a laugh a day

Seriously- I think I could post a funny story about John Mark every single day. We live in our very own comedy show!

Here are the stories from the weekend.

Penguin Shoes

Friday evening we were getting ready to head to our usual Friday afternoon spot- Cuppies & Joe. I told JM to get his shoes from his bedroom and he said "new shoes?" I replied yes and walked into the kitchen. I heard something about "penguin shoes" and then nothing for about 10 minutes. I called to the back of the house where he was and he said "just a second... i puttin' on my penguin shoes." Having no clue what he was talking about, I got the camera because I knew the was going to be good. This is what I saw when he came into the kitchen. Don't worry- the cup of pens, that's his cup of "coffee."

Robot John Mark

A sweet friend of ours was cleaning out her toy room and gave us a little tikes police car. John Mark has spent everyday for the past two weeks playing in that car. This past Wednesday Kristen brought the matching gas pump to the office. You would have thought the thing gave out candy or something as excited as John Mark was about it.

But that's not the best part of the story. Thursday evening he carried the gas pump into the living room from his playroom and sat it down on the couch. This was our conversation:

JM: "My friend John Mark wants to snuggle you just a little bit, my mom."

(he refers to Micah and I as "my mom" and "my dad"... who knows why!)

Me: "Oh.. okay... so now the gas pump is your friend?"

JM: "yeah, my mom- he's robot John Mark."

(said like it was the most OBVIOUS thing in the world)

So for the rest of the weekend, when we would eat, "Robot John Mark" would sit at JM's little table with fake food from his kitchen. He would get "milk" at night and JM puts him to bed each evening in the playroom before he goes to bed.

What a beautiful friendship. :o)

"the apple of His pie"

A sweet friend of mine gave me a set of bible verse cards for kids who can't read when I was pregnant with John Mark. We've been learning a verse every couple of weeks for the past several months. I finally got video of John Mark saying his verses to us. Enjoy!


PS- friends with babies/or babies on the way, let me know if you'd like a set!! i would LOVE to make you a set!

a john mark story & video

Last night we were reading about how God made the world. Before I got to the part where he made Adam & Eve, I asked John Mark if he remembered who the first people God created were.
He looked at me and said: "uh... Jesus and.... Sissy Bird. yep!"

(sissy bird is my friend lesley...
don't ask why she is sissy bird...)

And here is another funny video of John Mark showing off his "slam dunk" dance to mom & dad.

first date

John Mark and Caroline had their first Cuppies & Joe date a couple of weeks ago. Here are their pictures.

sitting at their "little table"

this is my girl!

so studious


a glimpse into their future, perhaps?

seriously- how cute are they?

preschool... really?

Can I just tell you how big my baby is getting? Too big... that's for sure! I enrolled him in preschool today... PRESCHOOL. Now granted, this is pending him ever cooperating and ACTUALLY being potty trained... Otherwise he'll end up in the big kids class wearing pull-ups. And that my friends will be a sad day.

busy little bees

Oh my word- where did February go?

And March is flying by just as quickly...

I can't even believe it!

I apologize for my lack of updates-

we have been so busy I've barely had time to think!

Let's see... 2 weekends ago was Big Weekend.

This is our annual event with over 600 students from all across Edmond.

It's so much fun, but man does it wipe me out!

Last weekend we had the Ladies Retreat at church.

Nat was in town from Houston,

and we had a fabulous weekend.

I learned a ton and had a great time.

Micah has been busy gearing up for summer.

MS Camp... 8th Grade Trip... VBS...

I can't believe all of this is coming so soon!

He is also busy planning his annual guys only camping trip.

John Mark is busy just being silly.

I'm posting a video of him at the end of this.

He is spinning and singing "How Great Is Our God."

At the end of the video he tells us to "clap guys"...

Enjoy!

things i'm lovin' right now...

I eat these everyday for lunch with laughing cow swiss cheese and an apple.

I eat this yummy combo for breakfast each morning.

This is hands down the best chapstick I have EVER used!

(Nivea A kiss of Moisture)

When I'm not eating crackers and cheese for lunch, I'm probably having a yard bird from this yummy restaurant!

And I for sure can't get enough of this CD...

What are your favorite things?

vote for kyle!

