Its A-Dog, Av-Man and H-Diddy on the mic. We're a couple of days early. Happy Birthday Mr Dennis!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
14
Last month my husband and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary. We've never been huge on celebrations. We may go out to eat, catch a movie- something like that. We did get away without the boys for a weekend to celebrate our 10th. The more I think about marriage and what all it entails- how amazingly wonderful it can be and how crazy difficult it can be at other times- I think every single anniversary year needs to be celebrated.
If anyone had asked me during our first year of marriage if Jim and I would make it to fourteen, I don't know that my answer would have been a very confident "yes." In fact, I was a bit skeptical at times that we'd make it to two. To be fair, it was a stressful beginning. My dad died in May, my grandmother in August, and we got married and moved to Asheville, NC in September. I had a difficult time finding a job in my field and because we were young and just married, we had ZERO money so I took a job as a teller at a bank in Black Mountain, NC. I'm not knocking being a bank teller. There is not a thing wrong with that occupation. It just wasn't what I wanted to do and my life at that point was turning into a lot of not what I wanted to do.
I was MISERABLE in Asheville. Jim traveled a lot with his job and when he wasn't doing that, he was traveling to Raleigh every weekend for this study course for his Professional Engineers license. I knew absolutely no one and if you know me, you know I'm not hugely outgoing so making friends wasn't easy for me. And in the whole year we were there, I only had two visitors from home. I was very lonely. I was not nice to Jim. Looking back at it, I am amazed (well not really because he is a Godly man) that he stuck it out with me.
But he did and here we are fourteen years later- perfectly happy, never a cross word, just wonderful wedded bliss... and if you believe that well, I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona. ;) Marriage is hard work. Aside from parenting which was an eye opener too, I don't think there is anything more difficult. I'm not a huge Dr. Phil fan but he made a comment on one of his shows a long time ago that has stuck with me. He said, "If young couples put as much effort into planning for the actual marriage as they did for the wedding ceremony and reception, the results might be better." You know what I mean. One minute you're dating, all happy and in love- he's opening doors for you, planning romantic dates specifically catered to your likes, hanging on your every word and you say "I do" then BAM!... you're washing his underwear, wondering how someone could spend that much money on a DVD player, and certain that your words that ring in his ears sound like the teacher from the Peanuts cartoon. You get my point. :)
Its work- its compromise- its hills and valleys. And there are gonna be rough spots- some rougher than others. You pray a lot! :) You get through them- maybe not always with the grace you'd like but you get through and come out stronger on the other side. I thank the Lord every day for Him leading me to Jim. We've had our share of ups and downs, crazy differences of opinions, and heated discussions (some ending in all out yelling at the top of our lungs.) And I'm certain we will have all of that again. Had we given up at the first sign of trouble-- well lets just say that we might have rivaled Britney Spears record for the shortest marriage.
So for what its worth, here are fourteen things some funny, some serious that we've learned over the last fourteen years...
1. Jim's idea of clean is NOT the same (not even remotely close) as mine.
2. It is better for me to walk away when we have a heated discussion than to stay and say something I know will be hurtful and unfair (such a weakness of mine).
3. Jim knows that I am NOT a morning person and its NOT a good idea to talk to me before I've had a cup of coffee.
4. I know that when he has been unusually quiet there is something wrong and I also know I will have to ask numerous times with the repeated answer of "Nothing" until I finally get the reason.
5. The big tooth is an off limits topic.
6. He made it 25 years without having me have to tell him what to do and how to do it, he can make it another 25 without that too. :)
7. If I see a movie with him there will always be the risk of him cackling like a hyena at a scene NO ONE else in the entire theater thinks is funny. (And Avery has the same sense of humor)
8. I am NOT always right. (sigh)
9. He's learned that there is no right or good answer to, "Do you think I'm fat? or Have I gained weight?"
10. You do NOT toss 20 year old concert shirts- even if they are three sizes smaller than what he wears now- don't do it!
11. If I want him to be the leader of our household, spiritual and otherwise, I HAVE to step back and give him the opportunity.
