NINE

Little Man is NINE!

Where do the YEARS go?

This year I decided that we weren't going to have a HUGE party like we have the past eight years.  I thought something much smaller would be better so Logan invited NINE friends to SLEEPOVER (I know, WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!?).   Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better group of boys.  I am ALMOST ready to do it again!

We had a campfire (supervised by dad, Mr. Phillip, Mrs. Vikki, & Jackie ~ thank yall!) where we cooked hot dogs and smores ~ we had plenty of chips, plenty of drinks, and yummy cookie cake (with the coolest #9 sparkler candle).  We had activities going on everywhere ~ outside we had acrobats on the trampoline, skateboarders, bike riders, runners and inside we had video games going on three different tv's plus the DS's and DSi's that were brought!  (Thank you for the trampoline supervision Carly!)  (Thank you Mom for saving the night and running into town and purchasing the correct controller for the XBox and thank you Lara & Shannon for sticking around and helping inside.) (And thank you to all that came ~ adults & children ~ that made Logan's birthday so special.)

Around midnight, when I couldn't go any longer I coaxed all the boys to the living room so we could watch How To Train a Dragon.  I just knew that laying down would get the boys calmed and ready to sleep but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - I had to coax them to sleep....around 2 a.m.  I got a really good nights sleep - until they were ready to go again at 6:30 a.m.  Oh boy!  To be NINE again!

Monday, Logan's actual birthday, I took cookies to his class for his classmates to enjoy.  I'm so thankful that Hudson PEP allows us to do such a thing!   And, to top the day off, Logan was treated to Papacita's for supper.  The staff sang to him and he wasn't so sure what to think about that ~ he was a bit embarrassed!

All in all I believe that this years celebration was a success!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MAN!!

Nine Years Ago (and a few days)

  On October 18, 2001 all my dreams came true! There wasn't anything I wanted more than to become a mom but when I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 I thought my dream would never come true. Obviously God could see years down the road and He had bigger and better plans than I could have ever imagined. I was blessed with the most beautiful baby I'd ever seen!



Our first picture together! 



So In Love



Before Surgery at Children's Medical Center, Dallas



First Feeding From a Bottle

One Month Old

My Razorback BFF

((Not the best of pictures....but no one knows what we went through to get it!))

I finally caught up with my BFF from my Arkansas days! 

 It was a wonderful reunion. 

 Donna and I are so much alike and so different at the same time

 ~ oh the fun we had! 

 She is truly one of those friends that I can go years without talking to

(I know because we have)

 and we are able to pick right back up where we left off.

I could tell some stories....but without her permission I won't!

Happy Anniversary!

My Handsome Great Nephew ~ Lain

My Beautiful Sister & Handsome Brother-In-Law

Monica & Mark

My Handsome Fella

My Beautiful Niece, Handsome Great Nephew, & Handsome Nephew-In-Law (is that right!?)

Lauren, Lain, & Anthony

We had just been sung to ~ Happy Anniversary!

Have you ever laughed so hard that you hurt? 

My sister and brother-in-law came into town a couple of weeks ago to celebrate their TWENTY-FIFTH Wedding Anniversary.....their choice of restaurants was Johnny Cace's (a very established seafood restaurant in Longview).....it is a more elegant dining experience and not a "loud" environment.....well, not until this night!

We had been at our table for a lengthy amount of time and (all) the boys were getting restless and decided to walk around.  Lauren, Monica, and I were sitting at the table when a group of waiters/waitresses came out of the kitchen singing Happy Anniversary.  We were looking around to see where they were going....yes!  You guessed it ~ they were coming to our table!  Monica & I were sang to!!!  It was hilarious and we received some looks ~ WE thought it was hysterical!  ((Hence the pictures of us (pretend) kissing!))

I love spending time with family ~ and I love sharing laughter and good times with them!

A Week in the Life of MY 3rd Grader!

Meet the Teacher Night

Logan and Erik

Breakfast of Champions

First Day of School

Brand New School ~ Brand New Year!

Mrs. Sanford & Logan

I'm Not Sure that Anyone Other than Myself & My Parents Ever Get to See this Side of Logan....

He Got to Choose Our Supper Location......Papacitas!  YUMMY!

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

I've Eaten Lunch with Logan Every Friday Since 1st Grade....

This is After Lunch-Waiting to Go into the Gym!

The first week was a total success!  Logan loves his teacher and says that 3rd grade days go by faster than his other grades!  I think that's a good thing. 

I can't believe that I have a 3rd grader.  Thinking back (a long time ago) - I remember 3rd grade being my favorite.  I hope that this will be that kind of year for Logan as well.

Hudson PEP doesn't play around....he had his first spelling test this week (He made a 105!) which included genre, illustrator, and other HARD words....he will soon surpass me in all his knowledge!

Last Summer Hurrah!

I was able to take off work this past Wednesday and spend the day with Logan.  He chose to go to Splash Kingdom for our last summer hurrah!  We had a GREAT time.  Logan said, "I wouldn't have wanted to spend it any other way"!  He melted my heart!

"Dare to be a Daniel"

First...I will admit that I STINK at using my camera. There are TOO many options for picture taking. All I want to do is point and click and have a PROFESSIONAL! looking picture. UGH! Hopefully you can see Logan in some of these pictures.

Today was the end of summer program at Oakland Heights. I was so impressed that they took the time to learn and perform this musical. I'm blessed that Logan is able to attend after-school care and summer at OHBC. Logan did not have a part in the play because 1. He was out for most of the weeks leading up to the performance and 2. He doesn't do parts!

As I was sitting and listening & watching these children perform I began thinking.

Children are gifts from God.

I love my son.

I am thankful that God chose ME to be Logan's mommy.

What a HUGE responsibility parenting is.

I find myself overwhelmed, at times, with single-motherhood.

I wish I could be a Stay-at-Home Mom (most days!).

I am thankful for my wonderful boss that allows me the time to be at ALL of Logan's programs/parties/etc.

I am thankful for parents that love Logan and me - UNCONDITIONALLY!

I have really great friends.

The Lord sent His son to die on the cross for ME.

If I could choose anyone to change places with...I wouldn't.

I overthink - yes, I know!

I sometimes wonder if I love Logan, as much as I do, because I wanted him so badly. I knew I would never be able to "have" my own child and there was never a guarantee that I would have an "adopted" child. Logan truly IS a gift (if you don't believe this - go back and read my 1st post!)! I'm sure I don't love Logan anymore than any other parent and I'm sure I don't cherish everything as I should but there's no doubt that when I look at Logan I see Jesus and I am thankful for that.

Ephesians 1:5 He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

He's Home!

Welcoming Campers to Closing Ceremonies

Waiting on Their Cabin "Awards"

Last Picture with Pajamas!

Well, Logan is home. Safe & Sound. Tired. Cuddly. Dirty!

To my surprise he actually smiled when he saw me (instead of frowning like last year) but didn't want a hug when anyone was looking. I can live with that, at least I got a smile!

I LOVE Pine Cove.

I would highly recommend it to any parent/child that is able to go (even though the separation is bittersweet...but in the end - worth it). If the week the children are there is as full of the Spirit as it is during Closing Ceremonies, I can certainly understand the children's tears upon leaving.

When I think of Logan growing up and wonder what he will be when he "grows-up" I can't help but believe that as long as he is a Godly Man everything else is secondary. My prayer for Logan is that he falls in love with the Lord more everyday. What could be better than saying your child is sold out for the Lord?

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
(And in my case.....Mother)