Joy comes with your Peace

Good Morning! As I did some reading this morning I thought I would share with all of you (all one of you :) A little background. I was ready for Christmas, ready to enjoy the joy of my kids, to see Zach experience Christmas for really his first true interactive year, to enjoy the festivities, to bake all the goodies, to see family, to do the shopping, you name it and I was ready. Even with Michael leaving for training the day after Thanksgiving - we had talked about it, made a few Christmas plans . . . but WHAM who would know that when people started really talking about Christmas, about the Joy of Christmas, asking what was my most memorable Christmas I had nothing . . . In fact I was drawn to tears over the idea. What does Christmas mean to me - it means celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It means visiting family, seeing smiles on peoples faces when you give them an unexpected gift, it means memories to cherish for a lifetime - but this year I allowed my joy to fly out the window as I watched Mike's plan fly to Wisconsin. But, God never fails and though I will not say that I have fully recovered - in fact I am just going through December in almost a daze it seems, but I am still blessed for God has Grace and it is in that that I will share with you a little from a book I just read.

Isn't it funny how God always has a plan even when you had no idea. Our small group meets every Thursday night. We just did a study of Revelation. The last month of that study were interrupted for many many reasons that we were not able to meet. So, when we finished our study we would of 3 weeks until Christmas week. Our plan - do some stand alone studies and then start a study of Angels come the new year. Well - were we wrong. After Thanksgiving I headed to Small Group and Dick, our leader, says he had been given The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren and it was 3 weeks worth so we would be using that for the next 3 weeks - That's when I first froze as mentioned above, but wow - WOW - it was just what I need in the right time. He never leaves us even in our times of doubt and confusion . . . .

From The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren . . . Christmas is a Time of Reconciliation . .
"Instead of complaining and blaming others for your unmet needs, the Bible recommends asking God instead. It says, "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." If you prayed as much as you complain and quarrel, you'd have a lot less to argue about and much more peace of mind...
The apostle Paul had an alternative: "Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
The reality is that there will never be peace in the world until there's peace within nations. And there will never be peace in our nation until there's peace in our communities. There won't be peace in our communities until there's peace in our families. And there won't be peace in our families until there's peace in our individual lives. That won't happen until the Prince of Peace reigns in our hearts. Jesus came at Christmas to bring us three kinds of peace:

Peace with God

The peace of God

Peace with others"

New Pics

I have placed some new pics on my facebook site if you want to take a look. I will put a few videos on here. Life has been some what productive lately though my house is so unorganized it isn't funny. Landon's glasses broke and his 2nd pair is temporarily lost so I am pulling every bag out and emptying it - Oh well. The joys of to much junk mixed with toddlers :) Time is going fairly fast and on the 22nd we will see Mike for a few hours before he and Landon go on their first plane ride together to visit dear friends , George and Norma, who Michael adopted as grandparents back in Virginia when he was 15. George is in very ill health and I am blessed that Michael was able to work this out as he is very excited about seeing them and making the most of this time with Landon. We will then be a family on Christmas Eve in New Orleans and enjoying seeing all my immediate family together. THOSE are the joys of Christmas - family . . . May you find joy today and maybe a smile from my kids :) Merry Christmas -

Oh if you are reading this and would like a Christmas card - please e-mail me your address at ctmihalik@yahoo.com they are on order and will be here in the next week or so - better late than never :)














Ahhh...the end {for now}

Santa needs a new list

Well looks like Santa needs to get his elves to working again. Funny story to share about Landon....Sunday Landon yells from upstairs "Mom, come here! I have to show you something." Me-I'll be there in a minute, let me finish what I am doing. A few minutes pass and Landon tries a different route, "Mom, come here Tyler is awake!" Me - I'll be there in a minute Landon I am almost done. He just can't take the excitement so he so happily yells, "Mom, Dad went shopping for me at Lowe's!" To which I quickly in a loud, obnoxious voice say "Landon get out of my closet". I had not even gone upstairs, but I knew what he was doing. He had found his Christmas gift of a kids size rake, shovel and hoe. When I told him that it was part of his Christmas and that he wasn't suppose to find it he responds, "But I REALLY like it mom!" He then promptly ask it he can go outside to which I respond - "You are welcome to go play outside, but don't think you are getting your rakes!" Well looks like his rubber boots will be standing solo with something else replacing his yard tools - Maybe a Tag Jr. Hmmmmmm????? Santa has a hard job when all you kid says he wants from Santa is "new toys". At least he isn't a brat about it :)

A Simple Joy

Most of the time when we have a bad day - aren't we the ones to blame? Maybe we wake up late, or waku up not really wanting to get the day started, or procrastinating so that our life is way to unorganized. So, today I reminded myself of a SIMPLE JOY - wake up 15 minutes earlier than your earliest riser and get your day started off. I mean really it is only 15 minutes - you are going to have to wake up no matter what and in my case this morning you might get lucky and your "little Zach" will sleep in 15 minutes and give you 30 minutes of quiet to shower, dress and start processing your day.

Today was successful and a good day though I am tired. We have our regular Monday morning routine of school drop-off and speech - today we added a new Monday plan - Mom works and the two youngest kiddos stay in care at the church. I think Tyler is a little tired just from adjusting to the day, but Zach enjoyed it. Landon even got to come home from school after lunch and have me and the house to himself for about an hour while I did some work on my computer and he setup his own little work station on my office floor. I am enjoying my new part-time deal doing some design work for our church. Today it was trying to finalize the Hope for the Heart Conference logo/bag design. I even managed a little time of straightening the house, getting everyone -everywhere on time or early, no breakdowns with the kids, organization to my day and PURE JOY - all from giving things over to GOD last night as I dozed to bed at midnight and waking up 15 minutes early. Thank you Lord - May tomorrow go just as smoothly!

The Monkeys Perform LIVE Saturday Night on Mihalik Broadcasting

Last night I decided to have a little fun and just sit on our stairs and video the boys interacting. I love watching them play together - usually they are really careful of Tyler. This night they were rather excited for whatever reason {well ok maybe because they really are monkeys!} Our #1 thing is not to climb on the kitchen, but I didn't want my voice constantly getting on to them in the video so I gave them a break and they took full advantage of it :) Hope you enjoy the videos - and tonight is Landon's church program so more to come!!!

Landon had a special beat on this little Happy Meal toy that he preferred over the others. Guess his best rhythm was with that one...too bad the music stopped right as he started break dancing - that could of been some real talent!