12. Sometimes you have to say your sorry even when its not your fault.
13. Forgiveness means not bringing it back up again-- not even when you're angry and everything in you wants to pull up every hurtful thing for the past oh umm 14 years (yeah- another thing I'm working on and God's working on me)
14. And finally- God meant for us to be together and there isn't anything that we can't make it through together.
Happy 14th Harvey!
If anyone had asked me during our first year of marriage if Jim and I would make it to fourteen, I don't know that my answer would have been a very confident "yes." In fact, I was a bit skeptical at times that we'd make it to two. To be fair, it was a stressful beginning. My dad died in May, my grandmother in August, and we got married and moved to Asheville, NC in September. I had a difficult time finding a job in my field and because we were young and just married, we had ZERO money so I took a job as a teller at a bank in Black Mountain, NC. I'm not knocking being a bank teller. There is not a thing wrong with that occupation. It just wasn't what I wanted to do and my life at that point was turning into a lot of not what I wanted to do.
I was MISERABLE in Asheville. Jim traveled a lot with his job and when he wasn't doing that, he was traveling to Raleigh every weekend for this study course for his Professional Engineers license. I knew absolutely no one and if you know me, you know I'm not hugely outgoing so making friends wasn't easy for me. And in the whole year we were there, I only had two visitors from home. I was very lonely. I was not nice to Jim. Looking back at it, I am amazed (well not really because he is a Godly man) that he stuck it out with me.
But he did and here we are fourteen years later- perfectly happy, never a cross word, just wonderful wedded bliss... and if you believe that well, I've got some oceanfront property in Arizona. ;) Marriage is hard work. Aside from parenting which was an eye opener too, I don't think there is anything more difficult. I'm not a huge Dr. Phil fan but he made a comment on one of his shows a long time ago that has stuck with me. He said, "If young couples put as much effort into planning for the actual marriage as they did for the wedding ceremony and reception, the results might be better." You know what I mean. One minute you're dating, all happy and in love- he's opening doors for you, planning romantic dates specifically catered to your likes, hanging on your every word and you say "I do" then BAM!... you're washing his underwear, wondering how someone could spend that much money on a DVD player, and certain that your words that ring in his ears sound like the teacher from the Peanuts cartoon. You get my point. :)
Its work- its compromise- its hills and valleys. And there are gonna be rough spots- some rougher than others. You pray a lot! :) You get through them- maybe not always with the grace you'd like but you get through and come out stronger on the other side. I thank the Lord every day for Him leading me to Jim. We've had our share of ups and downs, crazy differences of opinions, and heated discussions (some ending in all out yelling at the top of our lungs.) And I'm certain we will have all of that again. Had we given up at the first sign of trouble-- well lets just say that we might have rivaled Britney Spears record for the shortest marriage.
So for what its worth, here are fourteen things some funny, some serious that we've learned over the last fourteen years...
1. Jim's idea of clean is NOT the same (not even remotely close) as mine.
2. It is better for me to walk away when we have a heated discussion than to stay and say something I know will be hurtful and unfair (such a weakness of mine).
3. Jim knows that I am NOT a morning person and its NOT a good idea to talk to me before I've had a cup of coffee.
4. I know that when he has been unusually quiet there is something wrong and I also know I will have to ask numerous times with the repeated answer of "Nothing" until I finally get the reason.
5. The big tooth is an off limits topic.
6. He made it 25 years without having me have to tell him what to do and how to do it, he can make it another 25 without that too. :)
7. If I see a movie with him there will always be the risk of him cackling like a hyena at a scene NO ONE else in the entire theater thinks is funny. (And Avery has the same sense of humor)
8. I am NOT always right. (sigh)
9. He's learned that there is no right or good answer to, "Do you think I'm fat? or Have I gained weight?"
10. You do NOT toss 20 year old concert shirts- even if they are three sizes smaller than what he wears now- don't do it!
11. If I want him to be the leader of our household, spiritual and otherwise, I HAVE to step back and give him the opportunity.
