Hiking

  

Over the summer, Austin got the idea that he wanted to hike.  I'm not sure what brought this on, but one day it was decided--he wanted to hike.  I couldn't remember  too many trails around our area, so I started to ask around.  We have a friend who lives up the hill from us (the same friend that used to ride bike to school with his daughter and Austin last year.), he generously offered to go hiking with us one day.   It was a nice day for a hike and wonderful day for all of us.

As I asking about hike areas my sister, Carol, suggested a hike area at Todd Lake.  We talked about a date to go and last Sunday was the day!  We met up and headed out.  Mike and Austin were not too interested in the hike, so they took my dads refurbished boat and went up to paddle in the water.  The rest of us headed to the trail.

Adam and Grace 

We stopped at a stream and let the kids rock hop :)  Adam seemed to enjoy it!

Adam wanted pictures of him and Grace on certain rocks.  That was easy enough to oblige to.

This was Adam's idea for a pose.  I think it is precious!

Grace found a fallen tree.  She decided that the front part (the roots) was a lion, and the back part (the trunk) was a dinosaur.  In the end it was Lionosaur. She had to have Adam and her ride it .  Such an imagination!

 Another pose that Adam found.  3 trees placed perfectly for him and Grace to stand between.

I loved hiking with Adam and hope Austin will join us next time.  It was such an enjoyable day!

Starting School

This month has been a busy one!!  Since our trip to PA, we had another week or so at home before heading back to set up for the school year.  In that time we had several get together type evenings for one school or another.  We took the boys to a local water park and had a wonderful relaxing afternoon.  There seemed to be so many things to do right before school started.

The day after the water park,  Mike and I headed out the door to get back in the swing of things.  Austin and Adam had some good quality Mamaw and Papaw time.  :)

Mike and Austin started school at EMHS (EMMS for middle school) the next Monday.  Austin really seems to enjoy his classes and teachers.  So far, this seems to be a really good fit for him.  He recently told me that he signed up for Art Club.  I was nervous at the beginning of the year because all the children that Austin knew that would be in his class--they were all placed in the other classroom.  However, we did find that he knew of some other kids that we did not know were going there.  So friend wise things turned out fine.

Adam and I started school the next day.  So far that has been a good experience for Adam.  He is doing well in his classes, he seems to be making friends (for a shy boy it takes a little time), and he is always eager to sign up for new activities.  So far, Adam has signed up for Eagle Singers, the Fall Musical, Art Club,  he will most likely do some days of After School activities, When the exercise program starts before school--I'm sure he will be eager to do that as well.  (maybe shy isn't the word, just not talkative  :)

I am really proud of both of my boys and how they handled the new school situations this year.  They have both taken it in stride and made the most of it to make it a positive experience.

Trip to PA

Last weekend we went to see Mike's parents in PA.  We had not been there since Christmas.  This trip was probably long over due.

One thing the boys love about going to Grandma and Grandpa's house is they have riding "toys."  Adam loves to ride on (Grandpa calls it a tractor, I call it...) the lawn mower.  Grandpa put a gravel path around the house so the boys would have something to drive their toys on.  (It even has a speed limit sign  :)  )  There is a small bridge that they need to drive over and they do pretty well.

 Adam would go very slowly over the bridge then speed up as soon as he was on the other side.  He only fell off the bridge once--No one and Nothing were hurt  :)

Adam would often do one lap with the lawn mower, then do a lap with...

This bike.  I think this is an old picture, but I couldn't find a current one with Austin riding it.  Austin was more likely to ride this.

.One afternoon, we went to the Devil's Potato Patch.  I think it's probably clear why it is called that.  The boys had fun climbing on the rocks and going here and there.  It was just unbelievable to me how many HUGE rocks there were. It was a nice adventure for the afternoon.

We probably won't be back to visit again until some time near the holidays.  But the boys know that those riding toys will be waiting for them.  (and if the weather is mild, they may get an afternoon in the potato patch!)

Adam is 10

Adam turned 10 on July 25th.  We had a few friends over the week before to celebrate Adam's big day. Adam had plans as to what he wanted to do with his friends on this evening.  However, we did not know that is would rain.  We got out our loose Lego blocks and the boys were very happy.  

The room was silent for some time, except for the sound of the blocks being shuffled to find the perfect block.  They made some pretty wonderful creations.   The rain let up and they got to play outside for a little. They played cats eye (a game Mike made up), jumped on the trampoline, and played extreme hide and seek.

