Family Picture's

I've feel in love with Morris Avenue. I love the cobblestone streets, the lamp post and everything else about it. Here are a few more of my favorite pictures from this past weekend.

from our family to your's

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Rusty, Ashley and Braxton

Braxton

Today we went to Morris Avenue in downtown. My friend Melissa went with us and took some amazing pictures. It was so cold but we still had a blast. Braxton was so funny because he kept hearing the trains and just keeping hollering choo choo mama choo choo.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Today we put up our Christmas tree and a few decorations. I can tell it's already going to be a long month worth of no Braxton don't touch the ornaments. Also, no Braxton don't touch the presents or try to open them. Tonight while I was wrapping he kepts tell me those are Jaxon's presents (my nephew). He kept telling me Braxton not have a present and I told him they were till in the North Pole with Santa. As Braxton gets older holiday's are so much more exciting. I will post more pictures later but wanted to share my favorite from tonight.

Disney On Ice

We took Braxton to see Disney on Ice a few weeks ago. He had so much fun and would not take is eyes off the ice. I was so proud of him because he sat through the whole thing until the big bad beast came out. Braxton quickly looked at me and said "are you ready to go home mommy." Needless to say he was tuff and stuck it out till the very end. So after $50.00 tickets, $12.00 Mickey Mouse doll and a $10.00 bag of cotton candy the look on his face was "PRICELESS". Yes you did see that correctly $10.00 bag of cotton candy.

Braxtons B'day Party!

Sorry I'm just now posting. We've been without a computer and just got it back today. We had Braxtons birthday party on November the 8th and he had so much fun. He enjoyed playing with his friends and opening presents and eating cake. Enjoy some of the pictures from his big day.

Happy Birthday Braxton

Well my little man is growing up just way to fast. Braxton turned three today and it just seems like yesterday he was born. People always told me enjoy it because they grow up so fast boy were they telling the truth. We are having a Thomas birthday party Sunday and I'll post pictures of that this weekend. Tonight Rusty and I had cupcakes with Braxton. He ate the icing and through the cake part away saying "I not want it". Happy birthday Braxton we love you!

Gatlinburg

Rusty, Braxton and I just got back from Gatlinburg this past Sunday. The weather was beautiful and I don't think we were ready to come home. We went up on Thursday morning and it was so nice to just be away for a few days with just the three of us. It was very much needed I think for all of us. Rusty has been working so much and he was so glad to get just a few days off and I'm going to say enjoy being with us. We did so much site seeing. One of my favorite parts was the candy apples and the chocolate dipped strawberries. I wish the trees had been turned a little more down in Gatlinburg but when you went on up into the mountains they were beautiful. We can't wait to go back.

toot toot all aboard

Well as you can see Braxton was a train conductor for Halloween. He had the best time running to peoples door's and knocking and before they even came he was saying trick-or-treat. After a while my dad came by and that was it for Braxton, he wanted to ride in the car with Grunt. My nephew Jaxon was having a blast also he was Buzz Lightyear and he kept telling Braxton come on Braxton. They were a lot better this year at trick-or-treating and can't wait for many more years to come.

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger here lately. I was so excited to become part of the blogging family and I finally joined and have been horrible at it. I was sick a few weeks ago and Braxton has been having ear infections and when he gets through with the medicine another one comes. He went back to the doctor today and he has an appointment with the ENT in 2 weeks. Nothing much or exciting has been going on. I've been getting ready for Braxtons big day in November. It's so hard to believe our little boy is fixing to be three. It seems just like yesterday he was born. I can't believe Halloween is around the corner then Thanksgiving shopping (forget the food I just want to shop) and then Christmas. I love to decorate for Christmas and Halloween so I'll leave you with a couple of our Halloween decorations.

Sad Day!

Okay so Rusty has made fun of me so bad tonight but I just might have to call in sick to work tomorrow. Patrick Swayze has passed away oh my goodness! I will have to pull out Dirty Dancing and Ghost watch them cry and just think I can never leave the house again. Here's to you Patrick Swayze RIP.

