The Hooper Summer is Only HALF Over

I haven't had much chance to update my blog this summer but thanks to having small children our summer gets to last longer than most, since we don't have to go back to school. So since this is about midway through our summer here is our updates of what we have been up to so far...

I have been buried in books studying and trying to teach myself everything one should know for my CT or CAT Scan boards. This is where I should be right now but I had to take a break. I'm feeling an overload. Brad has been a huge help during my study time. He always spends a lot of time with the kids but he has really helped around the house a lot. And while I study, after the kids are in bed, he spends quite time reading and studying his Bible as to not distract me with tv noise. God has blessed me so much with a husband that is becoming such a good spiritual leader of our household. Marriage is not always an easy journey but ours has been so blessed. Each day things get easier. We seem to work so well together now. We have really become involved in our church at Central Baptist and work daily to mold our marriage according to God's plan. One would be amazed at the happiness that comes from following such a simple plan. Being equals makes it so easy to lighten your partners load when they need a lift. We spend so much family time together. We truly have become one as God talks about in marriage. We do everything together from playing outside, to going to the grocery, to taking naps with the kids on Sundays after church. I can't say enough how blessed I feel to have Brad as my husband. He makes me smile so much lately. My favorite is at night when he is tucking Caroline in bed. (Since at the moment "...my daddy is my best friend") Brad kneels by Caroline's bed as they pray to Jesus. He lets her pray for whatever she wants. She picks up on the smallest things. The other day we drove past St. Jude and Brad told Caroline "that is where little kids like you go when they get sick, that makes their mommies and daddies so sad when they are sick" That night her prayer was for all the sick babies to get better so they can come play with her and so their mommies and daddies won't be sad. The cutest is the end that usually goes about like this... " Thank you for mommy, daddy, CarCar, Nonnee, Papa, Uncle P, Aubrey, Tucker, Christian, CreCre, Granny, Grandpa, mama Lisa ... on and on ... and for EVERYBODY"
God has blessed me with so many things and the more I look to Him the more he blesses. I pray that all that are reading my blog can know this same peace and happiness I feel and that if one does not, that they may find it through coming to know Christ as their personal Savior. This is when you can experience true happiness.

My other blessings are named Caroline and Carson. It is hard to believe time has passed so quickly. As tired as I feel sometimes, I would never miss making the memories to feel rested again. All that will come in time and we will never be able to go back in time. I can't believe that Carson is already 1 and Caroline is almost 3! We have had so much fun in these short 3 years that makes me look so forward to our future. Children really make you serve a different purpose in life. They teach you who you are and who you want to become. No longer do I pray for the things I want but for the ability to be the person God designed me to be so that my children can proudly follow right behind me in my exact footsteps. I pray for their happiness and thank God for the time they are little and innocent, for the ability to hold them and snuggle with them, to rock them to sleep or let them stay up late for movie night, to finger paint and let them play dress up in my best shoes and jewlery. Because they are my children, my blessing from God and they are so worth it. I pray to be the best mommy so that my children can grow up and have the best memories of the best childhood just like I have. So that they will have the know how to pass this on to their children as hopefully I am passing on to them. I thank God for the ability to kiss and hug my children a hundred time a day and for the eyes to see their sweet faces and ears to hear their sweet voices and be thankful for allthe small things that I am able to see and hear.

So what have we been up to for the first half of our busy summer...
We've had a lot of firsts and a lot of the same... Carson turned one, we got a playhouse swingset, Caroline got a big girl bed, we've been busy with daddies (Brad) ballgames, trips to the zoo and the Ripley waterpark, making cupcakes and cookies and eating the batter, getting sticky as we eat popsicle after popsicle, swimming in our tiny yellow pool and coloring the patio with sidewalk chalk, going on family walks, visiting with family, having company over to watch the UFC fights and play ping pong, Carson's first carousel ride and his first snow cone at the zoo which he got his first 2 dollar bill back as change. Carson got to turn around and have a front facing car seat, Caroline has mastered pedaling her bike and Carson loves the battery operated 4 wheeler to ride AND this is only the first half of our summer. We still have our beach trip to look forward to and Caroline's 3rd birthday party. I can't wait to see the fun the second half of the summer will bring.


Hopefully after the summer when the weather starts to cool and I can get my CT boards past me we can start getting together with our neighbors both beside and across the street. We seem to have so much in common and seem to be at the same points in our lives. With our children close to the same age and seemingly the same morals and beliefs. Because having wonderful neighbors is what makes it worth while to live in a subdivision. Last night Caroline came outside with me and could see Carter jumping in his new bouncer next door at Bonnie and Gene's and said I want to go play with him. So this is my goal for the rest of the summer is to learn for Brad and I to come out of our shell some and become more social.

So it will probably be a while before I update my blog again but until then keep me in your prayers that I will pass my CT boards and can learn to become more social.