The Big Announcement, Part II

Despite our prayer and contemplation, it looks like the Welker family is NOT moving to Singapore, but is staying in the good ol' USA. Apparently, I jumped the gun in making the big announcement. The problem is my husband is too good at the job he does, and too many projects want and need his skills. Although the Singapore project desperately needed him and was willing to pay enormous amounts of money to transfer our family out of the country, the project here -that was supposed to end last spring- won out and we are staying put.

During this entire process, I constantly prayed that the Lord would put us where He needed us and in a place that would be best for my family. While I am a little disappointed about missing out on an adventure, I confident that He has heard our prayers and that we still have more growing to do here in Texas.

MIRACLE!

This is why mothers have to sometimes sit back, relax and let their kids just be kids. Because sometimes, an honest-to-goodness miracle just might happen.

Since Jason and I both have stake callings, all of our kids "get" to go to the various ward conferences we must attend about once a month. Today, church was at 9 am, instead of in the afternoon. Jason had meetings before, which meant I got all the kids to church by myself- which in all honesty is much easier now than when he was in the Bishopric. Then he drove them all home while I stayed for 2 1/2 hours of more meetings. I tell you this so that I can set the stage for my mental state when I walked in the door at 3 PM.

My beloved husband had "linner" (lunch+dinner) on the stove. It smelled delicious. The kids were in the front room, playing a made-up game that involved four different puzzles and all their various pieces. The family was called to the table. Randy and Tyler were up to their usual silliness. I was too tired and hungry to attempt to call order to our meal. I just wanted to eat.

The prayer was said. The silliness continued. Randy was imitating everything that Tyler was doing. It started as silly faces, but quickly escalated to arm flapping and waving. In the mean time, Jason and I are serving food on plates- tilapia, peas, cornbread (Oh, I love my husband.) The only thing Randy will touch of this meal is cornbread. He's attempted a pea in order to get dessert. But the fish? Just have a piece on his plate will usually send him into convulsions of revulsion. But today, Randy was distracted by Tyler and didn't notice that there was protein sitting in front of him.

Tyler picked up his glass. Randy did too. Ty took a drink. Randy did too. Ty picked up his fork. So did Randy. Ty picked up his knife. So did Randy. Tyler cut a piece of fish. Randy continued to copy him. By now, the entire family is frozen in place, watching the drama. We all knew what Ty was going to do. Who was going to fold first? Would Randy "lose" the game by quitting? What would start tonight's temper tantrum- losing or eating?

Tyler speared a piece of tilapia onto his fork. Randy copied him. Tyler lifted the piece of fish to his mouth. Randy followed suit. Tyler put the fish into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. All eyes shifted to Randy. Randy lifted his fork, slid it into his mouth, chewed and swallowed as well. Then he looked to see what Tyler was going to do next. But Tyler was gaping at him as much as the rest of us were.

Randy ate fish and didn't run screaming to the bathroom!!! We sat there in silence, our mouths open in shock, all eyes locked on Randy. Jason finally broke the silence and asked, "How was it?"

"Not bad."

"Would you like some more?"

"No."

"Randy. You just ate a piece of fish."

"Yeah."

Jason kept saying, "I can't believe you ate fish!" He gave high-fives to Randy and Tyler and I awarded each of them lavishly with 10 whole tokens- which is big money in our house.

This might not seem like a bid deal to anyone else. But I think this is the first time that Randy has willingly eaten something from the meat side of the food pyramid. Without a giant production to get him to that point. And without the lecture on how disgusting that food was following. I just had to chill and let kids be kids.

Wow. Who knew?

Sounds like Fun!

One of my favorite annual activities is attending the Houston Symphony's free summer concerts, called "Sounds like Fun!" We try to get their early so that the kids can participate in the musical instrument "petting zoo." Tyler enjoyed showing off his trombone skills- playing Darth Vader's march and getting a round of applause from everyone in line. This year, we went to a beautiful Presbyterian church for the concert, instead one of the local high schools. The acoustics were incredible! Since there was a smaller crowd, our kids were able to interact with the conductor more. I loved being three rows away from the musicians. There is no better listening experience than sitting in an intimate atmosphere- engaging your eyes, your ears, even your heart which seemed to keep time with the music. This year, they played one of my favorite pieces of music- Stravinsky's Firebird Suite. On the way home, we tried listening to it in the car. All of the kids agreed that it didn't sound anything like what they had experienced live.

On another note, I have to say that my little "field-trip" was so enjoyable for another reason. I think this is the first year that I was able to take all four of my kids out in public without suffering from any form of anxiety. Not only were they perfectly behaved in the concert, but I also knew that all four of them- Randy included- would stay with me and not wander away at the smallest distraction. Tyler and Emily are old enough to be a huge help to me. And- bonus- I didn't have to haul a diaper bag or worry about any potty accidents! In previous years, we would have to do trips like this on weekends or when Dad had time off. Now, I can picture myself taking all the kids to our favorite museums, movies, maybe even- gasp- the beach on my own. Actually, Daddy was sad he didn't go to the concert with us, so maybe we'll wait for him anyway.

