Third Annual Birthday Poem

C, we can't believe you're 3!

We remember so well just bringing you home.

There was no way to prepare,

although we could share,

for the responsibility to raise such a dear.

But three years have gone by,

and with them the realization

that so much more is yet to come.

We don't want to rush, nor your growing to crush--

For a parent, the way's not always clear.

But we are certain of one thing,

which is that you are so full of spark,

energetic and funny and smart.

Thank God for you, C, for you will always be

the very life's blood of our heart.

Caroline had a wonderful birthday celebration this year. She had a little party at her preschool with her buddies, a party at our church where everyone was so gracious and pitched in to buy her a bicycle, a night bouncing on the inflatables at the Northwest Arkansas Naturals baseball game, and a trip to the Oklahoma Aquarium. There are plenty of pictures of all the fun at www.facebook.com/galenj. Thank you for visiting, caring, and being our friends!

Ham and Cheese

Caroline has learned her parents' habits well enough that she knows how we like to take pictures of her with landmarks. Take, for instance, our recent stop in Nashville on the drive from North Carolina to Arkansas after Christmas. While walking around the grounds of the state capitol, if Caroline saw a statue, she would run to stand by it, and then wait for a picture while holding her pose. What a ham. But here is the evidence.

Also notice the ability to produce a cheesy grin. In fact, this picture was made, as you might can tell, with her actually eating a grilled cheese sandwich at the time.

So we have a daily dose of ham and cheese from Caroline. But Winston and I join in if we get a chance to pose with a picture of Elvis.

Lori is of course ever the level-headed one, adding a touch of class to our travel photos.

Merry Christmas 2008

How excited is Caroline for her third Christmas? As you can see in the picture, she is already looking for holiday treats, and she is also excited at the prospect at getting presents for being a good girl. Everybody out there join her in being nice, not naughty, and we hope you enjoy a blessed Christmas!

For unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord (Luke 2:11).

Queen Bee

1-800-CAROLINE

STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD? THEN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL 1-800-CAROLINE FOR HELP.

I CAN HELP YOU GET BACK ON THE ROAD IN NO TIME!

Game Face

Caroline's recent visit to the gravesite of one of baseball's all-time greatest pitchers, Warren Spahn, has inspired her to work on her own pitching technique. Basically, she has decided that she can strike you out in one of two ways. One, she can give you a stare-down that will put you in such fear of her fastball that you won't be able to hit her pitch. Or, she will flash you a look so cute that you won't be able to compose yourself well enough to concentrate. Either way, she's going to be the one celebrating in the end.

What a Great Week!

We have been very blessed over the past week to spend some very happy times together. The main event was what we call the "Galen Bowl," the opening football game of the college season between Wake Forest and Baylor in Waco, Texas. Not only did Galen do his undergraduate studies at Wake and his doctoral studies at Baylor, but Lori has also been an employee of both universities. Watching our two schools play, surrounded by some of our dearest friends who had also converged in Waco for the occasion, was an unforgettable experience. Caroline was very good, especially at the game, when she let our friends play with her and comb her hair while she said "Go, Go, Go" for both the Deacons and the Bears. Wake won the game, 41-13. Galen even got to say the pregame prayer for Wake, like many years ago when he was the team chaplain, and spent time with Coach Jim Grobe and the players, and he also spent some time with Baylor radio announcer John Morris. While in Waco, we also had a nice, relaxing visit to the Dr. Pepper Museum. And on the way to and from Waco, we visited the grave sites of several sports legends--Warren Spahn in Oklahoma, and Tom Landry and Mickey Mantle in Dallas. Then on Monday, back in northwest Arkansas, we met Olympic gymnastic Dominique Dawes, who participated in three Olympic games and was part of the 1996 US Women's gold medal team in Atlanta. This was at an event to raise money for underprivileged children, and Caroline did her part by walking a whole mile and winning a medal. Now it's back to school for both Galen and Lori, and our long-awaited end of trip and vacation are over, but these recent memories will stay with us for a long time!

The Family that Plays Together Stays Together

Since our favorite major league baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, has hit a rough spot in the season, we've decided as a family to suit up and see if we can't be of some help. Wouldn't you like for these four players--bringing a combination of dog-like quickness, baby-like determination, and parent-like experience--to be at the start of your lineup? And we have started out with some good coaching too, turning to former Atlanta Brave, as well as fellow Wake Forest Demon Deacon and native North Carolinian, Tommy Gregg, for coaching. Tommy is now the hitting instructor and first base coach for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the AA minor league team of the Kansas City Royals, here in Springdale, Arkansas. Tommy's team is currently in first place in the Texas League, so now that we think about it some more, we may just stay home and root for the Naturals.

Caroline's 2nd Annual Birthday Poem

For my second birthday, I went to the zoo.
Mommy and Daddy went along too.
I saw rhinos and meerkats and zebras black and white.
There was also a peacock with a tail big and bright.

Then I had a church party with lots of my friends.

Presents are nice. I hope this sets trends.

I needed some new clothes, bought on a shopping spree.

But I'll do it over again, when next year I turn three!

Happy 13th Anniversary, Mom & Dad! I Love You, Caroline

Snip Snip Here, Snip Snip There

Caroline had her first professional "snip, snip" at the hair salon recently, and she definitely did not want to say a couple of "tra la las" or laugh the day away as in the merry old land of Oz. She seemed rather mortified by the whole experience, even though it was our neighbor Heather who cut her hair, and we have the evidence here on film.
After mommy held her through the whole trauma, she was ready to get out of that chair and go to daddy for a little comfort immediately afterward. And then she had to go outside to wind down, although we absolutely promise you that the cigarettes on the ground at her feet did not come from her! Maybe it will be fun to show her these pictures one day if she turns out to be a hair diva!Speaking of getting cut, one person who has never been cut--by a sports team, that is--is our friend Tarik Glenn, recently retired from the Indianapolis Colts as a Super Bowl XLI champion and three-time All-Pro. We wanted to devote a little space to thank Tarik for taking a couple of days away from his family to visit us here and to speak to our student body at John Brown. Tarik has founded an inner-city outreach to children in Indianapolis, which we are glad to advertise for him; you can learn all about it at his charity's web site, http://www.dreamaliveinc.org/.