MY PET PEEVES

After doing my 100 things list yesterday, I thought this was a good follow up to it. I think I am now done with my little lists, maybe I'll do one of my favorite things before I call it quits with lists - hee, that rhymes!
Here goes:

1. Sniffing – I cannot stand this! It literally makes the hair stand up in my neck.
2. Passing the buck – If you screwed up, say so and apologise and start over.
3. Tardiness – I have been trained to be on time by my father, so when someone is late, I get annoyed.
4. Mumbling – If you have something to say – Say It! Don’t mutter under your breath as you walk away.
5. Toothpaste in the basin – Ugh – wanna make me puke, don’t rinse the basin after brushing your teeth.
6. Bad language – Now I don’t mean the occasional swear word –we all swear. But when every second word is a swear word or every phrase contains a crude expression... Trust me, you get real people like that. It’s not just the movies.
7. Those “send to 10 people for good luck cause if you don’t you will die at age 33!!!” e-mails. When I see those in my inbox I immediately delete them, I don’t even bother reading them.
8. People who wash their hands at the kitchen sink and then dry them on a dishtowel. That happens here at work and it bugs me no end, cause the person who does it sometimes doesn’t even bother drying his hands and makes everything wet, there is nothing worse than a wet cupboard door handle, or kettle handle or whatever... uuugggghhhh (shudder).
9. Food in the plug hole in the kitchen sink – YUK!!!
10. When the kids use my bathroom towel to dry-clean their dirty hands. They don’t wash their hands clean, they dry them clean.
11. No Showers – someone who says they will be at a certain place and then never show up.
12. Racism – it doesn’t get anyone anywhere.
13. A cell phone that is never on – why have a cell phone if it is never on?
14. Waiting for something exciting, like a surprise, if you have a surprise for me, don’t tell me and then tell me I have to wait two weeks for it – it drives me mad!!! Rather don't tell me.
15. Bossiness. Haven’t you noticed that the bossy people are always the first people voted off survivor!?
16. Bad table manners. Chewing with open mouths, grating on a spoon or fork with their teeth when they put food in their mouths, elbows on the table - have you ever tried to get a spoon full of cereal in your mouth while keeping you elbow on the table? Everything falls off the spoon!!
17. A wet toilet seat - "My aim is to keep this toilet tidy.
Gentlemen/boys - your aim will help, stand closer, it's shorter than you think!
Ladies/girls - Please remain seated during entire performance!"
Guys - If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweet and WIPE THE SEAT!!!!
Want me to turn into a monster in the morning - let me sit on a wet toilet seat!
18. Skid marks in the toilet bowl - What do you think toilet brushes were created for? Decorations in the loo? "If you poo scew, clean the loo!!!" I certainly don't want to do it.
19. OOOh, and you know what else? You know when you go to pick something up and you just miss it with your fingers and you do it again and again - at least three times before you actually get a hold of it - whatever it is? MAN! That just gets my pants in bunch everytime!!!
20. And of course, slow computers!!! Who doesn't get annoyed by this?

Now I know that Christians are not supposed to be irritable people, and I'm not, in general I am a good tempered happy person. I have learned to get used to these things and let them go without getting annoyed and irritated and cross - most of the time. But there are times when the sniffing just gets too much for me and I can no longer keep quiet, or the bad table manners just get too sloppy or I have one too many bad bathroom experiences and I get annoyed and I get irritated - hey I am also only human.
And no, I don't do anything that annoys people cause I am perfect, don't you know? and this is MY blog and I get to say whatever I like!!!

Oh and my five day weekend starts today (yay! yay! yay!), so I will be out of touch for a while. But don't worry - I will be back on May 2, so until then bloggerflies - keep blogging, and keep reading, and don't forget me while I'm gone!!!

Big Kiss!!!
Bye

100 THINGS ABOUT ME

Well here it is!! I have finally done it. I did it rather quickly too - that surprised me. I thought it would take ages!!! Anyway, I shall let you get into it right away!


