Jots and Tittles

So this post is all about some of the little but important things that have happened that in the past and present.

Last October, my younger sister, Elise, had her third child. A little boy they named Maxwell Joseph. (You can read about his exciting birth story if you follow the link!) He was named after my father and my brother who died almost 20 years ago.
We were super excited to welcome this sweet little namesake into the world, even if only from a distance. I can't wait for the chance to meet him in person!

On a side note: Elise and I generally have similar philosophies on naming babies before they are born. We might have a favorite picked out but there are generally some backups just in case the favorite doesn't quite fit. Twice now, we have had the same boy names on our favorite list. Neither of us have used the first one that we both liked but Elise and Dan got 'Max'. So, with that one crossed off our list our short list is really short!

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At Thanksgiving, while in VA, this typewriter was passed on to us from Chris' Aunt Jeanie via his parents. It originally belonged to Chris' grandfather, Dr. Ellis McAllister. (Follow the link for a cool story about the kind of man Grandpa Mac was.) (Chris is also the spitting image of Ellis. Put him in period clothes with the right hat, and they could have been twins!)

I asked at an antique shop about the age of the typewriter and the woman I spoke with put in the 1940s. But after doing a bit more research online we were able to determine that it is really from the 1920s. It was on this portable typewriter that Grandpa Mac wrote his thesis.
Now, as Chris works on his thesis, it is with much gratitude for those who have gone before and for modern technology that saves him from having to type multiple drafts and copies from start to finish!

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More recently, Chris' brother Jacob and sister-in-law, Aimee, had their fourth child, another precious girl, Sarah. (They now have two boys and two girls.) This little bundle we have actually gotten to see on Skype but it isn't the same as getting to hold them and get a good snuggle. And sadly, we probably won't get to snuggle with Sarah until after her cousin comes...maybe not even until the fall!

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Pretty much the only forward progress we have made in getting our house ready to sell since Christmas is passing on our homemade, one-of-a-kind cat tree. (Don't worry Kenningtons, if you have passed it on as well. We were not attached.) But apparently, Malcolm was. At least a little. Once I de-cluttered it (aka moved it all the floor) Malcolm was pleased to rediscover this once covered artifact. So here is one final picture of Malcolm saying goodbye.
And lest any of you NOT know what a belly paunch looks like Malcolm was happy to demonstrate:While we have successfully passed the cat tree on, it might be of interest to someone (please, someone, please!) that we are also looking for a good home for Malcolm. If you or someone you know would like a fat, black cat, let us know!

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The other exciting news has come from the Williamson side of the family. Via a loud and large phone conference we were able to hear Andrew, Chris' younger brother, open his mission call. He has been called to serve in the Sao Paulo, Brazil South mission and will report to the MTC in Brazil on 16 June. Andrew is a young man of many talents...
and a hard worker.We are so excited for him and his coming adventures!!

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And last but not least, (they were really yummy!) we have cinnamon rolls. Joanna sent me this recipe (actually a whole cookbook!) after I commented on her blog. It was her holiday post and just about the only thing I commented on was the cinnamon rolls she had made and how creating new cravings in pregnant lady was so not nice. She offered the recipe and I readily accepted!
They were delicious, just as she had promised and I am perfectly aware that the picture does not do it justice at all!! The cream cheese icing was to die for too! The only thing that could have made them better was if I could have talked Chris into making them for me!

So, from the pregnant lady, whose craving was totally satisfied, Thanks! Heaps and heaps of thanks, Joanna!!

Jots and tittles are the dots on the i's and the crosses on the t's. Tiny but important in the fabric of the printed word. So are these things to us.