12. Sometimes you have to say your sorry even when its not your fault.
13. Forgiveness means not bringing it back up again-- not even when you're angry and everything in you wants to pull up every hurtful thing for the past oh umm 14 years (yeah- another thing I'm working on and God's working on me)
14. And finally- God meant for us to be together and there isn't anything that we can't make it through together.
Happy 14th Harvey!
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Best Consignment Sale!
Open to the Public:
Saturday, August 15 10am - 6pm
Sunday, August 16 12pm-6pm
Monday - Wednesday, August 17-19 10am - 6pm
Thursday, August 20 10am - 6pm -- 25% OFF DAY!
NEW MERCHANDISE ARRIVING DAILY!
Half Price Days:
Friday, August 21 10am - 6pm
Saturday, August 22 9am - 1pm
Pick-up Day:
Sunday, August 23
1pm -3pm
We accept cash and personal check ONLY. There will be a $25 fee for any returned checks.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
38
Thirty eight..... 38.....almost 4 decades...been out of high school for 20 years.... out of college for 16.... have an eight year old...married for almost 14...
No matter how you phrase it, 38 years is a long time. I joke a lot about my younger years. Its true I have more wrinkles and a few more pounds with my advancing years. I was asking myself last night, if I could go back would I? If I could time travel back to 1993, college graduation day and relive the past 16 years would I take that opportunity?
Sure there are many things I remember fondly about those years. It was nice to not have any responsibility. It was awesome to be a size 6. It was amazing to feel like at that moment I had the world at my fingertips and the opportunities were endless. I was passionate about saving the world. I left WKU with my little degree and was determined to help people- to make a difference. My mom and dad were still here on this Earth with me. I could go on and on about all the positives that time in my life held for me. I could also go on and on about all the things I would change. But would I go back?
Not a chance!
I'll take my husband and two beautiful boys, my mortgage, my bills, my extra pounds and wrinkles, and my thirty eight year old self over my younger one any day. I'm still passionate about saving the world only on a different level now. :) The experiences in my life whether good or bad have led me to the person I am today and while I'm still a work in progress far from perfect (and never will be), I love me and my life. The Lord has worked on me through the years and there's still a lot left to do but I wouldn't trade where I am in my walk with Him today for younger years. Time has weeded out acquaintances I thought were real friends and left me with true and deep bonds of friendships with people who have stood beside me through the good times and the ugly (and there have been some ugly times). Experiences and wisdom that come with age have allowed me to let go of self consciousness and embrace personality traits in myself that I once prayed would change.
So today I count my many blessings and I thank the Lord that I am His daughter; Jim, Harve, James, Jimmy, Mike's wife; Avery and Aidan's mother; and Bob and Joyce's daughter. I am humbled and touched beyond expression at the many people I get to call friends, best friend, and family. And I love you all!!!!
38
No matter how you phrase it, 38 years is a long time. I joke a lot about my younger years. Its true I have more wrinkles and a few more pounds with my advancing years. I was asking myself last night, if I could go back would I? If I could time travel back to 1993, college graduation day and relive the past 16 years would I take that opportunity?
Sure there are many things I remember fondly about those years. It was nice to not have any responsibility. It was awesome to be a size 6. It was amazing to feel like at that moment I had the world at my fingertips and the opportunities were endless. I was passionate about saving the world. I left WKU with my little degree and was determined to help people- to make a difference. My mom and dad were still here on this Earth with me. I could go on and on about all the positives that time in my life held for me. I could also go on and on about all the things I would change. But would I go back?
Not a chance!
I'll take my husband and two beautiful boys, my mortgage, my bills, my extra pounds and wrinkles, and my thirty eight year old self over my younger one any day. I'm still passionate about saving the world only on a different level now. :) The experiences in my life whether good or bad have led me to the person I am today and while I'm still a work in progress far from perfect (and never will be), I love me and my life. The Lord has worked on me through the years and there's still a lot left to do but I wouldn't trade where I am in my walk with Him today for younger years. Time has weeded out acquaintances I thought were real friends and left me with true and deep bonds of friendships with people who have stood beside me through the good times and the ugly (and there have been some ugly times). Experiences and wisdom that come with age have allowed me to let go of self consciousness and embrace personality traits in myself that I once prayed would change.
