One of the 1st things Jenna and I discussed while we were dating is that we wanted a good number of kids. What that number was, we were not sure, but we wanted/want as many children as the good lord could/would grace us with. Both of us love children and since having children, our love has thickened immensely and our desire to have a large family has grown. That biggest family possible is at least started and we will see what happens.
Our entire family is blessed, let's just start there. We are blessed to have two perfect angels and our extended families are blessed to have them as well. Every single person is blessed, especially me. Other than myself, who just gets blessings more numerous than the stars in the sky, I would have to say that Eli Thomas is the most blessed.
Eli comes into a great situation. He has two parents that love being parents and were able to grow as parents before he got here. One of those parents just happens to be the greatest mother in the world that so happens to do everything possible for the kids. As important than that though and probably more important to him as he realizes it is that he has the best brother possible.
His older brother loves him so much and tries to teach him everything. Noland Jr. is a phenomenal older sibling. I could not have asked for him to be any happier or more excited for his brother. The response he has had at just 2 years old is heart warming. He wants to hold Eli at all times and teach him everything he can. I know that when Eli is old enough to play sports, this mentoring will grow even more. He is just so loved.
Eli, your brother loves you more than any brother can love another. Your parents love you as much as we possibly can. Your grandparents love you just as much as well. You live in a free country in America where you can be whatever you want. You are loved by so many and we will always love you. Most importantly God loves you. My son, you are blessed.
-Noland
Friday, July 31, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
What's It Like To Be A Parent?
The question I get asked the most would definitely be some form of...how do you enjoy being a parent?
My answer is typically the same....I Love It!
There are not a lot of things that are quite like being a parent, like being a father. Sure, there are coaches, teachers, and bosses that sometimes take on that parent role. Sometimes it is even the older sibling that does it, but that parent relationship goes a step further. As a coach and a teacher I can be like a parent, especially to those that do not have great ones, but it is not quite the same. That is not to discount the work coaches and teachers do, I am both and I don't think there are many higher callings, but parenthood is one.
So why do I love it so much?
Being a parent brings so much more joy into my life. Being able to share everything with my family. Helping them grow. Watching them grow. Being there for them. Seeing them want you to be there for them. Seeing them take after you while developing their own personalities. Seeing them admire you and try to be just like you. Seeing them seek out your approval on everything (I know this comes in a different form when they are older, but it is still there). Helping them to become productive members of society. Helping to lead them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A quality teacher or coach can be all of these, but the impact of the parent is amplified especially as the primary educator of the child.
Sure, there are difficult times, as there is with anything in life, we are imperfect beings after all. There are times of disappointment, tantrums, pity parties, poor listening skills, and much more. However, these times are so incredibly outweighed by the good. Those times also allow you to understand what the child still needs to grow. Every good thing in life is amplified to the extreme with kids, and every bad thing in life is put into perspective. It is just amazing.
It is incredible to have some little person want to be amazed and filled with wonder. There is nothing quite like trying to see the world through their eyes. See the world with such anticipation, with such curiosity. These children are so excited to go through the day and so much fun. Seeing places like Disney World are 100x more exciting with kids. Sure, they are fun to do on their own, but so much better with children. You can't even describe the joy that it brings you to see them so happy.
The last thing having a child does for me at least is it helps me to love my family more. It expands my heart. You never knew you could love something like that until you have one of your own. Knowing I created that child with my wife and creating that child makes me love her on a whole different level. My love is amplified for all, but especially my child, my wife, and my parents. I appreciate my parents so much more since I have had kids of my own. Knowing that they were filled with such love really puts everything into perspective. It allows me to see how much they have loved me. Truly, I feel that my parents love me more now than I could have ever dreamed of growing up. All the sacrifices are so much more noticeable and the love is too. It makes me really love and appreciate all people that much more.
We recently welcomed our 2nd child as I shared last week, and some photos are below of our two adorable kids.
This whole entry and what it is like being a parent really is perfect for today. That is because today is my mom's birthday. My mother is the hardest working person I have ever met and that sacrifice really helped my sister, my brothers, and I. She is a terrific grandparent and I can only imagine how much joy she was filled with when she saw my brother and I start families of their own. I imagine that is a whole different level of happiness seeing your family expand even more. Love your parents and tell them how much you appreciate them. If you don't have kids of your own, trust me when I say that your parents love and care for you a whole heck of a lot.
Eli Thomas and Noland David, your mom and dad love you more than you will ever know. Well, more than you will know until you have kids of your own at least.
-Noland
My answer is typically the same....I Love It!
There are not a lot of things that are quite like being a parent, like being a father. Sure, there are coaches, teachers, and bosses that sometimes take on that parent role. Sometimes it is even the older sibling that does it, but that parent relationship goes a step further. As a coach and a teacher I can be like a parent, especially to those that do not have great ones, but it is not quite the same. That is not to discount the work coaches and teachers do, I am both and I don't think there are many higher callings, but parenthood is one.
