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Category Archives: travis

May not be Hawaii

Today my husband and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. It honestly feels so weird to be able to say I’ve been married that long. I haven’t even hit 30… and I have 10 years of marriage behind me. You add to the fact I have had 4 children, it feels even weirder!

Marriage is one of those things that I feel I went into very blindly.

I was 19….

Had only been out of high school a few months before I started dating Travis… While he was almost 7 years older than I was… neither of us I believe really knew how hard marriage could be.

It is so worth fighting for though and growing through.

We have both learned a lot over these 10 years… especially over the last year being in COR.

I could not imagine myself with any other man… and I am very blessed to have a strong and God centered husband and father to my boys.

I look forward to the next 10 years :) and am excited to see where the Lord takes us from here.

For our anniversary we may not have gone to Hawaii… although that would have been amazing. With the unexpected pregnancy and birth of sweet baby Reed… it just wasn’t in the cards for us this year :) – we do hope to celebrate with a trip later on… maybe next year ;-) – and well, I may be getting a house for my anniversary in a few months ::hint hint:: – sooooo well, I really have no need to ask for much more hah….

Anniversary date :)For today though my husband treated me to a full nights sleep…. he took Reed all night. This afternoon I went in for a 1 hour full body massage… ahhh love it… and when I got home from the massage we had a sitter come to watch baby Reed and Caleb. The other two boys went to my friend Shannon’s. Travis and I then got to go to the range to try out my new gun. I’ve debated blogging the fact we own guns… but I dont see the harm in being honest with that. For Christmas Travis got me a 9mm. I have never shot a 9mm… so you can imagine it felt very intimating…

Being able to shoot it today was very helpful. I feel so much more comfortable with it. It was fun to shoot! and…. well, I did pretty darn good seeing as it was my 1st time! I hit almost a 10 with the 1st few shots! I impressed Travis :) and even shot his 40 caliber as well. That thing had a bit more kick than I liked though :) – so ill stick to the 9.

It is def. something you have to really be careful with… and I am being extra cautious with it.

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I’m thankful for the ability to have it though and I definitely feel more confident in going out alone. Especially at night and being in our home alone, so many nights.

After the gun range fun we enjoyed an amazing dinner at a really nice restaurant we had never been too. It was delicious. We enjoyed each others company, great conversations, hugs and kisses :) – and to end we came home to a house full of excited and happy boys waiting on us. :-D All of which crashed shortly after haha…

One thing I do hate we didn’t do today was get a recent photo of us together… Travis snagged some of me at the range but that was it. Maybe Sunday we will snag some :) – if not, we hope to have family pictures taken in a few months… so we will get some then.

Here is an oldie though taken about 5 years ago in our old town of Williamston. While it is 5 years old, I do still think we look similar :) – my hair is shorter and Travis has MORE hair hah… & I may be a weee bit smaller ;-) – im working on that! but it still is us. Its a favorite of mine…

Thank you Travis for an amazing anniversary. I love you Love!

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Broke my Doctors Bed rest rule

Well, I will admit that yesterday I broke my doctors bed rest rule.

I couldn’t help it!

IMG_9479We had season passes to the Georgia Aquarium and they expired Saturday. We haven’t used them pretty much all summer either because of my pregnancy and Travis no longer being around during week days… Going to the Aquarium on the weekend was usually out of the question, since saturdays at the GA Aquarium are nuts!

After a fairly easy morning Saturday and a run to the bank, I mentioned to Travis that it be fun to go… even though we hadn’t planned on doing much at all that day.

He was for it and so we ate a quick lunch, packed up my diaper bag with a few snacks… and made our way to Atlanta.

Owen slept on the way, which was needed :)

I knew going that Id be very slow…

I totally have a preggo waddle going on now and in crowded spaces I feel very much in the way. Despite the slow walking (it was slowwwww – had to tell the kids “slow down” a lot) – I think I did just fine.

Contractions were minimal yesterday.

Cramping was there but only towards the end.

My ankles stayed a fairly normal size.

and back pain didn’t kick in until later that evening.