So today I count my many blessings and I thank the Lord that I am His daughter; Jim, Harve, James, Jimmy, Mike's wife; Avery and Aidan's mother; and Bob and Joyce's daughter. I am humbled and touched beyond expression at the many people I get to call friends, best friend, and family. And I love you all!!!!
38
Saturday, August 8, 2009
In The Blink of an Eye- First Day of Third Grade
First Day Of Kindergarten
First Day of First Grade
First Day of Second Grade
First Day of Third Grade
Friday, July 31, 2009
Yearbook Yourself
1950's me
1960's me
1964
1966
1968
1978
1982
1992
1996
2000Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Happy Birthday
My mom's senior picture
My mom and dad all cute and in love.
My mom on the ONLY ride she would ever ride at Opryland (the train!).
My mom's first trip to the beach.
One of the most precious pictures I have. My mom was terrified of the water but was willing to walk this close to the ocean because sweet little Avery wanted her to.
My mom holding Aidan at the hospital.
Momma and Aidan
Mom and her sisters and brother at her last birthday celebration on this Earth.Today is my mom's birthday. Thinking about my mom this morning, I had to smile. I have this mental picture of my mom sharing a piece of birthday cake with Jesus and my daddy. And then I see my mom asking if anyone wants another piece and my dad and Jesus saying, "No," but then my mom continuing to ask until they take another piece. :) Happy Birthday Momma!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Summer 2009 Wrap Up
Yes, I know its been a long while. I thought about deleting this blog. There isn't much I've written these past few months. Summer has been crazy, fun, and exhausting. The boys and I have packed it in and loved mostly every minute of it. This summer has presented some challenges with certain behaviors and somehow I can't help but think this is what it will be like when we hit the pre-teen/teen years only on a much larger scale. And I have to tell you, I'm a little worried. Ok, I'm a lot worried. So, I'm just praying about it, standing firm even when that means a major meltdown in the ice cream shop, and trying not to slap anyone.
We went to Disney the last week of May and it was phenomenal! I think we had just as much fun as the kids. If you are thinking of going, I would have to suggest the last week of May. The lines were minimal(utilizing fast passes at the more popular rides) and the weather was good. I hope when the boys are back in school to do a post on Disney with my pictures. It truly was a magical vacation.
I attended my 20 year high school reunion in June. It was so wonderful to reconnect with some people I had been very close to in my past life. :) It was a blast to catch up with everyone. Its funny how you remember people the way they were in high school and if you haven't seen some of them for almost 20 years, that is the picture you have of them. It was also great to just spend time with some of my friends who are long distance now.
Me and Tootsie Roll (Donna)
Amanda, Chermelle, and me. WKU girls!
Donna, Luther, and me 
Robby and me. I've missed you Hortense! :)
Dani, Donna, me, Beth and Chermelle at the HLHS family picnic
The boys and I went to Cheekwood. If you are not familiar with Cheekwood, its a botanical garden located in the Belle Meade area. I have lived in Middle Tennessee most of my life and had never been here. My friend and I took our boys even though we were a bit concerned as to whether or not this location would hold their interest. Cheekwood currently has what they call "Backpack Adventures." We checked out backpacks for the boys and headed out on our "adventure." The backpack included a map with designated stopping points and crafts, games, etc to do at each stop. I think the boys really enjoyed it.
The boys looking for frogs in the pond
The boys completing our first activity at the first stop.
Chaney's Dairy Farm was another one of our summer destinations. We did this last year as well. The Farm is located in Bowling Green, Ky and you get a wagon ride, a visit with Ms. Glimmer the cow along with an educational and interesting presentation on feeding, milking, and other aspects of farm life, and time to play on their cool playground. Also included in the $5 fee is a scoop of Chaney's Dairy Farm ice cream- I would suggest the How Now Brownie Cow. :)
Aidan milking a cow for the first time.
