Friday, January 11, 2008
Happy Birthday Caleb!
Today is Caleb's 33rd birthday. In celebration of his life and the wonderful man he is, here are 33 things I love about my man:
1. He can always make me laugh. Caleb is great at getting me to crack a smile, especially when I don't feel like it. He will do whatever it takes to get me laughing, including acting like a complete goofball.
2. He's balanced. He keeps things in perspective like making time for fun and leisure but also taking care of responsibilities.
3. He loves our children so much. Parenting doesn't always come easy for Caleb and I but we are both committed to continually getting better at it because we love our little ones so very much. I can't imagine a better partner to raise children with.
4. He genuinely seeks God with his whole being. Caleb has developed such a love and a need for God's Word. He wants to spend time with God each day so that it will transform him day by day into the man God wants him to be. What an inspiration.
5. Caleb can take it. Caleb is remarkably good at taking feedback. He remains humble when praised and open when criticized. I have learned a lot about accepting feedback from Caleb's example.
6. He smells good. Caleb's things always smell good. I love when I use his car because his smell is there. His clothes always smell really nice- even the ones he's already worn. There's just something about "his" smell that is really clean and fresh and I love it.
7. He's not a mean fighter. Caleb and I don't argue very often, but when we do, he is the nicest fighter I've ever met. He usually says "sorry" first and is a peace maker. He's taught me a lot in this area too because I am not always nice and I can have a nasty sharp tongue.(not pretty)
8. Caleb takes me right where I'm at. I'm not sure why but I think Caleb actually prefers me in bummy clothes, with messy hair and no make-up. For those few of you who have seen me in this lowly state, you understand the mystery.
9. He enjoys the things I enjoy. While Caleb and I do have some different interests, we have many that are the same. We both love the outdoors, camping, and hiking. But he also isn't afraid to enjoy the arts; photography, plays, museums, etc. We really love to spend time together and appreciate the same things simple things in life.
10. He cares about his health. Early in our marriage, we both put on a good amount of weight- we were fat and happy. As romantic as that may be, it wasn't healthy. Since then, Caleb has gotten very serious about his weight and health and runs almost daily. A couple of years ago he even ran a full marathon and finished UNDER 4 hours! He inspires me to be more fit.
11. It is important for him to be on time. This is an area I struggle in but he has shown me the importance and I'm glad he cares about details like that.
12. His integrity. Caleb is big on doing the right thing. I don't have words to adequately express my appreciation for his integrity but it's huge.
13. He handles our budget. I did the budget for the first 6 years and now he does it. He's WAY better at it!
14. He supports me and all my crazy dreams and ambitions. He's the first one to tell me, "Go for it Jaim. I know you can do it."
15. He is a good friend. Not only to me, but to anyone he befriends. He has friends from elementary school that are still some of his best friends.
16. His family is my family. His brothers are my brothers and I'm just one of the gang. I love that.
17. He is good at so many things. Caleb can learn how to do things well really fast. He is a fast learner and great at passing tests. He can learn anything from juggling to getting his EMT certification relatively easily.
18. He loves my family. Caleb genuinely loves my family like his own. His relationship with my parents is incredible and he cares about my family in such an amazing way.
19. Caleb is a dreamer. He's not afraid to dream big and take risks. We've been through some big adventures mostly because he wasn't afraid to chase a dream or two.
20. Caleb values life and wants to live his as well as possible. This is contagious.
21. He didn't give up on me when I was 30 minutes late for our first date. I'll always love that about him.
22. He likes to give people the benefit of the doubt. Often I'm quick to assume ill intentions and Caleb is good at bringing me back to a point of considering others. He's not usually quick to judge.
23. He's level headed. He's not easily swayed by his emotions. This is very useful in a house with 3 girls!
24. He is an amazing husband. Caleb acts like I am the most beautiful woman in the world and has this amazing wealth of kindness and patience towards me. I just don't get it.
25. He has strong work ethic. Along with integrity, taking feedback well and wanting to always be on time, Caleb truly wants to do the best job possible. If he is lacking in any area, he really wants to know about it so he can work harder in that area.
26. He's not pretentious. He's the real deal. What you see is what you get.
27. He likes to get people out of a bad mood. Not sure why but he enjoys this little challenge.
28. He is thoughtful. Caleb puts thought into gifts and things he does. He'll often come home from the grocery store with flowers. Or he'll return from a trip with gifts for the kids. He's always thinking about us and his entire life shows me that.
29. He can have fun anywhere. We've been through some season where we've had very little money but I can't honestly say during any season we haven't had fun. Whether it's playing "Hangman" on paper napkins at our favorite coffee house or hiking the closest mountain, Caleb finds fun.
