We are now into the month of December and time is slipping by really fast. I cannot seem to keep up. I think I would feel the same way if I were not pregnant. Things are just spinning around me and it's all very fast.
Someone asked me if I would like time to hurry up because of the baby.. I said "no". time is going perfectly fine. I seem to like the pace. although i hope I get the chance to get the Christmas Cards out...hmmm next thing i know it's our anniversary...(7 years) and then a week later it's Christmas and then New Years. Is this how fast things have been going. I still think it is august... but with out the heat...
Love December. There is just such a great buzz in the air. It's the lights and the music and the parties and the red and green and the rest of the festivities. Dan and I wanted to get married in December because we both love this month. We are Christmas junkies, although we don;t go Griswold crazy, it's just a beautiful time of year. I cant say that the people of Naples find it in their hearts to have the Christmas spirit and display the "Peace on Earth Good will toward men" attitude. They Don't. Naples is a very selfish place to live. It is rich or seasonal and if you work in a seasonal position for a job, you are selfish. It's all about you and money and making as much as possible so get out of my way.....if you are rich, you just have a "holier than thou attitude". I know there are many of you who agree, you see it everyday. Line in the post office, at CVS, at the Bagel Shop and more and somewhere in that line about ten of the twelve people are complaining that there are not enough service agents and stuff. RECESSION... CUT BACKS... HELLO...
Just how it is down here. What else. This is the Holiday season. The season of the holiday spirit. Hanukkah and Christmas, two very important religious holidays. Love them both, but Love Christmas Eve the most.
It's not a year for us to go hog wild and fully decorate our home this year. We are taking it easy. Dan calls it .."The Williams Touch of Christmas" and we will leave it at that. No tree will adorn the house this year. We are focused on something else... OH BABY.... due to arrive in in early march or late Feb. so we are just trying to get ready for our little Joey. We have some decorations up and it's enough because we know that next year for Joey's first Christmas, we will go all out. Have to ...it's just the way it's done... so for now..we are taking it easy, trying to keep up with the rapidly passing month and loving each other to the best we can.
Ahh December...the conclusion to the year... but a joyful time of year....
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
I Could Not Have Asked For A Better Phone Call....
My mother phoned me last week to tell me to put the TV on and watch the Florida/South Carolina football game.
"Honey " she said, "this is gonna be a great game...Steve Spurrier who coaches for SC used to coach for UF and that Tim Tebow. These are two great teams playing and I have to go to church. So you kids watch it, I will call you when I get home and let me know how the game was.... Also the other game I just saw was...." and she went on and on about college football.
When I hung the phone up and I put the game on I sat there and my nose started to get stuffy and my eyes began to fill up. A tear had not yet fallen. Dan came in and said..."what game?"
I told him about mom's phone call and he too stopped in his tracks. "You mean mom called to tell you about this game and all the stats on the players and coaches and more?"
I nodded.
Dan's face lit up...
"Do you know what this means honey?" I said to him.
Dan bit his lip....and nodded back at me...
"She's watching college football again." I said fighting a tear back.
You have no idea what this means and my mother's road back to the college football circut.
When Dad passed away last Sept. there was no talk of football and a sound of a game in her house for months. Not until my uncle Jake came to stay with her in January. When he was there in her home he watched football and mom only felt comfortable watching it with him. She needed him around to sit and watch the game with her... She did cheer for the Steelers in the Super Bowl at our Super Bowl party last year. (dad was a very good friend of one of the coaches for the Steelers)
Since Daddy spent his adult life coaching football, college football was a little tradition in the Mayo home. Mom would come home from work on Saturdays and sit in her recliner next to dad in his recliner and they would watch the college games. She could tell you more about the players, the teams, the coaches, the universities, the offensive and defensive coaches and players and all the families tied into the organization. It was remarkable. Same with the pro teams too. She knew it all. But when dad passed wanting Alabama to will the title last year (UF won) she wanted no part of it.
So you have to see, when I got the call to watch the game and she went on and on about the teams, I was more dumbfounded than anything. I was elated. I was happy. I was sad. I was over joyed for her. She came a long way this year not having my father around.
And you have to look at it like this...having the sound of football on in her house is like hearing
Yo Yo Ma play with the London Philharmonic....Heavenly.
We watched the Florida/South Carolina game that day. I don't even like college football, and Dan really isn't a big fan of it either. But we did it that day, just because mom asked us to and because she was so happy with the game.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible tell us... For everything there is a season. A time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to stop searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
She's finding a time to plant and harvest. She is finding time to heal, to tear down and build
again. She is still cries but laughing so much more. She still grieves and she dances like an angels to the sound of a harp. She is scattering stones and collecting them, she can embrace even harder and can't seem to find many reasons to turn away. She continues to search ans in some cases stops searching. She has found plenty to throw away, and she can mend the tear, find quiet time, has lots to speak about and more and more to love each day. there is no time for war in her, not even a personal one and she can find peace in her day each and every day.
This phone call was a little bit of mom's time shinning through and I could not have asked for a better phone call.
