Life's Biggest Questions

We drove down to NM to spend some time with my parents and the ENTIRE trip was filled with questions from G. Literally he asked questions the whole time! It was super cute, but I have to admit I was so drained by the end of the 9 hour trip! It was just he and I in the car so I had no back up support! Most of his questions didn't have a simple answer, so they always had follow up questions!! Here the compiled list of questions that I could remember, since there was so many!

"Mom, why is the sky blue"

"Mom if Jesus is so strong how come He didn't just beat all the bad guys up so they didn't kill him?"

"How come the hot lava doesn't melt the volcano?"

"What is after space?"

Me: "More space"

"But what is after that space?"

Me: "More space"

"Mom there has to be something after space, so what is it?"

(Had no clue how to answer this question so I changed the subject"

"Is there a real spiderman world? I think he is real, but I just don't know where he lives."

"Why did God make sharks? They eat people. Why would he make sharks that eat people?"

"Why do babies cry so much. I don't ever want a little sister or little brother because they would just cry and mess up all my toys. Mom, do you want a little brother or sister?"

"Why is daddy always so funny? He is always making me laugh."

"Mom, what do you think Heaven will look like?"

"Mom, don't you just love Nate, I miss him so much"

"Do you think Babie and Pop are just waiting for me to get there?"

"Why do you go to school all the time?"

"Why doesn't God answer my prayers? I have prayed and prayed that my web shooters would start working, and they never do. It makes me so sad"

(This question actually made me sad...do I crush his dreams of becoming spidey? Or do I crush his spirit that sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want him to?"

There were literally countless more but this is all I could remember. Oh how I love his inquiring mind, even if it is a bit draining :)

A Dream Come True...

About 3 months after Jeff and I got married I had a dream. It went a little something like this...

I was on campus with a pink back pack, stressed out and running late. No one was walking down the international walkway (featured below) because everyone was already in class. Not only was I frantically running late trying to get to class, I had a kid, a little blond toddler boy that had to go to class with me! He was holding my hand (just like in the picture below). In my dream I kept thinking "why do I have baby? Your not supposed to have kids until your done with school! What were Jeff and I thinking!"

It was one of those dreams you think is really happening and then you wake up thinking "oh good I'm so glad I was just dreaming!"

Ha! Little did I know my dream would come true in a little over a year from that dream!! When we traveled down to Robert's funeral we went on NMSU's campus for old times sake. Jeff took this picture and it's literally exactly where my dream took place!

And much like my dream, finishing school was stressful with this sweet little blond boy. It was hard and I would describe much of my college years as running around frantically late for class with a pink back pack, stressed out, and a little blond boy attached to my hand.

I would also describe it as a dream come true! I wouldn't change any of those frantic, stressful days with a toddler in the library for anything in the world!

Run for Feuille

On January 17th, 2010 we ran a half marathon in honor of our dear friend Robert Feuille. Robert was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February of 2009. He fought a long hard battle and saddly lost his life to the cancer May 29th, 2010. His full story can be read at fightforfeuille.com. We have cried, mourned, and questioned why such a Godly, young, and healthy, man was taken so soon. He left his sweet wife Aimee, Ethne 6, Emiline 3, and Eagan 9months.

Though I don't understand and probably never will, I know God is sovereign and used Robert to touch the lives of so many people. I literally couldn't believe that Robert had died and sat at the funeral, simply wanting to be mad at God. How could He? I felt this way until sweet Aimee got up and shared with the congregation. She told how she could be bitter and mad, but she is choosing not to. She is choosing to not question God and just be thankful for what she had. She asked and challenged the entire congregation to come with her on her journey. (The funeral can be viewed on the fight for feuille website under the blog) Her words were powerful and convicting, and instantly my heart changed. I don't understand, but that is okay. I'm not God and even if He sat on my couch and explained it to me, how could I possibly grasp what He is doing in the world around me.
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Psalm 19:21

The funeral was absolutely life changing. Jeff read scripture at the funeral and we were able to connect with so many college friends. It was a very sweet time with friends after a such a great loss.

The following is some pictures and stories of our recent time with Robert and Aimee.