30. He's a great communicator. At least with me because I always understand where he's coming from and what he means. He's not afraid to open up and be real.
31. He is brave. Caleb has done some things in his lifetime that I never would want to do. He has big faith, which helps but he is not afraid to do some scary stuff, like hang off cliffs to recue someone, chase an armed bad guy in the forest, and that sort of thing.
32. He is tender. As rugged as he can be, he is also that gentle and kind. He's very sweet and not afraid to show emotion- even if it involves tears.
33. He is more than I ever hoped for. I absolutely love being in Caleb's company. He is so much fun but so real and sincere. I cannot possible imagine a better teammate to raise children with and commit my life whole life to. I feel blessed to get to grow old with this man, one birthday at a time.
Happy Birthday Caleb. I'm even more in love with you now than I was on your 23rd birthday. Can you believe we've been celebrating birthdays together for 10 years now? Best years of my life! Enjoy your day!
Jaim
1. He can always make me laugh. Caleb is great at getting me to crack a smile, especially when I don't feel like it. He will do whatever it takes to get me laughing, including acting like a complete goofball.
2. He's balanced. He keeps things in perspective like making time for fun and leisure but also taking care of responsibilities.
3. He loves our children so much. Parenting doesn't always come easy for Caleb and I but we are both committed to continually getting better at it because we love our little ones so very much. I can't imagine a better partner to raise children with.
4. He genuinely seeks God with his whole being. Caleb has developed such a love and a need for God's Word. He wants to spend time with God each day so that it will transform him day by day into the man God wants him to be. What an inspiration.
5. Caleb can take it. Caleb is remarkably good at taking feedback. He remains humble when praised and open when criticized. I have learned a lot about accepting feedback from Caleb's example.
6. He smells good. Caleb's things always smell good. I love when I use his car because his smell is there. His clothes always smell really nice- even the ones he's already worn. There's just something about "his" smell that is really clean and fresh and I love it.
7. He's not a mean fighter. Caleb and I don't argue very often, but when we do, he is the nicest fighter I've ever met. He usually says "sorry" first and is a peace maker. He's taught me a lot in this area too because I am not always nice and I can have a nasty sharp tongue.(not pretty)
8. Caleb takes me right where I'm at. I'm not sure why but I think Caleb actually prefers me in bummy clothes, with messy hair and no make-up. For those few of you who have seen me in this lowly state, you understand the mystery.
9. He enjoys the things I enjoy. While Caleb and I do have some different interests, we have many that are the same. We both love the outdoors, camping, and hiking. But he also isn't afraid to enjoy the arts; photography, plays, museums, etc. We really love to spend time together and appreciate the same things simple things in life.
10. He cares about his health. Early in our marriage, we both put on a good amount of weight- we were fat and happy. As romantic as that may be, it wasn't healthy. Since then, Caleb has gotten very serious about his weight and health and runs almost daily. A couple of years ago he even ran a full marathon and finished UNDER 4 hours! He inspires me to be more fit.
11. It is important for him to be on time. This is an area I struggle in but he has shown me the importance and I'm glad he cares about details like that.
12. His integrity. Caleb is big on doing the right thing. I don't have words to adequately express my appreciation for his integrity but it's huge.
13. He handles our budget. I did the budget for the first 6 years and now he does it. He's WAY better at it!
14. He supports me and all my crazy dreams and ambitions. He's the first one to tell me, "Go for it Jaim. I know you can do it."
15. He is a good friend. Not only to me, but to anyone he befriends. He has friends from elementary school that are still some of his best friends.
16. His family is my family. His brothers are my brothers and I'm just one of the gang. I love that.
17. He is good at so many things. Caleb can learn how to do things well really fast. He is a fast learner and great at passing tests. He can learn anything from juggling to getting his EMT certification relatively easily.
18. He loves my family. Caleb genuinely loves my family like his own. His relationship with my parents is incredible and he cares about my family in such an amazing way.
19. Caleb is a dreamer. He's not afraid to dream big and take risks. We've been through some big adventures mostly because he wasn't afraid to chase a dream or two.
20. Caleb values life and wants to live his as well as possible. This is contagious.
21. He didn't give up on me when I was 30 minutes late for our first date. I'll always love that about him.
22. He likes to give people the benefit of the doubt. Often I'm quick to assume ill intentions and Caleb is good at bringing me back to a point of considering others. He's not usually quick to judge.
