Dear Rachel,
I know that I have not been very consistent at writing but please know that I think about it almost daily. This post refers to several weeks ago but will be true regardless of when you read it. This week you brought love peace and happiness to our home by being faithful. You do so much good in our family, ward and business and I wanted you to know it. I am well aware that you think you are not doing a good job handling everything that comes your way but I will respectfully disagree with you. I that the trials and hardships you have are proof that you are doing what the Lord wants you to do.
As I have thought about this post, I have recalled many of the numerous examples of people who ran into adversity while trying to do the work of the Lord. Nephi, Ammon, Daniel, shadrach, meshach and abednego, the pioneers and hundreds more. Fore each of them, when they were doing the work that was required of them, and starting to have success, is when their trials came. They were bad-mouthed, falsely accused, and even physically harmed. But the results that came out of them holding strongly to their convictions were heavenly.
I know that you have has some hard weeks with difficult people, difficult tasks, and difficult family members. but I also have to thank you for the faithfulness and charity with which you have approached these trials. Your example has definitely brought more love, peace and happiness to our home. You have truly handled these situations with the spirit and have grown because of them. Paul said " Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecution, in distresses for Christ's sake: foe when I am weak, then am I strong." I feel that over the past weeks your actions have carried this theme with them, and in doing so, you have had your testimony grow, and that has carried into the testimonies of our children. I love you so much and I am constantly amazed by everything you do.
Thank you again for bringing so much to our family.
I love you,
Brandon
Monday, August 31, 2015
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Dear Rachel,
This week you reminded me that you are my best friend. This week was not a great one. I was busy and ended the week on a bad note. I had every intention of sulking throughout the evening. You picked up on me having a hard day and were ready and waiting when I got home. You had prepared a steak dinner just for the two of us. You were cheerful and upbeat and blasted me with love, peace and happiness when I needed it the most.
This week, I saw again many of the reasons I fell in love with you. I remember when we were in college, you were so set on everyone enjoying themselves. You planned study groups with games and refreshments. your creative mind was always looking for a way to ensure that others were having fun, even during finals week. Every week you planned these elaborate dinners to involve even those that you just met.
That mindset has continues today. Our work party was sch a hit because you are so good at focusing on activities that will ensure that all those involved will have a good time. I appreciate how you consider every ones feelings and personalities when planning such events so there is something for everyone involved. You have the special ability to recognize what will make others comfortable, then you have the creativity to weave that into a well coordinated event that involves everyone in attendance and makes them feel the event was tailored to them, without making them feel singled out. That is a skill that not everyone possesses.
This week, I felt that you took those skills, and used them to make my Friday night much better than it should have. the events of the day had left me feeling anxious, preoccupied and overwhelmed and you brought me back to reality, laughed with me and brought me the comfort that only a best friend could. I always enjoy laughing, playing games, watching TV, and traveling with you, and this week I was reminded again, how much I love spending any time with you.
I love you so much and I'm so grateful for your fun personality that daily brings love peace and happiness to my live.
Love always,
Brandon
This week you reminded me that you are my best friend. This week was not a great one. I was busy and ended the week on a bad note. I had every intention of sulking throughout the evening. You picked up on me having a hard day and were ready and waiting when I got home. You had prepared a steak dinner just for the two of us. You were cheerful and upbeat and blasted me with love, peace and happiness when I needed it the most.
This week, I saw again many of the reasons I fell in love with you. I remember when we were in college, you were so set on everyone enjoying themselves. You planned study groups with games and refreshments. your creative mind was always looking for a way to ensure that others were having fun, even during finals week. Every week you planned these elaborate dinners to involve even those that you just met.
That mindset has continues today. Our work party was sch a hit because you are so good at focusing on activities that will ensure that all those involved will have a good time. I appreciate how you consider every ones feelings and personalities when planning such events so there is something for everyone involved. You have the special ability to recognize what will make others comfortable, then you have the creativity to weave that into a well coordinated event that involves everyone in attendance and makes them feel the event was tailored to them, without making them feel singled out. That is a skill that not everyone possesses.
This week, I felt that you took those skills, and used them to make my Friday night much better than it should have. the events of the day had left me feeling anxious, preoccupied and overwhelmed and you brought me back to reality, laughed with me and brought me the comfort that only a best friend could. I always enjoy laughing, playing games, watching TV, and traveling with you, and this week I was reminded again, how much I love spending any time with you.
I love you so much and I'm so grateful for your fun personality that daily brings love peace and happiness to my live.
