August Happy

I've been wanting to blog for a long time.  I've learned a lot this summer and I feel like I've grown a lot too.  I'm hoping to get all of my thoughts sorted out into my personal journal before sharing it here.  In the meantime...I stumbled upon this great idea from A Holy Experience. 








So I'm really several days behind already.  But that doesn't mean I can't be thankful.  So I'm going to try and catch up in some form or fashion.

3 Gifts White

My wedding dress was a huge gift from God.  It was perfect and under budget.  :) 

Ringo, our white cat, was a part of my birthday present this year.  I love that kitty so much! (Thanks hubbs!)

Sand-dollar - When I was in Clearwater, FL for Summer Project, I was having a hard time feeling like that was where God wanted me and as I was walking along the beach and praying...I asked God for a sign.  Which I know there are mixed perspectives out there on doing such...but regardless, I still asked.  I asked to find a perfectly formed sand dollar.  I'd never found one before.  About fifty feet before my walk was finished and I had returned to the group, as I was singing Jars of Clay, The Eleventh Hour to myself, I saw it.  Blemish free, my sand dollar.   Thanks be to God for answered prayers.

3 Gifts Eaten

Mango - When I was in Uganda the summer of 2009, I ate the best mango I've ever had.  You'd use your teeth to scrape the fruit off the skin and it would get all stuck in between your teeth.  Saving some for later ya know?  The juice dripping down your chin with each bite.  Deliciousness, and I truly think that mango in Heaven will taste just like that.  If not better. :)  I can't wait.

My Maw Maw's pineapple dessert.  I can't describe how wonderful this was.  I can't describe how wonderful she was either.  Just believe me.

Grammy's home-made rolls.  Y'all.  I mean come on.  Home-made, from scratch rolls.  Like take-all-day-to-make rolls and about 3 seconds to devour them kinda rolls.  Grammy would make them for every Thanksgiving.  We'd beg her to every year.  You wanna talk about dedication...making bread from scratch requires dedication.  And it was my Grammy's dedication to her grandchildren that led her to make the rolls each year.  At least I like to think so anyway.

Busiest. Summer. Ever.

Where have I been?  This summer season has passed by way too fast.  And clearly I've been way too busy to blog about it.  So sorry!


June 1 - We attended a wedding for my dear friend Becca who I know from CBSP '07 and I was reunited with some of my CBSP loves!  It was a wonderful wedding and I'm so blessed to have witnessed it. 

June 5-12 We spent this week in North Carolina!  Hubby had to do some collaborative work at Duke and I tagged along to see old friends:)  It was amazing.  We stayed with his gma and got to visit his parents and sisters.  We saw friends from Church of the Good Shepherd and I saw a lot of my HVE friends!  My heart was so full after getting to visit with them.  We planned the trip so that I could go to my old students' 5th Grade Graduation Ceremony too.  I taught that group of kiddos when they were in 2nd grade and again for their 4th grade year so it was very special that I could witness them graduating from elementary school.  It made me miss HVE so much, the kids and my friends/co-workers.  I was thankful that I could help some of them on the teacher workdays after the last day of school.  Anything just to be around them again.  Like a true breath of fresh air.  Oh and did I mention that we ate a celebratory dinner at the Angus Barn for our 3rd anniversary??  Free pound cake anyone? 

 The rest of June was a whirlwind of hubby traveling to CA for a conference, Amachi hangouts with our mentees, and me settling into my new job as the Executive Assistant at Hope Resource Center!

July 3-6 We traveled to Charlottesville, VA to visit Chris and Louisa!  They are such wonderful hosts and planned an amazing weekend.  We went to Monticello on the 4th and then to a park to watch fireworks, ate at delicious restaurants, went to see Monsters U, consignment shopping with Louisa, peach picking, cave diving (not really, just a tour), putt putting, OMG we were busy.  But I LOVE spending time with them.  Pictures for you, all out of order...I have NO IDEA how to get pictures to do what I want them to do on this blog...if anyone is more seasoned at blogging, please help me!