Strangers in the Rain

One dark and stormy night (okay, it wasn't dark- but it WAS raining!) I was driving my very young toddler down the slippery street. It had just started raining and I was on my way home from a VERY long day. My husband had been sent to the emergency room from work, and my eighteen month old was staying with my Mom. Once he got the all clear to leave (he was fine, just a REALLY bad case of indigestion), he drove home while I picked up Logan.

I was going about 65 miles an hour on a busy street- I was rushing cause I was exhausted and so ready to be home. Before I knew it, my car was spinning and totally out of control. After what seemed like hours, I stalled to a stop on the side of the VERY busy road and I climbed out of my car. We weren't hurt, but I had no idea what happened. I did a "check of the lights" on my dash, but everything seemed fine.

So, I got out of my car to see if everything was okay. What was once a tire was shredded all over the road. There was nothing on my rim. Nothing.

I didn't know what to do, so I pulled Logan out of the car, put him in an umbrella stroller (in the rain remember) because I was more concerned that someone would ram into us going, well, 65 miles an hour.

You see, it was rush hour, on a busy street, with NO side walk, no bike lane, nothing.

After I get Logan safely buckled in, I call my husband. Who calls his Mom. Who calls her husband. They're all AT LEAST 45 minutes away from me, and I'm standing in the pouring rain with a toddler on a busy street. Of course we call AAA but what I really wanted was a dry place to put my baby (and myself, but of course, him first).

All of sudden a big white beat up truck pulls up behind me. A tall dark middle aged man came running towards me.

At that moment I said a silent prayer, and looked around me. The cars came rushing by like I was a nobody, and my only witnesses were the 30 goats in the field next to me.

By the time he got to me, he was screaming "open your trunk" over the roar of the rain.

I had to think fast, because surely this would be the time and place that I would die. I pushed Logan's stroller as close to the goats as possible and asked God to please let a family member find him if I nor the car were no longer here. I gripped my keys between my fingers and I held my cell phone as tight as I possibly could. I thought if he threw me in the car I could at least call 911, or I could do that thing I saw on Oprah one time and kick out the tail light. I just hoped that he didn't knock me out first.

I did what he said out of fear. He worked fast. He moved all my "mom gear" from the trunk to the back seat. And then he did the unthinkable.

He lifted the carpet and used this crazy looking square tool and started spinning it. Then from underneath the car popped out my spare tire.

There he was, in the pouring rain, changing my tire. A stranger's tire. Just then my husband calls me.

I answer the phone. He asks my a barage of questions, none of which I can remember now. All I remember asking him is "what should I do?" He told me, "Give him all the cash you have. Everything in your wallet."

It took the man several minutes to finish, and by the time he had my husband was less than a mile away.

I pulled out my wallet and handed him the money.

He wouldn't take it. He just said (and this is not an exact quote cause it's been several years but this is as close as it gets) "My rewards are not of this world. I'm building my treasures in Heaven."

Yes you are.

And let me tell you, that was a defining moment for me. I'll never forget that man and what he did for me that day. I look forward to telling him that in "person" when we're in Glory.

I'm up in the Nursery

Mother, oh Mother
come shake out your cloth,
empty the dustpan,
poison the moth,
hang out the washing
and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house
is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery,
blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as
Little Boy Blue.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due.
The shopping's not done
and there's nothing for stew
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

The cleaning and scrubbing
will wait till tomorrow,
for children grow up,
as I've learned through my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs.
Dust, go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep...

Poem written by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

A Father's Celebration!

Well, this year Father's Day, and my husband's birthday were a day apart!

So, my wonderful hubby had TWO days of celebration!

We kicked off on Friday when we picked up the cookie bouquet I ordered for him. It's so hard to buy presents for him, and I wanted to get something that I knew he would love, so I got a "musical" cookie bouquet. It had guitars and stars and tickets on it... it was sooo cute! On Sunday, I packed up the kids and took them to church. We got to see my Dad for a little bit (and he got to check out Lily's new walking trick!). Then, we came home and I made lunch for me and Doug and the kids. We relaxed and did just want my hubby wanted- a whole lot of nothing.

