Garrett's Birth - January 6, 2005

I forgot to post these pics of Garrett when he was born and at just a few weeks. I can't believe that was my "little G." He is such a big boy now and wants to do everything himself (except use the potty!!) We are going to tackle that when we get back from DisneyWorld next week! I just love him so!!!!!!!

Garrett's 3rd Birthday

Garrett turned 3 on Sunday, January 6th, but we had his party in Meridian on Saturday the 5th. He wanted a Mickey Mouse Birthday party since we are going to DisneyWorld in a few days. (That's the reason we had a small, family party!) He went with us to buy his birthday plates, napkins, etc. a couple of weeks ago. Almost everyday he would say,"I want to have my birthday party right now!" And he would pull out all the napkins, and plates etc. and talk about his party. We had his party at 5:00 that night and he was dressed with his shoes and coat on ready for the part at 10:00 that morning!!! He busted his lip right before the party! He got all kinds of drawing stuff, including an art/easel set that he and Graham are playing with in the bottom picture. The top picture are his cousins - Kennedy, Cameron and Luke. Notice how unhappy Graham is!!! Thanks to all of y'all for coming! We're off to DisneyWorld in 3 more days!!!!!!!!!

Mom's Birthday - December 31

Mom's birthday was New Year's Eve. I spent it in Meridian with Dad and the boys. She would have been 59 this year. Actually, I did a lot better at Christmas this year than I thought I would. I heard a pastor say that the anticipation of the holidays is worse than the actual holiday, and I found that to be true this year. It also helps that I have 2 boys that keep me very busy. But, Mom is missed very, very much. Sometimes I find things in the house that she's written on while organizing my house, and it feels like she's been here. I just couldn't stop thinking about this being her first Christmas with the SAVIOR!!! And I thought how awesome this Christmas is for her. I wish I had a picture of her to put on here, but she hated getting her picture taken, so I don't have many. For Christmas my aunt gave me a windchime with Mom' s name and dates of her birth and death, and it and it came with a poem I wanted to share written by Al Littleton and Brenda Smith:

WHISPERS FROM HEAVEN
When I left this world without you
I know it made you blue.
Your tears fell so freely,
I watched; I know this is true.

While you were weeping,
Days after I passed away-
While all was silent within me,
I saw you kneel to pray.

From this wonderful place called heaven
Where all my pain is gone.
I send a gentle breeze to whisper,
"My loved ones, please go on"

The peace that I have found here
Goes far beyond compare
No rain, no clouds, no suffering-
Just LOVE from everywhere.

You need not be troubled
Just stay close to GOD in prayer
Someday we'll be reunited
My love, HIS love surrounds you always,
EVERYWHERE!

Christmas 2007

We had a wonderful Christmas. The boys got way too many toys, including a train table, a Bob the Builder tool bench, a kitchen, and many other things that they are enjoying. Garrett left his blanket ("shang-shang"- he can't say "blanket") for Santa Claus with the milk and cookies. It was the saddest thing ever, but he wanted to do it. He kissed it goodbye and walked away from it. However, for Christmas he also got 2 more blankets, but we don't carry them around. They stay in the bed. I also had to rearrange their rooms to make room for all the new toys. When Graham gets out of his crib, they are going to share a room and make the other room a play room. They have started playing well together (for a little while) and it just warms my heart when I hear them laughing together and playing. I can't imagine what's left for next Christmas for them to get!!!

Graham loved his tricyle that Aunt Lana (Wa-Wa) gave him!!!

Garrett loved his orange (favorite color) golf clubs that Wa-Wa gave him, too!!!

Acting Silly...

Garrett and Graham love taking a bath!!!

Garrett wanted to be like Daddy and gel his hair, too!!!

I want to do it, Daddy!!!

Look at me!!!

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Dunleith in the daytime

Dunleith at night

A view of the Mississipppi River

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my blogging! Our actual anniversary was December 4th. Jeremy took me Monday night to Natchez to stay at Dunleith, a famous bed-and-breakfast. It was so nice to get away. We had a very nice dinner that night, slept in a cozy little room with a fireplace, and got up at 9:00 am to a breakfast buffett! It was wonderful. Then we finished Christmas shopping for the boys.

