90 years does not separate them

november 23. 2009

Four generations of Ryland's! Corbyn has some deep, wonderful genes to uphold.

Corbyn was a little more interested in PooPaw's comb in his pocket than me taking a picture

PooPaw showing Corbyn how to drive an ATV

The boys are wearing outfits that their Great-Grandmother made Wil when he was a baby

He is 1

november 23. 2009

He's sweet, he's innocent, he's athletic, and all boy! And now he is one. This is my nephew and he has grown so fast over the past year. It is amazing that when a baby is born all they can do is sleep, eat, cry, and poop and one year later he can walk (more like run), throw a ball, tell you when he's hungry, even climb onto the top of the desk. What a baby learns in a year compared to what we learn in a year puts us to shame. It truly is amazing what God can do in a year.

Happy Birthday Nephew! Love you!

Watching the Leaves Fall

november 16. 2009

We are all busy. We have responsibilities that require us to be somewhere, do something, majority of the time. I remember as a kid when the trees lining our property leaves would fall off and going out with my dad raking them into a pile and jumping into them with my brother. I can still smell the distinct, yet indescribable, scent of the leaves as the smell soaked into my sweatshirt. I love fall and yet it happens so fast, one day the leaves shine bright gold and red, and a week later they crunch into hundreds of pieces as we tromp over the fallen mess rushing to be on time. Last weekend when Wil and I were driving, again hurrying to make it to our destination before the baby woke from his nap the memory of jumping in leaves brought a smile to my face so I decided to pull over and enjoy the beauty of fall.

Coca-cola

I rarely drink caffeine but sometimes on a hot day a soda sounds soooo good, especially from a glass bottle as the beads of water drip down your hand.

Bethany and Ryan went into this little country store and emerged with four glass bottles of coca-cola and when they came out I yelled from across the street "don't move" with enthusiasm that they could have thought they were about to walk in front of a train and then I snapped a couple pictures of them with their coke in front of an old coke sign. Awww...how I miss summer.

Dedicated Parents

Being a parent is a humungo job. Making sure they get all their shots, having snacks in your purse if your away from the house more than 30 minutes, even checking their bed one last time before your head hits the pillow just to see if their sleeping peacefully. It's a job that is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week but would never want to quit. But the hardest thing, I would think, about being a parent is raising your child in a way where they know God loves them and they love God in return.

In the Church of the Nazarene parents stand up with their children and dedicate them to the Lord, promising to teach them Christian values, while the church vows to walk alongside them and help reveal Jesus to these beautiful children.

These are some of Baby S and Baby R as they are being dedicated in front of the church.

Proud daddy

Baby S wore the same dress for her dedication as her mommy did when she was dedicated in the same church...how special!

Jeremy + Melissa: Engagement

november 2. 2009

Jeremy and Melissa love Dave Matthews band. They enjoy his music so much that they traveled from Arizona and followed Dave and his band around Southern California last year hitting up every single concert camping along the way. The last concert was in San Diego and Jeremy surprised Melissa with a nice hotel, complete with a bed, that I'm sure was a nice, well-deserved reward for camping the whole week. He also surprised her with a beautiful ring asking her to spend the rest of their lives together. That week they got to do two things they absolutely love, listen to the bluesy jazzy jam rock of Dave Matthews and spend time together.

Jeremy and Melissa I am honored to call you my friends, you are two very thoughtful and caring people. I am so excited for your wedding next summer as I get to witness the formal celebration of your love. Congratulations and happy wedding planning!

My Boy

november 1. 2009

I understand God's love in a way I never have before when I held my baby boy in my arms the day he was born. He couldn't smile, say I love you, or wrap his arms around me but when I held him I was overcome with a love that can only come from God. A love I now understand as the type of love God has for us as his children.

Corbyn arrived on January 25th, 2009 and has had my heart wrapped around him ever since. To see the hope, the wonder, the comfort, the curiosity in his eyes at only 9 months is astounding to me. He is an outgoing little boy that is carried into church waving at everyone offering up one of his beautiful smiles. He is observant and sometimes will just watch people as he takes it all in. He is charming, sweet, loving, and hilarious, as he loves to laugh and make us laugh.

Meet Corbyn.

My Other Half

november 1. 2009

When I walked down the aisle I was met with tear filled eyes that looked at me with love, the kind of love that says, 75 years from now I will still be holding your hand, the kind of love that says, wherever life may take us and curve balls that might be thrown at us I will lie next to you at night and whisper I love you. That day I looked into those tear filled eyes and recited words in front of family and friends that joined us together as husband and wife, forever.

As I sit writing this tonight I can tell you Wil is not only my husband and everything that goes with being a husband, he is my best friend and my confidante. He loves with his whole self and desperately wants to help others, which makes me love him even more. I am his biggest fan and will stand by his side always cheering him on and offering arms to wrap around him when our world is shaken.

Meet my hubby.