Robert Clark Varner

Today is Robert's birthday!  Gosh, I'm happy he was born!  It's his golden birthday - 22 years old on the 22nd.  There are so many things I love about him and so many things I like doing with him.

I love that he loves the Cardinals (Picnic in Forest Park before going to a game - September 2010)

I love that he loves music (After a choir concert - December 2011)

I love that he loves nature

I love his thoughtfulness and creativity (After he proposed - August 8, 2011)

I love celebrating special occasions with him (At Bethany's wedding - September, 2011)

I love that he makes me feel beautiful

I love being weird with him (Mission trip fundraiser - March 2010)

I love celebrating holidays with him (NYE at Elise's - January 2011)

I love his smile (Robert's 20th birthday - June 22, 2010)

I love that he enjoys learning (Our first day of school - August 2011)

I love that when I'm happy he's happy (Last day of grad school - May 2012)

I love his love for cooking and eating good food (Spring 2012)

I love his love and kindness toward his mama (Mother's Day - May 2012)

I love his passion for music and missions (Singing to raise money for his mission trip to South Africa - June 2011)

I love going on adventures with him (At Ha Ha Tonka - June 2010)

I love being one

Last summer I bought Robert a book.  I had read it while babysitting Samuel, and I just knew it would be perfect for Robert and me.  I'd like to share it with you now.  It's called "I Like You" by Sandol Stoddard Warburg and illustrated by Jacqueline Chwast.

I like you

And I know why

I like you because

You are a good person 

To like

I like you because

When I tell you something special

You know it's special

And you remember it

A long long time

You say remember when

you told me

Something special

And both of us remember

When I think something is important

You think it's important too

We have good ideas

When I say something funny

You laugh

I think I'm funny and 

You think I'm funn too

Hah-hah

I like you because

You know where I'm ticklish

And you don't tickle me there

except

Just a little tiny bit

sometimes

stop

stop stop

help

help

But if you do then I know where to tickle you too

HELP

You know how to be silly

That's hwy I like you

Boy are you ever silly

I never met anybody sillier than me

till I met you

I like you because 

You know when it's time to stop being silly

Maybe day after tomorrow

Maybe never

Oops too late

It's quarter past silly

We fool around the same way all the time

Sometimes we don't say a word

We snurkle under fences

We spy secret places

If I am a goofus on the roofus

Hollering my head off

You are one too

If I pretend I am drowning

You pretend you are saving me

If I am getting ready to pop a paper bag

Then you are getting ready to jump

HOORAY

That's because

you really like me

You really like me

Don't you

And I really like you back

And you like me back

And I like you back

And that's the way we keep on going

Every day

If you go away then I go away too

Or if I stay home

You send me a postcard

You don't just say

Well see you around

Some time

Bye

I like you a lot because of that

If I go away

I send you a postcard too

And I like you because 

If we go away together

And if we are in Grand Central Station

And if I get lost

Then you are the one that is yelling for me

Hey where are you

Here I am

And I like you because

When I am feeling sad

You don't always cheer me up right away

Sometimes it is better to be sad

You can't stand the others being so googly ad gaggly

every single minut

You want to think about things

It takes time

I like you because if I am mad at you 

Then you are mad at me too

It's awful when the other person isn't

Phooey

They are so nice and hoo-hoo you could

just about pinch them in the nose

I like you because if I think I am going to

throw up then you are really sorry

You don't just pretend you are busy looking at

the birdies and all that

You say maybe it was something you ate

You say the same thing happened to me one time

And the same thing did

If you find two four-leaf clovers

You give me one

If I find four

I give you two

If we only find three

We keep looking

Sometimes we have good luck

And sometimes we don't

If I break my arm and

If you break your arm too

Then it is fun to have a broken arm

I tell you about mine

You tell me about yours

We are both sorry

We write our names and draw pictures

We show everybody and they wish they had

a broken arm too

I like you because

I don't know why but

Everything that happens

Is nicer with you

I can't remember when I didn't like you

It must have been lonesome then

I like you because because because

I forget why I like you

But I do

So many reasons

On the Fourth of July

I like you because

It's the Fourth of July

On the Fifth of July

I like you too

If you and I had some drums

And some horns and some horses

If we had some hats and some

Flags and some fire engines

We could be a HOLIDAY

We could be a CELEBRATION

We could be a WHOLE PARADE

See what I mean?

