Thankfulness

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." Habakkuk 3:17-18

I am reminded this Thanksgiving when our country is in economic uncertainty, friends are losing jobs, homes are being forclosed upon, loved ones are truly struggling whether due to the economic or personal loss, that God is bigger than all of this, that I can be thankful most of all for his unfailing love and times like these to help me see the bigger picture. This Thanksgiving I am humbled by the gift of Christ, one I take for granted every day.

I am thankful for Christian friends and leaders who help to guide me to see such truths daily that my life can be lived in a way that honors Christ.

May your Thanksgiving be blessed.

Birthday Reflections

• I am so grateful for my parents and my in-laws- I got to spend time with both sets for my birthday and seeing them with Landon is the best birthday gift in the world.
• I feel old, 31 somehow feels different than 30 and definitely different than my 20's- where does the time go?
• Though I feel old, I am so joyful about where I am at 31 with a loving and devoted husband and a precious little boy, I am in awe of these blessings in my life.
• I have so many wonderful friends, many of whom emailed, "facebooked", sent cards, visited or called for my birthday- even my best friend from Kindergarten (thanks Melanie!)
• I have so many wonderful relatives who also communicated well wishes and want to especially mention my two grandfathers, Grandaddy and Pa Cole. I got home from shopping all day with my best bud from college (thanks Allison!) and had a card from my grandfather and Stan's. It touched my heart to receive these cards, esp. since they have both lost their mate who used to send the cards. I am so thankful for the written words and thoughts from these two very influential and loving grandfathers in my life.
• Birthdays for moms sometimes mean taking care of sick children and staying up at least half the night- yes little Landon is sick. Yuck.
• I am finally learning to stand up for myself... and to love the woman God made me to be.
• I am finally learning that I cannot change people but I can pray for them.
• I am grateful for the bible study that I have been able to be a part of this year, I have already learned so much from the collective wisdom of my small group.
• I need to get to bed earlier now that I am 31. :)

Landon is learning...and so am I

Pictured above is Landon's little book bag with Lightening McQueen that he takes with him to "cool". Below is a picture of Daddy helping to tie his shoes. We started Daycare last week- WOW! It was so much harder for me than it was for him! I have to admit that I cried that morning. I was a mess. He, on the other hand, napped, ate and played like a champ. The teacher even told me that she wished all kids would adapt like Landon! And- my little string bean, asked for 3rd helpings at lunch! What? My child? The one who doesn't eat more than a couple of bites at each sitting? I guess this goes into what I am learning- that a lot of his eating or any other issue at this point...are behavioral. I think I have a 2 year old on my hands! It is SO hard to believe when that sweet little face says, "NO" shaking his head and whining as he draws out the word NO for emphasis. He is definitely understanding more and I have actually had a little success with counting to 3. I have to call my mom the other morning and ask for her advice. I knew the day would come...and so did she...when all of my toddler tantrums, defiance, etc., etc., etc., would catch up with me and I would be calling her saying, "HELP!" I could not have gotten a better response from her. She encouraged me and said that there was no doubt how much love Stan and I have for Landon and that love would guide us to make the best decisions in disciplining him. Thanks mom.

Landon seems to already be learning to share as pictures below with our neighbor Porter. The two of them were trying to figure this little figure out- passing it back and forth. No pushing, no grabbing, just some intense concentration as you can see. I loved watching the two of them and imagined Landon doing similar things at daycare, or "cool" as he calls it.

In closing, I will share another thing Landon did for the first time. Tonight, after we had finished his bath- you know hair and body were clean, all of his car and boat figures were floating in the water, we were laughing and getting ready to get out when...you guessed it...several little balls of poop trailed behind his little bottom. As I was grabbing the poop with my bare hands (YUCK), I kept telling myself, do not get mad...do not get mad. I calmly explained to Landon that poop goes in the potty and by the way, would you like to sit on the potty.... to which he exclaimed, "NOEEEEEEEEEE"!

Potty training has begun, friends and I am not mad. I will take this in stride and let it happen as it will. This will be my mantra. After all, being a nurse has certainly prepared me to deal with a little bit of toddler poo. :)

Halloween Fun

I'd say he enjoyed the pumpkin patch better this year than last! The funniest thing was when all he wanted was a little "bawl"- a green gourd! We came to get him a little pumpkin for goodness sakes and all he wanted was a little green gourd. Of course, the man had to give it to him for free and now he is throwing it at the cat...

