Happy Birthday, Dad!

Dad,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On this blessed day, a few years ago... (or so) ;)...you were born. It was a good day.

You showed the world the true meaning of adorable.

Seriously...please be cuter. I'd like to see you try.



You also showed the world what mischievous looks like.



The tie makes all the trouble you got into, okay. :)

Thank you for being born.

Thank you for TRULY being, the most WONDERFUL Dad a girl could ever ask for. (and more)

I am reminded, daily, how blessed I am to have a Dad like you.

Thank you for loving me UNCONDITIONALLY since the day I was born.



Additionally, thank you for your genes...because I was a pretty cute baby, too. :)

Thank you for being a Christ follower, and for faithfully serving and leading our family...day in and day out.



Thank you for ALWAYS being intentional with the time we spent together, and thank you for including me in your life passions and adventures.

Thank you for investing in me.



And thank you for treating my husband the same...



Thank you for being goofy, and teaching me it's OK to do the same. :)



THANK YOU! For loving mom, and treating her like the queen she is. Thank you for being an example of what a humble, gracious and godly husband looks like.



Thank you for being a master story-teller



Thank you for being a teacher.




Thank you for teaching me mad skillz on the dance floor. ;)



and for always making me feel like a princess, always.



Thank you for believing in me, and thank you for my education.



Thank you for standing in the "doorway" when Jen and I started dating these guys. Thank you for interrogating them and putting them through a rigorous approval process. Thank you for caring enough to do so.



Additionally, thank you for approving of them and loving them as if they were your own sons.


Thank you for loving my sister.



And thank you for loving me.




Happy Birthday, Dad.

You. Are. The. Best.

Love,
K

My King

I was on a walk this morning with our dog lila when a sermon that rocked my world when I was in college came to mind.

It's the sermon "My King" by S.M. Lockridge...have you heard it?

It will rock your world.

It's one of the most powerful things you will ever hear.

It's complete truth.

It will empower you.

It will give you goosebumps.

It might make you cry.

It will bless you with Christ's grace and mercy.

So take 3:20 minutes out of your day and listen to it, you'll be glad you did.

A "Beautiful" Reminder

I was driving home from class last night and a song came on the radio. The song was "Beautiful" by Mercy Me. I love that song, have you heard it?

I love this song because it came out on the radio during a time in my life when I really needed to hear it.

I needed to hear that Christ had a purpose for my life and that his purpose for me was so much greater and beautiful than the things of this world.

I needed to hear that it was okay to feel dissatisfied, and that I was feeling dissatisfied because I hadn't yet figured out his purpose for my life.

I needed to hear that I was worthy and treasured, by Christ-because from the world's view-I didn't feel that way.

I needed to hear, that from the very beginning, Christ was mapping out a plan for my life.

I needed to be reassured and trust that I would find HIS plan for my life.

I needed to hear that Christ was by side every step of the way.

That is what this song did for me, I hope it can bless you in the same or similar ways.

"The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful

I'm praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross


Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to die

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
In His eyes"





Love,
K

Just cruisin'

Just cruisin'.



Just cruisin' was the theme of the Opie family reunion cruise in 1989.

I was 2 years old.

I had a fever of 102 most of the trip.

I don't really remember the trip, but the pictures are AWESOME.

Correction: the hair-do's in the pictures were awesome.


I wish I had a picture to share with you of that epic cruise, but I don't. Maybe I'll make my mom's day and go rummaging through her photo albums so that I can share a picture with you. One picture in particular comes to mind...of my mom, sister and me-walking on the beach- wearing matching swimsuits.


Yes.

It. Was. Awesome.


Matching swim suits just make sense.

Life is good, and my kids are going to wear matching outfits until they're 18.

You think I'm joking, but I'm not.



That is all.



Just kidding. This post is ACTUALLY about the cruise Jonny and I just took in May!


And...IT WAS AWESOME!


Here are some snapshots from our trip!

Here we go!

**Ok. I don't have an excuse, except to say- I'm just not disciplined with taking pictures. So I'm sorry. This isn't a documentary, but more pictures taken here and there when it was convenient for me. Thanks for accepting me the way I am, flaws included.**

Formal night. Ok. I just have to celebrate the fact that I haven't been able to wear this dress since freshman year of college. AND even better, it was a little too big. Whew! It feels good.

Oh, hi Mr. Rhino!

Taking the tender to Grand Cayman! Can't wait to Parasail!!

Woooo here we go!

They chose us to be on a Heineken advertisement.

There we are!!!

7 mile beach

After para sailing...

we chilled on 7 mile beach...

drank some beer....

and...............