Even if it was the

nine hundred and ninety-ninth of July

Even if it was

August

Even if it was way down at the bottom of November

Even if it was no place particular in January

I would go on choosing you

And you would

go on choosing me

Over and over again

That's how it would happen every time

I don't know why

I guess I don't know why I like you really

Why do I like you

I guess I just like you

I guess I just like you

Because I like you

Staying at Home

Robert is known for saying something like, "You do more in one day than any other person in the world," on a regular basis.  I'm not sure about that, but I am a go getter to say the least.  These three weeks being a stay at home wife have been a very unique experience for me.  There are some aspects that I love (keeping the house clean and making dinner for Robert so Robert doesn't have to spend time doing those things when he comes home from work, taking naps, running errands, and watching shows on Netflix that I know I could never convince Robert to watch with me i.e. Teen Mom, Sister Wives, and Private Practice).  There are other aspects I have strongly disliked (lack of human interaction, only speaking to one person on some days, wondering if anything I did that day made any difference in the world).  It's been good for me.  I haven't been able to find my worth in getting good grades, having a good paying job, or having lots of quality friends.  But, as always, God is good.  I know He gave me this time of seclusion in order to make me rest.  God knows me better than I know myself.  If I were in school, had a full-time job, or tons of friends around me I'd be running myself ragged per usual, but without those things I was left to rest and just be with Him - something I don't usually plan myself but so worth it.

Over the past few weeks I have had several interviews at various businesses.  Three of the businesses sneakily disguised sales positions as marketing positions.  At these different interviews I just didn't get a good vibe.  I struggled with being too picky and being too desperate.  It's been tough, but I've only cried twice so far. :)

Last Monday I got to know the area a bit better by going to an auto shop and a mall.  I found an auto shop that's about two miles away from us that gives a 10% discount for SEBTS families.  Holla!  I got the air filter and two lights replaced in the Camry.  I went to the mall to get my ring cleaned and inspected.  So sparkly!

On Wednesday we celebrated one month of marriage by going to the NC Zoo.  It was spectacular!

This bear was doing quite the show for us! 

Ready for the 4D Dino movie - 3D movie with additional sensory aspects (air that blew on our necks when there was wind in the movie, streamers that blew out at our legs when there was a snake, and little things that poked our backs at certain points)

The prettiest pigeon I've ever seen

We loved the aviary!

Peregrine falcon

Love this idea - they had a tree stump set up at the perfect angle just so people could set the timer on their camera to take a picture in the aviary.  Perfect!

Yesterday was Robert's grandma June's birthday.  He got to talk to her for a bit which was really nice.  We love you, June!

A Glimpse of Wake Forest

The Big Move

We have Internet in our apartment now!  That means it's time to catch up on the old blog.  Three short days after coming back from our honeymoon we loaded up and headed out to NC.  Note to young movers - Generally speaking, Budget is cheaper than UHaul, but it's important to realize that Budget charges an additional fee for drivers under 25.  However, if you book online you get a 20% discount off of your rental.  Also, if you're a member of AARP you get 20% off.  What we decided to do was have my dad drive the Budget truck to save on the young driver fee and get the AARP discount.  This saved enough money to pay for him to fly back to MO.  Of course, Mom couldn't have Dad seeing our first place before her so she came too.  So glad!

Dad drove the truck the whole time while Robert, Mom, and I took turns driving the Camry and Fiesta.  We stopped in Cookeville, TN for the night and rolled in to Wake Forest on Thursday evening.

Moving in started around 8:00 on Friday morning.  I am so thankful that my parents were here to help.  Here is the final product:

Guest bathroom

Master bedroom

Looking from the living room to the kitchen

Table and chairs handcrafted by Dad and Pepaw

Pantry

Coat closet

Couch and chair will arrive tomorrow

Pretty view from our deck

Guest bedroom/office

I'm so happy we have a laundry closet so it's out of the way.

Master bathroom