Back on a warm summer Saturday afternoon Heather and I was out with the boys doing our regular every Saturday afternoon errands. We pulled into a parking lot and parked beside another van that had a battery powered kids ride on toy strapped to the top. Of course Lil Man decided right away that is what he just had to have. I explained to him that this kind of toy is not something you go out and buy everyday. This kind of toy was … I thought for a minute and then I responded … This is a SANTA toy. He looked at me quizzically and I explained to him that if he was really a good little boy then maybe Santa would bring him one of these particular ride on toys for Christmas. Boy – OH – Boy! Lil Man has not forgotten our talk about Santa and the Christmas toy.  He has said many times over again that if he was a good little boy then Santa would bring him ‘this ride on toy’ for Christmas.  Of course I would always be sure to stop and ask him what Christmas is all about and he will quickly tell me that Christmas is Baby Jesus birthday … no hesitation. I want him to be excited about Christmas but I also want to make sure he understand the true meaning of Christmas. I’ve done a good job … I think.  He will talk to us about Christmas and celebrating Jesus birthday without any mention of trees, food, toys, etc so I feel very good knowing that he understands Christmas.

NOW … here is the problem I have run into …

I have saved and saved to be able to buy this particular ride on toy for Lil Man this year.  Bless his heart he has been through so much and I was really getting excited to see that twinkle in his eye on Christmas morning when he woke up to find this sitting under (or beside) the Christmas tree … (minus the children of course)

This is the problem I have run into …

I made sure everyone in the family knew ‘Santa’ is bringing Lil Man the John Deere Gator pictured above for Christmas. I also made sure they knew that any contributions they choose to make toward purchasing said Gator would be greatly appreciated.  I was sure they all knew what Santa was bringing and they wouldn’t do anything to ’steal’ Santa’s thunder … so to speak.  BOY was I wrong.

My mother, sister, and brother-n-law all took off shopping last Friday. My mother had told me many times over she would help with the purchase of the Gator. While she hasn’t offered to come through with money to help buy the Gator she had not made any indication that she had other plans. I talked with her on Saturday and she said that when Lil Man saw what she had bought him for Christmas he would go wild. That was all I needed to hear!  She wouldn’t tell me what she had bought other than to say it was not the Gator. I wrecked my brain all weekend trying to think of what in the world she could have bought for him that could possibly be more exciting than the Gator he wanted so badly.  This morning she finally told me … my heart is breaking and I’m not sure how to handle this situation. Plans are all ready set for Christmas and to change them would be too much of a hassle for everyone involved. If we were having Christmas at Mama’s on Christmas Day then there would be no problem … Santa’s twinkle would be saved. We’re not … We are having Christmas at Mama’s on Christmas Eve because everyone already has other plans for Christmas Day. I don’t want to hurt my Mama’s feelings. With her health this may be the last Christmas she is with us and I don’t want to spoil it for her … BUT I don’t want it spoiled for Santa either … OK that sounds selfish but Lil Man getting Christmas from his Mo (my Mama) BEFORE he receives Christmas from Santa will definitely put a damper on anything Santa will bring …

Why??  This is WHY … This is what my Mama bought Lil Man for Christmas (minus the children)  …

See what Santa is up against?  What would you do?  All I can do is cry and Santa crying, four days before Christmas, is not pretty.

Thanksgiving is my second all time favorite holiday. I have smelled turkey cooking for the past three days … at the office … where no one is even cooking! Go Figure! At any rate I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving feast tomorrow and the opportunity to spend the day with those I love.

I try to keep myself on the positive side and not allow my thoughts to linger too long on the things that changed this past year. There are certain things I miss greatly. But in missing those things I have also found a small peace of mind that allows me to truly enjoy the things I have to be thankful for.

This past year the Lord has blessed my life in many ways. I have a beautiful new grandson who is simply out of this world. I still have Lil Man with me and the reassurance that no one is going to be able to come in and rip him out of my life. (My attorney assures me that Lil Man won’t be going anywhere and I trust that!). I have a new home. I have never been without a roof over my head but in my adult years I have never had a roof over my head that I loved enough to actually call home … it was always a house … now I have a home. Somewhere I enjoy going and something I can be proud of. It’s real and it’s beautiful and it’s spacious … it’s home … it is filled with God’s love and spirit. That is what makes it a home.