Love always,
Brandon
Dear Rachel,
This week I again will bow down to you deal finding skills and sing praises that you can find a way to make money go way further than it was ever intended to. Yes, this week I will again admit that your ability to find deals does in fact bring love, peace and happiness to our home.
This week, you somehow managed to get all 7 of us into the movie "In and Out" for under $10. while I'm sure anyone over the age of 60 would complain, saying that when they were a kid they could see a movie with popcorn and drinks for $0.75 but today, 10 bucks is unheard of. You always seem to find these opportunities to give our family experiences that we would not have otherwise. I remember as a child going to the movies with the whole family about 4 times. Now, I maintain that the theater is not a necessary requirement for raising a cultured, educated family, but it sure does bring some fun to the summer. I think all of us had a great time ( except for the wrestling match between us and Josie that lasted from the opening credits to the ending song). I don't think anyone understands the vigilance that is required to snatch up these deals, but we are so grateful that we get to benefit from the fruits of your labors.
I am well aware that I sometimes give you a hard time about how much you obsess over getting the best deal, and sometimes it can accomplish the opposite of bringing love peace and happiness to our home :) but more often than not, we are, as a family, able to participate in activities, visit destinations, and create memories that we would not have the money to do other wise.
I am so glad that you are my eternal partner in creating a home and family and I love all the gifts and talents that you bring.
You are amazing,
Love,
Brandon
This week I again will bow down to you deal finding skills and sing praises that you can find a way to make money go way further than it was ever intended to. Yes, this week I will again admit that your ability to find deals does in fact bring love, peace and happiness to our home.
This week, you somehow managed to get all 7 of us into the movie "In and Out" for under $10. while I'm sure anyone over the age of 60 would complain, saying that when they were a kid they could see a movie with popcorn and drinks for $0.75 but today, 10 bucks is unheard of. You always seem to find these opportunities to give our family experiences that we would not have otherwise. I remember as a child going to the movies with the whole family about 4 times. Now, I maintain that the theater is not a necessary requirement for raising a cultured, educated family, but it sure does bring some fun to the summer. I think all of us had a great time ( except for the wrestling match between us and Josie that lasted from the opening credits to the ending song). I don't think anyone understands the vigilance that is required to snatch up these deals, but we are so grateful that we get to benefit from the fruits of your labors.
I am well aware that I sometimes give you a hard time about how much you obsess over getting the best deal, and sometimes it can accomplish the opposite of bringing love peace and happiness to our home :) but more often than not, we are, as a family, able to participate in activities, visit destinations, and create memories that we would not have the money to do other wise.
I am so glad that you are my eternal partner in creating a home and family and I love all the gifts and talents that you bring.
You are amazing,
Love,
Brandon
Friday, July 3, 2015
Dear Rachel,
This week again, I felt that you brought love peace and happiness to our home by capturing our family activities with your photography. This week we had the chance to go to H2O water park in Pampa. It. Was. Awesome. the weather was perfect and the activities were enough to wear out five children that had used an entire months worth of junk food calories in just one night.
I think I could write a whole book about the slides, the lazy river, and the pool area, but it still wouldn't compare to how you captured the evening with a few pictures. I sometimes feel that we get invited to events just because those inviting know that you will take amazing pictures and promote the adventure to the point that it becomes the next hottest party.
This evening was no exception. The kids have missed water slides so much that I'm pretty sure they tried to recreate one in the bathtub. As we walked into the park, I could feel the excitement radiating off of the bodies. Then the time came for them to actually ride the slides, and by the time they came out into the pool at the bottom, all their excitement was spewing from the smiles. Now, I know that you think that your photography is "no big deal" but I want you to think about what you are accomplishing. If I were to tell you " I am going to sugar rush your kids to the point of borderline seizures, overstimulate with activities that make ADHD seem mellow, and surround them with high speed enjoyment, and I want you to get pictures of them looking straight at the camera and smiling," many people would walk away in defeat and take up an easier task like uncovering the fountain of yoouth, or discovering the location of the lost city of Atlantis. Most people would not have a way to compete with the surrounding venue and just resign to having distracted, half-developed grins, and over-the-shoulder glances. But you somehow thrive in this setting. Our blog is filled with pictures that make observers feel they were present, and when we review them as a family, make us relive the vivid memories with glee.