"Honey " she said, "this is gonna be a great game...Steve Spurrier who coaches for SC used to coach for UF and that Tim Tebow. These are two great teams playing and I have to go to church. So you kids watch it, I will call you when I get home and let me know how the game was.... Also the other game I just saw was...." and she went on and on about college football.
When I hung the phone up and I put the game on I sat there and my nose started to get stuffy and my eyes began to fill up. A tear had not yet fallen. Dan came in and said..."what game?"
I told him about mom's phone call and he too stopped in his tracks. "You mean mom called to tell you about this game and all the stats on the players and coaches and more?"
I nodded.
Dan's face lit up...
"Do you know what this means honey?" I said to him.
Dan bit his lip....and nodded back at me...
"She's watching college football again." I said fighting a tear back.
You have no idea what this means and my mother's road back to the college football circut.
When Dad passed away last Sept. there was no talk of football and a sound of a game in her house for months. Not until my uncle Jake came to stay with her in January. When he was there in her home he watched football and mom only felt comfortable watching it with him. She needed him around to sit and watch the game with her... She did cheer for the Steelers in the Super Bowl at our Super Bowl party last year. (dad was a very good friend of one of the coaches for the Steelers)
Since Daddy spent his adult life coaching football, college football was a little tradition in the Mayo home. Mom would come home from work on Saturdays and sit in her recliner next to dad in his recliner and they would watch the college games. She could tell you more about the players, the teams, the coaches, the universities, the offensive and defensive coaches and players and all the families tied into the organization. It was remarkable. Same with the pro teams too. She knew it all. But when dad passed wanting Alabama to will the title last year (UF won) she wanted no part of it.
So you have to see, when I got the call to watch the game and she went on and on about the teams, I was more dumbfounded than anything. I was elated. I was happy. I was sad. I was over joyed for her. She came a long way this year not having my father around.
And you have to look at it like this...having the sound of football on in her house is like hearing
Yo Yo Ma play with the London Philharmonic....Heavenly.
We watched the Florida/South Carolina game that day. I don't even like college football, and Dan really isn't a big fan of it either. But we did it that day, just because mom asked us to and because she was so happy with the game.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible tell us... For everything there is a season. A time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to stop searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace.
She's finding a time to plant and harvest. She is finding time to heal, to tear down and build
again. She is still cries but laughing so much more. She still grieves and she dances like an angels to the sound of a harp. She is scattering stones and collecting them, she can embrace even harder and can't seem to find many reasons to turn away. She continues to search ans in some cases stops searching. She has found plenty to throw away, and she can mend the tear, find quiet time, has lots to speak about and more and more to love each day. there is no time for war in her, not even a personal one and she can find peace in her day each and every day.
This phone call was a little bit of mom's time shinning through and I could not have asked for a better phone call.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Transformation
My husband said to me tonight that I do pregnant very well. I smiled and hugged him.
I have to say I think he is correct. I do not mean to gloat, but the pregnant walk that I am on has been a beautiful one. It has been extremely easy for me. I have no idea why I was chosen to have such an easy pregnancy, but so far so good. I am comfy and happy and seeing the hearts of the people I love come to love this unborn child is amazing. Last week my brother in law almost squealed when he saw my belly popping out. He was so excited. Even people at work. It's funny.
I think that if this pregnancy happened any time before this it most likely would not be the way it is now. But it's all the right time and I have to say, I am so glad this has happened now and not sooner and not later. This time in our marriage in my life seems to be the right time for our son to be born. We cannot be happier and Dan and I say every day to each other, how excited we are to meet our son Joey.
So according to the calender I am 23 weeks along in being pregnant. I have officially started my six month and this blows me away. I cannot believe it. ALREADY. So it's all moving so fast. There is so much to think about and what to do. Physically I am experiencing changes in my body that is so funny. The belly has popped and now I can rest my hands on it like a shelf. Just my hands, I cant eat a bowl of cereal off it yet, but I am sure that day will come soon. Getting comfy in bed is a challenge, but I cannot wipe the smile off my face. My heart is so happy, yet I cannot tolerate being around people. I have no tolerance for ignorant guests at the hotel. I cant stand incompetence, which I am faced with on a daily basis and people who do not do their job just should not have even bothered showing up for work. I cry at the drop of a dime at a TV commercial or a blow 'em up shoot 'em up movie and I have no ankles. My weight gain is great. I have only packed on 17 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. The funniest thing is though I have no craving right now. I have gone through the past few weeks with so much indecisiveness for food, that my poor husband just needs to call the shots on supper because I have no wan for anything.
Is this what it is suppose to be like? I mean I will eat? Sure, but when you ask what I would like....do me a favor and don't even ask. Nothing comes to mind.