One of the traditions we have started is that once our boys are double digits, they can start to have sleep overs.  So, the boys stayed for the night.  The 3 boys (Adam, Noah, and Jonathan) are all in the same Sunday School class at church.  They get along so well.  I am so glad that Adam has such wonderful church friends.

Adam noticed in March that our local news station does birthdays and anniversaries.  He wanted to know if my birthday was going to be on the news.  I told him no.  He said that he wanted to have his picture on for his birthday, and he wanted to do Austin's as well.  So, I sent in a picture for both.  Austin's was in June.  I sent in this picture for Adam.

However, the morning of his birthday we watched the news to see our sweet 10 year old boy.  They did not put it on, for some reason or another.  He was so sad.  I tried to make his day better.  We finally decided that we would go to the donut truck.

We have a truck to travels to several locations around our area.  They make donuts right in front of you, and they have several different flavors.  Adam was so excited about getting these (clearly I don't buy donuts very often).  Adam got to choose most of the flavors we got.

And he was pretty happy walking to the car with this wonderful treat.

Adam, you are such a sweet boy.  We have been so blessed to have you in our family for 10 years.  You have certainly made us look at things from a different angle.  You stretch our minds with your deep thoughts. You have shown us that when  you like something there is a new level of passion that we had not seen before.  God has blessed us by placing you in our family!!

kitchen

More

As I was just tucking Adam into bed I asked him, "Do you know how much I love you?"

He replied, "A whole lot?"

I said, "More than that."

He thought for a moment and said, "I don't really know how to put it into words."

I told him, "I don't either."

That was a warm heart, Mommy moment.

Austin's Prayer

My blog posts are usually comical little clips out of our normal life.  Nothing to heavy, just "moments with my boys."  I have been thinking about this post for a few days, and I think I'll give it try, even though it is not typical clip from our lives.

The other Sunday we were talking about trusting God and trusting that the outcome of situations would turn out and be the way he wants them.

A situation came to mind.  When this friend and I had a chance to talk later that week I told her of this story.

 My sister asked me at some point if I had ever recorded it.  As I thought how to answer that, I had always thought that it was somewhat of a personal story to my heart, but I shared it when I thought it might encourage a friend.  The more I thought about it, the more I thought, "why not share it.  If it encourages someone-great.  But mostly, I want Austin to have access to this story."

I have been very open about Austin health when he was first born.  He was a very sick little boy!  The Doctor's could not figure out what was wrong with him.  They ran, what seemed to be, every test they could think of and found NOTHING!!  They were have phone conferences with the University Hospital (about 1 hour away--with a larger NICU), the pediatric group that was caring for Austin met over lunch (there are at least 10 Doctor's in this group)--their topic of discussion: Austin.  On his 6th day in the hospital nursery, I woke up--the nurses had not called me to come feed him.  So, I strolled down to the nursery to feed him.  One of my favorite nurses that took care of Austin stopped me when she saw me coming.  She said, "He stopped breathing, he turned blue.  I resuscitated him...."  She continued, but I don't think I heard much of what she had to say after that.  I talked to the Doctor, I do not remember much of what he had to say either.

I went back to my room and I sat on my bed thinking--since I clearly could do nothing for this situation.  I thought over my pregnancy.  I was determined that I was going to take care of my baby while pregnant.  Then I went on bed rest.  I was going to get through that, it was best for my baby.  As I sat on the bed in my room, knowing that my baby was having tests done, and I couldn't help in the least, it occurred to me that I can only do so much for my child.  I can eat nutritionally, and make healthy choices.  I can do bed rest, but in the end I should not have been relying on myself, I should have been relying more on God.

I'm realizing this while in my room down the hall from the nursery.  I sat there and prayed, "God, I should not rely on me to bring up this child.  He is more yours than he his mine.  If I only get him for a week, I will know that was in your will.  I will be sad, but you know best."

Shortly after that (the time frame gets fuzzy here), the Doctor came into my room he looked baffled.  He said, "I cannot explain it, Austin is doing better.  He going going against EVERYTHING that the texts books say he should be doing.  I don't know why..."

I thought to myself, "you don't have to tell me why, I know!"

That was my first lesson in parenting--My child has mine by genes, but truly I have been blessed to foster him.  He is by far, more God's than he will ever be mine.