Then, we stopped by my in-laws for a little bit in the afternoon. Then, we put the kids to bed early and had a little time for ourselves.

The next day, was my husband's birthday! I spent the morning running around and gathered up all his favorite things. First stop- Target to pick up a DVD he wanted Logan to have; then we went to Publix to pick up his cake; then we went to Dunkin Donuts to get and eclair and coffee; and finally Subway to get there new breakfast sandwich (only TWO points!).

The day went a little different than expected, because we took Logan to an impromptu Dr apt (more on that later). So while I whisked Logan away, Daddy and Lily spent some quality time together.

My Mom came over around 4 o'clock and we took the kid and picked up Outback for the whole crew (My parents/DJ's parents/our family). It was nice to sit around our kitchen table and not have the stress of cooking/cleaning up after a party. Then we sang and cut the cake that Logan picked out earlier that morning.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate a wonderful man!

Thank you, honey, for all you do for our family. Your hard work, kind spirit, and gentle touch are some of the reasons I love you so much. You're an amazing Dad, and I fall in love with you more and more everyday!

Weight Watchers

Well , I decided once and for all I HAVE to get rid of this baby weight!! So, I decided to join weight watchers online.

I'm soooo excited about it, because I'm able to eat the foods I make and still lose weight.

When I got pregnant with Logan, I was already over weight; and by the time he was a year old I was back at my PRE DELIVERY date!! So, I worked my butt off (litterally)


and lost 70 pounds, and kept it off for a year.

It did help that my mother-in-law joined a weight loss clinic,
And lost 50 pounds... I didn't want to be the woman who's Mom is hotter than her :)


Then when I got pregnant with Lily, I vowed NOT to gain a ton a weight and to be back at my pre prego weight with in three months of delivery. Well, I didn't gain a ton of weight (only 39) BUT it's been 15 months and I'm still closer to my delivery weight then my pre pregnancy weight :/

So, I joined Weight Watchers Online in the hopes to lose 30 pounds by Christmas. I'm super excited about it (I LOVE the iPhone app) and I've already lost 4 pounds!


Only 31 more to go!!

Where Does Time GO?

June 2009

June 2010

Where does time GO?

Schools Out for Summer

The summer is finally here! Today is Logan's last day of school, and I couldn't be happier. School's out, the weather is warm, and VBS starts next week. But I can't help but think about where I was this time last year. I felt so alone, so lost, and out of control. I had no idea what was in store for our family; and in some ways I still don't- but at least we have help!

Ever year I teach/volunteer at VBS (Vacation Bible School). And last year Logan really struggled. He was a sweet boy trapped inside his body, and we didn't know how to help him. In fact on the second day of VBS I was told "something's not quite right."

By this time (June 2009), he had already been evaluated by FDLRS and was waiting for his second evaluation- which only happened during school months so we had to wait till August. When the preschool director at my church pulled me aside to talk about Logan I completely broke down. I hadn't fully come to grips with this challenge God laid out for me- and having another professional tell me "he's unique" was almost unbearable to hear.

However, Logan's not the only one growing- him Mom is, too. And that Mom who started this blog was a woman in a lot of pain. She was mourning the loss of a son she thought she had.

I'm proud to announce that I'm not that woman anymore. Yes, I still have painful days; and yes I still ask "why me". But today I stand (well, actually I'm sitting but whose checking) before you a new Mom. One who's learning everyday is a gift, and I'm working more and more on enjoying the miracle in the moment.

He's come so far, and grown a lot over the past eight months. He's our pride and joy, and I'm so thankful God blessed me with him.

First Day of School (10/15/09)

Little Daddy

Logan is the best "little Daddy" to his sister. I'm constantly hearing things like "please don't put that in your mouth;" and "you're sooooo pretty Lily."

He has a tender touch, and gentle heart. He tells me that Lily is his best friend- and he's ALWAYS looking out for her.

He'll play, "read", and even sing to her. She's very blessed to have him :)


And we're blessed to have them both.