Through My Son's Eyes

Oh how I have been missing the beauties of earth, thank goodness I have my son to show them to me.  Today, while playing outside, Luke looked up at the trees when the wind started to blow.  He was in awe.  I began to explain it is the wind.  Wind is something that you can't physically see, but you can see it through other things or even hear it.  Even though he is one, he seemed captivated by my words.  Then the wind stopped blowing and he went back to playing with a dump truck.  A few minutes passed and the wind began to blow again.  I didn't think anything of it because my son was busy playing with his dump truck, but he stopped swatted down and pointed to the leaves blowing in the drive-way.  I said, "yes it is the wind blowing."  He pointed up to the sky and then back to the leaves in awe of the winds presences.  Once the wind stopped, he went back to playing.  This occurred until we went inside each time noticing the wind in something else.  He even heard the wind howling and giggled then pointed to the leaves and giggled.  As I watched my son enjoy the wind, I thought about how the wind has been ingrained in me that I don't even notice it sometimes.  I feel the same about my walk with God sometimes.  Religion has been ingrained in me that I don't notice God in my daily encounters.  I suddenly was sad that I had been missing out.  I wanted to feel the joy of God's presence in the trees and leaves of the world.   For that moment I was so grateful that my son showed me the joy of the wind.  I started laughing with him at the wind and it almighty presence.

Where Have We Been?

So where have we been the past few months?  Everywhere!  At the first of June we took a family vacation with my family to Gatlinburg!  Our first day there we hiked a 8 mile hike at a 11% grade (thanks papa)!  After our hike, the second day we spent relaxing by the pool.  It was great to have the family together.  

Joe, Luke and I spent the next weeks we put up a swing set for Luke to play on.  We spent most of our evenings swimming.  Luke loves the water.  He loves to stick his head underwater.  I have been working on school work.  I finished my first semester in graduate work.  I am working on my Master's in education. When I wasn't playing with Luke or working on school work.  I have been spending time planning Luke's 1st birthday!  I can't believe a year has almost passed. 




The first of July my mom came to South Pittsburg to spend a week with us.  Then Luke, my mom, and I went to Destin for a week.  We stayed with my cousin!  It was a blast!  Luke disliked the sand on the first day, but one day two Luke was burying himself in the sand.  It was a great trip.  

Now it is August and we are still on the go.  Joe has a church meeting on Monday.  This hopefully means one step closer to seminary.  We are excited to see what God has in store for us.  We are celebrating Luke's 1st birthday in Belleville so we will be there a 5 days before the big day.  Joe turns 25 this year.  Along with tons of other things going on.  Hopefully the next post I will have the creative crafts I have been busy with for Luke's birthday!

Oh the Memories

Remember as a kid how you would get so excited about something, and as you got older you forgot why it was you got so excited.  When I was little my family took small trips here and there, but one of my favorite trips each year was to Lipscomb University in Nashville for Singarama We would go with my dad's cousin, Todd's, family every year.  We would load up the mini vans with all the kids wanting to ride together so our brave dad's would take that van while our moms caught up in the other van.  It became tradition.  Once in Nashville we would meet up with good family friends the Faircloths.  The families came together like we had never been a part the whole time.  When Todd was diagnosed with cancer the trips took on a whole other meaning for the families.  The had much more importance.  I will never forget our last trip to Singarama with Todd, and to be honest the last for all of us together.  I didn't return to the Singarama show until I attend Lipscomb University.  I remember going and thinking why as a child was I so excited about this.  It is nice, but I looked forward all year to our trip to Singarama.  It has puzzled me for almost 7 years now, as to why I loved going to Singarama.  Last night I finally remembered why.  We all came together again to see Singarama, but this time it was different.  Todd's daughter Sydni was a hostess (which is a big deal as a Freshman).  As we gathered like old times in Alumni Auditorium, Sydni performed.  She opened her mouth and the music brought back the memories.  And that was what made the trip to Singarama so special.  It was the memories after every trip.  None of us new what the future had in store for us.  We didn't know we would experience grieve, sorrow, pain, hurt, loneliness, joy, celebration, and much more.  But we were given the opportunity to make great memories.  Thank you Sydni for reminding us all of those memories.  

