Austin turned 12......a month ago :(

Well, in looking over my blog I realized that I never posted on Austin's birthday!! Bad mom, I know!! Austin's big day was September 3. He is now 12 going on 20!!! Austin is our little comedian. He has a real sense of humor and is very witty. He can make me laugh even in the darkest of times.
As a baby he was so sweet!! He made his surprise appearance a week early and in a big fast hurry. My labor only lasted less then two hours with him, and I never really had any pain. He came out screaming, weighing in at 7 pounds 10 oz 21 inches long. He was our only surprise baby...he was modest and kept his legs crossed each time we tried to see what he was!!!! He was much smaller then Jordan, but just as feisty. From the start he held his own, never letting himself get run over!!! He had beautiful blond curls, and was my chubbiest baby/toddler. He sucked his thumb and was content to sit on a blanket and play with toys. My dad always said that he never heard Austin cry, he was just a really good baby. He loved tractors and he would play outside all day when I would let him.
Austin was not hard to fall in love with. He was adorable and I thought him the cutest baby in the world. He liked to give "lovies", and He would pat my face with his chubby little hands and say "luv ew ma ma". When he got bigger he would bring me fists full of weeds/flowers every chance that he got. He loved hugs and would respond with the tightest squeezes around my neck.
Austin is growing up, he is not my little baby anymore. He is turning into a wonderful young man. I sometimes wish I had those baby days back. I miss his fat little fist, and his grimy chubby cheeks. I wish for the sloppy kisses just because he wanted to, and I wish I could feel his bear hugs tightly around my neck. I would love to hear him say "luv ew ma ma" again....but wait.....he does do all those things, he just does them in a more grown up way. Many times each day I hear him quickly say "love ya mom", and feel a brief touch of his lips to my cheek. I get a quick squeeze as he heads out the door to play with his friends, and yes he still brings me flowers and they no longer are smashed and bruised. He still loves, just in a more grown up way. I still have my baby....just in a bigger package!!!
I am amazed at the talents that Austin has been blessed with. He is very musical and has a real talent for music/singing. He is still very shy about that, but someday that will change. He is artistic and can draw very well. He also can write stories and articulate well. I can't wait to see what God has in store for him. It never ceases to thrill me when I see him singing when he thinks he is unobserved. God has truly given him talents.
I don't know his future, but I do know that God has a great plan for him. I also know that I am truly blessed to be called his mother, I can think of nothing greater. Each day I thank God for giving me this "man" to raise for my Master. My prayer is that I will do it well.

Tagged.....times two!!

Well, I finally have time to post, only to realize that I have been tagged....not once but two times!!! I guess I better think up 7 things about me that you might not know.
1. I DO NOT like brownies or chocolate ice cream
2. I hate to drive or fly in airplanes....but love to travel and see new places
3. Brown is my favorite color
4. I always dreamed of having 4 kids...2 girls and 2 boys
5. I love Victorian houses filled with antiques
6. I learned to swim after we were married, even though I had a pond in my back yard all my life.
7. Before I die I want to hand quilt a patchwork quilt and write a book titled.....(drum roll please) "Life in the Fat Lane"
Well, that is it for me...now to find 7 people to tag might be a slightly different story!!!

A Hoosier Comes Home!!!!!

No, not what you think....no one died....although I feel as if I did die and go to heaven!!! On Saturday Dave called me on his way home from work and said to be in the van waiting for him when he got home...he was taking me to Frankfort. I asked what the occasion was and what we were doing. He said we were meeting a man about a business deal. I immediately bristled and declared that we were NOT buying another van!!! (he has a habit of buying new vans, with or without my consent!!) He laughed and said, don't worry, this won't be a waste of a trip. I still thought he was taking me to look at a van and continued to let him know that we would not be buying it. He said to calm down and just enjoy the ride. We finally came to a falling down garage and in he pulled. I said, "What on earth are we doing here?" I looked and no van was in sight. He said, "This man refinishes furniture and has a Hoosier cabinet for sale." Now that was more my line!!! In we went and there was my own dear beloved Hoosier cupboard in the process of being refinished/refurbished!!!! I was sooooooo excited....you see this cupboard has a long story. My sister bought a new house and this ugly black/green/cream cupboard was in the basement. She didn't want it, and I immediately said I would take it!!!! Dave had no desire to bring it to Indiana from Pennsylvania, he said it was beyond repair, but I persisted and he reluctantly brought it along. It landed in the garage, and that was the end of it. Many times I would go and check on it,just making sure it was still there. I was hoping that he hadn't taken it to the burn pile!!! Then just a few weeks ago, we were dreaming. We were just talking nonsense, saying what we would do first if we suddenly got a million dollars....I said that I would get my Hoosier Cupboard refinished!!!! He laughed and said, "that thing is beyond repair and will never look good, you better think of something else to do first!!" WRONG!!!!!!!! He decided that he would at least get a quote on getting it refinished, thinking that they would tell him it was not worth it. To his surprise, the man said that under all the layers of paint it was solid oak!!!!! He then decided to surprise me with it as a early birthday present!!!! It is simply beautiful. The neat thing is that although it came to Indiana via Pennsylvania....it is actually coming home....when the man took off the porcelin top it was stamped with Frankfort, Indiana 1920 on the underside!!!!!!!! It is a Sellers, so the actual cupboard was made in Elwood, IN (about 1/2 hr away) but the tops were made in Frankfort!!!!!
I am soooo excited, and all I want to do is just set and look at it!!! Crazy I know, but it is really beautiful!!!!! Teresa, these pics are for you.....I know you are wishing you had kept it!!!!! Thanks to you, I now own a fabulous little piece of Indiana history!!!! Dave, this is the nicest birthday gift ever....THANK YOU!!!! You are the best!!!

Just Chillin'

Get Funny Pictures at pYzam.com

Old Event...New Pictures!!

In July Aunt Marjorie, Uncle Terry and Kimberly came by to see us, all the way from the Sunny state of Florida. What began as a small cook out turned into a large family reunion. Dave's mom and dad and all his siblings turned out for the event as well as David and Joy and their kids. We had loads of fun that lasted well into the night. It was Aunt Marjorie's birthday...I won't say what one!!.....maybe 29.....so Jenny brought a cake and we got to sing to her. Aunt Marjorie is one of those people who is happy ALL the time!!!!! She never is grumpy and my kids totally love her. Uncle Terry is the same witty person that he always has been. We are thankful that his health has improved and he is feeling much better now. Kimberly is all grown up and has accepted a teaching position at a large private school in Florida. We always enjoy the time we get to spend with them. It takes me quite awhile to finally get pictures to the computer, but I thought you might enjoy them even if they are a few weeks old.

BIG Answer to Prayer

I am feeling very grateful today. Last week my sister-in-law, Susan was diagnosed with stage three invasive ductal carcinoma. This is a very aggressive cancer and not a beginning stage. It was a huge blow to them, and to us too, as we are close to them. It is hard to watch people you love worry and suffer. I don't think I went a day without a few shed tears over the situation. This past Monday she went through a mastectomy, and all the grief and emotions that entails. The doctor gave them a positive report, but told them they would know for sure if they got it all after the pathology report came back, in about five days. This has been a week of high emotions and cries out to God. Just yesterday she called with the news that none of her tested lymph nodes have cancer cells, and that they believe she is cancer free at this time. What an answer to prayer!!!! She had been anointed several times at church, and isn't that just like our God to answer our cries. Just thought I would share that, as it has been a great boost to my faith that He truly cares about us and ALL our needs.