Bumper Car Madness

So we went to the fair last month and decided that we REALLY like bumper cars.
Mainly, having Tessa drive, while i video her mangling children.
This really happened.

(Viewer Discretion is Advised)




(No children were harmed in the owning of these bumper cars.)

- Joe

Pumpkin Patch.

When I was last in Arkansas, Joe and I decided to have a night of pumpkin carving with our friends Faith and Aaron. Here's a few pics from our visit to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins!!

Late Night Thoughts

So its 12:12 AM, and by all technicalities...its literally "the wee hours of the morning." I'm going to just pretend it's not quite 12 yet. Cool? ...cool.
Tess and I are quite the duo. Seriously, I've never had a connection with such an amazing girl before. She's witty, beautiful, sarcastic (definitely a must), and totally tolerant of my silly antics. If you know me at all (or have read any of my post thus far) you know that i'm a total dork, and she loves it! She takes the good and the bad when it comes to ole' Joe. This is not only rare, but cherished. I've simply never met anyone in the same caliber as this fine young lady. Of course, there are times when we start to argue, but are able to quickly resolve our issues. Even if she is a little stubborn sometimes. =]
We have had an interesting day today. Somehow we both got today off work/school, and just got to sit and talk on one of our many skype dates that last throughout the day. We love to play these games where we get to know one another, and today we played "either/or." For example: "Tessa, which do i like more,...Salt and Vinegar chips...or BBQ!?""
We love doing this to re-establish our connection and continue to learn about each other, in hopes of continually bettering our connection.
By the way i love Salt and Vinegar chips...and yes she knew that instantly when i asked.
The reason i mention this is so that we all remember that no matter how much we love our special someone, its never a bad idea to continually connect with them. Find out more of their likes and dislikes, favorites things, and places they'd love to go one day. Don't stop studying your loved one when you get them. Instead, treat them as if you are dating and learn more about them!
When Tess wants to play one of those games it instantly lets me know "shes wanting to connect and play, she's so thoughtful!"

Shes amazes me to no end.

I pray that you find yourself seeking knowledge of your loved one, just as we continually seek knowledge of the Father and His word in our everyday lives.

- Joe

Early Morning Thoughts

So it's like 7 a.m.-ish and I am WIDE awake while Joe is still sleeping some 800 something miles away. Sometimes I wish our lives were completely on the same schedule because that would make things so much easier.. Instead, it's more like: I wake up. He wakes up and goes straight to work. I go to work before he gets off work. He gets off work. I get off work way later than him and by the time I get home I'm exhausted and fall asleep on Skype. And repeat.

Some days, we're lucky if we both have a moment when we're able to talk on the phone for more than five minutes. But we manage to make it work. Lots of half asleep Skype dates, trying to take lunch breaks at the same time, 10 minute "driving in the car" phone calls, doing whatever we possibly can to talk to each other since we're usually on completely opposite schedules.

And for all those people out there who think "Oh they're relationship is perfect. They make long distance look so easy..." Trust me, it's not. I'll be honest.. Long distance SUCKS. I've been told a lot that "long distance never works" and I can see why most long distance relationships don't work. A lot of missing that person and hurting because you miss them goes into a long distance relationship. And it's not for everyone. That person has to be your best friend, your life. You just have to suck it up and get over the fact that that person lives however far away. You have to make the best of your time with that person. Loving every moment you get with them and not taking one second for granted. You have to trust enough to work through difficult times from miles and miles apart. You have to want to learn new things about them every single day. You just have to love that person. I mean.. seriously love them. You have to show them that you love them, even when you're miles apart. And you have to put God first. Get creative and be bold! Holding nothing back.

I won't say that it's always been easy for Joe and I, because it hasn't.

But there is no one I would rather be with. Absolutely no one. There is no one else I would rather wake up to a phone call from. No one else I would rather Skype for hours with. No one else who's day I just want to hear about every single day. I love this boy so much. Through easy times and hard times. Whether I get to talk to him all day or for just ten minutes. It's not easy. I miss him every day. But it just makes me even more eager until the next time I get to see him (which is in 39 days!!!). And makes me look forward to getting to move to his city (only 4 1/2 months y'all!!!!). I'm crazy about him. And yeah it sucks that a lot of days we're on completely opposite schedules, but we suck it up and get it over it. Because we love each other. And that's what's important.

I'm just so thankful that God brought him into my life. And so thankful that God has blessed both of us with the strength and patience and love to make our relationship work.


Anyways.. These are just random thoughts from my head this morning. I'm missing Joe, a lot right now. I think I'll go call him and wake him up :)



Xoxo,
Tess.

Adventures in Mountain Climbing

    Tess and I have many adventures when we get to be together, this one was so much fun! Here in Little Rock where I (Joe) am from, there's the famous Pinnacle Mt. that Arkansans love to frequent. Tessa heard lots about it from my ranting, and before she came, we decided that it would have to be an activity added to our daily schedule. So prior to her visit we had planned our week out and crammed as much as we could in the short time we usually have together. We went to Marshall's, bought her a water bottle and a really cool Storm Trooper mask, jumped in the car and made our way down the road to Pinnacle Mountain.

We absolutely love star wars, and had to have the helmet. It simply made the climb that more interesting. (It was a voice activated mask. Including, uttering like: "Look sharp rookie," GET DOWN," and "we're on the attack!")

When driving up to the mountain Tess kept saying how awesome it was and how pretty it was (I think the mountain is manly...just for the record). We even stopped so she could take pictures of it on the road driving there. She's such a girl. =D 

     We arrived and it was so peaceful that day. The weather was great and we actually expected it to be much colder, as we arrived in our sweaters. Mistake. We changed, filled up our bottles and embarked. Tess kept asking if it was going to be difficult, and i would tell her no, knowing that i was going to eventually take her up a harder part of the mountain when there is a V in the path.
   











On the part of the way up that was more comforting and peaceful, we took gag pictures with the mask.

                                         Needless to say, we know how to mountain party.

The real struggle was yet to come, and when we got to that place of struggle it wasn't welcomed well by the mighty little Tessa Grace. Her poor little self was so tired at some points, but she was always a trooper (pun intended) and marched her way up the mountain!

Finally we reached the top after a while of sweating and struggling (on both our behalf's  and there was the beautiful Arkansas, next to the only more beautiful Tessa. Its moments like these we can capture in a second and realize how much the world has nothing to offer you compared to what God has given you. God gave me my best friend, and She is more beautiful than all the mountain views in the world. The depths of my affections towards her are endless and i am blessed by her every single day.

We made our way down the mountain and continued on with the rest of our day, but this was the story of our first mountain climbing experience together. Praying for many, many more in the near future!

- Joe





Seriously,...I'm in Love Yo.

- Joe

Fun at the Fair

So, our friend Stephanie Parsley took some awesome pictures of us while we were at the Arkansas State Fair. Here are our favorites! And check out her website (stephanieparsleyphotography.com) for more of her pictures. This girl is amazing and so so talented! Thanks again Stephanie!!