My sister's husband has applied for the opportunity to live in Australia for 6 months and work on the Great Barrier Reef. He is one of 34,000 applicants and they are chosen according to votes each participant receives. Would you please go to HERE and give him a quick vote? All you have to do is watch the video and then rate it with the stars on the sides! Thanks!

running

"One thing that I desire
This will I seek after
To dwell in Your house forevermore
Now I'm running after
The thing that really matters
You've become my joy & song...

I am running, running after You
You've become my soul's delight
I am running, running after You
Here with You I find my life..."
--kari jobe

+

=

heaven

a poop story

John Mark has a newfound love of potty candy, so with the typical "be right back, mommy" John Mark made a trip to the potty. After lots of running water, splashing and a flush he walked out. Everything appeared normal, so I didn't pay much attention to the potty situation...

A little later, I glanced over to see John Mark standing suspiciously still in the corner of the room. There was a definite poop-face there, but I figured he would do his business, then ask me to change him. This was the conversation that followed:

Lesley- "um, Steph- I think John Mark just pooped on the floor."
Me- "don't be gross, Bird"
Lesley- "no, seriously... he just shook his leg and something fell out"
John Mark- "mommy, I don't have a pull-up... it was wet."
Me- "WHAT?!?!!!"
John Mark- "my pull-up, it was wet so leave it off..."

And there you have it- a typical night in the Rigdon household. Cleaning poop off the living room floor because John Mark failed to mention that he was going command-o.

happy valentine's day!

a haircut adventure

Yesterday I was home with John Mark and since he has had some crazy hair going on, I decided that I would take him to get his hair cut. This wasn't the first time and he had done great the other times we had taken him. This time... not so much. Here is our story:

My friend Lesley told me that if you go to the hair school you get a cheaper, but still great haircut. I called to find out if they cut kids hair and they said yes, so I figured that there wasn't really any way they could mess up John Mark's hair and since it would save a few bucks, it was worth a shot. Those poor girls never saw us coming...

We get there and suddenly the idea of a haircut isn’t quite so exciting. He decides he doesn’t want to sit on the booster seat, just my lap. So they put capes on us both and we’re doing good... While he's still not thrilled, they gave him a cookie so at least he is occupied. And then, well, disaster struck. The lady nicks his neck.

He FREAKS out (understandably so) and is screaming- climbing up me, rubbing snot all over me and the cape, drooling cookie and really letting them know what he thinks about this whole experience. At this point he is so past DONE, it's not even funny. We have also entered the realm of no longer upset about getting hurt to just plain throwing a fit.

We go outside and have a nice, friendly chat about how we act in public and call Micah to see if maybe that will calm the poor kid down enough to at least get rid of the funky, lopsided bowl cut we have going on. Micah tells him that if he will go inside and finish the haircut we can come to the office and go get ice cream. This seems to do the trick and we enter the salon for take two.

This might be a good time to point out we’ve been there for an HOUR.

We walk back in, sit down in the chair and he seems to be okay. Then lady #3 (we've scared the first 2 off by this point) touches his hair. And the downward spiral begins yet again. Snot and tears are flying, my arms are basically numb from holding him down and we STILL have a bowl cut.

By now, I've moved past feeling sorry for him, past being annoyed and embarrassed... ladies and gents, we're entering Red Stephanie (just keepin' it real). So we go outside one more time and I tell him- this is the deal: you either go back inside, sit still, finish your haircut and go get ice cream with mommy and daddy, or we’ll go home and you will go straight to bed and take a night night.

He whimpers a little says he wants the haircut... no, the night-night... no, haircut... we finally settle on going home and walk back in the pay. Then he changes his mind and freaks out (this is meltdown #4) that he WANTS a haircut. I tell him (I know this goes against all parenting principles, by the way, but the boy looked CRAZY and I really wanted to get his hair finished) that I will NOT carry him back in there. If he wants his haircut he has to walk in there himself and sit down in the chair.

For some reason, this works. He marches back into the room, picks the chair he wants to sit in and then asks nicely to sit in my lap. We're covered in hair already, so we completely forgo the capes and I tell the poor girl (#4) to just get it done. She thinks quick and hands him her spray bottle to "squirt mommy". This is entertaining and he thinks it's funny and I give her the look that screams "do it now!"

So finally, two hours later, we limp out of the salon. Those girls certainly got their lesson for the day. They also got a tip big enough to make my total what it would have been if I had just gone to the original salon to begin with.

wordle

I found this super cool website that takes the words on your blog and creates a picture from some of them. Here is my creation!

so smart

This was the conversation we had last night after seeing someone on TV named Stephanie...