1. I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind and strength!
2. I have always loved the Lord, since I was a little girl.
3. I am not ashamed of my faith and Christianity
4. I love to sing and have always longed to be able to perform live!
5. I love writing songs and poetry.
6. I married a man who was married before.
7. I am a step mom to his two boys, they were 4 yrs and 18 months when we got married.
8. They live with us full time.
9. Being a step mom is one of the hardest things I have ever done and I made so many screw ups with these two boys cause I had no idea what I was doing!
10. I met my husband at work, and he was still married.
11. I was seeing him when he was still married, and sometimes the guilt just about gets the better of me. (I will tell the whole story one day in a post)
12. That was a time in my life that I was very far away from God and made a HUGE mess of everything.
13. I have one son with my husband, and we have been married for eight years now (2006).
14. I have two sisters and one brother whom I love dearly.
15. I have wonderful parents who are responsible for the way I turned out - in a good way.
16. I love my family so much, I cannot imagine life without them.
17. I have a wonderful spiritual family – and I love them just as much.
18. I want to start a ministry one day, at first I thought it was just for women, but I know now it will be for men and women.
19. I would love to conduct a choir and teach them harmonies etc – at least a 100 strong choir.
20. I am not stubborn.
21. I am very easy to get along with and to talk to.
22. I am a very good listener.
23. I want to go to Tuscany one day for a holiday.
24. I also REALLY want to go to Las Vegas! I don’t know why, it just really looks like a great place to visit.
25. No, I don’t gamble.
26. I don’t smoke either. I used to, but I quit.
27. I don’t drink very much at all. I used to go out and party BIG TIME, but that stopped too.
28. One lady at work once referred to me as a Jesus Freak and I think she was trying to insult me, but I was thrilled that she had noticed!
29. I just LOVE cats!!! Everything in my office, on my computer and my blog etc, etc is kitties!!
30. I had a cat but I had to give her away when we moved – it broke my heart!
31. My favorite day of the week is Friday!
32. My favorite colours to wear are Purple, pink, blue, yellow, and black.
33. I want to always make an impression on people I meet – even if I never see them again.
34. My favourite season is Autumn–it has such beautiful colours and the temperature is just right.
35. Before I met my husband I had a serious boyfriend. I ended the relationship, but I always wonder about what could have been. I think I will always care for him in some way.
36. My husband is a wonderful man. He washes dishes, cooks, cleans the house, surprises me with gifts and flowers, if he could, he would give me the world on a tray!
37. I am married to a very serious fisherman, I will save this for a post too.
38. If I could go back in time I would work harder on my early relationship with my stepchildren.
39. I am a dreamer – I daydream all the time. Either about my next
poem or about a place to go on a holiday or what I want to do in the future.
40. This is getting harder with each number….
41. I don’t like to be confronted with some truths about myself.
42. I am very sensitive about my weight – just one comment can send me into a serious decline and an even worse binge!
43. I hate to be criticized.
44. I have learned to take constructive criticism, even though I still don’t like it.
45. I have learned to bite my tongue when I want to lash out and say something just to get back at someone–I still don’t always get it right.
46. I have learned forgiveness is very important because to harbor un-forgiveness is like drinking a slow poison.
47. I have always wanted to play a musical instrument.
48. I have a guitar and I started to learn, but my lessons fell through when our church elders changed – they were teaching me.
49. I will still learn it will just take a bit longer than I thought.
50. Half way!!!
51. I like to be alone. I love having time to myself to do what I like, when and how I like.
52. I love baking.
53. I love reading.
54. I enjoy pottering around in my garden.
55. I LOVE LOVE LOVE shopping!!!
56. But my money doesn’t burn a hole in my pocket.
57. I give my tithe when and how I can.
58. My nickname at work is tinkerbell - cause I am apparently so light on my feet...
