Ramblings on 2015

Dear Caroline,

We are quickly approaching the end of another year. I have been working on this blog with my collection of letters since 2011. To be selfish for a moment, my life has completely changed since that time. I have gone from a new wife and new teacher to an old wife and a more experienced teacher. In terms of growth, this has been such a year for that. Change is never easy, but I think we’re starting to come out of the growing pains stronger than ever before. 

I cannot believe all that we have accomplished this year. We moved to a suburb of Atlanta, took up a new hobby in hiking, and I began seriously painting. We knew coming into 2015 that we would be making changes. It all began with applying for new jobs (for me) in February, setting up interviews in March, interviewing in April, getting the new job in May, going on a family vacation in June, and MOVING in July. 

I am looking forward to 2016. In a way, I am ready to slow down and get settled. There were so many anticipated and long awaited changes that happened this year; it will be nice to continue to put down roots. There are some uncertainties coming into this year, but we continue to seek our Savior for guidance about our callings. 

Looking forward to 2016, I am excited about a potential road trip over the summer and continuing to develop my “artsy” side. I like to create things and hopefully I will be able to continue to do so. Thomas keeps pushing me to open a store, but we shall see. 

Every New Year’s Eve, I get excited about all the things to come and a little introspective about my life so far. Not going to lie, I usually get a little down about getting older and how uncool I am. The best NYE we’ve had was when I turned 25. Thomas took me on a birthday/NYE cruise of the Caribbean and we were in the Bahamas for my birthday. I don’t think Thomas will be able to top that birthday for quite some time. This year we are celebrating in a more traditional, Scottish way. I’m excited for my surprise. Love you baby girl. Next letter in the New Year. 

Love always

On Christmas 2015... One for the record books

Dear Caroline,

This year was probably one of my more favorite Christmases (sp?). I know that Christmas isn’t about presents but is really more about family and the birth of our savior. Having said that, Thomas gave me the surprise of my life for Christmas!

Before I launch into that story though, I will give the Christmas wrap up. I got out of school on December 18^th. It was a race South for us because Thomas, Leah, and I had tickets to see the long awaited STAR WARS sequel after dinner at one of our most favorite restaurants Paulie’s in Thomasville. Thomas had gone down the day before to pick up some deer meat that Papa White had so graciously given us for Christmas. The race was on. I made it just in time and had a wonderful dinner at a place that means a lot to us from our time in my hometown. The movie (even as a casual fan) was great. I didn’t really get a lot of the story, but that is okay. Thomas loved it and that is really all that mattered. I got a free dinner and a hot date.

The following day, we had family Christmas with Thomas because, unfortunately, Thomas was working on Christmas day. Thomas got some really cool stuff including a classic video game set and a star wars trivia book. But he blew me away with my gift.

Growing up, I will be the first to admit we didn’t have a lot of money. My parents made the choice that time was more important than money and my mom stayed home to raise us. While we were basically spoiled rotten, the one thing I never got was an American Girl Samantha doll. I never even asked for one, they were that expensive. I liked to look at the catalogs and the paper dolls and just dream of having Samantha.

Isn't she perfect?

And that is what my amazing husband got me for Christmas. Thomas had been dropping hints for a couple of weeks leading up to Christmas that he had gotten me an archery set. I have said in the past that I would like a set, but now living in a city I was getting nervous as to what I would do with it! Everyone waited to open their gifts until after I opened my big gift from Thomas. When I opened my gift, I was very confused. And then I opened the box.

It was Samantha Parkington. I almost died. She was just as beautiful as I remembered from the catalogs. She came with three outfits and ALL the accessories including the whistle and locket. My eyes welled up with tears and I was so excited. Thomas said that he thought she would be more of a collector’s item. Pssh. I wanted to play with her! I absolutely love her. Even if I had to wait eighteen years, she was so worth it. I knew I married the right person.

Samantha and I watching Christmas movies with my sisters. 

But Christmas wasn’t over. Since Thomas was working, our family got together a week early for a fish fry. It was cold enough to have a fire and almost everyone was there to have a fire. We hung out for hours just spending time together.

After that, Thomas did have to go back to Atlanta for work, but I got in some quality sister time for the remainder of the week. On actual Christmas Day, we had the more traditional fare and got together again. Living out of town, it was nice to have so much family time. I ended up heading north on Christmas Day to make sure that Thomas wasn’t alone for Christmas. We exchanged stockings and I am still working on stocking candy!

While I really, really love Samantha, I love the man who gave her to me more. That was the most thoughtful gift I have ever been given. He had to really know me and understand how much it would mean to receive her. I love him for understanding me and really striving to make me happy. I think that it is a perfect example of how much he loves me and strives to make me happy everyday. I found the perfect man to spend my life with and he completely understands me.

Love always

Wants and Needs

Dear Caroline,

When we lived in my college town once upon a time, we attended this amazing Catholic Church with an Irish priest and a nice little circle of friends. I’ll admit maintaining friendships over a distance isn’t easy. And even though we were busy, we weren’t that busy.

When we moved here, I think Thomas especially, wanted a new start and meet new people. We’ve been kind of homebodies.

Yesterday we were having a lazy Sunday. We started laundry and were marathoning the third season of The Office. Thomas was working on homework, and I was happily not doing lesson plans as we are off for Thanksgiving Break. I washed towels and for some reason they did not dry. We were planning on going to lunch, but we wanted to wait until after showers obviously. Thomas was getting progressively more frustrated.

