We had a fantastic time! I can hardly imagine how much the next decade will hold for us. We talked a lot about the challenges and joys the next 10 years could possibly bring. We are excited and also feel the need to prepare– especially for those teenage years. 

Thank you so much Cam for planning this weekend away for us!

When Two People Marry

Helen Steiner Rice

Your hearts are filled with happiness
so great and overflowing
You cannot comprehend it,
for it’s far beyond all knowing
How any heart could hold such joy
or feel the fullness of
The wonder and the glory
and the ecstacy of love.
You wish that you could capture it
and never let it go
So you might walk forever
in its magic, radiant glow.
And love in all its ecstacy
is such a fragile thing,
Like gossamer in cloudless skies
or a hummingbird’s small wing.
And love that lasts forever
must be made of something strong-
The kind of strength that’s gathered
when the heart can hear no song.
When the sunshine of your wedding day
runs into stormy weather,
and hand in hand you brave the gale
and climb steep hills together,
And, clinging to each other
while the thunder rolls above,
You seek divine protection
in faith and hope and love.
For days of wine and roses
never make love’s dreams come true-
It takes sacrifice and teardrops
and problems shared by two.
To give true love its beauty,
its grandeur, and its finesse,
And to mold an earthly ecstasy
into heavenly diviness.

Happy Anniversary Baby!

Aliza is one of my favorite photography subjects as I am sure you have noticed, hence the pictures below. I just love taking pictures! It is one of my most favorite things to do. I love how you can capture time, memories, expressions, and emotion in a photograph. I love how pictures can take you back to how you felt and what you thought (good or bad) when the image was captured or how you can watch your kids grow up all over again. 

Cambria generously let me use her camera (Canon xti with 50mm fixed 1.8 lens) to take these pictures.  So, on to the whining part–I REALLY want a new camera, in fact I would be really happy with the exact set up that Cambria has. I never plan on being a professional photographer, I would just like to be able to get really great pictures of my family and friends. I get by with my little Canon “point and shoot” but there’s so much more I could do and learn with a digital SLR.

I am very blessed and God has been more than good to me and our family so I really shouldn’t whine about a camera but I still feel like whining about it! Multiple times we have set aside money and a time for when we could purchase a new camera but something unforeseen always comes up– which we are then very thankful we had the resources to cover. Again, I remind myself, God continues to bless us beyond our expectations year after year and I really should not complain. See how this works? I do this back and forth thing, counting my blessings and then whining, at least 4 or 5 times a week. 

In the scope of what’s important in life, I do realize this doesn’t even show up on the radar. I’m just being honest. Sometimes I feel like whining. The feeling usually doesn’t last long. Actually, it’s pretty much gone now. Cam has been so good for me in this area! He doesn’t whine and it’s about the only thing he doesn’t have much patience for. I may or may not get a new camera but I will continue to love taking pictures, remember to be thankful for all the beauty that God has put in my life and try not to whine (too much). 

Shhh… this is top secret stuff! Admittance to Pirate Beach is by invitation only!

If you want to proceed, you’ll have to get by this guy

This pirate looks a little more welcoming

Can you climb a rope? It’ll be necessary.

Are you brave enough to proceed?

Don’t forget, this pirate doesn’t take kindly to strangers!

Don’t even think about approaching this beach by boat!

Maybe he’s not as friendly as we first thought!

Or maybe he is, just not to his brother!

This little pirate isn’t old enough for rum–he’ll have to stick with apple juice.

Too much juice for this pirate! Maybe that’s why he’s so cranky?

Not quite the Black Pearl but it’ll have to do.

This boy is much more like his daddy than I ever imagined he would be– and I don’t just mean how they make the same smirk/smile. Caleb remembers crazy, random details but gets distracted walking across the room. He gets overwhelmed with too many instructions and is much better at handling one thing at a time. He is SUPER sensitive and very articulate about his feelings. He is very smart and very loving. He can be a stinker sometimes but has a way of making my heart melt with his sweet, expressive, big eyes.

Both of the boys are a lot like Cam and I am so glad! He is a great example to emulate. If both the boys grow up to be like their daddy, they will be amazing men.

As a family we are trying to be much more intentional about how we spend our time together. Days, weeks and months go by so quickly. The boys are growing up and we don’t want to take our time with them for granted.

There probably won’t be much posted here throughout the summer (except pictures, occasionally) because I plan on being outside more, using my computer less and playing with my kids. Hope you enjoy your summer!

picnic lunch at Boulevard park

hanging out at the beach, making sandcastles

dinner picnic and concert at Elizabeth Park

I love Shane’s expression in this picture! What do you think he may be thinking?

When we took them out to camp we walked around and Cam showed the boys what cabin he stayed in when he was a CIT (13 years ago!). He shared with them the story of how God told him that he was supposed to marry me (while lying in his bunk, contemplating pursuing another girl!) We had been dating before camp but “broke up” a couple weeks before he left for the summer. God pretty clearly spoke to his heart that day and confirmed that we were “it” for each other. As we walked around and talked with the boys yesterday, I remembered visiting Cam at Firwood that summer. I knew I had taken him and our relationship for granted and I missed him SO much. It didn’t take long after camp before we figured our stuff out and resumed our relationship (shortly after that there was a lot of other drama but that’s another story…). As Cam and I talk about our history as a couple I am so grateful and amazed at how God brought us together. Through the hills and the valleys God had His hand on each of us and had a good plan for our life together. One important thing for us to remember, as parents, is not to freak out if one of our boys tells us he’s totally in love with a girl and God told him that she’s the “one” when he’s 17.

We miss our boys (Daddy most of all right now) but Cam and I are having a lot of fun together and are really thankful for this time for them and for us.

To see a few more pictures click the Flickr link (on the right).