JM: "She's not snephanie... mommy, you're snephanie..."

Me: "That's right John Mark. Do you know who daddy is?"

JM: "um... Micah."

See... genius.

if i talked to you today...

I might tell you that I am in love with cracked pepper triscuits...

I might tell you that both of my boys are home sick with a stomach bug...

I might tell you that I wish my sister didn't live halfway around the world...

I might tell you that Brittany Lusey is my mini-me...

I might tell you that I consider my boss a hero and dear friend...

I might tell you that I can't get enough of The Biggest Loser...

I might tell you that I totally stole this post idea from a blog I stalk...

I might tell you that I am praying to cultivate a quiet, gentle spirit...

I might tell you that I have a slight blog-stalking problem...

I might tell you that my hands are freezing right now...

I might tell you that John Mark was mad we couldn't find horton tonight...

I might tell you that Micah is as obsessed with Lost as I am with reality TV...

I might tell you that everyday I become more like my mom- and I love it...

I might tell you that Kelly challenges me in every walk of my life...

I might tell you that texting is a serious addiction of mine...

I might tell you that I love Target a little too much...

I might tell you that Jamie & Natalie are my kindred spirits...

I might tell you that some of my sweetest friends are students...

I might tell you that I wish I could wear sweatpants everywhere I go...

I might tell you that meeting Lesley Clark has changed my life...

I might tell you that I cried in Marley & Me- even though I hate dogs...

I might tell you that I'm now going to bed... good night!

john mark-isms

John Mark is probably the funniest kid alive.
He never ceases to have us rolling on the floor in laughter.
Besides just saying hilarious things,
he has a newfound obsession with making up his own words.

And so in honor of this...
Here's a few of my recent favorites!

-"Mommy, your a girl. I'm a boy."
-"It's really, really tasty."
-"Just one more time..."
-he can't make the "v" sound, so everything with a v is hysterical-
"glubs" (gloves)
"lub" (love)
"up abub" (up above)
-"sneak... sneak... sneak... RAWWWWRRR!!"
(he actually says sneak)
-"no daddy, i not misinformed, i just little"
-"crazy hair. need a haircut?"
-"don't know"
(said with a lip smack noise that makes it!)

And if I were telling you this outloud,
he would say-
"I say dat, mommy"
and give you the biggest smile you've ever seen!

break my chains

"so Christ has truly set us free.
now make sure that you stay free,
and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law."
Galatians 5:1

blog award

I was awarded this very cute blog award from the Pettijohn's.

Here are the steps:

1. Say one nice thing to the man in your life:
Micah is hands-down the most amazing man in the world. He has been the picture of Christ and his love to me every single day. I couldn't have asked for someone to love me more sacrificially and with everything he has. Plus he is funny and keeps me grounded when I'm freaking out!

2. List at least 6 ways you measure success in your life:
consistently spending time with Christ through his Word and prayer
loving Micah & John Mark patiently and gently
pushing my friends to be more like Christ
using my gifts and talents to serve others
easily running 3 miles
always looking for ways to grow and become a better wife, mommy and friend

3. Assign 5 other blogs this award:

Fawn
Sunny
Micayla
Lisa
Sarah Shelton

yesterday

Yesterday Kelly and I took off to run the 5K to support a local high school. It was ridiculously cold. We were bundled up in a million different layers... but we were going for it.

When we got to the park, we signed in and got our numbers. We went back to the car to put our shirts up. It was then we realized... Kelly had her house key tied to her shoe, not her car key. Oh, and our cell phones were locked in the car. And her husband doesn't have a car, just a motorcycle.

So we bummed cell phones off some girls there. I called Micah to tell him to stay at his parents house until we got there (we were planning to run 6 after the 5K) and have him take us to get a key. It wasn't my phone and the wind was blowing so my message got all messed up. He told me later he thought "bethany" had called and he needed to stay there until she got there.

Anyway, at this point we decided there was really nothing else we could do. So we lined up at the starting line, jumping and attempting to be semi-warm. The gun blasted and we took off. It was then that my ankle popped and I knew I was in trouble. I started running anyway and made it a mile. At 1 mile, I had to stop. Kelly was sweet enough to limp with me back to another point and get a phone from someone else.

Micah picked us up and I've been following "RICE" that my PT friends told me- rest, ice, compression and elevation. Well, following is probably not the right word. Arguing with Micah that I'm fine is more like it... Even though my left ankle is twice as big as my right ankle. I've never been one to admit when I'm hurt and do things to make myself better.

