My Boys and Me

“And now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask for or imagine according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory…..”(Ephesians 3:20-21). This scripture is one of my favorites and also happens to be the benediction that concludes each service at our church.  It is also so VERY true.  God has his OWN plan which much of the time does not coincide with our plans.  I thank GOD that he had his own plan for me in regards to Mike.  There were many relationships before Mike and I’s that I cried out to God asking him to please let it be THE ONE, and over and over again I had my heart broken and prayers went unanswered.  I never understood WHY.  The stronger my faith got and the more I tried to do the right thing, the harder it was to understand why God was ignoring me.  Well, it turns out, he was not ignoring me, but listening to every prayer and “planning” to answer it in a way that was far more than I could have hoped for or imagined.  As the song says, “Some of God’s greatest gifts are UNANSWERED prayers.” I truly thank God that he did not answer my prayers the way I wanted and instead chose to do it HIS way.  My meeting Mike is a true attest to God’s goodness.  He waited until I was ready- “Seek thee first the kingdom of God…..” until I finally decided to do it HIS way, to be patient, and allow HIM to control my life.  In so many ways, I hold today dearer to my heart than our wedding.  I feel as though my prayers, hopes and dreams came true, and a beautiful new life began three years ago today.  Our wedding, as special and perfect as it was, simply made it legal and true in God’s eyes.  I owe so many thanks to God first, to Mike for answering his phone and to Kristin for giving me his number.  For those of you who have recently begun reading this blog, here is the story…..

December 30th, 2005, right about this time of day (12:30 pm), Kristin and I were at work talking.  She was telling me about one of her friends who recently began working as a Police Officer and had to respond to an awful call that involved a teenager. I mentioned to her than I knew a few Police Officers and wondered if he was someone I knew.  She continued to describe him and I realized he was not someone I knew, but someone I would like to know.  Kristin mentioned how he was one of the nicest guys and someone who would treat a women so wonderful.  She was at the time interested in someone else, but thought that he and I would make a great match. She left work to run an errand and had intended on calling him and giving him my number.  She did call him, but chickened out on giving him my number.  When she got back to work, I told her to give me his number and I’d call him.  Call me crazy, but call him I did.  It was actually BECAUSE I had the courage to call him out of the blue that he was intrigued rather than freaked out.  The interesting fact is that he had worked the night before (10pm-8am) and normally would have been sleeping, but he had just moved into a new apartment and was waiting on the cable company to call and therefore awake when I called.  We made plans to meet that night at Wild Wing.  It was a short little date since he had to work again that night, BUT he did try to kiss me. I turned my head and he got my ear.  He came over the following night- that’s right, New Years Eve.  He left his friends at about 9:30 or 10:00pm and rang in the New Year with me since I was home with Braeden and unable to go out. He couldn’t wait until midnight to kiss me (this is a joke between us) and kissed me about 11:30 pm.  It was after that night and the fact that he would leave his friends on New Years Eve to spend the evening with someone he hardly knew, that I knew he was someone very special.   We were engaged one month later and married June 16th and our wedding song was, “You had me from hello” by Kenny Chesney.  WOW!

Another very special song is the one that another dear friend (and also named Kristin) sang at our wedding.  I can’t think of a more perfect song with lyrics perfectly suited for Mike and I’s love/relationship.

Mike I love you so much!

(I do swear that I’ll always be there.
I’d give anything and everything and I will always care.
Through weakness and strength, happiness and sorrow,
for better for worse, I will love you with
every beat of my heart.)
From this moment life has begun
From this moment you are the one
Right beside you is where I belong
From this moment on

From this moment I have been blessed
I live only for your happiness
And for your love I’d give my last breath
From this moment on

I give my hand to you with all my heart
Can’t wait to live my life with you, can’t wait to start
You and I will never be apart
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn’t give
From this moment on

You’re the reason I believe in love
And you’re the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us
My dreams came true because of you

From this moment as long as I live
I will love you, I promise you this
There is nothing I wouldn’t give
From this moment
I will love you as long as I live
From this moment on

Perfect example of how DIFFERENT these two are.  I have one boy who has always been a GREAT picture-taker and very compliant and one who not only rarely smiles for pictures, but sometimes flat out refuses!