Ate the MOST scrumptious pizza I've ever consumed in my ENTIRE life.

oh my word.

I can't even think about it, or I might go catch a flight to the Caymans just to eat it again.

My new bestie.

He looks like he's about to attack me, but I assure you he was a nice pirate man.

We forgot to ask someone to take our picture at dinner.

Thus we resorted to the self-timer. ;)

This is how Jonny put sunscreen on.

Look at those legs. ;)

OWW OWWW!

Porting in Cozumel

Hold the margaritas captain! We're coming!

Hello, Cozumel! Your waters sure are blue!

Oasis of the Seas.

The biggest ship in the world, or ONE of the biggest. We're not sure, we were told contradictory facts.

The Oasis made our ship look like a tug boat.

Hang gliding, on a cruise? Thanks, but no thanks.

BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After snorkeling we got dropped off at a beach and got to play on these fun inflatable water toys. Jonny was like a kid in a candy store.

Which ended up making him very tired. :)

Hello, sir. You look quite hungry so I'm just going to walk this way...

Nope, I lied. I'm actually going to take a thousand pictures of you to show my mom.

Look Mom, an Iguana!

The atrium of the ship. The dude with the guitar, singing....was AWESOME!

Ha! There's a funny story behind this story. Apparently some people don't know how to operate cameras, resulting in awkward photos in which you are trying to both- smile and explain- how to take a picture. Good times.

Our table at dinner on the last night of the cruise! We had fun with these guys! And were probably frowned upon by others seated around us at dinner because we laughed a lot, and it's possible some of us may have been loud talkers.


Well, that was our cruise! Hope you enjoyed the pics!

Love,

K

The Birthday Boy

My husband turned 25 this weekend! It's a big deal, you know...because NOOOWWW we can finally rent a car without having to be penalize for being "young". Woohoo! Thanks, babe, for turning 25! :)

All kidding aside, we had a wonderful weekend celebrating Jonathan David's day of birth. Jonny's parents were so kind and gracious to let us use their lake property. We had friends join us on Saturday for some fun in the sun; filled with water sports, food, cute dogs wearing life jackets, more food, and LOTS of country music. It was heavenly. Here are some pictures of the memorable weekend.

Warning: I love taking pictures of my husband. Especially when he does cool things, like wake-boarding. Especially when my brother-in-law let me use his SWEET camera. Especially since I think he's hot.

Go Jonny, Go! Go!

(Not to be confused with "Go Dogs, Go!", although I highly recommend that book)

PPPPPFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

(Water splashing)

Jonny helping Josh get into the wake board. This was only Josh's second or third time wake-boarding, he did great!




There he goes! Hi Josh!

Awww.

Ben. The Master Flag Man.

:)

Oh. Hey, Phil!

Photo compliments of Benjamin Lutz

Sweet Kayla and me. We're trying to work on our tans, but as you can probably tell-we're about as white as they come.

There goes Phil!

ZZZSSSSHHHHHHHMMMMMMSHHHISSHHHSSss

(More water splashing)

OHHHHHH!! MERCY!!!

I've seen this look before.

I've seen this look on my father-in-law's face.

I've seen this look in the faces of my brothers-in-law.

And I see this look in the face of my husband.

This look is focused, deliberate, determined and intentional.

Most of all...this look means SUUUUURRRIOUS BIZZNASS.

Excuse me, I mean...Serious Business.

And the situation above is serious business because....

Jonny thinks Phil has been using Rogain for chest hair.

But he's not.

Phil says it's all natural.

"Excuse me, guys?! I'm getting a little warm here. Let's stop talking about chest hair and go for a swim, shall we?"

Lila...you ARE a bad bear.

:)

This girl has never water-skied or wake-boarded in her LIFE!

She popped right up on her first try!

Way to go Kayla!

More pictures of Jonny, because you secretly love looking at his muscles, too.

:)

You're welcome.

Wweeeeee!!!!

We discovered Lila REALLY likes watermelon.

Just like her Daddy. HA!

Ben REALLY likes watermelon, as well.

And...Because I wish she was my child, and possibly might treat her like one.

And... because these two thought it would be a good idea to go tubing shortly after dinner.

Hey, it's their stomach, not mine.

Happy Birthday Jonathan!!

You are loved by all those who know you.

You are my best friend and the most incredible husband.

You are loyal and intentional to those who call you friend.

You are ALWAYS there when someone calls on you for help; and you answer with energy and determination.
You are my stronghold, and encourage me when I think things are impossible.

You are honest and sincere.

You are compassionate to those in need.

You bless those who know you on a daily basis!

I love you always,

Happy Birthday!

K