59. Once I almost left my husband. Because we went through a really rough patch once and we were fighting ALL the time! I almost walked out– but The Lord stopped me.
60. We sorted our stuff out–hubby and I, and we are happy now and getting stronger all the time.
61. I don’t nag him about his fishing or other stuff and his friend’s wives all give them a really hard time, and I think he has realized that he doesn’t actually have it that bad.
62. I will live to be 120+ years old and I will never get cancer or disease of any sort–The Lord has told me this. It may sound weird to some people–but I don’t doubt it for a second!
63. I believe in living long and living strong.
64. I don’t worry about money or food for the month because I know God will provide for us if we don’t have enough. On my petrol tank E stands for Enough–not for empty! Heh heh!
65. I look forward to the day that I will see my saviour–whether it be before the rapture or when that happens. Yes I believe that Christ is coming to rapture His church, His Bride.
66. I am sure I am going to heaven.
67. I don’t read my Bible as much as I should.
68. I pray all the time!
69. I really dislike bugs! Specially flying bugs. I am terrified they are going to get
tangled in my long hair!! Irrational I know–I can’t help it.
70. I have never been stung by a wasp–but I am scared to death of that happening.
71. The worst pain I ever experienced was the c-section I had when Donovan was born. It wasn’t planned, I was going to give birth naturally, but Donovan had to be difficult and have things HIS way!
72. I have a good self confidence and meeting new people doesn’t scare me, in fact I love meeting new people.
73. I have no problem talking in front of people, I do get nervous yes–but if I want to start a ministry one day and that means preach too – I can’t let that get to me.
74. I have no problem singing in front of people either – in fact I love this more than anything!
Get me in front of that mike and I am in heaven!!!
75. I do well when I can work with people. A job that involves a lot of office work and paperwork etc like I am in now I battle with cause I love to be around people, so sitting in my office gets a bit lonely for me.
76. I often get into trouble for talking to much. I do love to talk.
77. That’s partly why I started blogging, cause I get to interact with other people, without leaving my office!!
78. I love to watch movies! Specially if it has a good story to it, or an unexpected twist.
79. I love to laugh! And often when I read something funny I really do laugh out loud LOL!!
People often come to see what’s so funny. Strange though that I don’t really hear other people laughing in their offices.
80. My radio is always on in my office. I listen to a Christian station called Impact Radio 103 fm. But when a favourite song plays, I can’t concentrate on my work! LOL.
81. I am almost finished!!!
82. This had been easier than I thought it would be.
83. I love visiting with friends, family or even someone else’s office–I just love it! I can visit and chat all day.
84. I would love to have a half day job!
85. I would love to be at home when my kids get home from school to make sure they get something to eat, I can do my housework and help them with homework.
86. I cannot wait to buy my own house that I can paint and add onto or breakdown etc as I like.
87. I cannot wait to get my own car.
88. I wish I could slow down my children’s growth so that they will stay young and innocent forever.
89. I hate goodbyes. I never do well with these.
90. 10 more to go!!!
91. As soon as I buy a house I am going to get a kitty!!! And SHE–yes she, I need other female company in a house full of men–will grow old with me!
92. This has taken me about 3 ½ hours to do.
93. I know myself better than I thought I did.
94. I cannot believe how quickly 100 points have come to me.
95. I hope that I will grow all the time and become stronger in everything.
96. I love taking photos!
97. My sisters and my brother and I all worked in a one hour photo lab – at different times of course.
98. I don’t like motorbikes and I wont ride on them. I have before, but I never liked it. I don’t like feeling so vulnerable.
99. One of my pet hates is sniffing. I cannot stand it when someone sniffs when their nose is running – it makes my hair stand on end!
100. Right at the end of this blog page is a picture of a kitty that I just put on today!!!

