Happy 10 years, Wesley

Today is our 10 year wedding anniversary. I know it is cliche, but where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday, we were enjoying our wedding celebration. What a fun night that was!!

Though it seems like time has just flown by, really, so much has happened in our lives over the past ten years.

Here are some highlights:

• Started our first jobs: Wesley - West End Church of Christ/ Leanne - The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 
• Bought our first house
• Became dog owners: Flash 
• Switched jobs: Leanne to Lipscomb University
• Completed a marathon - Leanne
• Switched jobs: Wesley to the YMCA
• Moved to Atlanta
• Bought our second home
• Joined a new church: Grace Chapel
• Switched jobs: Leanne - Heavenly Ham 
• Struggled through the sadness of losing friends (Brooks, 2004) and family (Mommie; Nanny; PawPaw; Mimi)
• Welcomed our first son: Jackson
• Traveled to Europe
• Welcomed our second son: Philip 
• Expecting Baby Bender #3

There is so much more that has happened beyond these events, and I am blessed that I have spent the last 3650 days with Wesley as my mate, partner, love, and best friend. 

We joked today that if you had said to 22-year old Leanne and Wesley that this is where we would be in 10 years, we wouldn't believe you. It's not the "fairy tale" we imagined as we walked down the aisle. It's more real life  - I am a lot more tired than I ever thought I would be...BUT I am also a lot happier than I ever thought possible!

Thank you, Wesley, for the past 10 years! I look forward to what the Lord has in store for us and our family as we embark on the next 10! I love you!

June 22, 2002

June 22, 2012

Visit from David Jones

Wesley's friend, David, came down to Atlanta for a visit this week. He and Wesley were friends growing up but haven't been able to spend quailiy time together in years. Wesley was so excited to have him stay with us.

David's brother Daniel, is one of my good friends (just happens to be married to my dear friend Erin!). Even with that connection, I hadn't been able to get to know David so I was really looking forward to the week as well.

David spent most his time riding around Atlanta with Wesley. They did take Wedneday morning off to go bowling with the boys and me. It was a lot of fun!

Wednesday night, we packed up and went to Stone Mountain. We were able to ride the train, play some miniature golf, and see the 4-D movie before the storms came in and canceled our ride to the top of the mounting and the laser show. Even with the rain, it was a fun night.

David and Wesley

Jackson on the train

Philip on the train

Jackson and Philip putt-putting.
For all the times we have been to Stone Mountain, we didn't know our adventure passes included a round of Miniature Golf. We found out it was included this time and Jackson LOVED playing!! 

Wesley, Jackson, David and Philip 

We didn't' get to ride the Skylift to the top due to the approaching storms, but we did stop for a picture!

Waiting on the movie to begin 

It was the same 4-D movie we saw a few weeks ago. Jackson enjoyed it this go round but Philip didn't.
He put on the glasses but he and Wesley left as soon as the movie began.

David travels down to see us on the Mega Bus. What a deal! His round trip ticket from Knoxville to Atlanta was only $6.50!! We joked he was the new official spokesman of this new concept because he bragged about the Mega Bus the whole week! It was pretty cool!

David and Jackson at the bus station

Mediterranean Cruise

Jack and Lynne just arrived home from an adventure! They spent the past two-plus weeks in the Mediterranean!

They left Knoxville on May 23  for two days in Athens, Greece. From Athens, they boarded the cruise ship, the Riveriera, and spent 10 days visiting Greece, Turkey, Sicily, Italy, France, and Spain. They finished the trip with two additional days in Barcelona, Spain.

They couldn't send us all their breathtaking photos, but they did share 3 pictures of their trip. I am so glad they were able to take this adventure and spend time seeing the world!

Jack and Lynne (center) traveled with friends Kyle and Suzie (Left) and Doug (Lynne's brother) and Jewel (right)

Jackson's dream about the baby

So Jackson has told me that he "has seen" Baby Elizabeth in his dreams. He mentioned it again today, so I asked him more about this.

He said Elizabeth was coming out of his playroom into his eyes. She had brown hair and was wearing a red apron. When I asked him to retell this to Wesley, he said it again word-for-word.

We have 4 more weeks until we find out "what" this baby is, but it is so neat to hear Jackson talk so confidently about what he believes is his baby sister.

After describing her, he said, "Now, Mommy, when you see her at the doctor I can't hold her, but when she comes home, I can, right?" I told him that was right and that he could even hold the baby at the hospital if he wanted.

He quickly told me that he didn't want to hold anyone at the hospital, he just wanted to push all the buttons. It has been over 2 years since he was at the hospital when Philip was born, but he still remembers getting on the hospital bed and pushing the buttons! I guess we can make that happen again!

Then poor Philip piped up saying "My hold baby?" to which I quickly responded "No!" I don't think we will let Philip hold the baby unsupervised any time soon! Sorry, Buddy, you are just a little too scattered for that right now!

So blessed

I just had to take time this morning to write down how blessed I am to have Wesley as my husband.