Christmas was so much fun with the boys.  We went to Christmas Eve service at church and it was amazing as usual.  We started out with both boys in the church with us rather than their classrooms.  Braeden’s class was not open and Mikey doesn’t usually allow us to leave him anyway, AND I wanted my two precious guys with me anyway.  Mikey was not so cooperative though and we ended up having to take him to his class about 10 minutes into the service.  He lasted about 30 minutes in his class before they paged us.  Service was almost over anyway.  He did good sitting with us after I got him from his class until we started singing Silent Night- Our church turns out all the lights during this song and everyone holds a lit candle.  This freaked Mikey out.  So, during the calmest moment of service, Mikey starts screaming.  Mikes Mom ran out with him.  Ah, such is life with a toddler.

We went back to Mike’s Mom’s house for pizza before heading home to bed.  When we got home, Braeden and I were trying to “track” Santa on the computer.  It was about 9pm and Braeden was curious if Santa was close to our house.  The fridge made a loud noise (I think it was the ice maker) and Braeden said, “Mama, Santa is here!!!!!” and buried his head in the couch.  He knows if he is awake when Santa gets here or if he “see’s” him, he will not get presents.  He was shaking and almost cried.  I told him it would take Santa awhile to get out of his sleigh anyway and that we’d better hurry and hop in bed.  He ran to his bed, his hands covering his eyes the whole way!  He went RIGHT to sleep.  Too cute!

Christmas Day was a hit and the boys made out well.  Braeden loved the Playstation 3 from his 2 Dads(although I am not sure Mike will give him a turn Santa brought him a Phillies hat and Mommy and Daddy gave him the matching World Series Champions jersey.  He was so happy with everything and truly needs NOTHING for the next 5 Christmas’s.

Mikey didn’t know what to think of the whole experience.  As soon as he and Braeden walked in the living room, he ran straight to his new set of wheels (gift from my parents and Mike’s) despite all that was in his path.  He still wanted the milk he always has first thing in the morning, but didn’t want to get out of his car.  Here he is “drinking and driving!”

He really didn’t pay much attention to HIS gifts, but sure was interested in everything Braeden got. Among his favorites are the controller for the Playstation 3, drum sticks for the Rockband and Braeden’s new football.  It was very sweet watching him look around, overwhelmed, not knowing what to make of the whole thing, yet loving every minute of it.

After we all had enough excitement and gifts to last a year, we got to do it all over again at Mike’s Mom’s who ALWAYS outdoes herself.  She is so generous and always makes every one of us feel so special.  She cooked a delicious meal and everyone ate way too much. I took more pictures at her house, but I can’t find the cord to upload them onto my computer, (I uploaded the ones from our house- the ones on this blog, before we left for her house) so I will have to save those pictures for another entry.  We brought Mikey’s Little Tykes car that my sister got him over to Mike’s Mom’s and let him open it there (since we will probably keep it at her house so he has something fun to do during the day when she watches him).  He took one look at it and like the Power Wheels, ran right to it, opened the door and hopped in.  He reminds me of Fred Flinstone when in it because there is no floor and you can see his little feet.  Funny thing is, he lifts his feet and wants to be pushed around in it.  Once again, Aunt Lisa’s gift was his favorite! 

We hope your day was as special and fun as ours.  We appreciate everything everyone did for our family to make Christmas 2008 a success! 

My computer has actually been fixed for almost 2 weeks and my new blackberry came the Monday after I dropped the old one in water, but even more than usual (naturally with the holidays) things have been so busy, but a really good busy. My parents came in town last weekend and we had a lot of fun with them.  We went to California Dreaming for dinner, had a great table over looking the water and Mikey was exceptionally well behaved.  As a matter of fact, we’ve entered a new era with him. More on that later, but he is SO enjoyable to be around lately. He is listening so well, eating so good and is so much fun.  After dinner, we went to James Island County park to see the lights.  This will ALWAYS be a special place for Mike and I since we were married there.  I LOVE Christmas and they do such a great job.  Braeden and Harley rode behind us with my parents and Mikey, Mike and I rode together.  Mikey actually drove most of the way-

“I think I will let Daddy drive home and catch some z’s!”