SHORT WEEK - EXTRA LONG WEEKEND!!!

This week is only three days for me!!! Thursday is a public holiday and all the schools have closed for Friday, so I put in leave for Friday. Monday is a Public Holiday too! That means I have a five day weekend!! I have so much planned for this weekend, I am having the in-laws to dinner on Saturday or Sunday -hopefully Saturday - cause I am on the serving team at church on Sunday and I will be needed on Sunday night to help clean up. Anyway, I will be making Lasagne with salads and breads. And a divine Apple Pie with Cream for desert.

I plan on sorting out Sean and Donovans bedroom and clothing cupboard as well as there toy box this weekend. I would like to get them each a seperate toy box, it will make life a lot easier. I am going to tackle my room too and sort out my cupboard etc. It is time to throw out stuff again.
This week is also very full. Tomorrow night there is a Couple that are coming to our Church to do some "input". They are on the Apostolic Team, and I am really looking forward to that. My church is only 3 years old, I have been there for 2 of those years, and we are really growing. It is very exciting to be a part of it. We meet in a school hall for now cause we don't have our own building yet, and we are having to put out more and more chairs. Pretty soon we will be filling the hall! That will be a wonderful day.
Then on Wednesday I am going to our prayer meeting, as I usually do, but afterwards I will be staying for a worship team meeting. I used to sing on the Worship team - and I am hoping to do so again, it is something I love being a part of.

I am really looking forward to this week and the long weekend! I don't plan on taking leave again until September when I will be going to Bloemfontein for a Leadership Training Time with Tyrone Daniel - this will be my first trip to Bloem and I can't wait for that either!

Hubby and I had a good weekend too and last night we watched Gladiator - not a bad movie, but not one of my faves. I had a really relaxing weekend - with Shampoo and all!!! Hubby is very busy with his latest fishing development - but more on that in another post, he is a very serious fisherman and it is quite something to experience. It used to really bug me, but I have learned to let it work in my favour.

But as I said - more on that later! I am off to go and have some tea and rusks - mmmm!!!

MY MONDRIAN, AND SOME OTHER BITS AND PEICES



This is totally cool! Someone who knows me very well did my Mondrian for me!!! Aint it perdy!
I never knew I was so colourful!!!

Oh, and I am back to my old self again. The monster is gone - for now. We are going to buy our groceries tomorrow and I am just SO happy about it - I cannot wait to wash my hair!!!!

Well today is Friday - and I don't have internet access over weekends - YET! But my time will come - I just know it! So I will leave you with this pretty Mondrian to look at and some other news, I have created another blog where I will be posting my poetry. I love to write poetry and I thought that I would dedicate a whole blog just to that! Now I have to write regularly :-/

I hope you all have a superb weekend - as I know I will!! I will catch up with ya'll on Monday!
Bye, Cheers China, Adios Amigos, Ariverderchie (ugh! spelling??), Astalavista (spelling??) Baby, Ciao, Tata, I'll be Ba-ack!

AAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

NO! That is not me trying to be a pirate, it is me screaming in frustration!! Why? Cause my groceries are running out before the month is over!!! "How'd that happen?" I hear you ask, well ask my hubby dearest (said through a forced smile with clenched teeth).
You see he decided we had enough of certain items when we did our shoppping last month and therefore we didn't need to top up on them - and as it turns out, we didn't have enough! Now I can live without most things - I can even go without food for a few days (I kow this cause I have fasted for four days). But there are things that EVERY human needs to get through each day without ending up looking like a pirate!!!
"Like what?" you may ask.....
Mmmm, lets see, like TOILET PAPER!, BOGROLL!, WHITEGOLD! - call it what you bloody like, it is an absolute essential in my daily routine!!! Oh and SHAMPOO!!!! How is a woman supposed to get through a day without SHAMPOO!?!?!?!?! Have you ever had to wash your hair with a bar of LUX soap? NO, well I have. In fact I tried it for the first time this morning. And you know what - it removes every bit of life or body or shine from your hair. My poor locks are looking and feeling like raffia paper, even after applying half a bottle of conditioner and do you think anyone feels sorry for me, in a house full of men? - hmpf! I should be so lucky!
And then, to top it all off, this morning I had to have a COLD shower too, cause hubby dearest (the clenched teeth again - no smile this time) used all the hot water when he showered, and only he had showered, no-one else!
So my morning went something like this:
I woke up feeling THREE times my normal size cause I am so bloated and sore from that wonderful time of the month us women are so blessed to have. I Stumbled into the bathroom only to find, in my half asleep state, after completing my performance that t.h.e.r.e w.a.s n.o m.o.r.e l.o.o p.a.p.e.r and then, when I get into the shower - already miffed, to attempt to wash away my monthly blues and my mood, and I discover there is n.o h.o.t w.a.t.e.r or shampoo!!!!
And hubby dearest (yes - clenched teeth) can't understand why he has a raging, snarling monster with long fangs and claws in his bedroom drying it's hair with his wifes hairdryer! A creature that breaths fire on everything if he just pops his head around the door, instead of his sweet, smiling, loving wife he sees every morning.
In a nutshell, today I am a bloated, hormoanal, raffia haired, raging, ready to blow at any second, fire breathing, fanged, don't mess with me creature, er, woman!!!
And I am outta here!
I will write again, when I feel more like a human being and less like the picture I have pasted below (LOL)

