Home

Wiley has started "preschool"/daycare at Canterbury. He has done well given that it is his first time in childcare that is not at his house. But that is not the point of this post...

We are coming back to the apartment here in B'ham to go for a walk. Wiley keeps asking for apple juice (repeatedly, of course) and I keep saying (repeatedly, of course) that we don't have apple juice in the car and he will have to wait till we get home.

And then, the thought struck me that in a couple/few years, Wiley will understand the word home. And then I pictured him saying,"Mommy, this is not home. Home is at Wake Forest." It made me think about our somewhat transient lifestyle and where my home really is.

The other week when I took Wiley to the dentist to check on a tooth he had bumped and had been bothering him I had to fill out the usual paperwork. When the line for address came, I paused. "What is my home address...should I put my parent's house, or our apartment in Winston?" This happens a lot. I often put my parent's address for important documents since we claim Alabama residency still, but that is not where I live. Wil puts his parent's address when he fills out the address line in forms. My husband and I don't even put down the same address sometimes! How bizarre!

So, I'm still thinking about this. The fact that I'm not sure where I should hang my hat, so to speak. The fact that I hang it in W-S mid August- mid December and again from mid January to the beginning of May. In December I hang it at 2 houses. In the summer I hang it at another apartment.

I always tell Wil, I just can't wait to have my own front porch. I can't wait to not have to walk down 3 flights of stairs to go play outside. I don't care if I actually have a front porch, but it would be nice. I think I just would really like to not have to hesitate when I am filling out forms that have the dreaded line of "address." And you know they all have those!

So as I am thinking this, I realize how ungrateful I am being. Here I am, driving a really nice car down a beautiful road, with a healthy boy in a really safe carseat in the back who has just come from a wonderful childcare center at the church I grew up in. I'm coming "home" to an amazing apartment that a gracious family is letting us stay in for the summer (saving my sanity, at the same time!) that is in a safe neighborhood. Moreover, I have listed in my head and here FOUR places that I could call "home." Four. Four places to hang my hat. What about those families, those mothers who don't know where they will hang their hat tonight? What about those who call a homeless shelter "home?"

I am so lucky, so blessed, to have these four places to call "home." I know that my feelings about having a permanent address are real, that they are okay to feel, and that anyone with a family, particularly the mom, has those feelings--the need to settle, to nest. But at the same time, I want to remember to thank the Lord that I have a home, no matter how temporary it may be. I know that I need to remind myself to be at peace in the place I am in right now, to be thankful for what has been given--because I certainly did or do anything to deserve any of it.

So, until the day that I have my own front porch, I will hesitate at the address line, but from now on, I hope that when I hesitate I will thank the gracious Lord that I have four places, four shelters, four safe places, that I can call "home."

Sleeping Late

Home for a couple days before we are off to our next destination, Wil and I were quite tired from our past two trips, but more recently the beach. But apparently Wiley was too. And he should be since he woke up at 6:30 am each day--which is totally not normal for him.

He woke up early this morning too, but I let him talk and play. Finally, Wil got him, changed him, and brought him downstairs to play with us--anything to get a few more minutes of rest. So, we play for probably 30-45 minutes with Wiley in bed, climbing all over us. And then, something magical happened. We always try to get him to lay down with us, hoping he'll go to sleep, and for some reason today--he did!

I said, "Wiley let's go back to sleep with mommy and daddy...lay down your head on mommy's pillow." And he did. I start falling asleep and next thing i know he is asleep too! And didn't wake up till 10 am!!! Amazing! How wonderful to sleep in with the little one. Although while he was sleeping I woke up and all I could think about was his nap schedule is going to be so messed up....ahh oh, well. It was worth it, I think!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Sadly, I have not had a chance to post much of anything---We've been out of town quite a bit and really, I'm not sure anything blog-worthy has happened. Maybe this makes you hope for a post even more?

The sailing trip around St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths was amazing. Such a relaxing trip.

The return home to Wiley was even better. More hair, more curls, and more words! He is going to be so much fun this summer! We had our first Dentist appointment to check on a tooth that Wiley had fallen hard on when chasing his Daddy around the kitchen. It is wiggly, or "mobile" as the Dentist put it. ("Mobile"? I thought the word was loose, or wiggly?)And hopefully will stop being mobile if we keep him from biting hard foods. Wiley was fabulous but proceeded to be difficult in Zoes as he decided to rearrange all the "birthday cakes." I am pleased to announce that when Wiley eats he says "No boo boo" meaning "my mobile tooth is not causing me pain."

We are heading to the beach soon and taking him--I can't wait to see his reactions to the ocean, sand, the pool etc! It will be so fun to experience this with him for the first time! I forsee him being skeptical of the ocean. Skeptical then loving the pool. Then probably getting sand everywhere.

I wish there were more...Hopefully I can add a picture or two from the trip.

Shoutout to all of our Wake friends---my goodness do we miss you all!!! Eli and I walked today and it was so refreshing and fun. I can't believe some of our friends have graduate--yall are so old--and moving on with their lives from Wake.

Ah--the Wiley-man awakens---I'm off!