23. He's level headed. He's not easily swayed by his emotions. This is very useful in a house with 3 girls!
24. He is an amazing husband. Caleb acts like I am the most beautiful woman in the world and has this amazing wealth of kindness and patience towards me. I just don't get it.
25. He has strong work ethic. Along with integrity, taking feedback well and wanting to always be on time, Caleb truly wants to do the best job possible. If he is lacking in any area, he really wants to know about it so he can work harder in that area.
26. He's not pretentious. He's the real deal. What you see is what you get.
27. He likes to get people out of a bad mood. Not sure why but he enjoys this little challenge.
28. He is thoughtful. Caleb puts thought into gifts and things he does. He'll often come home from the grocery store with flowers. Or he'll return from a trip with gifts for the kids. He's always thinking about us and his entire life shows me that.
29. He can have fun anywhere. We've been through some season where we've had very little money but I can't honestly say during any season we haven't had fun. Whether it's playing "Hangman" on paper napkins at our favorite coffee house or hiking the closest mountain, Caleb finds fun.
30. He's a great communicator. At least with me because I always understand where he's coming from and what he means. He's not afraid to open up and be real.
31. He is brave. Caleb has done some things in his lifetime that I never would want to do. He has big faith, which helps but he is not afraid to do some scary stuff, like hang off cliffs to recue someone, chase an armed bad guy in the forest, and that sort of thing.
32. He is tender. As rugged as he can be, he is also that gentle and kind. He's very sweet and not afraid to show emotion- even if it involves tears.
33. He is more than I ever hoped for. I absolutely love being in Caleb's company. He is so much fun but so real and sincere. I cannot possible imagine a better teammate to raise children with and commit my life whole life to. I feel blessed to get to grow old with this man, one birthday at a time.
Happy Birthday Caleb. I'm even more in love with you now than I was on your 23rd birthday. Can you believe we've been celebrating birthdays together for 10 years now? Best years of my life! Enjoy your day!
Jaim
Getting Ready To Smile
So I had a dentist appointment yesterday and even though I really liked him and it went very well, I got home and bawled my eyes out. I think it was because my smile has been such a source of emotional pain for most of my life. I think part of me was happy and relieved with the visit and part of me just needed a good cry. Having broken my two front permanent teeth when I was only 7 has really affected me. I feel like a nice smile says so much about a person. I feel like a yucky smile says a lot too- even though the assumptions can be false. I feel like people assume one's hygiene isn't good if their smile isn't gleaming white and that sort of thing. Have you ever noticed on movies and cartoons the bad guys always have less than desirable smiles? I've always been very self conscious of my smile and go through seasons of depression and doubt because I hate my teeth so much. (You're probably thinking I'm silly, but it's true) I'm so glad God looks at the heart and not the outward appearance- not that my heart is always perfect but I'm glad I don't have to get His favor based on how I look. He takes me right where I am.
So, I found out yesterday that I've got to get my much needed dental work done as soon as possible. It will take a couple of months and will cost a lot- I have no idea how we'll pay for it or if we're supposed to finance it. But the dentist said we really need to get this stuff done now because if I wait I'm going to have bone damage, if I don't already. I think overall this is a blessing because I can't put it off due to finances any longer. Really, I shouldn't have put it off this long. I don't know why I always put my needs last and I haven't really been honest with Caleb about how badly I wanted/needed to have all this done. I've just stuffed it down, thinking it would happen someday. Well, thanks be to God because I think that day has finally come!
So, we'll start by whitening all my teeth (Can I get an AMEN?). This will make my front two teeth look much worse in comparison to the others because they aren't natural tooth and won't whiten. So basically, for about 2 weeks I will be laying very low so I wont be seen much with my mismatched tooth color. Next he will replace my front two teeth with beautiful ceramics!!! You have no idea how excited this makes me. He said by the time we're all done I am going to love my smile. Honestly, if that happens, it will be the first time in my whole life that I will feel good about my smile.
I was a 7 year old, with brand new permanent teeth (little bumps still on the bottoms of them and all) when I slipped and fell on wet concrete. It was very traumatic for me and even more traumatic for my poor mom who heard me crying and came running to a bloody mouth and two broken teeth. We went straight to the dentist after hours. The dentist was very kind I remember and he bonded my teeth for me. The problem with bonding is it stains quickly and over time it cracks. Thankfully, dentistry has come a long way since then and I shouldn't ever have to have "bonding" again! (Can I get another AMEN?)
I'm so serious about this, if I were ever blessed with a lot of money, I would set up some kind of dental scholarship for people who need dental work and can't afford it. Friends, hold me to this if I ever by chance ended up wealthy, okay?