This was our 8th anniversary. Our story begins in first grade when we met, then it kind of stops until our senior year in high school when we started dating. But I"ll skip to the part of the story when he proposed (short version). We kind of have this bed-and-breakfast theme going is why I'm telling it. Jeremy proposed on March 2, 1998 at a bed-and-breakfast in Starkville, called Carragen House. (No, we DID NOT spend the night!!!) Jeremy had it rented for the evening for dinner, and I was going under the impression that it was a dinner for school. One of my college professors came to my apartment to pick me up for the "dinner." Anyway, I'll skip a lot of that story to tell you that the first night of our honeymoon was spent in Hattiesburg at a bed-and-breakfast called Dunhopen. I'll skip that WHOLE FIRST NIGHT part of the story. Then for our first anniversary Jeremy surprised me with another night at Dunhopen again. As you can see, I have a very romantic husband, and I am so grateful that he chose me. I have loved the past 8 - really 14 years spent with him. He has helped me to become a better person than I used to be. I know that is because he has always kept Christ first in his life and also in our marriage. I am blessed beyond words. Thank you, Jeremy!

Nichols Christmas Tree Farm

Garrett acting silly before picking out our Christmas tree

Garrett and Graham still acting silly before picking out our Christmas tree!!!

Garrett wanted to look at the "zedonk" - that would be a zebra/donkey mix!

Graham "thought" he wanted to see that "zedonk," but he didn't want to get too close!

More Christmas Tree Farm Pics

Riding in the wagon to pick out our tree

Garrett got so tired of waiting on Jeremy to pick out a tree that he just sat on a stump!

After we got home and changed clothes, Garrett fell asleep in front of the TV!

Hangin' Out with Papa

Graham was sick and fell asleep in Papa's lap

They just love playing in the back of Papa's truck!!!

Graham riding the horse (Steady) at Papa's house

Remembering Mom...

I just wanted to share an awesome experience I had at our church tonight with my dad. Our church, Pinelake, has an annual dinner in honor of those who have lost loved ones over the past year, called Celebrate Life. Jeremy was on-call tonight and Boo couldn't make it at the last minute, so it was just me and Dad. Anyway, there were a little less than 100 people there - one couple which lost a 2 week old infant, two people who lost both parents within this year, one lost a girlfriend and sibling this year, and a few lost children this year. One lady sitting at my table teaches at University Christian School, where my mom taught for a semester, and she said, "Your mom isn't the Marsha Boatner who taught at UCS, is she?" This lady knew my mom and did not know that she had died. She talked about how sweet my mom was. How awesome was it that God put us at that table with this lady who knew my mom!

I also thought it was neat that I got to share the evening with my dad. If Jeremy had not been working, I might not would have even thought to ask my dad or my sister. I think God planned it for Jeremy to be working so that I could share this with my dad.

One thing we did was we lit a candle in memory of each person who had died. Jeff Holland talked a little bit about how everyone in the room had the same commonality of "hurt," but that we all shared the "hope" and "help" from our Lord. My sweet Daddy cried through the whole thing. It just reminded me again how blessed I am to have learned what I have from my mom (especially about being a mom) for the 30 years I had with her. I also feel blessed to be a part of a church family who would take the time and effort during the busy holiday season to remember those of us who have lost loved ones and are spending our first Christmas without them.

Christmas won't be easy this year. Mom and Dad's 39th anniversary is December 21 and she would have been 59 on December 31. The best way I can explain my feelings are to a puzzle that has one piece missing. The puzzle is almost complete but that one piece is lost and can't complete the puzzle. I feel so blessed and "full" by my two precious boys and husband, my dad and sister and other family, and my sweet friends. But I just have this one hole that makes it incomplete. The awesome thing is that I know one day my puzzle will be complete when I get to see my mom again!!!

One verse that was mentioned tonight was Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." But then I read on in verse 5 it says, "Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite." How awesome is that kind of a God??!!!

Family Golf

Thursday, after naps, we decided to go to the Refuge for a little golf.
We got in about an hour and a half before the sun set.

Garrett likes to hit anybody's ball in and Graham likes to get it out of the hole!!!

Come on, Daddy! You can do it!!!

Feeding Jensen

The boys love to feed our dog, Jensen in the mornings.
They were giving her food through the fence!!!

Notice Graham is putting the dog food in his mouth!!!

Happy Halloween

We started out going to a couple of the neighbors' houses. One neighbor gave Graham a sucker and you can see the slobber all over his shirt. This was before I put a shirt on under his jersey. Graham was a MSU football player and Garrett was a cowboy. He kind of looks like Clint Black, doesn't he?!! We ended the night trick-or-treating with our small group from church in Fox Bay subdivision and then eating pizza and celebrating Nea Nea's birthday! It was a fun night!

This is the only picture I got of the two of them trick-or-treating

Graham isn't really sure what to do

Garrett finally got to where he just wanted to knock on the doors, he didn't care about the candy

Graham is just enjoying the ride, sippin' on juice

He ended up wearing Garrett's hat and wouldn't take it off

Still wearing the hat, playing at the Seagos' house