The transformation is beginning....We have quite a bit more calender year left before our little boy arrives to our home. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and then our anniversary and then the Christmas holidays, new years and a bit more. The baby will have the spare bedroom as his haven. Tomorrow we will move the computer and printer into our room, and in a few weeks Dan's dad will be with us for a visit. We will then start working on the room once he leaves. You know the basic, blue walls, white trim, blue bedding, white crib. Boy stuff, Sports and Pirates and Dogs and stuff. I don't know. All I know is that I am sure the time will fly by and the next thing I know we will be walking into the hospital as husband and wife and a few hours later have a son. When we arrive home with him, Miles will greet us curiously and we will start our life as a family of four. Little by little, my closet is filling with baby stuff and baby clothes. People from work have given us so many things for the baby. Car seats, swings, clothes, toys, books, blankets all kinds of stuff, and I can't even think about what we need for him. The thought of interviewing the doctors is crazy...and so much more. Luckily I have been able to talk to a few people who have given me so much insight to how to approach things and what to think about. These women have just laid the foundation out for me and I can take or leave what they have said. Dan and I have to figure it all out on our own. It's kinda fun. We talk all the time about how we would like Joey to grow up and how we are looking to 'Parent" him and not "Befriend" him. (big difference).
With this transformation sometimes I get stuck. Sometimes I just cannot think about it and sometimes I just have to bury myself in a book or a puzzle to take me out of this journey. But as I said before, it's a walk that has been handed to me, to us with grace and love, unconditional love and each day I am thankful for the gift of little kicks and punches that I feel inside me...OOOO... Dan got to feel Joey kick the other night...he was so excited and naturally I cried, but to have this happen to us now....to transform us now...to be loved now....to love now...to be healed now....this is where it is all beginning for us, for me, for my family, and for my husband... It's all of our transformation, not just mine. I can't really sum it up either, it's just there and it's a good thing, this transformation.
I have to say I think he is correct. I do not mean to gloat, but the pregnant walk that I am on has been a beautiful one. It has been extremely easy for me. I have no idea why I was chosen to have such an easy pregnancy, but so far so good. I am comfy and happy and seeing the hearts of the people I love come to love this unborn child is amazing. Last week my brother in law almost squealed when he saw my belly popping out. He was so excited. Even people at work. It's funny.
I think that if this pregnancy happened any time before this it most likely would not be the way it is now. But it's all the right time and I have to say, I am so glad this has happened now and not sooner and not later. This time in our marriage in my life seems to be the right time for our son to be born. We cannot be happier and Dan and I say every day to each other, how excited we are to meet our son Joey.
So according to the calender I am 23 weeks along in being pregnant. I have officially started my six month and this blows me away. I cannot believe it. ALREADY. So it's all moving so fast. There is so much to think about and what to do. Physically I am experiencing changes in my body that is so funny. The belly has popped and now I can rest my hands on it like a shelf. Just my hands, I cant eat a bowl of cereal off it yet, but I am sure that day will come soon. Getting comfy in bed is a challenge, but I cannot wipe the smile off my face. My heart is so happy, yet I cannot tolerate being around people. I have no tolerance for ignorant guests at the hotel. I cant stand incompetence, which I am faced with on a daily basis and people who do not do their job just should not have even bothered showing up for work. I cry at the drop of a dime at a TV commercial or a blow 'em up shoot 'em up movie and I have no ankles. My weight gain is great. I have only packed on 17 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. The funniest thing is though I have no craving right now. I have gone through the past few weeks with so much indecisiveness for food, that my poor husband just needs to call the shots on supper because I have no wan for anything.
Is this what it is suppose to be like? I mean I will eat? Sure, but when you ask what I would like....do me a favor and don't even ask. Nothing comes to mind.
The transformation is beginning....We have quite a bit more calender year left before our little boy arrives to our home. Thanksgiving is right around the corner and then our anniversary and then the Christmas holidays, new years and a bit more. The baby will have the spare bedroom as his haven. Tomorrow we will move the computer and printer into our room, and in a few weeks Dan's dad will be with us for a visit. We will then start working on the room once he leaves. You know the basic, blue walls, white trim, blue bedding, white crib. Boy stuff, Sports and Pirates and Dogs and stuff. I don't know. All I know is that I am sure the time will fly by and the next thing I know we will be walking into the hospital as husband and wife and a few hours later have a son. When we arrive home with him, Miles will greet us curiously and we will start our life as a family of four. Little by little, my closet is filling with baby stuff and baby clothes. People from work have given us so many things for the baby. Car seats, swings, clothes, toys, books, blankets all kinds of stuff, and I can't even think about what we need for him. The thought of interviewing the doctors is crazy...and so much more. Luckily I have been able to talk to a few people who have given me so much insight to how to approach things and what to think about. These women have just laid the foundation out for me and I can take or leave what they have said. Dan and I have to figure it all out on our own. It's kinda fun. We talk all the time about how we would like Joey to grow up and how we are looking to 'Parent" him and not "Befriend" him. (big difference).
With this transformation sometimes I get stuck. Sometimes I just cannot think about it and sometimes I just have to bury myself in a book or a puzzle to take me out of this journey. But as I said before, it's a walk that has been handed to me, to us with grace and love, unconditional love and each day I am thankful for the gift of little kicks and punches that I feel inside me...OOOO... Dan got to feel Joey kick the other night...he was so excited and naturally I cried, but to have this happen to us now....to transform us now...to be loved now....to love now...to be healed now....this is where it is all beginning for us, for me, for my family, and for my husband... It's all of our transformation, not just mine. I can't really sum it up either, it's just there and it's a good thing, this transformation.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Still Lives On....