I have been instructed that I need to make an appointment with a running specialist tomorrow to have my ankles checked out before I carry on my marathon training. We'll see how that goes...

seahorse

Last night, John Mark had a BIG first.
He pooped in the potty.
When he stood up and came to tell me,
he looked at me and said:
"look mommy, it's a seahorse.
John Mark pooped a seahorse."

Sure enough...
it looked like a little seahorse.

MS Mission Trip

We just got home from a long weekend in Arlington, TX.
Here's a few of the highlights:

-50 MS students
-11 adults
-600+ bags of leaves
-5+ hours spent loving kiddos
-200 doors knocked on
-500 bible study flyers handed out
-10+ gospel presentations by students
-many hours spent bonding with our kids
-countless games of gotcha
-5 games of gotcha won by me

It was a great weekend.
I'll post pictures later when I've slept in a real bed!

just john mark

Last night we were getting John Mark ready for bed.
He looked up and me and said:
"My name is John Mark.
Not John.
Just John Mark."

We laughed.
Then told him it's a good thing he's learning this early,
since that will be the story of his life.

26.2... Nashville bound

That's right friends.
Instead of running the OKC Marathon,
we'll be lacing up our running shoes in the grand state of Tennessee!!

Kelly found the totally awesome Rock & Roll marathon in Nashville-
and since her parents live there...
which makes for a great place to stay...
and our very own photographer to take our pictures along the way...
we decided that we were going for it!

So at 5AM yesterday morning, we began our early morning training.
Running, weights, biking and more running will be the sound of my days for the next several months.
But the payoff will be sweet!

a merry little christmas

why

It's strange how in one instant life can change.
The decisions we make,
those made by others,
can turn a life completely upside down.

Why did he decide to drive the wrong way down that road?
Why is a precious baby girl in the hospital over Christmas?
Why are my sweet friends caught in a web of paperwork, waiting anxiously for their son?
Why do babies die and marriages break?

Why? Why? Why?

Why gets in your head, in your heart.
Why can mess with the very foundation you've always stood on.
Why creates some very sticky situations.

The answers aren't always easy to come by.
Sometimes they hurt.
Sometimes you can do nothing but fall on your face before the One Who holds every "why" in His eternal hands.

I used to be scared of WHY.
I thought God didn't like me to question His way.
Then through studying the scriptures I have seen many heroes of the faith who asked why.
Jacob wrestled.
David asked.
Jesus wept.

And I've learned by these examples-
He's big enough.
He's not scared of the "whys".
All He asks is that we trust Him.
Rest in Him.
Believe that He is good.
Surrender to His plan.

"not my will, but Yours be done."
luke 22:42

sleepy boy

This is John Mark, all snuggled in with his stuffed animals he sleeps with-

Froggie (aka baby Jesus)

Kung Fu Panda

Nemo

Eeyore

Monkey

Cocoa (aka Cuckoo)

silly boy

Tonight I was cleaning up the kitchen and I could hear John Mark talking to someone in the living room. Knowing we were the only ones home, I went to investigate. What I found was the funniest, sweetest thing in the world. He had his stuffed frog wrapped in a red snowman dishtowel and was singing to the frog.

Upon further listening I could hear him saying "it's okay, baby Jesus. don't cry."

Man, I love this kid!

what the heck is TWITTER?

My eyes have recently been opened to a whole new world of technology... It's this totally awesome thing called TWITTER. What is this, you may ask? Well, technically speaking Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service, that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. In everyday terms- it's a really fun way to stay connected with those around you.

It really isn't complicated- all you have to do is sign up for a free twitter account, choose some people to follow and start updating! The super fun part is that you can update from your phone (via text) and also receive updates from all your friends.

All that being said, you should twitter.
And you should probably follow me.
So I can follow you.

You can follow me by clicking here.

everything worth keeping

"everything worth keeping
comes through dying"
--derek webb

"so we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

teach me to fix my eyes on You-
on the things that truly matter.
help me die to myself.
that i may gain that which i cannot lose.

2008 Top Fives

Books Read in 2008:
1.) Twilight Series
2.) Chronicles of the King series
3.) Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide
4.) Shepherding the Child's Heart
5.) The Chronological Bible (well, I'll finish that on December 31, hopefully!)