Maemae and Abby

Well I got in trouble for not having a picture of the "rest" of the family on the blog. Maemae and Abby are our 2 dogs that are such a pain sometimes but I wouldn't give them up for nothing. When Rusty and I got married in 2002 we got Maemae for Christmas of 2002. Abby came to join our family when he said Maemae needed a friend to play with. I was so excited because I was like yes another little puppy. Well in 2004 he came home with a small pony. Maemae is getting older now and doesn't want to be bothered anymore and of course Abby wants to run and act like a crazy dog and you know who Braxton would rather play with and that's Maemae. One night he was trying to put her in a small tote and she wasn't having it. Well Braxton figured since she wouldn't get in the tote he would just put the tote over her. Well Maemae started going crazy and got out and took off running. I wonder why maemae doesn't like him he's such a sweet boy :-)

Buses, Trains and Garbage Trucks

Every morning when Braxton and I are headed out to go to school and work as soon as the garage doors open he starts hollering for the buses. I've never seen a kid so excited over a bus. On Tuesday's there is nothing better than the garbage truck. Friday Braxton went to the doctor since he's been sick with a runny nose and bad cough. Well I knew before we went he was going to be getting a shot so I went to the toy store before picking him up from school to buy a garbage truck. Well needless to say it helped in the end when that bad nurse pulled the alcohol swab out to rub on his leg (yes alcohol swab). He started screaming before the needle even went in. Well he did really good and the nurse said "you did such a good job do you want to come and pick out a sticker" Braxton was quick to answer with "no I want to go home". Well when we got in the car I pulled out the garbage truck and I saved the day. We went to dinner Friday night and the garbage truck went with us. We went to the Pepper Market on Saturay morning and the garbage truck went with us and it almost even went to bed with him on Friday night but I said no. I'm really hoping and praying he doesn't grow up to be a garbage truck driver or work for Greyhound bus. On Saturday afternoon we went to Calera for Braxton to see the trains because he's all about the trains. He had so much fun climbing on them and walking the tracks. He even put in a few funny faces in the pictures. He's growing up so fast and it's so hard to believe he's fixing to be 3!

Inspiration!

As I sit here updating my blog and Braxton is in the room with me saying "mommy I want to watch Thomas" while pushing this toy that just keeps beeping and saying tractor, tractor I smile. Days are harder than others and sometimes I come home from a hard days work wishing I could just crawl into bed and sleep till morning. Then I get to the daycare and pick up that blonde hair bright blue eye little boy that yells "mommy" then the last thing on my mind is to go home and sleep. I love the fact that he's so happy to see me in the afternoons or if Rusty picks him up how he is staring out the window when I pull up in the driveway or how he greets me at the door. Braxton has brought so much joy to my life and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think God for him or my life. I have a husband that yes can be a pain sometimes and be a typical husband and then majority of the time he's the most wonderful person in the world. I wouldn't trade him or Braxton for anything. I found a blog last night about a Godly woman named Angie Smith and her family and especially her daughter Audrey Caroline Smith "Bring the Rain". As I sat here and cried and thanked God for blessing me with a healthy little boy I'm just amazed at this woman. She had 2 1/2 hrs with her daughter and then Audrey went home to be with the lord. To read her story is just such an inspiration. So God as I sit here tonight and type about "my life" Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Thank you for my life for my healthy little boy and my husband. Another blog I have gotten into reading is the Mikkelson family Adam and Chandler. Chandler struggles with fertility and to see her so strong is so amazing. When Rusty and I were having fertility problems and couldn't get pregnant my faith in God wasn't that strong. God showed me very quickly when I was asking why, why me what he had in plan for us. One night as I sat here reading Chandlers blog about the adoption and how Chandler prayed for the birthmom to keep the baby because that is what Chandler felt like was the right thing I was just amazed. When Braxtons birthmother would do something and I would get in my mind that she was going to change her mind I got angry and Chandler just got stronger with God. I don't know if she is like me and reads other blogs from peoples pages but Chandler Mikkelson if you ever do read this blog I just want you to know you have inspired me to put my faith more in God. I wish you and Adam the best of luck and pray for the both of you every night. God Bless you both!!!

God is Amazing!

Follow up from my post about prayer request! Before I posted the prayer request blog I have prayed and prayed for a job option to come my way. The more and more I prayed something kept telling me sales. I've have become a Southern Living at Home consultant and my kit came on Tuesday. Also, a friend called me today to tell me her boss offered for me to come and work part-time with them until I found something. God is wonderful and that is what I keep telling people with they ask aren't you worried. My reply "I'm human I'm going to worry but there is no need to because GOD IS GREAT and I know he's taken care of us in the past and he's going to take care of us now because God is always there for me...." Rusty and I have gotten back into our church and fianlly joined this past Sunday and had Braxton dedicated. God has put people in my life that I needed at that moment because I was begging and praying and crying out to him to please help me. Please continue to pray that a full-time position will happen for me somewhere I'm meant to be.

