Boys will be boys....

Yesterday afternoon after it rained Garrett wanted to put on his rain boots. After it rains we get a huge mud puddle at the end of our driveway. Since Garrett had never gotten to wear his boots and play in puddles I decided to let him. (Well he instinctively did it on his own - there was no "letting him!") And by the way, we do live at the end of a dead end road in case you are wondering by looking at these pictures. Graham decided he would sit in the driveway and eat rocks until he realized what his brother was doing looked like more fun. So they played in this puddle for about 30 minutes. Garrett ended up sticking his head in it and laying down on his back in the water. Needless to say, after it was all over they were only allowed to come in the house naked and go straight to the tub!!! What a JOY these two are!!!

The Iris

Okay, so I'm really about to put myself out on a limb, here. I have never in my life written a poem or even attempted to, but Saturday night all these words in the form of phrases kept coming to my mind. I couldn't sleep until I wrote it all down. It is very elementary sounding, but I feel like I am supposed to share it.














"The Iris"
I noticed this iris the other day
And it made me think of you.
It was growing all by itself along the driveway,
And it was your favorite color of flower - blue.
I call it "my little hug from God" because it felt so real
It felt as though you were watching me
And that is helping me to heal.
Another "hug" came from God on Mother's Day
When in a box outside two pocket angels I could see
It was as if I could hear you say,
One was for Boo, and the other one was for me.
I've often told others one thing that gives me peace
Is that I didn't have to watch you suffer through a disease.
Your Savior took you unexpectedly at your happiest
For that is one reason I feel so oddly blessed.
I've always thought if I lost someone close that I would feel so alone,
But I have felt just the opposite - God's goodness He has shown.
My God is drawing me closer to Him than I have ever felt before,
I am overwhelmingly amazed of the Love that He has poured.
I can't explain His comfort, His sovereignty, or His plan,
But His right hand upholds me - that I do understand.

Back to Destin

We went back to Destin for a week with our friends, Catherine, John and Thomas. We had fun even though it rained all week. (Somehow it didn't rain while the guys played golf, though!) Graham and I didn't even get to go to the beach. Therefore, we ended up going to the outlet mall and napping a lot. We did get to eat good, though. And the best part was that we were at least out of Jackson for a little while.

Jeremy and Graham (I love this picture!!!)

Catherine, Thomas and John

One night we went to dinner at Stinky's Fish Camp at Santa Rosa beach. The food was very good. However we had a very "stinky" episode. Catherine and I were outside with the boys and Catherine smelled a stinky diaper of Thomas's. Then Graham turned around and had poop all over the back of his shorts, overflowing his diaper and on his shirt. Then Garrett said, "Mommy, I poo-pooed!" We had all 3 boys in the minivan changing their diapers. It stunk so bad!!! Since Graham had messed up his clothes, he had to ride back to the condo in his diaper. After all that we decided we had to get family pictures in front of the sign.

Thomas and Graham rode in the cart as we were packing up to leave. (The wind was blowing, but Graham's hair was already sticking up some!!!)

"Deeper Still" Event in Nashville

I had the best weekend a couple of weeks ago in Nashville with 11 other wonderful women. We went to the Deeper Still conference in Nashville. The speakers were Patricia Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. It was amazing!!! We actually went to an overflow site at Belmont University with 3500 other women because the convention center was packed out at 25,000 women. Friday night we were surprised with a performance by Mandeesa (I don't know if I spelled her name right.) She was the heavy-set christian girl on American Idol last season. We got to worship with her and hear her testimony about being on American Idol. My friend, Stacy, who was there said she felt like she was at a Bon Jovi concert. She started screaming when Mandeesa came out!!! (You have to know Stacy!!!)

Saturday night after the conference we went to dinner at "Bounty". (I think that's the name of it.) Anyway, it was so delicious. It was tapas style dining where you order a lot of appetizer-sized items and everyone shared.
Pictured are: Catherine, Brandy, Amanda, Chrissie, Nakeetsha

Mrs. "Freda"- (a very funny story about her name), Christy, Laurie, Stacy, Mrs. Sue, Noel

After dinner we played the funniest game. Everyone takes a piece of paper and puts their name on it and 3 things that have happened to them. You have someone to host the game who reads everyone's pieces of paper and picks 3 people to come up in front of everyone. Then the host says, "Tell me about the time you....." Each of the three people have to tell a story. It only happened to one of the three people and the other 2 people have to make up it up. Then everyone votes on who it really happened to. It was so funny watching people make up a story on the spot and some stories you "thought" were made up. Some of these ladies I look at totally differently when I see them now!!!

My 3 handsome boys

I forgot to put this picture in with the vacation pictures. It is so good, I just couldn't leave it out!

Happy (1st date) Anniversary, Jeremy!!!