I tried to get this up yesterday. i thought it would be a great way to conclude the month of October...since it did happen on October 31st, but I just did not have time....
So here I am November 1st..wondering how has time gone by so fast.....
Yesterday was a bit of a special day for the Mayo Family. My mother, sister, brother- in-law and myself...(husband was working unfortunately) all met at Witerberry Sports Field in Marco Island. The last game of the Marco Island Eagles Football Season. This was special to us for many reasons...the last bit of my father's coaching career was spent with this young organization. He helped some of the coaches become one and coach the kids of Marco Island on how to play football. Marco was a little behind the times when it came to a youth league. Naples had strongly developed themselves into many "pop-warner" teams and Marco had nothing....
Really, when I moved there sixteen years ago for the fist time, Marco Island really was nothing but old people. Few families and even the YMCA had little programs for kids. The elementary school had one first grade, one second grade, one third grade, and so on. Now things have changed. There are families and children all over the place and the small 4x6 island has developed nicely into a family community. The importance of these youth programs is rising and the members of the community have finally seen the need for them. It's a great way to keep the families of Marco Island together and on the Island. It's turned into a good thing.
So my father's involvement in The Marco Eagle Youth Football Program had basically meant good things for my dad. First it kept him on the Island. And if any of you who read this knew my father and the way he drove and the CAR that he drove, well then you would understand....when he became involved with Barron Collier High School freshman team, mom would cringe each day he would get in the car and drive up to North Naples to the high school. Long drive... So having him a few miles from home was always a good thing. Dad was a born coach too. He LOVED it. It was because of World War II that he became a football coach. Dad had a bright and promising career in the football world as a player in high school, college and most likely a professional league, but he sustained such serious injuries in the war that he could never play football again. Like many he did not give up, he studied the game and turned to coaching. (one thing to keep in mind is that dad was also a fan of all athletics...not just football...athletics itself was regimented, team spirited and brought out the best....just like the military which he also loved.) So he became a coach. From high school coaching to college coaching to professional coaching and scouting and much more, the Marco eagles brought him full circle, literally, for Dad started the first youth football league in the Boston area and now he had ended his career with a youth football league in Marco Island. Funny how these circles in our lives work....
The coaching staff of the Marco Eagles, called my mom and asked her if she would like to come to the field on Saturday Oct 31st and watch some of the kids play and wrap up their season. they also asked her to stay because they were dedicating the new athletic field as well as giving out the First Annual Coach Joe Mayo Award. The great part of it was...it was all such short notice, but my sister, mom and I all had the day off so we could be there. Very Special.
Mom and I were there a bit early and watched some of the little kids play their final game of the season, then it came to field dedication and then the presentation of the Coach Joe Mayo Award.
The head of the Coaching staff told a beautiful story about my dad and I was so touched. The award was given to a great young man who is in charge of the Parks and Recreation Dept. and also a coach with the Eagles. He played an integral part in getting the athletic field up and working and in better condition...what he did really...was give the kids of Marco Island a future.
Mom was to say a little something about dad, but she handed the microphone over to me and I spoke about how much he loved football. But I really spoke about how much heart each player and coach needs. That dad really believed in working together and not winning or losing, but having heart for the game and each other...in ALL sports and ways of life. I also told them that he was always after the perfect team and the perfect coaching staff....it may have taken him 60 plus years, but he found it right there in Marco Island... the small island in south west Florida proved so much happiness for my father at the end of his life. The men that he coached with, the kids that played under him, the mentor he became to all.. It was so nice for us to be there, and to see that although a year has passed in Sept.Daddy's legacy still lives on....
Thursday, October 22, 2009
We Are Gonna Have A Boy....
I have a friend of mine who has a good blog. She posts most stuff on there about her kids. She is so ready to have another... but the last blog I read of hers she was writing about loving her unborn child so much... basically, the..."How can I love something so much that I have never met?" bit.
Now I understand, although I have not REALLY felt my baby move inside me...(little punches here and there..and the book says 22 weeks I will really start feeling stuff..) I have seen my baby with the help of ultra sounds. I have heard the heart beat which puts my mind to so much ease, and I have even watched the baby eat from inside me...I am not one for the fancy- shmancy high tech ultra sounds, the blurry one at the Dr.s office is just fine...but it was the last visit I had there that really sealed the deal for me.
I am currently 20 weeks pregnant..at the moment..if you want to get technical bordering 21 weeks...(my due date seems to change each visit) BUT....the nuts thing is I am HALF way through the job I am doing. Soon eviction time will be coming for this baby and it's new home will be in my arms and Dan's arms. this will be great.
During your 20 week visit to the OBGYN...a lot has happened to the baby since your last visit..but mostly this visit is your half way point. So I have made it 20 weeks through and I have 20 more weeks until baby comes. That is scary really. Although it was a long hot summer, it seems that we just found out and it seems impossible that 20 weeks has passed so soon. But they can also tell you the sex of the baby is you choose to know. Within 20 weeks the baby's sexual organs have developed well enough for the ultrasound to say..."Think Pink or Go Blue."
