Guest post on Thankfulness

Today I have a guest post on OUR CHATEAU a blog by Kathryn Fishman-Weaver. Kathryn and I met at church through our toddler girls, and I think we have a lot in common.  Kathryn has a thankfulness series on her blog every November. I don't have a lot of time for creatively writing, but I was inspired to contribute to this series. I wrote about the moments where we meet the people who become our "friends" and what those have meant to me throughout the past 10 years. 

Fall = Pumpkins, Pictures and Cool Air

Evangeline and Mommy

 Fall is here. There a few things I love more than a beautiful fall day. Friday Evangeline and I went to pick pumpkins from a pumpkins from a pumpkin patch with her school. It was a blast. We really enjoyed picking "citrouille," playing in the tepee, the hay-bale maze and feeding all of the animals with her school friends. I loved the corn-husk horses the most. We were so excited to spend time with other families from the school and get to know her teachers better.

Riding a corn-husk horse.

Evangeline loved all the activities at Peach Tree Farms so much that I think we should return before the Fall is over.

She's getting so tall

Hay-bale maze with friends.

 Friday we returned home for lunch, a nap and then family photos in the afternoon. +Lollipop Photography did our photos again this year. I can't wait to see how they turned out and get some printed for Evangeline's birthday and our holiday cards. We also went to dinner Friday with our friends Joy and Hank. We had Japanese Habachi, which Evangeline loved. She's only been twice and last time the fire scared her. This time she watched the whole "show" and ate a large portion or fried rice.

Friday night Greg and I also went to see Maiden Trip at the Citizen Jane Film Festival. It is a great movie about a daring teenage girl who becomes the youngest to sail around the world alone.

Saturday we attempted our regular trip to the market and grocery, but it was raining and not much fun. We went to the mall briefly, but spent the majority of the day at home. We also went to her school's Fall Potluck and spent time with other families and kids from the school. Evangeline decorated he pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and ate a lot of Doritos and clementines.

Evangeline playing guitar in the church nursery.

Today we went to Church for Lutheran World Relief Sunday. There were hundreds of hand-made quilts on display. The quilts were dedicated during the service. We also had some good play-time at home with each other and daddy.

After lunch we all took naps. After nap, Evangeline and I went to Wilson's Nursery for their annual Fall Festival. The theme was Monsters' University. Evangeline played in a bounce house, got a balloon, more pumpkins, and got her face painted for the first time. We even met Sully from Monster's Inc. 

This evening we went to the church again for Mission Meal. The meal was to support Lutheran World Relief and a woman who will be teaching English in Malasysia for the next year. The food was all locally grown and excellent. There was homemade applesauce, pickled veggies, squash casserole, potatoes, meatloaf, muffins, and peach cobbler. Evangeline loved the music as well. She really enjoyed listening to the youth play on the drums and piano and dancing to the music. 

This weekend was a great weekend and was a much needed relief from the stresses of PhD school life.

Evangeline listens to music at the Mission Meal.

Capital Bound Baby!

A few weeks ago the Perreault Family finally made it back to Washington, DC. This city hold so much significance for our family as it was the place Greg and I met in Summer 2004 at the Washington Journalism Center.  It was our first time back as a family. Greg and I had an academic conference, AEJMC, where we both presented research and attended sessions. We also presented a book project we were involved in as part of a collaboration between the Reynolds Journalism Institute and Knight Foundation. We stayed in China Town in a hotel for the first part and then with our friends the Kazee Family for the second half. Evangeline loved the City. She loved the buses and Subway train. She loved the people. It made me sad that she is not growing up there with the community we left behind, but I'm glad we are in PhD school and have the opportunities we have here.

Here's some my favorite photos from our trip.

We got off the plane and headed strait to the Zoo, Evangeline was tired.

Here we are watching a zoo keeper care for several Beavers and Ducks

Seal watching is my favorite thing to do.

More seal watching with Daddy

Visiting Georgetown and posing in front of Healy Hall

Lunch with Rebecca

A kiss where we had our first kiss. Evangeline was really tired again.

Daddy and Evan in front of the Capitol

Hanging out between sessions at AEJMC

My "Sunglasses" at the Search Lights and Sunglasses Book Launch Party at AEJMC

Evangeline rides the Capitol Mall Carousel at the Smithsonian

Daddy tries to keep Evangeline from swimming in the fountain at the sculpture garden park

Dipping our toes at the Sculpture Garden fountain

I love this guy.

The Searchlights and Sunglasses Team before out session.

