We don't get the opportunity to dress up very often but when we do...it always seems like its July. :)
Summer 2016 Montage
The next iOS has a collections tab that pre-populates with pictures in a certain range. This one popped up today as the "The Past 3 Months." I took a look and other than the random opening picture of kayaks I think it did a pretty solid job of capturing our summer so I decided to throw it on here. No telling how good it could be with a little effort but then it goes back to that whole time thing :)
Random Summer Fun-2016
Jenna has to keep reminding me we are only 2 weeks into June. It already feels like summer is flying by us!
If It's Not Written Down It Didn't Happen OR 10 Years of Blogging
It’s hard to remember the world ten years ago. It was way back when you paid for long distance and you paid by the minute for your mobile phone. It was before apps. It was before texting was easy. Facebook may have been invented but it was far from a thing.
When Jenna became pregnant with Noah, we had zero family living close by. Every time something new happened, we’d have to share it multiple times with each family member. Whoever we spoke to last got the short end of the stick. So I had a brilliant idea. Let’s start a website. A blog. It’s this new cool thing people are doing. We can post news and everyone can go to their computer and see what happened! As always Jenna was skeptical about anything I’m excited about, but she went ahead and gave me her blessings.
On September 1, 2005, I made the first post. Today, I make my 863rd post. I had to manually add them up because I didn’t think the statistics page was correct. 863! It has grown just like our little family over the past ten years. It went from a way to keep grandparents up to date on doctors appointments to a true history of our family.
It has become a historical document to us in a way I can’t explain. It has been there for two births, hundreds of small victories, a couple of huge victories, and a few moments that threatened to crush us. It has also seen it’s fair share of deaths and chronicled the pain that goes along with life. Without knowing it or even trying, I created a written account of our adventure.
I am thankful for everyone who has ever visited. I am thankful for a life where I get to wake up the two greatest children in the world each morning, watch them stretch, and hear “Good morning Dad.” Mostly I am thankful for my beautiful wife. She is and always will be the star of my story.
Sullivan's Oliver Duke
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
This weekend was pretty great. We have been shopping for a new puppy for awhile. We've talked about it as a family. We've talked names and we've talked breeds. Jenna and I were finally set on either a Brittany or an Aussie. Looking for local breeders we found a good Brittany breeder not too far away, Valley M Gundogs. I contacted the owner and got a good feel about him and his pups. At this time he had a litter just born so it would be awhile before they were ready.
We really wanted it to be a surprise for the kids at Christmas but the breeder sent us a picture at 4 weeks old that melted our hearts. To sum up an epic negotiation, we went to visit last week, just Jenna and I. He had two from the litter left to choose from and we fell in love with both.
We took pictures while we were there and that night we played a game with the kids looking at pictures of dogs on the internet. "Do you like this one or this one?" We snuck in the a picture of the two puppies and they both chose the same one.
So Saturday afternoon, the kids were told we were going spelunking at at private cave south of Fayetteville. We drove up to Valley M and told them they needed something extra for this adventure.
Obviously they were crazy beside themselves. It's funny how the name came to be. We have talked for a long time about a dog and we've had the conversations with them. We were all agreed we like the names Rex, Ollie, and Duke. Jenna wasn't crazy about Ollie but she liked Oliver with Ollie as a nickname. So Rex, Oliver, and Duke were all on the table without any real resolution. Then BAM, it's time to get a puppy and the only word that comes out of their mouths was Oliver. Go figure.
So we drive up to the house and this follows.
How timid they were in the beginning was pretty comical but they warmed up quick. The ride home was crazy. He was everywhere but there was no way he wasn't going to be in the back seat with them. Finally Jenna had to get back there to bring some calm to the madness.
We took him to PetSmart and lavished him with everything a puppy could need or want. Noah read to us that night from his new Brittany book. It was a pretty awesome day.
Oliver settled in easy. He has zero fear of his crate and mastered the doggy door on his second day. I've been nominated as full time night watchman but that's okay because Jenna wakes up an hour before me so she has to deal with hyper-Ollie :)
The kids? Well the kids are in love. We all are.
Surprise surprise
The kids and Jenna went to the beach with Magga, Melissa, Jay, and Jana. With our Costa Rica trip coming up I would've gone 3 weeks without seeing the kids. So after work on Tuesday.........
10 Years
Jenna,
Wow. Ten years. A decade. On one hand it seems like we met, blinked, and here we are. On the other hand it feels like we’ve lived a thousand lifetimes crammed into my little life. At least the part of my life that makes sense.
I don’t feel this old. Not in my soul. My ankles and knees feel old. Not my soul though. I think back on the past 10 years and the incredible moments we shared. Some joyful, some terrifying, and some that truly changed who we are. I don’t feel old because in a way life only started ten years ago. Life before was different. It was awesome in its own way but different. Not full of wonder. Most certainly not as fulfilling.
People say marriage is hard. I disagree. Marriage isn’t hard; life is hard. Life is full of ups, downs, congratulations, and condolences. This applies whether you are married or not. Marriage doesn’t create these things in itself, but what it does is lay the foundation for what life throws at you. If your marriage isn’t solid, you have nothing to stand on when life smacks you in the head. If your marriage is empty then life’s triumphs are hollow and meaningless.
You have given me everything. I can face the tribulations of life without fear and I can face the triumphs of life with purpose. I don’t deserve you; I never have, but I’m not letting go. Not after ten years. Not after a hundred.
Ten years. A blink and a lifetime.
Thank you.
All my love,
Chad
Selfie Sunday-where it's at
I post most snapshots to Facebook and the end result is there are fewer and fewer posts here. I'm starting a new thing that I hope I keep up with.