BYE

I CAN'T SLEEP....

There are alot of things milling around in my mind today, probably because I am so tired. I have been battling to sleep lately. I mean in general I have always slept lightly and have taken long to fall asleep at night, but lately - I don't fall asleep at all. I sort of stay in that "twilight zone" between deep sleep and dozing.
And you know in that place everything can get totally blown out of proportion too - every little concern gets turned into a HUGE worry and you can't stop thinking about it - then you tell yourself that, thats why you can't sleep, "you can't sleep cause you're worried!", But you know you are not the kind of person who "worries", so you can't understand why you are worrying, "It must be important if it is keeping you up at night, right?".
Has anyone been where I am now? I get up in the morning with a sore neck and shoulders from tension and I am feeling dizzy too. I know that the things I am turning over in my mind at night are not life threatening things when I am awake, and every night it is something different. There must be someting at the core of it that is causing me to "doze" all night.
There is one thing that is nagging at the back of my mind - but I am not going to tackle that yet - WAIT! Thats it! Thats why I can't sleep! It's because of this other thing - I wont deal with it now cause there is no need to and if I do I may be making mountains out of molehills, not that I am trying to make molehills out of mountains, but at least now I know why I can't switch off and sleep.
Phew! At least I know I am not going mad. Tonight I think I will definitely sleep better - Oh I hope so.
Thankyou for helping me figure that one out.
Sweet dreams everyone!!

EASTER POETRY

Easter is a very tender time for me, the sacrifice made for me, for us, that day... It always just blows me away. Forget about easter eggs and easter bunnies and hot cross buns and all that and take the time to really remember what happened on that day. Think about what Jesus was feeling, was He scared? Did He want to run for the hills and hide? YES! I do think He felt those things, that is what He was praying about in Gethsemane. I would have been terrified, and I wouldnt have done it. I would have fled. But He remained obedient, even unto death - He died for us. He was beaten, mocked, humilated and killed - for us. For ME! Wow! It just amazes me everytime. I wrote a poem, just something simple to try and put into words..... ja, have a read and you'll understand....

The Sacrifice

Lord I have often thought
about how you suffered,
Nailed to that tree.
And I have often wondered
What if it were me?

I think of Judas and of Peter
One who betrayed,
and one who denied.
And had I been in your shoes,
Would I have bled and died?

Could I have been the sacrifice
That could never guarantee
That the ones who I was dying for
Would give their lives for me?

But Your face was slapped,
And Your body broken
And Your blood was shed for me.
And You were nailed to that cross
So that I might be set free

Oh God I cannot put in words
What you have done for me
The price you paid for sin and death
That day on Calvary.

You bought my life with blood and tears
And saved me from this world.
And that is why I know that I
Will forever live with You,
My Lord.

And also some art work - feeling very inspired today...