Me and the boys on the wagon after our farm tour.
We also discovered the Maryland Farms Y this summer thanks to our good friends and neighbors, the Smiths. Its like a mini waterpark with a big bucket of water that dumps periodically, a double slide into the kid pool, two bigger slides in the deeper end, and a huge swimming area. My boys loved it!
In between these excursions we had free movies, visits with friends, VBS, lots of Avery spending the night with friends and having friends over for playdates, a game night with our neighbors and friends, hiking a trail, and thanks to my good friend and her sweet husband I got to see Josh Turner at the WildHorse. And we wrapped it all up with a trip to Chattanooga and rafting the Hiwassee river.
Monkey Joes
Making S'mores with our neighbors
Blueberry pickin'
Chuck E Cheese with friends
Playing a little Eye of The Tiger with Rock Band
Kinsey's Birthday Party
The Meerkats at the Nashville Zoo.
Avery and the Traywick boys monkeying around at the zoo. :)
Rock Band with our friends and neighbors- I believe Stacey is bolting out Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf.
Ready to raft the Hiwassee with the Smiths
Avery and daddy kayaking on the Hiwassee
So now, summer is winding down. School starts in less than a week. Avery will be a big third grader and Aidan will start kindergarten. And for the first time in eight years, I won't have any kids at home with me. Still praying about what that means for me but looking forward to this new phase of life. I'm ready to work on multiplication tables with Avery and study site words with Aidan- after that- well... I guess we'll see.
That's our summer in a nutshell. Hope you had a great one too!
We went to Disney the last week of May and it was phenomenal! I think we had just as much fun as the kids. If you are thinking of going, I would have to suggest the last week of May. The lines were minimal(utilizing fast passes at the more popular rides) and the weather was good. I hope when the boys are back in school to do a post on Disney with my pictures. It truly was a magical vacation.
I attended my 20 year high school reunion in June. It was so wonderful to reconnect with some people I had been very close to in my past life. :) It was a blast to catch up with everyone. Its funny how you remember people the way they were in high school and if you haven't seen some of them for almost 20 years, that is the picture you have of them. It was also great to just spend time with some of my friends who are long distance now.
Me and Tootsie Roll (Donna)
Amanda, Chermelle, and me. WKU girls!
Donna, Luther, and me 
Robby and me. I've missed you Hortense! :)
Dani, Donna, me, Beth and Chermelle at the HLHS family picnic
The boys looking for frogs in the pond
The boys completing our first activity at the first stop.Chaney's Dairy Farm was another one of our summer destinations. We did this last year as well. The Farm is located in Bowling Green, Ky and you get a wagon ride, a visit with Ms. Glimmer the cow along with an educational and interesting presentation on feeding, milking, and other aspects of farm life, and time to play on their cool playground. Also included in the $5 fee is a scoop of Chaney's Dairy Farm ice cream- I would suggest the How Now Brownie Cow. :)
Aidan milking a cow for the first time.
Me and the boys on the wagon after our farm tour.In between these excursions we had free movies, visits with friends, VBS, lots of Avery spending the night with friends and having friends over for playdates, a game night with our neighbors and friends, hiking a trail, and thanks to my good friend and her sweet husband I got to see Josh Turner at the WildHorse. And we wrapped it all up with a trip to Chattanooga and rafting the Hiwassee river.
Monkey Joes
Making S'mores with our neighbors
Blueberry pickin'
Chuck E Cheese with friends
Playing a little Eye of The Tiger with Rock Band
Kinsey's Birthday Party
The Meerkats at the Nashville Zoo.
Avery and the Traywick boys monkeying around at the zoo. :)
Rock Band with our friends and neighbors- I believe Stacey is bolting out Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf.
Ready to raft the Hiwassee with the Smiths
Avery and daddy kayaking on the HiwasseeThat's our summer in a nutshell. Hope you had a great one too!
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