In our case, we had all but only a few people tell us I was having a girl. We were ready to have Bonnie at the Dr.'s tell us that we are having a girl...With a conversation of a friend at work during lunch one day...she said to me that is I keep getting my hopes up for a girl, what if I am told it's a boy and how disappointed I will be...Dan too, cause he really wanted a girl. I thought long and hard on her statement and started to focus on who do I know that has boys and who did I take care of that had boys.....
My babysitting really consisted of girls, and if there was a boy it was random...It just happened that way too. But then I thought of Reed McLeod. Curt and Becky's son. Thier second child. They were so excited for a boy after having Lindsey...(let's face it she was a tough baby), but it seemed that the moment Reed was born and brought home, a calm came into the house. He sought peace and it was there. He loved their dog too.Reed and Rossi were the best of friends. I think somewhere I have a photo of Reed and Rossi asleep together. When it came time to put Rossi down, Reed held her to her last breath.. Rossi went to doggie heaven in the arms of her best friend Reed. I also took care of Carson, of Jessica and Carson. Carson has two sisters and was all boy. Although he and Jessica shared a room, he was the rough and tough and tumbley guy. Carson started tackle football when I started to care for them. Jessica was a cheerleader and Carson played football. I spent my time at the football field at practices and Saturday games watching Carson. I could look over my shoulder and see Jess practice with her team, but watching Carson was so fun. Dan and my folks would come to practice and games to watch the football. I remember mom saying to me.."it's nice to have a boy and do these things." she was right. We just had a good time when it was Carson and I at home before Jess came home. It's a different dynamic and I thought hard about it and told Dan how I was feeling if Bonnie tells us we will have a son.... He agreed too...and you know what...
Bonnie told us we were having a son.
At that moment, a sudden peace came over me. My heart filled instantly with love for this little boy that is growing inside me. Dan could not believe his excitement either. He is so proud of the fact that we have been given a son. I shared with him ho unworthy I felt too to be carrying a boy. It would be different if it was a daughter, but a boy. Our thought process has gone from pink to blue really fast and all seems right.
We are naming our boy Joseph Scott Williams... we will call him Joey or Joe, whichever... Joseph was my father's name. Dan loved my dad for the time he knew him. He would spend time with my dad and hang on every word that he would say. Dan said right from the beginning too,"If we have a boy, I want him to be named after your father. I loved your father and I think it should be this way." Naturally I agreed. Scott is Dan's middle name and he wanted to carry that on...
So we are set. Joey Williams will bless this little family of three to make four, sometime between March 3-11 of 2010. Although my mind is racing and spinning of everything we need and have to do. I stop and think...It's all good. I have heaps of time and a lot of help and tons of love.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE A BOY......
Now I understand, although I have not REALLY felt my baby move inside me...(little punches here and there..and the book says 22 weeks I will really start feeling stuff..) I have seen my baby with the help of ultra sounds. I have heard the heart beat which puts my mind to so much ease, and I have even watched the baby eat from inside me...I am not one for the fancy- shmancy high tech ultra sounds, the blurry one at the Dr.s office is just fine...but it was the last visit I had there that really sealed the deal for me.
I am currently 20 weeks pregnant..at the moment..if you want to get technical bordering 21 weeks...(my due date seems to change each visit) BUT....the nuts thing is I am HALF way through the job I am doing. Soon eviction time will be coming for this baby and it's new home will be in my arms and Dan's arms. this will be great.
During your 20 week visit to the OBGYN...a lot has happened to the baby since your last visit..but mostly this visit is your half way point. So I have made it 20 weeks through and I have 20 more weeks until baby comes. That is scary really. Although it was a long hot summer, it seems that we just found out and it seems impossible that 20 weeks has passed so soon. But they can also tell you the sex of the baby is you choose to know. Within 20 weeks the baby's sexual organs have developed well enough for the ultrasound to say..."Think Pink or Go Blue."
In our case, we had all but only a few people tell us I was having a girl. We were ready to have Bonnie at the Dr.'s tell us that we are having a girl...With a conversation of a friend at work during lunch one day...she said to me that is I keep getting my hopes up for a girl, what if I am told it's a boy and how disappointed I will be...Dan too, cause he really wanted a girl. I thought long and hard on her statement and started to focus on who do I know that has boys and who did I take care of that had boys.....
My babysitting really consisted of girls, and if there was a boy it was random...It just happened that way too. But then I thought of Reed McLeod. Curt and Becky's son. Thier second child. They were so excited for a boy after having Lindsey...(let's face it she was a tough baby), but it seemed that the moment Reed was born and brought home, a calm came into the house. He sought peace and it was there. He loved their dog too.Reed and Rossi were the best of friends. I think somewhere I have a photo of Reed and Rossi asleep together. When it came time to put Rossi down, Reed held her to her last breath.. Rossi went to doggie heaven in the arms of her best friend Reed. I also took care of Carson, of Jessica and Carson. Carson has two sisters and was all boy. Although he and Jessica shared a room, he was the rough and tough and tumbley guy. Carson started tackle football when I started to care for them. Jessica was a cheerleader and Carson played football. I spent my time at the football field at practices and Saturday games watching Carson. I could look over my shoulder and see Jess practice with her team, but watching Carson was so fun. Dan and my folks would come to practice and games to watch the football. I remember mom saying to me.."it's nice to have a boy and do these things." she was right. We just had a good time when it was Carson and I at home before Jess came home. It's a different dynamic and I thought hard about it and told Dan how I was feeling if Bonnie tells us we will have a son.... He agreed too...and you know what...
