Harsh Reality

I watch CNN Headline News every morning after I wake up. At the bottom of the screen, there is a ticker displaying headlines, stock updates, weather predictions and, actually, an updated count of the casualties in the Iraqi and Afghan wars.

They are numbers.

They are people.

My brother is in Afghanistan.

My cousin is in Iraq.

Our family has two sons/brothers/nephews/grandsons in war zones. It's overwhelming to think about sometimes, and yet it is a great source of pride.

My cousin, Levi, deployed to Baghdad in November. He enlisted in the Army, and travels everyday in the streets of a warzone, protecting the people there.

He has been there for only two months, and his unit has already lost one member to enemy fire, while another member sustained life-changing injuries.

Please pray for Levi. As in any situation, when death or tragedy is involved, the shock and disbelief that follows can be consuming and overwhelming.

These soldiers live daily with a fear that you and I will never know or feel. They are enduring this to protect us and our freedoms, and to enable others to know the democracy we enjoy.


My cousin Levi in the armored truck he rides in to patrol streets in Baghdad.
A scene from a war-torn Iraqi town...the best I can tell, there are people in the distant background gathered around a fire.

Some Iraqi children watch the soldiers go by...

These men are serving you...Levi is on the left.

Levi with his family...my uncle David, aunt Judy and cousins Gable and London.

Again, please pray for Levi and the soldiers he serves with.

When we're going to bed, they're beginning their day. Please remember them tonight.

The First of Many

Dawson's 1st birthday celebration was filled with many first experiences!

We spent Friday with Gran, Aunt K and Zoey in Clarksville looking at houses for Krystal and Jason to buy. On the way home, we stopped at McDonald's, where Dawson had his first Happy Meal and ice cream cone!
"If I don't come back down in about 10 minutes, come get me, ok?"
Me and my little explorer...
On Saturday, the whole family arrived to celebrate and help eat this adorable creation! Rachel made Dawson's birthday cake...that's a wee froggy on top!
She made chocolate cake with vanilla icing...it was yummo!
Presents, presents and more presents...
Rachel even made a little personal cake for Dawson that he could destroy/eat all by himself...
...which he thoroughly enjoyed doing!
"Do I have something on my face?"
After cake, a bath, a nap and a quick load of laundry, Dawson and Zoey were ready to play at Gran and Papa's gift...an activity table! They both love sitting at it to "read" books and play.
Dawson had a fun time opening his gifts. He got all kinds of things from clothes to toys to art supplies...
....a soccer ball from Uncle Brandon...
...toddler crayons and markers...
...and even a drill from Great-Grandpa Claude!
This birthday boy had a blast!


EDIT: No, that isn't snot on David's shirt. It's cake icing. He was bascially one giant napkin.

Happy 1st Birthday, Dawson!

It is very difficult for me to believe that this little boy - my little boy - has been here for one whole year.




In my mind, he should still be this tiny. I can honestly say that his first year has passed quicker than any of the 26 I've lived so far. January 9, 2008...2:19 p.m.....will always be my favorite day and time.



We are celebrating all weekend with family and food and goodies and outings and all kinds of fun things!

Thank you to all of our family and friends - old and new - who have made this first year with Dawson so wonderful and special. My heart is delighted that my son is surrounded by people who love and care for him so much already.

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet boy!

Christmas Through Their Eyes

The following conversation may or may not have happened.




Zoey: "Dude, did you get what you wanted?"

Dawson: "I mean, yeah...for the most part. I'm still waiting for the Blackberry I asked for. It's still early in the day, so I'm hoping it's going to be in the stocking portion of the event later on. What about you?"

Zoey: "Yes, I got some pretty cute stuff. No awful sweaters or anything like that. But, really? No offense? Your mom is about to drive me crazy. All the hoo-hah about 'Oohh...put a bow on her...she needs a bow in her hair...' You can seriously not be mad at me if I throw up on her.

Dawson: "You are one crazy broad. Be my guest. Did you see my head a minute ago with the hat? I looked like a freakin' candy cane."

Zoey: "Oh..well...I mean, actually? It was kind of cute. Um, slimming? It kind of helped with the..you know...manliness of your forehead."

Dawson: "My forehead is manly? What are you trying to say?"

Zoey: "Nothing. Forget it. I'm just saying you look good in hats, that's all. Listen, you wanna get some milk or something?"

Dawson: "Word."

Dawson's First Christmas!

It's hard to believe that Dawson's first Christmas has already come and gone. Little Man had a great time opening gifts and visiting family and entertaining everyone!

Christmas morning actually started with a short power outage, but all was restored and my dad got to the very important business of making his famous biscuits.
After breakfast, we opened gifts...Santa brought Dawson a lion that he can ride or push - he loved it!
"Thank you, Gran, for my Bounce-and-Spin Zebra!!"

Last year, we were a family of two (one of us looked like a planet)...now, we're a family of three!

Zoey helps Grandpa the Great open his presents...
...then models the latest in evening gowns for Miss America contestants age 6 months and under.
Dawson is sitting in the rocking chair I had when I was a wee tot...he's also wearing my toddler shoes!
My mom's brother and his family came over for dinner and to open prezis...Robin and D-Man had a great time playing together.
Meredith and Zoey...
My uncle Bo (Tim) and Dawson take turns making faces...
Dawson entertains Malori and Meredith...
The next night, we went to my Aunt Trisha's house (this is my dad's side of the fam) and ate and ate and ate some more...and played games that were hilarious! I think I counted 27 people there...we love a big family! This is Mike and his new best friend Zoey.
Lots of kids and loudness and fun...
Part of the family...
The holiday was topped off by Dawson opening his stocking from Gran and Papa. One of his gifts was his first toothbrush!

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas!

Happy We'll Be, Under the Sea!

After Dad's program, we went to the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga...the site of almost all of my fieldtrips from the 3rd through 5th grades. They've since added a salt-water exhibit, and that's the one we went to. Dawson and Zoey loved it!


There was a little cave-like alcove that kids could crawl into and look up at the fish. Gran showed Dawson...

...while Papa showed Zoey.

These are my hilarious and slightly crazy parents standing inside the cage that divers use to track sharks. My guess is that if that shark actually did get a morsel of my parents, he would say "Hmmm...tastes...slightly nutty."

Dawson and I inside the shark cage...
Dawson reaching for a more responsible adult that won't scare him by taking him inside the shark cage...

This exhibit features all kinds of tropical animals, including butterflies. We spent quite a while in the sanctuary. Dawson loved looking for the butterflies and saying "Oooh!" when he spotted one.
"I promise I won't try to eat it. I just want to touch it."
Looking at the fishies with Daddy...
My son is fearless! I love it! He touched the stingray...it was really neat. The stingray felt kind of velvety and slimy, all at the same time.

We had a great time at the aquarium...hopefully, the fish have recovered.