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  • December21st

    Six Years

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    WeddingThis week Casey and I will celebrate our SIXTH wedding anniversary. I can’t believe that we have been married for six years; sure it’s not sixteen, or sixty, but six is a substantial amount of time, and we’re proud of it. We’ve both changed so much over the last six years. As much as I loved Casey when we said “I do,â€? I know that I love him more today. Here are some of the reasons I love him today:

    • Casey laughs at my jokes. Believe it or not, I really like to be funny and I make jokes all the time, but I’ve come to realize that I must have a unique sense of humor because few people laugh at my jokes. My brothers and Casey are the only ones that I can consistently make laugh. There is nothing I like more than laughing with Casey. Over the past six years we have had our fair share of struggles, arguments, and tears, but I think that we have spent more time laughing together, and that is so special to me.

    • Casey is truly the servant leader of our home. He always, always, without exception, puts Caleb’s and my needs and desires ahead of his own. This is amazing to me.

    • Casey loves his job, and he is a hard worker, but he makes it very clear that his priority is being at home with us.

    • Casey tells me every day that I am beautiful. Every woman loves to hear that!

    • Casey has always supported my being a stay-at-home mom. We agreed together that this was the best thing for our little boy, and Casey has never, even in joking, made the slightest reference to my lack of income. He constantly encourages me by acknowledging that what I do at home is important and extremely challenging. He also has made it clear that being the income earner for our family does not entitle him to special privileges. Even after working hard all day, he does not consider himself too important to do the dishes, bathe the baby, or even, occasionally, clean a bathroom. As I said, he is the servant-leader of our home. I am often overwhelmed by his selfless and generous nature.

    • Casey is one of the friendliest people you will meet. Everybody likes Casey, everybody. I have always struggled with talking to people that I don’t know, but it amazes me how easily Casey can strike up a conversation with anyone. He is truly kind and welcoming to everyone that he meets.

    • Casey has welcomed my family as his own. From the very beginning Casey has always fit right in to our family dynamics. He watches ball games with my dad, looks out for my sister, hugs my mom, helps my grandparents, and considers my brothers some of his very best friends. This is a tremendous blessing to all of us.

    • Our little boy is so in love with his daddy. Every morning he starts talking about Daddy as soon as he wakes up. Casey is his favorite person. And why not? Who else will roll on the floor with you, yelping like a dog, make you raisin bread for breakfast, and hold you when you cry? Casey is a wonderful daddy, and I am so happy that our little boy has such an amazing role model.

    Like I said, these are only some of the reasons that I love Casey. He is a more wonderful husband than I ever hoped for. I love him with all of my heart, and I have been so blessed to be married to him for the past six years. I’m praying for sixty more!

  • December18th

    Wake Up, Momma!

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family, Parenthood, Spiritual

    Caleb2I woke up the other morning to find that a toddler has moved into our house! One night I put my sweet baby to bed, and he woke up the next day a very active and very independent little boy. It really happened so fast. It seems like it was just the other day that we were teaching him to play patty cake, and now he’s climbing on the coffee table, turning on his own DVD’s, and rolling his eyes when I give him instructions (I’m not kidding)! He is still, of course, a very sweet little boy, but he has the energy of a pack of monkeys.

    So . . . I’ve been reading a lot of parenting books lately, some good, some not so good. I’m realizing that this is not easy and that it is a full-time job. I can’t just raise this kid on the side while I pursue other interests. He has made it clear that this is going to take everything I have.

    This is the greatest responsibility that God has ever given me. I’m not just supposed to feed and clothe this child for the next eighteen years, and I’m not just supposed to teach him to be a nice guy. Somehow I have to teach this little boy to love the LORD with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength, to submit his strong will to the God that created it, and to use the days of his life to serve the King of Kings. Wow, what an overwhelming task! It is something that I want to take seriously because I realize that, even now, the clock is ticking; a time is coming when I will no longer have the influence over this little soul that I have today.