Birthday Pictures!

Here are a few pictures for our friends and family who weren't able to be here! We missed you all! I wish I could put a video on here, but I don't have the right cords to connect it. We had a birthday party at Davis Field on campus. Wiley had so many friends there, and he had a wonderful time playing in the grass with everyone. He did a lot of somersaults out there, too! He loved his animal cake, too! Wil and I are continually overwhelmed and thankful for our wonderful Wake Forest family. And Wiley just adores playing and being with you all. Happy Birthday Wiley-man!









We hope that you all enjoy the pictures!!

Two!

Wil and I laugh that Wiley doesn't have a comfort object, but instead a comfort number. TWO. Two passys, two dogs, two Elmos, two crackers, etc. So it is exciting that tomorrow Wiley will have two years--his favorite number! It has been fun for Wil and I to think about tonight in terms of where we were 2 years ago...dinnertime...Jello at Mexico Lindo with Julia and Wil...around 11:30...things getting interesting...contractions worse...by midnight...I'm golden thanks to the epidural. Tomorrow is going to be a fun day! We have a birthday party planned, and I just can't wait to wake up to a TWO YEAR OLD! tomorrow! Can you believe it?!! Here are some pictures to document where we have been....

Leaving the hospital


Wiley at the Lake

Wiley post-Christening

Fall 06

Wiley in the Fall


October 2006

Wiley "Sleep is for the Weak" Cooper

Wiley Walkin...Ignore the Duke shirt...


First Birthday

Cutest doggy you ever saw...

Go Deacs!

Christmas!

Recently...


Happy Birthday Sweet Wiley! We love you so much!

Not too bloggy...

Well, I wish that something funny happened to me since I last blogged that stands out in my mind, particularly regarding Wiley...Maybe I will think of something as I type...

Anyway, Wiley is turning 2 on Thursday and I can't believe it! Cliche, yes, I know. But indulge me. It seems like not so long ago that we were only 2 or 3 days away from flying home to Bham only to have Wiley a day or two later. (Can you tell I can't remember what day we flew home?) I feel like we have all come so far, and I just can't wait to see how we will continue to change and grow together.

Sweet Wiley who, 2 years ago, looked so pale (you think I'm exaggerating, but just wait till Thursday when I post pictures) and smooshy (yes, smooshy) in all his newborn pictures is now a not-quite-as-pale and not smooshey at all BOY! He's a real boy! (Pinocchio, reference, I think). But really, he is. And I have discovered that if you brush his hair in a side part to the left, he looks just like his daddy's toddler pictures.

The other day the almost-two-year-old was getting his diaper changed at the Teasleys...I was talking to him, telling him to stand up, when he got the most tender look in his eyes and he took his hands and touched/stroked my face saying "Sweet Mommy" and then he leaned down and gave me a hug. It was so wonderful, and I think what made it the best ever was that he just randomly did it. I didn't have to say "Give Mommy a Hug"--He just decided to love on his mama. But don't we all just love these random acts of kindness or love? Who doesn't love a surprise show of affection?

The other night Wil made me a special dinner that he cooked all by himself--I had delicious salmon and he had tuna. As we were eating and talking about the day, he just out of the blue said, "I can't see my life any other way. I can't imagine what it would be like to not have Wiley." And this is so true. I think two years ago we were in panic mode whether we acknowledged it or not. Two 19 year olds bringing a child into the world...good gracious! Children are much more resilient than people think. But two years later and we are in my-life-did-not-begin-until-this-child-was-born mode--thankful mode.

And as for me, for this place in life I am in right now, with a wonderful husband and an amazing son--there is no place I would rather be. I want to rest in it and enjoy each and every moment.

I am the wretch the song refers to.

So, I have this t-shirt and it says "I am the wretch the song refers to" across the top in kind smallish type and that is it. I received it from my Bible Study leader in high school for graduation. When I got it, she thought it was THE funniest gift/t-shirt ever. I remember just being like, "oh, that's funny...weird...hmmm...probably won't ever wear this." I just don't think I got it at all.

Fast forward three years, and I LOVE THIS T-SHIRT! I get it. And because I get it, I too think it is funny, but SO true and powerful.

So what happened in those three years that changed my attitude toward the shirt and consequentially towards Christ? A lot. My (Our) life was turned upside down and suddenly I was looking face to face with my sin. I think that through that experience as well as through the ministry of RUF, Wil and I both became more aware of our sin--its depth, its permanence in our lives, and thus our incredible need for Jesus. Not that we didn't think we needed Jesus before, but I think it was a more shallow relationship, not one where we completely understood the significance and depth of the relationship.

I know that this is elementary probably, and quite obvious, but how in the world was I able to appreciate Christ's love for me and his sacrifice for me without having a deep understanding of my sin? Grace doesn't make sense without knowing that I am in need of it so badly--yet don't deserve it in the least bit.

I'm not sure how I got through 18 years without really being able to "get" my t-shirt. I am ashamed that I didn't get it. I think that I am going to hold onto this one for awhile in hopes that perhaps the summer after Wiley graduates from high school, he, too, will get it.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.

T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.

The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.

When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.