Tagged- Top 8 (in no particular order)

My 8 Favorite TV Shows

1- The Office

2- Lost

3- Lie to Me

4- Fringe

5- Ace of Cakes

6- Biggest Loser

7- Mythbusters

8- Jon and Kate Plus 8 (although I might quit watching.  This season depresses me.)

8 Things I did Yesterday

1-Laundry

2- Worked on Scout Day Camp plans

3- Worried

4- Fixed dinner

5- Showered

6- Helped with homework

7- Discussed future with my husband

8- Crochet

8 Favorite Restaurants

1- Papasito's

2- Melting Pot

3- Taco Grill

4- Chick Fil A

5- Alamo Drafthouse 

6- Pei Wei

7- That good Middle East place

8- Anywhere that serves good sushi

8 Things I'm Looking Forward to

1- Closure

2- Scout Day Camp to be over

3- Starting college courses

4- A mission with my husband

5- Weekends

6- New Zoe Keatting album

7- Being a grandmother

8- Bedtime

8 Things on my Wish List

1- Happy, independent children

2- A trip to Belgium

3- A cure for autism

4- A clean house

5- Cute shoes that fit my freakishly large feet

6- An eternal family

7- A news source that is truly fair and balanced

8- A reunion with my mission companions

Now I tag 8 people

1- Jason

2- Suuuuuuuuuuuusan

3- Heather

4- Brooke

5- Kim (I know she doesn't blog yet, but I'm hoping she will.)

6- Melanie

7- Robert

8- Tara

The Big Announcement

After much prayer and contemplation, Jason and I have decided that our family is moving to Singapore. 

 Next month.  

No, really.  I'm not joking.  

Can't stop to blog. . . I've got packing to do.  But stay tuned.  This blog should get pretty interesting in a couple of months.

Ms. Four-Eyes

At her five-year-old check-up, Lucy couldn't read any of the letters off of the eye-chart until she was standing right in front of it.  Sure enough, Lucy needed glasses.  Now the only Welker without them is Randy.  He actually feels left out!

It was fun to take Lucy to the mall to pick out her new frames.  She zeroed right in on a pair of pale pink ones.  She was convinced they were the ones until she saw another pair of pink.  Decisions, decisions.  She was able to decide pretty quickly and now loves them.  She's received plenty of  admiration for them and I think she likes the attention.  

Sisters!

In my life, I have been blessed with sisters.  Lots of them.  There are my sisters by birth, my sisters by marriage and my sisters by callings.  All of them are sisters from God.

Since my dad was in the military, my family moved a lot while I was growing up.  Kim, just a couple of years younger than me, was a great source of comfort when moving to all those new places.  We would enter Primary together, and could hang out when we didn't know anyone else in the neighborhood.  Although I am the oldest, Kim has been my pioneer- helping me cope with a son diagnosed with autism.  She is far more mature and responsible than me and I love her very much.  Susan is a lot younger than I am, but the coolest sister on earth.  She loved me unconditionally when I was a geeky, awkward teenager and still does, now that I am a geeky, awkward adult.  She is always cheerful and up-beat.  Although she is and will always be about 10 years old in my mind, she has grown to be an amazing mother and wife and I love her too!My brothers married fantastic women- far better than they deserve, in my opinion.  I love hanging with them whenever I get the opportunity- shopping, eating, playing games, laughing.  They are each so talented and amazing.  I wish that I was closer geographically so that I could be closer to them.  I hope my brothers know how blessed they are and that their wives remind them of that fact often. 

I don't have a picture of my husband's sister, but I am grateful for Lori as well.  She is conquering many difficulties and I admire her for her persistence and endurance.  You're doing great, Lori.  Keep it up!!!
While in Utah, I was able to reconnect with a few more of my "sisters"- companions from my mission.  I don't think it's an accident that we call each other "Sister" while we serve together.  The relationship I formed with my companions is definitely more than friendship.  These amazing women shared one of the most remarkable chapters of my life with me.  Not only did I learn so much from them, but I had a blast at the same time.  I was only able to see Sis. Grant, Sis. Staples and Sis. Parks.  (It's still so weird to think of your first names!)  It made me miss all of the other sisters I knew but haven't been able to see even more- Sis. Owens, Sis. Wengreen, Sis. Matthews . . .   It was amazing how we were able to pick up our friendships even after years of being apart.  I marvel at the struggles they've endured and the remarkable wives, mothers and women that they are now.  

My mom recently gave me a box with all the letters I'd written home while in Alabama.  After visiting with these sisters, I loved re-reading what I had written.  In one letter, I wrote, "I didn't come out here to find a best friend.  But I have.  I will love Sis. Parks forever."  And I do.  

I'm so thankful for all of my sisters.