Officer Keith E. Houts EOW 9/30/06 "The Anchor Holds"

I have journeyed
through the long dark night
out on the open sea
by faith alone
sight unknown
and yet his eyes were watching me

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ships is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
thought the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ACHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I've had visions
I've had dreams
I've even held them in my hand but I never knew
those dreams would slip right through
like they were only grains of sand

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ship is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ANCHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I have been young
but now I' older now
and there has been beauty, these eyes have seen
but it was in the night
that I faced the storms of my life
oh that's were God proved
his love to me

THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the ship is battered
THE ANCHOR HOLDS
though the sails are torn
I have fallen on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ANCHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

I've fallen falled down on my knees
as I faced the raging seas
but THE ACHOR HOLDS
in spite of the storm

When ever I'm down or feel like I'm falling and just can't get back up these words always come to me!

Prayer Request!

I know everyone knows about the money problems Jefferson County is having. A few months ago several people in my office were under the impression we were going to be laid off. Well our boss saved our job till September 11th and that day is fastely approaching. Well today I was told that I needed to show one of the ladies in our office (whose only been there 2 years I've been there 4) what my job is all about. Later this afternoon I soon found out it's because September 11th will be our last day to work. I'm having a very hard time because I know I'm not the only person going through this but it was just a slap in my face. She is a state employee where I am a county employee. I just worry because I do have a family that does depend on my part of the income and to cut that out is going to be tuff. I'm just asking for prayer request not only for me but everybody else that is without work right now or on the verge of being laid off. I know God works his ways and I know he's going to work them with this situation also but if you could just pray for us and everybody else that would be wonderful.

Wonderful Day

Today was a wonderful day! Rusty, Braxton and I finally joined our church after going nearly seven months. The most wonderful news is Braxton was dedicated today. He was very shy being in front of everyone but when the people in the church came up to welcome us and hug and kiss Braxton he then got unshy and I think he wanted people to come through the line again so he could get more hugs and kisses. I didn't get pictures because our camera is broke and we have to get a new one.

Getting to know us!!!

Welcome to Keeping up with the Patterson's! Rusty and I met in November 1997. We dated all through my high school year and fell more and more in love everyday. We got engaged in July 2001 and it was a day I'll never forget. Rusty isn't the mushy type so standing in my parents dining room yes standing as his hand trimbled he pulled a ring out of his pocket and the famous words came out "So will you"? On June 29, 2002 at 4:00 in the evening I married my best friend. After 2 years we decided to start trying for a family and we soon discovered there were infertility problems. I took fertility drugs for 9 months and nothing happend. After Rusty and I prayed and prayed we decided to look more into adoption. God was showing us that we were going in the right direction so we followed his leads. We started our long and stressful paperwork in March 2006. We were told that all of our paperwork could take six months to get eveything back. We turned all of our paperwork and fingerprint cards and etc in at the end of April 2006. In May 2006 on a Wednesday night it finally hit me when my brother called to tell me I was going to be an aunt. Don't get me wrong I was so HAPPY for them but I just couldn't understand why this was happening to me and why I couldn't get pregnant. I soon found myself asking God why. Why are you doing this to me, what did I do wrong? I was still seeing signs on God working saying my child don't worry I have a plan. Saturday May 13, 2006 we got all of our paperwork back saying we had been approved to adopt. That was my sign of God working because we were told it could be six months or longer. On June 22,2006 we found our birthmother. We met with her on July 2, 2006. It was a very long process and very stressful but I wouldn't have changed anything if I had it to do all over again. On November 2, 2006 as the birthmother called me to say she thought she was in labor I was excited and neverous all in one. We got to the hospital and she was in fact in labor and I knew that on that day our lifes would change forever. At 1:28 p.m. I had become a mommy to a healthy and beautiful baby boy! Braxton Wright Patterson weighed in at 6 lbs 1/2 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. Braxton is now a blonde hair blue eyed 2 year old little boy that is in to EVERYTHING. We currently live just outside of Helena, AL and have been around this area for five years (we've moved a few times since being married four to be in fact) :-) I will follow up with pictures soon!!!