So! we were good :)

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I’m glad we went… and Im even more glad that it wans’t a total disaster. While the aquarium was crowded… it was tolerable. We also got to see the Dolphin show (included in our passes, so no extra cost) – As cheesy as that show is (sorry) – its always so neat to see the dolphins and the kids faces light up. Owen however was scared during the performance this time. He requested a spot on my lap and at certain points would cover his face with his cute chubby hands. So so sweet. No tears were shed :)


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So… I broke my bed rest rule… but this one time, it was a good call.

I will make up for it as the week goes on.

& one fun thought… the next trip we will make to Atlanta our mini van will be full (for the most part) ;-) – while driving home I was playing with instagram and snagged this photo in our “bubble mirror”… It made me smile.

(You can see Taite and Owen knocked out. Caleb wide awake, as usual.
Once baby comes, Caleb will move to the back with Taite)

This makes me smile

Hope everyone has had a great weekend.

I’m thankful ours has gone well… and the pregnancy despite the sleepless nights (Im battling major insomnia people!) – I feel regardless pretty good as of the last 48 hours.

Daddy’s Boy

Owen is very much a Mommy’s boy.
Its one reason I love boys so much, they love their moms!

I must admit though….

He very much is a Daddy’s Boy too.


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Especially since Daddy is gone during the day now.

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When he comes home from work – Owen lights up. He is just so excited.
Its sweet to see. I love that my boys love their daddy… and that their daddy is so willing to pour so much time into them, even after a physically exhausting day. You’d be shocked at what he has to do right now :) – regardless he comes home sore & tired, yet still so willing, to just be a great Dad to 3 little boys.

Who all 3 adore him.

Slimming

Months ago – when Travis knew he may be considered for this new job he just started… he began to work out daily. Eating healthy for him has always been a struggle. Even though I cooked healthy – he loved comfort foods and snacking. It was his way of getting through stressful times… and well, you can imagine… job loss… relocation… counseling… etc… he was a bit stressed at times. Not to mention the 4 years he served in NC – were stressful as well. I don’t think anyone realized how stressful it really was… but any time you are involved in ministry, it can be stressful… I will spare the details :)

IMG_3333Since he started working out though – he began running 5 miles a day – mountain biking – lifting weights – sit ups – push ups – and with any exercise routine, he also added in a new diet. He was eating great!

Since he started doing all this he has gone from 220 to 195-ish. He has hopes of getting down to 175-180.

Over the last 3 weeks working at his new job – he has been put to some great physical task. He comes home pretty worn out – but encouraged at the same time. I honestly believe, that Pastors really should be encouraged in the same way this job is encouraging it – to stay active. This may be a short soap box :) – but I have to go there. It is SO DIFFICULT as a Pastor to stay active. Majority of your time is spent sitting, studying, driving, counseling… pouring into people. You spend very little time on yourself. The time you do spend on yourself is usually at the end of a day, where you are so emotional drained, that you want nothing more than to just veg, eat peanut butter and sleep. Pastors really should be “required” to work out 30 min – 1 hr a day. In fact I know of some churches who PAY for their Pastors Gym memberships and even put in their “job requirements” – a set amount of physical activity. To me that is a wonderful “requirement.” I just think its a good discipline for Pastors.

I am proud of him.

He looks great :)

I tried to find some old photos to show before/after shots – but really, most of the he was covered by a kid or had a full beard… so it was hard to tell. I think its obvious though he is really trimming and bulking up (in all the right places).


These were taken in 2011 – around June.
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The clean shaven face (a must for his job) – makes him look years younger too!

I look forward to when I can work out with him (after baby) – especially if it involves the kids too.

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I just wish I could post a few pictures of him in his uniform :) – Its nice seeing him come home in it! Even when its covered in sweat :) – as long as the sweaty encounters stay at arms length – pre-shower ;-)

Loose, Mother, 1st Day

This weekend was an interesting one. Although, it felt longer than normal. Maybe because we had anticipation going into it, of what was about to start.

Between all that though, we had a good weekend.

The sickness has seemed to leave our home, finally. This is the 1st time in weeks Owen doesnt seem to have green gunk coming out of his nose, and his diaper issues are clearing up. Yea…. didn’t blog about those, but really, there’s no need :) – most moms know how that goes. – Diapers btw come June I hope to rid our house of! until Oct of course ;-)

Taite at dinner on friday night bit into a piece of chicken (I think?) – and began to cry as if someone kicked him in the face. He told us something was jabbing him in the tooth. Travis looked, I looked, we couldn’t see anything… until we realized there was a hint of blood around the back rim of his front bottom tooth. We then gave it a wiggle. Sure enough, it was loose. Taite must have bit down on something hard, and the tooth was loose, so when he bit, it just really hurt. He literally cried for 10 minutes over this tooth. He’d stop, then would start back up. We’d ask “what is wrong?” – he would say “I just keep thinking about it and it makes me cry!” – there really was not much to do, except change the subject and hope he moved on quickly.

