Thirty Years!

Wow! I turned thirty today! A new decade. A milestone. I feel twenty-two! People who are in their thirties are old to me. But every once in awhile I look in the mirror and have to acknowledge I have crow's feet. And all the stuff I put on my face before I go to bed at night has the term "anti-aging" somewhere in the name. So far, thirty is wonderful. I had a wonderful start to this next decade of my life...

On Saturday, the day before my birthday, we decided to have a family day so we took Daniel and Caleb to the Denver Children's Museum. Patrick's parents gave us a year membership for Christmas and we finally cashed it in.

Daniel had a blast! I think we could have left him in the train room and not returned for him for three days. And we decided that Caleb is just the cutest, little engineer ever!! Most of the rooms have "dress up" pieces that go along with the theme. The train room had engineer hats, which Caleb and Daniel loved wearing.

Daniel loved playing in the mock locker room with the basketball court and tumbing mats. In one part of the museum he dressed up as a chipmunk and climbed around an artifical forest and down into an ant hill. There are so many things to do at the Children's Museum. There was no way we could get to all of it so we'll be going back for sure!!

Caleb didn't get a whole lot out of the museum, just watched the action from his stroller. Maybe in a few months he'll take advantage of the crawlers room. He loved staring at the fishies at the Downtown Aquarium though where we went for lunch. I swear that shark smacked his lips a couple times as he headed toward us. Daniel is still fascinated with everything having to do with the sea so eating at the Aquarium was a real treat for him!

On Sunday, Patrick had organized a dinner party for me. We went to Sonota Sushi -- a huge sacrifice of love for Patrick since he hates sushi. I had over ten friends there. Suprisingly, four of them are friends I had in Florida that have migrated their way to Colorado. Later we headed back to our house for cake and ice cream!!

I have SO much to be thankful for! A wonderful, loving husband (he is also flying best friend from highschool out to spend some time with me in the next couple weeks!) -- two beautiful boys that love their mommy to pieces -- great friends -- awesome family -- God whom I have had a relationship with for much of my thirty years! Life just keeps getting better and better!!

New Number, New Home

Patrick and I have been in Colorado for 1 year, 3 months and 15 days.

We just changed our Florida cell phone numbers to Colorado numbers. Yeah, it's about time... Our new friends here in Colorado are thrilled because it means they don't have to dial long distance anymore to ask if we want to grab a bite to eat.

Me, I'm sad.

I miss my old number. I miss saying, "Area code four-zero-seven... yeah, I know... it's an Orlando number..."

Somehow, hanging onto 407 allowed me to hang on to what we left in Florida -- my family, longtime friends, people we ministered with and to, our first house where we brought home our first child, a church we love -- basically everything that represented comfort in my life. And I like being comfortable. I don't like new things. I want to know I have a safety net if things get shaky.

407 meant I might still be able to call my sister at the last minute and ask if she wants to get sushi for lunch -- even though it would be impossilbe to get there on time. With 407, I could still call my baby's first and my favorite pediatrician to ask for advice -- even though he wouldn't give it without seeing the child first. 407 was a symbol of my comfortable life. It meant I still had a tie to all that we left when we moved from Florida.

Changing my cell phone number cut that tie. I'm in Colorado for good. It's time to start building my home... It's time to make longtime friends here and find someone to go grab sushi with. It's time to find people here to minister with and to. It's time to like my boys' pediatrician. It's time to choose to love a church here because this is where I am right now. It's not comfortable, but maybe that's a good thing.

Changing my old Florida number to a Colorado one is teaching me something about my view of what home really is. Comfort is home. Home is where you are comfortable. But our home really isn't on this earth, is it?

Jesus said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head," (Mt. 8:20) and we are called to live our lives like Jesus. Last night I told Patrick I was homesick, but I wasn't really sure where "home" was. Being a missionary kid, I know what it is to constantly battle the feeling of unsettledness -- not knowing where home is while simultaneously turning any plot of ground and roof into a place of comfort. Is home New Guinea? Is it Florida? The house with the mortgage payment? Where my husband is from? Is it where I have the most friends? I honestly don't know...

However, I do know this... my for real home is Heaven. It's where, when someday I stand before my Father, the King, there will be no looking back... no ties to my shabby, sad excuse for comfort... no whistful daydreaming of the past... I'll check my cell phone at the door, regardless of its area code, and hear Him say, "Finally, welcome home!"

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures!

