Back in the dark ages...

...forty-one years ago, my sweet husband was born. (I won't mention the fact that my parents weren't even married yet; so I was still 8 years and some months away from being made. But we won't mention that.)

Big Hunk (also known as Tom to anyone that can't handle the truth) and I met at a gas station (where I worked) in late 1995. I was just fresh out of high school and he was, um, not. But it was love at first sight and I adored this man with every ounce of my being from the moment we first exchanged pager numbers.

{I may or may not recall one of his first words to me being "chocolate", but I swear that had nothing to do with it.}

When I met and fell in love with Tom, I was given an incredible opportunity most women don't get. I was able to see what a wonderful daddy he was from the moment we met.

And though I didn't need any assistance wanting to spend the rest of my life with this man, it certainly didn't hurt to see how caring and loving he was with his boys. Fixing their owies; comforting them as they cried when we had to drop them back off at their mom's; making every sacrifice possible to better their lives. He was, and is, a great dad.

We have walked quite a rocky road, but we always find one another at the end of it. When I met my Big Hunk, he was a single dad of two little boys that were 4 & 6. Now, nearly 14 years later, we have been married 10 years, have two little ones of our own, and his sons are grown.

Happy Birthday my sweet man. I love you so very much and am a better woman because of you.

Oh yes, you complete me.

Horrible night

*11/15 Edited to add: I typed this last night from my cell phone, so if there are typos or doesn't make sense I'm sorry. ;)*

I would have to say tonight easily ranks as my worst ever. But I can look back now and see God's hand in all of it and see how He orchestrated it all so beautifully.

It started with a phone call. I was with friends about 30 minutes from my house (my friend had driven us). After being there exactly an hour, my friend (whose daughter was babysitting Mike & Ike) called to tell me she had just talked to her daughter J and that Ikey was bleeding. She said Mikey was calling BH (whom was still at work) and she was heading right over there.

I went inside & whispered to my friend Jen that I needed her to pray for Ike. She took me aside & prayed for my sweet girl. I knew it could be something totally minor, and prayed that was the case.I honestly didn't think it would be anything major, and just thought my friend was giving me the heads up to be safe.

I was able to get hold of BH right away and he was on his way home. He didn't know much until he got there, but he told me that our dog Roxy had bitten Ikey on the face. When he got home, he called me and told me "you need to get home NOW."

My sweet friend drove me to the ER where J's mom had driven Big Hunk and Ikey. It took forever! Saturday evening and we managed to hit Friday rush hour traffic. I was so thankful I didn't have to drive though; I was a basketcase.

When I got to the ER I went back to Ikey's room (turns out BH went through the ambulance entrance and ensured himself prompt attention in doing so) and the nurse was explaining to Ikey that they would need to give her a shot. Um yeah. That went over well. My daughter can't scrape her knee without screaming bloody murder, so telling her she'd get a shot was awesome. Anyway, they were giving her K*etamine, which is actually the street drug S*pecial K. The doc explained it would put her in a trance- she wouldn't be knocked out but she would be completely unaware of what was going on. Wow- that girl was out of it so darn quick (after screaming at the top of her lungs through the shot) and the nurses were shocked. (The doctor had gotten on the phone because he thought it would take much longer, lol.)

Her eyes immediately glazed over and she stopped responding to us. It was just surreal. Had they not explained what would happen, I would have freaked out.

The doctor proceeded to give Ikey her stitches, and we waited in the hall (I couldn't handen, I would have freaked out. The doctor proceeded to give Ikey her stitches, and we waited in the hall (I couldn't handle the gurgling and groaning noises she was making). After about 10 minutes (or 10 hours, in mommy time) the doctor explained everything and we waited for her to wake up. And waited. Suffice it to say she had no desire to leave her slumber! They had us tickling her feet and talking to her nonstop to get her to wake up, but she wasn't having it. It took us probably an hour before she was awake enough to leave- she couldn't even lift her head, let alone walk like one nurse had originally said was required. Thankfully after many pleas from my baby girl to go home, they let us go.

Now my sweet girl is lying between my husband and me, completely peaceful. It is a true miracle she has had no pain thus far. There should be minimal scarring. I can't even begin to show my appreciation for the tons of people praying for my girl tonight; I am so so grateful.

I am thankful for so many things tonight.

• I am thankful my husband was only down the street. 
• I'm thankful my friend (whose daughter was babysitting) was close by and was able to rush over.
• I'm thankful I had asked my friend to drive tonight.
• I am so thankful my baby girl had her daddy there to comfort her and hold her (he was so amazing with her!).
• I am thankful for my amazing friends, lifting up my sweet girl in prayer, when my spirit could only groan.
• I am very thankful for the nursing staff & doctor that cared for my little girl so swiftly and lovingly.

Most of all, I am so very thankful my God knew exactly what would happen, long before it did, and that His hand was on my baby girl the entire time.

Throw up your Rawkfist

About a week ago we went to Creation Festival, and it was so fun. I won tickets a couple months ago on the radio (read: caller 10) and I didn't even know what it was. But when I looked it up and saw that Thousand Foot Krutch, FM Static & Audio Unplugged (among others) would be there, well let's just say they had me at hello. We took both the kiddos, so needless to say our afternoon chores include a trip to buy earplugs. I don't know if they were so much for the kids, or for me to drown out the kids, but whatever.

the California Theatre, where the concert was held. it was old and so so beautiful. i just love places like that, that are so rich with history.

me & baby girl, in the oh-so-glamorous bathroom shot.

apparently mom is the only one that didn't get the memo about the silly face shot. (love ikey's tonsils.)

the first band was one we love, {fm static}. they were so great and i wish they had played more than 3 songs!

next up was a band i really didn't care for, so no pics of them. 

but  then {audio unplugged} was awesome! like an hour of listening to them tell stories and play all their old {audio adrenaline} hits.

this is will from {audio unplugged} and he adored ikey. <3 i have a video of him watching her dance and pointing her out to mark.

mark from {audio}

and the band we came for, {thousand foot krutch}! we were so excited to see them, and they definitely did not let us down.(the lead singer, trevor, and the drummer are from {fm static}, as well.

When we arrived at the concert, we had no clue what kind of seats we'd have. Turns out we had front row! So not only super loud, but super awesome. We left before Jars of Clay played because it was already almost 10pm and the kids were getting worn out, but I am so thankful we got to go.

So proud.

The kids' Awana group is trying to recruit shoeboxes of gifts and goodies for Operation Christmas Child, and their boxes are due tonight. Boxes that will bless little boys and girls all over the world that may not know any other Christmas.

Last week I told Mikey that I just didn't know if we could afford it right now. (Seriously. I could not kick myself more now.) His answer? "Well just take it out of my allowance!"

Yes I cried. And yes I am so stinking proud that he wouldn't even miss a beat- he just knew we needed to do it.

And no I'm not taking it out of his allowance.

I think his willingness just speaks volumes about his little heart and I am so very proud of him.