Happy 35th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Today is my mom and dad's 35th Wedding Anniversary! To tell you how wonderful my parents are in this small amount of space would be impossible. They have been consistent, loving, sacrificial, godly, fun and simply amazing! I feel so fortunate to call them my parents. My dad is the most laid back and easy going person I know. I always enjoy talking to him -- we talk just about every day on my way home from work. My mom is the most driven and determined person I know -- she is always willing to help out no matter the call of duty. Always willing to help me hash through a solution to my toughest problems. I have learned so much from individually and collectively.

Enjoy some pictures that I pulled together of them --

Our wedding, June 2005

Mom, Carter and Dad

Mom and Dad waiting for the David Letterman show in NYC

Mom, me and dad at my Master's graduation

Dad and Mom in Destin 2007

Dad trying out guitar hero!

Thank you mom and dad for being nothing shy of wonderful and loving parents. I don't know where I would be without all of you guidance and love...I am scared to imagine where I would be! I appreciate the godly marriage that you have modeled for us.

Here's to 35 more years of marital bliss.

Love you both.

CEC.

I (heart) my job.

In a time where job insecurity and job loss is highly discussed, I have caught myself thinking about my job. The conclusion: I truly love my job. It is not secret that I endured lots of years of school to land the gig that I have now but it was worth it.

I (heart) the purpose of my job -- to help kids who need help, truly NEED help.

I (heart) the opportunities that I have to interact with so many people a day --principals, teachers, speech paths, secretaries, parents and most importantly the kids.

I (heart) the flexibility that I have with my job -- four schools to keep up with, in no particular order just get the job done.

I (heart) the consulting I get to do with teachers who share a passion for children -- behavior plans and problem solving.

I (heart) walking down the hallways and seeing the kids learning -- the atmosphere that comes with the carefree attitude of kids.

I (heart) being in the building on holidays -- Halloween and Valentine's parties are the best.

I (heart) getting off work at 3:00 -- well, maybe more like 3:45 somedays but I will take it.

I (heart) the things that kids say to me sometimes -- today I was testing and had the student run back to class to get his glasses before we started....as I was standing at the door of the room waiting for him to come back another student walked by that I had tested a couple of day before. He looked up at me, and without breaking stride, he said "You back testing again?" I said, "Well, of course, that is why they pay me the big bucks!" He said, "Poor kid!" and kept walking. I am guessing that he didn't really enjoy his testing process the couple of days before. LOL. I love having these stories to tell.

I remember hearing that saying, "Find a job you love and you will never work a day in your life." Somedays I come home and think -- did I just paid for what I did today! Fabulous. At the rate I am going -- I think when I retire I will be able to say that I never worked a day in my life.

Cheers to being a SPS.

Almost 2 years down and only 26 more to go till retirement, but who's counting.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!!

Love,

Cory and Cari

Bryce's Book

This past weekend, Lindsey came up so we could put together the book for Bryce. It is the project that we announced in a previous blog. Part of me was excited about the weekend but on the other hand I was kind of dreading it. I knew this book would be cherished for many years to come but selfishly I knew seeing all those letters would bring back lots of memories and tears. I hope to post some pictures of the book in the coming weeks, but for now I will just tell you about it.

For starters, we ended up with 77 letters for Bryce!! Isn't that great? I told Lindsey and Cory that I was initially kind of bummed about "only having 77" (I was dreaming big....like 200 or so). But after looking through the letters I think we got an excellent variety and all of the convey the point of who Jill was. There were letters from girls she went to elementary through high school with, girls from college at Texas A&M, letters from follow nurses she had worked with in Conway, letters from friends in Conway, letters from the nursing student she taught for the last couple of years at SAU and lots of letters from the congregation where he husband is currently pastoring. After reading all of the letters you definitely got the idea that Jill was nothing shy of amazing. However, I always come back to the words spoken at her funeral by Adam Thomas that said "If all you see is Jill’s goodness and you miss the God behind it then you miss who Jill was. With all of her goodness, Jill was a sinner purchased by the blood of Christ. It was Jill’s constant focus on the gospel of Christ that made her great."

She was filled with the Spirit -- no doubt (just like she would say with some crazy expression on her face and wild hand motion).

As I put the book together I had so many questions -- How many times will Bryce read these letters? How many tears will stain the pages? How many times will he laugh at the terrible 80's hair she so proudly sported in her pictures? Who will he share this book with? I envisioned him sitting down with his future wife and telling her about his amazing mother. What a special moment it will be. I am honored to have a small part in Bryce's knowledge of his mother.

I can hardly believe it is real. She walks the streets of gold and worships at the feet of our Savior. She is so happy. Her smile is so big.

She is home.