Now, you may say that this does not bring love peace and happiness, again I will tell you that you are wrong! We can hardly drive across town without the kids asking for a story. they love to hear our accounts of memories of the adventures and mayhem that have consumed our family over the years. I will admit, they always turn to me to be the narrator of the tales, but I have to let you in on a secret. One way that I am able to remember the chronicles of Holloways is by referring back to the pictures you have taken. many, many times I have looked through your photographs and blog and surveyed the displays. I am then able to remember stories much easier because I recall the entertaining pictures that you have taken to capture such exciting moments.
I love that one of your talents and hobbies is to photo-document the way we pass the hours. I love you so much.
Love,
Brandon
This week again, I felt that you brought love peace and happiness to our home by capturing our family activities with your photography. This week we had the chance to go to H2O water park in Pampa. It. Was. Awesome. the weather was perfect and the activities were enough to wear out five children that had used an entire months worth of junk food calories in just one night.
I think I could write a whole book about the slides, the lazy river, and the pool area, but it still wouldn't compare to how you captured the evening with a few pictures. I sometimes feel that we get invited to events just because those inviting know that you will take amazing pictures and promote the adventure to the point that it becomes the next hottest party.
This evening was no exception. The kids have missed water slides so much that I'm pretty sure they tried to recreate one in the bathtub. As we walked into the park, I could feel the excitement radiating off of the bodies. Then the time came for them to actually ride the slides, and by the time they came out into the pool at the bottom, all their excitement was spewing from the smiles. Now, I know that you think that your photography is "no big deal" but I want you to think about what you are accomplishing. If I were to tell you " I am going to sugar rush your kids to the point of borderline seizures, overstimulate with activities that make ADHD seem mellow, and surround them with high speed enjoyment, and I want you to get pictures of them looking straight at the camera and smiling," many people would walk away in defeat and take up an easier task like uncovering the fountain of yoouth, or discovering the location of the lost city of Atlantis. Most people would not have a way to compete with the surrounding venue and just resign to having distracted, half-developed grins, and over-the-shoulder glances. But you somehow thrive in this setting. Our blog is filled with pictures that make observers feel they were present, and when we review them as a family, make us relive the vivid memories with glee.
Now, you may say that this does not bring love peace and happiness, again I will tell you that you are wrong! We can hardly drive across town without the kids asking for a story. they love to hear our accounts of memories of the adventures and mayhem that have consumed our family over the years. I will admit, they always turn to me to be the narrator of the tales, but I have to let you in on a secret. One way that I am able to remember the chronicles of Holloways is by referring back to the pictures you have taken. many, many times I have looked through your photographs and blog and surveyed the displays. I am then able to remember stories much easier because I recall the entertaining pictures that you have taken to capture such exciting moments.
I love that one of your talents and hobbies is to photo-document the way we pass the hours. I love you so much.
Love,
Brandon
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Dear Rachel,
This week I feel like I can't thank you enough for being who you are. You are so giving and caring. You naturally make efforts to make others feel comfortable and accommodated and without realizing it, you bring so much love peace and happiness to our home.
This week we had family visit our home. You are so thoughtful. I'm not sure if it is fueled by our personal experiences of being uncomfortable guests in other's homes or if you just believe that if you make company comfortable, they will come back more often. You have gone through such efforts to make our guest room hotel quality and all visitors love it. I think my mom looks forward to seeing what kind of chocolate you will leave, and Mindi said multiple times that the sheets were the most comfortable she had ever experienced. Now, I would like to take credit for these details but we both know that if I was spearheading the accommodations,the most luxurious feature would be the fact that there are no booby traps rigged to sting, startle, or trip our visitors.
Then there is the food. I still haven't figured out if you really think that the food you provide is impromptu, unorganized and mundane, or if you just want others to think you believe that. Either way, everyone eats like royalty when they visit. You are always so thoughtful to provide variety and take into consideration what others will want. You are always eager to slave away in the kitchen and prepare everything with very little assistance. Again, I'm not sure if you are really so kind hearted that you can't bear the thougt of puting a damper on their vacation by expecting assistance, or if it is just a clever way to have some precious time avoiding my family :) but your efforts to keep things going smoothly and tastily are always appreciated and anticipated by all who are lucky enough to partake.
