Tatey Is Our King: I Hope You're Ready for a Roller Coaster Ride...

Sunday, December 6, 2009

I Hope You're Ready for a Roller Coaster Ride...

Well...here it comes. It's been a full year since I updated my blog (I do realize I'm a slacker) and much has happened. Thanksgiving was Tate's 2nd birthday. I can't believe how big he is! We celebrated his birthday the weekend before turkey day. We rented a "bouncy house" and had the party at home. He had a great day! He was so excited to play and bounce. He pretty much spent the entire day outside bouncing.

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Easter...

We had a great Easter this year! Tatey got a lot of gifts...both Grammy and Papa and Grandma Joan sent easter baskets, plus the bunny had to come for a visit. Our neighbor rented a bunny costume and invited us to take a few pictures with our tiny man. Our neighbor decorates her house for ever holiday, but Easter is by far Tate's favorite. She hangs easter eggs from her tree...and he can't get enough of it. We went to an Easter egg hunt at a friends house before eating with Trav's family. He loved the egg hunt and the confetti eggs. They have a tradition of cracking them on each other's heads for good luck. It was a giant mess...but sooo much fun!

I love this baby so much! He has brought so much love and happiness into our lives. He is so funny! Each day he learns and says something new that just completely cracks me up! He had such a great birthday. He played in his bouncy house until it was pitch black dark and you couldn't see anything. And then...the bouncy house had to go nigh night. For some reason, if you tell him it's time to stop bouncing he freaks, but if you merely tell him that the house has to go nigh night...he's ok with it and will come inside. Nigh night bouncy house.

Brace Yourselves...Here it Comes....

This past year has been an interesting one to say the least. It has been filled with so much happiness...mixed in with the heaviest sadness I have ever felt. On November 2, 2009 Phat (aka Taylor) passed away. He had just turned 9. For the past 3 1/2 years he fought hard against leukemia. As you all know...I don't exactly like Texas. I have often questioned why I am here...why did Trav have to get into school in Texas of all places? As is often the case, we don't realize God's plan for us until we look back upon the twists and turns of our life. And suddenly...it makes sense to me. We moved here and got to live life with Phat for an entire year and a half...time I would have missed out on had we moved any where else. I am so grateful for the time I was able to spend with him. I was able to attend his birthdays, his baptism, watch him play video games and shoot hoops, and was able to eat at Taco Tote more times than I can remember. I am so grateful to Erin and Jason for being willing to share him with us...to let us take part in their quiet family moments and experience their son.

Love is such an interesting emotion. When I met Trav, I thought I knew the full measure of love...and then we had Tate. And just like in the Grinch...your heart literally grows until you think it might burst from your chest with love. But with such an understanding of love, comes the equal understanding of loss. The loss of Phat has taught me so much...and I'm sure will continue to teach me as we all continue to grieve and again find a way to stand upright and face the world. Phat taught me so much in his short life.

He taught me to value each day, to love deeply, and that there's no greater place than home. I am very thankful for my faith in God and the Plan of Salvation. I am thankful for Christ's sacrifice that I might have everlasting life...complete with my eternal family. There is a poem that I tend to recite to myself quite often. I first heard it when my Grandpa passed away, and since then it has often crossed my mind each time I think of him (which is daily). Invariably, as I think of Phat, it's also what I think of.

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

So..I'll stop talking about sadness...if everyone of you agrees to hug your loved ones and keep them close. Treat every day as though it is your last...and smother those you care for with love. To all of you that are reading this...I love you more than you will ever know. Thank you for being my family, my friends, and people I will never ever forget.

Daddoo's Present

Trav's birthday is on the 29th and Scotty couldn't wait to give him his present. He wrapped it in princess paper (to pay trav back for the lovely girly paper he picked for scott's b-day is July). Trav got the Nerf Vulcan...a machine gun. It's great. Did I say that with enough sarcasm? If not..here it is again....it's great. I really love it. Thank you scootie. Oh well...trav loved it. The little boys' jaw's dropped when he opened it...you could almost see the slobber drool out of their mouths as he opened the box.