New Video Series!

Hey there!

Today I drove (almost) to Wisconsin and back today, so this will be short. Brady P got to spend a few days with the Rogers family, so that was good for everyone!

It sure is nice to see him again. He always has something new to share after we have a little time apart. And on our drive home, he lost his wiggle tooth! Ha!

But guess what.

I already told you two exciting things: the workings of my next book and the new podcast.

Well, I have two more Copper Harbor-related treasures to share!

You get one today...

Snack Break Sessions!

Guess where I am!

I started Snack Break Sessions as quick one-take videos for YouTube. During my snack break on an adventure, I tell you where I am, what method I'm venturing out on, what the weather is like, how the conditions are, what I ate, etc.

Click here to see the first episode. Spoiler Alert: It's at the top of Stairway to Heaven!

I like that spot.

That's all the excitement for now. Enjoy this little slice of da Harbor!

Muah!

Best Lights in Town

Hi!

Merry Christmas and stuff!

I had to make you wait a little bit longer because I found a real treat for you.

But first, here is a precious picture of Brady P. and Gramma Mary frosting the little cookie men.  He picked purple, and I'm not surprised.  It's his favorite color.

Sorry it's a little glowy -- I think I had smeared something on my lens.

We are having a wonderful time with grandparents this holiday time.  Since I haven't slept anywhere else since August, I decided we better get the heck out of the harbor for a bit and be with family, so we could give actual hugs and laugh in the same room and cheers real glasses.

That is something to be grateful for!

Plus, the light show we saw in little ol' Clintinville, Wisconsin was absolutely stunning.  Maybe it's because I'm just into that sort of thing, but I was floored by the effort these people put in there on Brix Street.  They won the city-wide Christmas light competition, and it's easy to see why!

The first night we checked it out, I was in the back seat, so my video wasn't so good.  I had to go back, so you could see the real thing.

What a treat!

Enjoy! 

(Please click the link below to visit it on YouTube.  If you are viewing this from the email, you might have to visit Downs By the Bay if it won't click through.)

Xmas light show!!!

Crusading Through the Unknown

Hi!

I suppose by now you are curious about what the heck is going on.

You are not alone -- I am too!  Ha!

Have you ever tried transfering schools for your child with special needs during a pandemic, and the school you are trying to transfer to stops in-person learning?  

I don't recommend it.

There are so many variables and unknowns at this point, that I still don't know what we are going to move forward with.  However, there are some things I have learned that I am darn sure of.

1) I will do whatever I have to do, talk to whoever I have to talk to, move wherever I have to move, etc, to make sure that little Brady P. gets the best therapies, helpers and resources, so he can thrive.  This is about thriving.  His potential is vast, and I want him to shine.

2) I cannot control everything.  Sometimes I just have to put all my desires out there and then sit back and wait to see what is going to happen.  It's so hard to make a decision when circumstances are rocky.  I have to let go.  I HAVE TO!  Or I don't sleep at night, and the day feels heavy,

3) Once I set my intentions for the big picture, things fall into place.  At least they are starting to!  It seems like if you can pave the way for your dreams with your mind, then the universe knows what you want, and you start to notice the opportunities that pop up.  You are already paying attention to the things that will serve you, so you can grab opportunities easier.  It's so wonderful.

4) My family is amazing.  It seems like once we started this idea of getting Braeden into a school with more resources for his needs, my friends and family were very supportive.  Not just supportive, but helpful.  We have suddenly built this "team" and seem to be in a group effort with the same end goal.  We are all on the same page and are willing to do whatever we have to in order to make sure that little Swizzley boy can thrive.  It's very powerful, and I am grateful.

5) Honesty, openness and communication are so key in moving any process forward.

6) We are all connected.  Do I really need to say more about that?  We are all connected.  Every person on this planet.

Brady P. is doing great.  They other day, he sat down with his homework sheets on the floor and started answering the questions all by himself.  ALL BY HIMSELF!!!  

Usually this is a massive effort by me and Homework Panda, but not yesterday!  My parents applauded (my mom is helping out as his school aid for the week) and I gave him a big hug.

What a man!

We are so proud.

It's those little things like that that are big in my heart, and it makes moving forward with the best of intentions through the unknown all worth it.

Even the biggest hearts get tuckered out

Brady P. Tells You What

Hi!

This is Braeden.

I am good.

I am really good.  I have a super good life.

Mommy and Craig love me and I get to play with other kids.  I get to flip my turtle and go for hikes with Mom.  My mom is sweet and she loves me and I love her.

Daddy and Kelsi love me too.  I get to go swimming and drive excavators with Daddy.  I get to play with my little brother Cedar and snuggle with my puppy at night.

I get to eat berries right from the bushes.  Not thimbleberries though.  I give those away.  I just like raspberries and blueberries and bilberries.  They are so yummy.

I get to play outside a lot.  I am getting good at hitting my ball off the tee with a bat.  And pitching to Mommy.  She can hit it far.

I like when it's sunny outside.  Sometimes it's rainy, but that feels nice for a little bit.  Then it gets sunny again.

I get to pee in the bushes.  I am learning how to go pee in the potty, but I like to pee in the bushes better.  Then I can aim on the leaves and watch them wiggle and get them wet.  I am good at aiming at leaves.  There is one heart-shaped leaf that I like to pee on in the yard.  I get it wet every time.

I have a really lot of love to give.  I like to give hugs to show love.  When I see a person walking who looks like they need a hug, I go right up to them and give them a hug.  My mom shouts, "he's going to hug you!" like they might be afraid of me, but I just get good hugs back.  

