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Monday, August 4, 2014

3 Little Words.........

Do you remember the first time your child told you,
"I love you?"
I do.
I remember where I was and what I was doing the first time Samuel turned to me and told me those 3 little words.
It was long after most children utter those words.
Every day I told Samuel that I loved him.
It wasn't just these 3 words that failed to come from Sam's mouth, but words of any kind.......silence.
Samuel had been on schedule with words.
Mum, Mum, Mum.
Dad, Dad, Dad.
Ball, drink, hot, cold.
Then, gradually, they went away.
Occasionally, he would still say a word or two.
But.......tears, anger and frustration would often occur when our sweet little boy tried to make his needs known.
 With the help of wonderful therapists and teachers.....the words started to come.
With good friends bending down and telling Samuel, "Hello," week after week....the words started to come.
Telling Samuel every day, "I love you".....the words started to come.
The day that Samuel told me, "I love you," I cried.
Sometimes I still do when he tells me.
Samuel tells me nearly every day that he loves baby Tristan very much.
It isn't all sunshine and roses however.
Along with all the words that a mother loves to hear, there are many that I don't!!
Now Samuel can express his feelings more, there is less frustration.  Less meltdowns.
There are a lot of bad jokes that are hilarious to an 8-year old.
There is joy.
This has all been on my mind since Sunday.
Samuel asked a friend at church how come they were so tall.
The reply was, "Because I eat all my vegetables."
Later on that day, I heard Samuel asking someone, "Why are you short?"  "Are you a little adult?"
It just struck me how wonderful it was that Samuel was instigating conversations.
It struck me just how grateful and blessed I feel.
This morning, Samuel came up to me, kissed me on the cheek, and said, "I love you."
Sunday night......Sam ate all his vegetables!!!
 
Sally-Ann


Saturday, August 2, 2014

Beach Girl at Heart.........

Unexpected mini vacation in the middle of the week.
Jim had to go to Florida City to check out one of the stores we need to do work on.
Being the wonderful hubby he is, he dropped Sam and I off at Sanibel Island, went and took care of the store and then drove back to the hotel in the middle of a dark and stormy night.  Well, it wasn't really a dark and stormy night, but Mother Nature was really putting on a light show across the gulf.
We stayed at The Seaside Inn.  It was a little older, but well kept and the rooms were very comfortable.  We were upgraded to a ocean front room.  We had a screened porch that had a beautiful view of the beach.  They dropped off a breakfast basket.  Great for a short stay.
Before Jim headed off to work, we had dinner at The Blue Giraffe.
Samuel was very impressed.
It was in a shopping plaza and there was a playground and lots of stairs for him to climb.
Unfortunately.........no escalators.
So, while Sam and I were spending time at the pool and beach. 
  Hanging out in our room, eating Reece's Peanut Butter Cups, sipping Diet Dr. Peppers and juice boxes.........

Jim headed off to work.

The next morning, Sam and I woke up bright and early and headed off to the beach again.
Sam had a bad case of "bed head" going on.
  Jim joined us for one last swim.
That is him.
I have no idea where Sam is.
I thought I had them both in the photo.
It looks like Jim has eyes on him........
It was The Island Cow for lunch.
We decided to stick with the animal theme for our choice of restaurants.
 They didn't serve rolls for you to munch on while you waited.
They served confetti cup cupcakes.
So, with full tummies, we headed back to Tampa.
Great one night get-away.
It was an udderly  moovelous time........
I love the beach.

Sally-Ann