Did my daughter REALLY just take her "first steps"?

God always has a PERFECT plan. GOD'S PLAN: To make sure Toby and I could both watch Aniela (our Angel) take her first four steps together! WOW. What a miracle.

Of course by the time I got the camera out, she had lost interest. I think that is because her first steps were NOT conscious. I really think she had no clue what she was doing until mommy got the camera! LOL.

Enjoy Grandparents! Enjoy! (this is after our small miracle)

I am so proud of you Mikey!

I am about to celebrate with my best friend his marriage to his soul mate. For those of you that know me well know that Mike has been more than a best friend to me all these years. He has become a brother to me. 

I am just recalling all of our memories. You know in movies how when they "do" flashbacks, the memories just flow so fast you can't even keep up? That's my Mike in my head. A friendship like Mike and I's is EXTREMELY rare to come by. And I have been so blessed to make him a part of my life.

I asked Mike if I could give the "best man" speech. He laughed a little (so did I)... we were both thinking --- if I had a pair of "balls" I would be giving the best "man" speech. OOPPS, never mind - I don't want to offend anyone. :) 

Needless to say, Mike did tell me I could give "a" speech. And so I've been thinking about this like crazy. What do you say about someone you would do anything for (and vise versa)? What do you say about someone that knows more about you than sometimes you care to remember yourself? What do you say about someone who has shared all the sorrows, all the joy and all the in betweens? How can you get everything your heart wants to say into about a minute of telling everyone what a great person he is? Wow. This is going to be hard.

I am sitting here a little teared up just thinking about it. I remember how sometimes Mike was the only one "really" ever there for me. You know, sometimes people find it so hard to believe that a married girl could still claim her best friend as a male. But I assure you I have been blessed with a hubby who totally "gets it." And thank GOD because I don't know what I would do without my Mikey. Like I said, he's my brother, he's my blood. 

In honor of a man who knows how to treat a female (and btw Jenny  I taught him all that!).  Oh wait, I am not supposed to give such secrets away. LOL. Well anyways, although Mikey might not always understand the "wacko" emotions a woman can bring to a relationship, he respects it. And that's honestly all he needs to bring to his marriage. Also, I know for a fact Mike CANNOT live without Jenny. And therefore, I know he's committed to always making her happy. I am so proud of who he has become. He used to be a lazy, no good, piece of.... ooops, I meant, he always tried really hard to make the best of any circumstance he was given. Jenny you got a GOOD ONE. A best friend for life - that's the most important thing in a marriage.

And Mikey - this ones for you: Remember when.....

• you were in the closet for like 4 hours (LMAO)
• I brought Gracey Girl home
• we practiced for hours trying to perfect Copperhead Road
• our trip to El Paso (all 24 hours worth.... ughhhh....)
• I brought you to theMILL and introduced you to Jesus
• You hooked up with some total flops
• I hooked up with some total flops
• that night we got so drunk we couldn't even remember the next day (oh wait, you remembered, I didn't)
• what about that night i made you drive me around for hours because i didn't want to go home
• and all the tears you let me cry for the many sorrows I suffered (do you realize you were there for all of them, but one)
• There is just toooo many to recall on here, but there's a start!

Mike, I am so honored to be in your wedding. And we both know that if I had a beard I would be standing next to you when you marry the sweetest girl I know, Jenny. I love you more than you will ever know. You have blessed my life with more love than I know I deserve. 

My Soul Mate; My hubby, but More MY BEST FRIEND

So today marks exactly two years since Toby and I boarded a plane to St.Petersburg, Fl. Wow. That went fast. I am in awe of how my life has changed for the better since he has been in my life. Sunday will be our two year anniversary and though that seems so short... I assure you it is not. The life-long connection that Toby and I began with each other just over three years ago has never slacked. In fact just the opposite has happened for us. Wow.

I remember years ago... not too many years... I thought my world was over. I thought I could never find true love (especially from a man); the kind you read about in fairy tales. And I have had my share of sorrows and doubts, I have been shit, oops, pooped on, and lied to and basically left to dry by many of "boys" in my days.... but WoW. There's that word again. I never thought I was good enough to get someone like Toby.

And to all you girls out there that think you have to settle, I assure you don't. God has someone so perfect for you. Do your time. And God will bless you. LOL. That sounds silly I know, but its true. Serve God, and its amazing what he'll bless you with.

Sometimes I wish I could sit here and describe my thoughts to you about my husband. The thoughts like how much our "arguments" make us stronger for each other, or how his patience has played such an important part in who God wants me to ultimately be, period. Or how much he lets me get away with, and still is the only person to remind me just how great life can be when you have someone to share it with. There are a lot of those thoughts. But basically when its all said and done... in the end my life has been reserved to serve my husband. And no money or possessions can buy that piece of mind.

I am so happy doing life with you Toby. So happy. I know God has great plans for us, but I love the not-knowing feeling I have right now, because it causes me to appreciate the finer things in life. The things that don't always matter to other people. And that... well that is worth any sacrifice that was, is, or will ever be made for two people to love with an unselfish love (one that is only of God).

Prepared? Who Me? No. Never.

Before I bore you with details of my crazy life the last week, I am excited going to tell you about my adventure yesterday. So. Aniela and I are out shopping all day because I have been extremely overwhelmed with my circumstance the last week, so I needed to get out and spend money and grocery shop. I am always prepared when I shop, especially at Wal-Mart. I get out my very convenient shopping cart cover for Auni, I wipe the bars (she likes to eat them, geez she likes to eat everything), grab the sanitizer and the shopping list, oh' yeah and not to forget the wallet etc. Then we head in. I tend to dilly dally because I love to shop! BTW The following information is rated "R." But yesterday, I had a bathroom emergency. YUCK! I hate using Wally's bathrooms (they are NEVER clean). But, what was I to do? So I grab Auni, my purse, and leave the cart in the doorway and run to the toilet. Oh' Sheeza! What am I gunna do with my Auni, I can't leave her on the floor. Grrr. Well. I put her in my lap. And there she sat until I had to the do the infamous wipe clean. So I stand her up, barely holding on to her, OMG, this is getting too detailed. Anyways, it was VERY complicated.

And you thought that was the end of my brutal honesty? LOL. NOT!

So I hear the rain pouring on the roof, and I look at Auni and say, Uh Oh! We better get an umbrella. Well its time to leave and I go out the front door and to my amazement, its not just pouring, its more than pouring! OH SHEEZA! Now what do I do? Wait? or Go? Because these clouds look awfully horrendous. And they don't seem to be hurrying. GO!

Poor me. Auni was well protected, but me, well I should have just gotten naked and taken a shower, I WAS DRENCHED! So needless to say Aniela experienced her first downpour and mommy experienced one of her first real sacrifices of comfort.

Prepared? Me? Well of course I was prepared, but not for all that!