So I guess in all this, I want to ask for prayer that first of all it would all go smoothly and that I would in fact be happy with my new smile. I guess anything is an upgrade but I've waited this long, I hope it is a good experience. Next, that God would give us wisdom on how to afford this and/or if we should finance it.
I'm sure you didn't plan on a dental update when you logged on to my blog today. I won't start the whole process probably for another month because that is how long it takes the insurance company to give an estimate of their coverage. Then hopefully it will all begin. If I'm brave enough, I will post before and after pictures when it's all said and done. Okay, thanks for reading.
So, I found out yesterday that I've got to get my much needed dental work done as soon as possible. It will take a couple of months and will cost a lot- I have no idea how we'll pay for it or if we're supposed to finance it. But the dentist said we really need to get this stuff done now because if I wait I'm going to have bone damage, if I don't already. I think overall this is a blessing because I can't put it off due to finances any longer. Really, I shouldn't have put it off this long. I don't know why I always put my needs last and I haven't really been honest with Caleb about how badly I wanted/needed to have all this done. I've just stuffed it down, thinking it would happen someday. Well, thanks be to God because I think that day has finally come!
So, we'll start by whitening all my teeth (Can I get an AMEN?). This will make my front two teeth look much worse in comparison to the others because they aren't natural tooth and won't whiten. So basically, for about 2 weeks I will be laying very low so I wont be seen much with my mismatched tooth color. Next he will replace my front two teeth with beautiful ceramics!!! You have no idea how excited this makes me. He said by the time we're all done I am going to love my smile. Honestly, if that happens, it will be the first time in my whole life that I will feel good about my smile.
I was a 7 year old, with brand new permanent teeth (little bumps still on the bottoms of them and all) when I slipped and fell on wet concrete. It was very traumatic for me and even more traumatic for my poor mom who heard me crying and came running to a bloody mouth and two broken teeth. We went straight to the dentist after hours. The dentist was very kind I remember and he bonded my teeth for me. The problem with bonding is it stains quickly and over time it cracks. Thankfully, dentistry has come a long way since then and I shouldn't ever have to have "bonding" again! (Can I get another AMEN?)
I'm so serious about this, if I were ever blessed with a lot of money, I would set up some kind of dental scholarship for people who need dental work and can't afford it. Friends, hold me to this if I ever by chance ended up wealthy, okay?
So I guess in all this, I want to ask for prayer that first of all it would all go smoothly and that I would in fact be happy with my new smile. I guess anything is an upgrade but I've waited this long, I hope it is a good experience. Next, that God would give us wisdom on how to afford this and/or if we should finance it.
I'm sure you didn't plan on a dental update when you logged on to my blog today. I won't start the whole process probably for another month because that is how long it takes the insurance company to give an estimate of their coverage. Then hopefully it will all begin. If I'm brave enough, I will post before and after pictures when it's all said and done. Okay, thanks for reading.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
My Bry
The meaning of the name Bryant is "Strong". The meaning of his middle name, Caleb is "Courageous". My prayer is that he grows into a strong and courageous man who loves his Lord with all that he's got.
It's not Bry's birthday or any special occasion but I really wanted to do a blog about my favorite boy. Maybe because it's a New Year, which always leads me to look back at how for we've come. I remember 8 years ago, I was well into my pregnancy and had no idea what our little guy would look like. It was the big Y2K and I didn't know what the new year held for me except that I would be holding our sweet child in the months to come. I didn't realize that my heart would be taken for such a ride when I signed up for motherhood. It has brought me to such heights and sometimes such excruciating pain. I didn't know I could love a tiny little bundle of life so much. I remember times of loving him so much that I would just hurt over it and sometimes even cry. Funny thing motherhood is.
For now, we'll just love him and lead him the best we can. Hopefully, he'll put that "strength" and "courage" to good work as his precious life unfolds.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
It's not Bry's birthday or any special occasion but I really wanted to do a blog about my favorite boy. Maybe because it's a New Year, which always leads me to look back at how for we've come. I remember 8 years ago, I was well into my pregnancy and had no idea what our little guy would look like. It was the big Y2K and I didn't know what the new year held for me except that I would be holding our sweet child in the months to come. I didn't realize that my heart would be taken for such a ride when I signed up for motherhood. It has brought me to such heights and sometimes such excruciating pain. I didn't know I could love a tiny little bundle of life so much. I remember times of loving him so much that I would just hurt over it and sometimes even cry. Funny thing motherhood is.
For now, we'll just love him and lead him the best we can. Hopefully, he'll put that "strength" and "courage" to good work as his precious life unfolds.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
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