Happy Birthday!

My mom and my dad have birthdays in August. My mom's was last week, and my dads is today! Happy birthday folks, I love you so much!

Welcome Home Bark!

My mom told me about this video and I just had to share! Enjoy a peek at the joy of coming home to a lovable dog.

A Low-key August

I've been a bit quiet. After traveling for most of July, I've taken the last few weeks to somewhat avoid the internet, with the exception of checking email and occasionally facebook. Have you guys ever just needed a break from the world a bit? Specifically the world wide web world...not so much a break from friends and family. Anyway, it's been nice to have some down time, reflection and even renewal with rest, and quiet time with the Lord. If you find yourself needing that, take it.

Home

My parents moved a few weeks ago. I have been traveling so much with SummerShine I had not been able to see their new place. I got to visit last week (was it last week?!) and see where they are now. It was odd, following a GPS to my parents house. Needing directions to go home? A funny feeling. But as soon as I got there, I was reminded again that "home" is not a house, but the people that make it up. There is beauty in being in the same place with family, people that know you and love you just the way you are. Though the houses have been different over the years, home is where the heart is, where the love is.

There is also nothing like coming home to Matt. Being away from him for weeks off and on is hard. The different time zones make communication sometimes limited. I love pulling into the driveway knowing he is waiting for me inside. I came home this week to flowers and a sweet card. Home.

All Grown Up!!!!!

My little brother, and only brother, graduated from UNC in May. He actually graduated on Mother's Day which is a nice gift to my mom and dad for that matter. We enjoyed a cook-out at his townhome, nicknamed the "Domecave," on Saturday night and a fun lunch gathering after all the graduation festivities. Thankfully the rain moved on, so we could enjoy the ceremony. (Although the weather affected the "cuteness" of our outfits).

Domecave Party:

~These boys Logan has tutored and loved the last 4 years. They were so cute!



I feel like I was just graduating from college, and he was graduating from high school (2007). Wow. Time does go quickly. I am SO proud of the man he is and the Lord's work throughout his life. He's spending his summer interning at International Justice Mission, in DC. I am looking forward to seeing him in the big city!

A few more pictures from the celebration:

Family Photo!

True Friends.

Classic.

Handsome.

I believe the actual ceremony photos were caught on a different camera, so this what I have. Proud of you Log!

Sorting...

My parents are moving in less than a week. I've come home three or four times to help pack up, sort through lots of old stuff and be moral support! If you've moved, you know how incredibly overwhelming it can be, not to mention the exhaustion. Whew.

One of the fun things I've been able to do is read through old notes, cards, letters, and see many photos of people that are still special to me. I have a whole shoebox full from each year of college of these items. I'm throwing some things away, but some notes are just "keepers." Every single one from Matt I'm keeping. I just found a card from January 06, we'd been dating for about 6 months. On the back of the card it has the quote "You look familiar. Have we met somewhere before?" Matt wrote his own answer, "Yes, 3 summers ago. I'm glad you dissed me then. Being with you now, it is incredible. Really. I miss you."

What a reminder of the Lord's faithfulness in our lives, and Matt's humor that I continue to love. Though I "dissed" him then, look where we are now! I can't help but chuckle at his candid words and smile because I am loved by him.

Sweet Magnolia

I love walking out my front door, and inhaling the sweet smell of magnolia blossoms. It smells like summertime, and it reminds me of my Gramma. I'm not sure why this is, maybe my mother has told me she "Gramma" loved magnolias, maybe I dreamed that.

Either way, I love the smell drifting through the breeze, and though it's SO hot outside, I can't help but pause and look at the tree, full of its blooms.

Stop and smell the flowers around you friends, life's too short to pass by simple beauty.