Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

Three years is a drop in the bucket in one’s lifespan. However, in the case of Tatum Knight’s existence on this earth, it rocked and continues to rock the world (and I’m sure a few star formations)

Being her mother is nothing like any other adventure I’ve ever experienced. It’s an honor. Knowing her is one thing, but being her mommy? That is something else altogether. I am on my knees day and night PRAISING God for the opportunity to love this child as her MOMMY. Wow.

Tatum’s zest for life is apparent in everything she does. Eating (which is her favorite thing to do), reading, singing, playing make-believe (which shows her incredible creative self), everything, she does, she does with her full 24lb will and might.

She loves her family (as she says, “My mommy is in my heart, my Coti is in my heart, my mama is in my heart, my family is in my heart!!”)

She loves her friends; She loves any doggies; she loves to be out talking to people and asking their names….She just LOVES to LOVE!

Picking a theme for Tatum’s birthday bash was not difficult. Her love of music is very apparent in how much she enjoys grooving and moving! She loves to jam on her little guitar and so this was a perfect idea for a cake. My mom made the most beautifully decorated (and fully homemade!) guitar cake, and it was delicious! Then Doug made a bountiful fruit platter and it was overflowing! WOW! Can I get an Amen to this?Tot and I arrived at the park to reserve the table and classic Tot stood in the cold clutching her babies as I scrambled around looking for something to hold the tablecloths down. 

Then we went home to get ready and practice our, “Thank you for coming to my party!” We are still working on manners. She just was focused on having some cake! We also practiced our “SMILE!” Rick was helping in the background withe Addison. Finally, the table was ready  and her buddies (and mine) began to arrive.

Nyla and Morgan helped with the balloons. Except for the ones that flew up into the trees.  Oops!

Hi Ni and Maxie!

Mary Jo, Max, and newly adopted Libby!

Jeff (Timoree’s hubs) and Forest

My gal pals, Amy and Denise!

Her many boyfriends. Aye! Jack, Avery, Levi and of course Robert.

Marcie and Isabella!

Addison and Alexa

Evelyn, Antony, and Alexander.

Oh Robert!

Hi Kelly!And then there were more friends coming and chatting!

It was time for CAKE! After much shaking of the maracas, we ate, yes…THE CAKE, but gosh, I did not want to cut it!
So, cupcakes, were more kid-friendly.

Tot, can you get a bit bigger of a bite? It isn’t the size of your whole face!

 

Mom, a teeny bit more?

Happy children.
So, then…time to play!Doug!???? Help! He chases her around then catches her for a quick pic.

What would I do without him?

Finally, time to wrap up and enjoy some of the presents. Definitely a phenomenal day.

Perhaps she’ll be a chef with her love of food?

Whatever she does with her life, she’ll do it with HEART. All I ask is that she lives up to the incredible potential that God has blessed her with. I love you so very much, Tatum.

Train Park

Train Park

We love you so

You come to our need

when we just want to GO!

 

Train Park

Train Park

It’s such a treat

Swinging, Running, Sitting

With Doug it can’t be beat!

or being upside down by your mommy!

Today at church I weeped. I weeped for joy and awe at the land that still remains. Pastor Terry discussed Joshua 13 and how Joshua, yet old and accomplished, still had much to discover. Here he got to enter the land flowing with milk and honey after wandering in the desert for 40 years, but there was so much land still to take! It never ends..our lives on this earth. The day we stop dreaming, hoping, discovering, sharing, giving..well, then it’s the day we die. God has such treasures for us to discover and to share with others in our lives, and he never wants us to stop. We can never STOP sharing. This world is empty and hopeless! It needs Jesus. It needs hope! It needs love, and it’s aching for arms to be wrapped around it with GOD.

This is where my dear Tatum comes in. She was given to me as a gift, and it is my duty to invest in her. I also have so much to give back to others in the form of sharing His love that has been bestowed upon me. It’s hard to keep God’s Love a secret when it has been lavished upon me and CAN BE lavished upon them if just accepted. Also, as I invest in her, she shines the love of Jesus in her actions. And she does.

