We have a son!

10 years ago (boy that just seems so long ago when I think about it, but it still seems like yesterday), Dave and I were filling out adoption papers in hopes of being blessed with a baby.  After finding out the name of a reputable attorney that a friend of ours used, we felt like it was what God wanted us to do.

I have to admit, my faith is not at all what it is today, and I felt that maybe this would never happen for us.  We had tried to have a baby for 7 years, went through extensive fertility treatments, but to no avail.  So when the call came that we had a baby, it was probably one of the most, if not THE most surreal moment of my life.

You see, my friend, Suzy at the time was planning a baby shower for us, on Saturday June 19th.  And actually getting people questioning why she was doing this for us, when there was no guarantee we were getting a baby. (I know, not very nice, but…ya know) Anyhow…we had a crib, and a room, and that was about it.  My mom had come to stay with us on vacation for the week, so that she would get to attend the shower.

Dave and I worked directly across the street from each other, and rode into work together and ate lunch together every day.  But on Monday, June 14th, we had our regular lunch at the park, and when I came back to my office, there was a pink “While you Were Out” note sitting on my desk that said I needed to call my attorney.  “What now?”  I sat and wondered, because we had been through so many questions, etc…I figured it was just another question…and quite frankly I didn’t feel like dealing with it.  But as I sat and starred at that note…(which we still have to this day), I felt a tugging on my heart that said, you have GOT to call her back now.  So I did.

When I say I was not prepared for the next thing that happened, well, that would be an understatement!  When she got on the phone, she said to me these exact words…”What are you doing for the rest of the day?”  When I told her I was working, she said “Well, would you like to come to Tampa and pick up your newborn son?”  I think I didn’t breathe for at least 10 seconds, and then just started freaking out!  The whole office knew when they heard me scream and all started to scream and cry right along with me!

I immediately called Dave, of course to tell him the news, he wasn’t back to his office after dropping me off from lunch, so I left him a message, which I was hoping to share with you on here, but it wouldn’t let me download, but trust me, it breaks my heart listening to it everytime!   It simply said ”David, call me, we have a baby!” But I said it through a LOT of tears!  

I then quickly called my mother to tell her we were headed to Tampa, she didn’t believe me at first…but after a couple of seconds realized I was not playing a joke….and being the prayer warrior that she was,  let me in on the fact that she was in the baby’s room praying all morning that we would NOT go to that baby shower that weekend without a baby, and only came out of there to answer my call. 

That was 10 years ago…tomorrow, on June 12th, my baby will turn 10!  I can’t believe it has been that long.  He has blessed our lives in ways I could never describe, and continues to be a blessing to our family.  He is a true momma’s boy.  The only regret that I have, is my mom is not here to see her best buddy celebrate his 10th birthday, but I know, she is watching from above and so pleased with the little man he is becoming!

Happy Birthday, Austin (Auti) – we love you more than words can say.

David After the Dentist

This video is of a friends’ friend, little boy.  I saw this and couldn’t stop laughing.  Hope it brings a smile to your face!

“Walk by Faith and NOT by Sight…”

Dave woke up Saturday morning, to find that more of his vision has vanished.   It has really hit him/us hard.

He had and I think maybe I had too, convinced himself that it wasn’t going to get any worse, and when it did, and it’s going fast, it has been extremely hard!

I don’t ever think that I have had such a breakdown as I did Wednesday at about 2am. I was up all night, and screaming into the couch…and I just yelled, “GOD, I DON’T SEE YOUR HAND IN ANY OF THIS…I DON’T FEEL YOUR PRESENCE, AND I DON’T KNOW IF YOU ARE EVEN LISTENING!, WHERE ARE YOU?” (something to that affect)

Anyhow, in the morning, when Austin was doing his handwriting test, he lost his paper to copy from, this happens often, so I usually tell him just to pick a Bible verse and copy it, he randomly picked Psalm 23…as he was writing it, he said “Mom, listen to this verse I’m writing…” and he read it to me. 

I told him to go share that with Dave, as I thought that it would encourage him.  Soon after that, he was watching his school DVD and his language teacher said, “Weare going to study Psalm 23.”   He stopped the DVD and RAN to tell me! – then as he turned over his language assignment it had the words “Walk by faith, and not by sight!” Okay…hello!

 No coinky dink!