And now for my favorite part of the week. Fathers Day!!! you out did yourself this year. I have tried to vocalize how wonderful you have made this day but I don't feel like it will ever be enough to show you how grateful I am. You got me the most awesome gift ever. I feel so overwhelmed and unworthy of the bike that you got me that I feel guilty for having it. You went through so much effort to find the perfect gift, then have it picked up, set up, and presented in unequivocal fashion. I still remember how excited I was when I received my first bike when I was 7 years old. I couldn't wait to ride it every minute of the day. I felt like I finally understood the freedom that our forefathers had fought to obtain and it wasn't until I had one of my own that I realized that the likely cause of the revolutionary war was the invention of the bicycle. I went to bed dreaming about the voyages that were just in front of my handlebars and woke up thirsting for the adventures that only a two-wheeled, self-propelled miraculous mode of transportation could provide. Somehow, that same excitement has returned and while I find it easier to resist the urge to write a series of children's novels about a Young boy who saves the world from various evil villains with nothing but the assistance of his trusty BMX, I do look forward to any spare minute I have to hit the trails.
I hope you know how much the little efforts you make bring so much joy to all those around you.
I love you!
Brandon
This week I feel like I can't thank you enough for being who you are. You are so giving and caring. You naturally make efforts to make others feel comfortable and accommodated and without realizing it, you bring so much love peace and happiness to our home.
This week we had family visit our home. You are so thoughtful. I'm not sure if it is fueled by our personal experiences of being uncomfortable guests in other's homes or if you just believe that if you make company comfortable, they will come back more often. You have gone through such efforts to make our guest room hotel quality and all visitors love it. I think my mom looks forward to seeing what kind of chocolate you will leave, and Mindi said multiple times that the sheets were the most comfortable she had ever experienced. Now, I would like to take credit for these details but we both know that if I was spearheading the accommodations,the most luxurious feature would be the fact that there are no booby traps rigged to sting, startle, or trip our visitors.
Then there is the food. I still haven't figured out if you really think that the food you provide is impromptu, unorganized and mundane, or if you just want others to think you believe that. Either way, everyone eats like royalty when they visit. You are always so thoughtful to provide variety and take into consideration what others will want. You are always eager to slave away in the kitchen and prepare everything with very little assistance. Again, I'm not sure if you are really so kind hearted that you can't bear the thougt of puting a damper on their vacation by expecting assistance, or if it is just a clever way to have some precious time avoiding my family :) but your efforts to keep things going smoothly and tastily are always appreciated and anticipated by all who are lucky enough to partake.
And now for my favorite part of the week. Fathers Day!!! you out did yourself this year. I have tried to vocalize how wonderful you have made this day but I don't feel like it will ever be enough to show you how grateful I am. You got me the most awesome gift ever. I feel so overwhelmed and unworthy of the bike that you got me that I feel guilty for having it. You went through so much effort to find the perfect gift, then have it picked up, set up, and presented in unequivocal fashion. I still remember how excited I was when I received my first bike when I was 7 years old. I couldn't wait to ride it every minute of the day. I felt like I finally understood the freedom that our forefathers had fought to obtain and it wasn't until I had one of my own that I realized that the likely cause of the revolutionary war was the invention of the bicycle. I went to bed dreaming about the voyages that were just in front of my handlebars and woke up thirsting for the adventures that only a two-wheeled, self-propelled miraculous mode of transportation could provide. Somehow, that same excitement has returned and while I find it easier to resist the urge to write a series of children's novels about a Young boy who saves the world from various evil villains with nothing but the assistance of his trusty BMX, I do look forward to any spare minute I have to hit the trails.
I hope you know how much the little efforts you make bring so much joy to all those around you.
I love you!
Brandon
Monday, June 15, 2015
Dear Rachel,
This week I think your attention to detail has brought love peace and happiness. Now, you may not believe me when I say this because we both know there are times that I have refereed to your attention to detail as OCD, obsession and control freakiness, but I am focusing on the positive.
This week ( as well as the past few weeks) you have been involved in planning a trip for he two of us. Whether it is to celebrate a birthday, anniversary surviving being done with residency for one year or any of the other 346 thousand blessings we have to rejoice in is irrelevant. the fact remains that we have worked hard to get to this point and I think we deserve to treat ourselves. You have taken all the responsibility upon yourself to ensure that this trip is perfect in every way. First, you have recognized that you would not be able to enjoy the getaway unless you know that we did not pay anymore for the plane tickets than we had to. You have scoured the airlines to find the best flight times, layovers and prices possible. that has not been a easy task but you have done it well.
Then, you have spent the past several weeks researching all the available activities including places to stay, restaurants, extracurricular activities, beaches, proximity to church, reviews and I'm pretty sure you you have already met 5 or 6 people who will be there at the same time and want to get together with us.
