Bye Bye Rookie Stix

It's time to move on....check me out here.

http://resoundingwhisper.blogspot.com/

Closer to Me.

Who are you?  Who do you want to be?  Are they the same person?

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about who I want to be and what I need to do to get there.  To be honest, I’m not always sure exactly who I want to be, but some characteristics I’m working on are constant.


I want to be honest in all aspects of my life: to myself, to my God, to you.  My words will always be sincere, when I am who I want to be.  I will work my hardest in every role I hold: in my church, my marriage, my family, my friendships, my job.  I want to speak clearly and communicate openly, always.  I will mend broken relationships, work hard at maintaining them and let people know how much they mean to me.  Patience and love will motivate my responses, rather than selfishness.  I will be gentle with your feelings, your desires and your needs.  I want to take criticism well and change.  I want to be accommodating and flexible.

I’m so grateful that I can change and work towards becoming a better person and that who I was as a child, teenager, young adult doesn’t have to be the same as who I am now or in the future.  I’m also thankful that I’ve come a long way since then, that I have taken opportunities to mature and that I have a more clear vision of who I am working towards. 

I’m digging this growing up thing and being one step closer to who I want ME to be. Stay tuned.

Violet Irene

If you haven’t yet, meet VIOLET IRENE.  

She’s the most smiley, vocal little baby girl you’ll ever meet!

Born: March 5, 2012 at 12:08pm

20 inches and 8 lbs 15 oz of chubby cheeked cuteness. 

We couldn't be more in love with our new addition.

WARNING: Cheesy Valentine Post

I’ve thought a lot about love today. Here are some words that came to mind when thinking about the love of my/the love in my life.  (I know, cheesy Valentine’s post!)

You are my best friend, lover and partner. You bring joy, laughter and passion to my life.  With you I’m so comfortable, so free and so encouraged.  You are my counsel, my challenger and my teammate.  You bring inside jokes, poking fun and teasing to new levels.  With you I know our love will grow stronger, be fresh and last forever.

Being married isn’t always a walk in the park, but there’s no one I’d rather be on this journey with.  Forever and ever, babe!  XOXO

Love at First Sight

I think about the first moment I laid eyes on you.  Love at first sight, yes, though I knew I loved you before I saw you.  The love I have for you has only grown stronger, so strong, I sometimes can’t believe that I could love you more, but then I do.  I’m proud of your sense of humor that is well beyond that of most almost two and a half year olds; I didn’t think you’d be so funny so soon.  You’re a perfect mix of the people we love most, but I see your Dad and your Papa in you most.  I never would have expected that one little person could be so similar to two such opposite people.  I love that you are kind to your friends and that it usually only takes a quick reminder for you to share.  It makes me laugh (and makes me crazy) that you are so bossy, I guess you come by that naturally being an only child thus far, and I’m sure it will only get more exaggerated as you become an older brother. I love that you are smart, that you have an insanely good memory and that you use movie quotes in the right context.  I love your morning snuggles and when you are “gibbing [me] lots of kisses.” 

As I get closer to your sister’s arrival, I get nervous.  Not nervous that I won’t love her at first sight, I know I will, not nervous that I will love her more, or you more, because I know that just won’t happen, but nervous that you, little one, will change.  I know change is good, change is important; this change will make you a better person.  I just want you to know that I love who you are and that you are still my baby boy, even though you are such a big boy now.  And, despite the fact that I have another love coming soon, my love for you will only continue to grow stronger and I’m only going to become more and more proud of the little boy you are becoming.  Love at first sight, baby boy, don't forget it.

Join me?

For someone who works in a field where people are constantly facing barriers and fluctuating between stability and instability, I don’t take bad news well.  In fact, I don’t even take mediocre news well.  It hits me hard; I’m unable to think of anything else.  My mind races to the worst case scenario and I often find little comfort in the possibility of a positive outcome.

This year, bad things keep happening to people I love; I’m forced to face this demon of mine.  The hurt, anger and fear I feel when I think about these things has begun to take a toll on me and I can no longer focus on the worst; I can’t survive this way. 

Most recently, my Papa was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma.  Of course, my mind first went to the worst possible thoughts.  My heart raced, tears poured, anger took over.  He’s so healthy, why him?

After learning more facts and calming myself down, I remembered, the hope the Lord offers and the miracles he is capable.  So, I pray, I hope, I love; that’s all I can do. 

Join me?

Moment, Time, Second

There’s never a dull moment with you because moments that could be dull brighten with your silly jokes, your flirty gestures and your (planned) spontaneity.  I say planned because I’m convinced that everything you do is planned; you plan to make something spontaneous.  I like that you think things everything through. 

There’s never a time when I don’t trust you because you say what you mean, you stand firm in what you believe and you don’t waffle.  You don’t make promises because you don’t need to; No one should doubt it’s the truth.  I like that you are predictable steady.

There’s never a second since I’ve know you that I felt unloved because you care what I think, you take time to laugh with me and you share your life with me.  There has never been a subject we can’t cover, laugh about or hear each other out on; you have an ability to bring ease and peace into every discussion.  I like that you take time to talk for hours communicate with me.

There’s never a moment, a time, a second that I don’t love you; there never has been.  I’ve loved you from the moment, time, second that we became close friends and I will love you for the rest of my moments, times and seconds.  Thank you for being the man you are and for dancing with me in the living room.  

We're doing pretty ok.

Today was not a smooth day to say the least. Between Jett being sick and Jett being two, we had one heck of a time getting through it. He’s on the uphill side of his cold now, which means he is suffering from a gross cough, especially when he lays down to sleep. Tonight was no exception. He coughed and coughed and coughed, until he puked all over himself, all over me and all over his bed. Through his sad little tears, he cried “I’m so sorry mama.” It was so sweet and so sad and so smelly all at the same time.

After I cleaned him up, cleaned me up and cleaned his bed up he softly asked me to hold him. So, my big belly and I crawled into his little bed, I wrapped my arms around him and I just listened to him breathe, like I did in his earliest days.

I couldn’t help but think, even though we were at odds most of the day, laying there was exactly what I should be doing. I know there will come a day when laying in his bed holding him won’t solve his broken little heart anymore, but for now, I get to rest knowing that I’m doing pretty ok at this whole being a Mama thing.

Things are looking up.

September was a really hard month for us. It seemed like the bad news would never end, but as the year creeps closer to October, I’m feeling restored and optimistic.

This past weekend we spent celebrating Tayler's 13th Birthday and hanging out with the Rippee family.

Tayler was so excited to eat her cupcake homemade by Jett's Mamaw (Thanks Cyn!!).

Jett was pretty excited too...

Tayler's cousins and friends put on a performance for her at the party, this is the part where they brought her on stage.

Jett "hanging" with Daddy.

Here's Mathew doing a guitar solo for everyone.

Tayler and Brandon relaxing after the party.

Spending time with the people we love most is how I know things will only get better.