THEN…(yes, there is more…) We decide to go to Wednesday night service, which we haven’t really done in the past – and the pastor (which we hadn’t talked to since we left for GA) says this  “I don’t normally do this, but I feel lead to do things a little differently tonight…and he proceeded to read the verse about calling the elders of the church to annoint and pray, so he asked them to come up to the front and then he said, “I would like Dave and Monique Strickland to come up and let these elders pray and annoint them” Of course Dave and I just lost it immediately!

He shared with me later that there are these lights that circle slowly around his eyes on occassion (apparently something that happens with this disease) and he told me that when the elders and all the people that felt lead to come up and lay hands on us were praying for us, those lights were in both eyes and going crazy! He said they were circling around really fast and they have never done that!…

THEN….on our way home, we always pass this old baptist church, and it has a neon sign that usually has what’s happening at the church, etc…literally, literally….as we are passing it, in HUGE letters, it says PSALM 23.
Can you believe that?! There you are God….You ARE listening!

*Note*  Dave suffers from disease that gradually steals your eyesight called Retinitis Pigmentosa or RP

What’s Wrong with this Picture?

Cute squirrel, you might be thinking.  But the real reason I took this shot, well there is a story behind it.

You see, Dave and I REALLY get into our bird watching.  We have 3 birdfeeders around our property, and we get the most amazing birds here in the country…but we have a couple little problems…and that is 2 squirrels. 

We buy the “songbird” food for the birds, so we get the pretty birds, however, we have psycho squirrels that come and find ways to hang from these birdfeeders and eat all the food up, sometimes within a day of filling them up!  So we decided to try birdfood that was guaranteed that squirrels would NOT eat…but ours do.

When I say psycho, I mean exactly that!  They climb up our lanai screen and literally squeel and hiss at my cats, and when I try to scare them away, they have literally went flying over my head, but I think they meant to land on it!  (Could have been some great video if Dave was ready for it)  They flatten their bodies, and hiss at me and they charge at me.  They are nuts! (no pun intended)

But back to the reason that I took this particular photo.  Dave decided he had enough of these squirrels and spent the extra moolah on the “squirrel proof feeder”.  As you can see from this picture, our squirrels got the last laugh on that one…

Next step…I think these squirrels are gonna have to be relocated if you know what I mean.   Game on little guys!

A Night to Remember…

On Saturday 4/25/09, Dave and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary.  We decided about 2 years ago, we would start taking turns planning the celebrations every year.  This year, was his turn.  We mutually decided not to go away anywhere this year, with so many vacations planned this year, that was enough.  So the planning began….

I can’t keep a secret from him about what I am doing, but when it’s HIS turn, he doesn’t tell me anything!  It kills me.  I mean, I like surprises, but I like them when I don’t know they’re coming

The morning was taken up by soccer games and swimming lessons, but once we got home, he arranged for his parents to arrive and so begun our afternoon.

He took me for a tour around Orlando…only difference is, it was in the air!  We took a helicopter tour that was so incredible…I will remember it for the rest of my life.  I only wished it was longer.

Then off for some shopping for a while – can’t knock that…until our dinner reservations.  He took me to a place called Roy’s in Metro West.  It was the single most amazing meal (with another one with a friend as a close second) I have had in my life!!!  If you ever get the chance to go there, GO!  We are NOT fancy people (contrary to what my friend Julie thinks) and having someone put a napkin in my lap and go down almost the entire menu and how they cooked each thing (half of which we didn’t understand) was foreign to us.

Anyhow, when I opened my menu, there was a note that said “Happy Anniversary” and a poem.  Employees from the restaurant kept stopping by our table to wish us a H.A…and treated us like royalty.  The best part…the dessert…The Hot Chocolate Soufle.  A chocolate cake/brownie type thing with oozing thick dark chocolate on the inside, on top of a serving of raspberry sauce, and served with a scoop of  vanilla ice cream.  The plate had beautiful flowers decorating it, and in raspberry sauce, they wrote Happy Anniversary in Hawaiian (sp). http://www.roysrestaurant.com/roysclassics.asp

It was a night we will remember forever, and will cherish.  It also opened up a whole new world for me, because had it not been for Dave’s eye disease, I would have NEVER agreed to go up in that helicopter…Now, I am planning our trip to do it over the Grand Canyon!   Maybe Sky Diving will be next…there’s no tellin’!

