Man's Best Friend

Has their even been a more accurate description of the relationship between man and dog?

It is with a very heavy heart as I type this, to say that our dog Benson passed away on Sunday night. J.Ed got him when he was just 6 weeks old, a precious husky pup, red and white and full of life. He was lucky enough to be at my in-laws(both dogs are with the grands while the house has been on the market) where he lived like a king:)

J.Ed first brought puppy Benson by his parents house when he first got him and his mom was not super happy. I mean he was in college and busy, what was he going to do with a husky.  "I will not be taking care of that dog!" she said. A selfless mom's famous last words, since the Lowe's have now kept him for two Air Force deployments, vacations, weekends we are in town(2 dogs/2 kids in tow) and now 4 months of having the house on the market. I think he went out exactly where he should have, on the bed where he once famously made a salad after opening the refrigerator door and pulling out quite a nice dinner, including a pork tenderloin that he hid under the bed for later.

What a respectful dog he was huh? He didn't force us to have to make a painful decision to let him go, he just went to sleep and didn't wake up. Don't we all wish to die so gracefully?

We are guilt ridden that he wasn't with us and hate that we put such an emotional undertaking on the Lowe's, he was their's too, but am thankful also that Robbins didn't have to see him and we were spared those tough conversations. We did tell him obviously, but to visually see it, is very different. My parents had to put my childhood dog, Angel down earlier this year at 16 which was so difficult for me, and with Benson being 13, we have been so blessed with a happy, healthy and for the most part, easy dog(s) that lived so many good years.

Dogs are interesting characters to say the least. Both of our dogs went from running the show in our house, to two kids later, a little lower on the todem pole. I know this is very normal, I mean I have seen Lady & The Tramp, but I regret not giving him more attention and wish I handeled my frustaration with his sometmes frustrating behavior better but I know he knows how much we love him, especially J.Ed. They have been through it all together. Every major transition, move and event in J.Ed's adult life, Benson has been the one thing constant. He was his roommate and friend, he filled a lot of roles for J.Ed at a critical time in his life. That dog was so smart and I am so thankful for the time the kids did get to spend with him. I am sure to non animal/dog people I sound a bit dramatic, but there really is an unexplainable relationship with you pets, especially a dog as wonderful as Benson. Thank goodness all dogs go to heaven:)

A favorite spot of his on our couch

He was really good with the kids, very patient, especially for having his tale grabbed, ear pulled or just sat on in general all the time.

He would not be happy about this one:) 

Enjoying a treat from the local feed store. He can go through a raw hide before I can even get Sophie's on the floor!  

We miss you B!! There will never be another one like you, that is for sure.

Happy Anniversary!

It is hard to believer 7 years ago today, J.Ed and I commited our lives to one another in front of God and our family and friends in Charleston, SC. It is even crazier that 9 years ago June 1st marks the day we met, and the day our lives changed forever. Moments like this always make me reflect on the bigger picture of marriage and I am thankful to the One that made us that He had the other in mind during the design process. He has given me a partner, a co-pilot, a best friend, a playmate, my balance, and my heart, who loves me in spite of myself and loves our children the way I prayed my husband always would.

I had a conversation with a friend the other day about how many marriages around us are ending and how much I am grieving the loss of these relationships for these people I love. I know every situation is different, I know how hard it can be, I know you don't always feel like putting in the work, but I also know love isn't a feeling, it's an action, it does. I can say from experience, that coming out the other end of a hard time in your marriage can be the most freeing experience in your life as you realize that together, with God at the center, anything is possible. The model of effort and intention that blesses your children for their future relationships is one only we can teach. My prayer is for marriages everywhere, that we all cling to those that God has blessed us with, knowing that being ruled by faith instead of feelings, produces action and actions are how you really show love in the first place. We are priveledged that God finds enough favor with us to break our relationship when we need to shift our focus off ourselves and have it rebuilt with Him at the center.

I am also reminded of something John Piper said in his book, This Mommentary Marriage. That marriage is not designed with the single purpose of making us happy but to be an earthly representation of Jesus' relationship to the church. Therefore our job, no biggie, just love your spouse the way Jesus loves you, unconditionally, without judgement or anger, without keeping score, oh and your doing this so others can see you model this and want a relationship with him too. Humbling, yes. Impossible apart from grace, yes. But so incredibly encouraging to me because it gives reason for our strife and purpose to the pain. That every conflict and also every resolution is designed to make us more holy, not necessarily more happy. I have digressed right to the top of a soapbox!

Happy Anniversary to the most incredible father, loving, Godly, humble, and not to mention super cute and fun, man that I know! Thank you for being my Boaz. Here is to many many many many more!

The first night we met! I love that someone captured this moment, who knew??

Such an incredible day

We celebrated this weekend with dinner at the Southern and our favorite band, the Avett Brothers. It was pretty much perfect. Their lyrics pretty much sum up how I feel about love and life, so it was pretty poignant.

I made this for J.Ed. This is one of our favorite lyrics from one of their songs with some of my favorite pictures. We also got tickets to see Daws and Shovels & Rope in a couple weeks. If you can't tell, we share a love for a particular kind of music:)

Soaking It All In

The past few weeks have really been so much fun. The weather, when not raining has been incredible and we have enjoyed every opportunity to be outside and spend time together.

Fun day at the Bellevue Community Picnic. We had a great time playing on the bounce houses, getting balloon animals, dancing and enjoying some of Nashville's best food trucks.