8 YEARS!!

Today is my anniversary - a whole 8 years!!! Ok, I know, 8 years is not that long compared to my parents' 32 years etc. But I can honestly say, I am proud of myself, and my hubby.
Marriage takes alot of effort from both parties to make it work. And not 50/50, no. I say it takes 100/100. Each person should give 100% of themselves, not 50%.

My hubby and I have been through some turbulent times, as I am sure most marriages have been, and I almost gave up once, but I stayed after alot of prayer. We have grown alot in our 8 years and we have built up a strong, loving and firm foundation together. And every year it only gets stronger.

Being a stepmom has been one of the biggest challenges of my life! I had an instant family cause my husband has custody of his two boys. But I love tham dearly - as if they were my own, and I make sure they remember their mom on her birthday and at Christmas and Easter and Mothersday and Valentines day and all those special little days. And I encourage them to phone her and chat to her - spontaneously. She comes to stay over so she could spend time with her sons and they go and visit her too. She is not married and has her share of problems - I am not going to go into details. But for certain reasons, my husband has custody.

But the point of this post is that it is our anniversay. I know that alot of people didn't think we would last, but I always remember that song by Shania Twain that my younger sister dedicated to us, it goes like this: (It is a very good description of where we are now and how we've come so far. )

When I first saw you, I saw love.
And the first time you touched me, I felt love.
And after all this time, you're still the one I love.

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

Thank you for 8 wonderful years my Babes!
I love you PLENTY!!!
Happy Anniversary, I can't wait to celebrate 10 years with you!!!

I LOVE THIS!!!

My SIL sent me this link and told me it was "a bit a noisy, but worth watching" so I clicked on the link and I found this house. I think it is absolutely amazing and I love it!! I love the music most of all. It is brilliant. Imagine how long it took this guy to set up everything. The lights to the music and everything. I still can't stop watching this video clip. I show everyone who comes to my office too. Here go and see for yourself and let me know what you think of it. I can't sit still when this music plays, I have to tap my foot or something, I would love to get up and just dance - but I think the people at work might think I was having a fit or something like that. So I will contain myself at the office. hee.

http://www.break.com/articles/houselights.html

Enjoy!! It really is cool to watch.

WHAT WOULD JESUS BLOG

This post was inspired a while ago by a lady named Darlene. It is the title of her blog and it really got me thinking. So I wrote this. I actually forgot I had written it until now. So, thanks Darlene, for.... well for just being you. Blessings!!!

I think if we could read Jesus’ blog page, it would go something like this:

To all my children reading this, I want to tell you that I love you. I want you to know that all I have planned for you is so exciting. Don’t you know how dear you are to me? Don’t you know that you are the apple of my eye? I know that you can sometimes hear me calling you, child of mine. But you don’t respond. I have such a wonderful life for you filled with prosperity and blessing and true adventure! If you respond you will surely live a long and happy life.

Don’t you know that there is nothing you could have done to make me love you less? Don’t you know there is nothing you can do to make me love you more? Can’t you see how much I love you? I died for you. I conquered death and sin for you. I was beaten, mocked and hated for you. Is there anyone else in the world that would do the same for you because they love you? Is there anybody in the entire universe who loves you as unconditionally and completely as I do?

I know that you long to fill the emptiness in your heart; I know that you look for fulfillment in all kinds of places. And I know that every time you think you have finally found some-one or something to fulfill you, your hopes and dreams are crushed and your heart is broken. Yet you continue to go through this painful process again and again and again. Don’t you know that my love for you will never disappoint you? Don’t you know that your dreams are my dreams, that your hopes are my hopes-and that if you place them in me they will NEVER be crushed? You don’t have to search – I am right here, just waiting for you to call.

I have carved your face in the palm of my hand and your name into my heart – I long for a close and intimate relationship with you, to hear you speak my name over any other.
Come home to me my child and we shall have a banquet in heaven!! I will give you my ring to wear, and EVERYONE will know you are mine.

Give your heart to me, I promise I will never break it. Give your heart to me and you will search no more. Give your heart to me and you will be eternally fulfilled.