Finally, the towels were ready and we headed out the door. We walked into the restaurant and imagine our surprise when we ran into some of our church friends from Valdosta. It was literally crazy the craziest of coincidences. It was like we picked up right where we left off. We caught up. Spent time. Shared stories.  Visited. It was crazy that it felt like no time had passed. Except that it has. Their son is now five and in kindergarten!  

Sometimes I forget how amazing our God is. I pray all the time for things that are on my heart. But the one thing I haven’t even thought to ask for was meaningful friendships. This year has been truly a roller coaster. We’ve moved and said goodbye. And it was nice to say hello. God knew we needed this for our spirit and it was so nice to have the opportunity to see some of our friends. Everything that went wrong that morning led us to be in the right place and the right time. We serve an awesome God who knew exactly what we needed and what we wanted. We are really in a good place. We are ready for the holidays and to share them with our friends and family. We’re only missing you, baby girl. You are exactly what we want and need to make our family complete.

Love Always

What's in a Name?

Dear Caroline,

I can hardly believe that it is already November. November means that it is almost time for the holidays. Being so far away from family makes that time that much more special. We have had many wonderful times of late and I suppose it is time for an update.

Yesterday was our first Halloween away from home. Being raised Baptist, Halloween was not celebrated at all. We went to church and fall festivals, maybe but we didn’t even dress up. I usually take my cousins to their fall festival and babysit them afterward. I missed them dearly. This year, having neighbors, I was looking forward to a different kind of Halloween. We didn’t carve pumpkins (I made artificial ones last year) or make anything out of the ordinary. We did watch Charlie Brown and Halloweentown and waited on trick or treaters. We had a grand total of four special guests. I was so disappointed! We have so much extra candy. Oh well, it will go to my classroom as bribery candy. Waste not, want not!

Today being All Saints Day and with the holidays coming up, it does return your thoughts to family. Yesterday a family member shared a photo of my grandparents when they were young. I wish I had known them at that age. They look so happy and in love. They died still in love with each other. I look so much like my grandmother. She had her problems. I have mine too. But I look at the overall quality of her life, past of those problems and she had such a meaningful life. She knew great love and had a family that loved her. She was talented. She spoke her mind. She traveled the world. She had so many adventures. I see myself in her in so many ways. I see her nose, her hairline, her eyes and cheekbones. I carry her name. I miss her dearly and hope to see her when this life is over. Happy All Saint’s Day.

What do you think? Do we favor?

Love always

When it rains

Dear Caroline,

I find real beauty in the rain. Weirdly enough, I actually miss the rain from “back home”. When it rained in South Georgia, it might rain all day. Here, it rarely lasts for long. It rains for an hour or two and then it moves on. Today, another lazy Sunday, our windows are open as it rains. I hope it lasts.

When it rains, everything slows down. It has to. I love to be at home on a rainy Sunday with the windows open. I like to watch how the world can change.

As we have been in our new home for a little over a month, we’ve changed too. I actually like it here. It came much easier than I thought it would. The people I work with are pretty amazing. The kids in my classroom are great. Our apartment is feeling more like home everyday, even if we have new furniture and décor. While our lifestyles are different, I don’t think I’m that different and many of our routines are the same, which is comforting. I’m still doing lesson plans, laundry, watching Sunday Morning on CBS, and planning our weekly menus. It reminds me that we can make a life here. Even though we are in a different place, moving at a different pace, we are still essentially ourselves.

One of our first adventures here was going hiking out at Stone Mountain. I miss the trees here and so we went looking for them and ended up in Stone Mountain. We hiked around the lake and had so much fun together. It was a really great, simple day. I hope to repeat it soon. It also coincided with the fifth anniversary of when Thomas asked me to marry him. We’ve grown so much in the past five years- the past ten and a half years really. I think we can build a life here, one with meaning. It might be different but we are together and we can withstand a little rain.

Love always

A move

Dear Caroline,

This has been one of the quickest weeks of my life so far. I honestly feel as though I have hitched myself to tornado that has not allowed any breathing room. Moving day has come and gone and….

We are officially residents of the Atlanta Metro area.

Who knew we had this much stuff?

It almost didn’t happen! We packed (almost) everything we own into a trailer and our cars. We had the absolute most supportive helpers and family to assist us in this move and I don’t want to be negative! BUT on the way to Atlanta, the truck that was hauling our possessions broke down. My amazing uncle was so patient and knowledgeable and fixed the truck in the July, Georgia heat. And it was hot. Really hot.

After almost doubling the drive time we made it and unloaded the trailer. We got them up a flight of stairs and into our new apartment. We ordered Chinese food and purchased a deep freezer (and also made it up the stairs).

We have slowly been making progress unpacking everything here at the apartment and making it feel more like a home. I do think that it will take a lot of adjustment just because it has been such a culture shock. I have also been making progress within my classroom. That’s right. I also start a new job on Monday!

I have learned so much about myself and our relationship and my relationship with my family. You are so lucky baby girl. You are coming into one amazing family. One of my uncles graciously let us borrow his truck. My uncle not only drove us up there, but he also fixed the truck. He also helped us pack. My aunt drove my car up there and also helped us pack up and clean up behind us. My cousin helped us with the heavy lifting and was just great. And my mom. We have gotten so much closer since I returned to my hometown. We had lunch dates and breakfast dates and shopping trips and just general girl days. She has always, always been so supportive of our dreams and I am not going to lie, it was hard to leave on Saturday. We both hugged and cried and it was hard. Honestly, I am tearing up thinking about that moment. I have been so lucky and blessed to have these people loving me and being on my team. I just have to remember that they aren’t that far away. Right?

Love always