Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Getaway

Two posts in two days? No way. ;)
Crazy...you'd think I'd have extra time on my hands right now or something. Huh.

B and I are on our last night of his work conference at Ridgecrest in North Carolina.
This place is beautiful. Peaceful. Restful. Thankful for the time we got to take to go away together, and for our brave family for happily taking care of the boys so we got to do this.
It was just what we both needed.
Photobucket
Kinda crazy about him. And this is hard for me to admit...but we really needed this. I mean, we're fine, of course...don't get me wrong. But in the crazy day-to-day chaos of work, raising kids, taking care of the house and the yard, and being in the ministry....I think it's fair to say that we as a couple got lost a little. We've spent the past few days talking, laughing, being spontaneous (what's that?!?)...and we really needed that.

And this was the perfect place for that.
Photobucket
Gorgeous, isn't it? And the weather is beautiful too. A nice reprieve from the ridiculous TX heat and the equally ridiculous GA humidity. It's hard to not rest and rejuvenate here. And rested we have...I actually slept in until 10:00 this morning. Crazy.

These flowers? They make me happy.
Photobucket

Yesterday B and I did a little hiking. Somehow he was able to hold onto his coffee, so it wasn't super strenuous. ;) It was really fun, and it rained while we were up there, but thanks to the tree cover, we didn't get wet.
Photobucket


A waterfall. In the mountains. So pretty.
Photobucket

And...we made friends with a turtle. Kind of...he was a little shy. ;)
Photobucket


Would love to know who lives in this tree...he wouldn't come out to visit us.
Photobucket
Again...it's been perfect. Thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with my husband without any distractions. Excited to get back home and to have all of my chickens back in the nest.
They get home Friday night, and then we will have ONE week to get ready for the bigs to start school. What?!?! Can't believe it. And I'm sure that month will fly and then it will be time for Hunter to start. All 3 in school? Not sure what to do with that....surely I'll figure it out. ;)

I have really missed these guys this week...
Photobucket
This one....

Photobucket
...and this one....

Photobucket
...and yes, this one too.
Love my family.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Gypsies

Gypsies. That would pretty much sum up the way we've lived this summer. :) It's been fun, it's been busy, it's been chock full of memories, and I've loved every minute of it. We've traveled from Nashville to Orlando to Texas, and now B and I are in North Carolina for a few days while the boys spend an extra week in Texas with family...work conference for him, relaxation time for me. Thankful I get to tag along. ;) And that the boys get some extra Texas time.

Our suitcases have spent the summer in our bedroom...no sense putting them back into the basement yet. Just unpack and repack, and head out again. I know one thing~ I'd never make it as a rock star. ;) And at the same time, this has been one of my very favorite summers EVER.

I've shared before that it has been really tough for us to be away from our family back in Texas. Even when you're doing exactly what you feel God has called you to do, there are still things that are hard. Being away from family and our friends back home (it will always be home) definitely tops the list....but God is faithful, and knows our hearts, and thankfully has provided ways for us to visit often. And for people to visit us often. It definitely makes it easier.
Here's a (somewhat) quick replay of our time there:
The boys with my dad and their birthday gift to him: a drawing of his tractor. They love the farm.
Photobucket


Hud opening his birthday gift from my parents...my mom passed down her iPod Touch. To say he was excited would be the understatement of the year. ;)
Photobucket


We spent A LOT of time swimming and hanging out at the pool. I love these 3 girls so very much.

Photobucket


It was hot. Really HOT. Thankful for cool swimming pools. And water squirters.
Photobucket



Aunt Beth and the tiny man.
Photobucket


I haven't seen this girl in a year and a half. Which is a year and a half TOO long. How very much I've missed her. And her girls. Love them like family...hopefully it won't be too long before we see them again.
Photobucket


All 6 of them picked up right where they left off...just like their moms did. :)
Photobucket


The super-cute, silly middle children. This photo defines them perfectly. ;)
Photobucket

I love the relationship these two have...only 10 months apart in age, and close from the get go. I love that they have memories reaching far back from when they were very little. Hope that continues for a very long time. :)
Photobucket
Hunter insisted on being in the photo. Harrison was less-than-thrilled. ;)


This is my cousin's baby....which would make him my cousin too. Or second cousin. Or first cousin once removed. Not sure, but he's family, and that's all that matters. ;)
He's darling, isn't he? And as sweet and happy as he is beautiful.
Photobucket

