Aspen's Journey with Cystic Fibrosis -Growing Like a TREE: 8 years and 11 months and getting a bit of an attitude! 🤪

Happy 8 years and 11 months, Aspen! 💜

I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that you will be NINE next month. You have changed so much in the past 6 months or so. You have always been Mr. Independent but you are TRULY now Mr. Independent. LOL You have a lot of confidence and I think that's great. You think you can do anything and you actually can do SO much! You are one of the "guys" now. You beat your Dad and Pops in Nintendo golf and Mario Cart. You are an excellent fisherman and have an incredible aim with your gun and blow darts. Speaking of blow darts... you are a tad bit obsessed. 🤪 You make homemade ones and aim at everything from boxes to birds. When the "kids" are playing... you only occasionally join in. LOL

You are VERY good with Truett and love to feed him or walk around with him to prove that you can carry him wherever he needs to go. You love him SO!

You love the outdoors more than anything. You are always exploring and building or making or shooting something. You've had your pellet gun taken away more times than I can count. 😓 You are testing your limits some and not telling the truth on various occasions. Your Mama has remained strong in taking those things that are important to you away to teach you how to respond and to act. Dee Dee is praying that you will learn these life lessons soon and be able to do what you love outside. You have a bit of a temper right now and don't seem to think about consequences.

I'm asking the Lord to speak to your heart and help you act like the sweet boy that you are. Cause I think you are pretty awesome and sweet and fun and analytical and outdoor through and through and passionate and smart and funny and so much more! 💛 You are competitive and so am I... but that gets you into trouble at times. It's a learning process and I know you will learn it.

You started your month having extra vest time. You had a virus or something that caused you to cough so you had to bump up your vest time to 4 times a day. I'm so grateful that you got passed whatever it was without meds from the doctor and none of the rest of us getting "it!"

You love for Pops to help you with projects you dream up!

Trying to catch a cherry tomato with your mouth! 😂

You love to make homemade blow darts! 😉

Playing your Nintendo hunting game! 🤣

You come up with ideas big and small! LOL I have no doubt that you will do something with your hands when you grow up!

You love fruit. You were telling me last night that mango is your favorite.

Snapchat laughs!

You came in the room to tell your Mom you had been reading your Bible. 💙

You three love to watch things on YouTube!

Oh my heart! You made me the most beautiful ring. You even came over and looked at the size of my finger and made it to fit perfectly. I love this so much! 💛

You are really good with Truett!

You are very strong. You can pull yourself up in a mighty way!

You make friends easily!

We went to Target for you to spend your gift card! You picked this really cool red bird that was remote controlled.

You have amazing aim with your slingshot. No one expected you to really be able to kill a bird but 😳

Now THAT is a smile! And we know just how talented you really are. No more robins. ha!

You kept the wings!

Since you can't kill birds... you are practicing on a box! LOL

Those lashes! 💛

You were used on this Great Strides announcement by the CF Foundation!

Your red bird in action!

I love when you come up to see what we are up to! Some days you bring your lunch with you! 💙

Since you are SO good with your slingshot... you are throwing a "twist" in... 😆

You love to watch the birds so Dee Dee got you and B these bird feeders for the trees for Valentine's Day!

I love when you bring me flowers. We haven't played this scavenger hunt game in a while...

You help with whatever Pops is doing if you can!

I think it's the cutest that you wanted to go to the recycle center and help unload.

You even put your stuffed bird you got in NC in the tree to shoot! 🤣

We went to Monroe to celebrate Valentine's Day! 😍

Scoops for the WIN!

SOOO funny that you wanted a squirrel instead of candy!

I sure do love all my Crocs boys! 🧡

Looking for a book in the Story Shop. Mrs. Julie was trying to help you. You made the mature decision that you couldn't find what you were looking for. I told you I would take you back one day!

We had ice cream but you wanted to sit in the sun. We all joined you! 🥰

You've been wanting to go to Meridian to skate so we did just that. You also fed the geese and ducks!

You went around the lake 4 times. Pops and I kept and eye on you but couldn't keep up. ha!