Actually, our anniversary was yesterday. We had our first date August 27, 1993. We went to our high school football game and afterwards ate at Taco Bell. (Thank goodness the restaurants have gotten better on our dates!!!) I never would have thought 14 years ago how happy I would be with 2 precious boys, being a stay-at-home mommy, living in Jackson, driving a mini-van (that's the shocker!) and Jeremy in residency. I don't really know what I thought life would be like. I was only 17!!! I wish I had a scanner and could find the picture of our 2nd date at another football game in the rain. Anyway, I couldn't be more blessed than I am right now. I have the most wonderful, godly husband that I could ever imagine. I can't even begin to imagine what the next 14 years will be like, but I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

Destin Vacation

We spent Tuesday-Sunday at the beach at Destin with Jeremy's parents and his sister. We had such a good time relaxing, eating and shopping. Garrett loved the waves and playing in the sand. Graham didn't like it so much - probably because he was always tired by the time we got to the beach. We stayed at Amalfi and it was great. It had 2 pools and a private beach access. This is our first family photo since Graham was about 4 months old!!!

on the beach at The Crab Trap

KK, Papaw, Wa-Wa (Lana) and Garrett acting silly at Fudpuckers

Garrett got his cast off

Today we went to see Garrett's Orthopedist to get his cast off and get x-rays. The x-rays looked great and we only had to go to a splint. However, I almost wish he would have gotten another cast because I'm so afraid of him falling on his wrist again. We had pumped him up to get a red cast and when he got his off he wanted to get his red one on! (He had been saying he wanted a pink cast!) He is the best patient ever! The tech was getting ready to saw his cast off and told Garrett it was going to tickle. Garrett looked at me and started smiling as he cut it off. When we got to Physical Therapy, they didn't have a splint small enough. The therapist had to make him one. We call it his "spiderman arm." I'm so afraid he is going to take it off because it only has velcro holding it on. This is going to make going to the beach next week so much easier.

Daddy and Garrett waiting to see the physical therapist to get the splint

Mrs. Stephanie "making" Garrett's splint

Making a spiderman web

Garrett's splint that the physical therapist had to make

About the Jacksons.......

Okay, no picture this time. Some of my friends have done this so I thought I might give it a try and see how many I could come up with.

1. I am so glad I started blogging.
2. I am way more blessed than I deserve.
3. I have the greatest group of friends you could ask for.
4. Every girl needs a sister.
5. I am excited about what God has been teaching me in the Old Testament.
6. I guess I never paid attention in Sunday School all those years!
7. I wish I could talk to my mom again.
8. The only way I've gotten through the past 5 months is because of my Savior!
9. I love rocking Graham to sleep at night.
10. I love to hear Garrett say, "I want Nanny to come to my house" because I know that means he remembers her.
11. I have great in-laws (even though Papaw did hit the fence at our driveway in our "new" minivan - I still love you, Papaw)!!!!
12. I love Pinelake.
13. I hate that I live 1 1/2 hours away from my dad.
14. The hardest thing is telling my dad goodbye when I leave or hang up the phone.
15. I am so thankful for my best friend in the whole wide world, Jeremy.
16. The greatest gift ever is being a mom.
17. I love lying down with Garrett at night and hearing him say, "Hold me, Mommy."
18. We have the greatest small group at Pinelake.
19. Now, I feel the need to hold my dad's hand in church during the prayer like I did when I was a little girl.
20. I am crying right now.
21. I want 4 kids.
22. Jeremy wants like 15 kids.
23. I am only birthing 4 kids.
24. Jeremy is NOT in school - he is a resident, he does have a job and gets paid.
25. I am ready for Jeremy to have a REAL job.
26. We love to travel.
27. My favorite vacation was in 2002 when we spent 2 weeks driving out West living out of our Xterra and sleeping in a tent and eating out of a cooler.
28. My other favorite vacation was in 2001 when we backpacked in Europe for 21 days. We visited 6 countries for like $2,500! That included our plane tickets!!!
29. Our dream vacation would be to go to New Zealand.
30. I married my 1st grade boyfriend.
31. We didn't talk again until 4th grade because I got my haircut and Jeremy said I looked a boy.
32. I was (and still am) a tomboy.
33. I was in 2 beauty pageants in high school.
34. The first pageant I was in I fell down the stairs, the second pageant I was in just to redeem myself.
35. I love to hear Garrett say, "I'm sorry, Mommy. I didn't mean to."
36. Garrett calls Graham either "Baby" or "Dam".
37. Graham finally got his two front teeth in.
38. The longer I am a mom the more I realize what I learned from her.
39. I have to go feed my (3) boys their lunch.

Garrett Broke His Arm

Garrett fell this morning at Target while standing in the shopping cart. I knew something was wrong when I couldn't get him settled down. He kept holding his arm and crying. I got home, and after calling our local MD, took Garrett to UMC ER. They are very familiar with us there as two weeks ago we had to take Graham in to drink charcoal after putting a mushroom in his mouth! X-rays showed a fracture in both ulna and radius (the two bones of the forearm) at the end near the wrist. Garrett was rewarded with a cast all the way to his shoulder. In two weeks, he can get a shorter cast. The sticker on his shirt in this picture says "I got an Xray!" Garrett did great but after they finished the cast he cried "I want this off." Garrett did get a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal and some new characters to his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so not all was bad. Lesson learned, the warning about children riding in shopping carts should not be ignored!

Pajama Spa Party

Pictured are: Brandy Hester, Nakeetsha Dryer, Amanda Wright (and twins), Sue Weimer, Me, Renee Guest, and Chrissie Grantham
Last night I had a pajama spa party at my house. My sister has started selling Beauticontrol. It was so much fun. We did foot baths, scrubs and exfoliated hands, faces and our feet. We had ice cream sundaes and did a lot of talking and laughing. Sorry for those of you who missed it!!! Next time it will have to be a spend-the-night-party!!!

Nakeetsha, Amanda and Chrissie

Brandy and Renee