Monday, September 11, 2017

Dear Cash Ryan,


Let me start by saying I love you. I really do. I love you so much.

You challenge me daily. You challenge my patience. You challenge my thoughts. You challenge my words. You challenge me as a mom. But more importantly, you have found a way to challenge me as a person.

Just when I think I have you figured out... NOPE. Just when I think we have your temper under control, you throw another fit. Just when I think we have this respect thing figured out, you go off and back talk. Just when I think we have your ability to lose without getting completely mad, you cry and stay mad for an hour after your game.

The truth is buddy, I don't have you figured out. I don't know how to parent you sometimes.

I see my flaws in you. I see my temper and stubbornness and hatred for losing in you. I see my difficulty forgiving and saying I'm sorry in you.

I also see a compassionate soul in you. I see a love for people to be treated fairly in you. I see a boy who desires to be the best and is willing to do just about anything to be just that. I see a boy who is friendly and loving and kind. I see a boy who is willing to help people who need it and who thinks he has to protect his sister.

The truth is, Cash... your flaws and difficulties and challenges are a blessing to me. They cause me to draw closer to Jesus because I want to be the best mom to you I can be. And I realize I can't do that on my own. I need Jesus. I need help. I need guidance.

So in a weird way, I say thank you for your flaws. Thank you for being you. Thank you helping me grow into a better me.


Love, Mom

Sunday, September 10, 2017

The most magical, and spontaneous, trip we could have ever not planned...

In July, Noah and I were invited by friends to go to Hawaii for a week. Excuse me? Hawaii? For a full week? I think YES!

With no more than 4 days notice, we arranged off of work and for my parents to watch the kids for us.

And we were off. On the honeymoon we never had. To a place we had never been. On a trip we would have never imagined going on.

There was adventure and relaxation. There were deep talks and lots of laughs. There was an unhealthy amount of food consumed and the best macadamia nut ice cream in the world.

We went marlin fishing.

We went zip lining.

We went swimming.

I had a facial by the ocean and a massage by a waterfall.

We rode around the island in a jeep with the top off.

We found a fellow Sooner fan.

We flew around the island and saw an active volcano. I mean, actual magma!

I spent time with Jesus every single morning.

It was perfect.

Noah and I grew closer and made a million new memories.

We fell in love more than ever and talked about life and what we wanted it to look like.





















Love, Erin