    So . . . I have been and will be saying a lot of prayers. I’m asking God to bless Casey and me with wisdom, to bless our little boy with a soft, tender heart, a heart that is turned toward Him, and to give us the energy and patience to fulfill this task in a way that glorifies Him.

  • November25th

    Thanksgiving 2007

    Author: Casey | Posted in: Home Life & Family, Spiritual

    Thanksgiving TableThis year we stayed home for Thanksgiving and had dinner with Mary Beth’s family. We had such a wonderful time spending the day with family and laughing together. There was some amazing food, and even more amazing desserts!

    Mary Beth made a really neat centerpiece. She took a bare tree branch, cut out a bunch of multi-colored paper leaves, and we all wrote things we were thankful for and placed them on the tree. It was a very neat idea and I think everyone enjoyed it.

    Now that Thanksgiving is over, it’s time to start looking forward to Christmas. Our family went to go pick out our Christmas tree yesterday, and I’m sure I’ll put up the Christmas lights very soon. It’s also time to break out all of the Christmas music once again. What a wonderful time of year!

    Our family had a wonderful weekend, and we are thankful for many things. God has blessed us with so much more than we could have ever imagined. I pray that we can teach Caleb to have a thankful heart as he grows up. God loves it when we have an attitude of gratitude! I hope your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    » See our Thanksgiving Photos

  • October27th

    Allan

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    I’ve found that these family posts are more difficult than I imagined. But, in my attempt to be the kind of person who says the things that should be said, I’ve finally decided to tackle this post about my brother Allan.

    I have only a handful of memories of my life before Allan; how do I sum up in a few paragraphs what has literally been a lifelong relationship? In nearly every one of my childhood memories, Allan is present. Together we played, fought, laughed, cried, imagined, and learned. What would my youth have been without my constant antagonist, playmate, friend, and companion?

    As I look back over our relationship, the simplest times have been the best. I cherish the moments that we spent together playing in the backyard or inventing games in the living room. (We thought we were original, but I have since learned that many siblings played “Don’t Touch the Floor” and “Keep the Balloon in the Air” at great risk to life and limb.)

    I feel so blessed to have learned such important lessons as forgiveness, compassion, and generosity from my brother. While “I won’t tell if you won’t” is a far cry from mature forgiveness, it was an early understanding of the give and take of relationships. Allan is truly one of the most compassionate people that I know. In my moments of true anguish, he was always nearby with great compassion and understanding (though he was unbelievably perceptive in my moments of fake anguish). Allan is also a wonderfully generous individual. When we were young, it was not uncommon for him to spend all of his spending money on something for me, and when he was a teenager I often witnessed him giving his last few dollars to a needy friend.

    Now, Allan is one of my most trusted advisers and counselors. He is the wisest and most perceptive twenty-three year old I have ever known. He is always willing to spend his time hashing out any complicated situation that I bring to him.

    But, if I had to name Allan’s greatest role in my life, I would have to say that he has always been my laughter. There is nothing better than laughing with my brother. In fact, when we were younger the most terrible thing I could say to him, if I could manage it without cracking a smile, would be, “You are not funny anymore!” At this he would feign great pain while turning up the humor to hilarious levels. I pray that I will spend many, many more hours of my life laughing with my brother.

    Praise God for his infinite wisdom in blessing me with my brothers and sister. I shudder to think of the kind of person I would have become without them. I hope and pray that someday Caleb will have brothers and sisters that will mold him and encourage him in the way that my siblings have.

    P.S. I failed to mention that probably the greatest thing about Allan is Lindsay, who really deserves a post of her own. I’ll try to remedy that in the near future.

  • October18th

    Praying for Rain

    Author: Casey | Posted in: Random Thoughts, Spiritual

    This has been a hot, dry summer for those who live in the state of Georgia. My parents and sister live in the Atlanta area and have mentioned on several occasions just how little rain they have received this summer. Everyone in North Georgia has even been banned from watering their lawns since the beginning of September. Aside from being a little concerned about the health of my dad’s lawn, I haven’t worried too much about Georgia’s lack of rainfall.

