Laurel Elisabeth Stevens

At the beginning of February we enjoyed a visit from an old friend and colleague. Shirley Unger and I taught together at Vienna Christian School—we met 10 years ago. Time flies. Now she is in Germany as a missionary with EuroTeam. She was in Houston as part of her support raising. We had a good time, and Elisabeth just loved her. It didn’t take long at all for Elisabeth to warm up to “Miss Siryee.” We tried to show Shirley a bit of Houston, but I think she ended up seeing the toddler’s version. We made a visit for the first time to Mercer Arboretum (I may have been there as a child, but I can’t remember). It was beautiful! Walking through the gates was like walking into a lush haven—so green (well, I suppose everything looks green here for some of you), so many birds . . . We were there less than 5 minutes and we knew we had to return. So whoever visits us next, bring your walking shoes! Elisabeth also got to see Cypress Knees for the first time! Then on Monday after Shirley met with t...

Last summer while we were visiting Tim and Kristen in Dearborn, Tim made this video of Elisabeth. This was when she was really starting to talk more and more. Of course, since then she's come such a long way that we surely need a new video, but this is fun for reminiscing. Thanks, Tim, for the video.

I discovered recently that when John reads Elisabeth a bedtime story, they lie on their “nummies.” Recent favorites have been Daisy the Fire Cow, Ah, Music (a book about the orchestra) and What Charlie Heard, the story of Charles Ives. Another series she loves is a set that I picked up at a garage sale years ago, of books that I had growing up: the Arch books, a series of Bible stories for kids. When I told Mom about them she said she really didn’t like them because of the bad rhyming. I was appalled! I had such wonderful memories of those books and we even had records to go with them, so I can still hear in my head the voice of the man reading The World God Made. Well, as I have been reading them over and over, I’m starting to understand what Mom was talking about. Nevertheless, the daughter will love them and choose them over and over. There must be something to be said for the impression they leave! A common feature in several of these photos is Elisabeth’s phone, although s...

Thanks for your prayers and concern for us as we had a routine little surgery this morning and Elisabeth got tubes in her ears. We were a bit disconcerted by Elisabeth’s bug this weekend, but that passed and the surgery took place as planned. It went fine, and of course, she had the makings of an ear infection already in progress. So we are on the road to recovery. If that is all you wanted to know, then stop reading. The rest is just the ramblings of a mom! Some interesting moments: As soon as the dr. came in to see us before the surgery, Elisabeth began a chorus of “Go home, have snack” (she couldn’t eat or drink after midnight). This did not stop until she was given some medicine to help sedate her (before they rolled her away) and she got quiet and began to look so happy. Actually she was already very calm, but this made her even calmer. To pass the time I asked if she wanted to sing. Her favorite song of late is “Old MacDonald.” She always chooses an appropriate farm an...

Elisabeth did get to see her reindeer, and John and I learned a few things about them as well. Did you know female reindeer have antlers too? And they have a tendon in their ankles that makes a clicking noise; hence "Up on the housetop, click click click." Unfortunately, almost as soon as Elisabeth saw the reindeer she was ready to move on and see some other things: the dogs that were barking like crazy upon our approach, and the horse and donkey nearby. The familiar is just so nice. Consequently it was hard to get a picture of Elisabeth with the reindeer. Oh well. She continues to talk about seeing them. I've noticed a bit of revisionist history on Elisabeth's part since we've been home. If she sees a picture of a snowman, she says, "Bitty made no-man." Hmm. Grandma, did Elisabeth make a snowman? We tried to get her to help us, but Daddy did the rolling, and Grandma did the decorating. Bitsy cried and said, "Doh in-yide. Doh in-yide." But now,...

Grandma and Mommy help Elisabeth get used to what little snow there was. The real fun came later with some sledding. It is hard to capture the delight on her face, but Elisabeth loved it. She even went by herself a few times (the hills were a gentle slope in John's parents' backyard.

Elisabeth partakes of a special Stevens tradition: Grandma's Christmas cookies. She had 3 and loved each one! Grandma and Grandpa look on as Sandy opens her gift. Of course Elisabeth is always ready to open "nother present." Uncle Andy and Elisabeth enjoy a tickle. We all laughed as Fernie and Elisabeth provided the entertainment for the evening.