Bonnie told us we were having a son.
At that moment, a sudden peace came over me. My heart filled instantly with love for this little boy that is growing inside me. Dan could not believe his excitement either. He is so proud of the fact that we have been given a son. I shared with him ho unworthy I felt too to be carrying a boy. It would be different if it was a daughter, but a boy. Our thought process has gone from pink to blue really fast and all seems right.
We are naming our boy Joseph Scott Williams... we will call him Joey or Joe, whichever... Joseph was my father's name. Dan loved my dad for the time he knew him. He would spend time with my dad and hang on every word that he would say. Dan said right from the beginning too,"If we have a boy, I want him to be named after your father. I loved your father and I think it should be this way." Naturally I agreed. Scott is Dan's middle name and he wanted to carry that on...
So we are set. Joey Williams will bless this little family of three to make four, sometime between March 3-11 of 2010. Although my mind is racing and spinning of everything we need and have to do. I stop and think...It's all good. I have heaps of time and a lot of help and tons of love.
WE ARE GONNA HAVE A BOY......
Thursday, October 15, 2009
We Do Thank Them...
Have you ever seen the t.v. show "Run's House".. It's on MTV...it's an eight or ten episode show. it focuses on Reverend Joe Simmons from the rap group RUN DMC and his family. His wife and six children. They range between the ages of 22 and 1 year.
It's a great show..I know a lot of you out there cannot even think that MTV could provide and produce a clean and wholesome show but they have. Joe Simmons or "Rev" as he is now called. (Since he was ordained a Reverend) is the head of the family. He and his dry humored wife raise the six kids in a home full of love and the Lord. Each episode has a message of faith. It really is a great testament to who this man has become and how he has chosen to raise his family. It really is a great show....
My husband has a nickname at work...."Rev" also. I am really not to sure how this came about but I think it was one guy who started it and it stuck. now many others call him that too. Not because Dan is like Joe Simmons, but because Dan has a wonderful relationship with God and others know it. They seek him for advice and consul. My husband will sit calmly and listen to someones problems. He is an amazing listener when he needs to be. He hears just what they are saying and he allows himself to feel what hey are feeling...so you know he is hearing them. In some ways Dan is walking with a person through their troubles so he can understand just what is happening inside them. Before Dan begins to minister to a person, he takes a deep breath to be sure he has understood why this person has come to him. Then he will start. Sometimes he shares with me the conversations and sometimes he does not. Dan does not advise someone on something he does not know...he does not use the "I would like to think...." method that so many people use when it comes to Godly consul. He will only tell you what he knows. But he lets God carry the message through him. Sometimes he will share with me the things he said and my mouth drops as he agrees with me, when I say 'How did you come up with that'.. his simple reply was..."it's not me, it's God." understandable.
A few weeks ago there was a terrible tragedy that happened here in Naples. A father slain his entire family. His wife and five young children... there is a lot more to the story, but beyond that, there were many people effected by this terrible act. For the father and the brother of the man work at our hotel. Many people at the hotel knew the family and the children. The day after the event. Dan came home from work and he had the heaviest heart I had seen on him for some time. He told me that he spent a good part of the day talking to many people who had connections with this angry man. The man's own father even approached Dan for encouragement and words. To ask for prayer.
This happens a lot to Dan. When you look at my husband you would never think that he has a christian heart.. Our society labels people right from the beginning... (You do it and I do it and you cannot say that you don't) It's the looks are always the first impressions and it stands there. We cant help it but it happens at the hotel. If you look nice and are dressed nice you must have class and money..not always the case.
He told me the other day of a good friend of ours that he was just talking to. I was astonished that even this person had come to him, never mind opened up to him seeking something from him.Dan listened and laid it down. People walk away from people like my husband with an idea, with a curiosity and with a hope...they act on them later by seeking and reading and finding and asking and knocking... their door begins to open and the light of the world shines through for them.
My husband does not need to shove anything down anyone throat... that is not his style unless you make him. He just quietly ministers to how God allows him to. People look down on us because we don't have a home church...for it's only in a church that the work of the Lord can be done...but Dan's church is far larger than the walls of a building with a cross attached to it somewhere...it's the people that he hears and speaks to... Dan never asked to be the leader of his ministry..in fact I could take an educated guess and say he most likely never asked for a ministry..but without even knowing it he has it and he does it. He learns so much from each person that he talks to.
I am so proud of him. His life...Our life has been touched by these people...they always thank him for his words or actions but it is them who need to be thanked by us...by him or by me...and I can tell you, we do thank them.
It's a great show..I know a lot of you out there cannot even think that MTV could provide and produce a clean and wholesome show but they have. Joe Simmons or "Rev" as he is now called. (Since he was ordained a Reverend) is the head of the family. He and his dry humored wife raise the six kids in a home full of love and the Lord. Each episode has a message of faith. It really is a great testament to who this man has become and how he has chosen to raise his family. It really is a great show....
