"Going to the Beach"

That's the phrase I have heard all week since packing began! We are leaving in just a little while for a spring break trip to AB! Tyson is so excited! This was him Tuesday night...dino pjs, "pack pack", and his beach hat. He wore it for hours. At bed time he said "wets go now mommy...I wuv the beach!"

We are going to be celebrating that mom has FINISHED chemo treatments. Thank you God!

Please say prayers that our family has a great time together...we can always use a spare prayer!

Lucky Soap

Mom and I have a saying about "lucky" soap. She once gave me this huge bar of sweet smelling soap (it had been on Oprah's favorite things list). I told her that everytime I used it I felt so lucky. We laughed about it, but also thought of how it was important to 'count your blessings'...even when its just a bar of soap. The two mission trips that I have been on really highlighted my "luck" even more for me. Sometimes when I am laying on my king sized bed on soft 500 thread count sheets with the perfect temperature in the air with a full belly watching tv, I just think of the children that I saw sleeping on dirt floors in 100 degree heat with little food and certainly no "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" on television. Although these thoughts can (and do) make me feel guilty, I try instead to see myself as blessed. I try to think of how I can use each situation I am in to find ways to glorify God. And I try to stop and give Him thanks for what I have and to ask Him to show me how to serve others. In this year that my family has faced trials, I try (and I am not at all always successful) to focus on the positive and thank God for all of the amazing things that I am blessed to have. This line of thinking also comes to light when I think of my children's health. Above all things, this is what I am most thankful for. I have friends who have struggled with infertility and some that have faced or are facing challenges with their childrens' health. I am absolutely overcome with thankfulness for the blessing of being Tyson and Juel's mommy. Talk about lucky soap...they are my pot of gold!
(Goodness...this was going to be a cute little St. Patrick's Day post...I guess I am just feeling grateful.)

Sweet pea!

Who could resist a pinch?

This is what I always see...hands reaching up!

So big!

My busy boy!

LUCKY MOMMY

Brother and Sister

I LOVE these sweet pictures of Tyson and Juel...I may need to use them one day to remind them how much they love each other! Right now they really do. Tyson is so excited to see "baby"(Mom just pointed out to me today that her older brother Myron still calls her baby. I think it is so sweet) whenever she wakes from a nap. He wants to "help" her do things (which sometimes hurts her) and gets upset when she cries. Juel looks for Tyson and loves to jump in his bed with him each morning. Although I was nervous about having two babies so close in age, it has truly been wonderful (wild and crazy at times, but wonderful none the less)!

Little Alice Ann

Matt and Allison welcomed baby Alice Ann Strickland on Leap Day! She is just precious. My favorite moment from this week was talking to Aunt Karen on the phone hearing her tell about meeting her first grandaughter! I wish we could bottle up the joy that I heard in her voice! It was priceless.

Check out this link:

They were interviewed by several news stations and the N & O

Brandon Allan Heyer

Brianne and Jessie welcomed baby Brandon this week. His big brother Ryan is excited to have a new baby! I wish I could just snap my fingers and be in Vermont to hold this precious little one.

Pullen Park

Several weeks ago (before mom's chemo began) we visited one of my favorite childhood parks, Pullen Park, in downtown Raleigh. My mom would take Michael and I there for special afternoons when we were little. It has recently been renovated and is just beautiful. We enjoyed the Sunday afternoon with Grandma Raye.

We also stopped by daddy's grave to let her visit. She talks to him. It is so sad. Now that I have my own children, I can't imagine EVER losing one of them...even at 57.  She tells him how much he would have loved my children and how she wishes she could bring him home. Then she always says, but I guess you would never want to come back. She is right. He really is home. I know that and so does she, but it does not change the fact that we miss him. He died 5 years ago. It is hard to believe all of the things that have happened since he left this earth. Travis and I built a house and had babies. Michael moved home and bought a townhome. We have lost other loved ones and a gained friends that he never met. I miss him and it is hard, but for Grandma, the pain is always so strong. But, she is a tough and special lady. She contiues to find joy in life...especially in her great-grandchildren (which she gained a new one this week...post to come)!