No really - my kids are NOT suppose to be climbing on ANY furniture

Why didn't the clock stop ticking - where have I been all this time!

Wow - May, REALLY - I mean are you serious! I decided that some journaling would be great for me and then I remembered, Oh yea I have a blog - - oopps, I had almost forgotten my address. Well May, June, July, August - my goodness all the way up to today - Dec. 4th have come and gone so quickly. I have a lot to get caught up with, but I thought I would just reintroduce myself and say HELLO again! What has life been like for my family - since I last wrote ... all the regulars - my boys have grown much, dear friends have come in and GONE OUT of our lives, the year of record hospital visits, lots of miles have been put on our car, we are still in Panama City and I am doing my best to go one day at a time. There are lots of spaces in that one sentence with many rememberable, not so rememberable details - but most importantly my family {and myself} have been blessed beyond measure.

As I write this and the basis for getting back to this modern day journaling is that my dearest friend, closest companion, amazing dad, and father of my children is heading to Afghanistan for 6 months. I am a very honest person and am not big on lieing about how I am feeling to others - so I honestly must say that emotions go from high to low. I have so many things to be thankful for because my career as a military wife and mom is in no comparison as difficult and hard as many others out there - but it is still my everyday life and I must say that I am making the choice daily to overcome any attack that Satan may have to steal my joy for life and my support for what my hubby is a part of - No, I do not agree with war. I am not a fan at all of war and have had many conversations with Michael about it early on when we were first starting his military journey. BUT I am a fan and have a heart for humanity, for others who for many different circumstances do not have joy, but live in fear - fear of not having food to eat, a shelter over their head, a father to teach them how to play sports or drive or hunt, a life of little chaos, fear of not knowing why they are even living much less why there would even be a God for all that they see on earth. So, thanks for being a part of my life - I hope to take you on a journey . . . not a sad, depressing one - but a real one of life and love and finding all the reasons that we are given to live each day! God bless you! Go dance in this freezing weather and breath in the smell of crisp freshness!

Landon at 4

Landon turned 4 in February - I can hardly believe it. Since I am terribly behind in photos I thought I would start by doing a little "What I love about you" for each of the boys. I hope you enjoy this. They are not in any specific order - just how I thought them out. For my precious oldest son ~ Mommy and Daddy love you ~ Thank you for our last 4 years ~ Even when I think Landon will drive me crazy - it is good to have these thoughts of the happy, silly and sometimes truely ridiculously funny times....

What I Love About You!

• How your favorite color is orange and EVERYTHING is based around that! You use to like pink, but have since told me it is a girl color.
• How you eat off of a pink plate although your first preference is a breakable plate which you always want the same color as daddy.
• How you are so overprotective of your brothers (unless they are bothering you).
• How when you want to play alone you make an excuse for Zach - "Zach you go finish eating. or my favorite, "Mommy, Zach wants to watch a movie."

• How when you see something new you want you seem to understand you can't have it now and say "Maybe I could get that my next birthday. That good mom?"

• How you can sit and put so many puzzles together all by yourself and love every minute of it.

• How you are so loving

• How you say "I want to snuggle with you mommy"

• How sweet you can be when you are watching after your brothers.

• The way you say "That's ok" at the times when I think you wouldn't". Like if I accidentally spill something or maybe bump into you.

• The way you hold your thumb down with the opposite hand to tell people you are "this many" and then precede to tell them right away "But, I will be 5 on my next birthday". You started preparing for next year the day you turned 4.

• How you always hold my hand when I ask you to
• How you truely fear and have a drama scene when you think your toys are going to go down the drain in the tub.
• How when I drop you off at school or somewhere else you ask me to pray with you.
• How you have already decided that you will have an orange house with (I think) 5 cars, a boat, and RV. You know all the colors you want and have given me permission to visit you and even park by your car.
• How you love alligators.
• How you always ask Why? and because of that we have explained so many things to you - to include water treatment plants, death, safety, medical, etc. - of course in 4 year old terms.
• How you clap your hand on your leg (like in calling a dog) when you are asking me to "come here"

But, my new favorite...

• How just two days ago you were brutally stepping on a toad to kill it so it could, in your very words, "Die and see Jesus".

More to Come...

Thought I would share a few pics from our day in anticipation of more photos to come. After a stressful mom-morning for me we made it to the Strawberry Patch. The boys had fun - last year the focus was the strawberries, this year the focus was the hayride and animals. I am glad we went. After naps we got out Nana's sprinkler she bought us and have been running around the yard. Enjoy and I hope to have more up soon!

To funny not to mention

Being a Big Bro and Figuring it Out

So, this is to funny - this morning I ask Landon what he would like for breakfast. As I haven't gone to the grocery lately - I had to remind him that we did not have any milk today. So a few minutes later he proceeds to get all the cereal boxes - he has to have a little from all of them in his bowl, can't just have one cereal in his little world. So again I remind him that we do not have milk and he would have to eat it dry. So...cereal is poured into the bowl....what do you think? Yep, Landon is wanting milk - we have none. So after a bit of discussing how sorry I am and how I will get some today and I am so sorry again his upset response is, "Yes, we have milk. But mom you can make some!" OHHHH MY - So there was a small explanation of how mommy milk is different than his milk which comes from cows. How funny - I guess mom's are super mom's - we can make milk for our kids. HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Tyler William Mihalik

Tyler William Mihalik

Born March 30, 2009 at 5:15am

8.8 lbs ~ 20 in.

So, where have me and my lil' monkeys been the last oh - month or more? Enjoying Life! Tyler was born and is now 3 weeks old!!! I can't believe it - where does the time go? This exact time 3 weeks ago I had made my way up to the hospital after telling Michael at 2 am to take a good shower and put on some comfy clothes we had plenty of time. After arriving at the hospital at 3 am Tyler was only a few hours from entering the real world at only 5:15 am - in fact he was all ready and just waiting on us :)

Life has been a blessing and I will have many more pictures to share. So what have we really been doing all this time that you - our dear friend - have been waiting for a blog post? Well, we have been blessed with family and Mike's time off. The Saturday before Tyler was born my mom was able to come into town - only by me promising her that she would be able to see a newborn baby during the week she was here as I was still a week from my due date. Well for lack of a better word, I "delivered" my promise to her that Monday morning and she was a tremendous help with the boys while we were in the hospital. THANK YOU MOM - I LOVE YOU!!! Leigh, Michael's sis, came the day before my mom left and stayed a week - wow, it is great to be able to sit back and just let other people take the reins on our life for a while. LEIGH YOU WERE AMAZING!!! Easter weekend we were able to spend a great time with family again as my brother Josh, Heather and adorable 1 year Savannah came in from New Orleans as well as my mom and dad! It was so cute to watch the "older" kids play together and hunt eggs and to be able to have my parents here to see it all made my heart laugh with joy! I LOVE FAMILY and love sharing life with the ones I love!!! I guess when you get to #3 life just doesn't stop and while we have taken a break from computer and the such, we have kept going and have enjoyed every bit of it!