ALWAYS making something!

We love beautiful days to sit outside!

If I'm taking a picture with Thomason you love to join in! Sweet boys!

You two are so cute! 😍

We played ball. I even threw the ball with you. I think you were surprised that I could catch the ball in Pop's glove. ☺️

Playing golf with Pops is a favorite thing to do. You even taught me some this month and I played a few holes with you!

You didn't get to keep it long before it was taken away from you again. 🥺 I just know you are going to learn the lessons your Mama is trying to teach you!

Pop's and I went away for Valentine's Day! I love that we could FaceTime!

You say your favorite subject is reading! I love that!

You love to attack your Daddy when he gets home from work! 😆

We celebrated Co-Chri's birthday! You always want to light the candles!

You are creative!

I was able to help you with your math one day. I love when I can...

Your Mama is so good at helping you learn!

It was dead but our first snake of the year!

🤣

You were used on a CF project. Then and now. So sweet!

Homemade bow and arrow! Yep! Creative!

You are the cutest working in Pop's workshop!

I love hugs from you! 💛

Making you some chocolate milk!

YAY!!!!!!

You spent the night with Nelly!

I'm grateful for the difference our team is making! We've raised over $170,000 to date for a CURE!

Your hair is OUT of control but you're still not wanting me to cut it! 😂

One last minute to play before we cut your hair and you put a blow dart through a lizard! 😜

Look at that handsome hair! SO much better!

You lost a blowdart! 😳

You LOOK like you are about to turn 9. When did this happen? 🥺💛

Golf-cart fun!

Hunting videos with Pops! 💙

You ran in the house and back to our bedroom to see what we were doing. SO cute.

You love your sweet Mama! 🧡

You rode to Mistletoe with us! Dee Dee forgot your enzymes so you had to pick a fruit for lunch. 🤪 You didn't complain though!

Our site 25 was perfect. You were at the top of this pole when we had only been there 3 minutes! 😅

I sure do LOVE you!

You started asking to fish before we could get backed in the spot! lol

Playground fun!

We had steak and veggies and you were a HUGE fan! You've already said you want a steak for your birthday! 💙🥳

This is the first time that you and B slept in your own tent. You woke up the first morning at 6am and the second at 7am. You'll get better at it. Your Mom and Dad hope. ha!

You two are very brave. I'm proud of you both. You got to see an armadillo outside the tent tonight. Pops said y'all got within a few feet of it! Pretty cool.

You both are pyromaniacs 🤪

We rode in the back of the truck at the campground!

You love to play with dogs that you meet!

A fire INSIDE the Solo wasn't enough. LOL!

You are SO much fun! You are mischievous and into EVERYTHING but you are very creative and smart and innovative. You are good at most anything you try. You are friendly and love to talk to people. You make friends easily. You are adventurous and love the outdoors so much! You prefer warm weather but have a small window of acceptable temps. ha! You have a big appetite and now insist on adult meals only. You are doing better at school and earned your first A+ - 100 - on a math test! That was huge! Your Mama is doing a great job with y'all. I love that you all have 10 acres to explore.

Your birthday is next month and you're already planning. 😉 I love that we share the same month for birthdays. We are birthday buddies! 💛 You want to play Top Golf for your birthday and grill out steaks and go to Bass Pro. SO cute.

I love your loving, adventurous, creative spirit. You are so fun and your Dee Dee loves you to the moon and back and back again.

Today is Rare Disease Day and we are working extra hard to raise money for a CURE!

Our team is over $4,000 for 2022 so far. I'm so proud of the difference we have made since you were born.

Right now we are at a tough place in our world. Russia invaded Ukraine and there are so many uncertainties. We are praying it doesn't escalate to a World War 3. Literally. So many hard things right now. Inflation is through the roof. Our border with Mexico has caused tremendous grief for our country. Our cities are full of crime and the police isn't respected. People are turning from Jesus as the answer and my heart hurts. I am praying for you to stay strong in your faith as you grow. It's hard to be "different" in the world we live in. It's hard to remain true and always turn to the Lord - but that's my prayer for you... for our family. 💜