Just call me "DooDo"

The adventures of being an aunt... "Aunt Kimbo" as I have tried to go by... Key word there is "tried". You see my little 19-month old niece calls me "DooDo". Close? Eh... Not so much. But I'll take it! In fact, it's almost worth it to be called DooDo because she is the one saying it.

I love being an aunt. I love watching her learn 24 different family member's names and getting excited to see them all. I love that she has preferences and things unique to her and her personality. I love that she laughs at funny things and songs we make up.

Yesterday I had my first skype date with Melissa and Emmy. I think she was confused at first but quickly got a hold of it. She said, "DooDo!" and then we danced to Justin Bieber (don't judge... he sings about babies). Then we sang Itsy Bitsy Spider and played with my (ahem) stuffed animals. It was a treat. She is so precious and I just love her!

(above) we are playing with a modern day paper doll. Awesome invention.

(below) I'm just being a creeper in the car. haha. I actually didn't even know I made the photo til afterwards.

Emmy, you are such a sweet little girl. I am excited to watch you grow and be a part of your life. The day we can sit and talk about things you can't talk to your mom about anymore will be a sweet day. But I cherish these sweet "DooDo" and dancing to Bieber moments. I'll get a puppy for our next skype date. :)

A Tribute to a Hero...

Last Monday, February 28th my great-grandmother, Marie Hunter, or Nana as we called her, was able to go home. Her desire to be at home with the Lord was something we were all very aware of and any sadness was simply because we will miss her until we see her again. I don't know if I could ever express how much she taught me and challenged my faith. Her life was an incredible example of how to live every second for the glory of God. Her funeral was inspiring as so many people were touched by her life and love for Jesus.

In 2004, I was given the opportunity to write an essay answering the question, "If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?" The following is the answer I gave, that I was able to read aloud at Nana's funeral last week:

"If I were able to have lunch with any one person tomorrow it would be my great-grandmother Nana. Being 90, every time I get to see her could be my last, so any time I am allowed to spend with her would be one more cherished moment with one of the biggest influences in my life. In a time when single mothers were not very common, she raised three children in Dallas during the hard times of the 1930s and 1940s. In the midst of many hard times, she has always maintained a strong faith and an inspiring love for her family.

If I could eat lunch with her she would probably ask me one of the first things she always does, "Darlin' girl, is there a boy in your life?" I would answer as always with a humorous, "no." Of all the things she has done in her lifetime some of the few that stand out to me are how she raised her children during such hard times and what it was like to work on a Corrie Ten Boom exhibit at Dallas Baptist University. Our lunch would consist of me asking a few questions and then proceeding to listen. Her life experiences and her continual faith in God have been a witness to thousands who have crossed her path. How luck I am to have such a remarkable woman as my great-grandmother and how blessed I have been to experience her presence in my life is one thing I am currently thankful to God for. "

I hope that if I make it to be 97 or if God takes me sooner, that I will have followed her example and lived every moment for the sake of the Gospel. I am blessed to have known such a giant in the faith and to be a part of her legacy.

"Our children too shall serve Him, for they shall hear from us about the wonders of the Lord." ~Psalm 22:30