As I held Tyler a few days ago I was in love with watching Landon and Zach laugh out loud as they chased each other around our living room - I couldn't help but think of how it will be when they are all 3 laughing and playing. Where does the time go? Zach was a baby? What? Landon is 4 years old and doing almost everything for himself. It has flown by and we are just trying to soak up all of the memories we can!

**Just wanted to give my dear friend Jill credit for these photos. Mine will soon be up (but hers are better)

Walking Water Balloon

Well, I have not posted anything in like a month. I just hate not putting pics up, but my Mac is on the blink and I never sit down at it anymore which is where my pics are...So, things at the Mihalik house have greatly slowed down and we are just waiting for little Tyler and using this as an excuse to well do nothing (or at least in my case). As for Michael - he has started a new position at work and as of this week is the AFCESA commander's exec - ie - he works mucho hours, but it is double-sided...This will definately be great for his resume and the traveling is now over, but his hours will be an adjustment for the fam. Not so many family meals it looks like. On Wednesday he left his office at 7. But, I am not complaining - as I mentioned this is a good professional move for him, just pray for his adjusting to it. Hey, maternity leave is a good thing for him :)

Speaking of maternity leave - well, I went to the doc on Tuesday and she said that I was already at 4 cm - that is a 2 cm increase from the week prior. So, what you ask? We just wait it seems. Mike and I have been saying we wanted an April baby and Mike of course is loving the idea of April Fool's Day, but I am thinking that any day will be fine :) He commmented Wed. night and small group commented last night that I had definately dropped. So, we shall see. Platelet counts seem to be up a little and the house is clean, so I think we are ready :)

Kylie Update

Just wanted to keep asking prayers over Kylie who was one of my last post. She has never left the hospital, now has many, many different specialist attending her and coming up with little answers. As of today her kidneys are not working properly and I know that her parents are running out of energy. Pray for healing and direction for the doctors and families and for Vera and Bill the parents as they are having to get really pushy with the docs to get things taken care of and we know how upsetting, draining and frustrating that can be. THANKS - VERA says THANKS - God Bless and have a great day!

As for us, I will update the blog eventually :) I have plenty of pics and news just trying not to occupy to much internet time these days.

Asking for more prayers for Kylie

Updated at bottom......{I am just updating as Vera updates, but she has said thanks so much for all the prayers and I don't want them to stop..} Pray On!!!!

I blogged a little while ago about Kylie - a daughter of a dear friend of mine from high school. I did not give many details because her record is complex, but this is direct from her mom off of facebook. PLEASE pray for Kylie and this family. This will be a trying and serious next few hours and weeks....

Vera is scared to death! Kylie is back in the hospital and will have neurosurgery today. Her shunt that drains fluid from her brain has malfunctioned.

9:06am March 4

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! Surgery will be today. She is a 3rd case for today. They will be removing her shunt and placing an external drain in until the infection in her abdominal area clears up. After a week or more and clear test for infection they will do surgery again to place a new shunt in. Please Keep her in your prayers. Things are very serious b/c of the risk of infection to the brain due to the infection in her belly that has been close to her existing shunt line.

PRAYING OVER YOUR KYLIE!!!

NEWEST UPDATE at 3:25pm March 4
Kylie has been asleep since Thursday of last week, having abnormal neurological activity, and headaches. As you may recall one of the complications from her surgery last week was the potential for her shunt to get infected. She developed an infection in her abdomen from surgery and that caused her shunt to malfunction and pressure to start to build up in her brain. To keep infection from spreading to her brain they had to remove her internal shunt and place an external shunt until the infection clears up. We will be here a minimum of 10-14 days. If the infection is cleared by then they can do surgery to place a new shunt. I am thankful we caught it early b/c we may not have had the same outcome. With the pressure being released she is much more alert. Now we just continue to pray and wait. I am debating on posting pics. We were blessed with another miracle today. Thank you for your never ending prayers for our Kylie.

From pics and captions posted - Kylie is alert, smiling and so much more a little girl...Vera thanks you for your prayers!!!

Frustrations and Updations (ok so that isn't a word)

Well, today has been filled with doc appointments for my boys. It all worked out, but I must say that it is a little frustrating at times having to do the run around and now finally starting to get somewhere.

Landon's update - I will try to protect his privacy as much as possible, but I figure I would update people on here. He is having some little man issues in which we visited a local urologist today, not a pediatric one, but I was pleased with how he did work. The original problem that we were sent for the doc did not have any real reason to, besides saying that he did not have a hernia so Mike and I have done our research and we will keep a watch on it. But, the frustrating part was that he did mention that Landon was high in the testicle area, meaning he was only partially descended. This is not a major thing, but anything that requires surgery to fix is always slightly major - the big deal is that I have questioned the pediatricians about this issue since Landon was born. The timing is just not right seeing how we are planning to go to Birmingham to the pediatric urologist (or so it stands - I still have to go to the insurance office tomorrow). But, the doctor agreed that with some of Landon's history he needed to have a thorough examination by a ped. uro. So, that is all in the works. The nice thing is that Landon is really wanting his daddy at these doc appointments (he may only be 4 , but he is still a little man and feeling a little odd about all this). The first appointment we had with his pediatrician Michael was out of town for and he was planned to be out of town today but we wanted to take the first appointment we could. Isn't it funny how things work out and Mike's trip was canceled due to human error (not Mike's) and he was able to be there today which really was a big deal for his little guy. I will keep you posted on our trip to Birmingham - we have an ultrasound that the doc has ordered here in town so that we can take that with us to Birmingham to minimize the amount of trips there. But, it is going to be a nice excuse to visit my parents and grandma in TN and hopefully will be after Tyler is born.....