St. Augustine…

The old jail. They actually kept prisoners in this "bird cage"

Recently, we decided to take a trip to St. Augustine, FL…for a little learning and then a little R&R.

Austin has been learning about the history of FL (and I should say so have I since I learn so much teaching him), so we thought a field trip to FL’s oldest town would be a great place to learn.   We took a trolley tour around the city (man, that got expensive since the first time we visited!…if you ever do this, I suggest finding deals before going)

Austin already knew most of the stories they were telling from reading the books we borrowed from the library, but of course, they make it sound so much more interesting.  The day was followed by dinner at our favorite restaurant (besides for the Spanish bakery) Saltwalter Cowboys.  We spent most of the next day at the beach and just let the kids let loose.    Where Dave had a very nostalgic moment (see Dave’s blog).

I love going to St. Augustine, and never tire of it!  Places to go when you’re there:

The Spanish Bakery, Saltwater Cowboys, Trolley Tour, Horse and Carriage Ride, the Lightner Museum, Costillo de san Marcos (fort), and if you’re really feeling freaky, the ghost tour (w/o kids) is really fun, even if you don’t believe in that sort of thing.  The beach to go to is the Anastasia Island State Park.  Don’t waste your time on: The Fountain of Youth…it’s not worth it!   Wanna look young, go to Walgreens and get some Oil of Olay,  don’t smoke and get too much sun   That advice is free…

Now if someone can tell me how to get skinny w/o eating healthy and excercising!

Am I a Redneck Part II

 

 

 

Last year, I blogged about the experiences I have had since moving to “the country” posing the questions “Am I a redneck?”  Well, I have added to my “redneck wardrobe” – and loving it!  I sport my cow”girl” boots even to church on an occasional Sunday night.  But now…I officially have the hat!  I love it!  What’s next?  Chaps? HA, no, I don’t think I will go that far!

A long time prayer is answered.

You know, I have said it before, it’s very rare you find friends like you had when you were young.  I am still friends with my childhood best friend to this day, but unfortunately we live 100’s of miles apart, so spending time together, really just doesn’t get to happen.

So for many years, I have been praying that God would just send me one great friend.  One who was a Christian, one I could totally be myself around and make me laugh, and one that well, just loved me for who I really am!  Well, he answerd that prayer, not once, but twice over!

Julie and Julia (yes, that is one with an e and one with an a)  are awesome!   We have the best times when we’re together!  They both attend the church that we do, however, we had never really spoken to one another until Dave was diagnosed with his eye condition.  That prompted Julie to call me out of the blue to offer help….and the rest is history.

That is just one of the things I meant in my previous post about Dave’s disease being “a gift”.  It brought me two of the best people I know, and NEEDED in my life!   And it has also brought Dave some much needed friendships.

I wouldn’t choose to have had them brought to us this way, but God knows what He’s doing…and who are we to question Him?

Should he stay or should he go?

My favorite neighbor aka Harley guy…wants to take Dave to Atlanta this year to see a Redskins game.  Nice huh?  Yeah, I think so too, however I don’t like the idea one bit! 

I mean, he’s a nice guy, I love chatting/joking with him, but seriously, don’t think I want Dave traveling with him on any kind of excursion!  I mean, the guy just had a brush with death on his motorcycle…(yes, his fault) and I’m letting Dave in a truck with him for an 8 hour drive?  HA  Let’s not mention the constant talking about hot women he does.  It’s enough pressure getting him to look at me as it is!

I can see it now…Dave coming back with a bandana around his head, trying to figure out how to tell me what they REALLY did there.  I trust my man, it’s the “other man” I don’t trust….not as far as I can throw him.

I guess I will let Dave make his own decision…but we all know the influence I have…hee hee…Sorry, Gary, don’t think it’s gonna happen.   Love ya!

Queen of the castle…

The Queen

Last week, Makenzie got some awful bug.  We THOUGHT it was only a 24 hour thing…but actaully she still has a nasty cough as of today.  When the kids are sick in our home..they get the royal treatment.  They get to sleep and hang out in one of the big chairs/beds in our sitting room in our bedroom.  They love it there, because they can watch TV all day (most days they don’t watch any TV) and they get served all day long in bed.   Makenzie actually tried to convince me the other day she still needed to sleep there since she was still technically sick.  She said “see…I’m still sick (insert cough here)”  I don’t blame her…I would love this royal treatment too