Missing My Girls! ~A Narrative of Appreciation

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

-Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)

Just this past week, my wife, Lisa, took Annabelle to Austin, Texas so they could visit with Grandma Silvia (a.k.a. Grandma Silky), which I am sure was an interesting experience for my daughter, to say the least.

I must admit that the house is much quieter, and moments seem to move a little slower with my family gone. I definitely miss their presence around me, and I might even potentially miss the chaos constantly in motion. The house remains clean. The silence of a home environment seems almost too good to be true, especially when I need to get work done or study for my doctoral program. Funny how the nature of this dualistic reality works – when immediate family is present, we sometimes wish they were absent to get things done. However, when they are gone for an extended period, our heart clings to have our loved ones back, somewhere near us.

In the form of relationships, we often take for granted the people we assume will continue to be here every day. The blessings that life gives us means that life can also take them away instantaneously. For instance, people eventually die, leaving precious relationships behind, only to be reunited at another eternal time in the future.

Induration, this timeframe with Lisa’s visit to Texas is the longest I have been separated from Annabelle since her birth. Her missed presence shows how much she truly is a source of joy and my sunshine on a cloudy day. It feels a little lonely without my girls here with me in our home.

It does not matter how bad I feel or what might be consuming my mind. Annabelle’s smile makes a lonely day that much better, giving me the ability to focus on my child and not so much on myself. Our attention given to serving others draws forth positive energy that can only lead to other positive outcomes. Perhaps that is why Christ fixated his attention on others in service to them. He felt positive vibes in the act of doing so.

When Lisa and Annabelle return this week, I hope their absence will be a reminder of how truly fortunate I am to have each of them in my life. They sure are my closest support system since we still do not know many folks in Knoxville, where we now live. In a sense, I would even call Lisa and Annabelle my best friends. I hope a grateful heart lives in the realization of just how amazing they are when I can see and experience their presence on a daily basis.

(Annabelle loves to play with Daddy on the floor where her toys take over the entire living room.)

(Annabelle thinking, “Who is ready to cook these eggs for breakfast?”)

(Annabelle loves to eat, party, and dance while we play the game, Singo, at one of our favorite local spots in Knoxville, Calhoun’s Restaurant.)

(Annabelle thinking, “Is that the theme song from the movie, Frozen, I hear again on the TV? I love this tune!”)

#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #blog #family #DaddiesAndDaughters #destinations #memories #story #narrative #inspiration #JamesCartee

A TRIP to FRIPP - The Baby’s First Trip at The Beach….Positivity Spreads Across Generations!

(Annie, Lisa, and I are walking on the beaches at Hunting Island State Park. You can see the tip of the famous lighthouse in the background.) 

I count each additional day that I get to spend time with my daughter, Annabelle, to be a precious blessing. Her smiles cause my heart to freeze with joy each time I sense her evident happiness.

Life is short, and as humans, we often become what we concentrate our attention on the most. For instance, if I constantly complain about trivial details in my life, then I will probably have a slightly negative disposition towards my life. On the other hand, if I speak positively of every circumstance in my life, then naturally I will probably love life, even amid tragedies. There is good to be found in every situation if you seek the good things you wish for. We become what our thoughts most dwell on, psychologically, emotionally, and perhaps even spiritually.

Life potentially develops into what you expect will happen. And of course, sometimes the unexpected happens but not necessarily in a bad way. If we ask God to bless us, then we can optimistically expect those requests to come to fruition. Believe they will occur. I speak these life wishes into verbal statements of self-affirmation over and over and over again. You transform yourself into the thoughts you give the most attention to, positive or negative sentiments.

Like the positive person I hope Annabelle continues to be through her continual giggles and smiles, she probabilistically emulates the people she spends the most time with, her parents. For the first time this past week, Annabelle experienced the feel of beach sand, a lighthouse climb of multiple stairs, and her feet against ocean waves. I choose to focus my attention on her first nervous steps in the cold waves (positive), rather than the observation that the weather was not exactly ideal (negative). I hope to fixate on my rare moments with family I only see a couple of times a year (positive), rather than some of their relative tendencies to slightly annoy me (negative).

