Of Fun Times and Little Boys...

I love my husband! It seems like a very long time since I have done anything "special" for him....and he has been doing all these sweet things for me!! A few weeks ago, he saved up his "extra" money to take me out on a date - and set up the babysitting, too!! It was a wonderful surprise, and I love dates with him!!
Then last Sunday, after a very busy weekend, he made this nice little movie party set up! It just goes to show me that you can make nice little things without having to spend a lot. We had pizzas from Wal-Mart that cost like .98 each - a bottle of coke that cost like 1.00, and a movie from the library, that since I returned it on time, cost nothing!!....oh, and we had the delicious leftovers from our visit with friends for dessert - which also cost nothing! I am so glad that I married James.....he is such a good husband, in so many ways. I love his patience and endless love for me. I love him more each year.....A BIG praise - our septic tank was replaced!!! Monday morning, Patrick and I were sleeping in, and what should wake me up but the noise of a big truck, and the voices of men outside the house later on.....for the next 2 1/2 days we lived in a little boy heaven!....several "dump-truck" type machines right outside our very windows!! We are SO grateful to God for answering our prayer, and allowing this problem to get officially fixed!
In other news, Patrick is sleeping in a toddler bed!! The first night it felt so wrong to leave him "free" in his room!! Very strange, after always making sure he was safe IN his crib for over 28 months! Every night since then (first night being Tuesday) he has fallen out at some point (and multiple times, too) He doesn't cry (that we hear - and we are right next door to him) and when we go in to check at times, he is asleep on the floor.....so we pick him up and put him back in bed.....:) not the best set up....hopefully he will get the hang of it soon. If he keeps this up for several weeks, I guess we shall have to go back to a crib!
He seems to really like his little bed, though! And he looks so cute in it :) So, I'm working on changing his room to a train theme. Goodbye to his classic pooh nursery! I need to get some more stuff to decorate with, and some stuff for his bed....my mom got the adorable and beautiful quilt for him off of eBay, I think. It's too big for the toddler bed, so I put it on the wall. (I have re-arranged since this pic was taken. The bed is now the the right of the quilt, against the wall) Our precious boy continues to grow! He is using two and sometimes three words together now to communicate.....also using sign language.....he really seems to understand a lot. It's neat and scary all at once! He listens to what we say, remembers etc.!
He is so sensitive, too! I'm glad. James says he was like that as a child (easily cried about things....was scared of stuff....) and I'd love it if Patrick grew up to be like his father (who outgrew both those things, but remained a caring and sensitive guy!) Yesterday I was reading to little Paddy, and he burst into tears over something that happened in the book! My poor baby!

Tomorrow we leave for vacation! Our first paid vacation!! Yay! It's for a whole week! (plus some, counting the weekend!!) We are spending some of it with family, and some with our little family. We are staying in a friends cabin about two hours away from here. It will be wonderful to visit with family, especially since my brother and his family will be moving in about a week and a few days.....

as always, check out P's blog for lots of pics of current events!! www.life-with-patrick.blogspot.com

I've Been Tagged!

Faith tagged me, and I just saw it today - so here it is! Thanks, Faith! It was lots of fun!

RULES: Answer the questions about yourself. At the end of your post, tag 5 people by posting their names, then go to each of their blogs and post this comment: "You've been tagged! Come to my blog for the details."

"What I was doing ten years ago:
hmm....I was 16. I lived in Garland Tx with my parents and older brother. I really liked a boy, who happens to be the guy I'm married to now :) I think I was probably babysitting various days of the week at Scofield Memorial Church.

Five things on my to-do list today:
well, the day is over, but here's five things I did. I didn't have an actual to do list, but there were things that were supposed to be done:
1) cleaned the house
2) Laundry
3) Practiced a piano piece
4) Grocery Shopped
5) took care of Patrick :)

Five snacks that I enjoy:
1) gummies
2) pickles
3) ice cream!!!
4) peanut m 'n m's
5) more ice cream!!