This pregnancy hasn't been an easy one. We knew to expect the sickness, but for some reason, this go around has been much harder than the last two. Though I have felt some relief over the past several weeks, there were days I couldn't get up out of bed or off the couch. That meant Wesley would go to work with me in one position and come home to me sitting in the same place. After a long day, he would take over full parenting responsibilities and still have more hours of work to do after the kids were in bed.

He did all this without complaining which is WAY more than I can say about me! There were moments when I really didn't think I would ever feel normal again!

Then, to top it all off, Philip, Jackson and I came down with a nasty stomach bug. He was working, parenting, and being doctor all on his own! This all a week before Mission: Atlanta and during a week where he had to travel to North Carolina for a speaking engagement!

He never complained and never gave less than 100% to work, me or the boys!

Then, last week, he amazed me (as he does every year) with Mission: Atlanta. This was his 8th summer doing this event with the Y. There were 180 teens doing mission work all throughout Metro Atlanta. He and his interns planned an incredible week of service for the community and fun, exciting events for the kids each night.

It truly is an incredible week. I know he is so proud of it and I am so incredibly proud of all the passion he puts into it.

THEN...He took off yesterday - with both boys - for another speaking engagement in North Carolina. I could have gone with him, but he offered to take the boys and let me stay home and rest.

He is so thoughtful and caring and I am so blessed that he is my life partner and he is the father of our 3 children. Our boys are so blessed to call him Dad (and our little bean is too!)

Wesley, thank you for all you do for our family. You are an incredible provider, servant, example and I am so BLESSED to have you in my life! Thank you!

Stone Mountain

Tonight, we traveled with the Mission: Atlanta group to Stone Mountain! Jackson went with them last year and has been looking forward to going back ever since. He loved riding with Ms. Nutha to the top of the mountain and wanted to do it again.

First on the agenda was a keynote speaker for the group. Philip and Jackson weren't interested so I walked with them. Then, Wesley came out and walked with us. And finally, Minutha came out and walked with us. After the speaker, we headed to the top of the mountain.

Jackson was so excited about this, I forgot to think through the whole sequences of events: getting on a Sky-lift and going up in the air suspended by a cable. It wasn't until we were halfway up, that I realized I should have put more thought into it! It was a little terrifying for me!

Once at the top, we looked around (I stayed mainly in the center of the rock!) and took a few pictures. Then, we ventured back down and ate dinner; went to a Yogi Bear 4D movie; and walked around enjoying the night. Around 9:00 we settled in for the laser show. Jackson and Philip were not fans but I enjoyed them cuddling up with Wesley and me to "watch" through covered eyes!

We really enjoyed the evening and I think all 180 Mission: Atlanta kids did too!

Ms. Nutha and Jackson

Jackson looking out. It was so clear, we could see the beautiful skyline of downtown Atlanta. 

Bender family picture! 

Wesley and the boys ventured off - I stayed back "to take pictures!"

The big kids were taking "jumping pictures" so Philip and Jackson tried a few as well!

UPDATE: I just found some additional Stone Mountain pictures from Wesley's phone:

Ms. Nutha and Philip

Waiting on the 4-D movie to begin

Looking cool in his glasses

Like father/like son!

Okay, I will admit it - I really love the 4D movies because they scare Jackson and he will cuddle up in my lap!
He won't leave the auditorium - just wants me to cover his eyes!

Philip is not as great as Jackson when it comes to riding on Wesley's shoulders.
For some reason, he always grabs and pulls Wesley's ears while he is up there!

Ready for the laser show!

Surprise Dinner Date!

This afternoon during rest, I got a surprise phone call. My dad was "in the area" (aka 2 hours away in Cleveland, TN) and wanted to see if we were up for a visitor! Absolutely!

Because it is Mission: Atlanta week, I made sure Wesley was okay with our ditching the evening activity (he was) and Jackson, Philip and I waited on Pop-Pop to arrive. 

Jackson was really excited to see Pop-Pop. Philip just couldn't understand why it wasn't Pop-Pop and Mimi. He likes it when things go together - like Emmie and RyRy!

We hung out around the house for a little while and then traveled to Canton to try out a Bar-B-Q place that my dad and I had been waiting to try since we moved down here. 

We had a nice dinner and then Dad headed back to Nashville and we headed home. 

I know it wasn't an easy day for my dad with 8+ hours of driving but the boys and I really enjoyed seeing him and spending a little bit of time at our home with him. Hopefully, next time he is "in the area" Mimi will be able to make it, too!

After dinner, I attempted a group shot. THe first one came out okay, but I wanted to see if I could get one without Philip's fingers in his mouth. I should have just stopped on #1!

Should have stopped with this one. It is good - especially of Pop-Pop and Jackson!!!
And Philip looks cute, too!

"Um, why look at the camera, Mommy? There's something on that TV over there!"

"Really, Mommy, there is something cool over there!"

"Mommy, I don't care what Philip is doing, I am tired of saying cheese!"

And finally - Philip looks at the camera and smiles.
Of course, by then, Jackson and Pop-Pop are over it!