The Hardest Part...

    
    
     Today is our 6th anniversary!!! I've been legally and biblically bound to my Prince for 6 wonderful years!!! It's hard to believe these years have flown by so fast! So much has changed. We have grown so much, individually and as a couple. I always wondered how it was possible for things to "get better" after your wedding; now I can see it. Each year has been better than the last with Kevin...and that is the honest truth. 
    
     As I sit here today and reflect on the 6 years of wedded bliss we've experienced so far, I can't help but be reminded of so many things: the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the wonderful, the peaceful moments we've shared thus far in our journey together. I wouldn't trade a single one. I would rather spend all my bad days with John Kevin Boatwright than all my good days without him. He is my reason for being, my sanity, my comfort, my protector. 

     You see, I've had a slightly tainted sense of love for the majority of my life. The men in my family are very "old school", as in Pioneer-Days-Old-School. They believe a woman's place is in the home, submissive to her man in EVERY way...which I agree with to a certain degree. But because of this, that is how I understood God's love to be: firm, domineering, demanding, harsh, forceful, retributive, and God forbid you give an opinion or feeling that goes against their opinions or beliefs. (Now, I will say the men in my family have definitely evolved from their cave-man states of mind...but it has taken time. And while they were evolving, so was my opinion of love.) I didn't understand why anyone would want to be "loved" in this way by man or God. I went through the motions, like the good-girl I was, not ever fully desiring or wanting to be involved with this "god" who would treat women with such a lack of appreciation.
     
     Enter Kevin. His love was obvious, relentless, and unconditional right from the start. I was so shocked by this new brand of love that I didn't know what to do with it. So, what do we humans usually do with unfamiliar emotions we're afraid of? We fight it. That's exactly what I did. I fought Kevin's love. I pushed back with all I had trying to get him to "go away" with his unfathomable love. He finally looked at me and said, "Halley, I love you and I'll wait for you. It doesn't matter how long it takes. I'll wait for you." 
     
     That did it. It broke down my huge-fortress-of-an-emotional-wall. It came crashing down around me and in it's place was this beautiful understanding of what the Love of Christ REALLY is. The Love of Christ is beautiful, obvious, relentless, and unconditional. I can see that now, and I have spent the last decade of my life getting used to being loved that way by Jesus through my perfect husband.
   
     I have cherished every second. It's still so new to me...I mean, when you think about it who can honestly get used to that type of love? Especially one so undeserving as me? But that's it. That's the point. Grace in a nutshell. Love in a nutshell. My husband in a nutshell. My God and Savior in a nutshell.
  
     I have been blessed the past 25 weeks of my pregnancy. There have been no crazy adjustments. No aches, pains, or sicknesses. Just a gradual swelling of my belly. The hardest part for me will be adjusting to life where I have to share Kevin's love. I think about it every day...especially considering this is a little GIRL we're bringing into the world together. How will I share him with her? 
  
     I think I'm about to learn a very great lesson...again. I think God is going to show me how He loves us all completely without sparing an ounce of love for anyone. I'm nervous, but I'm excited about it. God has taught me so many things through this man He has allowed to be my husband. I am so grateful to Him in His infinite wisdom for that. I am also incredibly grateful to my husband, the-willing-vessel, who has allowed himself to be used by God to love silly little me.
     

     May this next part of our journey be just as filled with love as the past six years! I love you John Kevin Boatwright! 

                           Happy 6th Anniversary!!!

Father's Day!

     

     My Daddy and I don't always see eye-to-eye. In fact, the occasions are rare when we do. I think it's likely because we have many similar personality traits...some good, some not-so-good. Despite that, I'm grateful that I get to call him "Daddy" because without him, I wouldn't be the woman I am today. He too has taught me many important life-lessons which I will cherish eternally; a few of which I will share with you here:

1. Early to bed, early to rise. My daddy has always been a hard worker. Sun-up to Sun-down. Never quit. NO matter what (injury, illness, and exhaustion are no excuse. Nowadays neither is old age).
2. Tithe regularly and give generously. You can't out-give God.
3. If you want answers, go find them. But make sure you're looking in the Bible...the only true source of wisdom.
4. Give nothing unless it costs you something. Self-sacrifice is an important gift to give.
5. Look for those in need...help them any way you can. Eventually, they will look for you and toward God.
6. You can't take money with you...so put it to good use.
7. Don't be quick to accept answers and opinions. Investigate for yourself, line-it up with the word of God, and then defend it.
8. Take your children to church.
9. Family is important...stay close to them. They are your strongest supporters.
10. Pray for your children, out loud, where they can hear year. Nothing is more powerful than the prayers of a father.