Zach's update - we have been dealing with Zach's ears and his original appointment set up for yesterday was delayed until today in order to have the audiologist available to do his little 30 sec test. Zach got tubes back in May of last year as well as his adenoids out and his tongue clipped. Well, the tubes have already come lose though they are just sitting in the canal. Over the last 2-3 weeks we have been using wax drops to try to loosen the tubes that were on the drum, nose drops for drainage as well as Singular. He had a double ear infection on top of that and even in his happy spirit will sometimes grab his ear and say "ouww". So, last visit the doc said I can't tell if he has an infection because there is so much wax, etc. So, after going to the pediatrician after using the wax drops for a while and he said there was definitely an infection we changed our appointment day. I went in already frustrated from Landon's ordeal that has taken 4 years to be tended to and God was on my side. I told Mike, "I am going to have to tell the doc that we have to deal with this now." But, the Lord gave me a friend to watch Landon - helping the nerves :). Then, Zach slept through the whole deal besides a few "I'm not happy you are dealing with my ears while I am sleeping" moves and such. The doc changed him from Singular to a different medicine, stopped the ear wax drops because those apparently worked great, and said there was no infection or redness, but he does have fluid on his ear drum. Her recommendation was to put in new ear tubes, but the best part was when she says, "When can get those done pretty soon. What are you doing this Friday?" Wow - that is soon. I told her the sooner the better because I wanted this taken care of and with baby here in less than 5 weeks.....So that is cool. I am waiting on the scheduler to actually call for the final say. The nice thing is that they will just do the gas to put him to sleep, no tube down the throat or IV or anything. We should be in and out in an hour or so.

So, that is our little guy update for today. I am glad that my boys are being taken care of just thinking this isn't the best time, then again I have friends who are spending their every day in the hospital with their little angels. As for Tyler - we will see next Monday what his progress is. I think he has dropped and he definitely still moves. :) Take care ~~~~

Not slacking

To all my followers :) I have so many HEE HEE!!!

So I was told I was a slacker the last few weeks so I am just wanting to say hello!!! I haven't gotten the pics downloaded from my camera lately, so I have none to share for 2009 yet (maybe I am a slacker, but isn't that such a harsh word :) Have a great day! Thanks for looking.....Oh and crazy me - you know you are prego when you burn your belly making pancakes for the boys. HAAAA!!! I am to much for myself!

OK - so I am off to a wonderful weekend at an all ladies conference at church. This is such a blessing and I love to watch all the little old ladies clapping and doing their best to sway....Have a wonderful day! I promise my blog will be entertaining again soon......

Baby Update

Well, I don't think I have really even mentioned our new little addition in this blog much at all. It is all so surreal to me. 3 kids in 4 years WHAT? But, I love it more and more each day. There are times I doubt the fact that "all I do" is "just stay home" - sure I take advantage of it way to much, but then again I think of the fact that you know even though the hubby goes to work - he doesn't always work the whole time he is there, right? OK so Michael should get 110% credit for being an amazing husband, father and worker . . . but you see what I am saying :) It made me feel good yesterday when we were traveling behind a school bus and Landon again mentioned that "one day I can ride a bus". He is so wanting to ride a school bus and I can already see the play out of that first ride - through all his excitement, when the door opens and he has to go climb those stairs and sit alone he is not going to be so happy, but let him relish in the idea for now - right? So anyways, he ask me yesterday "Mommy, what are you going to do while I am on the bus?" I said, "Oh, well I will probably watch you get on the bus and make sure you are safe then I will go to work." "Why not home?" he asked. All this to the conclusion that he did not want me to get a job and told me he wanted me to stay at home to take care of everything. How sweet!!!! I know that I am appreciated at home by all of my family, it is just more a personal issue I seem to have :)

So anyways - today is Friday, Feb.27, 2009 - which means that my due date for Baby #3 of April 4th is only 36 days +/- away. Wow - FIVE WEEKS!!!! Where has this time gone. Today was my doctor appointment and let's just say the appointment was for 9:00 and I was in the car by 9:17, so all is going well. I truly am blessed with healthy pregnancies. Sure there always seems to be something that sneaks into each one either during pregnancy or right at the start, but I am SOOO Blessed and thankful for what God has given me. My doctor here is so laid back, almost to laid back sometimes I think but then again I am comparing her to my last doc in town who was more overprotective than a mother to her only child. :) She measured me at 33cm and got a heart rate of around 140 for baby and that is about the extent of it all. So all was well. Next time I go I get lab orders for some routine test Strep or something (I really am stupid when it comes to medical knowledge and terms) as well as a Platelet count test. That is really the only concern with this pregnancy so far is my platelet count has again dropped as it did with Zach, though not with Landon. My other doc made a huge deal out of it and I had to go to a specialist almost every week to have it tested, but the bottom line is that all of my other stats are good and I have almost perfect blood pressure (today's was 117/60 as an example) so it appears that it is simply a case in which during gestation, my platelet's are being otherwise occupied and absorbed by my body (or maybe the babies). But, I asked the doc today ok, so if the counts are still dropping - what are your thoughts. She said if it gets to low it can be a matter of whether or not they will place an epidural, but other than that unless they drop really low, like 50, there really is no medical emergency. So, we shall see - I was at 100 about a month or so ago and with Zach two weeks from his due date I was at 85ish or so.......So anyways, it takes a lot of typing to explain, but all that to say I really am not worried. The possibility of no epidural will be a "great" experience but I am not going to complain because God made us to be able to birth our children and still survive - just means not so much fun of a day for Mike, right?

Oh - I keep almost forgetting - we have had a name picked out since before Christmas, but for those who are still wondering - TYLER WILLIAM - has won our pick. Tyler - because we just like it and Landon and Zach were already taken :) and William is a family name on both sides, so we finally were able to get that in there.

Have a great day! I get to attend a women's conference for the first time at our church starting tonight and really looking forward to it - Hope for the Heart. There are going to be over 500 ladies in attendance - WOW!!! I know I will be blessed!

Praying and Seeking

Well I have really fallen behind on the entire blog world - my apologies! As I sit here tonight needing to go to sleep I felt that I should just ask for as many prayers as people who may read this would like to offer up. This evening I am sitting here just thinking of so many people that lives are close to God, yet suffering in so many ways. While God does not cause our suffering, he also doesn't say that there will be no sufferring but he does insure us that He will come again and that all our pain will be erased. I should definately get into some scripture references there, but I think I will just seek your prayers over the families below. My heart aches for them . . .