Notice Raffie is a part of this adventure too. We never leave home without that little friend...

Seriously, did he pose for this? Notice that Lightning McQueen is in his right hand. I never thought MY child would be dressed as a race car driver for Halloween. Shows how much I love him for sure!

Just for laughs...Danny and Sandy from Greece, don't you recognize us?

A real BLOG post

So, when I started this BLOG, it was a stretch for me- feeling a little weird about putting it all out there...about having pictures of my little boy on the web, sharing details of my life, etc.- so I decided I would make it light.

Life has not exactly been light lately. I have found myself distracting myself from it by playing with templates (as you have probably noticed) which is really mindless and good at times, but it has been a bit of an escape for me lately.

Tomorrow I will go to my third funeral in a month. After two of my dearest friends lost their fathers, Stan's grandmother passed away yesterday. What a saint she truly was. She was Stan and I's last grandmother between the two of us and I find myself pouring out with memories of the three other grandmothers that have gone before her in the past 3 years. In three years time, we have lost 4 grandmothers. Wow. Life is really beginning to change as I realize that this is real, this is hard stuff and I am not the only one experiencing loss.

Ma Cole had the sweetest voice, smile, hugs. She was what I would call the "quintessential" grandmother. She was the epitome of what a grandma was supposed to be. Always welcoming, always loving and always preparing and caring for her family. There wasn't a time I was at her home where she did not cook- and she lived there until about 1 month ago. Her cornbread was delicious and the spread of vegetables and country cooking was always a delicious treat for Stan and I.

Her company was even more precious. She loved Landon. She would just kiss his forehead over and over and over again. She read him books and always wanted him to sit in her lap. The family teased us b/c there was a "pedestal" in her living room with a picture of Landon- front and center. :)

She had the best giggle. I think of Ryan, Stan's cousin, calling her "nutstick"- he called her this b/c she used to offer the children nutty buddies and called them "nutsticks". She would just giggle when he would call her this...then he would imitate her voice as only Ryan can do and she would just giggle a sweet little school girl giggle.

She had such a strong faith. She WAS a Proverbs 31 woman. I strive to be like her. She honored Christ in everything she did. She was such a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt...the list goes on.

Alan, Stan's uncle, was the one who "got me" tonight at the funeral home. Alan is so very sincere. He came up to me and said, "Do you know how very much my mom loved you?" You know, I do know. Because I loved her that much too. She always treated me as one of her very own flesh. I will miss her so much.

There is great joy in her passing from this earth, as she is now with Jesus and basking in the peaceful realm that is heaven. She and Minkie, Grandma and Ma Lynch are there together now- what a legacy of saints before me.

Playdate Fun and Squirrels

Here is a precious photo of Landon and his little buddies- from left to right- Thomas, Ryan and Sophia. Landon is the big boy in the picture and by the end of the shoot, he had scooted all the way to the other side of the couch- away from the babies as if he knew he was the oldest one and was over our silly songs and hand motions... he was cutting his eyes at them and at all of us moms singing song after song, trying to get them all to smile simultaneously...what a joke! We had so much fun playing and eating Lucia's yummy overnight coffee cake. Landon and I are looking forward to many more playdates with this crew!

I couldn't resist putting this one up- this is an old fashioned rattle for baby Ryan. Landon and Sophia took turns putting it in their mouths. And I wonder why he is in his bed coughing right as I write. Toddlers...they are a handful (and an absolute blast!).

One more sweet funny about Landon this week. He woke up in the middle of the night last night and was crying out for Stan and I. We try not to create bad habits, but I went in first and then Stan went in. Stan was the one who got him to settle down and I asked him what he said:

Stan: "Landon, what does the squirrel say?"
Landon: "Bphh Bphh Bphh (with hand motions)"
Stan: "Landon, are the squirrels asleep right now?"
Landon: "Yep"
Stan: "Can you go back to sleep like the squirrels?"
Landon: "Yep."

No more sounds. Amazing.

What Happens at "Nanny" and "Umdaddy's"

...stays at "Nanny" and "Umdaddy's"...

(That is a moonpie "fortified with vitamins and minerals" per my father-in-law)