Our friendship with Robert and Aimee started freshman year of college. Jeff and Robert were roommates. Robert and Aimee were engaged and got married after our freshman year. Jeff used Robert and Aimee as an example of why it was okay for us to get married so young :) We got married the summer after they did!

This was the group of NMSU students that attended Robert's funeral. It was so encouraging to be around so many old friends and see so much support for sweet Aimee.

We had a carb loading dinner the night before the race. I wish I could explain what it meant to sit in a room with all of these incredible people all there for Robert and Aimee. Simply amazing is all I can say. I feel so blessed to have been involved with such an amazing group of friends in college.

Me and Katie running

The NMSU crew that ran the 1/2 marathon

Never underestimate the power of cute matching bows

This was most of the group that ran the marathon

A day in the park with Batman

We took G to the park the other day, but came home with Batman!!

The Boys doing Boy Stuff!

I love my boys!!!

After the boys were done throwing sticks in the water, Jeff and I sat down on the grass and G went to play on the playground. A couple of minutes later I looked up and caught G in "telephone booth mode". At least that's what I call it!

He went behind the trees so no one would see him transform.

Little did he know, his mom was hiding in the shadows trying to catch him in action,

watching his every move.

Unaware of his nosey mom lurking closely behind, he set out on his secret mission,

as BATMAN!

Someone has to protect the playground.

I'm so thankful there are superhero's living among us as regular people willing to jump into action when needed. And thankfully one of those everyday hero's lives at my house!! I can rest easy tonight!!!

Like Father like Son

Lately G has been wearing a "suit" with a tie. He loves wearing it simply because Jeff wears one everyday to work. Simply put...ADORABLE!!!

Favorite Conversation of the Day...

I was cleaning the house and G decided he would help me. Surprisingly he was very helpful :) I was putting the laundry away and told G:

Me: "Gent, your so helpful! Thanks for helping me today."

G: "Mom...I'm spiderman, what did you expect? Spidey always helps people"

I'm glad G has Spidey as a great influence in his life. Where would I be without the influence of Spidey? :)

Favortie Conversation of the day...Faith like a Child

In February we had some friends who lost their 8 day old little girl. It was so sad and we have prayed often for them since then. One night I was praying for them and when I was finished asked G if he wanted to pray for them. This was his prayer verbatim.

"Dear God please take care of Mikayla when she gets to heaven. Please make her mom and dad not sad anymore cause they are sad they can't take care of her and see her. Make sure she has lot's of jammies and lot's of toys, that will make her mom and dad feel better. Please make them not sad anymore. Amen"

Even writing those words bring tears to my eyes. Tears for our friends the Mayeda's and tears that are thankful for God already putting a sweet spirit in Gentry. My prayer is that God would continue to heal the Mayeda's and continue to cultivate a compassionate loving heart in Gentry.

All in a Day!

Since Gentry loves costumes soooo much, he often changes outfits numerous times during the day. Usually it drives me crazy and I limit Gentry to 3 changes per day. Although, often times he begs to change more!! I decided I would let him changed clothes as many times as he wanted just for one day. I took pictures of each "costume" he changed into through the day...let me just say it was a very long day!! The first 2 pictures are what he does with the clothes he wants to wear the next day.

He leaves his spidey outfit out in the bathroom just in case "bad guys come at night, I can put on my spidey clothes and beat them up"

He hangs up his work clothes on my dresser, that way "he can get ready for work like dad"

Work clothes first thing in the morning!

He wore his Santa jammies for nap time, with his horse house shoes.

This was his "ninja" costume

He says this is his "Jeffrey Swanson clothes" As you can tell from Gentry's costumes, Jeff has 2 pairs of clothes...either a suit...or his undies :) And Gentry likes to copy both!!

Wolverine

Gentry's homemade spidey costume. It consist of his blue firetruck jammies inside out, a red spidey shirt over, his black soccer socks, and black spidey gloves.

Not sure what this one was.

A little veterinarian taking care of all the stuffed animals.

He was a King for a short time.

Ended the day as spidey with a GI Joe mask to go on our walk!


Yes you counted right, he changed 10 times in one day! This is why I have a love hate relationship with Gentry's costumes!! I love them because his imagination is so cute and creative, and yet it makes so much clean up and laundry for me!!