Where's Payton?

Can you guess where my little snuggle bug is hiding???

Easter: Part 1

The Easter festivities have been in full-swing this week around the Heckman household! We had an Easter party and egg hunt at Lilly's house on Thursday, a Good Friday service at church followed by an egg hunt, and then two back-to-back egg hunts today, followed by dying eggs in the afternoon. Needless to say, it's been a fun-filled few days. We'll post more photos from Easter day later on. For now, we hope you enjoy these fun photos...

Spring Break at Nana & Paca's

This week was Payton's Spring Break so we decided to take a couple days and go to Maitland to visit Nana & Paca (my parents). Payton was so excited and got to do all of his favorite things like visit Lake Lilly where he gets to play on the playground, feed the ducks and see freight trains go by! Fortunately for him, the Easter bunny paid an early visit to Nana & Paca's house and gave him some nice gifts and treats. Lucky for me, Paca decided to take Payton to Lowe's and McDonald's on our last day so I got to go shopping and have lunch with my mom on Park Ave. It was a wonderful Spring Break vacation and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves! Love you Nana & Paca (Mom & Dad!!).

Fishin' with the boys

Payton has become very interested in fishing lately. He started with a "trainer" fishing pole which had no hook on the end of the line. He quickly realized that he could not catch fish with it, so he asked his Daddy to get him a "real fishin' pole." So today Brian purchased a new pole, tackle box and all the other necessities to go fishing in our little pond. They've been twice today... let's see how many times he asks to go tomorrow...

11 year anniversary?

Okay, so we've only been married for 7 years, but we've known each other for 11. Brian surprised me with a wonderful night out at a Tampa Bay Lightening hockey game with our good friends, the Allinders. It was 11 years ago that we first met and our first "date" was my sorority date function which was a Tampa Bay Lightening game. We had a wonderful time re-living our courtship and spending time with great friends (thanks so much for hooking us up with tix Jeff!!!!). I thank God for our incredible marriage, and the fact that my husband is truly my best friend.

Beach Babies

My good friend Rachel was nice enough to include us in their Spring Break vacation to Longboat Key this week. Her daughter, Lilly, and Payton have known each other since they were about 6 months old. Many people mistake them for siblings, and after spending 4 days together at the beach, I think I almost mistook them for brother and sister! They were so cute together playing for hours at the beach and the pool. We had a fabulous time. Thanks so much Rachel!!!

Life in perspective

Most of my posts are happy, sometimes funny (I hope) updates on our daily lives. But today I just wanted to take a few moments to remind everyone - myself included - how of precious life is and how often we take it for granted.

A church friend of ours has been lost at sea for 4 days now, and the thought of "not knowing" where he is or what has happened to him, is so painful. I cannot imagine what his wife and family are going through. I find myself picturing him in the ocean and I have to tell myself not to "go there" and focus on praying for him and his family instead.

This whole ordeal has just reminded me that life is so fleeting. You can go out one day for a nice afternoon of fishing and never return. My husband could leave for work one morning and that could be the last time I ever see him. What if that happened? What were my last words to him? Did I kiss him goodbye? Did I tell him I loved him? Why does it take losing something or someone to make us realize how much we truly do love them?

If anything comes out of this horrific situation, I pray that it will draw people closer to God, and closer to each other. Please hug your loved ones a little bit tighter tonight. Look them in the eyes and tell them that you love them. And please, please pray for the Cooper family that they would find healing and comfort from God during this unimaginable time.