Pleasant Surprise

Today started out like any other day...hitting snooze several times on the alarm clock, bidding Scott farewell as he walked off to work, taking care of Micah, checking some e-mails, doing some work for Breakthrough, etc.

Sometime mid-afternoon Micah and I hopped in the car and drove off to the grocery store. I had some items I needed to pick up because we're having our good friend Luke Patin over for dinner.

I took my sweet time roaming the aisles at Dominick's, and checked things off my list one by one...milk, cheddar cheese, apples...

Micah and I wheeled our way into the check-out line and watched as our friendly cashier beeped all of our items, making the dollar signs climb. A bagger or two enjoyed saying hi to Micah, and seeing what his response would be. Sometimes he smiles, sometimes he whines, sometimes he ignores. This time he just lazily glanced there way and kept sucking his pacifier - it was nearing nap time.

After swiping my credit card, the cashier handed me my receipt and an upside down piece of paper. As I began to exit the store, I flipped over the piece of paper and was pleasantly surprised to find a coupon good for one free beverage at Starbuck's, which was conveniently located near Dominick's doors. Could it be, I thought to myself, that this is actually 100% free? Sure enough, Micah and I made a stop at Starbuck's and greeted the barista warmly, I just got this at the register! I told her. Hmmm...would you recommend the Pumpkin Spice frappuccino? I inquired (I had been eying this beverage last time I saw a Starbuck's menu, but couldn't justify buying it).

With frap in hand, and baby in cart, Micah and I headed toward the car where I took my first sip of the frothy goodness. Wow, it sure was delicious...and absolutely free. I enjoyed the ride home more than I thought I would as I savored the sweet, cold beverage. Micah enjoyed his own beverage of choice (a 6 oz. bottle, revving up for nap time).

Upon arriving in the back of our apartment building, I finished up my drink (good to the last drop), and started loading up for the 3-floor climb upstairs - baby, diaper bag, groceries. I realized that one of the reasons I had enjoyed my beverage so much (aside from the sugary goodness), was that it had been free of charge. God knows how much I like a bargain, and this one I hadn't even seen coming.

I arrived at the back door of our apartment building winded but content. God is so sweet to give us little joys in our day. Today mine happened to be in the form of a Pumpkin Spice frappuccino.

One Cool Dude

Micah enjoys just about everything non-toy. Recently he's really liked my sunglasses. :-)

E-Stamp CLICK Mania!

I want to thank all of you who helped me reach my E-Stamp Campaign goal, by clicking it over 400 times! Because of you, I will be donating $200 to Breakthrough. There are several other E-Stampers that could use your help! Here are their E-Stamps below...please CLICK them to their campaign goal too - before their time runs out!! Feel free to pass it along too!

Thanks, and have a great weekend!
-Bekah

P.S. These can all be clicked and will count as one click per E-Stamp, but a new click only counts when your browser is reopened and you visit their E-Stamp page again...

P.P.S. You can begin an E-Stamp Campaign too! Just decide how much you'd like to donate to Breakthrough, and click the orange "Start Your Own Campaign" button on the bottom right of any of these E-Stamp pages.

Keith:

Click this e-stamp, and $0.42 will be donated to Breakthrough Urban Ministries in Chicago.

Jimmy:

Click this e-stamp, and $0.25 will be donated to coach youth in Chicago.

CLICK!

Hey guys! Click my E-Stamp - it'll only take a minute, and won't cost you anything. Every time my Stamp is clicked, I will donate $$ to Breakthrough - it's a great cause!! If you feel really inspired, pass this along to your friends, post it on your own blog or Facebook, forward the link, etc (see the links for doing that on my E-Stamp web-page). Help me reach my campaign goal before time runs out! :-) Thanks.

Click this e-stamp, and $0.50 will be donated to educate youth in Chicago.

Micah's New Haircut!

I can't really say that today was Micah's "first" haircut, because Scott has already trimmed it twice (just some curls so he wouldn't have a mullet). But today was the first official haircut - buzzer, scissors, comb...the whole shebang! Here are the photos that document the occasion! :-)

Before:


During:


After (a little upset b/c I took away is pacifier for the photo):

Micah's 1st Birthday!

Micah is officially 1 year old today - he has graduated out of the "months" when people ask how old he is. The day began with Scott and I waking up to our "alarm clock" (Micah jabbering in his room). Scott has made a commitment to want to be the first one to see Micah on his birthday every year, in order to tell him he loves him and is proud of him. Scott already tells Micah these things often, but there is something extra special about being the first one to say it on his son's birthday.


After Scott's father/son talk with Micah, it was time for breakfast...nothing special- just normal baby oatmeal slop washed down with some formula in a sippy cup.






This was then followed by play time for a bit and then nap time.




After Micah's nap, we headed to the car and turned Micah's car seat around (it's nice to have him front-facing now and to be able to glance at him in the review mirror while I drive). This photo shows Micah patiently waiting while dad turned his car seat around.


We hit the road and drove around the city for a while, stopping at a couple stores, and eating an early dinner. We returned home well-fed and tired.


Scott and I are so thankful for the blessing of our son, Micah. I also want to say "thank you" to you, family and friends, who have prayed with and for us along the way, and have shown so much love to our little family of 3. We praise God for you, and we praise God for his goodness to us.