Sunday, April 29, 2007

Ramblings...

1. It is looking like my sister and her family will arrive stateside for good in the middle of June. We are eagerly anticipating that arrival while recognizing that they have spent the past 10 years of their live preparing to invest and then investing in the lives of the Aja people. There are many hard goodbyes to be said before they begin their journey home. The Kingdom has advanced because they went...We celebrate that.

2. Payton thinks there are 3 parents in our family and only one child. The other day Tony was explaining to Benjamin why he must sit down while we are at a restaurant. Benjamin was explaining why he could not. Payton said, "Excuse me dad, I am with Benjamin on this one, let's just let this one go." Tony then went from disciplining one child to disciplining two.

3. I have always read about the switch...when boys go from wanting their mom to wanting their dad...supposedly a vital part of development in the life of a boy. It has happened around here. Their dad arrives home and Payton will often say, "would you like to go grab a Starbucks while we have guy time?" Thankfully, I still feel very loved (and every once in awhile Tony really does let me leave and go get a Starbucks.)....my boys still run and jump in my arms whether I have been gone 2 days or 15 minutes...and it is one of the greatest delights of my life to see them love their dad...after all, I am crazy about him too.

4. We have someone that leaves gifts on our porch...no note...just little packages at random times. Some of the gifts are explainable- ie childrens books, toys others, like today, a tiny rum cake...No note. Just the gift. Whoever you are, thanks.

5. Benjamin is potty trained. I was wanting to wait until after our vacation. He woke up one morning and said, "I am not wearing diapers again." He trained himself in a day. We have only had one accident. It happened to be while Tony was holding him at small group. I should not be smiling as I type this...but it still makes me laugh.

6. What is up with vitamin enriched Diet coke plus? My friendly checker at Walmart said it helps with energy levels and gives you several nutitional benefits. Now I love Diet Coke, but come on America...would it kill you to just eat an apple or some type of vegetable every once in awhile. (I address the nation as a whole because my blog audience is so huge, what I should of said is , "Come on you two.")

7. Signed up for tennis lessons today. Tony has been wanting us to do some type of sporting activity together this summer. We chose tennis for this year. I coached tennis for a year and loved it...we're excited to get back into it.

8. Tony found a Cottonmouth water moccasin yesterday, actually he and Payton found it. Here is a vital difference in my husband and I...I wanted to call Animal control. Tony went and got a trash can picked it up with the broom and then poked it , watched it strike the broom, showed the boys, explained how it is important to look but not touch (I know I recognized some inconsistency in this one as well), took some pictures, showed the neighbors...I quit reminding him it was poisonous after the 200th time...He killed it later...I did not sleep well last night thinking about that snake being in a garbage bag. In all of the excitement, I was so thankful that Tony saw the snake, grabbed it and handled it. Later (on google), I read that Cottonmouths are one of the most aggresive and poisonous snakes in TX. I thanked the Lord over and over again for His protection over our boys who were playing right in the same area Tony saw the snake only moments earlier. Once again, thankful for who I married.

9. One of Payton's friends was over the other day playing and they broke a toy. I heard both boys lamenting when Payton said, "Hey, let's not worry, I bet my mom can fix this." His friend said, "do you think she could?" and Payton said, "Honestly, she is the smartest girl I know...I don't know anyone else like her."

10. Last night Benjamin got up in the middle of the night and came into our bedroom. He came to my side of the bed and said, "Mom, I sure missed you when you were in Benin. Would you hold me?" I have never been so happy to get up at 3 in the AM.

12 comments:

jaime s said...

Love your thoughts, your family, your friendship!! Sure are enjoying having your parents and Nika here this week!! We can't wait for the Vaughns arrival in June!!

Love you!1

Kendra said...

Awww . . now those are some sweet little stories! I needed a Brooks, Inc. boost - thanks for that. (From one of your 2 readers!)

Amy Woods said...

Hey Becky! I so love reading your posts!! I even find myself passing on your little stories to my family! So here we are at #3.....!!!!!

Amy (McRae) Woods

Shelly said...

I laughed through all of these and then cried on the last one! What precious boys!!!

And congrats on being all done w/ diapers!! Whoo hooooo!

Chesley said...

That is precious that Benjamin came in at 3:00 a.m.! I know that was worth the wake up!

emily anna said...

Your boys are SO sweet! I hope you have a great trip!

Courtney said...

I get so excited when I click your link and there's an update. I know I have some good reading ahead of me! You are a tremendous encouragement to me! Does Benjamin want to come over and convince Little John that he doesn't want to wear diapers anymore?

Giggi said...

Cute stories! Looks like you have way more than 2 readers! Always love to hear about the boys! Love ya, Kathy

Lyndsey said...

How I miss those boys! And I'm with you on the snake (although that's sounds preferable to our mouse & bedbugs here!) - and the Diet Coke Plus. It didn't taste right at all. :) Love you so!
...and notice that I'm reader #9 and their are 2 Goodes on their way back from Jamaica as we speak who have yet to read!

Jill said...

great stories, becky!! i don't even know your boys, but just hearing your stories about them makes me smile :).

Unknown said...

Always love your stories! Thanks for the card - it came at just the right time!
Hugs!

Sam said...

great stories. I do have to point out that I especially loved number 8 as it best describes Tony and you. You describe Tony perfectly, but by hyping up the story by calling it a cottonmouth watermocassin, a dangerous hybrid supersnake that was unknown to man until Tony found one the other day, you you give the story a unique exxagerated feel that makes it uniquley Becky.