I love hearing her sing. She sings praises to the Lord in her music, and she doesn’t even fully understand (nor do we) how much HE loves her! Yet, she praises him. Isn’t that the childlike faith that Jesus talks about? She’s the first one to share her instrument in her church class. She’s the first one to give a hug if one is hurting. THIS IS HOW WE SHARE HIS LOVE! Aiyana and Taina (her gymnastic coaches) tell me that she is an old soul who observes and thinks. She has the heart of Jesus, and seeing this makes me realize that she is adding on to the land that still remains; the untouched land where Jesus can still reside.

Paul even discusses how we plant (others may water) but our job is to at least go around and plant seeds of Jesus love in other’s hearts.

Each and every day, I do feel that tension where I want to just let things sit, rest in my laurels,

and chill. Then the other side of me has to make sure I’m not quitting! I take the time to be extra kind to others, to share the Love of Christ, to invest in Tatum’s heart and on it goes. So, WE (Tatum and I) choose to keep climbing and striving, (but not in our strength but His) to discover new territory (friends, acquaintances) to share the love of Christ, to pray for them, to learn more about this lost world. 

And as we get closer to the top…

we stop and enjoy a hot dog or some ice cream. Because, you have to enjoy the journey, right?

This is no ordinary zoo. It’s out of this world! Well, actually out of Phoenix and into Cottonwood.

Doug and I took Tot to Out of Africa, and once we got there, we were amazed at the true beauty of God’s creation in animal form!

Immediately arriving we jumped onto the Safari ride. We were handed some celery sticks and off we went. Tot rode on my lap, and the next thing you know, we are surrounded by zebras! Now, supposedly there is only ONE male in their group, so he is pretty lucky. The rest are females, and he spends his time making zebra babies. The poor zebra mommies are pregnant for a whole year. Not a good plan..not at all. The horned cow came sauntering along and broke up the zebra party.Then it happened. It was love at first site. Kiva, the giraffe, and I made eyes, and the rest was history. Now, I’m sure it was Tot he was eyeing, but I think for a moment, we had a bond. However, he was a bit old and tall for me, and his skin was too saggy, but otherwise, we both shared a love of celery. He came down to our eye level, stared at Tot and I, and boom…celery love. 

Upon this, what more could there be!? A Gemsbok! Oh, of course! It’s from the Oryx genus and he looks like a unicorn. Beautiful

A sable antelope was next. 
And he was staring at the beautiful camel..who wanted nothing to do with our celery.

Finally, the three side-chewing-lazin in the sun-not a care in the world water buffalos. Once the ride was over, we hopped out and headed to Creature Feature. Doug comforted her as we headed to the sssssssnakes. (didn’t know this!) I had no idea it would be real critter things. But…we stayed for a minute. Tatum got a bit cold as we waited so I cuddled with her.
Yes, we pet the snake, but more importantly, she met a Coati! And what a funny looking bunny-dog-rodent thing. But soft as could be.

Before lunch, Tatum was being eyed by a hyena FOR lunch. The way he looked at her had Doug and I stewing, but she was undaunted.

He just paced back and forth with his eyes focused on her. All he could think was…delicious! EEK! Yes she is, but not for you!!!!

Lunch time! I discovered Tatum loves mustard. Well, maybe she saw me dip everything in it, and she did too. It does not go well with white. 
So, now, we had some time to kill, so we took some pics….

Tatum and Doug played, “On your mark get set…..”

and Tatum ran up the steps as I sang the Rocky song.  Go TOT!
Ready for Tiger Splash… These crazy men run around with play raft toys and the cute little tiger chases it to its death. It’s quite a show! We ended the day with a trip to the gift shop and Tatum spied…. some “I can see you’s!” She spied things all the way to the parking lot. James Bond has nothing on her!

Thank you Doug for taking us on our adventure. We are grateful for you! You are one prepared dude, and that made all the difference.