My husband has a nickname at work...."Rev" also. I am really not to sure how this came about but I think it was one guy who started it and it stuck. now many others call him that too. Not because Dan is like Joe Simmons, but because Dan has a wonderful relationship with God and others know it. They seek him for advice and consul. My husband will sit calmly and listen to someones problems. He is an amazing listener when he needs to be. He hears just what they are saying and he allows himself to feel what hey are feeling...so you know he is hearing them. In some ways Dan is walking with a person through their troubles so he can understand just what is happening inside them. Before Dan begins to minister to a person, he takes a deep breath to be sure he has understood why this person has come to him. Then he will start. Sometimes he shares with me the conversations and sometimes he does not. Dan does not advise someone on something he does not know...he does not use the "I would like to think...." method that so many people use when it comes to Godly consul. He will only tell you what he knows. But he lets God carry the message through him. Sometimes he will share with me the things he said and my mouth drops as he agrees with me, when I say 'How did you come up with that'.. his simple reply was..."it's not me, it's God." understandable.
A few weeks ago there was a terrible tragedy that happened here in Naples. A father slain his entire family. His wife and five young children... there is a lot more to the story, but beyond that, there were many people effected by this terrible act. For the father and the brother of the man work at our hotel. Many people at the hotel knew the family and the children. The day after the event. Dan came home from work and he had the heaviest heart I had seen on him for some time. He told me that he spent a good part of the day talking to many people who had connections with this angry man. The man's own father even approached Dan for encouragement and words. To ask for prayer.
This happens a lot to Dan. When you look at my husband you would never think that he has a christian heart.. Our society labels people right from the beginning... (You do it and I do it and you cannot say that you don't) It's the looks are always the first impressions and it stands there. We cant help it but it happens at the hotel. If you look nice and are dressed nice you must have class and money..not always the case.
He told me the other day of a good friend of ours that he was just talking to. I was astonished that even this person had come to him, never mind opened up to him seeking something from him.Dan listened and laid it down. People walk away from people like my husband with an idea, with a curiosity and with a hope...they act on them later by seeking and reading and finding and asking and knocking... their door begins to open and the light of the world shines through for them.
My husband does not need to shove anything down anyone throat... that is not his style unless you make him. He just quietly ministers to how God allows him to. People look down on us because we don't have a home church...for it's only in a church that the work of the Lord can be done...but Dan's church is far larger than the walls of a building with a cross attached to it somewhere...it's the people that he hears and speaks to... Dan never asked to be the leader of his ministry..in fact I could take an educated guess and say he most likely never asked for a ministry..but without even knowing it he has it and he does it. He learns so much from each person that he talks to.
I am so proud of him. His life...Our life has been touched by these people...they always thank him for his words or actions but it is them who need to be thanked by us...by him or by me...and I can tell you, we do thank them.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
What Will It Be Like With A Baby
We have a dog, Miles Davis Williams- Miles- named after Dan's favorite jazz musician Miles Davis.
Miles is a rescue dog from the Domestic Animal Shelter here in Naples. He has been with us for about five years- The shelter knew nothing about him-he was a stray, or a left behind or a run away. So when we met him they had no information. They didn't even know his real name, he was matted (not that bad), but they did tell us that they thought he could have been a show dog. The shelter thought he was well trained from the way he obeyed commands, the way he walked, groomed himself and how good his teeth were.
Finding the Miles, for us was not a long process. It only took a few weeks. I did have to act fast because Dan said "Yes" to a dog and I had to keep him in 'Dog Mode' and find one fast before he changed his mind. To be honest, when I first saw Miles (or as the shelter had named him for his seven day stay there Pom Pom)-I was not all that sure...Then it happened. Dan was the one who inquired about him, they opened up the cage he was in, put a leash around his neck and handed the leash to Dan and the two of then walked down to the 'Play Cage'- I walked behind them and saw my husband look down at this little dog and the dog look up at my husband.
Instantly me heart opened up. We played a little bit with the dog. Just as much as the dog would let us and asked the ladies from the shelter a few questions. They were not sure if he was a full breed 'Large Pomeranian' or a 'Pom-Mix' either way it did not matter to us, a mutt for all we care would be fine, he was fitting nicely into our lives at that moment. They also told us we could change his name since he only knew the name Pom-Pom for such a short time..I saw the glimmer in Dan's eyes...He looked at me and smiles...."Miles...Miles Davis Williams. What do you think?"
I smiled. In reality I choked back tears...but until now I have never fessed up to that emotion.
It was all a bit overwhelming- I mean to see my husband who never liked to open himself up to anyone show so much instantaneous love to this little black furry dog. Dan then looked Miles square in the eyes and asked him a simple question...."Wadda ya think little fella, do you wanna come home with us?" and right there the little black furry mutt kissed Dan's face. I melted. Stood up and said..."Thats it we'll take him."
