Happy 31st birthday to me! It was a family birthday celebration up at the lake with the people I love most!
Nothing too new to report…June rolled by with it’s usual speed. Lots of summer camps: vacation bible school, soccer, and service camp for Jackson. Service camp was unique because the kids spent 4 days serving—making cookies for the firemen, packing food at a food bank, making tee- shirts for a children’s home, and playing bingo with the elderly at a retirement center.
Saturdays were pretty consistent in June: crepes, chess lesson, gymnastics, and swimming at Sugarloaf!
Sundays are consistent too—church, then a dinner with one family or another. I think we are at 26 straight Sunday dinner parties—it is turning into be one of our most social days! (someone couldn’t wait :-)
One out of the ordinary event, was ear surgery for Grant. He had tubes put in, hopefully it will prevent all theses ear infections! He has had 14 ear infections during his 17 months here on earth. Despite compromised hearing, he is still on target for 20 words at 18 months. It was a quick surgery (like 5 minutes), but still surgery. The surgeon said “The only time surgery is considered a ‘minor’ surgery, is when it is someone else’s kid.” Ha! But Grant handled it like a champ, and so far no more ear infections!
Scotty is doing well. Managing 5 people on his Dallas case. He is learning how to balance big picture case direction with engaging on the details with those he is directing. (I have a hard time just balancing that thought!) The client and partners on the project seem to like him and are happy with the team’s work, so going well so far!
No more carrots to dip in the hummus? Just use your fingers! Taylor continues to be our computer nut. Any free moment she gets, she is on it. Luckily she has a pretty busy schedule that doesn’t allow for too much screen time.
Jackson is having a grand summer. He stays so busy! Every week he has piano, chess, gymnastics, swim, Emory reading program, and one sports camp or another. Sometimes I think we are too busy, so I clear the schedule and we stay home all day. By the end of the day, the house is destroyed, the kids are bickering, and I am ready to put an outing/event on the schedule the next day! (pear, apple, peach).
Things with me are really good. I am fortunate to have a college girl (Maddie—who I used to babysit) come and help me out with the kids and house 12 hours a week. I makes a big difference!
I was asked to write a bio of myself to email to all the women of our church (we all take turns to get to know each other). I thought I’d include it so I can have it on record!
I grew up in Suwannee GA. I am the oldest of 2. Jeff, my younger brother was my constant side-kick, and we are still very close. I am so fortunate that he lives only 4 miles away in Buckhead! I spent my summers playing baseball and building forts with the neighborhood boys. The biggest disappointment of my childhood, was that I was a girl, rather than a boy. From ages 3-9, I did everything I could to prove I was a boy. I kept my hair cut short, cutting it myself when it got too long for my liking. I wore boys clothes, including boy underwear—I was particularly fond on my He-man pair :). I loved sports, cars, trains and despised anything girlie, especially dresses, dolls, Barbies, and the color pink in general. I even wore boy bathing suits to the pool! I distinctly remember a boy in my kindergarten class, asking “Mrs. West, is Caroline a boy or a girl?” Ha! Fortunately my mom was (and still is) the most patient and non-judgmental person I know. She was perfectly content to let this extended tom-boy phase run its course.
Then in 4th grade something switched, and I was done wanting to be a boy and was very happy to be a girl. All of a sudden I was in dresses and earrings, it was a shock to everyone!
In 7th grade my parents switched me to a private school here in Atlanta (Greater Atlanta Christian School), and I will be forever grateful for their decision. Not only did I find my future husband, I found God. The Christian culture was like nothing I had ever experienced. Through Bible classes, daily devotionals, and weekly chapel, I developed a strong testimony of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Plus I got to play on all the sports teams (all those years with the neighborhood boys finally paid off!), the coaches were inspirational and my teammates are still some of my very best friends.
Senior year I started dating Scotty. I knew he was Mormon, but we didn’t talk about it/ care. I was more interested in the fact that he was funny, cute, and the school’s football star :-). Upon graduation Scott went to BYU and I headed to Vanderbilt. We dated when we came home for the holidays/summer. Scott left for his mission to the Dominican Republic. He emailed me every week (which was still illegal back then), and I’m glad he did because the mail system there struggles to say the least. I emailed back every time…between my dates at Vandy :-).
The 2 years passed quickly, and Scott asked me to come with his family to pick him up from the DR. I was expecting a beach vacation, wow was I wrong. We were visiting all the people he taught/baptized, members of the church, and local sites. It was such a meaningful trip for me. I started asking questions about the Mormon faith, reading the Book of Mormon, and taking the discussions once I returned to Nashville.
Within a year I was baptized (by Scott), and a year later we were sealed here in the Atlanta Temple. It was a deeply spiritual experience, which could have only been more perfect if my parents could have been in attendance. One day hopefully!
We have been married almost 8 years. We have lived all over the country, and settled back here in Atlanta 2 years ago—much to my parent’s delight! We have a 6 year old son Jackson who is too serious for his own good :-). However, his ability to deeply focus for long periods of time amazes us! He loves sports, chess, and has made us proud a countless number of times. Taylor, 4, is our firecracker! So witty and clever. She makes friends effortlessly! Our home is way more fun because of Tay Tay. (We’re still working on obedience and self-control). And Grant, 1 ½, is the light of our lives, affectionately referred to as “Chunk-a-love.” He brings such a sweetness into our home.
And that is me! At some point I got my Master’s in nursing, which is currently on the back burner---these babies keep coming too fast! Scott and I enjoy being in the ward, and are especially thankful for the teachers that lovingly instruct our children. Whew hopefully that wasn’t TMI, the story just flowed so fast my fingers were trying to catch up!
Love,
Caroline
Thanks for humoring me! We hope you are all doing very well.
With love,
TFK