It was the cutest and funniest thing.  Mike actually had to stop Mikey from turning the wheel too hard.  He would “drive” and then scream out the window “HARLEY!” and then go back to “driving” over and over.  He could care less about the lights, but was ecstatic that he was actually able to drive Daddy’s car while it was moving.  Braeden and Harley enjoyed hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows.  It was a cold night, so it really felt like Christmastime.  This week it has been in the high 70′s every day and has NOT felt like Christmastime.  It is supposed to cool down this week though. One thing I miss about living in Canada is having a true COLD/SNOWY Christmas.  Even if it didn’t snow ON Christmas, there was always snow on the ground and we would go skating or sledding after opening gifts and eating.  My sister has never lived anywhere else and is actually feeling the opposite and ready for a warm Christmas.  She and her husband are heading to a resort in Cuba for Christmas. Her husband’s sister is married to a man from Cuba.  I sure am jealous about her vacation.  No vacation for me for awhile…..the day after Christmas, Holly and her husband are heading Duck Hunting for 5 days, so I will be working nonstop for those 5 days.  I still can’t quite believe that Christmas is in 5 days!  I was finally able to wrap all the presents last night after Mikey went to sleep.  What a chore……I used to think it was fun, but I think that was when I would do a few at a time.  Braeden and Mikey are 2 of the luckiest boys……they are also 2 of the most spoiled (but thankfully not rotten).  They have so much family including an aunt and uncle (my brother and sister) who have no kids, SO this is a major benefit for Mikey and Braeden! Thank you Jack and Lisa SO much for the very generous gifts you sent the boys.  My sister got Braeden a second wii remote (Harley and Braeden enjoyed it last night) with a game and Mikey the Little Tikes Police car (that has not come in the mail yet) and my parents brought this little chair for Mikey from my brother

It lights up, sings songs, says the alphabet, and Mikey LOVES it.  He mostly loves sitting in the chair and carries it around wherever he wants to sit or he uses it as a step stool to climb.  My brother sent Braeden Rockband for the Playstation 3 that he is getting from Mike and Aaron.  Shh, don’t tell, he doesn’t know about either gift yet.  SO generous of them and my guys are VERY lucky to have such a great aunt and uncle and to be loved by so many people.

Braeden is out of school as of yesterday and he and I are BOTH excited.  I LOVE having him home and being able to spend extra time with him.  Of course Mikey does too.  He is heading to Panama City on Saturday to spend time with Aaron and his family, but I will be working almost the whole time he is gone and I know he will have much more fun with them than at work with me.

Braeden roasting marshmallows

Not sure if I mentioned in a previous blog that Braeden lost one of his front teeth.  So far he has lost 3 (2 on the bottom and one up top).  I can’t help but laugh every time I see him smile because he just looks so goofy, but so darn cute.