Five things I would do if I were a billionaire:
1) Tithe
2) Pay off our medical bills, and any other ones. (and take care of all the remaining medical needs)
3) Buy a house on a little piece of land, with a white picket fence around it...and decorate it with just what I want, no matter how much it costs!
4) Buy a complete new wardrobe.
5) Go to Europe....and probably other places, too :)

Five places I have lived:
Never lived anywhere but Texas, so it will have to be various cities about the metroplex....
1) Farmersbranch
2) Richardson
3) Greenville
4) Rockwall
5) Mesquite

Three of my bad habits: (only 3, not 5--nice!)
1) Eating too much ice cream :)
2) wanting my house to always be picked up perfectly
3) not washing the dishes off well enough before putting them in the dishwasher.

Five jobs I have had:
1) Violin Teacher
2) Babysitter
3) Wife and Mom
4) sold gingerbread houses once :)
5) not a paying one, but I taught various Character Classes with my mom and brother

Five bloggers I want to know more about:
1) Danya
2) The Smiths :)
3) My Sister In Law :)
4) Amy
5) Lisa L.
bonus person, just because :) 6) My Mom

And since were already talking about me :) here's something I saw on Joy's blog and wanted to do. :)

20 Questions about us:
1. My husband's name is: James.
2. How long have you been married? Four years in July.
3. How long did you date? We liked each other for a long time, but became "official" at the end of 2001. We were then married in 2004.
4. How old is he? 30...31 in July.
5. Who eats more? We both can eat a lot at different times.
6. Who said I love you first? I can't remember. James think I did :)
7. Who is smarter? James.
8. Whose temper is worse? Mine.
9. Who does the laundry? Me. sometimes James folds and puts away.
10. Who does the dishes? Usually me.
11. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? James.
12. Who pays the bills? James.
13. Who cooks dinner? Usually me.
14. Who drives when you are together? Usually James.
15. Who is more stubborn? James....although he says I'm pretty stubborn sometimes (but that he outdoes me :) )
16. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine.
17. Who proposed? James.
18. Who has more friends? I guess me.
19. Who has more siblings? James.
20. Who wears the pants in the family? well, I really like to have things my way, so I end up "influencing" James a lot ;) but ultimately James does :)

I don't know if I have any "lurkers" but if you read my blog and never comment, please do - and leave me a comment telling me one interesting fact about yourself!

New Blog

http://patricks-health-blog.blogspot.com/

(there's also a link that will stay put on Patrick's Pictures site...)

Tarry by His Promises

There are great and precious promises for those who will believe

and the children of the Father's love His gracious gifts receive.

When my outward strength is almost gone and I cannot bear the test

He assures me of the promises on which my faith can rest.

I'll tarry here by the promises and wait on the Lord

knowing each promise brings His sure reward

I'm holding fast to his promises not one word will fail

I'll focus on the mighty One whose promises prevail.

When I'm compassed round on every side and I cannot see his face,

when I wander dry and desert lands and search for streams of grace

When my heart is bound by grief and woe or robed in leaves of shame

by every promise in His word my Savior writes my name.

I'll tarry here by the promises and wait on the Lord

knowing each promise brings His sure reward

I'm holding fast to his promises not one word will fail

I'll focus on the mighty One whose promises prevail.

Not a pledge He gives He'll not redeem, not a hope He'll not fulfill

and where His finger points the way He'll show His perfect will

When the night is dark and the future veiled and my eyes long for the light

He will meet me where his promises shine brightly in the night.

I'll tarry here by the promises and wait on the Lord

knowing each promise brings His sure reward

I'm holding fast to his promises not one word will fail

I'll focus on the mighty One whose promises prevail.

("Tarry by the Promises" by Loren Elms - transcribed to the best of my ability - I may have messed up a few words!)

This is a beautiful song (I listen to it on the Knight Family's CD, and it's so lovely!) that has become very special to me, and is such an encouragement to me as we are facing these issues of Patrick's health.

It has been a long road, and it's longer still - and looking pretty complicated. It's something that often gives me a nervous feeling, and makes me feel like I might go crazy. It's all so complicated and overwhelming and difficult. I love my little boy SO much, and it's so hard to see him going through these things.

It's so hard for me to go through them, too. To not be overwhelmed and ruled by fear....to trust God with all the ins and outs - and ultimately with my son - who is, after all, just on loan to us from Himself.

I must trust Him, and tarry by His promises. He is faithful!

God's promises to me:

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." - Hebrews 13:1

"...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. " II Cor 12:9

"but (I) am faithful, (and)will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I Cor 10:14b

"...My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:30

"(I have) not given (you) a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." II Timothy 1:7