While partaking in my beach vacation, for instance, I was given a brief lecture on how Lisa and I should be raising Annabelle. I have noticed that many folks willingly give advice, even when not requested. If a cynic focuses only on cynical commentary, then their continual self-indulgent need to give advice will neither come across as positive or constructive. It is just painful on the ears forced to listen. Hence James 1:19 reminds us of the following: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

I hope Annabelle is raised to realize, live, and know the humility of when to listen and when to speak (thriving with a James 1:19 mentality). Walking on the beach provides a majestic opportunity to listen to the crashes of waves and the voices of nature with seagulls soaring in a place called home, meaning Fripp Island, South Carolina. My family has journeyed to Fripp Island every summer for the last 50 years, not missing one year in that streak. This continual tradition is quite an impressive blessing! I gasp in the awes of island sunsets and beach sunrises in this marvelous place on an annual basis.     

I will acknowledge and concentrate on the fact that each new year at Fripp Island is better than the previous one. My positive mentality in the present will actively transform into my positive mentality for the future. Each day that passes can be better than the previous day. I suppose it is just a matter of how you look at life and the present moment you live in. What do you give most of your mental attention to? Because that focused energy will be the force you generate throughout your life, positive or negative, optimistic or cynical. I hope that Annabelle lives with moments at Fripp Island where her Daddy laughs and smiles more than anyone else in the room with true joy. The sand between my toes is the positive sensation I will remember and give thanks for as my daughter builds her first sandcastles.

I am no longer the glass-half-empty kind of guy. Annabelle helps me be a glass-half-full father for the future. She constantly reminds me of what is most important in life, experienced memories, a relationship with Jesus, and family.

And of course, here at some of our favorite photographed moments with Annabelle at Fripp Island.

(Annie with G-Daddy on the beach, my father.)

(Annie and her first steps in the ocean water on the beach.)

(Annie, Lisa, and me before dinner at The Bonita Boathouse, restaurant at Fripp Island Marina.) 

(Annie with CeeCee at the Lost Local Restaurant in downtown Beaufort, South Carolina, my mom.)

(Annie on the beach with G-Daddy, Aunt Susan, and Cousin Madison.) 

(Annie inside the beach tent with Lisa and me. It was cold and windy on this day.)

(Annie wakes up at the beach house in the morning. Mornings are usually the time for her best, cheerful moods….a.k.a. fun to be around.)

#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #blog #family #DaddiesAndDaughters #destinations #memories #story #narrative #inspiration #JamesCartee

Loving and Appreciating Life As It Is Right Now (Lisa and Annabelle Included)…..

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus.” 1 Corinthians 1:4 (NKJV)

I was recently challenged by a fellow author to write about a person I love, near the time of Valentine’s Day. And of course, naturally those two people to describe in this manner would be my wife and daughter, Lisa and Annabelle. In addition to adoring my two best ladies, should I not also love the life that I have been given in the present hour? In other words, as Christians, we could choose to love each day while the current moment happens right now, this very minute, this very second. Taking our additional days for granted, we journey through life, expecting another day to come tomorrow as if no big deal. Of course, there are no guarantees that the next day will come.

With recent events in my life, I have really been trying to appreciate my time with family and friends, or maybe even just completing simple tasks. I get to do these things instead of thinking about these things as a boring agenda item to knock off my to-do list. In fact, there are talents that I possess that I even take for granted simply by the ease of doing them. For example, I am great at school (working on my doctorate). I write well. And I grade many assignments in an efficient, productive, positive manner, which might take someone else much more time to do so. When you are good at an activity, even if you find it monotonous at times (sitting at a computer for hours), try not to take it for granted. This activity might take someone else several hours to do what you do in a shorter amount of time.

While our daughter entered the world in August last year, which turned out to be the best blessing ever, Lisa and I also experienced many losses this year – two aunts, a former boss, a great uncle, a grandmother, an uncle’s mother, another uncle’s mother, a friend’s son who we know through church, and even some others I cannot recall right now. Some of these loved ones suffered greatly, and while it might sound self-focused, I am glad to be healthy. I took a walk today. I can eat good food from a grocery store or decent restaurant. I go to the gym several days a week. I can afford the gym membership to go work out. The blessings keep unfolding as I could spend hours writing them down.