Songs Listened to:
1.) Ain't No Reason- Brett Dennen
2.) Bleeding Love- Leona Lewis
3.) Come Home- OneRepublic
4.) Grace- Addison Road
5.) What If You- Joshua Radin

People I’ve Received Personal E-mails From:
1.) Kim
2.) Sara
3.) Kelly
4.) Lesley
5.) Micah

People I’ve Spent Time With:
1.) Micah & John Mark
2.) Lesley
3.) Kelly
4.) MS Students
5.) Beth

Places I’ve Spent My Time(excluding friends’ houses):
1.) Target
2.) Tao Cafe
3.) Starbucks
4.) HHBC
5.) Transformation Fitness

Places to Eat:
1.) Tao Cafe
2.) Zorba's
3.) Chipotle
4.) Bagel Cafe
5.) Spicy Pickle

First Christmas Party

I love Christmas.
Love it, love it, love it.
The lights, the parties, the food...
every single bit of it is great!

I kicked off the holiday party season today with our office ladies Christmas party. We had awesome food and played dirty Santa. Here's some of the best pictures!

mine & Lesley's plates of food

don't worry, they were happy plates when all was said and done

Me & my sweet friend Sara

This is our precious receptionist, Cathy.
She is hiding under the table so her gift won't be stolen...

Unfortunately, she wasn't successful.

Lesley with HER stack of tissue paper.
This is mostly due to the fact that I stole all 4
(yes FOUR) blankets that she opened,
only to have them stolen from me...

Us girls, showing off our fabulous gifts
And yes, Kelly IS holding the new Britney CD
and yes, she DID bring that as her gift to the party

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne
--wonderful, merciful savior

just call me "aunt stephie"

Welcome, Elliana Brooke Townley!
Born November 28, 2008 @ 12:12 PM
7 pounds, 20.5 inches
Dark curly hair.
Beautiful.

TWILIGHT!

As some of you may have heard, a new movie came out this weekend- TWILIGHT! Now, being beyond obsessed with the books, of course I went to the midnight premiere with my good friends Lesley, Jamie and Lindsey. You might notice in these pictures that we are characters from the book. That's right, we are just THAT cool. :o)

just some pictures

give thanks

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

I work in the children's ministry for my church, and this is our verse for the month. I have spent several weeks putting this verse on all sorts of fun things- a coloring sheet, a word find... memory cards, I even made a bunch of grapes with these words on them! But this morning I was struck with the realization that for all my effort in helping these kids learn the concept of gratitude, I could really stand to be a little more grateful myself.

It's so easy to focus on the things in your life that aren't playing out the way you had hoped or dreamed, to forget about all that you have been given. I have found myself in the midst of a pity party for the past few days and I realized on Sunday that it stinks. My sweet friend Beth told me that self-pity is an okay place to be for a little while because you realize how good you really have it.

Well, folks- today I am aware of all my blessings. Here are just a few of them:

*I have a sweet husband who loves me in spite of all my ridiculousness
*I have a happy, healthy baby boy- who lets me hear "i love you momma" everyday, sings "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of his lungs and makes me laugh
*I have a family who raised me up in the faith and has taught me what unconditional love truly is *I have precious friends who are willing to get up early with me, give up dr. pepper, have ridiculous nicknames, and so much more
*I have a boss who truly wants my priority to be my family and understands "mommy things"
*I have Jamie who selflessly watches John Mark 3 days a week so I can work and not put him in childcare
*I have a church that challenges me to grow in my faith and genuinely worship my Savior
*I get to watch middle school students be excited about their Savior and be challenged to follow Him more closely
*I have a mentor who speaks the truth to me in love and helps me become a better wife, mother, friend and believer
*I have a home that, although there might constantly be cheerio's and goldfish in the carpet, is clean, warm and a place I love to be
*I have a space heater at my desk that keeps me warm when the heater is broken

And most importantly...
*I have a Maker, Savior, Redeemer- and He knows my name, has lifted me from the pit and set me free. And if all those other things passed away, I would STILL have Him, and He would be enough.

What are you thankful for?

I hope we sit together
when Jesus serves the wine
So I can look into your eyes
when I taste it the first time
--waterdeep

work friends

These girls are my life 32 hours a week!! Love them!

election day

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 20:7

Today, O Lord, we put our trust in You.
We know that you are sovereign,
and nothing happens that You have not ordained.

"You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are
For there is no one like our God"
--Chris Tomlin