So why do I love it so much?
Being a parent brings so much more joy into my life. Being able to share everything with my family. Helping them grow. Watching them grow. Being there for them. Seeing them want you to be there for them. Seeing them take after you while developing their own personalities. Seeing them admire you and try to be just like you. Seeing them seek out your approval on everything (I know this comes in a different form when they are older, but it is still there). Helping them to become productive members of society. Helping to lead them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. A quality teacher or coach can be all of these, but the impact of the parent is amplified especially as the primary educator of the child.
Sure, there are difficult times, as there is with anything in life, we are imperfect beings after all. There are times of disappointment, tantrums, pity parties, poor listening skills, and much more. However, these times are so incredibly outweighed by the good. Those times also allow you to understand what the child still needs to grow. Every good thing in life is amplified to the extreme with kids, and every bad thing in life is put into perspective. It is just amazing.
It is incredible to have some little person want to be amazed and filled with wonder. There is nothing quite like trying to see the world through their eyes. See the world with such anticipation, with such curiosity. These children are so excited to go through the day and so much fun. Seeing places like Disney World are 100x more exciting with kids. Sure, they are fun to do on their own, but so much better with children. You can't even describe the joy that it brings you to see them so happy.
The last thing having a child does for me at least is it helps me to love my family more. It expands my heart. You never knew you could love something like that until you have one of your own. Knowing I created that child with my wife and creating that child makes me love her on a whole different level. My love is amplified for all, but especially my child, my wife, and my parents. I appreciate my parents so much more since I have had kids of my own. Knowing that they were filled with such love really puts everything into perspective. It allows me to see how much they have loved me. Truly, I feel that my parents love me more now than I could have ever dreamed of growing up. All the sacrifices are so much more noticeable and the love is too. It makes me really love and appreciate all people that much more.
We recently welcomed our 2nd child as I shared last week, and some photos are below of our two adorable kids.
Our fun family of four!
Baby Eli!
Parenthood is so much better with an awesome partner by your side.
My boys love each other
And their daddy loves them
Ready to take on the world
Who seriously looks this good after giving birth, I am pretty sure just my wife and the blessed virgin.
They love sharing life with you
It's your job to allow them to swing for the fences
While helping them grow.
This whole entry and what it is like being a parent really is perfect for today. That is because today is my mom's birthday. My mother is the hardest working person I have ever met and that sacrifice really helped my sister, my brothers, and I. She is a terrific grandparent and I can only imagine how much joy she was filled with when she saw my brother and I start families of their own. I imagine that is a whole different level of happiness seeing your family expand even more. Love your parents and tell them how much you appreciate them. If you don't have kids of your own, trust me when I say that your parents love and care for you a whole heck of a lot.
Eli Thomas and Noland David, your mom and dad love you more than you will ever know. Well, more than you will know until you have kids of your own at least.
-Noland
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Sorry For The Absence
We apologize for our absence. We have been quite busy as of late. We will be back by next Friday 7/24 and posting on this site. In our absence we have moved into our 1st home and welcomed our new sweet baby Eli Thomas into our lives. We are a family so filled with joy and happiness by the gifts we have received from God. God bless you and your family. Enjoy our photos while you wait for our return.
Friday, July 3, 2015
2015 Disney Character Rankings (102-91)
Last week, we started another countdown preview of Disney characters for this year. The guidelines have been established and it is time to actually start the countdown. So without further ado...
Hamm is one of the main characters in one of Disney's most popular franchises. He is the first of many Toy Story characters to appear on this list. There are at least 8 other Toy Story characters that will appear in this countdown and there could probably be even more. I decided to rank him lower though than the others because it is possible for the movies to succeed without him more so than the other characters. Additionally, he has very little presence himself while the others have much more. You can argue that the army men and a few other Toy Story characters who didn't make it, deserve it more than Hamm. It is an argument I am not going to make though, as I am quite satisfied with Hamm closing out the first group on the countdown.
Top 102 Characters in Disney for 2015
102. Fix-It Felix, Jr.
Previously Unranked
In the movie Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph comes from the game Fix-It Felix, Jr., a game in which Felix is the hero. That is what set the whole movie into motion. He is helpful and loved by all. Felix is also an unforgettable character from the movie and central to the story. While he isn't as key as Venellope and Ralph, he deserves a spot on the list. The fact that he has no presence at the parks though keeps him from getting any higher than this bottom spot. All that being said he is the hero in a very recent Disney movie and all the kids know him. He deserves inclusion and makes it here at 102.
Previously Unranked
Rajah was not included last time and that was a mistake on my part. There is a possibility that he will soar up this list in October with Aladdin releasing from the vault. He is the lovable tiger and pet of Princess Jasmine in the movie franchise. While he is not incredibly central to the story and while he has no presence at the parks, he is a memorable character from one of Disney's most iconic films. This main film is in many people's top 5, including being my wife's favorite. Rajah helps to make that possible. The fact that he was in one of the more popular movies, that isn't going anywhere, helps Rajah debut on this list. It helps more that there were two sequels that included Rajah as well. The only question is, where does he go from here.
