Another Year Gone By

Time goes by just too darn fast some times. We have those days or weeks that we can't wait for them to end, then we have to those days/weeks (vacations most likely) that we wish we could freeze time for. It reminds me of the movie "Click". Where can I get one of those remotes, except for the after effect. Anyway, today marks my "one year Anniversary" with Adam. He is such a wonderful man and I couldn't have asked for a better husband! He is supporting, loving, and caring. I love him so much! I have watched him change and grow and become a great man. We had some ups and downs before we got married, but we worked through them and with God's help and guidance have really moved forward. He is also a wonderful father and we are expecting our little Austin to arrive anytime in the next 5 1/2 weeks!

Last night we were at the grocery store. I got there cranky and tired from struggling with a cold all day and just couldn't wait to get our stuff and leave. We arrived at Cub and I parked next to this small powder blue Toyota with two rear-facing car seats in the back (that barely fit). My first thought was "Aw...that's got to be hard." Then we went about our shopping. As we headed down the cereal isle, I noticed this extremely tall black man studying a cereal box. Thinking nothing more of it, I walked passed him to grab our cereal. We get to the checkout line a while later and this same black man was in front of us checking out. He had some milk, juice and cereal on the belt. I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention once again at this, so I headed down the isle to start helping to bag some stuff. The black man had to go back for something and then ended up behind us in line. Not really sure what happened since I wasn't paying attention. Anyway, I got one bag done when Adam was done paying. I needed to sit down at this point since the grocery store walking had wore me out. Adam tells me to sit down and relax and he will take care of bagging. I sit down and start to observe. I see the tall black man is using a WIC check to pay for the items he had selected.

If you don't know what WIC is, it is a government program to assist women and children to buy things like Milk, formula, cereal (with strict fiber guidelines), juice (100% juice), etc. I know this because I was on WIC when I had Mikayla. We were very broke and couldn't afford anything...I mean even the dollar menu at McDonalds. We were even on Food Stamps and general assistance. Well, I wasn't the only one that noticed this because as we walked out of the store, Adam said to me "was he using WIC?" I said "Yes." He said "That must be embarrassing." I said "it is, especially when you get an un-experienced checker and she paws through your items and studies the back of the check to make sure you got what you were supposed to." We headed to the car and I noticed that now the blue Toyota we parked next to had these two little babies in the back seat. They were twins! One girl, one boy and the mother was sitting in the passenger seat. I quietly pointed them out to Adam "look, there are twins in that car next to us!" They were so cute as their big brown eyes watched us intently unload the cart. Adam was giving Mikayla a "fun ride" in the cart and as they got into the car, we saw the tall black man walk up to the driver's side of the blue toyota next to us. My heart sank as I saw my life 5 years ago. Adam and I weren't saying a word at this point and he pulled out his wallet and said "I only have 4 ones on me". I said "you were thinking the same thing I was". I said "I don't think I have any.....wait! I have some cash that I hid in my wallet for emergencies that I most often totally forget about". He said "you do?" I said "yeah, I never remember I have this...which is a good thing, but I do." I pulled out a $10 bill and he asked me if I wanted him to give it to them. I said "no, let me do it. One mother to another." We noticed the tall black man had gone back in again to Cub so she was alone with the babies. I opened the door and knocked on her window as she was attempting to put bib's on the babies in the back from the front seat. She opened her door, and I handed her the $10 and said "I know how it is because I have been there....(now fighting back the tears)." She said thank you and I said you are welcome and turned toward my door. She then rolled her window down and said "God bless you!" I said "you too!" I got in the car and Adam was all excited.. "what did she say" he said. I said....you heard her as I noticed he had rolled my window down too. We started to pull out and she had this huge smile on her face and was waving to us. Adam waved and smiled as did I. On the way out of the parking lot Adam turns to me and says "God helps us out so many times..... you know this is the first time I have ever really wanted to help someone." I said "really?" He said "yeah..." He was staring out the window and then he asked me if I was ok. I was fighting back tears still. I can't even type this story without fighting tears. I told Adam that when I buy those pre-filled grocery bags for $5 at Cub (they are specifically made to donate to the food shelf), that those are the families this stuff goes to. I think now he understands.

On a lighter note....we went to MN Harvest on Saturday with Adam's family (mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, cousin, and friend). That was fun! We had a little issue when we all tried to go to eat at OK Corrall afterwards, but the time spent with the family was worth the "issues". Every family has them :) I love Adam's family because they love spending time as a family...something my mom's side doesn't do.

As an update to the dishwasher situation...we finally got it in. My dad came over and lifted the counter top with a couple 2X4's and we were able to get the old one out and the new one in. It works awesome and we love it!

Adam passed his test for his Class A/CDL license and is sort of job searching right now. Not much out there that isn't asking for 2 years + experience, but we will see. Well, that's about it for now :)