I will kick off this Thanksgiving holiday, not by cooking all night as I have done in the past, but by taking Lil Man over to Asheville, NC to see Disney on Ice – Finding Nemo.  He is so excited and I can not wait to see his little face lite up when he finally gets to see Mickey Mouse! Oh the joy that little man will bring to my heart tonight by simply being allowed to watch the excitement on his face.  I may not be able to tell you one thing about the show but I’m sure I will be able to tell you ever experssion that little boy shares. I’m ubber excited!

Thanksgiving morning I will rise early to snuggle with Lil Bit while everyone else sleeps in. He starts his day around 5:30am and those early morning smiles, giggles, and snuggles with that precious little boy is better than any cup of latte I could ask for. (I just hope he is feeling better by tomorrow … right now he is one sick little boy … found out yesterday he has pneumonia but we are staying positive that the antibiotics and breathing treatments will kick in fast and he’ll be back to his usual loving little self real soon)

I plan to sit cuddled on the sofa with both Lil Bit and Lil Man and watch the Macy’s Day Parade in it’s entirety. I haven’t watched every minute of that parade in over 20 years.  I’m always busy cooking and baking and preparing for company. NOT this year.  I’m going to my sister’s this year. I’ll make a couple of easy dishes to take along but I’m not doing the BIG cooking this year.

Well … not until Saturday … Saturday I will be making the BIG meal … to celebrate Thanksgiving in my new home. Hopefully with both of my daughters sitting at the table … hopefully … praying … maybe the one who strayed will find her way home … at least for Thanksgiving dinner.

May you and your family be blessed this holiday season and may your Thanksgiving be filled with love, memories, and the spirit of Jesus Christ in your lives.

God Bless you all

Brady Halloween 2009, originally uploaded by NC_Belle36.

This is the other little boy that I love to no end. He, like Lil Man lives in my home and I have him to look forward to every evening when I go home from work and every morning when I first wake up. He’s precious and the personality he is developing is brighter than any star I have seen in the sky … well almost … there is one star shining brightly that I will get to meet one day.

This is my Brady bug. We call him Buster Brown. I’m not really sure why but it just seems to fit. It is amazing to realize how much this little boy has grown in the past eight months. It is equally hard to believe he is crawling, pulling up, and starting to contemplate taking that first step. I pray I don’t miss his first ventures of walking. Lil Man decided he wanted to go from first steps to full blown walking while I was out of town on business.

Yes … this little boy is my pride and joy. Just like Lil Man he holds a special place in my heart that was made just for him.

See our other Halloween Photos! We went to the Fall Festival at our Church where kids were asked to dress as Biblical Characters.  Lil Man was David. He would tell people he killed a giant with his sling shot and a rock. So Cute!!  Brady Bug was Moses. The basket we used belongs to his Mama. Her grandmother (my Mama) made if  for her about 22 years ago. He was precious!

A day at the fair, originally uploaded by NC_Belle36.

This little boy … This precious gift from God … well …

He just continues to burst my heart with pride. He has such a sweet spirit and he loves endlessly. For the most part he is always smiling and when I go home at the end of a very long day all it takes to make my day at the office go away is to hear him say …

“Nanneee, my miss you today”

Oh how my heart strings rip away.

Lord how I love this little boy!

I have always admired Step2 products. They have such a wide variety of items and they are reasonably priced.  We have long been dreaming for and eyeing the Naturally Playful Sand & Water Activity Center but alas it’s always seems that just when we are at a point to purchase something else comes along demanding the extra money we’ve saved. None the less I was absolutely tickeled ‘kitcheny’ today when I heard that Jentifa over at The Dirty Shirt is having an awesome giveaway for a Step2 Modern Lines Kitchen.  She has several ways to enter! Visit her site and regardless of whether you win the kitchen or not you will have an awesome new blog to follow.