Have I mentioned that it was hot and we swam a lot? I haven't? That's weird. ;)Photobucket



Did I mention that Beth and Todd have chickens? I didn't? They do. And they're hilarious.
Photobucket

Did I mention that it was hot? Like, 105+ degrees hot? Not kidding. When we weren't swimming we were having things like slushees and frozen yogurt.
Photobucket



I'm crazy about my sisters. The older we get, the more fun we have. Let's face it...high school was touch and go. It's a wonder we all survived, with all the fighting over clothes and such. Hahaha...seriously, it doesn't get much better than spending time with them. Hoping the boys will be just as close to each other as I am to these two. Few people know me as well as they do....
Photobucket

...and nobody makes me laugh harder. ;) Except maybe my Dad. Guess it runs in the family.
Photobucket


Hi Mom. :)
How much I love her. Love our walks, our talks, and how she takes care of me, even now at 34. I'm blessed.
Photobucket
And that baby....yummy.


We ate lunch at a place called Mooyah...great burgers. And they had this giant red wipe erase board. The boys were ALL over that.
Photobucket
Harrison's drawing...pretty cool, huh? Mooyah actually re-tweeted this pic I posted on Twitter. Impressive, H. :)


And here's Hud with his bird in a tree drawing. Love it.
Photobucket



And Hunter with his self-portrait. Amazing likeness, right? ;)Photobucket

What can I say? They're artists. ;)

Ok...if I was to describe myself, the last words I would use would be funky, cool, or trendsetter.
Because I'm not. I'm more of comfortable, flip flops and jeans, play it safe kind of girl.
Photobucket
Who now is wearing a feather in her hair. ;)
I know...not like me at all. And I love it.
Looks like a brand new can of worms has just been opened. Watch out.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

She's a Grand Ol' Flag

And we really love to celebrate her. :)
I love a holiday. Any of them. But there are extra special memories associated with July 4th.
Mostly, those memories are of my childhood...we spent a couple weeks at my grandparents' house in Missouri every summer, and there are a couple of odd things I associate with the time I spent there: the Wimbledon tennis tournament, and fireflies.
Wimbledon because somehow it always seem to fall when we happened to be there.
Fireflies, because I don't remember seeing them anywhere but in my Momo and Dandy's backyard, which just solidified the already growing idea in my head that it was indeed a magical place. Trust me, it was.

I also remember spending the Fourth of July there....don't think it was every summer, but several of them. Lots of happy memories of fireworks, and fried chicken, and summer nights on their back patio, enjoying strawberries and watermelon, my Momo's apple pie, listening to the Royals' baseball games with my Dandy on the radio. My Mom, my aunt and uncles, cousins, sisters....happy. Simple really...nothing extravagant. That's not us. Just lots of love, lots of laughing, lots of time together. Something I treasure.
And something I want to continue with these 4 guys that God has so richly blessed me with.
Photobucket
So that's what we did. Celebrated a very important day in our nation's history by just being together. Talks with the boys about how much we have to be thankful for, and about the men and women who sacrifice their everything so we can enjoy life here with our everything. Little American flags and pinwheels humbly stuck in our front flower beds. A cake with a flag on it, made out of blueberries and strawberries. Dinner with some sweet friends, and our own little fireworks show right in our front yard. ;)

This guy right here? He loves fireworks. REALLY loves them. The past several nights our neighbors have put on quite a show....honestly it sounded like a warzone. And each night I'd find him sitting in a rocker on our front porch happily watching the display. You gotta love those rednecks....and we're thankful for the beautiful (albeit LOUD) show we got every night this weekend. ;)
Photobucket


And now I feel the need to assure you that we are a safety first family. :) As much as the boys would LOVE to be right in the big middle of Daddy lighting the fireworks last night, it was a no-go. They were allowed to help set them up, then back to the porch to watch as he lit them.
Photobucket
I don't really understand this need they all 4 seem to have to blow things up. Don't think I'm made that way. ;) However, I can appreciate the beautiful results of all the blowing up.

Love these guys. Love days like this that are happy, and fun, and peaceful.
Just being together at home. Simple and perfect.
Photobucket


They were thrilled when it was finally time for sparklers. :)
Photobucket



Photobucket


Life here is crazy. And funny. And loud. And silly. And...tiring. ;)
Photobucket
And I wouldn't have it any other way.