Anniversary/Father's Day Weekend!

We had the sweetest weekend around here celebrating all the touchy-feely things. :)

Friday was our fifth anniversary, and to celebrate Kate took an EPIC 3-hour nap. 

She must've worn her little self out with all that intelligent play she was doing...don't worry, we've already applied to MENSA.

We went for sushi that night and then walked around the Shops at Legacy before popping in for a dessert and drink. It was so fun to get out and about for a bit...we were LONG overdue for a date night! 

Saturday was pretty low-key, so I leave you with some clubhouse selfies after a Saturday morning walk. You're welcome.

 Emma was cracking us up...the kids were playing "restaurant" and they thought Emma was trying to order food every time she'd pop up in the window like this!

Sunday was Father's Day, so we celebrated with pancakes, gifts, church, and lunch out. Sunday night we had a delicious meal with my parents at Royal Oaks Country Club and celebrated the dads some more. The kids were HAMMING IT UP for the camera - it was SO cute! They love them some Doc! :) 

 Can I just say...SWOON! Look at that smiley girl and handsome guy! I need the googly eyes emoji for this one!!!

As sweet as our weekend was celebrating our blessings, I've been very cognizant lately of those who have difficulty on holidays like this. I recently lost my Uncle Jack, and I couldn't help but think of how hard Father's Day must be for my Aunt Judy and their family, how their hearts must be aching as they see us all celebrate the amazing men in our lives and he is no longer with us. Although I do certainly know how blessed I was to grow up in a loving home with a wonderful and caring father, that is not the case for so many people in the world. There are so many situations where maybe the father has passed on too soon, or maybe he was abusive or just plain absent, and that makes this day hard. Although that's not my story, maybe it's yours. And maybe I can encourage you a little bit today by letting you know that no matter what your earthly father has done or didn't do, there's a Heavenly Father who loves every single square inch of you exactly as you are. No matter what. No sin, no past, no hurt is too great that it can be healed by the Father above. If you feel fatherless on Father's Day, I hope you can find hope and encouragement in knowing that the Father above makes you whole. He welcomes you with open arms, is proud of you, and loves you more than you can fathom. 

This video below just says it all. 

What Uncle Jack Taught Me

This morning, I was devastated to learn that after a four-week stay in the ICU, my "Uncle" Jack had suffered too many surgical complications, and he passed away. Though I am glad he is no longer in pain, I am heartbroken to lose a man who played such a crucial role in my life. 

Jack was one of the most vivacious, caring, comical, and easygoing men I have ever met, and he always had a big smile on his heavily-bearded face. I remember how he and I shared a clumsiness and how offended I would get growing up if someone (usually my older brother) called me "Uncle Jack" after a spill or a fall. I remember his deep, deep country voice, and how he always told me to "be careful" when saying goodbye. I remember his scruffy beard and how I refused to give him hugs and kisses as a child because it scratched me. I have so many wonderful memories of this man, but I think as I reflect on what he meant to me in life, the most important lesson he taught me was this:

Family is greater than blood. 

You see, my "Uncle" Jack was not really my uncle at all. He was my father's best childhood friend who took on that role when I was very young due to some strained relationships with my actual extended family. He had no biological children of his own, so he took a very active role in our lives. He was there for birthdays, graduations, holidays, major school events, and just because he and his wife, Judy, wanted to be there. When we came back from a vacation and our house was full of fleas, we loaded up and headed out to stay at Jack and Judy's house. When a birthday came around, I could always be guaranteed I would get a confetti-filled birthday card full of cash that reflected my new age. (This tradition has been continued with my own children, and I think they get more excited for that money than even I did.) When making seating arrangements at my wedding, Jack and Judy sat at the family table. It wasn't even a conversation. They are family. They are part of us.

 Holding newborn Carter

Jack, I hope heaven has an endless buffet of margaritas, guacamole, and Arkansas barbecue waiting for you. I hope you have your bare feet up in a recliner, watching your Hogs kick some tail on a big-screen TV, and I hope you have not a care in the world. I pray you share your big, billowing, infectious laugh with everyone up there, and I hope you know how much the "Wadesy" family loves and cherishes you. 

Thank you, Jack, for loving us the way you did. You were an absolute treasure to us all and will never be forgotten.

Life Lately

Happy summer, everyone!!

Well, we are just shy of a month into summer around here and really settling in to a new groove. It's 90 degrees by 11am, so we've been doing all we can to make the best of the HOT weather!

Since my last post (yeah, I know...it's been a long time...), we have been on a lot of jeep rides...

taken a few slushie selfies...

met a friend's beautiful new baby girl (sidenote: totally the best moment of Kate's life to date getting to hold a real baby)...

driven Daddy crazy by letting the kids dump all the ball pit balls into the pool...

visited sweet friends in Houston...

attended a bachelorette party in Austin (okay, technically that was just me)...

attended a baseball game...

played golf...

and started swim lessons! This was day two! GO, CART, GO!!

Next up on our agenda is celebrating our fifth anniversary, Father's Day, and an adults trip to Santa Fe! Hope everyone is staying cool and having a great summer, too!