Norris Family - For Ella, not even 2 years old and has a brain tumor that this week they found out even with chemo it is still growing. They are starting a very aggressive round of radiation - 5 days a week for 6 weeks with chemo every two weeks. Her family is showing such faith through all of this.

Spinks Family - Kylie - there are several health issues that I do not want to wrongly represent, but I know that she has had a shunt put in and is remaining in the hospital for observation in order to prevent infection. Praying for healing and rest over them.

Reid Family - Ally, not even 3 when she was diagnosed with leukemia. Even though she is going through a 2+ year treatment plan she is such a fighter! Pray for the entire family as they balance life and health.

Marriages of Friends - I have three unspoken marriages that need to be prayed over - God knows the issues -

Addictions - That addictions would be broken and eyes would be opened to the ones that are loving them

Blessings - Got a call earlier today that a friend of mine is expecting her first child. The gift of life!! Pray over her pregnancy as she is still very early in the miracle of life.

Faith - Praying for faith, wisdom and knowing when to and when not to share it. Someone reminded me this morning that faith is a gift and what a rewarding gift if only we believe!

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"Our baby was not going anywhere without a fight and I had the most powerful person on my side..MY LORD JESUS CHRIST. In a time of no hope, we had hope. We have our faith and good or bad our faith would carry us through..." ~Tamara Norris, Ella's mom, my high school friend

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Thank you for your prayers!

Thought Provoking

So, I usually ramble and thought this was very good way to be quiet :) Today was a great day and I will blog on it another day, but for today . . .


Subject: Silent sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending servicesregularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided tovisit him.It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone,sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preachersvisit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near thefireplace and waited.The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the gravesilence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burninglogs. After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefullypicked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of thehearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one loneember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow andthen its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacherglanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stoodup, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle ofthe fire. Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light andwarmth of the burning coals around it.As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tearrunning down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especiallyfor the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.'We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little.Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones leftunspoken.

The Lord is my Shepherd ----- that's a Relationship!
I shall not want ----- that's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ----that's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters -----that's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul ----- that's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness --that's Guidance!
For His name sake ----- that's Purpose !
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death--that's Testing!
I will fear no evil ----- that's Protection!
For Thou art with me ----- that's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me -----that's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies------that's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil ----- that's Consecration!
My cup runneth over ----- that's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life----that's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord -----that's Security!
Forever ----- that's Eternity!

Face it, God loves you!

Sweet Bliss - Life's Blessings

So, going back to a Saturday morning in January I told you about what was and what is to come in my attitude, life, etc. Well, I must say that 2009 has been such a different year that 2008. In many ways I am seeking that God take over while I step to side and I think I am doing pretty good, and God of course offers more than one can imagine. So anyways - one thing would be the attitude by which I go through and end my days with my kids. To be a be able to step back sometimes in life and truly relish the moment you are in can really bless you. Tonight as my boys are completely exhausting me with fighting to get nourishment into their little bodies, watching Barney as a special movie (because we all love him so) then to bathtime with two boys who LOVE their bath and can get out of control I could of easily just said you are going to bed, said their prayers and made them read to themselves as Landon would then remind me "I don't know how to read". But, as I am helping get Landon in his favorite PJ's -footed ones - he ask if he could read a book to Zach in Zach's big bed. In the back of my mind I am thinking this is just a wise way for Landon to get into the top bunk and play - right? So, I tell him that yes, he can as long as I do not have to get onto them for playing and there is no jumping, etc. and he needs to make sure he tucks Zach in, give kisses and say prayers. Landon of course had to remind me that he couldn't read. We are having to work on this, though it will only be in God's time as Landon is not even really recognizing letters, but I give Landon a very simple book that I know Zach enjoys, has big pictures with few words and has to do with babies as we are all into the baby thing these days. It was so sweet to watch the boys. Of course it wasn't a perfect stage presentation, but very fun. Landon started off trying to figure out how to hold the book like I do so that Zach could see the pictures better, but it just wasn't working. The best part is watching and listening to the tone of Landon's voice trying to say prayers with Zach and get him covered. It was nice to see that he to gets frustrated when Zach doesn't listen. :) To think that I could of missed it all by my selfishness just to get them to bed and close the door on their day...Be still and you will receive so much more.

Another great story for today is that we are slowly in the process of Zach potty training. In the past once after Zach had pottied on the toilet Mike amused Landon by putting big boy underwear over Zach's diaper. So, this morning as Zach made his daddy (and me) so proud with his big boy pottying - Landon was right there encouraging and praising Zach. Landon was so sweet when in his excitement wanted Zach to be able to wear some of Landon's underwear. When we mentioned that since we were going to church it wasn't the best idea - he had it all figured out. "No, over his diaper. You know.." So, I made a deal with his that after church we could let Zach have his big boy underwear. All was well until tonight after bathtime and Landon was getting dressed when he realized I had not followed through. It went over smoothly, but I thought it was so funny how he was so worried that after church we hadn't gotten Zach his big boy underwear.

They amaze me - and Landon of course being older is more verbal and such so many of my kid stories are his, but they are both so fun. Landon is so ready for his new baby brother he can't help himself. You tell him it is his birthday and in all his excitement he thinks this is going to be great - it's my birthday and the baby is coming out :) We tried to explain the concept of time and delivery by birthdays - first yours, then after yours is Zach's and then the baby - but all he heard was after his birthday! Have a great night - - - - -