Perhaps these are the details we should focus our energy on. Life is precious. Even though I work more than I would like to sometimes, I seek to enjoy my life in case my end is soon coming. Not to say that it is, however the days go by fast. And we have been given a chance to live this very present moment. That is no small thing. So, while I love my girls, I also want to make sure I love my life as it is right now.

While Valentine’s Day might be the cheesiest special occasion of the year, if you can, try to love everything about your life circumstances, not just one or two things. Only then will you truly be content.

Lisa and Annabelle, I love you! Happy Valentine’s Day!

-James L. Cartee, III

Here are some of the latest Annabelle photos for your viewing enjoyment.

#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #DaddiesAndDaughters #daughters #family #blog #destinations #memories #story #narrative #inspiration #JamesCartee

Homage To My Wife and The Mother of My Child, Lisa

This holiday season I am especially thankful for my wife, Lisa. It is very easy to take every blessing in life for granted, especially when you expect the luxuries many of us receive daily, weekly, and monthly. We should rather count our blessings instead of expecting them as if we deserve it. Those luxuries are not forever guaranteed. So be sure to appreciate the blessings while you can. Make it a priority to let loved ones know how much they mean to you. Every gift comes from above, including family, however there is no guarantee of tomorrow.

Mothers have a special connection to their children, and Lisa continues to show this deeper relationship with Annabelle. Sometimes, when I cannot get Annabelle to stop crying, I hand her over to Lisa, and instantly she is a different baby, calm and settled. Like I said, it is a special bond.

I could not be all I am and do the things I do without Lisa’s presence in my life. She is an angel from God! While working her own job, Lisa takes good care of me and our daughter while I often focus on my PhD. studies and work several jobs myself. With Lisa’s service to our family, she makes many things possible for me – the opportunity to travel, earn an advanced degree, learn new languages, and follow my many passions, just to name a few. I cannot think of enough positive details to tell you about my wife, including that Lisa is a phenomenal mom. When I am not around, I know Annabelle is in excellent hands!     

When I first met Lisa, I must admit that I thought she was a little weird. Her appearance depicted that Girl with The Dragon Tattoo vibe. I was honestly a little scared. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined on my first date with Lisa at The San Antonio Museum of Art that she would birth our first child approximately five years later. God, indeed, works in mysterious ways! As a wonderful mother, Lisa becomes more and more attractive everyday she continues to nurture Annabelle. Of course, Annabelle gets her beauty naturally from her mother.

Lisa has a natural disposition to serve others and also to quickly forgive. She does everything within her efforts to make sure that Annabelle and I are happy. Perhaps the greatest virtue of a mother is thinking of others before one’s self. I am fortunate to have a remarkable child and an incredible spouse! Perhaps family in community is the best blessing a man can have after all.

This holiday season, rather than focusing on what I do not have, I should be focusing on the clear blessings before me in mom and child and other relationships around me. Perhaps you might also want to do the same.

How abundant are the good things
    that you have stored up for those who fear you,
that you bestow in the sight of all,
    on those who take refuge in you.

Psalm 31:19 (NIV)

*Please see some of our most recent Annabelle pictures below. 

#daddydestinations #daddy #daughters #blog #family 

#DaddiesAndDaughters #destinations #memories

God’s Guardian Angels in Our Daily Routine

 

Toxic thoughts often enter our mind and then those toxic thoughts enter into our emotions, altering our perception. Perhaps we then believe the false claims of these toxic thoughts. As one might say, we are our own worst enemy, however I believe there is a bigger enemy at play.

Parenthood can be intimidating for anyone, however when you really look at an innocent baby, one might wonder, “How does this little human being scare the pants off me?” While there are many elements in life beyond our control, God is much bigger!

We try to fill our lives with self-accomplishments when Christ paid the price to give us ultimate freedom from our to-do lists. A young child-like faith is an exemplary standard of personal freedom to be experienced. We strive for perfection, and when I really think about it, I ask myself this question - “Why am I striving for a goal that one person in human history has already achieved?”

Jesus came down from the heavenly realms to become perfection so that we could live through him. The sacrifice has been paid, and while this truth seems so simple to understand, it is, indeed, hard to live out. Annabelle reminds me that we are not alone. We are surrounded by clouds of eternal hosts so that we may live our lives in the protection of God’s guardian angels.

Here are some of Annabelle’s latest photos to conclude this blog entry on another good note.