Family
Five of us living this God-breathed life together.
Ben & Allison
Our story involves a chance meeting at Starbucks (even though then I didn’t drink coffee then), a motorcycle, half a watermelon, and a few up-til-4 a.m. conversations. About ten months after that motorcyclist showed up with two of his roommates and his leftover watermelon to my 4th of July party, we said “I do.” I count it no small grace that this year we celebrate our 12th anniversary.
Ben’s a pastor, entrepreneur, home renovation guru, and masterful woodworker. He can also sing and play the guitar. And grow the most jaw-dropping, manliest ginger beard. Clearly, he has more talents than is reasonable. And I admire him completely.
In our 12 years married, we’ve lived in seven eight nine different houses in two different states and have three fun, curious, persistent, adventurous kiddos. Let me introduce our chaos crew.
Reed
Six months post-nuptials we were expecting our first baby. He, as most first babies do, changed our life. But it wasn’t until just before his first birthday that we would understand exactly how much our lives had been changed by that sweet red-headed boy.
Genetic testing showed that Reed lives with a rare chromosome disorder. As his cells were forming and for reasons unknown, things went a bit differently than usual, forming a precious and most exceptional boy.
At ten years old, his favorite color is red, he loves to act totally silly to make others laugh, and this boy loves to be outside. He’s insanely good at puzzles. He’s got his daddy’s attention to details and his mama’s deeply run emotions. I love nothing more than to see the bright look in his eyes when he’s accomplished something new, ventured brave to try something on his own, or used his generous spirit to connect with another person.
Luke
Our middle kiddo does not meet a stranger because, for this wide-open spirit, there’s always room for just one more person at the table! People routinely tell me that he’ll be president one day. Nicknamed Joy to the World (by my Mamaw) as a baby, he talks, sings, runs, skips, bounces, and exuberantly bounds through most days. He has his mama’s love for words and his daddy’s self-confident determination, with a dash of his Aunt Erin’s mischievousness.
His current obsessions include legos, Rocket League, and writing books. He wins title for the loudest person I have ever met, and his love is equally as loud and wonderful. Without question, he brings so much light to our family.
Ansley
Ansley, our five-year-old who we affectionately call “baby” more than her given name, is the yin to Luke’s yang. Even from her earliest days, she’s been an observer, thinker, and skeptic, carefully scoping out new people and new situations before rewarding you with one of her captivating smiles. She is fiercely independent, paints beautiful pictures, and loves her chickens. Her favorite color is pink or purple, loves to snuggle with me, and has the best laugh you’ll ever hear.
We embrace the gift of family God’s given us, exactly as we know it, trusting the story He is so graciously and beautifully writing.