Just Waiting

So I am sitting here updating myself on the blogs I follow just thinking that I can't post anything until I get some pics downloaded to share. Well, isn't that silly!!! I have so much to ramble (and so much time these days once the kids are asleep) that I could write everyday and still not be done rambling. So, here goes . . . Hope you are blessed - who knows what these quick fingers will type... oh, speaking of fingers - I don't know that it is broken because well there is no real bruising and swelling, but this prego brain of mine is really beating me up - mentally and physically :) So, first there was the story of me about a month ago - Mike is on the phone with his Grandma and I bring a paper cup and glass cup down the stairs to throw/put away. As Mike is getting and giving updates I quietly place the one cup in the trash with a loud SHATTER to follow - so much for being quiet and just ease dropping on the conversation, right? Mike then looks at me with an unsure face and the floor where I have just completely dropped the glass...I shrug my shoulders and just say "I'm pregnant, I forgot." Bewildered he just dumbfoundedly says, "That's it?" So..on to the physical abuse of my beloved right finger. When I was little I jumped in the car with a friend and as she shut the door I calmly said, "My hand is still in there." To which she opened the door and I proceeded to calmly (still calmly) take my hand out of the door in which she had just completely shut in the car door. When I was like three my hand got shut in the trunk of our huge car in the church parking lot - all that background to say I have never broken a bone and maybe I have just slowly prepared my hands, body, etc. for torture (that probably ties in to God preparing me for a life with 3 boys, right?...) So, Friday I go to the commissary to grab a few quick items, Landon is at school so it is just Zach and I. Holding Zach I shut the door one handed. As the door shuts, I realize I am apparently trying to lighten my load by placing my little sweet right pinky in the door. OUCH! I pull it out quickly and am later - after having to experience the pain and though act as if nothing stupid has just happened, am bummed that it didn't swell up all ugly and bruised. At least I could then laugh at myself to others, right. In all honesty I am so glad it didn't, but now I am wondering what I actually did to it as it just kinda tingles with no real pain or feeling for that matter. Hummmm....guess three times on the same hand I finally am starting to show my "experience".

Well, that was complete rambling. I thought I would share such sweet blessings of my little boys, but I will save that for post #2 of the day. Watch out - when you get older and your mind is racing, sometimes the body parts just aren't as quick...... :)

Blog List Missing

Um - I think I am going crazy - has anyone else lost their list of blogs they are following. I had like 10 and now there are none, hummmmm.....?

Call me paranoid....

Hey everyone - I thought I would just put a little note on here to let everyone know I have decided to stop giving any details about when Michael is specifically away both on here and Facebook. For those who may know me well, you know I am pretty layed back, but recently I have been a little paranoid that someone is going to break into our house or something. We even had a little incident on Saturday with some ladies coming to our door to ask for money and we thought they may be "checking out" our house. So, crazy me decided to call the sheriff's office and they came to check things out. But anyways - I am not going crazy I promise but figure that I should take care of the proper precautions. Hey, you should be impressed that I actually got the key to the garage door out and on my keyring now :) Anyways - I do love my husband and while he is not going to be here to much I am going to not broadcast those details to everybody and their brother in the web world that may be watching us. :) Take care - Hope to give some baby updates soon and scan in the ultrasounds from well - a while back. Have a great Tuesday!

Thinking of Doing Around Town

Ok - so here I go again - I had all this typed at 8 this morning, but (I am blaming my kids) I lost it so......

So, I look forward to going to MOPS (Moms of Pre-Schoolers) twice a month for various reasons, but one is the newsletter because it has some great happenings and such around town. So, I thought I would just get the info and if anyone wants to join me for anything then we could plan from there. Not necessarily doing them all - they just got my interest and thought I would share with others who may be interested.

Mystical Arts of Tibet - This week - Jan. 26-29 Visual Arts Center - Heard of this one on the news - Main Idea - These Monks take a four day process of creating a mandala out of sand. The sand is all different colors and they way they apply it it looks like liquid. This is like a spiritual cleansing process for them so after the full piece has been created and the crowd is in awe, they distroy it. Looks really interesting. I am considering the 4 day pass. You can get a one day pass for $6 or a 4 day pass for $20 to view it throughout the process. http://www.vac.org.cn/exhibitions.html

Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy - Feb 1 Marina Civic Center - Straight from Broadway - it was actually showing when we were in New York in August, but we did not make it. I would love to go, but it is a little pricey - but figured I would just list it and see :) Tickets are $40-$50 http://www.marinaciviccenter.com/events_calendar.aspx?CalDate=2009-Feb-01

President's Fun Day - Feb 7, 2-4, PC Renaissance School - Not sure about this (and it's the same day as the parade) but sounds interesting. Parade, games, crafts and prize for best president costume. www.panamacitykids.org

Mardi Gras Parades and Festivities - I must say that I enjoy a good Mardi Gras parade. I have never done this here, so I need to make sure all is safe for the family but here are the three I have found info on. Mike is only here for one, so if you are interested in any just let me know and we can go together, otherwise we will probably just go on the 7th.

Krewe of Massalina Feb 6-7 Parade is 7th at 3 down Harrison, activities will be taking
place in McKenzie park Fri 6pm-10 and Sat 11-10
Krewe of Dominique Youx Feb 14 PC Beach Parade starts at 3 heads from Front
Beach to Pier Park www.dominiqueyoux.com
Krewe of SAINT ANDREWS Feb 20 (4-10pm) Feb 21 (10-10) Parade is at 3 downtown
St Andrews http://panamacitydowntown.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2184

Bob the Builder!!! Apr 22 Calling all Bob the Builder fans - this is not until April, but we are planning to take Landon as a suprise - probably a daddy date night. If think your kiddo would like to sit with Landon we will be buying tickets this week. Prices range from $16-32 each Need to get tickets soon! http://www.marinaciviccenter.com/events_calendar.aspx?CalDate=2009-Apr-01

Weekly events I am always interested in making into a playdate...
Reptile Feeding at the Jr Museum - Thursdays at 3:30pm Admission is $5 a person unless you have a membership - The Museum is also always FREE on Mondays (unless it has changed) http://jrmuseum.org/index.htm

Toddler Skate every Friday 10-12 Rock It Lanes PCBeach - this is really fun. $4 for the kids and that includes a hot dog or pizza lunch. This isn't actually skating. You can bring a toy, bike or whatever and there are lots of different items for the kids to play with and a bouncey castle. My boys loved it the first time. Since the older ones are in school the kids aren't run over.

Also there are story times at the library - I am still trying to figure it out because I have two seperate age groups, so they officially aren't suppose to be in each others class. Hummm

Well anyways - I figured I would just put a call out for some interaction if you are interested :) If you know of any other deals or free activities please pass them along :)

Have a good weekend. Michael got home a day early so we have the entire weekend which is nice. Glad this one will make it to posting - that was a lot of typing to lose!!!! I just hope I got it all.....

