Wedding

I really enjoy summer.  It's either busy and rushed feeling or lazy and slow.  Both of which I enjoy.
I have a lot on my mind lately, which oddly is why I haven't posted in over a week.  Too much to think about and not enough time to complete a train of thought.
My brother Isaac is getting married next week and I'm super excited for him and his fiancee.  She's a doll and they are great together. 
I've got a few things up my sleeve planned for the rehearsal, but I won't be talking about that here until after the fact :)  I hope I can pull it off!
Lots to think about with a big family gathering like this...my grandparents that I haven't seen in 8 years will be there, being away from home for a week requires some planning, Chad is coming later so we had to figure out the car issue.
Just the usual stuff.
More so then not, though, big family gatherings make me think about Luke.  He and Isaac were tight.  Best buds.  I'm sure my other siblings have been thinking about that, but no one has mentioned it yet.  It makes me nostalgic and sad. 
I'm so looking forward to this week, in spite of all that.  It's going to be a beautiful wedding with all the craziness!

Hello Monday.

What a weekend!
We had a great visit with Chad's oldest brother Craig and his family.  We have not had a chance to see them much over the years and I'm so glad we got some time with them this weekend.  Craig is a Captain in the Navy and they have been stationed in Okinowa, Japan the past 3 years.  They are on their way to D.C. for Craig to take a post at the Pentagon and were able to spend a few days with us on their road trip! 
I love it when family visits and stays for a few days!  The cousins got to spend some time together and the adults are able to play some cards and visit.  My sister-in-law, Kristen, introduced me to my new favorite thing!  Sweet tea flavored vodka!!  Oh my!   I had no idea this existed.  One particular brand called Jeremiah Weed has bourbon whiskey in it as well, but that was a bit much for me.  I prefered the straight vodka! 
And now Monday.  Autumn and Cory are at VBS all this week which means I get a little time with just Elijah and Caleb. 
We have ball games every night this week, but Friday. 
It's gonna be a crazy, busy week.  Summertime!

11 years

6-6-00  I married this really hunky sailor in front of a smattering of family and friends who sacrificed ALOT to make it to our semi-eloping type wedding in Pensacola, Fl.

6-6-11  I could go on and on and on about all the cliches that will make you all jealous that my husband is so amazing, but instead I'd like to get to the point.  Which is...I still like him, and he still likes me.  That's it.

Here's to a few more years of liking each other!

Crossfit

is not a word I was familiar with a few years ago.  My venture into Crossfit has revealed much about fitness, nutrition and my ability to not completely give myself over to any one ideology.
Chad on the other hand is hooked.  He's in.  If someone would have asked him the kind of exercise regimen he would thrive under, Crossfit would have been it. 
This Crossfit stuff is an entire subculture all it's own. 
I have one foot in and one foot out.  I love the idea of it.  I just have a problem with execution.  I have not done anything but crossfit workouts for over a year, aside from the occasional run or one mini triathlon a few months back.  I haven't always done them consistantly.  I love the workouts.  They are generally quick and painful and always effective.  
The reason I've been thinking about this methodology of exercise more recently is our trip to Joplin last weekend.  We did a lot of manual labor in hot weather.  Hauling tree limbs, large pieces of fencing or parts of the house, lots of shoveling.  It was hard.  I was tired at the end of the days, but I was never sore or muscularly fatigued.  Several times while we were there I thought I was really glad I had been doing Crossfit.  My fellow Crossfitter, Shannon, said the same thing.  Everything we had been doing required functional movements, which is one of the main components Crossfit is based on.  Squating, lifting, lunges, balancing on piles of debris.  Over and over again.   We took frequent water breaks, but I was always ready to go back at it.  I had had some seriously tough workouts over the year andI could tell it helped.
I think I get it now.  Don't tell Chad. :)  I think part of my other foot might be sliding over into the Crossfit world.  I doubt that means I'll be neurotic about my workouts.  I am still me, which means I can't be OCD about anything.  It's not in my DNA.  I get the point, though.  These workouts are useful.  I'll keep at it.
 

Cory Luke

May 28, 2005
After nearly a week of nightly contractions, Cory Luke was here.  He was born in Joplin, MO.
We missed part of his birthday this year to help in Joplin after the tornado.  
He didn't mind, which says a lot about the kind of kid he is.  He's good with whatever.

1st birthday

He is 6.
He's the one I love to watch from a distance. 
He's an introvert and prefers the company of one to the company of many.
He can play for hours by himself, existing in his own world of super heroes, ninjas and bad guys that need defeating.
He thinks his dad is Batman.
He can go from this guy,...

to this guy,...

In a blink.
He loves his daddy.

His eyes are the darkest brown.  I tell him they remind me of dark chocolate so whenever I look at him I get hungry.

He loves to dress up and be silly.

We hear how much he looks like his dad on a daily basis.  I don't think either of us mind.
He's special.  We named him after Chad's brother Cory and my brother Luke.  We make sure he knows who those young men were.
I've often thought God gave me Cory because Chad is gone so much.  I can see his dad in his face, his walk, his personality.
Cory is competitive and loves to win.

And at the end of the day all he wants is some alone time with his dad or mom to talk. 
Life just wouldn't be as good without Cory Luke.
Happy Birthday, Corky!