I want you to know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. i appreciate so much how much you value this time and want it to go perfectly. Rarely go things just fall into place with no effort, but you are taking all the work on yourself to make sure that we can enjoy this getaway and strengthen our relationship. I am not naive to how much work you have put into our vacation time and I look forward to it so much. You somehow have factored in both of our interests, our likes and dislikes, and time available to somehow plan the perfect vacation and I thank you for that.
This same attention to detail is what has allowed us to run a successful practice, have and raise 5 children, survive school and residency, and enjoy it along the way.
I love you,
Brandon
This week I think your attention to detail has brought love peace and happiness. Now, you may not believe me when I say this because we both know there are times that I have refereed to your attention to detail as OCD, obsession and control freakiness, but I am focusing on the positive.
This week ( as well as the past few weeks) you have been involved in planning a trip for he two of us. Whether it is to celebrate a birthday, anniversary surviving being done with residency for one year or any of the other 346 thousand blessings we have to rejoice in is irrelevant. the fact remains that we have worked hard to get to this point and I think we deserve to treat ourselves. You have taken all the responsibility upon yourself to ensure that this trip is perfect in every way. First, you have recognized that you would not be able to enjoy the getaway unless you know that we did not pay anymore for the plane tickets than we had to. You have scoured the airlines to find the best flight times, layovers and prices possible. that has not been a easy task but you have done it well.
Then, you have spent the past several weeks researching all the available activities including places to stay, restaurants, extracurricular activities, beaches, proximity to church, reviews and I'm pretty sure you you have already met 5 or 6 people who will be there at the same time and want to get together with us.
I want you to know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. i appreciate so much how much you value this time and want it to go perfectly. Rarely go things just fall into place with no effort, but you are taking all the work on yourself to make sure that we can enjoy this getaway and strengthen our relationship. I am not naive to how much work you have put into our vacation time and I look forward to it so much. You somehow have factored in both of our interests, our likes and dislikes, and time available to somehow plan the perfect vacation and I thank you for that.
This same attention to detail is what has allowed us to run a successful practice, have and raise 5 children, survive school and residency, and enjoy it along the way.
I love you,
Brandon
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Dear Rachel,
As I am doing these posts I realize that many of the things you do to bring love peace and happiness, start out as being opposed to what I say. I'm not sure if that means I am the enemy to Peace or if it just takes me longer to catch the vision. This week was the last week of school. The kids had worked very hard all year and were all very successful. They had all developed a relationship with their teachers and wanted to do something special to show their appreciation. It had been, what is becoming, a typical day for us, working like crazy, running all over town, meetings, and maybe in meal if there was enough time. The kids were getting ready for be and Kaden reminded you that he wanted to so something for their teachers. I'm pretty sure you stopped yourself as you were falling to the cough in mid collapse and went to the store for a gift for the teachers.
While I was not in support of this at first, the more I thought about it the more I realized it brought love peace in a happiness in a few different ways. The Kids were thrilled because it gave them a chance to feel like they had a special relationship with their teachers. I think they have developed your sense of love and they like to show that through unexpected actions. The teachers got to be surprised and I'm sure they were honored to receive anything from their students. I'm sure teaching is a job that can got unnoticed, taken for granted and unappreciated so any toke of gratitude is probably cherished.
you ware great at doing little acts that show others how much they are needed and you have instilled the same thoughtful nature in our children.
Thank you for all you do, I love you.
Brandon
As I am doing these posts I realize that many of the things you do to bring love peace and happiness, start out as being opposed to what I say. I'm not sure if that means I am the enemy to Peace or if it just takes me longer to catch the vision. This week was the last week of school. The kids had worked very hard all year and were all very successful. They had all developed a relationship with their teachers and wanted to do something special to show their appreciation. It had been, what is becoming, a typical day for us, working like crazy, running all over town, meetings, and maybe in meal if there was enough time. The kids were getting ready for be and Kaden reminded you that he wanted to so something for their teachers. I'm pretty sure you stopped yourself as you were falling to the cough in mid collapse and went to the store for a gift for the teachers.
While I was not in support of this at first, the more I thought about it the more I realized it brought love peace in a happiness in a few different ways. The Kids were thrilled because it gave them a chance to feel like they had a special relationship with their teachers. I think they have developed your sense of love and they like to show that through unexpected actions. The teachers got to be surprised and I'm sure they were honored to receive anything from their students. I'm sure teaching is a job that can got unnoticed, taken for granted and unappreciated so any toke of gratitude is probably cherished.
you ware great at doing little acts that show others how much they are needed and you have instilled the same thoughtful nature in our children.
Thank you for all you do, I love you.
Brandon
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