    Last night on the news, Mary Beth and I saw that drastic measures are now being taken to try and conserve as much water as possible. Even after seeing this news, I wasn’t that worried about the people in Georgia. We now live in a day and age where drought doesn’t seem to affect our lives as much as in the past. We have all of the appropriate measures (reservoirs, water towers, etc) in place to store up water should a shortage occur. That’s why it never occurred to me to pray for rain.

    Mary Beth and I were talking last night and she shared with me that when she and Caleb prayed together that night, they prayed for rain in Atlanta. I thought it a little odd that of all the things to pray for, they prayed for rain. After thinking about this for a while, it struck me that for some of my ancestors, praying for rain was a daily ritual. Farmers understand this much better than the rest of us. Their livelihood depends on God to provide rain to water their crops.

    Thinking of all of this reminds me how much I depend on God for my daily existence. Whether I acknowledge it or not, God provides everything for me. Sometimes I think I shouldn’t trouble God about the little things in my life, but how wrong I am!

    Psalm 37:23
    The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.


    Just as I delight in every detail of my son, Caleb, God delights in our details. He just wants us to ask Him.

    By the way, the forecast for Atlanta today calls for rain…

  • October2nd

    Billy Boy

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    Billy and Mary BethI have been avoiding this post for several days because it is extremely overwhelming to think of how to sum up Billy in a blog post. As I mentioned in my post about Mihaela, my relationship with Billy had a slightly rocky start. I really did not want to believe that he was a boy. I already had a brother, and I figured one brother is the same as another, but it turns out I was wrong.

    Since the moment that Billy was born, we have had a very special bond. Billy is nine years younger than me; and, while that may have been fairly common in generations past, it is uncommon in this generation. I rarely meet people that also have siblings almost a decade younger than them, but I believe that being Billy’s older sister has been a particular blessing in my life. Being so much older than Billy gave me a unique perspective of his life; it was very different than my perspective of Allan’s life. I really got to watch Billy grow up and enjoy his childhood. I could appreciate how adorable he was and take great pride in his accomplishments without ever feeling competitive. I could see his flaws in relationship to his wonderful character, without mistaking his flaws for his character. As I look back, I wish I could have had a similar understanding of Allan, who was only three years younger than me (more on him later).

    Billy was a wonderfully unique kid. I have never known a little child more in love with God; he used to tell people that he wanted to be a prophet when he grew up! He also could be really funny when he wanted to be; I’ll never forget watching him pretend to be “the beast” from Beauty and the Beast.

    Another interesting facet of my relationship with Billy is that I actually got to be his English teacher when he was in the 10th grade. I got a job at the school that he goes to, and I ended up teaching his Pre-AP class. What a wonderful experience! How often do big sisters actually get to grade their little brothers? I couldn’t wait to send a note home to his parents! But he really was a wonderful student, and he lovingly forgave me when I accidentally called him “Billy Boy” in front of the whole class.

    If I could, I would see to it that everybody had a “Billy” in their life. Now that Billy is almost grown, he has become a source of strength, wisdom, and encouragement to me. I am so in awe of his deep love for God and his desire to serve Him. I often pray that Caleb will have a similar passion for God when he grows up. I cannot wait to see all of the wonderful things that Billy will accomplish in his lifetime. It’s going to be so sad to watch him leave home next year, but I know that he is ready. I’m just not sure if the world is ready for Billy!

    PS – We recently found out that Billy qualified as a National Merit Semifinalist! Hip, hip, hooray!

  • September26th

    Caleb’s First Masterpiece

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    Caleb's ArtworkCaleb recently created his first masterpiece with his new crayons.

    His new favorite past time is talking on the “phone.” He uses anything from a remote control to a teddy graham as a telephone and walks around the house talking to his imaginary friends. Sometimes he even laughs as if they have told a joke. Here’s a video of him talking on the phone.

    Don’t worry, Billy. I haven’t forgotten about you.