A quick update

I haven't written in a while, so I thought I would just do a little hello. I have several ideas of things I would like to post - I hope I actually do it. Life is treating us well this New Year. Last year ended a little sour just with me not having my heart in the right places and not allowing Christ to be in charge of my life. I definately could see it - patience was NONE with the kids, my attitude was sour, my days were regretful and Michael and I seemed to be struggling over little things that I probably could not even remember - life was petty. This year I am seeking to be more near Christ therefore allowing him to be in charge of my life. I couldn't sleep this morning so at 4:30 I decided to wake-up, I did a little busy work - put a load of laundry in, cut some fabric for a flip-flop project I am helping with and then I settled into my Philippians Bible Study. I am in a Wednesday morning Mom's Bible Study. This next week we are starting the actual study of Philippians - a book with the theme of joy and unity, of accountability and confidence in God within the believers of Christ. What a fresh way to start a Saturday. My theme verse for this week that I am planning to read over myself daily is now posted 3 times on this blog - so if you are reading, I am holding you accountable to pray this over yourself out of the love of our friendship..."And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God."~ Philippians 1:9-11

Well, I am looking forward to a COLD but good weekend as we try to have some family time. Michael heads out this Monday-Saturday, then home for 2 full days and out again. The good thing is that the negativity that was there all last year as he was away so much is not there - yes there will be sligh remarks, but you know :) We spent over an hour last night in candlelight and a simple flashlight - for no other reason that to enjoy playing with the boys in a fort turned into a tent that I started, got destroyed before Mike got home and then he reconstructed to a much better design :) Well, the boys are rousing - it is 6:50 and I am thinking in my prego mind, sausage, pancakes and eggs!!!! YUMMY!

It's all in a Day!

Well this is a day late ~ but we are enjoying our visit with Leigh and the time that Michael is off this week. Yesterday was quite a humorous day. If only a camera was around, but maybe you will get your own giggles through words.

It all started fairly slow - Landon's first day back at school (3 hours allows so much without two extra hands!) Well, Michael was wanting to go pick Landon up by bike, but Landon was expecting Aunt Leigh to be there as well. Solution - we took a family bike ride about 1 1/2 miles down to the school. The day was very nice if only for the wind. But the ride was enjoyable. Mike and I had not been on our bikes in over 6 months and Leigh - well ages beyond the stationary bike. I am sure there will be some hurting tooshes today! We joked that we needed to go buy that 12" bike seat at the bike store - looks rather comfortable to me. It is a little difficult deciding which side gets to sit and which just hangs on for the ride if you know what I mean :) So that was pretty eventless though a site to see the three bikes and bike cart heading down the road.

While Landon was at school we did a little cooking. While the Chocolate Chip Snicker Cookies turned out rather well, the crescent cookies on the other hand....Ummm, well, you see.....We call them crescent bars now. There is absolutely nothing crescent about them. BUT they are eatable! and rather tasty. It wouldn't of been such a big lose had we not all three sat and cracked 1 cup of pecans by hand. It was rather funny looking at the "completed" flat pan of cookies cool on the table.

Now, for the real giggles. Last night I was afraid Michael would wake up and I would be laughing in my sleep because it still makes me laugh out loud. WHAT A SITE!!! Through the wind we were still able to get some good outdoor time. Leigh and I at one point were enjoying the hammock in our backyard haning between a tree and the swingset Michael made for the boys a few years ago. All was going well. They we were - two grown ladies, my head at one end with Leigh's head laying at the other end. All the world was at peace and then BOOM! It was hilarious! Everything was just fine until Landon came and put his full weight on the hammock. All was well with Leigh and I so it is apparently Landon's whole 30 pounds that caused all the drama. As we just lay there Mike slowly turns around and ask if we are ok. HELLO - a prego woman and your sister laying on the ground. It was all good. We were joking about being all "stove up" as the older generations call it. I do have some aches in my shoulder and back today and Leigh is feeling the pain, too. But we are fine. I just can't help but laugh out loud when I think of it. I am giggling now. HAAAA Hilarious!!!

Well, by now it is Thursday afternoon - we are hoping for pedicures in bit. I did my fun sugar test today so we shall get my platelet count and sugar test results on Monday at my next appointment I hope. Take care and STOP LAUGHING at us!!! HAAA!!!

Insights of a 3 Year Old

Landon never seems to amaze me with his questions, insights and observations. He has hit a very whiny stage and comes up with some down right funny things to complain about - I find myself trying not to laugh at him when, for instance, last night he had a meltdown as I was starting to make grilled cheese because he first did not want the butter directly on the bread and then was beside himself about how the cheese was placed. While Michael finally sent him to timeout for whining, I myself was trying to hide my laughter.

But just today alone he has said some things that just seemed blog worthy. Some of you know of the marker incident. Well, long story short - Landon does not get markers until his 4th birthday. Some days he is fine with this, other days he is questioning why he can't have markers - as if the whole experience wasn't completely traumatic for all involved. So, this morning I had some cards for him to place in his wallet. We always put a big X on the back to know they are play credit/discount cards for confusion sake. So he ask me - "why can't I put the X on the back". There was no reason so I said, "That's fine you can put the X on the back." Then in all his honesty says, "But I can't use markers." I was going to let him make a simple X, but since he said it I was like "You're right, you can't have markers til you're 4 so I guess you can't make the X's." I love the honesty of children! (I did let him use a pen and make the X's :) The next thing was as we were taking Michael to the airport we did a small detour at Lowe's so I could do a quick return. As we are sitting at the red light leaving Landon randomly starts expressing how he doesn't like the bank on the street corner so close to the store (Lowe's). While it is beside the parking lot, there is plenty of room between the two. But, he was insistant as to why they did not put it across the street with Home Depot and the collection of other stores crammed on the opposite side of the street. It was amusing. Michael finally just said, "I am sorry they did not ask you before they started building." This of course did not stop the questions but was the start to the end.

Little boys - little kids. Just think when Zach starts really expressing beyond throwing his temper tantrums and then Baby ?????. All 3 - now that will be the day!

Michael is heading to Washington State so this is a full weekend for me, yet with nothing to do but keep my sanity. Monday can't come soon enough - oh and I finally finished my Christmas shopping today - I know only a week late, still have to get one gift made but since it is for Leigh who is coming on Monday we are still in good shape - Out to enjoy this beautiful day - Take care!