I thought I'd put up a scrapbook from the past year. Enjoy!!

The First Snowfall

We had our first snowfall just a few days after settling into our new home. Daniel loved the snow and thought it tasted yummy! And I learned how long it takes to bundle up and two-year-old and how hard it is to convince him that, yes, you really do want to keep your mittens on!

In Bloom

Springtime in Colorado is gorgeous with all the trees in bloom. We love the Cherry tree in our back yard! This is Easter 2006

Summertime...

In July, we spent two weeks at my parent's in northern Idaho. Daniel's favorite thing to do was stand in the creek near their house and throw rocks. We had to pull him out before his feet froze off though.

Happy 40th Patrick!

This is before Patrick and seven of his closest friends headed to the Collegiate Peaks for a week to celebrate the big 4-0. We didn't take an "after" picture -- it was just too gruesome! (back row) Sean, Monte, Patrick, Danny P, (front row) Jeremy, Gabriel, Howard and Paul. A week in the wilderness was a life-highlight for all these guys. Patrick said it was the most physically demanding thing he has ever done, but I think he would go back in a heartbeat.

Another Blessing

It already seems like forever ago that Caleb John was born on October 22, 2006 weighing 7lbs 11oz.

And the Snows Came Down...

We received a foot of snow just four days after Caleb was born. Daniel loved his snowman and was very sad when he melted in about two days... but that's Denver for you -- the snow rarely sticks... or so we thought...

On December 22, the snow started falling and did not stop until it hit 33 inches!! This Holiday Blizzard was only the first of four major blizzards in four weeks. We did not see our backyard until March! The locals complained bitterly, but we knew nothing different so we enjoyed it. Our first year in Colorado turned out to be a great one!

The Wilsons Go to Tennessee

Patrick had a business trip to Nashville this April so we decided to make a family trip of it and take the boys to see Grandmama and Grandaddy. The boys had a blast! I think Grandmama and Grandaddy did too! As you can see from the above photo, Daniel is not a poser.

Grandaddy just fell in love with Caleb. Every time I walked through the living room, Caleb was sitting on his lap. The feelings were mutual!

Grandmama outdid herself with all the reading, coloring, puzzles and stickers.

Patrick's parents live on an acre lot so Daniel asked to be outside every chance he could. Here he is helping Grandaddy mow the lawn.

Daniel is being indoctrinated at a young age. While at Grandmama and Grandaddy's, he got a temporary tatoo of a Tennessee Volunteer helmet. He now runs around, lifting his shirt and yelling, "Go Vols!"

The boys were very sad when it was time to leave, but we'll be back to Tennessee in August to celebrate Forrest and Anne's 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Spring 2007 in Review

Here is a recap of our first full Spring in Colorado. We love it! It's so pretty! Last year was a drought year and this year because of all the snow and rain lately, it is SO GREEN!! My mom was here in March and kept laughing at me because every time we went somewhere I would just say, "Wow, it is so green." Unless you have been here in the summertime, you don't get how brown it is!

Daniel is learning to "share," but his idea of sharing is just dumping all his toys on top of Caleb.

It has been so neat to watch both our boys grow this year. Caleb has turned from a completely, helpless blob to a little boy with the sweetest spirit who just smiles and laughs all the time. He truly is a blessing in our lives. He has brought so much joy to us!

Daniel brings us joy in his own unique way. A friend who is a Speech Therapist stayed with us a few days and said he has a very advanced vocabulary. He takes after his daddy because the boy can talk!! I admit that on some days, it just wears me out.

We love watching him learn. He can name almost any animal you show him and counts to 14. I've started doing a little bit of "school" with him. His favorite thing is pasting contruction paper.

The best part in seeing his character develop. It is so amazing to watch God work in his little life. There have been many times I have seen him want to do the wrong thing, but he chooses what is right. The other night as I tucked him in bed I ask if he wanted to pray. He said, "Okay," and on his own said "Dear, Jesus, thank you." I know he was just repeating what he has heard me say a hundred times, I think it was a first step in his desire to talk to God. Patrick and I pray every day that our children will grow up to love Jesus with all their heart, mind and soul.

Daniel and Caleb sharing a brotherly kiss!!

As for Patrick and I, we continue to seek our purpose here in Colorado. Although, we love all the skiing and hiking we have been able to do since moving here, we are itching to find our place in ministry. Right now, we lead a homegroup on Tuesday night with four other families. We love being friends with all these people and it has helped make our transition to Colorado easier. One thing that is cool, is this is the first time Patrick and I have had a group of friends that are in the same stage of life as us!