We also got the blow up pool out and had a blast. Our pool does not open until next weekend and we had it set up in the front yard because J.Ed was mowing. The look on people's faces when they drove by was great. We got lots of waves and a few stares. I am sure they were all very grateful, as clearly J.Ed and I in a bathing suit really drives up the property value.

These water babies enjoyed every minute though. Landry was cracking us up. She kept sticking her head under water and then would come up and look super suprised that her face was wet.

Another one of Robbins notable faces. My kids and their expressions, I think I could make a book. Ok, maybe a book that only we would enjoy, but a book none the less.

Robbins best bud, McCartney and his family came over for dinner and we had so much fun. That's M's older brother Cooper in the back. These two really bring out the best in each other. They share, don't play rough, they just really enjoy one another. It is so nice for the adults to be able to just sit downstairs and hang out while they play and not be worried that someone is about to come over the rail.  

This time is so precious and I find myself staring at our family in these moments and trying to freeze time. I think that is why I take so many pictures. I just want to remember what these moments feel like so badly. I know there will be a million more just as wonderful in their own way but soaking in this time truly is wonderful.

In other fun news, J.Ed's brother Ryan/Uncle Reno got engaged to the amazing Bryn a couple of weeks ago and we are so so excited(pic below). Below is a video Robbins made congratulating them, so cute!

This one is just because

Mother's Day

This Mother's Day was wonderful as always. We went to church, J.Ed went grocery shopping for me, we headed to the zoo and then out to dinner. Overall, a low key day outside, soaking in the blessing of our family was perfect!

My Mother's Day gifts

Cotton candy at the zoo

Attempting to get the kite out for the first time this year, sadly not quite windy enough. Robbins asked if we could go to the beach real quick so it would work. I wish, buddy.

He is so big. I am so thankful for these two, there really are no words. I thank God for their health, their hearts and their love for each other and the people around them.

Sweet Hugs

Robbins teachers emailed me this picture today. Landry stopped by his class and I am so glad they captured this sweet moment. Love these two:)

18 months

I have not really posted much about milestones since Landry turned 1, so I wanted to make sure that I got all this down before it left me! I cannot believe she is 18 months old. Time is flying by and she changes everyday.



She is wearing 24 mo-2T clothes depending on the brand but is really so petite compared to what Robbins was/is. I have her well visit next Friday so I will have to post stats after that. She is extremely agile and loves to climb on everything. She races up the ladder on the swing set, climbs on chairs, so it looks like the dare devil gene did not escape her either. She is still a great sleeper, going down around 7 p.m. and waking around 6:15 a.m. Both our kiddos are early risers, but with our schedules during the week they don't really have an option, so our weekends consists of rising and shining as well:)


She loves to eat and is a big fan of just about everything. I think my biggest shock came when she threw a fit for more salmon. Robbins, who I also consider a pretty good eater, won't touch salmon with a 10 foot pole! We eat a lot of bananas and blueberries still, and we love our Saturday am pancakes by dad. Really she will try just about anything you put in front of her and has recently wanted condiments like ketchup and mustard because she sees Robbins with them.


Wanting what her brother has, is a whole other issue in itself. She really does have a super laid back personality until... you try to give Robbins something and not her. I definitely get flashes of the next 18 years of our lives now and then when I see them wrestling (she is a total tom boy) over a toy or cereal bar.  Robbins is really good with her overall. Other than an extra shove or tackle here of there, he likes taking care of "sister" and has a real sense of pride in how much she loves him.

Her vocabulary has gone through the roof in the past few weeks. It is so nice to be able to communicate with her, but I do see these glimpses of the White/Lowe family temper pop through when she can't make her point. She has also recently started sitting still for books and to be read to, which I love and I think this has played a large role in all these new words because she literally repeats every word you say. She is the funniest thing ever with her facial expressions too. Both of the kiddos have these big eyes that allow them to be so expressive. My favorites of hers are: duck lips, O, and stink eye.

She is hands down a mama's girl which I have said in the past is frustrating  because if I am in the room and not with her she will cry and fuss. But I am realizing as Robbins gets older how thankful I am for this. I have also had some reminders lately of how quickly life can change/end, how temporary all this can be and to not take for granted this God given need she has for me. Now, if I am not around, dad will do just fine though and boy is he in love. She will lay her head on his chest and melt he goes.

Landry, you are pure joy. Thank you for making our home so fun and loving!

Fun Run and Derby Weekend

Every May, the kids school does a Fun Run to raise money. This year was no different and despite the looks on their faces, they were super excited:)

 Landry's class all lined up ready to go.

She decided cutting through the middle would be a much better idea.

Robbins post run. He and his friend Jackson won. They kept slowing down an waiting on each other so they could finish together. Robbins told me they discussed their strategy ahead of time.

Post race Popsicle, it was a 60% chance of rain but turned out perfect. It was overcast so not to hot but warm enough for everyone to be comfy.

Hot dog lunch provided by "The Dog" of Nashville. So stinking good.

Both granddads have birthdays' this month so we had an adult night out. First we headed to Patterson House for a drink.

Then we went to Puckett's Grocery downtown. They have the best southern food and even better live music.

This was mom telling the story of she and dad meeting. It was hysterical. There story was the same until you ask who chased after who:)

The South Street Players-love Nashville and the incredible music busting out of every bar and honkey tonk in town.

On Derby Day, Pops got us ready to draw horses and a friendly wager for the win. We also had some mimosas to get the day going.

And what would Derby Day be without a stellar Mint Julep. Judy won the best with Orb, but a great time was had by all.

I have made many references to this kids obsession with Harry Potter. here he is playing quiddich in the playroom while watching them play quiddich on TV.

Micky and Minnie