If you ever knew Dan, and IF you ever would think for a moment that he was a 'Dog Guy' (which he never was) you may think....oh, lab or retriever...a large dog, but since there is a height restriction in our complex and all the other dogs in the complex are small, Dan was hook line and sinker for this little 'Large Pom'. Perfection he found in his new friend. Our newest family member.. I could not believe it...the entire experience was perfect.
I know I have blogged about Miles before..but things are changing in our family and they will change for Miles too. Since we are having a baby in March, I wonder how Miles will adjust to a little person sharing his attention. Miles has been our only family member for five years and he is spoiled, and wonderful. He is all about unconditional love and he just wants the same love back. Miles, I should say has never been a problem for us-if there has been a problem it's because we as humans made the wrong choices and we did not know any better. Miles being the obedient dog, let us figure them out on our own instead of punishing us. He has never been a burden or held us back from all that much. If he has, it's because we are selfish and just want his company. He is the best "excuse" we could have and most times it's just the truth.
I can say that I really am not all that worried about integrating Mile sand the baby. Miles is very obedient. It's really just us who will Have to balance a dog and a baby. I am sure we will make mistakes but we will figure it out.
We will not get rid of our dog because he barks to much and wakes the baby or he is dis- obedient...we don't get rid of a child because they make to much noise or they don't follow the house rules do we? He will not get pushed aside either. Our dog is so much a part of our lives and he will be as long as we show him what he wants...treat and love...how easy is that?
Miles is a rescue dog from the Domestic Animal Shelter here in Naples. He has been with us for about five years- The shelter knew nothing about him-he was a stray, or a left behind or a run away. So when we met him they had no information. They didn't even know his real name, he was matted (not that bad), but they did tell us that they thought he could have been a show dog. The shelter thought he was well trained from the way he obeyed commands, the way he walked, groomed himself and how good his teeth were.
Finding the Miles, for us was not a long process. It only took a few weeks. I did have to act fast because Dan said "Yes" to a dog and I had to keep him in 'Dog Mode' and find one fast before he changed his mind. To be honest, when I first saw Miles (or as the shelter had named him for his seven day stay there Pom Pom)-I was not all that sure...Then it happened. Dan was the one who inquired about him, they opened up the cage he was in, put a leash around his neck and handed the leash to Dan and the two of then walked down to the 'Play Cage'- I walked behind them and saw my husband look down at this little dog and the dog look up at my husband.
Instantly me heart opened up. We played a little bit with the dog. Just as much as the dog would let us and asked the ladies from the shelter a few questions. They were not sure if he was a full breed 'Large Pomeranian' or a 'Pom-Mix' either way it did not matter to us, a mutt for all we care would be fine, he was fitting nicely into our lives at that moment. They also told us we could change his name since he only knew the name Pom-Pom for such a short time..I saw the glimmer in Dan's eyes...He looked at me and smiles...."Miles...Miles Davis Williams. What do you think?"
I smiled. In reality I choked back tears...but until now I have never fessed up to that emotion.
It was all a bit overwhelming- I mean to see my husband who never liked to open himself up to anyone show so much instantaneous love to this little black furry dog. Dan then looked Miles square in the eyes and asked him a simple question...."Wadda ya think little fella, do you wanna come home with us?" and right there the little black furry mutt kissed Dan's face. I melted. Stood up and said..."Thats it we'll take him."
If you ever knew Dan, and IF you ever would think for a moment that he was a 'Dog Guy' (which he never was) you may think....oh, lab or retriever...a large dog, but since there is a height restriction in our complex and all the other dogs in the complex are small, Dan was hook line and sinker for this little 'Large Pom'. Perfection he found in his new friend. Our newest family member.. I could not believe it...the entire experience was perfect.
I know I have blogged about Miles before..but things are changing in our family and they will change for Miles too. Since we are having a baby in March, I wonder how Miles will adjust to a little person sharing his attention. Miles has been our only family member for five years and he is spoiled, and wonderful. He is all about unconditional love and he just wants the same love back. Miles, I should say has never been a problem for us-if there has been a problem it's because we as humans made the wrong choices and we did not know any better. Miles being the obedient dog, let us figure them out on our own instead of punishing us. He has never been a burden or held us back from all that much. If he has, it's because we are selfish and just want his company. He is the best "excuse" we could have and most times it's just the truth.
I can say that I really am not all that worried about integrating Mile sand the baby. Miles is very obedient. It's really just us who will Have to balance a dog and a baby. I am sure we will make mistakes but we will figure it out.
We will not get rid of our dog because he barks to much and wakes the baby or he is dis- obedient...we don't get rid of a child because they make to much noise or they don't follow the house rules do we? He will not get pushed aside either. Our dog is so much a part of our lives and he will be as long as we show him what he wants...treat and love...how easy is that?
I have a feeling it will be about teaching our baby as it grows to love and respect Miles, as I am sure Miles will do the same thing. Miles perhaps will take to our new addition very well. I can see him in the future sleeping under the baby's crib. He will choose this place in his job as the big brother of protecting the baby. He sleeps at the foot of our bed to protect us.
Having Miles in our lives for the past five years has been the best "responsibility" and addition to our marriage. We laugh a lot more and love a lot more because of him.
Can you imagine what it will be like with a baby?
(this is a photo of Miles waiting for Dan to come home.)
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