Baby Talk

Well, Luke is almost 7 months now, and I realized I have fallen behind in writing.  I have felt so unorganized lately.  We have been on the road a lot so I have fallen behind on a lot of things such as scrapbooking, going through Luke's smaller clothes (The other day I pulled a shirt out for him to wear it was 3-6 months.  He hasn't wore that size for almost 2 months now.), and there is much more that has been neglected.  A lot has happened in the Woodfin household over the past few months.  I applied for grad school.  I will hopefully start April 30th on getting my Master's in Education.  Joe has one more VDC meeting which puts him a little closer to going to semaninary.  Luke can officially sit up has of 5 1/2 months old and he has become more vocal about everything.  He tries to imitate what we say.  It is funny and sweet.  Things are going really well.  We are looking forward to Summer.  Luke loves the water so we are longing for the days of swimming! Here are some pictures that capture what has been going on in our lives.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Around October I decided that I really wanted to go visit my brother at school in the Chicago area.  Joe and I bought two plane tickets and reserved for a lap child.  Time went by quickly and this past week we packed for our journey.  Side note that some may not know about Joe and I we love to travel we do it a lot, but this experience was very different!  Joe and I discussed what the best option for packing would be.  We decided to only do carry-ons (mistake 1)!  We had it all packed perfectly, two suitcases, two personal bags, a diaper (which is free), stroller (also free), and car seat.  Early Friday morning we got to the airport checked -in at the desk.  Then journeyed through security.  Security for the first time in Joe and my life was chaos. Joe dragged the stroller and car seat behind the suitcases.  I held Luke with the two personal bags and diaper bag!  It was very challenging.  Once we arrived to the Chicago O'Hare airport we hopped on the Blue Line into the city where my brother was going to pick us up.  It was a very smelly train ride.  I have been on the train before, but with a child I was very aware of the dirtiness of the train.  We got off at Logan Square and meet my brother.  He picked us up, took us to a great Chicago pizza place, then we started our journey to Dekalb where my brother goes to school.  It took us almost 45 minutes to just get out of the city.  Once in Dekalb we were able to relax.  My brother, Uncle Logan, showed us around NIU campus. We went to a place called Fatty's for dinner which was oh so yummy!  We had a great weekend.  Sunday night we returned to the city.  We stayed at the Inn of Chicago.  It was an amazing deal.  We were located on the 16th floor in a corner room.  We could see Sears Tower out our window and Lake Michigan out the other.  It was a perfect way to end the weekend, but little did we know the weekend was not over.  Our check out was not till noon on Monday.  Our plan was to relax in our hotel room then go to lunch and get on the train.  However the airlines had other plans for us.  I woke up to get us breakfast.  Joe checked his phone to see the time when he received the message that our flight had been canceled.  They booked us on the flight to Huntsville at 7:30 which actually leave at 9:30!  Luke did a great job in the airport and on the plane.  The first flight he talked to everyone.  Second flight he slept!  Overall the trip was great!  Joe and I learned a few tips that I will share with those traveling with a child.

A cup from the airline was so entertaining to Luke!  

He would put it over his mouth and yell into it!

Tips: 

1. Don't try to do a carry-on! Pay for a checked bag.

2. Have a bottle ready for take-off and landing. It helps with popping ears.

3. In diaper bag, pack extra formula, baby food, etc. in case of lay over. 

4.  Also have back-up plan for flights.  

5. Books, rattles, and other toys are great for the flight.  

Luke loved looking out the window!

Lake Michigan out of our hotel room window

Sears Tower out of the other window! 

The Other Boy

My blog title is Carly and the Boys, but I have spent a lot of time talking about my son and not my husband.  Besides the birth of our son we have had a lot of change in our life lately.  My husband decided a year ago that it would be best if he left his dual job as a Head Resident and Assistant Housing Director.  His job provided a lot of securities for us such as free housing, no bills, etc. However, his job at Lipscomb was very taxing on his peace.  He was working around the clock at two jobs.  He worked 9am-5pm as the assistant housing director and then from 5pm-8am as a head resident.  As you can see there wasn't much time for relaxing.   We decided it would be best for the growth of our family to leave; however, we didn't factor in the economy.  It is hard for anyone to get a job currently especially a Biblical Language/ Theology major.  Joe spent his days looking for a more permanent job.  He worked from May-Sept. doing part-time jobs subbing, consulting and printing.  When my time at work was drawing to an end the stress in Joe increased.  He knew with a baby on the way he was going to have to find a better job fast. Well, the search lead to a few dead ends.  It wasn't till October when he got a led!  He was doing some part-time work for his dad's printing business.  His dad offered him a full-time job.  Joe was unsteady at first.  He never thought he would move back to his hometown.  However, after much consideration he/ we decided it would be best for our family.

Joe has loved every moment of the printing business.  He works 8:30-5 in the basement of the family home where the family business is located!  He gets to spend time with his father (who is a great boss).  All of this has been a blessing.  Joe is continuing to pursue an M.Div., but it has be a process.  It will all come together in time, but the plan for Joe and our family is a better plan than we could ever imagine.

Growing Pains

So the growing pains have begun!  There have been transition and phase Luke has gone through over the past few months, but this phase has been the most painful.  TEETH!  He has 1 maybe 2 teeth coming in.  This experiences has resulted in sleepless nights, stuffy nose, and pulling mommy's hair!  We aren't sure if the pulling hair is directly related to the teething process, but it all started at the same time.  Luke is very curious about everything around him including what is growing in his month.  He gnaws on his fingers for hours.  We try to appease him with cold teething rings, room temperature teething rings, any teething rings, but it seems that his fingers are the only thing that soothes him and his curiosity.  


Today his mind was pre-occupied with the walk we went on!  He seemed amused by the barking dog and airplane practicing above us.  Other things that have occupied his mind are his walker which he loves to roam the living room in.  The ability to remove his socks and chew on them.  Today he achieved removing his pants halfway before I caught him!  The most important distraction from his teething process is his daddy!  Luke has become a daddy's boy.  Every time Luke hears Joe's voice he lights up in wonderment!  Just last night I was singing "This Little Light of Mine" when Joe started beat boxing along with the song when Luke starting belly laughing!  He would grab at Joe's lips and laugh.  Also we danced during the half-time of the Super Bowl!  Luke was dancing with Joe and laughing.  


Even though the growing pains bring struggles to us all and there will always be growing pains, it is great to see how the family grows and we are able to distract one another from the pain and suffer we are experiencing at that moment!