      There are many other lessons that Daddy has taught me over the years, these are just my favorite ones. The thing I am most grateful for, is that my Daddy helped to mold and shape the man of my dreams; the one whom my children will call "daddy".

      This is Kevin's first official Father's Day! He's probably not as excited about it as I am though. The fact is, I am grateful to three special men for helping to shape the man of my dreams into the perfect father for my children: Kevin's Daddy (Jeff), Kevin's Papa (Mr. Hudson), and my Daddy. Each of these men has sown little seeds of wisdom into Kevin's life. Each of them have impacted Kevin in different ways, shaping him into the man I love.

1. Kevin's Daddy: Mr. Jeff has always been a quiet observer. He's non-confrontational; a peacemaker. He's also not a man afraid to express his feelings. Kevin inherited these qualities from him. I remember when we dated, Kevin would get in silly arguments with me or with his sisters. It wasn't uncommon for Kevin to find notes in his car from his dad gently reminding him that he was out of line. Mr. Jeff would always make sure that first and foremost Kevin knew how much he was loved. How very Jesus-like is that?! I'm so grateful to the loving and selfless example of love Kevin had in his father!


Kevin's Papa: Mr. Hudson was my next door neighbor. I got to see him interact with Kevin pretty much my entire life. Mr. Hudson has always been happy and energetic in all that he endeavors. Kevin is like that: happy and EN-ER-GET-IC!!! I love that about him! Mr. Hudson puts all of that happiness and energy into anything he attempts. That includes work as well as loving his family and his wife. If you were to be able to witness the relationship between Kevin's papa and nanny, you probably would think they were paid actors on the set of some movie, because their love is THAT unbelievable. They still behave like high-school sweethearts...and they've been married for over 50 years!!! I hope and pray Kevin and I will have a love like theirs.


My Daddy: Kevin and I were blessed to be able to grow up together. With that, comes the obvious possibility that we will learn lessons from each others families. Kevin was my brother's best friend...from birth, so he was at my house A LOT. At a young age, he began working with my brother in Dad's construction company. Kevin learned many skills, and many important work ethics there. He got to see how to run a business, interact with customers, and become quite the craftsman. Kevin and I are both grateful to my Daddy for all the wisdom he has imparted to us collectively and separately.


    The beautiful thing about these three men is that together, with Jesus shining bright inside of them, they have created a perfect husband and father: John Kevin Boatwright. They all have helped to mold a generous, selfless, energetic, hilarious, strong, hard-working, peace-making, man of God that I am so excited and proud to call the father of my children!!!

Happy Father's Day to all four of you! I love you DEARLY!!!!

My Lil' Katie Rae is MARRIED!!!

     These last few months have FLOWN by! Probably because I have been extremely busy with the wedding of this chick:

     On June 7th she got to marry the man of her dreams! I'm so happy for them both!!! No couple in this world deserves to be more blissfully happy. 

     Casi is the most generous and thoughtful person I know. She over-thinks EVERYTHING...including how she treats others. She also is the wittiest person I know. Never a dull moment with her. As my dad has said often, she is the "life" of the party...always has been. Always will be.

     Griff compliments her in every important way. We always joke with them and say we never thought anyone could out-talk Casi...well, she has met her match in Griff. Where Casi is high-strung and tends to over-analyze everything, Griff is the opposite. He goes with the flow. Nothing "tousles his feathers", so to speak...that is except Casi. That's the way it's supposed to be though. :)

Here are some sister shots from her showers:

These pictures are from her Bachelorette Weekend:

Here are some shots from the Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner:









And then...the BIG DAY:

Seriously though...don't they look sooooo good together?!

    Together they make a perfect pair. I wish them many years of happiness and wedding bliss! Here are some pictures from the BIG DAY!

Happy Wedding Day to an AMAZING couple!!! I love you both IMMENSELY!!!