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July 31, 2007

8 years

i took this photo 8 years ago while in florence. amber and I were married just a few days before.

it's been 8 years today. thank you friends and family for your love and support. thank you amber for the privilege to hold your hand.

editor's note: it took me almost an hour to write this. i kept gushing and using words like "through valleys and peaks" and "perfect future together." i deleted them for sake of sounding too glossy.

the photo really does capture my feelings then and now. (this expectation of something greater and exciting ahead – something beyond our control and beautiful. our relationship has been a bit far from perfect bliss but i am truly blessed with an AMAZING wife. and i look forward in our future together.

Posted by mark at 12:27 AM | TrackBack

July 27, 2007

the lake

we have spent the past two sunday afternoons quietly enjoying the lake at chester frost park. mark gave a quick glimpse into one afternoon in a previous entry. that visit was cut short by a huge thunderstorm that we watched coming across the water and then as we enjoyed ice cream together. this past weekend, we were able to stay much longer allowing the boys much more time to swim and pretend to surf on their knee boards. mark swam with the boys while i was able to read.

after swimming, oliver enjoyed the playground that sits right in the sand a few yards from the lake. his brothers began working on a sand castle that turned into something much more elaborate with time. it was beautiful watching their creativity and to see them working so well together. aidan especially enjoyed constructing a moat around his creation. we took many pictures so that he could take the castle with him and remember the day.

i suppose i have had a lot of time to think about our family during this time while i am so limited and resting often. the boys have been amazing this summer. they have enjoyed their time together each day building forts out of pillows and blankets in the living room, drawing pictures for everyone they know, playing with legos and superheros, and working together to battle the bad guys in newly discovered computer games.

what i have really noticed this summer is their ability to keep themselves occupied longer. oliver has now reached an age where he is much less likely to wander off or put something inedible into his mouth. he can follow directions and is usually not far from his bigger brothers. oh, and he is now potty trained! i know that we will soon be entering back into the baby stage, but i am feeling incredibly grateful for this new phase with aidan, abel, and oliver. who knew that our time at the lake could be spent so leisurely with three relatively young children.

Posted by cooleys at 09:33 PM | TrackBack

July 25, 2007

photos by abe

abel occasionally asks for my camera or uses the one on mark's cell phone to capture bits of our life at home. i always find it interesting to see our home and family through his perspective. abel has such a gentle spirit that is comforting as a parent as well as intimidating. in these last weeks before he begins kindergarten, i am left struggling with the idea of leaving him in another's care and just praying that god will carry him safely through all of the new experiences that are coming his way. i pray for a teacher that quickly becomes aware of his gentle spirit and encouraging friends to love and enjoy him throughout the day.

the pictures below were all taken by abel during a routine morning at home last week. some of his favorite things are found within them: his pet gecko, an action figure, the book that mark is currently reading to the boys, corners of our new home and his brothers.

Posted by cooleys at 01:45 PM | TrackBack

July 15, 2007

beach, custard, storm

feeling the ongoing need of sunshine we decided to spend the afternoon at Chester Frost Park. it's really the closest thing to a beach that we have here in Chattanooga. sand, water, playground surrounded by dense green trees. the sand and the lake was a welcome change from spending most of the summer in swimming pools. after a couple hours of swimming and building a sand castle a storm came slowly rolling in over the surrounding ridges and we decided to leave.

an afternoon wouldn't be complete with stopping to get frozen custard on our way out of Hixson. now that we are back home the kids are resting as the storm thunders outside.

Posted by mark at 05:38 PM | TrackBack

July 12, 2007

our summer

Posted by cooleys at 12:04 PM | TrackBack