THIS IS FOR MY BROTHER

I was supposed to dedicate one post to each of my siblings, but I got a bit side tracked there for a while.

I have a yuonger brother - he is seven years younger than me, and he is the youngest of four children, and all the rest are girls. Poor guy, I think he had it quite tough growing up in a house full of women, but then again I think it also did him some good cause you just have to know him to understand what a sensitive, loving young man he is.

I still remember when he was born, I had prayed every night for a brother after mom told us she was pregnant and I was very excited when he finally arrived. We were at home with my grandmother but I couldn't sleep. I was awake when the phone call came through that it was a boy, I don't remember if Madam or Sis were awake then too, but I know I was and I was so excited I wanted to just burst!
I was just so happy with my little brother. I changed his nappies and bathed him, well Sis and I both did, but I loved to do it. He was a quiet serious little boy, and I think alot of the time he was quite overwhlemed by all us girls.

I can tell you that he has grown into a wonderful young man whom I admire and love so very much. He is married to a lovely young girl and they have a baby boy. This little boy has special needs though and times are often very tough for my brother and his young wife. But a more loving doting father you couldn't imagine. This little boy loves his daddy and only has eyes and time for him. If he is not around then he calls his daddy and when he is there this little boy just lights up. It warms my heart to see it every time. And just like his daddy he LOVES cars.
I never dreamed my brother would be a daddy at such a young age, but he is the most wonderful dad you can imagine and I just swell with pride because of it.

I have seen when baby is ill or tired or crying and I have never seen my brother get irritated or annoyed or cross with him, he has so much patience and time for his lil' special needs boy. He holds him and rocks him and sings to him and talks to him to get him through whatever is making him cry or unhappy. A sweeter picture you have never seen.

Boetie, I just want to tell you, cause I haven't done before, just how pride I am of you and the man you have become. You are strong and sensitive and a really super dad and I am so, so proud of you. Through trials that I don't think I could have coped with you have come out stronger every time, and every blessing that is coming your way you fully deserve. Your little boy is such a treasure, but this you already know. And the lives he has touched and changed just always amazes me so. God has a calling on this little boy already, and by being the dad that you are, I know that he will know what his calling is. You have taught me so much about faith and love and patience just by being who you are. Don't ever change for anyone, you are a shining star. This has turned out to be a kind of rhyme, I never planned it that way - I don't have the time. But every word comes from the heart and I hope you will always know just how much you mean to me - no matter where you go.

There is a song by Bob Carlisle, that always reminds me of you and your baby and everytime I hear it - I see you holding that little boy, gazing down on his precious little face and seeing how beautiful he is everytime. It goes something like this:

Down a cold and darkened hallway
A doctor stood alone,
With a young and frightened father
Who knew something was wrong
He said "Son, this isn't easy,
But we really need to talk."
So he put his arm around him
and they began to walk.

He said "Your wife is finally sleeping,
She just needs to be alone right now,
and your baby, well he's healthy
but there's something you should know."
"Son he's slightly less than perfect, there
was nothing we could do. So before
you go to see him, I thought I'd talk to you."

As the young man held the warm and
sleeping bundle to his chest, he saw
the imperfections and though he tried his best
He couldn't stop the tears from falling as he
held his little boy, and in a low an trembling voice
He gently said these words:

"You're beautiful, in everyway. So beautiful,
how I've waited for this day. If the world was
offered to me, I just couldn't make the trade.
Cause you're beautiful."

I know that you both knew that your baby was going to be born the way he is and that it was not a surprise on the day of his birth, but what I am trying to show here is the love you have for you little boy, cause that's the kind of daddy you are, even though the world will see you baby as "slightly less than perfect", he will always know that to you he is perfect cause thats how you see him. And the love you have for him is priceless and nothing could ever substitute it. And this is the kind of love Jesus has for us, he sees past all our imperfections and tells us we are beautiful. He loves us unconditionally, and an example of the love between The Father and His child is mirrored in you and your son.

You are such a special brother, and I love you very much!!!