He Knows Our Frame
Pslam 103:14-16

Monday, February 21, 2011

Happy Birthday

Sunday was Sean's 40th birthday. I sure do love this old man:) He was out swinging like a little kid that afternoon. I thought I better take a picture. While we were praying over him that night, One of the children thanked God for a daddy who is an awesome example and who loves mommy and them. I couldn't agree more. I looked up at Sean, who had 20 hands all over him, and saw tears running down his face. This man IS an awesome example to our children and to me. I am so thankful to God for giving Sean 40 years and giving me almost 18 years with him. I look forward to time alone with just him this coming weekend:) We are staying at a bed and breakfast down town, taking a carriage ride, eating at any restaurant other than fast food, and just walking around. Hopefully I can take lots of pictures of our time together.
  What a hard job trying to light all those candles:) And then blowing them all out!:)
I love Josiah's shoes, or rather one of Farah Beth's boots.
        Farah Beth helping me make Valentines candy for our family.
   Everyone licking the bowl when they realized what was being made:) This is my normal little group of kitchen helpers. They love to bake and taste everything.
  I am just kidding about him being old, he knows that. Sean is anything but old:) He is always out doors playing with the children. He is simply the BEST!
  
 Joli

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Cute Face

I had a lady ask me today, while we were shopping, if girls were easier than boys:) She said her and her husband were going to try for a girl next. I stood there laughing, not knowing how to reply, until I remembered that I am not suppose to lie ever:) Yes!! I told her the truth at least at our house, but that's ok because boys sure do add some excitement to our lives:) Josiah is such a sweet boy but he can also be really mean to his sisters. Lots of training around our house. Lots of diligence. Lots of patience. And lots of prayers! I sure could eat his messy, cute, chubby face all day long though. Maybe that is why he is so rotten!

 Josiah's smitten mommy,
Joli

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sunday Afternoon

  Sunday afternoon was absolutely gorgeous! Sean and Eden had a sweet time on the porch swing reading together. Can't you tell he just adores her?
Joli

Monday, February 14, 2011

Our Love Story

Well, let me first start by saying that I am not really a romantic, although I wish I was. Maybe when all the kids are grown and out of the house, that will be our new goal as a married couple:) I have seen a few love stories on different friends blogs and thought it was so beautiful to write about your love! So I will try and put in words our story of how we met and fell in love:)

I had just turned 19, Sean was 22. It was in the fall of 1993 that I found myself working at the Ryan's restaurant waiting tables. I had just graduated from high school and had moved out of my parents home to the beach with my girlfriend. After a long day of waiting tables one October day, a friend who I worked with asked if I could work for her that night. She was supposed to go around to tables and do surveys but had an emergency come up and needed to head home. I offered to do it, totally God because I was so tired and did not feel like working all night. I rushed home to change my clothes into something dressy and headed back to work.

Sean, was back in Myrtle Beach from USC where he had been at college playing baseball. He was now the pitching coach at Coastal Carolina. He was living at the beach with his room mate Rick. They came to Ryan's to eat the night I was doing surveys:) I remember two guys, one tall and dark and the other tall and very blond taking a very long time to complete my survey that I gave to them to fill out. Now I know why; Sean was shy. Can you believe that?  Well, they finally left. I went to get the clip board with the survey on it that they had filled out. I gave it to my boss who was looking over them all. He called me over and showed me that I had a note with a telephone number on it with the name Sean.  I knew it had to be one of the guys, the tall dark one or the tall blond one, who had left it, because everyone else that night were old golfers:)

 So, I did what any respectable young girl would do, I called him:) I had to ask him which guy he was. I was so hoping he was the tall blond because he was so handsome. He told me that he had played baseball at USC and was now the coach at Coastal.  How could I not go out with this guy? My dad was sooooo excited when I asked if I should go on a date with him. Well, he did ask me out and I accepted. He took me to an Italian restaurant and to play pool. I fell in love that night! He was so good looking, and so sweet!! We were together everyday after that.

I am so thankful that God gave me Sean.We were married the following summer. He is the best husband that I ever could have asked for. God worked all of the details out in our meeting. I love Sean more and more everyday after almost 17 years of marriage. After my love for Jesus, he is next. He is my best friend and the best daddy to our children. We both love children and lots of them:) We have had our rough times, our selfish times, but for the most part we have had an incredible marriage. Only because of Jesus could this be! I pray that we have many more years to love each other! I love our story and just writing it out makes me feel giddy and ready for him to come home from work today:)

Now Sean's Turn:

I was in my first year as a pitching coach at Coastal Carolina and it was in the early fall.  As most people in baseball know, college baseball has fall practices but no games so not as much time is consumed by the sport.  Well my room mate and I went out to eat at Ryan's Steakhouse for supper and as soon as I walked in the door, I SAW HER.  You had to walk into two double doors and the cash registers were straight ahead as the pay line snaked to the right.  Joli was standing by the cash registers talking to someone who worked there and I was snake bitten from the start.  She had a black blouse on with a red and black plaid skirt.  She was very tan and had long brown hair that was and still is shiny and beautiful.  We sat down and I couldn't help but stare at her.  Something told me inside that I was going to marry that girl one day.  I don't know why I knew this and Joli can attest that I have said that since we met.  I just knew that I knew that I knew, she was the one I would spend the rest of my life with.  Well, she came over to our table and asked us if we would fill out a survey and of course I couldn't say a whole lot because I was just about speechless, but I did say that I would.  She came back several times to see if we were finished but I think I took my time to make sure she kept coming back.  In the mean time, I wrote my name and telephone number on a napkin and slipped it under the survey.  I wasn't even bold enough to give it to her personally.  Well we finished our meal and got up and left.  I think we left the surveys and clipboard on the table without saying bye ( I was a chicken:))  Lo and behold, and only because God ordained it, she CALLED!  Now I never had left my name on a napkin for anyone and I don't know other than that it was God that I did it this time.  But she called!  I was so excited and nervous and asked her out on a date.  As she said, there were very few times that we were apart after that except for being away on a road trip with baseball.  We were married July 02,1994 at a golf club (who knew that is what I would end up doing for a living) in Little River.  I have been so blessed of God to have this woman as my wife.  She is a crown!

Pro 18:22 says, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. "  This is so true in my life.  Apart from Christ I have found no greater favor than the wife that has been given to me by God.  I love her with all my heart and my children are blessed with a godly mother.  Joli, I can't wait for our night together at the B and B in Charleston later this month!

Love Sean

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Isaac

 Isaac Carter turned the big 10 on January 13:) Can I just say that I am getting old really fast, because it seems like just yesterday he was born. We couldn't imagine our lives without this boy. I found out I was pregnant with him when Noah was just four months old. We were so excited! God has truly blessed us with him:) Here are 10 things about Isaac.
1. His name means laughter and he brings it here all day!!
2. He is a little genius! So smart but he doesn't have any common sense.
3. He loves to cook and just hang out in the kitchen.
4. He is a talker!! and often an interrupter to get his talking fix:)
5. He LOVES people.
6. He is learning to play his guitar that he got for his birthday.
7. He has the most amazing eyes and eyelashes for a boy:)
8. He could read at the age of 4 but hates to do so. The book can't carry on a conversation with him:)
9. He would live outside if we would let him.
10. He wants to be a missionary doctor when he grows up.
   We love you Isaac!!

Mom and Dad