  • September24th

    A Little Sister

    Author: Mary Beth | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    MihaelaMy buddy Sam recently inspired me with his series of posts about the members of his family. I thought I would steal his idea and write about the people that make up my family, beyond Casey and Caleb, whom I write about often; if this works out well, maybe we can convince Casey to write about his family also. I thought I would start with the youngest and work my way up, so today’s post is about my little sister, Mihaela.

    I remember praying for a little sister when I was very young. I also remember very clearly the day my mom brought home the sonogram picture of our new baby: a boy. I was eight years old, and I have to admit I was quite disappointed. I remember crying and asking her if she were very sure; you see, I already had a brother.

    My little sister was a long time coming; in fact, I was eighteen when I finally got her, and she was eleven years younger than me, which is not exactly what I had in mind. But I am always amazed by how much greater God’s plans are than my own.

    We adopted Mihaela from Romania when she was seven years old. She was skinny and malnourished and didn’t speak a word of English. She had spent her entire life in Romanian orphanages. She had absolutely nothing; in fact, we had to bring a change of clothes for her to the orphanage because she didn’t even own the clothes that she wore. Her hair was cut short like a little boy’s, because that was easier for the orphanage staff to care for. Even though we were complete strangers to her, she was very happy to go with us, which proves how miserable the orphanage must have been. I will never forget seeing the little bed that she slept in; it was a baby bed with out the railings, but it was half the size of Caleb’s crib and was lined up along the wall with probably twenty other beds.

    Bringing Mihaela home was harder than any of us would have expected. The adjustment period was many years long, and more trying than I can even explain. But Mihaela has been a great blessing to me and to our entire family. She has taught me so much about real, faithful love, and about following God even when things don’t turn out like you expected.

    Mihaela is one of the funniest girls you will meet. She loves to laugh, and I love the glimmer she gets in her eyes when she has said something funny. She is also a very observant and encouraging person; she notices everything from new socks to a new haircut and is always full of compliments. Mihaela is very aware of people that are suffering or lonely. She is compassionate and often befriends them.

    I love Mihaela very much, and I am so glad that God brought her into my family. She is a wonderful sister and also a wonderful aunt; Caleb loves his Aunt Mimi very much!

    More family entries to come; next up: Billy!

  • September19th

    Hilton Head 2007

    Author: Casey | Posted in: Home Life & Family, Travel

    Family Beach PhotoLast week our family took the long drive to Hilton Head, SC for our summer vacation. We had a blast! We went with my parents and my sister’s family and were fortunate enough to be able to stay at a friend’s house that was right on the beach.

    We arrived on Saturday afternoon and went straight to the beach. Caleb LOVED it! He made a bee-line for the water and probably would have started swimming across the Atlantic if I hadn’t stopped him! He ate some sand and swallowed some salt water, but he figured out pretty quickly that neither tasted very good.

    On Sunday, my brother-in-law and I went golfing at the Arthur Hills course in Palmetto Dunes. It was a beautiful course, but ridiculously difficult! I probably lost at least a dozen golf balls in the water!

    We ate at a lot of great restaurants, including The Salty Dog Cafe, but most of our time was spent on the beach swimming, playing in the sand, and skim boarding.

    Caleb did really well most of the time, but about half way through the trip he started to come down with a nasty cold. He still played on the beach with everyone and had lots of fun, but there were definitely some rough nights!

    This was our family’s second time to Hilton Head Island and I would highly recommend it to anyone as an alternative to Florida. There’s lots of great shopping, dining, golf, and tons of other fun things to do on the island.

    Overall, we had a great vacation and we can’t wait to go back!

    » View our vacation photos

  • August15th

    The Walking Man

    Author: Casey | Posted in: Home Life & Family

    Just over the past week Caleb has really started walking ALL OVER the place. It’s amazing to see him get better and better at it everyday. Maybe I’m just biased because I’m his dad, but he already seem pretty coordinated. (Can someone say pro athlete?)

    We put together this cute video for everyone, so enjoy! Just click the picture or the link below…

    » Watch the Video

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