All Christmas Had to Offer in 2008

Wow 2008 has already passed us by and we are into 2009! Just 9 years ago Michael and I had our first "Christmas picture" taken before we were ever dating. I was completely not even in the market for a date, yet who would know that we would start dating in January 2000 and 9 years later celebrating our Christmas as a family of four, soon to be five with 6 years of marriage behind and so many more to go. This year has been rough at times, completely enjoyable at others, suprising, enlightening, complicated yet full of blessings all the same. Finally I am getting around to our Christmas season highlights and I hope you will enjoy them with us. (Top - Christmas '99 at the Wesley Foundation at Mississippi State - there's a good story behind this picture, Right - This '08 Christmas)

Christmas this year was so fun to watch unfold in so many ways. Landon who is three (4 in Feb) finally got the idea of Christmas and was so excited about everything! Zach who is 1 (2 in March) still seemed clueless about everything, but surprised us on several different occasions with how in tune he was with everything. Last year Michael was away for Christmas so this year was our first year to really start some traditions of our own you could say. It all started with decorating as soon after Thanksgiving travel as possible. We tried to allow the boys a chance to help whenever possible. Their favorite part was setting up the Nativity outside with daddy. Landon had insisted that he wanted a new train for Christmas, but on this special morning as he was patiently waiting for dad to get dressed and ready, Landon already dressed with shoes on decided he needed a toolbelt and managed to fit all his "necessary" tools in the many pockets of his pants. So the need for a train, though still on the list, was overrided by the obvious need for a toolbelt. Thank you Nana and Grandpa Mihalik for taking care of this!!! Then there were cookies that had to be made. Michael has his famous, secret family recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies of which I dare not to attempt. So it was fun seeing how excited all of them (more Mike than the boys :) were about making many cookies starting for Thanksgiving and going throughout the holidays. That is one thing that Michael can cook! Zach even got in on the fun and never wanted to be left out of any action taking place. The decorating of the tree was fun. Of course we had to provide a little direction, but the best part was when Michael showed Landon his baby ornament. Landon was so proud of his cute little ornament that he kept showing it off. At one point we looked and the last 4 ornaments that Landon had hung were all on the same branch right with his special ornament. Zach, on the other hand, thought it more fun to take ornaments off or play in a string of beads I made back when we had Kayla and Cheyenne living with us. This January Landon will be attending Good Shephard Lutheran School for one year (3 half days a week). The Spring show did not go over very well, but boy did he get into the Christmas play this year! His class were the donkeys and what cute, yet simple outfits they had. A white t-shirt with the face of a - Landon painted - donkey velcroed to the front. They even had a little tail hanging in the back all finished with a pair of black socks on their hands. He asked us for weeks when we would come and see him and we were so proud to watch him as he knew the words and motions so well and truly was excited to be on stage. I must say that as I videoed him I couldn't help but get a little watery thinking of how he is growing (and the complete 360 he did from that last performance which was just - wow!) As I mentioned I did video it and am proud of myself for not just letting it sit in the camcorder like all the rest. I used iVideo and made a great little DVD if I may say so myself with subtitles and all! We have watched that movie so many times. Landon ask daily to watch his donkey movie!

Also, the boys really enjoyed doing the advent wreath this year. My Wednesday Bible study made advent wreaths and we lit the candles every night we were at home. Of course the stories were kept short. Actually I have a board book that broke the story of Jesus down into 2-4 pages (10-15 sentences at most) and so most nights we just read a story from there. Some nights we sang a song, but we always let the boys help to light the appropriate candle. It was fun sometimes hearing Landon to correct us if we by chance said the candle names out of order (hope, joy, peace, love). Zach was so cute as they also were allowed to blow out the candle they had lit. Zach decided on his own that of course the best way to blow out his candles would be to crawl up on the table - better wind speed.

Christmas Eve Michael's parents drove in after we had attended our Eve Service. Michael always insist we put cookies, milk and carrots out for Santa and the reindeer. Throughout the season we actually sat and watched several Christmas movies as a family. Zach is our little movie goo-roo and Landon is getting better about sitting through them. Landon was extremely into Santa this year, which we always directed him to the true reason - the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, but allowed him all the delight he so found in Santa. Michael had this "grand" idea to wake the boys up at some point in the night and "sneak down to see if Santa has come". I looked at him rather crazy and put my two cents in that I thought it a crazy idea to wake a 1 and 3 year old in the middle of the night, but he was more than welcome to do whatever he wanted. So, I slept.... while I did wake up early to get the day started, the fam made it downstairs around 7ish I guess. Michael had come down with the boys and successfully got them back to sleep without any problems it seems. The best part though was that our little Zach who is always taking everything in, though doesn't express any knowledge in many words knew EVERYTHING that was going on. He has been starting to sleep in his big boy bed which of course comes with more freedom. Well, apparently it was Zach who woke Michael up around 12:30 only after he had already taken himself downstairs in the dark to the den only lit by the lights of the Christmas tree, rearranged and played with his Little People from Santa before heading to our room to get Mike. Guess he needed to verify Santa had visited before waking the house :) It was also fun watching Michael get the boys all excited about tracking Santa all around the world. Funny how just as Mike went downstairs Santa had just been tracked right in our area - Good timing! Well Christmas day was filled with all the joy of the morning. I finally managed to get our meal on the table around 4pm and it wasn't half bad. The weather here was typical - in the 70's though today as I type it is rather "brisk" for the area. But, as for Christmas we were able to take a nice walk in the neighborhood with the grandparents and visit some of the holding ponds aka - alligator ponds to Landon. While no alligators were spotted (and never have been) we did find a rather nice box turtle enjoying his day. Michael's parents headed out mid-day Friday and we just relaxed enjoying the fact that Michael was home and all the rush of cleaning, cooking, enjoying and such had come to a stand still. It was a good Christmas, quiet to some degree yet very nice in the other. Both of our families were seperated this year to cover Texas, Mississippi, Louisana, South Carolina, Missouri, and even elsewhere - but the memories of past gatherings was there.

2009 is a year so yet unknown put still offerring so many memories and moments to cherish (maybe a few to forget :) We are looking forward to having Leigh, Michael's, sister come in just a few days for a week and Landon has already started planning his 4th birthday party for Feb. So, until Baby ????? is born we have something big planned for each month. I am looking forward to it. Enjoy the pics!!! I hope to get an actual card in the mail here soon, but until then keep looking at the blog or just get in touch with me - Take care, I love you and send my best to you this New Year!!!

(Oh, for New Year's we were a little boring, but still enjoyed having our friends Jake, Jill and daughter Rebakah over for dinner, snacks, a good game of Settlers of Catan and the ball dropping. We stayed up until after midnight! I am impressed are you? Since I just realized Michael never grew up with fireworks, we are definately doing fireworks next year!!! I mean, the little glow sticks worked well for the ball dropping and all, but really!!! (and yes we did have the little $1 from Target glow sticks!) Happy 2009!!!