Since that friday, we’ve had to cut his food up, so he doesn’t “hurt himself” :) – But since that friday, the tears have stopped and now he just goes around showing everyone his loose tooth. Literally, up close and personally. Our poor neighbors son Noah has gotten a mouth full of Taite over the past 48 hours.

IMG_2194Sunday was very wet and rainy… but we managed making it to church :) – enjoying a great sermon, sitting with some old friends from my home church back in NC (I hadn’t seen them since Caleb was 2!) – They knew me though pre-kids, pre-marriage, pre-salvation even! I went to youth group with their son.

After church, we enjoyed a quick left over lunch ;-) – and then naps. Must admit, sunday naps are a tradition in our home and with rainy weather, it makes those times even more restful.

Travis cooked us dinner.

Marinated Chicken Kabobs w/ Zucchini and Onion. It was great!

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Despite the rain, we let the kids play outside – and over all the day felt very calm.

It was nothing fancy… but there really is no need for much more.

This morning marks the 1st day of a very new and different life for us. Travis starts his training for his new job… He is excited – and nervous :) – Because he is in the training process, his days will be shorter right now. He will work from like 8am-3pm until July – to me its as if God knew I needed “time” to adjust to being a SAHM again of 3 busy little boys ;-) – and having to get use to not having a husband around 24-7 again. Travis getting home around 3:30 or 4, will be a lot easier to adjust to, than 5:30 or 6.

Come July he will begin working 8-5 – until he finishes his training – which will take until Christmas or so.

The morning has gone well today.

Although I hate getting up before 7 :)

6:30am I heard the boys get up… I specifically told them to stay in bed until 7… they were only allowed up to go pee.

But lights were to remain off. My boys btw, will sometimes get up as early as 6am – even if they go to bed at 10! It does not matter what time they make it to bed, they are up early.

IMG_2909I can tell it is going to take some retraining in this area. With Travis being home, we got out of that routine – and our boys had a lot more freedom to just go downstairs, cut PBS on and fix themselves their own breakfast. It was “easy” for us – and since we had “all day” together – it didn’t seem like a real high priority to keep them to much of a routine.

With Travis gone now, that is going to change.

I joked with the kids “Mama’s Back” :)

I woke up feeling rested regardless of the 6:30am wake up call… went downstairs and fixed myself a half a blue berry bagel – enjoyed it alone on the sofa, as I read some scripture and just prayed the day would go as smooth as possible.

I really just desire to be calm in my spirit when the day gets hard.

At 7am – once the older two came down.

I fixed them some whole grain pancakes – milk and OJ… then after 15 min. of peaceful talking :) – I discover Taite wet his bed (after I just made it the night before) – and that the dish washer had yet to be started from yesterday.

So before even 7:30am – I have a full load of laundry to wash, dry and put away… as well as a full load of dishes to get washed and put away as well.

It wasn’t exactly the routine I was hoping for this morning. I am thankful I remained peaceful throughout the discoveries… and we finished up breakfast happily.

I was able to finish cleaning the kitchen, starting the wash and even got the boys school totally prepped… all the while Owen still slept, which is a huge blessing! and now im playing catch up on blog work, while the boys play a game on the ipad. Id rather them sit quietly downstairs – than to come up stairs doing chores before school and risking Owen waking :) – hopefully by 9am though we can start school.

So here is to a different start to our lives :)

An exciting, scary, yet one we know is good start.

To a week filled with obligations that I will now fill on my own again… without a lending hand from a husband.

Here is to happy hearts and a soft answer when the times aren’t so peaceful.

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I’m so far from the perfect mom… but I really desire to try hard to be the best I can for my children. Like our Associate Pastor spoke on yesterday… I really hope when I am old and gone, my children can speak words of praise like he did yesterday morning about his mother.


“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Proverbs 31:30

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