On to Mikey, OH how good God is to Mike and I!  He has helped us through the past few “tough” months with Mikey and has brought such peace into our house as Mikey has grown.  At almost 19 months, Mikey is doing SO much better with everything.  He is still busy as can be, but he is no longer as mischievous- curious yes, but not into doing the things he knows he is not supposed to.  He will actually say “NO NO” and point at something he is not allowed to touch.  When he finds something he knows is not his, he will bring it to us and say, “tan to” (thank you) and hand it over.  If he is doing something we don’t want him to do (like the screaming for no reason he is doing now) all we have to do it threaten time-out and he will stop.  If he does get a hold of something he knows is off limits, all we have to do is look at him and he says, “back” as in put it back and then he puts it back.  I am now even able to threaten time-out when he doesn’t want to eat, AND, it WORKS!  See, this kid does not like to be isolated so when we put him in time-out, even for the couple minutes that time-out intails, it is TORTURE for him so he is learning how to avoid it.  It’s actually been awhile since we’ve had to do more than threaten. He doesn’t like getting in trouble.  When we yell, “Mikey!” or “NO!” for some reason he points to his hand and says “boo boo.” At first I thought it was because we used to tap his hand if did something naughty, but now we have realized he is looking for sympathy and thinks if he has a boo boo then he won’t get into trouble for whatever he was doing.  He is so smart and it’s a little scary that he knows how to (try) and manipulate us already. No more temper tantrums either!  I guess he realized that us ignoring him wasn’t fun and he never did get what he wanted, so why bother. He is talking up a storm.  I swear it seems he says a new word daily.  The “ba ball” that he would say for baseball has already turned into a word that sounds almost exactly like baseball, maybe a little closer to “bay ball” but a lot clearer.  He says, “dude” thanks to Braeden and Harley and understands the concept of on and off and frequently tells us when he wants new shoes on his feet.  He LOVES the rain boots we got him as well as the Santa slippers and wants to wear the slippers to bed.  He also loves saying “bye bye” to anyone.  We were in Walmart the other day and he kept saying “bye bye” to this man standing near us while we were checking out.  He wouldn’t stop until the man acknowledged him.  Oh he is just sweet as pie.  He is still sleeping from 6pm-6am, and goes NON-STOP the whole time he is awake other than the 1.5 hr nap he takes daily. He also LOVES the Wiggles and starts dancing if the Wiggles are even mentioned.  I think this is hilarious because Braeden was obsessed with the Wiggles when he was Mikey’s age. Speaking of manipulative, check out Mikey’s shirt

It says, “My brother is the naughty one.” Poor Braeden actually got upset before he realized it was a joke. 

So, after 28 Christmas’s I FINALLY got a Nativity set-

Mikey doesn’t allow it to stay together long, but I guess that’s what happens when you buy a Little People Nativity set. It does deter him away from the wrapped presents that now accompany the set under the tree. 

Have a great weekend!  I hope we all remember the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas.  God is SO good to us every day and I can’t think of a better time to thank him for all I am blessed to have.

I am blessed my parents were here last weekend to take a picture of Mike and I.  We don’t have many together since one of us is usually taking the picture (usually me because I hate being in pictures).

So, my excuse for not writing recently is NOT that I’ve been too busy, but because I have been without a computer.  Shortly after I typed the last blog entry (and as I was going to spell check and post it), my computer crashed.  I was able to log on to Holly’s computer and post the saved entry (I’d already uploaded the pictures on the site).  Thank God we purchased additional warranty and are covered for a full year (we bought the laptop new in April).  Dell ordered a part and a technician came out last Thursday to try and fix it.  Turns out that the problem is not what they thought it was and they had to order a new part, wait for it to come in and then send a technician back out.  The good news is that none of this will cost us anything, the bad news is that I can not get onto my computer at ALL since it is something with the screen that went coo coo.  I have been relying on my blackberry to get my e-mails (e-mail is a LIFE-line for me) and was very thankful to have it.  I can do without surfing the internet (our bank account can too), but need my e-mail.  I was talking to my Dad on the phone (blackberry) Friday and went to hit speaker phone so Mikey could hear his voice and “talk” and I dropped it in my glass of water.  Naturally its DONE!  I had to order a new one.  Again, thank God we purchased insurance and simply had to pay the deductible for a new phone AND, I will have the new one today.  They also don’t make the blackberry I had anymore, so I get an upgraded one.  When it rains, it pours. 

So, no pictures today (or until I get my computer back up and running).  I am actually at the library using the computer.  Its quite nice and the computers are very fast.  I may be a new regular here.  It will save me from having to tote my laptop to Starbucks (where I frequently sit and work in my spare time). 

We are looking forward to my parents coming in this weekend.  We are going to dinner Friday and then to see the lights.  Hopefully I will be able to post pictures this weekend.   

Please say a little prayer for my Dad and his family.  His older sister died yesterday of lung cancer.  She had been suffering and in pain recently so we are thankful that she is with God and has peace, but will miss her very much!