Sunday is usually our Football Day, and Tatum loves to sport the jersey. She’s always asking about the “little birdie” on her sleeves, and we remind her it’s the Cardinals. Great C word which I’ve added to her lessons of course. They had no Fitzgerald jerseys (the were $150..HELLO!), so she’s sporting a Peterson 21. He plays some thing like left field or goalie or safety or something ( haha)Anyway, it was a winning day, so Doug offered to take her to the park to play some real sports! Real girls get real dirty, so I geared her up with her tennies and lots of Thieves spray

Golf was first, however, she did not realize this club was to be used as a club. Not a mallet or hockey stick or whacker. (sorry Doug)

At one point she saw a dog go by. “Squirrel!” moment. “Doggie! Hi doggie!” All was lost at this point.

Ok, Focus Tatum…there ya go.
No, don’t put the ball in; PUTT the ball in.  Ok, never mind. Hole in one!!

It was time to change courses. Baseball is much safer, right? Especially when your bat and ball are nerfy. Doug was safe when she bopped him on the head by accident and threw the ball at different parts of his body. (she apologized profusely!) OK…time for bowling since how could anyone get hurt here? Nobody except a few ants, right?

Doug: Roll a strike! (Ahem..Doug? She doesn’t know what this means)

Tatum: throws the ball and hits two pins. Throws the other ball and hits two more. (key word: “throws”)Then whacks the rest with her hands. 

Doug: I think that counts! STRIKE!

So, he slightly altered the rules for all three games, but she had a blast, had no major injuries; Doug kept all of his limbs, and me? I loved every minute of them enjoying each other.

This girl of mine? She’s shining every where she goes, and people notice. She’s a kind, silly, sweet as pie little child, and I love her so much.

Thank you Doug for making it a great Sporty day. Who needs the Cardinals when you can watch Tatum sport it up or at least find every dog in the park.

Of course we had to start at Trader Joe’s! Bev was dressed as a Minion as well, so they had to pose! She was playing “Dave.” Tot? She is more like Bob, but he only had one eye!Then, when we got home, Tot’s bed became “toddlerized.” And she was bouncing around like a monkey! She pretended a bottle was a microphone and belted out some tunes. Then collapsed in laughter.

We eventually got Coti in his Bat costume. (after much consternation)And voila!

Tatum is ready to hit the road.  She ended up having a bite of Butterfinger and Heath Bar.

I told her she could have her lollipop tomorrow. She asked me if she could have one lick after church. Should I? We shall see! (Don’t you love it when a parent says that!?)

We had the MIM to ourselves today! And…we had no idea that it would be the treat of all treats!

Upon visiting the European instrument portion, and avoiding the school that just arrived, we ventured down for the show. What show!? Supposedly, once a month, they have a concert, and today, it was to be the trombones from ASU! Now, would Tatum be able to sit through an hour long concert? Let’s find out.

First, these ASU students were dressed in nice rainbow shirts, and they had quite the array of talent to boot. The conductor, was Douglas Yeo, and was he a gem!

Supposedly, he was with the Boston Symphony for 30 years and now teaches at ASU.

Tatum sat quietly enjoying each piece as well as these short interludes.

The best part was when the conductor performed his solo from “Peter Gynt.” Dem tromBONES! Wow!He introduced it with saying that he never expects his students to do something he wouldn’t’ do, so one of his students did the conducting, and he did the performing! What a sound message: MODEL! HE paused at one point (and we all thought it was over), and Tatum yelled, “Good job!” Douglas became red in the face and smiled. I became red as well! Excuse us! HE played with poise, preciseness and perfection.

It’s a definite that we will attend each of these mini-concerts since the venue is small and it’s so easy and inexpensive. She is learning so much culturally as well (as am I!)

Finally, we hit the gift shop and guess what we found?Yes, besides these…(which I had to buy of course!)

A HARMONICA! She couldn’t say it quite correctly, so she called it her trombone. She puffed away at it making various sounds, discovering it has quite a range of noise! Her delight made it all worth it. When we got home, her first thought was to show/scare Coti! *wince*

“Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.”-Martin Luther

(even if sometimes the music isn’t so musicy!)