A Year

A year.  So much life has happened in a year and I haven’t written a word about it. That’s kind of how I am. When I’m treading in deep waters all my energy is in staying above water…surviving. Now a life preserver has been thrown and it’s safe to go limp.

I won’t try to recap an entire year in one blog post. I will start with today. Who the four of us are today because of the year we lived.

June 5. Today is the anniversary of one of the most difficult days my little family has every faced. Greg had an amazingly successful quadruple bypass surgery. Here is a passage from a blog I never posted written a day after his surgery…

“Needless to say, June 5^th has been by far the hardest day ever lived for both me and my guy. No other day has brought me more on my face. No other day has led literally hundreds to the foot of the cross, interceding on our behalf. No other day has been more painful, more emotionally draining, more… covered in prayer, more anointed, more beautiful, or more glorifying to God.”

God is a god who provides.

Instead of beach vacations, campouts, and road trips, our little family spent last summer recovering from heart surgery. We did our best. How do you even get your mind around what that would look like at any age much less at 33 with two toddlers? Seriously, you just don’t.

Thank God for his love. I can’t get over it.

We were swarmed with support from family and friends. Things we didn’t even think needed taking care of were taken care of. The lawn was getting mowed regularly. Dinners were delivered. Activities for the boys were planned. Visitors to keep Greg company while I worked. Details so many in number they would have consumed our family had God not put them on each individual’s heart. That’s the body of Christ, ya’ll. Jesus people pouring out love.

Today we celebrate the overwhelming grace and love poured out by God and through his people. We are undeserving, but oh so grateful. We celebrate our two precious boys who are now 5 and 3! They are both so cute I can’t stand it. There growing bond and love for each other is amazing to watch. It’s truly an honor to be their Mommy. They fill our lives with so much joy, frustration, laughter, adventure, dirt, noise and love. God’s good gifts.

I want to share some pics from both their birthdays. If you don’t know this about the Meeks, we LOVE birthdays! In fact, we love them so much we have “birthday months” (this works well because we each have a birthday in a different month). All month long you get first pick on things like what/where to eat, tv shows or movies, treats, activities and outings…you get the picture. It’s a blast.

Micah’s 5^th birthday theme was his favorite…Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Can’t blame the kid…those Turtles are pretty awesome. I catch myself laughing at their jokes and especially when Micah quotes from one of the many movies we have. His favorite quote, “We know women” says one turtle. “No we don’t,” says another turtle, “she’s the first one we ever met.” (said about April) I’m trying not to read too much into why this is his choice of all the things he could quote. I already know he’s a lover and not a fighter. I can already hear the giggling girls in his future. Sigh.

There aren't as many pics to share from Micah's party. I guess it's time to finally even things out a little bit. We have 3 hanging pictures in the house of Tristan....22 of Micah. Oops.

We had the party at the house and invited 5 friends (drop-off, no parents). Micah is so low maintenance sometimes I forget to make a fuss over things. I probably could have done a better job with this party but February is a hard month weather wise in Texas to plan anything. 

Ninjas in training

take out

love these guys

waiting for action

turtle zip line

let boys play in back yard...boys see laundry line...viola! turtle zip line

Cowabunga Dudes!

 

Tristan’s 3^rd bugday was at our community garden. He loves to be outdoors and dirty and all that fun stuff. The young and old all had a really great time. What Mr. T lacks in words and speech he makes up for in charisma! He was so excited to celebrate his “d-day” that he literally jumped for joy.

 

caterpillars, carrots, and watermelons hand-paint art by T, M, and their buds

showing Grammy, Meme, & Uncle Ricky his garden

We love our community garden! T got the party started in the playground.

Uncle Ricky and sweet T. Oh these two.

Who wants to bug hunt? (T squealing and jumping for joy!)

Daddy helping T hunt for bugs

best buds

These two adore each other. (T & Meme)

 

"CHEEEEESE!!!" The amazing s'mores cake was made by Uncle Ricky.

T gobbled it up!

See? He took it seriously.

popcorn...T's favorite snack

ooooh...presents!

"Mi-ey Mow" Mickey Mouse is T's fav.

Dig deep!

Yay! A sleep mat for school. He begins June 9th. Pray for me...I mean him.

 

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. --Ephesians 3:20-21