Previously Unranked
Kala was a near miss the last time the list came out and she was acknowledged as an honorable mention. This time I realized my mistake after becoming more fascinated with the Tarzan film. Kala rescued Tarzan and the story does not succeed without Kala. She is absolutely central to the story as Tarzan's gorilla mother. Most of the fantastic songs are about her and Tarzan's relationship. This character absolutely belongs on the list and perhaps should be even higher than she is. The lack of presence at the parks prevents her from being higher, but I personally would love to see Tarzan rocks come back and move over to Hollywood Studios replacing either the Beauty and the Beast show or the Frozen Sing-Along. Hey, a guy can hope can't he?
Previous Ranking: 85
The first repeat offender on this list is the alleycat, Thomas O'Malley. This alleycat with his own theme song has dropped 14 spots and landed at #99. It is a good spot for Thomas who has no presence in the parks, but was a hero in the movie. Not only was he a hero, but he was voiced by Disney legend Phil Harris. Additionally, as I said before he has his own theme song. That theme song and his role in the movie keep him on the list here at 99. His buddy scat cat missed again, but O'Malley returns again to the list.
Previous Ranking: 70
Pegasus is Hercules' winged horse and best friend in the movie. He is very key and central to the movies storyline. While he is well known outside the Disney universe, he is also very key in it. This was a very popular movie as well. He absolutely deserves inclusion. However, he dropped 28 spots because he doesn't talk, there are more popular movies, and he has no presence at the parks. While he has no presence at the parks he is a lovable character. Such a lovable character that Disney sells his baby plush at the parks. That marketability and reliability are what help keep Pegasus on this list. He dropped quite a bit, but Pegasus stays strong at 98.
Previously Unranked
Venellope is the star of the game Sugar Rush and of course the movie Wreck-It Ralph. She ends up being Ralph's best friend in the movie and wins the race against the evil King Candy/Turbo. Her character is vital in one of Disney's most recent hits and she is in many of the parades that Disney World now offers. In addition to that, she is available with Ralph at Hollywood Studios to meet in person. Venellope is an easy addition to this list now that video game characters are included.
Note: She has since been removed from the meet and greet @ Hollywood Studios after I wrote this post and will therefore likely drop down the list the next time these characters are ranked.
Note: She has since been removed from the meet and greet @ Hollywood Studios after I wrote this post and will therefore likely drop down the list the next time these characters are ranked.
Previously Unranked
Baymax is new to the countdown because he wasn't a character the last time there was a countdown. The previous countdown was before Big Hero 6 even came out in theaters. Now that it is out, he had to be included. The question became where to rank Baymax. Here at 96 is a good starting spot. In this spot, he is on the countdown, but he isn't too high yet. It is important to find out if Baymax will have the staying power or if he is just the newest character that Disney has to offer. We do know that you can meet him and Hiro at Disney's Hollywood Studios though.
Previous Ranking: 84
This character has staying power and still has a presence at the Disney theme parks. Not only is he part of multiple movies and shows, but he is a star of the Three Caballeros ride. This cigar smoking friend of Donald is a Disney legend that stays on the list because he is a legend. His star is fading though and he may fall off the list next time if Disney doesn't start using him more again.
Previous Ranking: 83
See the write-up for Jose, but add that he does the majority of the singing during the ride and you will see why Panchito is 94 while Jose is 95. Panchito is Jose's main ally and of course the sombrero wearing bird from the photo above.
See the write-up for Jose, but add that he does the majority of the singing during the ride and you will see why Panchito is 94 while Jose is 95. Panchito is Jose's main ally and of course the sombrero wearing bird from the photo above.
Previous Ranking: 59
Maximus is a key character from the 2010 hit Tangled. The story and movie would struggle a bit without him, but he was not the main character in the movie. Additionally, other than a small part in the Festival of Fantasy parade, he has no presence in the parks. That being said he is a fantastic character from a popular movie that absolutely belongs on this list. I just had him a bit too high due to my personal affinity for the character. He probably belongs here in the 90s though and not in the 50s where I had him last time.
Previous Ranking: 61
Last time around, I gave Hopper a lot of praise and stated why he was one of my favorite characters. He is a fantastic character and A Bug's Life would have been much worse without him, but he should not have been as high as I had him. Despite me thinking he is one of Disney's best villains, many others do not see him that way. In fact, a lot of people do not care much for this movie. While he is a major character in the attraction at Animal Kingdom as well, a lot of people skip the attraction when visiting the park. This movie becomes less and less popular as time goes on. I fear that people won't even know who Hopper is in the near future. There are a lot of kids that could care less about Hopper and he can't rank in the Top 75 because of that. He does have a presence though and he is a strong character which allows him to stay on the list.
Previous Ranking: 65
Next week, we will do characters 90-81. Have a great weekend.
-Noland
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