair was this beautiful even on my wedding day!

Light the Night 2009

At the end fo September we went back to Missouri for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night. Our team Doin It For Diana had a lot of fun. The weather was perfect, though a little windy at times, and we were all excited to be a part of something so big to help my mom and others like her fight cancer.

Here I am with my sisters, Teresa and Mindy at the walk.

Here's our team for 2009: (back row) my aunt Ann, my sister Teresa and her husband Joe, my sister Mindy, me, Matt; (front row) my cousin Emily, cousin Kendall, nephew Joshua, Niece Kaitlyn, and Abbigail. Our other team member, Tyson, wasn't able to make it.

THANK YOU...to all of you who raised money or donated to this cause. I cannot wait to do it again next year... I hope you can join us!