It's a good way to feel another person's heart.  People love my hugs.  I mostly hug my friends, but sometimes I see a person who I don't know their name, but I feel like I know their heart, so I hug them to see if they remember mine.  I like when they look at me and I can see it in their eyes that they know my love.  They smile a really nice smile.  Sometimes with a tear.  They say it makes their day, and it makes mine too.

I like to eat ice cream.  It is so yummy.  I would eat ice cream all day long, but Mommy won't let me.  Sometimes I have to finish my schoolwork first or listen to Mommy before I get ice cream.  She says it's a treat, not a food.  Sometimes we eat it together.  Craig said that if I go poop on the potty, I will get ice cream no matter what time of day it is.  I did not poop in the potty yet for a while, but I still think about ice cream.

Okay, I got stuff to do, so bye!

Sky diving in his dreams

Smiles from the Boat

Hi!

A day late and a buck short.  I know.  

But I have a life sometimes!

My family came to visit!

I am not going to report much except the fact that my sister, son and I got to take the pedal boat onto the Harbor on an amazingly calm day...

...just before a thunderstorm came!  We hauled the boat back right before the sky let loose.  Whew!

Thanks for your patience and understanding with me.

All we can do is our best at any given moment.

And be grateful.

One Cool Kid

Hi!  I will spare you my words.  

Here is Brady P. for you.

* * *

Hi!  This is Brady P.

I lost a tooth last week.  I didn't even know until Mom told me it was missing.  She was really excited, so I looked into the mirror to see it was gone.  We don't know where the tooth is, but I feel really cool!

People get excited and they want me to show them it's missing.  I think that's kind of weird, but I am still cool.  Mom says that was the first tooth in and the first tooth out.

Missing tooth face!

It has been very sunny outside, so we get to throw rocks everyday.  We even went to Hunters Point yesterday.  I like it there.  Mommy took me on her bike.

I get to play in the yard too.  I really like frisbee and flipping my turtle toy.  We don't stay out as long as we used to because of the bugs.  They tickle my face and head and then I get little spots of blood on my ears and neck.  They are just little bugs and I don't hear them buzz, but I feel them tickle.

I have a new trick to play on Mommy.  I say her name and then she says, "Yes, Braed?" and then I say "Nope!" 

She laughs cuz I trick her every time.  It's funny.  I can't believe she falls for it every time.  I trick her like 100 times a day!  She tries to trick me too, but I made up the trick, so I don't fall for it.

I hope Mommy is okay.  She cries sometimes.  She says that she just wants me to be nice to her.  She starts to cry when I throw things or hit her with my toys.  She stops what she's doing to cry and says, "I am so nice to you, can't you please just be nice to me?"

I say "Yes," but then I forget and hit her the next time she doesn't let me do just what I want.  I feel bad because I just want her to be happy.

I am excited to see Grammy and Daddy and Kelsi and my little brother Cedar.  And Luski my puppy.  Luski likes to play with me.

They are coming to Copper Harbor for the summer.  I will show them how good I can read.  And how high I can jump on the trampoline. And how fast I can run.  And how funny I am.  And how good I eat my lunch.

I am really cool.  I just want all the world to know that.  Someday I will be able to see hundreds of people and not just my mom.  Cuz she already knows I'm cool.

Family Expansion Pack

I'm going to get a little personal here.  

A little sappy even.  

I cried a few times when I wrote this one.  Perhaps we really have to feel our wounds in order to find deep gratitude.

I am grateful for my family.

Whether you know Brady P. and me personally, have been following our journey for years or are just joining, let me explain something about our family.

Aaron (Braeden's dad) and I separated two years ago.  Wow.  It's been two years?  We did the divorce and the whole thing.  

Brady P. lives with me pretty much full time.  He hangs out with his dad on weekends in the summertime while Aaron is  in Copper Harbor.  In the winter, they get to see each other during holidays, when weather travel permits or when we go for our annual Arkansas visit.

I just spoke about three people.  Only three.  Aaron, Braeden and me.

But our family is bigger than that.  And when people get divorced, it's like the families get divorced.  I can honestly say that I love the people in Aaron's family.  The Rogers side and the Zimmer side.  They are wonderful people, and we have had so much fun together!

I haven't seen most of them for that two years, and I miss them a lot.  Luckily, Brady P. gets to be a part of their family, so they can watch him grow up, and he can melt their hearts.

One of these days, I hope to show up at their Thanksgiving, though, because we always have a grand time!

Now here are the parts that I am really, truly grateful for.  With every cell of my being.

• Aaron and I are very civil with each other.
• Aaron's mom is still one of my very bestest friends!!!
• My parents and Aaron's parents still enjoy spending time together.
• Aaron's fiancé and I get along really well!
• Brady P. gets to watch us all share love and friendship.

Braeden with both Grammies!

Doesn't that make your heart smile?  It does mine!

I am so grateful for the little boy who came into our lives, full of unconditional love, to show us what really is important in this life.  We are all better because of it.

And do you want to know a beautiful thing?  Brady P. gets to be a big brother!!!

I am so excited that he gets to have a sibling!  I always wanted him to be a big brother, but I certainly didn't want it to come from me.  I'm so over it!

So, congratulations and thank you to Aaron and Kelsi for making Braeden into a big brother (coming this winter!).  Brady P. and Kelsi both think it's a girl.  I love it when Braeden says, "sister," when I ask him who's in Kelsi's belly.  

That little sister is a HUGE gift to Braeden.  I cried for a solid hour after I found out.  He deserves it so much!

Not only is this family, ever-expanding as it will be, always there for us when we need them and supportive in the ways they know how to be best, they still love and respect each other.

That is a gift as wonderful as a little sister.

Thank you to all my family, near and far.  You have helped to make us who we are.