Greg and Ben with their littles. These guys went to HS together and college.

My beautiful girl friends from DC. Can you believe how grown up we all are.

Evangeline on the Kazee's front porch in DC.

Lilly, Evangeline and Abby. Sweet girls!

Family metro ride to Union Station.

Greg and Terry hanging out at the Green House.

And a photo book from our trip if you want more:

Click here to view this photo book larger

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Eight Great Months of Evangeline

Yesterday Evangeline turned eight months old. This past month was really exciting with a trip to the zoo, a lot of walks, her baptism and first Vacation Bible School, adventures with mommy and daddy, playdates with Arlen, Penny, Claire and James.

My favorite Evangeline face. She now has enough hair to put a clip in.

 She is going through a little separation anxiety and teething which means she is fussy a lot. I just try remember that things will be a lot worse when she is 13--and tell myself to be patient.

She says dadaddada, and mamamama. She also will wave and says something that resembles like "hi" or "bye." She still loves books, and the library--chewing on them, turning their pages and listening to mommy and daddy read (even if it is only a few pages of a book).

Shot of Evan and Mommy. She's been a little clingy this month.

She loves music and even attacks Greg's guitars. She loves when Greg plays music for her on the piano or guitar. Greg and Evan also play the piano together sometimes.

She loves the church nursery especially the "big kid" toys like the Cozy coup car. However, her favorite toys are my flip flops and the dog water bowl.

And yes, she already learned to drive...

She loves people, and thrives in social places like church and the library. She smiles at strangers, dogs, kids, and gets upset when they will not give her their attention. She tries to talk with whomever she hears talk. We're in for some challenges. 

Wylie is still not a fan of her, but she's getting faster and is fascinated by him. She'll catch him someday soon. We were worried about that, but she stole his toy the other day--Wylie only grunted in annoyance and left.

It is hard to get her to stay still. She is toddling around (holding onto things) and constantly bobbing her head back and forth to rhythms or music.

Evangeline also learned to standup alone unsupported (for a minute) and recently (the scariest new accomplishment) climb stairs. She loves to dance to music.

She still does not like baby food. Her favorite foods are zucchini bread, animal crackers and pork chops.

Despite all the challenges, we cannot imagine life without her. She is growing and learning so much and we look forward to what each day will bring for her.

Evan's First Trip to Texas

We just got back from Evangeline's first trip to Texas.

With my Infant Boarding Pass in Houston during the layover to Texas

I was Evangeline's second plane trip (her first was to Boulder in January). She handled the flight well and even enjoyed playing in the airport.

Playing in the airport terminal in San Antonio.

Drinking my bottle on the plane.

We were in Texas for a week and visited family and friends. We saw her Wiggins Grandparents, Aunts, Zeta Fair Godmother (Katie) and the Wacker Family. She even made it to Lake Buchanan (I'll post another post with these photos), Bear Moon Bakery and Wednesday night dinner at FBC Boerne.

At Bear Moon Bakery in Boerne

 The Wacker Family was so glad to meet Evan. The girls and Paula were especially excited to see Evangeline and spend some time with her. We also got to see Thomas and Jonathan who I used to babysit for. Thomas is now a senior in High School (omg!). It is so encouraging to see these kids grow up.

Evangeline and Grace Wacker

Evangeline and Ruth Wacker

Paula and Evangeline

After visiting the Wackers we headed to FBC Boerne for Wednesday night dinner and to meet the Women in my mom's women's Choir. Evan loved the attention, and we loved seeing people's faces light up when they met her. I introduced her to my middle school English teacher and choir teacher. Both made comments on how it was just yesterday I was in in their classes. I know it will be like that when Evan is in middle school, but I'm definitely not ready for that. My baby girl has grown up so much in the past three weeks it's getting hard to handle. We also took her to see my dad at his Awana Celebration day.

With Grandpa Will at FBC Boerne

It was a great vacation for all of us. We needed a break after all the work of the semester.

First Easter

Evan celebrated her first Easter yesterday. Here's a couple of photos from our day.

Hanging out at the neighbors for a post Easter dessert

Mom, Dad and Evan at Easter Church Service

Spending time with our community group family including Mrs. Pam and Reagan.

Bitter Sweet Goodbye

Yes we are moving to heaven. But I really feel like the city of Washington, DC is heaven. Or at least, heaven grows here.

This morning I woke up at 4:26 a.m. on the dot. This seems to Miss P's choice time to get her mommy out of bed. I realized that is is my second to last day to wake up in my bed in this house.