Patrick's business is doing great! He has had a very blessed year, although it has required a lot of traveling. Between two trips to Florida and one to Tennessee, we counted up that he slept in his own bed only ten nights the month of April. Thankfully, the whole family was able to go with him on some of his trips so we didn't miss him that much!

I am staying busy watching my friend's son several times a month while she works from home. The extra cash is nice, but it's really great for Daniel to have a friend his age to play with. It's also the perfect time to work on that sharing thing. I don't have a whole lot going this Summer, but in the Fall I will be starting Community Bible Study and getting back involved with Mom to Mom, a support group for those following the Growing Kids parenting approach.

That's about it for now!

Daniel and the Trout

A charming narrative about a young boy and his love for a cold water fish...

Daniel is really into all animals that live in the water. Recently, he went to the Denver Aquarium and then to Sea World on our trip to Orlando earlier this month. So, basically for a month now all we have heard is, "Shark", "Dolphin", "Manatee", "Killer Whale", "Crab", "Trout"... he knows them all...

A few days ago, we were watching Discovery Channel's show "Man vs. Wild" in which Bear Grylls is dropped in the middle of nowhere and shows you how to survive with just what you might have in a daypack. During this particular episode Bear was stranded in the Canadian Rockies. He decided to go fishing, but with no fishing pole or hook he was having to grasp at the fish with his hands.

Daniel was standing in front of the television, awestruck at Bear's fish catching ability and would ocassionally yell out, "TROUT!" Bear finally caught a fish and said, "If you don't have a knife, you'll just have to beat its head against a rock to kill it," then begins banging the head of this writhing, flailing fish against a rock. Patrick and I gave one another a quick look of horror that says, "Is this appropriate for a two year old?" Too late!

"What's he doing, Daddy?"

"He's killing the trout, Daniel"

"What's he doing Daddy?"

"He's killing the trout, Daniel"

"What's he doing, Daddy?"

"Daniel, he's still killing the trout."

Bear encouraged anyone lost in the mountains with no chance of a fire to just go ahead and eat the fish raw. You need the protein, afterall. So looking into the camera, he bites into the belly of the now limp, but bloodied trout -- guts squirting everywhere!

"What's he doing, Daddy?"

"He's eating the trout."

"What's he doing, Daddy?"

"He's eating the trout."

"What's he doing, Daddy?"

"Daniel, he's still eating the trout."

And on that note, we sent poor traumatized Daniel off for his nap to consider the horrors of the circle of life. A few hours later, he woke up from his nap and when I went in to get him, the first words out of his mouth were, "Daniel eat trout?"

Sure, why not? So we went to the grocery store where they had several fine trout, with their heads on and everything. Daniel was so excited! He stood on a stool and watched me lop off heads and pull out spines. Just when Patrick and I thought we could not handle hearing the word "trout" another fifty times, we got to eat the trout. Now, most of you know Daniel hardly eats anything at dinnertime, but on this night, he would not stop eating the trout. He even ate all his zuccini after Patrick told him he had to if he wanted seconds of trout. We are going to write the Discovery Channel and ask if Bear Grylls can eat green beans on an upcoming episode.

Finally, after fourth and fifth servings Patrick asked Daniel again if he still wanted some more. Daniel looked very thoughtful and finally said, "No... Daniel eat manatee?"

Patrick and I almost fell off our chairs. So, he's over trout. Not too scarred from the ordeal, but he doesn't quite understand that eating things from the endangered species list is frowned upon. But, until we can get our hands on some manatee we're stuck with hearing, "Manatee!" fifty times a day!

Welcome to Our Blog!

Hi! We are Patrick, Deborah, Daniel (2 1/2 yrs) and Caleb (6 mos) Wilson! I am joining the blogging community really as an effort to be a better daughter and daughter-in-law. I thought I could use this as a way to communicate stories about and pass on pictures of the boys. It's my current flava of the month so we'll see how long it lasts... although it is currently competing with Sudoku!
I am also a closet creative-writer so we'll see if this gets my creative juices flowing. So... stop in for a while and read every word. Or just pop in and skim the highlights. I'm glad you're here!
Soon to come: "Spring 2007 in Review" and don't miss the much anticipated "Daniel and the Trout" -- an inspiring short story about a small boy and his love for a cold water fish.