So that is why I was sobbing by 5 a.m. Washington, DC has become the home I always wanted. I hope I make Columbia the same--but it will be hard. The friends we have made here have journeyed with us through some amazing times, and we have been blessed. I thought I would take this post to write some things Greg and I are thankful for as we reflect on our time here in DC. All these groups/places have made this City one we will look at completely differently for the rest of our lives. I know we have been changed. What that change looks like I'm not sure of yet, but I think I like it.


1) Georgetown University

Georgetown was a great opportunity for us both. We both met wonderful people-friends and professional. We both learned how to do stellar academic research. We both graduated with MA's in Communication, Culture and Technology and we both discovered new directions for our careers. Georgetown provided us with many opportunities and privileges and although it was an expensive experience it has put us in an entire new playing field. I could go on for days about why the decision to attend GU was one of the best we both ever made. It broadened my perspective in ways I could never have expected. The friends we made at GU helped us to gain new perspectives and realize that hard work and fun can go hand-in-hand.

2) The Washington Journalism Center

Although I have a lot to thank WJC for in general (our marriage, our decisions to enter journalism, and all the wonderful friends and contacts we have made), during this chapter of our lives it has provided us with an extended family. Greg was paid to work there, I hung around and learned from the students and Terry. This opportunity allowed me to deeper explore and reflect on why I decided four years before to try my hand at journalism--the quest for truth, justice and educating the public at large. WJC became our new Royal Poinciana Chapel and Palm Beach Post at the same time. It allowed us to use our calling to care for people and our passion for journalism in a way that many would not think possible.

3) Zeta Tau Alpha

When I was a sophomore at Baylor looking for a structured social organization--and to honestly start over after a tough Freshman year, ZTA provided me with the opportunity to "seek those things that would ever enrich and ennoble my life." In DC I have been blessed to be part of two groups of women who amaze and astound me with their commitment to caring for the world and each other. Each woman is so unique but we are all so much the same. Through the Washington, DC and Silver Spring Alumni Chapter I have seen love and friendship manifest itself in ways I never saw as an undergraduate at Baylor. These women welcomed me to the area with open arms and will continue to be part of the memories I hold dear in life. I look forward to the day when I can share what this means more deeply with my daughter. I hope she too will find a connection with women--across the country and the world like this someday. ZETA is so much more than a social organization and it stretches beyond college and into life.

4) Mosaic Church of the Nazarene

This section of the post is one of the most difficult to write. First because it was Mosaic that appeared so late in our time here in DC, but its impact is enough to envelope the entire experience we have had here. Greg and I began attending this church after a friend recommended it to us in Fall 2010. We had been attending another congregation and had a hard time with some of the changes going on at that church. We decided to try out Mosaic and several other DC churches. After a visit in November we discovered Mosaic was the perfect fit for us and in January we started working with the worship band there. Mosaic does not pretend to be the place where everything comes together, it does stay true to its calling and in its brokenness it is beautiful. The Kazee family reached out to us, they helped us see that the love of Christ is something that stretches beyond church and can be shared in fellowship with others. The congregation welcomed us as children to a family. The people we met genuinely wanted to get to know us. They became closer than friends and fellow parishioners-they became our brothers and sisters. Because of Mosaic we almost decided to stay in DC for Greg's Ph. D program, but even though we are not staying the church was extremely supportive of our decision to move to Missouri.

5) Other Friends

There are a number of other people who have been there for us. What I like to call "our cloud of witnesses" although they are not just religious relationships. Our Wylie neighbors have made living in the Atlas District a special experience I will rave about to people for years, the people at the places I have worked have each reached out to me in certain ways, those relationships we brought with us from Texas and Florida and Palm Beach Atlantic University and Baylor...they have all made the time here one that has been unique and exciting.

These five areas have served as hubs for our friendships and joys while in The District and I would not trade any one experience for another.

This City is so much more than a place. It is an amazing world with people who are passionate about life. The people here work hard--many of them without recognition. They all come from somewhere else and seek to find a home if just for a little while. This City has taught me about justice, love, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and working hard. Thanks to you DC for teaching me what heaven on earth could look like.

Missouri is exciting because it provides a new life--one which will look very different from what we've had here. With a new home, new family and new friends to share life with. This is all very exciting and scary at the same time. But no matter what lies ahead, I hope and pray that the friendships we form in Missouri will be just as impact-full as those we have made here in the District. I hope I can take some of my DC heaven and plant it in Columbia, Missouri.